OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of Periplogenin, a compound extracted and purified from traditional Chinese medicine Cortex Periplocae, on mast cell degranulation and histamine release in mice and rats. METHODS: Sensitization was induced by injecting pertussis vaccine injected in rats' abdominal cavity and ovalbumin injected in mice's hind leg to detect mast cell degranulation reaction and prepare anti-serum; rats were injected intraperitoneally with the diluted serum sample taken form sensitized rats to detect mast cell degranulation reaction; and the concentration of histamine was determined by fluorescence spectrophotometry. RESULTS: Periplogenin showed significant inhibitory effect on histamine release of mast cell cultured in vitro, and at experimental dose it could decrease histamine release by(69.4?8.6)% in an obvious dose-depe-ndent manner. Periplogenin also showed obvious inhibitory effect on histamine release of mast cells in antigen-sensitized rats,and at a concentration of 20 ?g?mL-1,it could decrease histamine release by 73.55%, and at an oral dose of 50 mg?kg-1, it could dose-dependently reduce histamine release by above 80% in sensitized rats. CONCLUSION: Periplogenin showed significant inhibitory effects on histamine release of mast cells either cultured in vitro or in antigen-sensitized rats. Oral administration of Periplogenin can result in the significant reduction of histamine release of mast cells in rats. In view of the role that the mast cell histamine release and degranulation play in inflammation reaction, periplogenin can be regarded as one of the active anti-inflammation components of traditional Chinese medicine Cortex Periplocae.

Objective To study effect of etoricoxib on IL-1βand TNF-αin patients with gouty arthritis.Methods 86 patients with gouty arthritis from July 2014 to July 2016 in our hospital were selected, all patients were divided into study group and control group according to the treatment method with 43 cases in each group.The patients in the control group were treated with diclofenac sodium, the patients in the study group were treated with etoricoxib.The clinical symptoms, clinical treatment effects, VAS score, serum IL-1β, TNF-αlevels and adverse reactions were observed and compared between the two groups.Results The VAS score, the joint swelling score and the mobility limitation score of the study group were decreased than before treatment and significantly lower than those of the control group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).The effective rate of the study group (95.35%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (79.07%), the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The levels of IL-1βand TNF-αin the two groups were significantly lower than before treatment and the levels of IL-1βand TNF-αin the study groups were significantly lower than those in the control group,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The incidence of adverse reactions in the study group was lower than that in the control group, the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion The clinical efficacy of etoricoxib in treating patients with gouty arthritis is significant, which can effectively relieve the clinical symptoms, inhibit the expression of IL-1βand TNF-α, and the adverse reactions less.

Objective To evaluate immune protective effects of Treponema pallidum(Tp)pcD/Tp92 DNA vaccine delivered through different inoculation routes against Tp-induced skin infection in New Zealand rabbits. Methods A total of 108 New Zealand rabbits were randomly and equally divided into 6 groups:A1 and A2 groups treated with intramuscular injection of empty plasmids pcD and pcD/Tp92 DNA vaccine respectively for 2 sessions, B1, B2, C1 and C2 groups firstly treated with intramuscular injection of the pcD/Tp92 DNA vaccine for 1 session for primary immunization, then receiving nasogastric feeding with pcD/Tp92 DNA vaccine, pcD/Tp92 DNA vaccine+cytosine-phosphate-guanine(CpG)oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN), and recombinant Tp92 protein, and recombinant Tp92 protein+CpG ODN respectively for booster immunization. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was conducted to detect the serum level of anti-Tp92 IgG antibody at week 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 after immunization, the SIgA level in the nasopharyngeal region and vaginal mucosa at week 8 after immunization, as well as levels of interleukin-2(IL-2)and interferon-γ (IFN-γ)in the culture supernatant of rabbit spleen cells at week 8 after immunization, and methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT)assay was performed to estimate proliferative activity of rabbit splenic lymphocytes in three rabbits from each group. At week 10 after immunization, other 15 rabbits from each group were subcutaneously inoculated with Tp standard strain, and changes of skin lesions at the inoculation site during early-stage infection were observed and recorded. Results At week 8 after immunization, the C2 group showed significantly higher serum level of anti-Tp92 IgG antibody(1.825 ± 0.175), supernatant levels of IL-2 (154.7 ± 14.6)and IFN-γ(277.4 ± 24.4), and proliferative activity of T cells(3.57 ± 0.24)compared with the A2(1.372 ± 0.322, 112.3 ± 13.4, 232.8 ± 25.3, 3.08 ± 0.22, respectively, all P<0.05), B1(0.893 ± 0.297, 76.6 ± 21.5, 165.7 ± 22.6, 2.12 ± 0.14, respectively, all P<0.05)and B2(1.294 ± 0.124, 97.3 ± 18.7, 211.3 ± 24.6, 2.88 ± 0.18, respectively, all P<0.05)groups. In addition, effective immunoprotection was achieved in the C2 group with more production of mucosa-specific SIgA antibody, as well as the lowest Tp-positive rate (6.67%) and ulcer formation rate (6.67%) in skin lesions at the inoculation sites. Conclusion The effective vaccination strategy, namely intramuscular injection of the pcD/Tp92 DNA vaccine for primary immunization followed by nasogastric feeding with mucosal adjuvant CpG ODN combined with recombinant Tp92 protein for booster immunization, can induce the strongest mucosal immune responses and immune protective effects.

