ObjectiveTo explore alterations of serum levels and clinical significance of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) and gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). MethodsA total of 55 subjects participated in this study: 29 healthy volunteers and 26 patients with FM recruited from Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from June 2009 to October 2010.The depression rate was assessed by Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17. ELISA was used for the detection of the serum levels of CRH, TRH and GnRH.Normal distribution quantitative data were described by the (-x) ± s and tested by independent sample t-test. Non-normal quantitative data were described by interquartile range and tested by independent Mann-Whitney.The diagnostic specificity and sensitivity of 3 kinds of hormones test were analyzed by receiver operator characteristic ( ROC ) curve, and the Spearman correlation was used for analysis of hormone levels and age, gender, tenderness, pain degree and depression severity.Results Compared with the control (70. 0(48.7,78.0) ng/L), the fibromyalgia patients had obviously increased CRH (271.9 (210.9,326.5) rg/L, x2 =6.408, P＜0. 01) , and significantly higher TRH ((82.7 ±6. 9 ) ng/L vs ( 87. 2 ± 6. 8 ) ng/L, t = 2. 560, P ＜ 0. 05, respectively) and GnRH ( ( 18. 2 ± 0. 9 ) ng/L vs ( 19. 9 ± 1.6)ng/L,t =5. 324, P ＜0. 01, respectively). The serum concentrations of the CRH, TRH and GnRH were positively correlated with pain intensity and numbers of tenderness respectively, and those of the CRH and GnRH were positively correlated with depressive degree either. The areas under the ROC curve in the CRH, TRH and GnRH, evaluating the sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of fibromyalgia, were respectively 1. 000, 0. 684 and 0. 854. ConclusionsThe FM patients had an increased secretion of CRH,TRH and GnRH. CRH might serve as the adjunctive criteria for the diagnosis of FM.

This paper summarizes the progress on anti -tumor effect and its mechanism of Noni over the past decade.Plenty of tests indicated that noni juice , juice extracts, leaf and root extracts have anti -tumor effects.It can inhibit tumor growth through inducing tumor cell apoptosis ,activating host immune system ,inhibi-tion of angiogenesis and cyclooxygenase ,anti -oxidation and blocking carcinogen -DNA adduct formation.This paper provides a reference for the adjuvant therapy of anticancer drugs and food form Noni .

Objective: To prepare dexketoprofen trometamol hydrogel patches, optimize the formula and evaluate in vitro transdermal properties.Methods: Dexketoprofen trometamol hydrogel patches were prepared with NP-800 as the hydrogel patch carrier, aluminum hydrochloride as the crosslinking agent, EDTA as the crosslinking modifier and glycerol as the moisturizing agent.The formula was screened by orthogonal design with the initial viscosity, holding force, peel strength and 12 h cumulative transdermal quantity as the evaluation indices to screen out the best formula.The transdermal absorption test was carried out with an improved Franz diffusion cells to compare the enhancement of Aznoe, oleic acid and menthanol on dexketoprofen trometamol hydrogel patches.Results: The best formula was as follows: the mass percentage of NP-800, glycerol, glycerol and EDTA was 5%, 0.3% , 25% and 0.15% , respectively.The transdermal enhancers had transdermal enhancement on dexketoprofen trometamol, and among them, 3% Azone had the most significant enhancement with the enhancing rate of 3.26.Conclusion: The preparation and formula of dextroxyprofen trometamol hydrogel patches are stable, reasonable and feasible.

Objective To improve the diagnostic rate of mammary ductal disease by galactography and mammoscopy.Methods 100 cases of the galactographic and mommoscopy materials were retrospectively analyzed.Results Tumorous diseases including intraductal papilloma,intraductal papillary carcinoma and ductal carcinoma,they accounted for 14%,intraductal papilloma and intraductal papillary carcinoma were the most in this group(12%).Non-tumorous diseases including mammary ductal ectasia with chronicmastitis,plasma cell mastitis,mammary cyst,lobular hyperplasia and cystic hyperplasia,they accounted for 71%,mammary ductal ectasia was the most in this group(42%).Conclusion The galactography and mammoscopy are very valuable in the diagnosis and differentiating diagnosis of mammary ductal diseases.

Objective:To establish an HPLC method for the determination of chlorogenic acid in honeysuckle stem and honeysuck-le from different sources in different harvest periods. Methods:A Waters C18 column(250 mm × 4. 6 mm,5 μm)was used. The mo-bile phase consisted of acetonitrile-0. 4% H3 PO4(10:90)with the flow rate of 1. 0 ml·min-1 . The detection wavelength was 327 nm and the column temperature was 30℃. An external standard method was established for the determination of chlorogenic acid in honey-suckle stem and honeysuckle in six different harvest periods from three sources. Results:There was a good linear relationship within the range of 0. 065-1. 300 μg for chlorogenic acid(r=0. 999 8). The content of chlorogenic acid in honeysuckle was the highest in Sep-tember and October. The content of chlorogenic acid in Lonicera acuminata was the highest among the honeysuckle stem from three dif-ferent sources. Conclusion:The content of chlorogenic acid in honeysuckle has a certain relationship with the harvest time,which can provide theoretical basis for the choice of harvest time for honeysuckle stem.

