To explore the mechanism of the absorption of flavonoids from Abelmoschus manihot flowers, in situ intestinal recirculation was performed to study the effect of the absorption at different concentrations and different intestinal regions. To evaluate the conditions of the absorption of six flavonoids from Abelmoschus manihot flowers, the concentrations of Abelmoschus manihot in the perfusion solution were determined by HPLC at predesigned time. And we have investigated the inhibitory effect of six flavonoids from Abelmoschus manihot flowers on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) drug efflux pump. The results demonstrated that the absorption rates of flavonoids from Abelmoschus manihot flowers are not significantly different (P > 0.05) at various drug concentrations, the absorption of flavonoids from Abelmoschus manihot flowers is a first-order process with the passive diffusion mechanism. The absorption rates of each of flavonoids are significantly different. The absorption rate of flavonoid glycoside was lower than that of aglycone; the flavonoids from Abelmoschus manihot flowers could be absorbed in all of the intestinal segments. The best parts of intestine to absorb hyperoside and myricetin are jejunum and duodenum, separately. Verapamil could enhance the absorption of isoquercitrin, hyperoside, myricetin and quercetin-3'-O-glucoside by inhibiting P-glycoprotein (P-gp) drug efflux pump.

Objective Portal hypertension and ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) have been implicated in small-for-size liver graft dysfunction. Matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 are critically involved in hepatic I/R injury. The goal of this study was to investigate the role of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in acute small-for-size graft injury. Methods 108 rats were divided into three groups:100 % (full-size), 50 % (half-size) and 25 % (quarter-size) liver transplantation groups. Blood and liver samples were collected to assess liver function, hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) content, tissue myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and histological changes. ELISA, real-time PCR, gelatin zymography, and immunohistochemistry were used to determine the expression pattern of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in liver grafts. Results The expression levels of MMP-9 were significantly higher in quarter-size and half-size grafts than those in full-size liver grafts 6, 12, and 24 h after reperfusioa And theelevated levels of MMP-9 were related to graft size inversely. However, MMP-2 was expressed and remained in all groups invariably. MMP-9 overexpression was accompanied by extensive liver I/R injury, as evidenced by significant increases in hepatic microscopic damage scores, MDA content,MPO activity and liver function levels. Furthermore, MMP-9 was found mainly to locate around periportal area. The presence of the active form of MMP-9 was significantly higher in small-for-size grafts, which was correlated with sinusoidal dilatation, congestion and hemorrhage. Conclusion These results support critical function of MMP-9 in acute small-for-size liver graft injury. Moreover,portal hypertension may be a crucial trigger for expression and activation of MMP-9.

The present article introduced the current medical education of the Feinberg School of Medicine in Northwestern University.Thmugh the comparisons on edueation system and carriculums design between United States of America and China,advices were made to the medical education in China.The article shed light on the current reform of medical education in China.

Objective To detect the pathological expressions of TNF-? and VEGF in interspinous ligament of patients with ankylosing spondylitis(AS) in active stage. Methods The expressions of TNF-? mRNA and VEGF mRNA in the interspinous ligament of patient with AS group and control group were detected by hybridization in situ. Their different results were compared by image analysis system and the correlation between TNF-? mRNA, VEGF mRNA and both AS disease active index (DAI) and C reactive protein (CRP) was analysed respectively. Results The expressions of TNF-? mRNA and VEGF mRNA in the interspinous ligament of patients with active AS were positive,but those of the control group were negtive. Statistical differences existed in the positive cell numbers and in image gray scale value of AS group (P