Objective To investigate the expression and clinical significance of ABCG2 protein in hepato-cellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Specimens of HCC were collected at The First Aifiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2005 to December 2006. The expression of ABCG2 protein in 165 samples of HCC tissue, 25 samples of normal liver tissue and 40 samples of cirrhotic liver tissue was detected using immunohisto-chemistry. The correlation between the expression of ABCG2 protein and clinicopathological characters was then analyzed. Enumeration data, survival rate and the difference between groups were analyzed with a chi-square test, the Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test, respectively. Results ABCG2 protein expression was weakly posi-tive in all normal and cirrhotic liver tissues. In HCC tissues, the expression of ABCG2 protein was strongly positive in 66 cases and weakly positive in 99 cases. The expression of ABCG2 protein was related to tumor diameter, tumor number, adjacent organ invasion and TNM stages (χ2 =8. 130, 14. 279, 4. 820, 21. 179, P <0. 05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that patients with strongly positive ABCG2 protein had a significantly lower 3-year overall survival (24. 1%) compared with those with weakly positive ABCG2 protein (39. 4%) (χ2 = 15.716, P<0.05). Conclusions The expression level of ABCG2 protein is related to tumor invasiveness, TNM stage and prognosis. ABCG2 has the potential to become a new target for HCC treatment.

Objective To investigate the effects of magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate on liver regeneration and hepatic function following partial hepatectomy in thioacetamide induced cirrhotic rats.MethodsForty-five cirrhotic Wistar rats undergoing 2/3 hepatectomy were randomly assigned to control group ( Group A), Group B and Group C starting the day of hepatectomy, rats in Group B were injected 60mg per kg body-weight magnesium isoglycyrrhizina daily intraperitoneally until the day of sacrifice. Rats in Group A recevied same dose of sodium chloride. In Group C, magnesium isoglycyrrhizina was administered daily 3 days before hepatectomy until the rats were sacrificed. Liver function, serum HGF, serum PLA2,BrdU labelling index and percentage of intial liver weight on days 1, 2 and 7 post hepatectomy were assessed. ResultsRats in Group A had significantly lower BrdU labelling index and serum HGF level than Group C ( t = 2. 831, P ＜ 0.05; t = 3.427, P ＜ 0.05 ) and a markedly higher level of serum PLA2 than the other groups on day 1 posthepatectomy ( Group B t = 2. 794, P ＜ 0.05; Group C t = 2. 902, P ＜ 0.05 ).Rats in Group A had a lower BrdU labelling index and a more increased level of serum PLA2 than Group B and Group C on day 2 posthepatectomy ( BrdU labelling index: Group B t = 2. 736, P ＜ 0.05; Group C t =3.083, P＜0.05; PLA2: Group B t =2.794, P＜0.05; Group C t =2.902, P＜0.05), but had no significant difference in HGF level with the other two groups. The three groups were similar in ALT, AST,TP and intial liver weight on days 1,2 after operation. On the 7th day posthepatectomy, rats in Group A had a higher level of AST ( Group B t = 4. 508, P ＜ 0.05; Group C t = 2. 967, P ＜ 0.05 ) and a lower level of TP ( Group B t = 2. 838, P ＜ 0.05; Group C t = 2. 743, P ＜ 0.05 ), lower liver weight than the other two groups ( Group B t = 3.316, P ＜ 0.05; Group C t = 4. 093, P ＜ 0.05) but there was no difference between the three groups in BrdU labelling index, HGF and PLA2 level. Rats in Group C had significantly higher BrdU labelling index and serum HGF level than the rats in Group B on day 1 after hepatectomy( t = 2. 831, P ＜0.05; t = 2. 836, P ＜ 0.05 ).ConclusionsMagnesium isoglycyrrhizinate inhibits aminopherase release and enhancing liver regeneration in cirrhotic rats after partial hepatectomy.