Objective To explore the influences of plumbagin on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/ protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway in rats with carbon tetrachloride induced liver fibrosis.Methods Forty male SD rats were assigned to control group,model group,2 mg/kg plumbagin treated group and 3 mg/kg plumbagin treated group,with 10 rats in each group.Rats of the control group were injected with 0.9％ NaCl solution (2 mL/kg) intraperitoneally,while rats of the other three groups were injected with 60％ carbon tetrachloride/peanut oil (2 mL/kg,3 times a week for 6 weeks) intraperitoneally.Since the third week after modeling,rats of plumbagin treated groups were treated with intraperitoneal injection of plumbagin at a dose of 2 mg/kg and 3 mg/kg (twice a week for 4 weeks),respectively.Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST),albumin (Alb) were monitored routinely.Hyaluronic acid (HA) and laminin (LN) were measured by radioimmunoassay after 6 weeks; protein expression of liver PI3K,Akt and phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) were evaluated by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry,respectively.Comparison of means among groups was performed by univariate analysis of variance.Results The hepatic fibrosis model was successfully established after 6 weeks.Serum levels of ALT,AST,HA and LN of model group were significantly higher than those of control group (all P＜0.05).Serum levels of ALT,AST,HA and LN of 2 mg/kg plumbagin treated group and 3 mg/kg plumbagin treated group were significantly lower than those of model group,and the differences were statistically significant (all P＜0.05).The protein expressions of PI3K and Akt in each group were comparable (all P＞0.05).The p-Akt protein was mainly expressed in nucleus of hepatocytes.The levels of p-Akt protein in control group,model group,2 mg/kg plumbagin treated group and 3 mg/kg plumbagin treated group were 0.0821±0.0003,0.7374±0.0037,0.3679 ±0.0332 and 0.1327±0.0561,respectively,and that in model group was significantly higher than control group (t =851.302,P＜0.05),but those in plumbagin treated groups were both lower than model group (t=71.858 and 28.363,all P＜0.05).Conclusions Plumbagin presents anti-fibrotic effects in the liver,by down-regulating the expression of p-Akt during the development of fibrosis,which might be one of the antifibrotic mechanisms.

