To study the distribution pattern of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes in fatty liver disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Qinggan Huoxue Recipe (QGHXR), a compound Chinese herbal medicine, and its decomposed formulas Qinggan Recipe (QGR) and Huoxue Recipe (HXR) on expressions of CD14, Toll like receptor 4 (TLR(4)) and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in Kupffer cells. METHODS: The isolated primary rat Kupffer cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for a certain period of time, a series of concentrations of drug-containing serums of QGHXR and its decomposed formulas were added, the expressions of NF-kappaB, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), CD14, and TLR(4) of the Kupffer cells were detected in different culture conditions by using Western blot, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and ELISA methods respectively. RESULTS: QGR could down-regulate the expression of membrane receptor CD14, but the expression of NF-kappaB and TNF-alpha were not significantly decreased after QGR treatment. HXR could down-regulate the expression of membrane receptor TLR4 and inhibit the expressions of NF-kappaB and TNF-alpha. QGHXR could down regulate the expressions of membrane receptors CD14 and TLR(4) and inhibit the expressions of NF-kappaB and TNF-alpha. CONCLUSION: QGHXR can protect liver cells by down regulating the expressions of CD14, TLR(4) and NF-kappaB and inhibiting TNF-alpha expression.

To study the effects of Qinggan Huoxue Recipe (QGHXR), the compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, and its separated recipes on the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) mRNA and serum TNF-alpha content in rats with alcoholic liver injury (ALI).

Objective To explore the expressive level and clinical significance of tumor necrosis factor ligands related molecule 1A (TL1A) in peripheral blood of patients with viral myocarditis.Methods In 70 patients with viral myocarditis (viral myocarditis group) and 70 normal controls (control group),the plasma level of TL1A was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and the mRNA level of TL1A was detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.Results The plasma level of TL1A in viral myocarditis group was significantly higher than that in control group [(1.37 ± 0.41) μg/L vs.(0.85 ± 0.22) μg/L](P=0.000).The level of peripheral blood TL1A mRNA in viral myocarditis group was significantly higher than that in control group (0.39 ±0.17 vs.0.31 ±0.11,P =0.001).Conclusion The level of TL1A in patients with viral myocarditis is increased,and TL1A may participate in the occurrence of viral myocarditis.

To study the mechanism of liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and the therapeutic effects of the extract mixture of Dangyao (Swertia pseudochinensis Hara) and Shuifeiji (Silybum marianum Gaertn) on NAFLD rats with liver injury.

To study the effects of Jiangzhi Granule (JZG), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, in regulating liver X receptor α (LXRα) and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) expressions in a rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Objective To characterize the vascular cognitive impairment of stroke patients with different injury sites (right or left cerebral hemisphere) and pathological type (hemorrhage or infarct). Methods A total of 119 stroke patients were assessed with regard to their cognitive functions using the LOTCA within one week of admis-sion, and comparison was made among patients in terms of VCI characteristics, injury site, and pathological type. Results In patients with left hemisphere injury, there found no significant difference between those with cerebral in-farct and hemorrhage with regard to the total score of LOTCA, but the score of perception of those with hemorrhage was lower than those with infarct(P<0.05). in patients with right hemisphere injury, both total score of LOTCA and the subscore were not significantly different between those with infarct and hemorrhage(P>0.05). In patients with infarct in left hemisphere, the total score of LOTCA was lower than those with infarct in right hemisphere(P<0.05), but the scores of orientation and thinking operation were lower than those with infarct in right hemisphere(P<0.001 or <0.01). In patients with hemorrhage in the left hemisphere, the total score of LOTCA was not significantly different from those with hemorrhage in right hemisphere, but the scores of orientation and perception were lower than thosewith hemorrhage in right hemisphere(P<0.001 or <0.01). Conclusions More attention with regard to perception training should be paid to those with cerebral hemmorhage than those with cerebral infarct. In patients with cerebral infarct, more attention with regard to orientation and thinking operation training should be paid to those with infarct in left side, while for those with cerebral hemorrhage, more attention with regard to orientation and perception training should be paid to the left hemisphere insult.

To study the action mechanisms of Qinggan Huoxue Recipe (QGHXR), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, and its separated recipes by observing their effects on expressions of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in rats with alcoholic liver fibrosis (ALF).

Traditional Chinese medical case records in the previous dynasties are vital to the development of traditional Chinese medical theory, but the tremendous amount of data are far beyond a person's ability for comprehension. According to information science, traditional Chinese medical case record data are complicated and intricate experiential data. New technology and methods are needed to solve this difficulty. Knowledge discovery technology plays an important role in analyzing data and uncovering important data patterns, and it will be a useful method in processing such data. This paper briefly presents the methods of knowledge discovery in traditional Chinese medical case record study, and puts forward some necessary academic methods.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of Yiqi Huayu Recipe, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine for replenishing qi and resolving stagnation, on transforming growth factor-beta1(TGF-beta1) of skin ulcers in rats with diabetes. METHODS: Sixty rats were randomly divided into six groups, Yiqi Huayu Recipe-treated group, Yiqi (replenishing qi) Recipe-treated group, Huayu (resolving stagnation) Recipe-treated group, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) treated group, untreated group and normal control group. Diabetes was induced by peritoneal injection of streptozotocin and skin ulcers were made by surgery method in rats except for the normal control group. Then the rats were administered with different drugs respectively, and the expression of TGF-beta1 in granulation tissue of the skin ulcers was detected with the methods of Western blotting, image analysis and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The level of TGF-beta1 expression in the untreated group was lower than that in the normal control group (P<0.01); and the level of TGF-beta1 expression in the drug-treated groups was higher than that in the untreated group (P<0.01); and the TGF-beta1 expression in the Yiqi Huayu Recipe-treated group was higher than that in the Yiqi Recipe-treated group, Huayu Recipe-treated group and bFGF-treated group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The replenishing qi and resolving stagnation therapy can control the secretion of TGF-beta1 of the wound in the process of wound healing in the levels of gene and molecule.