Objective To detect the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) in the plasma of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC); To investigate the clinical efficacy ofBaitouweng Decoction for UC and its influence on intestinal mucosal healing and partial mechanism.Methods Totally 66 patients with UC were randomly assigned to the treatment group and the control group. Patients in the treatment group were treated with Baitouweng Decoction (oral and enema treatment) and those in the control group took Mesalazine for 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, the therapeutic effects were assessed by Mayo scoring system and the grading of activities was evaluated by Baron Endoscope. Serum levels of TNF-α and IL-10 were detected by ELISA. Besides, another 20 healthy volunteers were recruited as the healthy control group for comparison.Results The endoscopic remission rate was 51.4% (19/35) in treatment group, higher than that of the control group (25.8%, 8/31,P<0.05). The clinical remission rate and efficacy rate in the treatment group were 74.2% and 88.6% respectively, higher than those of the control group (45.1% and 64.5%,P<0.05). The histological remission rate and efficacy rate in the treatment group were 25.7% and 54.3% respectively, higher than those of the control group (16.1% and 35.5%), without statistical significance (P>0.05). Serum levels of TNF-α were obviously positive correlated with Mayo score, Baron score and histology score (r=0.836, 0.735, 0.527,P<0.01). Serum levels of IL-10 were obviously negative correlated with Mayo score, Baron score and histology score (r=-0.704, -0.695, -0.509,P<0.01). Compared with pre-treatment, the serum levels of TNF-α significantly decreased (P<0.01), while the serum levels of IL-10 significantly increased (P<0.01) after treatment withBaitouweng Decoction.ConclusionBaitouweng Decoction (oral and enema treatment) is effective and safe in patients with UC. Its effects might be involved in regulating the imbalance of pro-inflammatory factors and anti-inflammatory factors, and promoting mucosal healing.

Objective To investigate the effect of the nuclear factor (NF)-κBp65 antisense oligonucleotide (ASODN) on NF-κB activity and expression of interleukin(IL)-6 in hepatic stellate cells (HSC). Methods The HSC were separated from rats and cultured. The toxicity of NF-κBp65 ASODN on HSC were detected by Trypan blue exclusion staining and the NF-κB activity was determined by EMSA. The expressions of IL-6 mRNA and protein were meaured by RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. Results In vitro, no toxicity of ASODN on HSC was observed at the concentrations of 0. 001 to 1.0 μmol/L. NF-κB activity was increased after stimulating HSC with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α, whereas it was weakened in a dose dependent manner when HSC were cultured with ASODN (concentration from 0. 001 to 1.0 μmol/L). At the same time, the expressions of IL-6 mRNA and protein induced by TNFα were decreased after transfected with ASODN at concentrations of 0.001- 1. 0 μmol/L in a dose dependent manner. Conclusion ASODN may specifically inhibit either the activiy of NF-κB or expression of IL-6, which provides the theoretical basis that ASODN may use to treat fibrosis of the liver.