This paper was aimed to study the dynamic changes of San-Ao(SA) decoction in different compatibility of ephedrine hydrochloride,pseudoephedrine hydrochloride,amygdalin and glycyrrhizic acid.HPLC was used to simultaneously determinate the transfer rate of SA decoction of ephedrine hydrochloride,pseudoephedrine hydrochloride,amygdalin and glycyrrhizic acid.Kromasil C18 (4.6 mm×250 mm,5μm) column was selected with methanol and 0.1% phosphoric acid as a mobile phase to gradient.The flow rate was 1 mL·min-1.The column temperature was 30℃.The injection volume was 10μL.Ephedrine hydrochloride,pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and amygdalin were detected at the wavelength of 208 nm.The glycyrrhizic acid was detected at the wavelength of 250 nm.The results showed that the transfer rate of ephedrine hydrochloride in decoction was more than that of the single preparation.The transfer rate of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride was the highest in the combination of ephedra and bitter almond.The transfer rate of amygdalin was the highest in the combination of ephedra and bitter almond.The transfer rate of glycyrrhizic acid in decoction was more than that of the single preparation.It was concluded that there were dynamic changes in the boiling process during herbal decoction preparation.The effectiveness and stability of Chinese medicine should be improved according to these changes.

Objective To understand the immune regulatory function of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDC) in patients with chronic severe hepatitis B (CSHB) and its roles in the severe illness progression of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) by detecting surface phenotype of MoDC and expression level of cytokines in MoDC after polyl : C treatment. Methods The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated by Ficoll density gradient separation from 37 patients with CSHB, 20 patients with CHB, and 20 healthy controls (NC). Purified PBMC were acquired using immunomagnetic anti-CD14-beads. Then PBMC were induced to immature dendritic cell (iDC) in vitro. PolyI : C was added to induce DC maturation. The mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of the phenotype marker molecules including HLA-DR, CD83, CD86 and CD80 on surface of iDC and mature DC (mDC) were detected by flow cytometry. The supernatants of MoDC culture were collected at 12,24 and 48 h after polyI : C treatment, respectively and the release levels of interleukin (IL)-12, IL-6and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Comparisons among groups were done by single factor analysis of variance and homogeneity of variance was tested. Results There were no significant differences of phenotype marker molecules on cell surface of iDC, including HLA-DR, CD83, CD86 and CD80 in CSHB, CHB and NC groups.However, the expressions of HLA-DR, CD83, CD86 and CD80 on cell surface of mDC in CSHB group were lower than those in CHB and NC groups (F=59.73, 13.95, 34.80 and 73.02, respectively; all P＜0. 05). The secretions of IL-12 at three time points of 12 h, 24 h and 48 h after polyI : C treatment in group NC were higher than those in CHB and CSHB groups (F= 151.34, 126.65 and 72.76, respectively; P＜0.05), and peaked at 24 h which were (48.2±7.6), (56.7±11.8) and (97.8±16.2) ng/L, respectively. The secretions of IL-6 at the above three time points were CSHB＞CHB＞NC (F=92.50, 86.89 and 64.57, respectively; all P＜0. 05) and peaked at 12 h which were (1698.3±340.4), (965.8±231.7), (697.8±213.6) ng/L, respectively. The secretions of TNF-αat the above three time points were CSHB＞CHB＞NC (F=58.66, 122.36 and 44.73, respectively;all P＜0. 05) and were (19 672. 7±4214. 7), (9946. 1 ± 2586 5), (6659. 2±955. 8) ng/L,respectively at 24 h after treatment. Conclusions MoDCs of CSHB patients show mature defection and abnormal cytokine secretion. The expression level of IL-12 which mediates cellular immune is low.Meanwhile, the productions of IL-6 and TNF-α which mediate inflammatory response are up-regulated. This may be one of the major factors which lead to exacerbation of liver inflammation and ultimately development of severe hepatitis.

Objective To determine the correlation between coronary artery calcium score (CACS) and carotid calcification, and their risk factors. Methods 162 cases underwent coronary and carotid pre-contrast CT scan with dual-source CT scanner within 2 weeks. The reconstructed parameters were the same. The calcifications of coronary and carotid arteriae were quantified by calculating the Agatston score. The main risk factors such as age, sex, hypertension, total cholesterol, low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), diabetes, smoking and coronary heart disease history were recorded. The CACS and carotid calcium scores were comparatively analyzed using Spearman's correlative analysis. The relativity between the risk factors and CACS scores, carotid calcium scores. Results In 162 subjects, there was positive relativity between CACS and carotid cal-cium score(r=0.690, P<0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that CACS were of relativity with age, diabetes, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol,otherwise, carotid calcium scores only with age and diabetes. Conclusion There is significant correlation be-tween CACS and carotid calcium score, but their risk factors are not same.

