In order to investigate some requisite conditions for the formation of mycelial phase of Pityrosporum orbiculare (P. orb) and understand indirectly the pathogenesis of tinea versicolor, we used a semisolid medium containing cholesterol 1. 0g/dl and agar 0.8g/dl, and obtained the mycelial phase of P. orb. Then we studied the relationship between the formation of the mycelial phase and the concentration of cholesterol or agar in the medium. The results showed that when P. orb were cultured on the medium, the hyphae began to grow on the 4-6th day, increased gradually, and peaked on the 10-12th day. The hyphae were mostly blastohyphae, 8-16?m in length and in the shape of racket,and distributed in clustes. It was found that 0. 25g/dl was the minimum concentration of cholesterol to induce the mycelial phase in vitro. Within the range of 0. 25-1.0g/dl the higher the concentration was, the more the hyphae were. When the concentration exceeded 1.0g/dl, the hyphae did not increase markedly. Relative high moisture (0.8g/dl of agar in the medium) was suitable for the production of the hyphae. The results suggest that the occurrence and recurrence of tinea versicolor in summer probably relate to the change of choleserol concentration on the surface of the skin after the evaporation of sweat.

Objective: To observe the clinical effects on advanced esophageal cancer by combined Xihuang Pill with chemotherapy. Methods: Dividing 35 advanced esophageal cancer cases randomly into two groups: 18 cases in the treatment group and 17 cases in the control group. Cases in the control group were treated by nedaplatin 40mg/m2,d1,2; 5-Fu400mg/m2,d1-5; CF200 mg/m2,d1-5. While the treatment with Xihuang Pill combined. The difference of quality of life, hematological toxicity, efficacy and symptoms between the two groups was observed. Results: The quality of life, remission rate of some symptom in the treatment group were much better than the control group, and the hematological toxicity and efficacy were the same. Conclusion: Xihuang Pill could improve the quality of life of advanced esophageal cancer patient, and alleviate some symptoms.

An accurate method for measuring Emodin content in a Chinese patent drug Qingningwan was developed by HPLC with external standard of Emodin. Calibration curve was linear in the range of 14.8-148?g /ml and mean recovery rate of Emodin was 98.93％. Coefficient of variation was 1.20％(n=5). These indicate that HPLC is an advanced, accurate and feasible method in quality control of Qingningwan.

Objective To study the effect of the products of entermorpha (EP), chlorella growth factor (CGF) and entermorpha dietary fiber (EPDF) on defecation and blood lipid regulation. Method Based on the composition of EP products, the male ICR mice were intervened with EP, EPDF and CGF with three doses. Using the constipation model induced by compound diphenoxylate, the effect of EP products on enterocinesia function of mice was determined by measuring defecation and the percentage of ink-pushing in small intestine. High-lipid rat model was established by feading high fat diet and the intervention effect with three doses of EPDF and CGF for 6 w was observed. Results As compared to the model group,all doses of EP,both middle and high doses of EPDF,and high dose of CGF could shorten the time of first defecation and increase the percentage of ink-pushing in small intestine of costive mice (P

[Objective] The purpose is to determine the effect of Chaihu Plus Longgumuli Decoction(CD)on behaviors and plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH)level changed by psychological stress in rats.[Methods] Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to four groups as follows:normal(C),psychological stress model(P),CD(12.5g/kg,ig)+P(DP),and CD(25g/kg,ig)+P(HP).One week later,rats were subjected to psychological stress.The behaviors of rats were tested in open field conditions,and the plasma ACTH level was detected by radioimmunoassay.[Results] The crossing scores,the rearing cores and plasma ACTH level increased more significantly in the psychological stress model rats than that in normal group;Rats in both DP and HP groups showed lower crossing and rearing cores and blunted elevation of plasma ACTH after psychological stress compared with rats in psychological stress model.[Conclusion] The hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical(HPA)axis function and anxiety-like behavior could be regulated by CD during psychological stress in rats.

Hepatitis c virus (HCV) infection has become one of the global public health problem,while there is no vaccine to prevent HCV infection, the so-called "cocktail" therapy that use a combination of drugs targeting multiple steps in the HCV infection cycle could achieve better curative effect. the process of HCV entering into host cell is the important step of drug intervention, in which HCV envelope protein El and E2, Host cell factors including Heparan sulfate(HS), CD81, scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), Occludin (OCLD), Claudin (CLDN), low densitity lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), dendritic cell-specific ICAM-3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN), Liver/lymph node specific ICAM-3-grabbing integrin(L-SIGN), trans- ferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) and so on play a important role. The virus and the host factors can be used as targets of hcv entry inhibitors many studies have shown that as novel and promising compounds, HCV entry inhibitors combinating with other drugs can be more effective in the treatment of HCV, this paper have re- viewed targets and inhibitors of HCV enterring into host cell since 1990s.
Animals ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; Hepacivirus ; drug effects ; physiology ; Hepatitis C ; genetics ; metabolism ; virology ; Humans ; Receptors, Virus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Virus Internalization ; drug effects

