BACKGROUND: Herbal wines are an important part of the traditional Chinese medicine. The traditional medicated wine, lishizhen herbal wine,which can strengthen the immune function, has long been used for some chronic diseases. But,its mechanism remains unclear.OBJECTIVE: To explore the immune pharmacodynamics of lishizhen herbal wine and to observe its effect on the immune organs (spleen,pancreas) and lymphocyte transformation rate in mice.DESIGN: A randomized controlled experiment based on the observation of the experimental animals.SETTING: Department of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine and the department of pharmacology of a university hospital MATERIALS: The experiment was completed at the Central Laboratory of Zhongnain Hospital of Wuhan University from September 2000 to December 2000. A total of 90 healthy Kuming mice were involved in the study.METHODS: Different doses of the herbal wine,cartinellin and the same volume of distilled water were given to the experimental animals. The drug administration was orally injected directly to the stomach of the animals once a day and 10 days consecutively. One hour after the last administration,the animals were put to death. Then,the thymus gland and the spleen were taken out and weighed to calculate the indexes of the thymus gland and the spleen. In the last three days of the administration phytohemagglutinin(PHA)was injected intramuscularly at a dose of 10 mg/kg once per day. Two hours after the last administration, the tails of the mice were cut out, the blood samples were taken to perform the Wright' s staining,and 100 lymphocytes were counted under immersion and the transformation rate was calculated.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary results: ① The effect on the immune organs of normal mice; ② The effect of PHA on stimulating the lymphocyte transformation in mice. Secondary results: ③ The death condition of the experimental animalsRESULTS: Different doses of the herbal wine increased the spleen index in different degrees. The effect of medium dose group was obvious[(3.71± 0.78) g/kg] (P <0.05),and the thymus gland index increased a little (P>0.05). The cartinellin in the positive control group increased the spleen index[(3.79±0.91 ) g/kg] and there was no impact on thymus gland index. The transformation rates of the lymphocytes of different groups were increased to a different degree and presented a good quantity-effect relationship,especially the group administered a large dose[(45±14)%] (P<0. 01).CONCLUSION: Lishizhen herbal wine has an effect of increasing cellular immune function.

Objective To quantitatively investigate the effect of low-dose ionizing radiation on the frequencies of chromosome aberrations and micronucleus-containing cells of radiation workers.Methods Nine electronic databases were systematically searched on the basis of the published studies evaluating the effects of low-dose ionizing radiation on the frequencies of chromosome aberrations and micronucleuscontaining cells.Of the 195 studies searched,21 studies were identified with a total of 1 970 626 cells under studying.Cochrane' s Q and I2 statistics were used to evaluate heterogeneity among studies and pooling odds ratio (OR) with 95％ confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using random-effect models or fixed-effect models,and publication bias were also calculated.Meta-analysis was performed using Stata 12.0.Results The pooling OR of chromosome-type aberrations [OR =3.03 (2.59,3.56)],dicentric plus centric rings [OR =4.12 (2.99,5.67)],translocations [OR =2.73 (1.67,4.46)],micronucleuscontaining cells [OR =1.70 (1.40-2.06)] were higher for radiation workers when compared with control group.Conclusions The frequencies of chromosome aberrations and micronucleus cell of peripheral lymphocytes are significantly high in radiation workers who were occupationally exposed to low-dose ionizing radiation.It should be noted that the radiation protection of radiological workers be enhanced.

In the present study, an ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOFMS) based on chemical profiling approach to evaluate chemical constitution between mixed decoction and co-decoction of monkshood-pinellia combination of the eighteen incompatible medications (Shi Ba Fan) was proposed. Two different kinds of decoctions, namely monkshood-pinellia co-decoction: water extract of the two herbs together, and monkshood-pinellia mixed decoction: water extract of each individual herbs mixed together, were prepared. Batches of these two kinds of decoction samples were subjected to UPLC/Q-TOFMS analysis, the datasets were processed with MassLynx 4.1 to holistically compare the difference between these two kinds of decoction samples. The most changed components during decocting were analyzed. Using the proposed approach, global chemical difference was found between co-decoction and mixed decoction, mesaconitine, aconitine and hypaconitine were identified as the most changed components (changed most significantly) during decocting. Result shows significant difference between two kinds of decoction samples, and the significant differences are probably related to the incompatibility of monkshood and pinellia.