Objectives To explore the clinical features and pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease (KD) combined with sterile pyuria. Methods A total of 420 patients diagnosed of KD were recruited and divided into pyuria group ( 95 patients) and control group ( 325 patients) according to urine routine examination on admission. The clinical data between the two groups were compared. Results There was no difference in gender, age, and the incidence of atypical KD (P all?>?0 . 05 ). The levels of C-reactive protein, D-dimer concentrations, fibrinogen degradation products, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and urine retinol binding protein were higher in pyuria group than those in control group (all P>?0 . 05 ). No difference was found in the duration of fever before admission between two groups (P>?0 . 05 ). However, pyuria group had longer duration of fever after treatment with immunoglobulin (P?0.05). Conclusion The morbidity of sterile pyuria in KD patients was 22 . 6%. KD patients with sterile pyuria have more intense inlfammatory response, markedly high coagulation condition, and mild or subclinical renal damage.

This article elaborated the theory of chronic and complex disease treatment based on collaterals. It put forward that complex virtual evil stasis was the common pathogenesis of chronic and complex disease treatment. Combined with articles published in recent 5 years, from the perspective of cytokines and genes, it summarized traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compound targets in chronic and complex disease treatment. It put forward the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs), matrix metalloproteinases/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (MMPs/TIMPs) were its high-frequency targets. It provided a basis for future experiment design on chronic and complex disease treatment based on collaterals as well as new drug development.

BACKGROUND:Urine-derived stem cels are most likely to come from the kidney tissue, and therefore, these cels are more adaptable to kidney microenvironment, providing a new option for the treatment of kidney diseases.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic efficacy of human urine-derived stem cels on chronic nephropathy rats.
METHODS:The fresh urine samples of healthy people were colected, and then human urine-derived stem cels were extracted and cultured in vitro. Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats were used to prepare chronic nephropathy models, and given injection of human urine-derived stem cel suspension (experimental) or normal saline (control) into the renal cortex, respectively. Another 10 healthy rats were used as controls. Therapeutic effects on renal function were assessed by detection of serum creatinine level and glomerular filtration rate in the three groups. The kidney tissues of rats were taken and observed histomorphologicaly in each group.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Human urine-derived stem cels were found to remarkable improve rat’s renal function as wel as reduce the histomorphological changes in the kidney tissues of rats. Compared with the control group, the serum creatinine level was decreased while the glomerular filtration rate was increased significantly in the experimental group; CD68 expression and infiltration of interstitial inflammatory cels were also markedly reduced in the experimental group. To conclude, human urine-derived stem cels can improve the renal function of chronic nephropathy rats.

OBJECTIVETo study retrospectively the clinical efficacy on pediatric recurrent pneumonia treated with point application in summer for the prevention in winter, as well as the relationship of age, sick duration, attack frequency and skin reaction with the clinical efficacy.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-five cases of pediatric recurrent pneumonia were divided into a one-year group, a two-year group and a three-year group, 45 cases in each one according to the duration of treatment. The acupoints for the application were Dingchuan (EX-B1), Feishu (BL 13), Gaohuang (BL 43) and Danzhong (CV 17) with the same herbal plaster (prepared with rhizome corydalis, semen brassicae, euphorbia kansui and asarum sieboldii at the ratio of 2:2:1:1) on the first day of each of the three periods of the hot season, 2 to 4 h in each treatment. The attack frequency and change rate were observed before and after treatment in the three groups. The clinical efficacy was assessed in the three groups.

