OBJECTIVE:To distinguish between the traditional science of Chinese materia medica and the pharmacognosy and discuss the developmental direction of the traditional Chinese medicine.METHODS:The differences between the traditional science of Chinese materia medica and the pharmacognosy in rationale,research contents,medical treatment principles and identification of the quality of the traditional Chinese medicine were compared to clarify that the pharmacognosy and traditional science of Chinese materia medica are completely different concepts.RESULTS:At present,the science of Chinese materia medica is constrained by the theory of pharmacognosy,and the traditional science of Chinese materia medica is tended to be gradually replaced by the western-medicine-theory-based pharmacognosy.CONCLUSION:It is necessary to reconsider and discuss the developmental direction of the traditional Chinese medicine.Modern research on Chinese medicine should follow the natural laws of the Chinese medicine itself rather than following the development mode of the western medicines.

Objective To explore the therapeutic effects of human glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF)-engineered rat neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation in rat model of Parkinson's disease ( PD) . Methods SD rats received a single injection of 24 μg of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) at two sites in right striatum. Then 10 days after surgery, the successful animal models of PD were divided into 3 groups: PD model group ( 2 μl transplantation media was injected in right striatum), NSC group (transplanted were 2×10~5 NSCs infected by bare lentivirus) and GDNF group (transplanted were 2×10~5 GDNF-engineered NSCs). The rotation scores were assessed 5 weeks, 7 weeks and 9 weeks after transplantation. The dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra ( SN ) were analyzed quantitatively using immunohistochemistry for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and the dopamine and its metabolites, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) were analyzed 9 weeks after transplantation by high performance liquid chromatography ( HPLC) . Results GDNF-engineered NSC transplantation could effectively improve the behavioral performance in rats. At the 5th week after cell transplantation, the rotation turns within 90 min were (993. 9±159. 1) turns, (956. 7±136. 3) turns and (433. 6±100. 9) turns in PD model group, NSC group and GDNF group respectively (F=95. 694, P = 0. 000). At the 7th week, the rotation turns within 90 min were (964. 2 ± 152.0) turns, (909. 2 ± 136. 3) turns and (399. 4±84. 4) turns in PD model group, NSC group and GDNF group respectively (F = 106. 134, P=0. 000). At the 9th week, the rotation turns within 90 min were (909. 5±152. 2) turns, (865. 5± 129. 1) turns and (312. 2±63. 7) turns in PD model group, NSC group and GDNF group respectively (F= 151. 100, P = 0.000). GDNF-engineered NSC transplantation could significantly increase the levels of dopamine and its metabolites in injured striatum. The concentrations of dopamine in injured striatum was higher in GDNF group than that in PD model group and NSC group C(7. 5±0. 8) ng/mg vs. (3.3±0.3) ng/mg and (3. 7±1. 3) ng/mg, F=59. 543, P = 0. 0003. The level of DOPAC was higher in GDNF group than that in PD model group and NSC group C(0. 9±0. 1) ng/mg vs. (0. 5± 0. 1) ng/mg and (0. 6±0. 2) ng/mg, F= 17. 293, P=0. 000]. The concentration of HVA in injured striatum was higher in GDNF group than that in PD model group and NSC group [(0. 9±0. 1) ng/mg vs. (0.5±0. 1) ng/mg and (0. 6±0. 2) ng/mg, F=35.175, P = 0.000]. Conclusions engineered NSC transplantation improves the function of dopamine system in SN and striatum, and GDNF gene therapy has potential clinical value.