BACKGROUND:Tougu Xiaotong capsule is the clinical prescription for the treatment of osteoarthritis, however, its mechanism has not been fuly elucidated. Urokinase type plasminogen activator system which participated in the degradation of the extracelular matrix of articular cartilage and hyperplasia of joint synovium plays an important role in the pathological process of osteoarthritis. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect ofTougu Xiaotong capsule on urokinase-type plasminogen activator system in knee cartilage tissues of knee osteoarthritis rats. METHODS: Of 144 Sprague-Dawley rats, 120 rats were randomly made into models of knee osteoarthritisvia intra-articular injection of papain, and randomly assigned to model group,Zhuanggu Guanjie Wan group [1.2 g/(kg?d)], low-doseTougu Xiaotong capsule group [0.092 g/(kg?d)], moderate-doseTougu Xiaotong capsule group [0.184 g/(kg?d)] and high-doseTougu Xiaotong capsule group [0.368 g/(kg?d)]. Each group contained 24 rats. Every 2 weeks was considered as a course, with a 2-day interval, totaly 4 courses. The remaining 24 normal rats were included in the blank group. After every two courses, a batch of experimental animals was sacrificed. The pathological changes were observed folowing staining with hematoxylin and eosin. The positive cels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator, urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor and plasminogen activator inhibitor were measured by immunohistochemistry. The protein levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator, urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor and plasminogen activator inhibitor were measured by western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Mankin’s score was significantly lower in theTougu Xiaotong capsule group and Zhuanggu Guanjie Wan group compared with the model group (P < 0.01), in a time-dependent manner. Immunohistochemical staining indicated that the positive cels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator and urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor were significantly decreased, but plasminogen activator inhibitor was significantly increased in theTougu Xiaotong capsule group andZhuanggu Guanjie Wangroup in a time-dependent manner. Western blot assay results had an identical trend to immunohistochemistry. These indicated thatTougu Xiaotong capsule showed preventive and therapeutic effects on osteoarthritis by regulating urokinase-type plasminogen activator system.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of 5(S),6(R),7-trihydroxyheptanoic acid methyl ester (BML-111) on pregnant mice with fetal growth restriction(FGR) induced by antenatal dexamethasone and its probable mechanism. MethodsThe mice were mated overnight,with day 1 of pregnancy designated as the day on which spermatozoa were presented in a vaginal smear.The pregnant mice were then randomly divided into control group,dexamethasone group and BML-111 group.From 9 to 14 days of pregnancy,pregnant ICR mice of control,dexamethasone and BML-111 group were treated separately with saline,dexamethasone(5 mg/kg) and dexamethasone at 8:00 am,and two hours later they were treated separately again with 1 mg/kg saline,saline and BML-111.On the day 18 of gestation,they were sacrificed after blood were collected from their eyeballs.The serum lipoxin A4 was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Fetuses were delivered by cesarean section; the placenta and uterus were immediately removed and frozen.Gene expressions of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 ( 11β-HSD2 ),interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in placenta and lipoxin A4 receptor-formyl peptide receptor 3 (FPR3)in uterine were detected by reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction and compared with analysis of variance.The 11β-HSD2 protein in mice placenta was detected by immunohistochemistry. ResultsThe mean fetal weight of dexamethasone group was (0.823±0.054) g,lower than that of the control group and BML-111 group [(1.103±0.218) g and (0.992 ± 0.207) g] (t =- 4.108 and - 2.890,P ＜ 0.05 respectively).Protein expression of 11β-HSD2 in dexamethasone group (0.030±0.019) was weaker than that in control group (0.058±0.015,t=-3.107,P＜0.05) or in BML-111 group (0.049±0.026,t=-2.211,P＜0.05).The expression of 11β-HSD2 mRNA in dexamethasone group (0.457±0.062) was lower than that in control group (0.943±0.057,t=-9.418,P＜0.05) or in BML-111 group (0.698±0.071,t=-4.617,P＜0.05).Expression of IL-1β mRNA in dexamethasone group (0.543±0.103)was less than that in control group (0.710± 0.085,t=-3.736,P＜0.05) but more than that in BML-111 group (0.229 ±0.031,t=7.025,P＜0.05). The expression of FPR3 mRNA in dexamethasone group (0.323 ± 0.019) was less than that in control group (0.857 ± 0.057,t =-14.630,P＜0.05) or in BML-111 group (0.499 ±0.050,t=-4.822,P＜0.05).The serum concentration of lipoxin A4 in dexamethasone group was lower than that in control group [(64.463±22.144) pg/ml vs (101.610±24.916) pg/ml,t=3.152,P＜0.05].ConclusionsBML-111 regulate the expression of 11β-HSD2 and then protect against FGR resulted from too much prenatal application of dexamethasone.

ObjectiveTo dynamically observe the effects ofJieduan Niwan Formula on mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) rats; To further reveal the possible mechanism ofJieduan Niwan Formula.MethodsSPF Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group andJieduan Niwan group. 13-week porcine serum injection followed withD-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide joint acute attack was used to established ACLF model in all rats except for normal group. Rats inJieduan Niwangroup were orally givenJieduan NiwanFormula for 3 days before acute attack. Rats were sacrificed respectively at 4, 8 and 12 h after models were established. The expressions of Bid, Cytochrome C (Cyt C) and hepatocyte ultrastructure were detected by Western blot method, immunohistochemical analysis and transmission electron microscope, respectively.Results Compared with normal group, the levels of Cyt C and Bid in model group increased at 4 h and peaked at 8 h but decreased at 12 h (P<0.05); however, the levels of Cyt C and Bid inJieduan Niwan group were lower than those in model group at 4 and 8 h but higher at 12 h (P<0.05). The ultrastructures were significantly damaged in model rats, which severity was escalated through time; inJieduan Niwan group, the degree of injury decreased at each timing.ConclusionJieduan NiwanFormula can efficiently alleviate the hepatocyte damage in ACLF rats, and the mechanism might be involved in the inhibition of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.

Objective: Evaluating ovarian carcinoma diagnosis,staging and resectability with EBCT. Methods: 25 cases of ovarian carcinoma were performed in total abdominal including pelvic with EBCT one week before operation.CT findings were compared and analysed with surgical and pathological results. Results: Of 25 patients,11 were serous cyst adenocarcinoma,six mucinous cyst adenocarcinoma,three malignant teratoma,two metastases,and each have only one for clear cell carcinoma,embryo carcinoma and undifferentiated carcinoma.Clinical staging of carcinoma were seven in stageⅠ,seven in stage Ⅱ,nine in stage Ⅲ,two in stage Ⅳ.Invaded vessels and nearby organs around ovarian carcinoma,and the status of peritoneum metastases,were main factors that influenced the difficulties of operation.Compared with conventional CT,EBCT has the virtues of ultrafast scanning,excellent quality of image,and displaying focus detail fine.Conclusion: EBCT scanning is very valuable in diagnosis,tumor staging and evaluating resectability of ovarian carcinoma.