The present in vitro study on rat liver microsomal lipid per-oxidation showed that Gypenosides ( GP ) , the total saponin of Gy-nostemma pentaphyllum Makino, produced a marked inhibitory effect on the lipid peroxidation either spontaneously or induced by Fe2+-cystein, Vit C-NADPH and CCl4. The inhibitory effect was found to be stronger than that of Ginsenosides. GP also resisted the decrease of fluidity of liver microsomal and mitochondrial membrane induced by Fe2+-cystein.

In this paper we report im-munopharmacologic effects of Epimedium Polysaccharide (EPS) and Icarrin on mouse thy-mus. It was found that EPS or Icarrin administered subcutaneously in mouse had following effects: (1)EPS enhanced the proliferation and IL-2 production of thymocytes, and decreased the L3T4 and Lyt2 cell numbers and responses to Con A stimulation of the thymus; (2) Icarrinincreased response to ConA stimulation to mouse thymus cell. These results suggest that both EPS and Icarrin have immunes stimulating effect on thymus. EPS possibly promoted the migration of thymocytes from the thymus to peripheral organs.

Objective To investigate effects of very early hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) on patients with malignant brain edema after surgical operation for treatment of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).Methods A total of 146 patients who suffered from malignant brain edema after last surgical operation for severe TBI were enrolled for this study.According to the intervention time of HBOT,they were randomized into a very early group (HBOT within 3 days after operation,n =55),an ordinary group (HBOT at 4 to 10 days after operation,n =65) and a control group (non-HBOT,n =26).Mortality rate of the 3 groups were recorded within 4 weeks after operation,and GCS (Glasgow Coma Scale) score were assessed in 1,2,3 and 4 weeks after operation.Dynamic head CT scan were performed for detecting brain status and for determine the duration of brain edema.Results The mortality of the very early group,the ordinary group and the control group were 10.9％,7.7％ and 11.5％,respectively,and no statistically significant difference was revealed among the groups (P ＞ 0.05).In very early group,the GCS scores of 1,2,3 and 4 weeks after operation were (8.837 ±3.350),(10.755 ± 3.388),(11.633 ± 3.408) and (12.367 ± 3.408),respectively,with significant difference between the time points 1 week and 2,3 and 4 weeks as well as 2 and 4 weeks after surgery (P ＜0.05),but not between 2 and 3 as well as 3 and 4 weeks after surgery (P ＞ 0.05).In ordinary group,the GCS scores at 1,2,3 and 4 weeks after surgery were (8.509 ±3.042),(9.458 ±3.115),(10.186 ±3.203) and (10.627 ±3.439),respectively,with significant difference between 1 week and 2,3 and 4 weeks after operation (P ＜ 0.05).In control group,the GCS scores at 1,2,3 and4 weeks after surgery were (8.042 ±2.881),(8.417 ±2.962),(8.542 ±3.02) and (8.958 ± 3.043),with no statistical difference among different time points (P ＞ 0.05).When compared with the very early group,the GCS sores of the ordinary group and the control group were significantly lower after intervention (P ＜ 0.05),and the GCS of control group was lower than that of the ordinary group (P ＜ 0.05).As for brain edema duration,the very early group was the shortest among the 3 groups (P ＞ 0.05) Conclusion Very early hyperbaric oxygen treatment could improve consciousness state and alleviate malignant brain edema after surgical operation in TBI patients.

AIM To observe the changes of blood glucose level, plasma insulin level and liver glycogen content and regulatory effects of rehmannia glutinosa oligosaccharides(ROS) on glucose metabolism in thymectomized rats. METHODS ①Plasma glucose level, liver glycogen content and plasma insulin level of thymectomized rats were determined three,four, eight and fifteen month after thymectomy operation; ②Effects of ROS (250 mg?kg -1 , po ,?60 d) on spleencyte proliferation,blood glucose level,liver glycogen content, plasma insulin level and plasma corticosterone level in thymectomized rats were investigated seven month after thymectomy. RESULTS From 8 months after thymectomy liver glycogen content and plasma insulin level increased in thymectomized rats, though no obvious changes in blood glucose level were found during the experiment; ②Changes of glucose metabolism in thymectomized rats were largely reversed and normalized with ROS: Increased liver glycogen content turned to be normal,increased plasma insulin level,decreased corticosterone level and decreased splenocyte proliferation in thymectomized rats became normal. CONCLUSION Some changes in glucose metabolism are induced by thymectomy in rats, which can be largely reversed by ROS.

Objective To study the effects of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on brain tissue tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-o),interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-10 levels in serum and brain tissues after blast brain injury in rabbits.Methods Twenty New Zealand white male rabbits were randomly divided into sham-operated group (n=6),traumatic brain injury (TBI) group (n=10),TBI+VNS group (n=8).Rabbit brain blast injury models of TBI group and TBI+VNS group were established; and the right cervical vagus nerves of the rabbits in TBI+VNS group were stimulated (10 V,5 HZ,5 ms,20 min).The TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-10 changes in the serum (6 h after injury) and brain tissues (24 h after injury) and the water content in the injured brain tissues were observed and recorded.Results The TNF-α and IL-1β levels in the serum and brain tissues,the water content in the brain tissues of the TBI group were significantly higher than those in the sham-operated group and TBI+VNS group (P＜0.05); the IL-10 level in the TBI+VNS group was significantly higher than that in the sham-operated group and TBI group (P＜0.05).Conclusion VNS can reduce the brain edema degree by increasing the IL-10 level and decreasing the TNF-α and IL-1 β levels,which plays a key role in brain protection effect after brain blast injury in rabbits.