Objective To modify the methods of operation and establishment of cerebral ischemia rat models made by thread occlusion. Method We randomly divided 120 male SD rats into a common group (n = 50), an improvement group (n = 60) and a sham-operated group (n - 10). Rats in the common and improvement groups were made into models using the common and improvement methods separately. All models were evaluated on the basis of physical sign indices and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. The TTC staining results were taken as gold standards. Then, we compared the achievement ratios of the two groups, and computed the sensitivity and specificity of every physical sign index based on these standards. The χ~2 or correction χ~2 test was used to compare the ratios. Results (1) The achievement ratio in the improvement group was significantly higher than that in the common group (71.67% vs. 52.00%, P = 0.034). (2) The sensitivity of evaluation for both common and improvement methods was 98.55%. However, the specificity of evaluation for the improvement method was significantly higher than that for the common method (100.00% vs. 40.00%, P =0.000). Conclusions The establishment achievement ratio and evaluation correctness of models are obviously elevated by modification of the operation and establishment methods.

Humans ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; Quality Control ; Risk Assessment

Objective To quantitatively analyze the effects of high background radiation area (HBRA) on the frequencies of translocation and unstable chromosome aberrations in human peripheral blood lymphocytes.Methods Based on the data from 9 published articles retrieved from 7 electronic databases,the Meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of high natural background radiation (HNBR) on the frequencies of chromosome aberrations in the peripheral blood lymphocytes in 17 777 persons from HBRA and 10 386 from the control area (CA).Cochrane's Q and I2 statistics were used to evaluate heterogeneity among studies and pooling odds ratio (OR) with 95％ confidence intervals (95％ CI) were calculated using random-effect models.Publication bias was also calculated by funnel plot,Egger linear regression test and Begg rank correlation test.Results The pooling OR of translocation [OR(95％ CI) =1.57(1.10-2.24)] and unstable chromosome aberration [OR(95％ CI) =2.04(1.32-3.14)] of long-term exposed inhabitants living in HBRA were higher than control.The subgroup analysis showed that,fortranslocation,the OR (95％ CI) were 1.24 (1.09-1.42,I2 =0.00) for male,1.37 (1.17-1.60,I2 =0.00) for female,1.17 (1.05-1.30,I2 =69.50％) for adults,and 1.38 (1.25-1.51,I2 =0.00) for Chinese.For unstable chromosome aberration,the OR (95％ CI) were 3.78 (2.40-5.97,I2 =0.00) for female,2.60 (2.25-3.00,I2 =69.60％) for adults,1.03(0.85-1.24,I2 =0.00) for children,3.19 (2.46-4.13,I2 =21.60％) for Iranian,and 1.64 (1.33-2.02,I2 =0.00) for Chinese.HBRA,age and sex differences were the reasons of above heterogeneity.Conclusions To the inhabitants living in HBRA,the frequencies of translocation and unstable chromosome aberration of peripheral blood lymphocytes are higher than those in control area.More comprehensive analysis should be performed to assess the health risk in HBRA inhabitants,which may arise new stragety in radiation protection.

Objective To observe liver pathological characteristics of the autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) C57BL/6 mice.Methods We established AIH C57BL/6 mice model with mixed adjuvants of allogenic liver antigens and complete freund's adjuvant by intraperitoneal injection.Then we determined and compared the body weight,alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST) between the normal control group (N group) and AIH model group (M group).And we compared the pathological characteristics of liver,spleen,heart,lung,kidney between two groups.Results We successfully established AIH C57BL/6 mice model.Compared with N group,we found that the average weight increase of mice in M group was decreased,ALT and AST of mice in M group were boosted.In M group,liver of mice presented typical interface of hepatitis,lymphocytic infiltration,even severe hepatitis,and showed spotty necrosis,multi-acinar necrosis.Some showed early sign of liver fibrosis by aprearing fibrous tissue hyperplasia.M group mouse's spleens were enlarged significantly.The spleen had darker color,not neat,and not smooth.Meanwhile,results were analyzed with statistics to confirm whether there was a significant difference between two groups (P＜0.05).About lungs,hearts and kidneys of mice in two groups,the pathological features were not found,and there was no statistic difference (P＞0.05).Conclusions The liver pathological characteristics of AIH C57BL/6 mice are similar to AIH patients.The results provide the pathological basis for the experimental research of autoimmune hepatitis.