Objective To simultaneously determinate the contents of four active ingredients (Ephedrine Hydrochloride, Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride, Amygdalin and Glycyrrhizinate) ofSan Ao Decoction by HPLC; To optimize the extracting process ofSan Ao Decoction.Methods The orthogonal test was employed. Volume of water, time of extraction and times of extraction were set as investigation factors; the transport rates of Ephedrine Hydrochloride, Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride, Amygdalin and Glycyrrhizinate and the extraction rates were set as investigation indexes to conduct multi-indexes grading.Results The influence factors of the extraction ofSao Ao Decoction were the times of extraction > decoction time > the volume of water. The best extraction condition was: ten fold water; extract for three times; 1 h for each time.Conclusion The optimized extraction process is stable and feasible.

Purpose To study the reversal effect on multidrug resistance (MDR) by TNF-α gene combined with verapamil (VRP) or tamoxifen (TAM). Methods By using recombinant retrovirus vector, TNF-α gene was transfected into multidrug-resistant human breast cancer cell line MCF7/ADR. The TNF-α secreting cell clone MCF7/ADR-TNF was obtained by G418 screening. The integrating and secreting of TNF-α were analyzed by PCR and ELISA. MTT assay and formula"I = d/D1 + d/D2" were used to evaluate the reversal effect of multidmg resistance with TNF-α gene combined with verapamil or tamoxifen. ResultsThe level of TNF-α secreted by MCF7/ADR-TNF was 1 737 pg/ml (106cells/48 h). Compared with control,the resistance to ADR of MCF7/ADR-TNF was reversed by 1.6 times. The reversal effect produced by combination of TNF-α gene and VRP was antagonistic. The combination of TNF-α gene and TAM produced synergic effect (interaction index I = 0.64). ConclusionsTNF-α gene combined with TAM has synergic effect on reversing MDR.

Objective To assess the value of S index and FIB-4 for diagnosis of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) by comparing with traditional indexes APRI and Forns.Methods A total of 361 patients with confirmed CHB from the First Hospital of Nanjing Medical University and Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University during January 2006 and December 2011 were enrolled in the study.The clinical,laboratory and pathological data of patients were collected.Four noninvasive score systems APRI,Forns,S index and FIB-4 were computed.With liver biopsy as the gold standard,the area under the ROC curve (AUROC) was used to assess the value of above 4 score systems in diagnosis of liver fibrosis,and Z test was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of above systems.Results The areas under ROC curve (AUCs) of APRI,Forns,S index and FIB-4 for significant fibrosis (≥S2) were (0.737 ±0.027),(0.716 ± 0.028),(0.745 ± 0.026) and (0.781 ± 0.025),respectively.When the cut off value of FIB-4 was set at 1.62,the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for diagnosis of significant fibrosis were 59.3％,85.8％,89.4％ and 51.2％,respectively,which were better than Forn index (Z =3.28,P =0.001).While for S4 (cirrhosis) the AUCs of APRI,Foms,S index and FIB-4 were (0.687 ± 0.035),(0.792 ± 0.028),(0.863 ± 0.024) and (0.832 ± 0.025),respectively.When the cut off value of S index was set at 1.06,the sensitivity,specificity,PPV and NPV for diagnosis of cirrhosis were 77.9％,85.5％,59.4％ and 93.5％,respectively,which were better than APRI and Forns (Z =6.74 and 3.21,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions APRI,Forns,S index and FIB-4 are simple and accurate methods for assessing liver fibrosis.FIB-4 and S index are better than APRI and Forns in diagnosis of significant fibrosis and cirrhosis,which may replace liver biopsy in certain extend.