Objective To investigate the effect of levodopa on Parkinson's disease rats induced by 6-OHDA lesioned in different degrees. Methods Each group of PD rats whose nigrostriatal had been previously lesioned unilaterally by 6-OHDA received levodopa or saline injections twice daily for three weeks. The rotational behavior, immunohistochemistry and GSH level were observed. Results The rotational behavior ameliorated levodopa was seen only in severely lesioned PD rat. The levels of GSH in striatum were upregulated by levodopa treatment in moderately and severely lesioned PD rats. The number of tyrosine hydroxylase immunorecative neurofibers in the striatum were increased in mildly and moderately lesioned PD rats received levodopa treatment. Conclusions Levodopa upregulates the level of GSH in the striatum in moderately and severely lesioned PD rats. Levodopa will be benefical to mildly and moderately lesioned PD rats and has neurotrophic effect to promote the recovery of TH immunoreactive neurofibers in the striatum.

NMDA receptor has shown to be involved in several central nervous system disorders such as stroke, pain, parkinson′s disease, Huntington′s disease and epilepsy. Early studies revealed that NMDA antagonists produced adverse side effect that hampered the effort to develop NMDA antagonists. With advances in understanding the structure of NMDA receptor, NR2B antagonist is expected to be a more effective candidate with little side effect to treat these diseases. Several NR2B antagonists including CP 101, 606 are in preclinical trials in foreign countries. The present review summarizes progress in pharmacological actions of NR2B antagonists on neurodegenerative diseases.

Objective To compare the results of clinical treatment of shoulder and neck pain in patients with and without upper cervical degeneration. Methods Fifty two patients with diagnosed shoulder and neck muscular fasciitis(with high tension and tenderness on the trapezius) were divided into 3 groups: group A,with upper cervical degeneration(16 cases);group B,with upper cervical degeneration(15 cases),and group C,without cervical degeneration(21 cases).There were no significant difference in gender,age and course of disease among the 3 groups.Patients in 3 groups were regularly treated by naprapathy and electric therapy(intermediate frequency).Cervical traction and manipulation was added to the patients in group A.Treatment for 3 groups lasted for 2 weeks.The Visual Analog Scale(VAS) scores and Odom criteria before and after treatment were used for determining the results of clinical treatment. Results The VAS scores after treatment were significantly improved in group A and group C as compared with that in group B(P=0.000).Odom criteria of group A(93.8%) and group C(95.2%) were excellent and good without significant difference(P=0.692),but they were significantly higher than that of group C(P=0.001). Conclusions Patients with shoulder and neck pain accompanied by upper cervical degeneration(narrowing of intervertebral foramen) should be treated with cervical traction and manipulation beside the routine therapy.

[Objective]To probe the approach of supplementing Qi and nourishing Yin in the treatment of lung cancer. [Methods] With detailed research into Chinese medicine literature from recent years regarding its application in lung cancer, the basic pathogenesis of lung cancer, and relevant clinical effects and fundamental research of lung cancer are summarized.[Result]Numerous studies have shown that Qi and Yin deficiency is the basic pathogenesis of lung cancer, thus the approach of supplementing Qi and nourishing Yin can reduce the side effects and strengthen the clinical effects of radio-chemotherapy, stim-ulate immune function, improve life quality, and prolong the survival time of the patients.[Conclusion]It is significantly obvious that the approach of supple-menting Qi and nourishing Yin has shown great advantages in the treatment of lung cancer, however further clinical and basic research are expected.

Objective To establish a method for the determination of bilirubin in Xihuang capsules.Methods HPLC method was applied and the chromatographic conditions were as follows: Hypersil BDS C18 column(150 mm ? 4.6 mm,5 ?m)with methanol-chloroform-1 % phosphoric acid(84︰9︰7)as the mobile phase.The flow rate was 1.0 mL ? min-1 with the detected wavelength at 450 nm and the column temperature at 25 ℃.Results The calibration curve for bilirubin was linear in the range of 0.01 ~ 0.07 ?g.The average recovery was 98.07 %(RSD = 1.05 %).Conclusion This method is simple,accurate,specific and could be used for the quality control of bilirubin in Xihuang capsules.