RESULTS(1) After treatment, the attack frequency of pediatric pneumonia was reduced apparently in the three groups (all P < 0.01). The result in the three-year group was less than that in the one-year group and the two-year group and the change rate was the highest (all P < 0.01). (2) After treatment, the sick duration was shortened apparently in the three groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The result in the three-year group was the most remarkable, statistically and significantly different as compared with the other two groups (both P < 0.01). (3) The total effective rate in the three-year group was better than that in either of the other two groups [84.4% (35/45) vs 51.1% (23/45, P < 0.01), 84.4% (35/45) vs 71.1% (32/45, P < 0.05)]. (4) The total effective rate in the children aged from 4 to 7 years was better than that in the group aged from 8 to 10 years and the group aged from 11 to 14 years [79. 7% (47/59) vs 71.7% (33/46, P < 0.05); 79.7% (47/59) vs 43.3% (13/30, P < 0.01)]. (5) The total effective rate in the children with the sick duration ≥ 4 year was lower than that in the group with the sick duration <2 years and that 2 to 4 years (both P < 0. 01). (6) The total effective rate in the children with the annual attack frequency of 2 to 4 times was better than that with the frequency ≥ 4 times (P < 0.01). (7) For the cases with skin reaction after treatment, the total effective rate was better than that in the cases without reaction (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe point application in summer for the prevention in winter reduces the attack frequency of pediatric pneumonia, shortens the sick duration and has achieved the better significant efficacy in the cases of lower age, shorter sick duration, less attack frequency and moderate skin reaction.

Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pneumonia ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Seasons ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the effect of CTLA4-Ig chimera protein on mice mortality, histopathological changes, viral fiters, expression of CTLA4 protein on infiltrated T lymphocyte and the balance of Thl/Th2 in mice myocarditis caused by coxsackie virus B3 (CVB3). Methods A total of 106 four to six week-old male BALB/c mice were used in the experiments, which were divided into CTLA4-Ig group (n = 16), CVB3 group (n=40), IgG group (n =40) and normal control group(n = 10) randomly. The mice in CVB3 group, IgG group and CTLA4-Ig group were inoculated intraperitoneally with 0. 15 ml CVB3 and the mice in norreal control group with 0. 15 ml Eagle. The mice in IgG group and CTLA4-1g group were inoculated with IgG (0. I mg/kg) and CTLA4-Ig(0. 1 mg/kg) at 6 h and 72 h post inoculation(p, i. ), respectively, The surplus mice in each group were sacrificed at day 7 p.i. Light microscope was used to quantify the inflammation. The expression of CVB3 mRNA in mycardium were semi-quantified by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR). The expression of CTLA4 protein were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The levels of IL-2, IL-4 and 1FN-γ in serum were measured by ELISA. Results The mice mortality, histopathological score and CVB3 mRNA in CTLA4-Ig group were lower than that in CVB3 group ( P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0. 05, respectively). The expression of CTLA4 was significantly increased in CTLA4-Ig therapy group (P < 0.05 ). The serum level of IFN-γ of mice in CVB3 group were significantly higher than that in normal control group( P < 0.01 ). The serum level of IL-4 of mice in CVB3 group were much lower than that in normal control group( P < 0.01 ). The serum level of IL-2 in CVB3 group had no statistical significance with that in normal control group ( P > 0.05 ). The serum level of IFN-γ in mice of CTLA4-Ig group were much lower than that in CVB3 group ( P <0.01 ) and lgG group (P < 0. 01 ). The serum level of IL-4 of mice in CTLA4-Ig group were significantly higher than that in CVB3 group (P<0.01) and IgG group (P<0.01). The serum level of IL-2 in CTLA4-Ig group had no statistical significance with that in CVB 3 control group and lgG group ( P > 0. 0 5 ) . Conclusion CTLA4-Ig may relieve inflammation and reduce mice mortality by blocking the costimulation signals for T lymphocyte activation and reinforcing Th2 response.