BACKGROUND: The event of paroxysmal deplorizing shift (PDS) is the cellular hallmark of brain neurons of epileptiform activities. Its development used to be considered to be related to abnormal synaptic interactions. Recertly, the intrinsic nature of PDS has received more attention.OBJECTIVE: To observe the characteristics of epileptiform activities of rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons induced by low-dosage veratridine and investigate its possible ion mechanism.DESIGN: An exploratory and observational trial.SETTING: Institute of Neuroscience, Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS: This study was conducted at the Institute of Neuroscience,Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA, from October 2002 to October 2004. Forty healthy SD rats of 14 days old were selected. Drugs were provided from Tianjin Drug Company and Sigma Company.METHODS: Rats were anesthetized by intraperitoneal injection, and their brain was removed and cut into slices. Epileptiform activities were induced by 0.5 μ mol/L veratridine. Then 80 nmol/L tetrodotoxin was added into the perfused solution on 6 cerebral slices, and 5 μmol/L phenytoin was used on another 5 cerebral slices. The electrophysiological characteristics of the cells under the effect of different kinds of drugs were observed.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Discharge pattern of cells and tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium currents under voltage-clamp configuration through Ⅰ-Ⅴ reaction.RESULTS: After perfusion of 0.5 μmol/L veratridine, the rat pyramidal neurons in CA1 area displayed relatively fixed-mode of runs of PDS bursting,followed by the hyperpolarization of cell membrane. Such epileptiform activities were blocked either by 80 nmol/L tetrodotoxin or 5 μnol/L phenytoin. The tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium currents in epileptic neurons and normal controls under voltage-clamp configuration on holding potential of -55 rmV, -60 rmV, -65 mV. This shows that persistent sodium currents could be improved by low-dosage veratridine in a voltage-dependent manner.CONCLUSION: Low-dosage veratridine may induce runs of PDS like epileptiform activities on rat CA1 pyramidal neurons. Such changes can be blocked by low-dosage tetrodotoxin or phenytoin. Its ion mechanism may be related to persistent sodium currents.

Object To study the different fingerprints of hydrophilic and hydrophobic components in roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. collected from different habitats, and discovery the relationship between the two types of components. Methods The fingerprints were detected by RP-HPLC and the results were analyzed by SPSS software. Results Roots of S. miltiorrhiza collected from different habitats showed different fingerprints of hydrophilic and hydrophobic components, there is no obvious relationship between the two types of components. Conclusion In order to control the quality of 5. miltiorrhiza roots that is used to manufacture injections, we must assay the hydrophilic components, such as salvianolic acid B should be determinded.

Objective To evaluate the capability of model for end-stage liver disease (MELD)combined with serum sodium (MELD- Na,MELDNa and MESO scores) in predicting the prognosis of patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis in 6 and 12 months.Methods One hundred and nineteen patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis and completed follow-up data were retrospectively studied.The MELD,MELD- Na,MELDNa and MESO scores were calculated according to the clinical data of each patient.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under the curve (AUC) was used to measure the values of the four models in predicting the 6 and 12 months survival,and Z-test was used to compare their predictive values.Results MELD,MELD-Na,MELDNa and MESO scores were significantly different between patients who survived and those who died within 6 and 12 months follow-up.The AUC for the MELD- Na,MELDNa and MESO scores were all more than 0.8 in predicting 6 and 12 months survival.However the differences of the AUC between the MELD score and MELD-Na,MELDNa,MESO scores were not significant in predicting 6 and 12 months survival.Conclusion The model for MELD combined with serum sodium can accurately predict the prognosis of patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis in 6 and 12 months,while these scores are not superior to MELD score.

BACKGROUND:Fetal bovine serum based media used for expanding and cryopreserving human mesenchymal stem cells raise safety concerns in the clinical setting. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the feasibility of human umbilical cord blood plasma as a replacement for fetal bovine serum in culture and cryopreservation of human mesenchymal stem cells derived from umbilical cord. METHODS:Umbilical cord blood units were suitable for this research if they fulfil ed the donor selection criteria of the Guangzhou Cord Blood Bank strictly. Cord blood plasma was ready to use after col ected from the plasma reduction during the suitable cord blood units processing and pooling. Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells were harvested from the umbilical cord tissue of health ful-term newborns after delivery by enzyme digestion and were cultured in the presence of Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium/Ham’s nutrient mixture F-12 containing either fetal bovine serum or pooled cord blood plasma. Morphology, proliferation, immunophenotype detected by flow cytometry and differentiation toward adipogenic and osteogenic lineages were utilized for investigating the effect of media on umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells after 3-5 passages. Then cells were cryopreserved in media containing 10%dimethyl sulfoxide, 20%fetal bovine serum or 20%pooled cord blood plasma for at least 6 months. Viability, adhesion, proliferation, immunophenotype and osteogenic differentiation of the cells were assessed after thawing. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The morphology (spindle-shaped and plastic-adherent), phenotype and differentiation potential (osteogenic and adipogenic) were almost indistinguishable between cells cultured in fetal bovine serum or cord blood plasma medium, while cells grown in cord blood plasma medium demonstrated significantly higher proliferation rates than those in medium containing fetal bovine serum. After thawing, the cells maintained their adherence to the culture surface and differentiation potential to osteoblasts, but cells from cord blood plasma cryopreservation medium showed significantly better plastic attachment and produced greater cellnumbers than fetal bovine serum for the first three post-thaw passages. The results demonstrate that cord blood plasma can sever as an effective substitute to fetal bovine serum for growth, maintenance and differentiation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells, and thus it wil be a safe choice for clinical-scale production of human mesenchymal stem cells.