Objective To investigate the effect of moldavica total flavone on pulmonary function and collagen type Ⅲ in lung tissue of ovalbumin-induced bronchial asthmatic rats. Methods A total of 60 SD rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, dexamethasone group, and moldavica total flavone low, medium and high dose group. Rat asthma model was established by ovalbumin challenge methods except the control group. The control and model group were intragastrically given distilled water, medicine groups were intragastrically given moldavica total flavone and dexamethasone for 30 d, once per day. After the last administration, the pulmonary function and airway responsiveness including breathing frequency (F), minute ventilation (MVb), peak inspiratory flow (PIFb), peak expiratory flow (PEFb) and enhanced pause (Penh) were measured by using non-invasive measurement system (Penh system, Buxco, USA). The collagen type Ⅲ in lung tissue were detected by ELISA. Results The moldavica total flavone at 180 and 360 mg/kg decreased F and Penh (P<0.05, P<0.01), increased MVb, PIFb and PEFb (P<0.05), and decreased collagen type Ⅲ in lung tissue (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion Moldavica total flavone can relieve the airway hyperresponsiveness and remodeling, improve respiratory function of ovalbumin-induced bronchial asthmatic rats.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary hepatic malign-ancy in clinic. The prognosis of patients remains extremely poor because of the high malignancy and easy recurrence and metastasis of HCC. In recent years, the roles of platelets in promoting the malignant progression of HCC have increasingly attracted much attention. It is known that platelets could promote HCC cells proliferation and invasion through tumor microenvironment. On the other hand, platelets are capable to promote HCC cells distant metastasis by facilitating tumor cells evasion of immune surveillance. Besides, the platelet-derived growth factors and proangiogenic factors are also involved in the proliferation, invasiveness, and neovascularization of HCC. In addition, patients with HCC normally have a background of cirrhosis, and it is still controversial that whether the thrombocytopenia by portal hypertension and hypersplenism can promote the malignant progress of HCC. In view of this, the diagnostic and prognostic value of platelet levels, as well as platelet-associated scores in HCC have increasingly become research focus. The authors elaborate the detailed mechanisms of platelets in malignant progression of HCC, and discuss the recent research progress of platelets as effective diagnostic or prognostic tools for the assessment of HCC, which is of great importance to optimize the current treatment regimen and explore novel therapeutic strategies against HCC.