Objective To observe the clinical effect of different doses of simethicone on the colonoscopy bowel preparation.Methods One hundred and fifty outpatients who received colonoscopy were randomly divided into three groups:group A1 (PEG plus 5 ml simethicone),group A2 (PEG plus 10 ml simethicone) and group B (PEG =polyethylene glycol electrolyte).The colonic cleaness,effect of removing bubbles,total procedure time,patients' satisfaction and tolerance were observed during the examination.Results The satisfaction with bubbles removal were 98.0％ (49/50),100.0％ (50/50) and 80.0％ (40/50) with significant difference(x2 =17.855,P =0.000).However,there was no difference in cleaness (x2 =1.500,P =0.472),total procedure time (Z =-0.333,P =0.765),patients' satisfaction (x2 =6.303,P =0.178) and tolerance (x2 =8.238,P =0.083).Conclusion Simethicone is of benefit for colonoscopic bowel preparation in removing air bubbles,which can enhance visibility.Five ml dose of simethicone can meet the basic need of removing air bubbles,and 10 ml dose of simethicone can exert better effects.

Objective: To determine the impurities in pharmaceutical adjuvant sodium bisulfite. Methods: An IC method was used with a Dionex IonPac AS17-C RFIC analytical column. ECD was used as the detector by gradient elution and the temperature of column was 30℃. Results:Sulfate radical was detected out in all samples. Conclusion:The method is simple and fast with high sensi-tivity, which is suitable for the determination of related substances in sodium bisulfite.

Objective To find out a treatment with high remission rate,long living period,and a good quality of life for elderly patients with multiple myeloma.Methods All patients were recruited into a treatment group(treated with traditional Chinese medicine,routine chemotherapy,and thalidomide)and a comparison group(treated with traditional Chinese medicine and routine chemotherapy).Results The total effective rate of the treatment group was 71.4%,higher than the comparison group(38.5%),but showing 110 statistical difference(P=0.128＞0.05).Median survive time of two groups were 21.8 months and 12 months respectively,(P=0.001＜0.01).The survival rate of 3 years and 5 years were 28.6%,15.4%and 7.1%,0 in the two groups respectively,without significant difference(0.317,1.000,both P＞0.05).Conclusion The treatment group showed higher results in both complete remission rate(CR)and very good partial remission rate(VGPR)than the comparison group,demonstrating a better results in improving the patient's quality of life.The treatment group also had a higher value of the median survive time and the median progression-free surial time than the comparison group.The combined therapy of traditional Chinese medicine,routine chemotherapy and thalidomide is an ideal choice for both aged Patients or young MM patients who had no transplant conditions.

Objective To explore a novel and highly specific small-molecule TNFβinhibitor by using computer-aid?ed virtual screening and cell-based assays in vitro. Methods Computer-aided drug design and virtual screening were used to design and identify chemical compounds that targeted TNFβbased on the crystal structure of the TNFβ-TNFR1 com?plex. The effect of the small-molecule compound against TNFβ-induced cytotoxicity of L929 cells was detected by MTT as?say, and the efficacy of the compound to inhibit TNFβ-induced apoptosis of L929 cells was determined by flow cytometry as?say. The impact of the compound on L929 cell cycle was examined by Propidium Iodide (PI) staining and flow cytometry, and the influence of the compound on TNFβ-triggered signal pathway was analyzed by Western blot assay and Ultra VIEW VOX 3D Live Cell Imaging System. Results No.35 compound (named as C35 thereafter) could effectively inhibit TNFβ-induced cell death in a dose dependent manner, and the half-maximum inhibition concentration (IC50) was 8.19μmol/L. Furthermore, C35 had lower cytotoxicity and minimal effect on L929 proliferation. Here we further revealed that C35 could affect TNFβ-induced apoptotic pathway by blocking the activation of Caspase 3, and markedly reduce L929 cell apoptosis induced by TNFβ. Conclusion A novel TNFβsmall-molecule inhibitor was identified by combining computer-aided virtual screening with functional assays, and which could block TNFβ-triggered apoptotic pathway and efficiently inhibit the cell death in?duced by TNFβ.