Based on vector auto-regression (VAR) model, this paper takes advantage of Granger causality test, variance decomposition and impulse response analysis techniques to carry out a comprehensive study of the factors influencing the price of Chinese herbal, including herbal cultivation costs, acreage, natural disasters, the residents' needs and inflation. The study found that there is Granger causality relationship between inflation and herbal prices, cultivation costs and herbal prices. And in the total variance analysis of Chinese herbal and medicine price index, the largest contribution to it is from its own fluctuations, followed by the cultivation costs and inflation.
Agriculture ; economics ; Commerce ; Costs and Cost Analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; economics ; Humans ; Models, Statistical ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; Regression Analysis

Objective To investigate the expressions of transferrin receptor (TfR) mRNA, ferritin(Fn) mRNA and iron regulatory proteinl (IRP-1) mRNA in the placentas complicated with fetal iron deficiency(ID). Methods Depending on the cord SF,the subjects were divided to fetal ID group and fetal iron sufficient( IS) group. TfR mRNA, Fn mRNA and IRP - 1 mRNA in placentas were measured by RT - PCR. Results 1. The expression of TfR mRNA in ID group was 1.10 ? 0. 26, it was significantly higher than that in IS group (t=0.028 P0.05) ;4. TfR mRNA and Fn mRNA correlated with fetal IS respectively. Conclusion Fetal ID induces highly expressed TfR mRNA and lower level of Fn mRNA to furthest satisfy the iron need for fetus.

Objective To study the expression of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3(STAT3) in airway epithelial cells of asthmatic mouse model and its association with airway remodeling,explore the role of signal-transduction pathway in airway remodeling.Methods Thirty Balb/c mice were randomly divided into normal control group(n=10),asthma without intervention group(n=10) and AG490 intervention group(n=10).The mice were sensitized with ovalbumin to establish the asthmatic model.The histological changes were evaluated by HE staining,total brochial wall thickness(Wat)and smooth muscle thickness(Wam) were measured by image analysis system,the percentages of collagen deposition were detected by Masson′s trichrome staining,the expression of STAT3 in airway were detected by immunohistochemistry technique;lung tissue extracts were analyzed for phosphorylation of STAT3(p-STAT3)by Western blot.SPSS 13.0 software was used to analyze the data.Results 1.The histological changes including airway thickness,airway smooth cell proliferation and excessive collagen deposition in subepithelial aera were found under light microscope in asthmatic mice.2.The level of STAT3 and p-STAT3 in asthma without intervention group were significantly higher than those in normal control group(Pa

Objective To observe the effects of inhaled budesonide (BUD) in early phase on the airway inflammation in asthmatic mouse,and its effects on the IL-6/signal transducers and activators of transcription 3(IL-6/STAT3 )signaling pathway in airway,explore the therapeutic target of BUD.Methods Forty Balb/c mice were randomly divided into control group(n=10),asthma group(n=10),BUD group(n=10) and AG490 group(n=10).The mice were sensitized with ovalbumin to establish the asthmatic model.The histological changes were evaluated by HE staining.The levels of IL-4,IL-5 and IL-6 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Lung tissue extracts were analyzed for total STAT3 and phospho-STAT3(p-STAT3) by Western blot.Results 1.The levels of inflammatory cells,EOS%, IL-4,IL-5 and IL-6 levels in the BALF in BUD group were significantly lower than those in asthma group (Pa0.05).Conclusions Inhaled corticosteroid can apparently ameliorate airway inflammation in early phase in asthmatic mouse model,and it can downregulate the expressions of IL-6 and STAT3,inhibit the signal-transduction pathway of STAT3.The IL-6 /STAT3 signaling pathway of airway may be one of the potential therapeutic targets of inhaled corticosteroid.

OBJECTIVETo observe the curative effect of integrative medicine for treatment of systematic lupu erythematosus (SLE).

METHODSTotally 110 cases of SLE were randomized into two groups, 50 in the control group and 60 in the treated group, both were treated with prednisone, but to the treated group, integrative medica treatment was given additionally according to syndrome differentiation. The course for both groups was 6 months. Clinical symptoms, immunological indexes, peripheral blood figure, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and creatinine (Cr) in blood, and 24 h urinary total protein (u-TP/24 h) were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSOf the 60 patients in the treated group, the treatment on 29 was evaluated as clinical remission, 18 as remarkably effective, 9 as effective, and 4 as ineffective, the total effective rate being 93.33% (56/60), while that in the control group was clinical remission in 11, remarkably effective in 10, effective in 19, ineffective in 10 respectively, and the total effective rate 80% (40/50), the difference on total ef fective rate between the two groups was significant (chi2 = 4.36, P <0.05). Besides, the improvement in the treated group was superior to that in the control group in terms of clinical symptoms such as fever, arthralgia and baldness (P <0.05, P <0.01); the negative reversion rate of anti-nuclear antibody (ANA, 51.3% vs 28.1%), antidouble-stranded DNA (ds-DNA, 53.6% vs 26.1%), anti- ribonucleoprotein (RNP, 63.2% vs 29.4%) and circulating immnue complexes (CIC, 63.2% vs 29.4%, all P <0.05); lowering of immunoglobulin (for IgG, P < 0.05; IgA, P <0.01; IgM, P <0.01); as well as bettering in peripheral blood figure, ESR, CRP, Cr and u-TP/24 h (P <0.05 or P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONIntegrative medical treatment is obviously effective for SLE patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Blood Sedimentation ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Humans ; Infant ; Inpatients ; Insecticides ; poisoning ; Middle Aged ; Organophosphorus Compounds ; Pesticides ; poisoning ; Poisoning ; etiology ; mortality ; therapy ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate

Objective To explore the relationship between serum leptin level and the hypothalamuspituitary-gonad ( HPG) axis in female adolescents with anorexia nervosa ( AN). Methods Sixteen newly diagnosed female adolescents with AN in Shanghai and Zhejiang province were investigated, and their serum leptin, FSH, LH and body composition were measured before and after 18 weeks treatment, and their menorrhea cycles were observed. The rhythm of 24 h serum leptin secretion was studied in 4 patients with AN. Twenty-six, healthy females with normal weight and without contraceptive medication were studied as controls. Results (1) All of 16 patients had amenorrhea, 3 primary amenorrhea and 13 secondary amenorrhea. At admission LH in 14 patients and FSH in 12 patients were below the low limit of the normal reference range (1.5 U/L and 4. 6 U/L respectively), and among them 5 patiend had both 15% weight gain and significantly increased serum leptin level (P

Objective To discuss the clinical efficacy of Bushen Huayu Sanjie Prescription for the treatment of deficiency of both qi and yin and blood stasis in patients with stage Ⅳ of type 2 diabetic nephropathy. Methods Totally 90 patients with stage Ⅳ of type 2 diabetic nephropathy were randomly divided into treatment group and control group, with 45 cases in each group. The control group was given Western routine therapy, such as low-protein diet, control of body mass, hypoglycemic, antihypertensive, lipid-lowering, anticoagulation, and microcirculation, etc. On the basis of control group,treatment group was given Bushen Huayu Sanjie Prescription,one dosage per day,twice a day, orally. The treatment for both groups lasted for three months. TCM symptom scores, blood glucose, blood lipids, renal function, 24-hour urinary total protein (UTP), and serum transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels before and after treatment in the two groups were observed. Results The total effective rate of clinical efficacy and TCM efficacy of the treatment group were 80.00% and 84.44%, respectively, and the control group was 62.22%. The treatment group was superior to the control group (P<0.05). Compared with before treatment, TCM symptom scores, blood glucose, blood lipids, renal function, UTP, serum CRP, and TGF-β1 were significantly improved in the two groups (P<0.05). The scores of TCM symptoms, TGF-β1, CRP and UTP in the treatment group were better than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Bushen Huayu Sanjie Prescription combined with Western routine therapy for the treatment of deficiency of both qi and yin and blood stasis in patients with stage Ⅳ of type 2 diabetic nephropathy has good clinical efficacy, which can delay disease progression by reducing TGF-β1 and CRP, inhibiting renal interstitial fibrosis, and decreasing urinary protein excretion.

Objective To investigate the roles and significances of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis by repeated renal biopsy.Methods Seventeen patients diagnosed by renal biopsy as WHO typeⅣlupus nephritis were analyzed by immunohistochemistry staining for MMP-2 and MMP-9. Double staining for MMP-2 and MT1-MMP,MMP-9 and CD68 were also performed.Patients had repeated renal biopsy after followed up for 2.5 years.The relationship between expressions of gelatinases and pathological activity index and clinical data were studied.Results MMP-2 immunoreactivity was detected in normal controls and was increased in diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis.MMP-9 staining,which was almost negative in normal giomeruli,was increased much more significantly in diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis. The immunoreactivity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was positive in MT1-MMP staining and CD68-positive macrophages, respectively.The expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was reduced by 70% and 62% in 10 patients whose clinical condition was partially alleviated,while the expressions in 7 patients whose clinical condition was not alleviated,were only reduced by 27% and 32%.The staining for MMP-2 and MMP-9 were correlated with activity index of lupus nephritis and proteinuria.Conclusion Up-regulation of gelatinases expression in diffuse proliferate lupus nephritis is correlated to activity index of the disease.

Objective To investigate the effects of cryopreservation on the growth and osteogenesis capa- bility of human bone marrow stromal cells(BMSCs)on demineralized bene matrix(DBM).Methods Bone marrow aspirates were obtained from the lilac crests of three donors.The BMSCs were isolated from the bone marrow by density gradient centrifugation.Cells of passage 3 were cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen for 24 hours,and then re- covered.The non-cryopreserved BMSCs were used as the control,The cryopreserved and control BMSCs were cul- tured in osteogenic media,collected and labeled with Dil to be seeded onto the DBM when cells were confluent.The percentage of BMSCs adhered to the DMB was detected.The cell morphology and matrices secreted by BMSCs on the DBM were observed by the inverted phase-contrasted microscope,fluorescence microscope and scanning electron microscope(SEM).The growth and viability of BMSCs on the DBM were determined using the modified MTT ashy. The osteogenesis ability of BMSCs on the DBM was determined by assessment of the alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity and osteocalcin(OCN)content.Results The percentages of the cryopreserved and control cells adhered to DBM were(97.25?1.17)% and(97.00?1.09)% respectively.The cells adhered well to the DBM and grew rapidly.Large amounts of matrices on the DBM were observed by the light microscope and SEM.The cells embedded in the matrices could be observed by fluorescence microscope.There were no significant differences in the assay values of MTT,ALP and OCN between the cryopreserved and control BMSCs on the DBM.Conclusion Since cryopreservation does not affect the growth and osteogenesis capability of BMSCs on DBM,the cryopreserved BMSCs can be used as a cell source in bone tissue engineering.