To understand the family sex education for young children in rural areas of Sichuan province and analyze the influencing factors. A multi-stage random sampling method was used to select 2246 parents of kindergarten children from rural areas in Sichuan province for a questionnaire-based survey.The Chi-square test and Logistic regression model were used for data analysis. It was found 1132(52.33%)parents had implemented family sex education for young children and 1031(47.67%)had not.Young children having asked sex-related questions(=1.536,95%=1.257-1.878),parents thinking that early childhood sex education is necessary(=3.691,95%=2.029-6.717),and parents having the intention to know early childhood sex education(=1.700,95%=1.274-2.269),and kindergarten having implemented early childhood sex education(=3.316,95%=2.515-4.372)were promoting factors for parents to conduct early childhood sex education,whereas a total annual household income at the middle level(=0.664,95%=0.456-0.968)was a hindering factor for parents to conduct early childhood sex education. Parents of young children in rural areas of Sichuan province have poor awareness of sex education,and the proportion of parents who have never conducted sex education for children is high.The total annual income of the family,whether the children have asked about sex-related questions,parents' attitude towards early childhood sex education,and whether the kindergarten has conducted the early childhood sex education are important factors that influence the level of children's family sex education.
Child ; China ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Parents ; Sex Education ; Surveys and Questionnaires

In the present study, an ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOFMS) based on chemical profiling approach to evaluate chemical constitution between mixed decoction and co-decoction of monkshood-pinellia combination of the eighteen incompatible medications (Shi Ba Fan) was proposed. Two different kinds of decoctions, namely monkshood-pinellia co-decoction: water extract of the two herbs together, and monkshood-pinellia mixed decoction: water extract of each individual herbs mixed together, were prepared. Batches of these two kinds of decoction samples were subjected to UPLC/Q-TOFMS analysis, the datasets were processed with MassLynx 4.1 to holistically compare the difference between these two kinds of decoction samples. The most changed components during decocting were analyzed. Using the proposed approach, global chemical difference was found between co-decoction and mixed decoction, mesaconitine, aconitine and hypaconitine were identified as the most changed components (changed most significantly) during decocting. Result shows significant difference between two kinds of decoction samples, and the significant differences are probably related to the incompatibility of monkshood and pinellia.
Aconitine ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Aconitum ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Incompatibility ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pinellia ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plant Tubers ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; methods

OBJECTIVETo discover the characteristic changes of metabolic profiles in C57 mice with cyclophosphamide induced blood deficiency and the effect of Siwutang.

METHODAn integrated metabonomic study using high-resolution 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has been applied to investigate the metabolic profiles of serum, aqueous and lipidic extracts of thoracic gland, spleen, bone marrow obtained from control, model group (intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide at a dose of 250 mg x kg(-1)) and Siwutang treated model group. The NMR spectra were integrated in segments of 0.04 ppm and then analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) using SIMCA-P software to visualize the similarities and differences in metabolic profiles between these groups.

RESULTPCA result showed conspicuous difference in the metabolic profiles between groups. Compared with the control group, the model group contained lower concentration of lactate, 3-hydroxybutyrate, choline, glucose, and higher concentration of VLDL/LDL, leucine/isoleucine in serum. Lower concentration of taurine choline, Fbeta:RCH2CH2CO, Epi-coprostanol and lactate were found in both in thoracic gland extracts and spleen extracts. And in spleen extracts, we also found the lower concentration of 3-HB. In the extracts of bone marrow, the lower concentration of lactate, choline, glucosee were observed. When they were dosed with Siwutang 10 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) for 7 days, the effects above-mentioned were reversed.

CONCLUSIONThe injury established by injecting CTX is a kind of proper model to develop further metabonomics researches. The damage of mitochondria, disorder of energy metabolism and osmoregulation are observed in cyclophosphamide caused blood deficiency model by NMR-based-metabonomics method, and the Siwutang can improve these effects.

Anemia ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cyclophosphamide ; toxicity ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; methods ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Metabolomics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Paeonia ; Principal Component Analysis