Objective To identify the cell death type and investigate the potential mechanism of ionizing radiation-induced neural cell death in the neonatal rat cerebral cortex.Methods The neonatal Wistar rats were given a single dose of 2.0 Gy γ-irradiation.The cell death type and characterization in cerebral cortex were identified using DNA electrophoresis,TUNEL and HE staining.The P53-and iNOS-positive cells were analyzed quantitatively using immunohistochemistry.Results The DNA and morphological characterization of death cells indicated that 2.0 Gy γ-irradiation induced apoptosis of the neural cells in neonatal rat cerebral cortex.The apoptosis indices in different cortex regions were significantly increased 4 h after irradiation,and reached the peak value at 12 h post-irradiation.The apoptosis index of neoconex was much higher than that of hippocampus(archicortex)and paleocortex,while paleocortex had lower apoptosis index than hippocampus.The quantitative immunohistoehemistry suggested that the numbers of P53 and iNOS-positive cells were not different between these three cortex regions at the same time-point after irradiation.Conclusion 2.0 Gy γ-rays induced apoptosis of the neural cells in neonatal rat cerebral codex.The response of cells to the damage effects of ionizing radiation was similar in different cortex regions;however,the apoptosis indices were different significantly.These findings imply that the developing phase or type of neural cells may play a pivotal role in the apoptosis process induced by ionizing radiation.

To better understand the cleavage efficiency of muhiribozyme system on its RNA substrate in the presence and absence of divalent magnesium and monovalent sodium ions.we constructed pGEM-Coat'A,pGEM-Coat'A196Rz plasmids and pGEM-MDRl target plasmid.They were applied to transcribe RNAs with SP6/T7 transcription kit.Cleavage reactions were carried out in cell-free system and reaction products were analyzed by electrophoresis on 6% denaturing polyacrylamide gels in TBS buffer.The gels were dried and exposed to X-ray films for autoradiography.The Image J software was employed to analyze the dried gels.The results indicated that the cleavage efficiency of the muhiribozyme was dependent on the concentration of divalent Mg2+.The cleavage products increased with the concentrations of divalent Mg2+ and were Mg2+ concentration and time dependent.No cleavage product was obtained in the presence of lower than 200 mmol/L Na+ alone.On the contrary,monovalent Na+ inhibited the Mg2+ -induced cleavage reaction in Na+ and Mg2+ coexistance.The cleavage rate was significantly lower than that observed with divalent Mg2+ alone.These results suggested that divalent Mg2+ was required for muhiribozyme on substrate cleavage reaction in the physical condition,whereas monovalent Na+ was not.

Objective To explore the mechanism through which nicotine protects dopaminergic neurons against 6-OHDA toxicity in SD rat. Methods Rats received nicotine or saline treatment (two doses tested,0. 2 rag/ kg and 2 rag/ kg, 5 injections i.p. per day at 2-h intervals). On day 8after the treatment, a single injection of 20μg of 6-OHDA was administered into right striatum.Nicotine or saline was administered continuously daily until animals were killed. The dopaminergic neurons and CD3, CD4 and CDS-positive lymphocytes were analyzed quantitatively using immunohistochemistry. Microglia activation was quantified by IBA1 immunofluorescence. Results The loss of dopaminergic neurons induced by 6-OHDA in the substantia nigra was significantly less severe in the nicotine treatment group (at both 0. 2 and 2 mg/kg groups) than that in the saline treated group. In the striatum, we observed that the number of CD3, CD4 and CD8-positive lymphocytes reduced significantly in the nicotine treated animals as compared to saline controls. Otherwise, nicotine inhibited CD4 and CD8-positive lymphocytes infiltration equivalently. Quantitative immunofluorescenee analysis indicated the microglia activation was inhibited obviously in nicotine treatment. Conclusions Our data suggest that nicotine may have a neuroprotective effect against dopaminergic lesion induced by 6-OHDA by inhibiting the inflammation.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the accuracy of the modalities in revealing the results by observing the radiofrequency ablated (RFA) lesions with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS),magnetic resonance image (MRI) in comparison with histopathologic findings in normal rabbit kidney.Methods RFA was performed in the left kidneys of 10 rabbits.The ablated lesions were observed with conventional ultrasound(US),CEUS,MRI at 1 day,1 week after RFA.Then the rabbits subjected to postmortem and the kidney specimens were excised,stained and processed for conventional histologic study.The maximum lesion size as measured on US,CEUS and MRI was then correlated with the histopathologically determined lesion size.The utility of different imaging modalities were evaluated.ResultsIn a relatively short time (at 1 day and 1 week),CEUS and MRI may reveal the location,shape and extent of ablated lesion.And the lesion sizes with CEUS,MRI and kidney specimens were well correlated (P＞0.05).ConclusionsBoth CEUS and MRI are suitable for the accurate evaluation of the ablated lesions in the short time.CEUS can reveal the variation of flow perfusion in the ablated lesion dynamicly and in real time.

