Aim: To study the therapeutic effects of ZK_(14), a novel nitric oxide donor, on hepatic fibrosis in rats. Methods: Rats were injected intraperitoneally with CCl_4 and induced to hepatic fibrosis, followed by intra-gasrtic administration with high dose of 20 mg/kg and low dose of 10 mg/kg of ZK_(14) for 4 weeks. The effects were evaluated in the content of nitric oxide of serum and nitric oxide synthases of liver, in serum levels of the hepatic functions indices and hepatic fibrotic index and in liver histopathology. Results: The biochemical indices and pathology grade were effectively improved in the group of ZK_(14) 20 mg/kg, and liver function was also effectively protected in this group. Conclusion: ZK_(14), a novel nitric oxide donating biphenyldicarboxylate derivative, showed preferable therapeutic effects on hepatic fibrosis of rats induced with CC14, and it may be of potential value in the treatment of hepatic fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the information acquired through the four diagnostic methods of traditional Chinese medicine in patients with bronchial asthma, and to classify the syndrome types. METHODS: Four hundred and thirty patients with bronchial asthma were randomly investigated. The information acquired through the four diagnostic methods was recorded and the database was established by Amos software, and then the data were analyzed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). RESULTS: After analyzing the data with 4 factors, 5 factors and 6 factors, we found that the results of CFA with 6 factors were in accordance with clinical practical experience. CONCLUSION: According to the results of CFA with 6 factors and with the standard regression coefficient 0.4 as primary and secondary critical points, the syndromes in patients with bronchial asthma can be classified into 5 types, which are syndromes of cold fluid retained in lung, phlegm-heat obstructing lung, wind-phlegm blocking lung, qi deficiency of lung and kidney and qi deficiency of spleen.