Objective To research the functional role of thyroidal motilin and the effects of electric excitation of the paraventricular nuclei(PVN) on gastric motility and the levels of motilin in thyroid and plasma.Methods The expression of motilin in rat and human thyroid was detected by immunofluorescence staining.A phase Ⅲ-like contraction was recorded before and after thyroidectomy and after PVN excitation.The changes in concentrations of plasma FT3,FT4 and motilin were determined via radioimmunoassay (RIA).c-Fos expression of PVN after thyroidectomy and motilin expression in thyroid after PVN excitation were observed by immunohistochemical staining.Results There were motilin immunoreactive cells in rat and human thyroid.The phase Ⅲ-like contraction and concentration of motilin in plasma decreased significantly when measured on the second and fourth days after thyroidectomy(2d,P＜0.01 ;4d,P＜0.05).The expression of c-Fos in PVN after thyroidectomy was significantly increased(P＜0.05).An electric excitation of PVN could increase the concentration of motilin in plasma and thyroid and increase corresponding gastric motility in rats (P ＜0.05).The increased phase Ⅲ-like contraction by PVN excitation could be partially inhibited by administration of motilin receptor antagonist,GM-109 (P＜0.05).Excitation of PVN in thyroidectomized rats resulted in lower plasma motilin and less intense phase Ⅲ-like contraction of stomach,as compared with the sham operated control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Motilin from the thyroid may be secreted into the peripheral plasma to affect gastric motility and PVN may modulate gastric motility and motilin expression in the thyroid.

Objective To explore the relationship between red blood cell volume distribution width (RDW) and degree of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Methods One hundred and sixty-four patients with CHB were consecutively selected. According to the fibrosis index based on the 4 factors (FIB-4) index, the patients were divided into 3 groups: low-FIB group (FIB-4 <1.45, 116 cases), mid-FIB group (FIB-4 1.45-3.25, 31 cases) and high-FIB group (FIB-4 > 3.25, 17 cases), and the clinical data and laboratory indexes (including RDW) were compared. The patients were divided into Ⅰ group (RDW<0.113, 43 cases), Ⅱ groups (RDW 0.113-0.119, 40 cases), Ⅲ group (RDW 0.120-0.127, 43 cases) andⅣgroup (RDW>0.127, 38 cases) according to the RDW, and the FIB-4 were compared. The correlation between RDW and FIB-4 was analyzed by Spearman correlation test. Results The RDW and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in low-FIB group, mid-FIB group and high- FIB group were gradually increased: 0.117 ± 0.011, 0.122 ± 0.010, 0.134 ± 0.018 and (18.9 ± 7.3), (28.2 ± 10.4), (44.1 ± 13.3) U/L, but the platelet was gradually decreased:(211.3 ± 48.8), (159.3 ± 40.0) and (150.4 ± 31.2) ×109/L, and there were statistical differences (P<0.05). The FIB-4 inⅠgroup,Ⅱgroup,Ⅲgroup andⅣgroup was gradually increased:1.07 ± 0.74, 1.11 ± 0.56, 1.35 ± 0.70 and 2.03 ± 1.06, and there was statistical difference (P<0.05). Spearman correlation test result showed that FIB-4 and RDW was positively correlated (r=0.447, P<0.01). Conclusions The level of RDW is closely related with the degree of liver fibrosis in patients with CHB. RDW has a potential value in assessing the progress of liver fibrosis.

Objective To study the curative effect of CT-guided percutaneous acetic acid injection(PAI)combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)in the treatment of primary heaptocellular carconima.Methods 52 cases with primary heaptocellular carconima were divided into two groups.26 cases were treated with TACE and PAI,combined group comparing with other 26 cases treated with TACE group.Results Decrease of AFP,shrinkage of tumor mass and survival rate of 1-2 years of the combined group and TACE group were 78.3% vs 50.0%,65.4%(17/26) vs 38.5%(10/26)and 73.1%(19/26),52.6%(10/19) vs 57.7%(15/26),33.3%(5/15),respectively;with statistical significance(P