AIM: This study aimed at investigating the effects and mechanism of total alkaloids from Rhizoma Coptidis (TA) on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats. METHODS: The experimental gastric damages were established by intragastric ethanol, and the protective effects of TA were evaluated by calculating lesion indices contents and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity from rat gastric mucosa were measured to explore the interrelation between therapeutic effects of TA and these factors. The expressions of neuronal nitrogen monoxide synthase (nNOS), endothelial NOS (eNOS), and inducible NOS (iNOS)from ethanol-damaged gastric mucosa in rats were analysised using immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: TA significantly inhibited the gastric injury induced by ethanol ,in dose-dependent manner,and the effect of TA was superior to that of Berberine (Ber). TA obviously antric mucosa. TA significantly suppressed ethanol-induced decreasing nNOS and eNOS expression and elevation of iNOS expression in rat gastric mucosa. CONCLUSION: Rhizoma Coptidis is a potent candidate in therapeutic drugs of human alcohol-induced gastric injury. Its anti-injury effects involve in Ber and other ingredients of TA. The protective mechanisms of TA involve in inhibiting generation of oxygen-derived free radical, accelerating scavenging of free radicals, relieving lipid peroxidation, and maintaining NO content in normal level by inhibiting decreasing of nNOS and eNOS expression and elevation of iNOS expression.

AIM: To investigate the amount and patterns of expressing CD69 , IL-4 and IFN-? on TCRV?24 +NKT cells, and compare with that of CD3 +T cells from human peripheral blood in response to in vitro stimulation. METHODS: The whole blood was stained with three-color immunofluorescence directly or after cultured with PDB+ionomycin(Ion) for 6 h, then the mononuclear cells were separated by lysing red blood cells. The expression rates of CD69, IL-4 and IFN-? on TCRV?24 +NKT cells and CD3 +T cells were estimated by flow cytometer. RESULTS: As a proportion of mature T cells, the ratio of TCRV?24 + NKT cells to CD3 +T cells was about(1.34?0.42)%. The expression rates of CD69 on TCRV?24 + NKT cells and CD3 +T cells in response to PDB + Ion for 6 h were (96.71?1.33)% and (98.60?0.47)%, respectively, while the ratio were (11.47?2.86)% and (1.07?0.45)% in the unstimulated group, and there were significant difference between them. The expression rates of IL-4 and IFN-? on TCRV?24 +NKT cells stimulated with PDB+Ion for 6 h were (48.62?2.44)% and (46.65?8.91)%, respectively ,which were significantly higher than that of unstimulated group [(31.57?3.31)%, (13.45?6.29)%] and that of stimulated CD3 +T cells, though the expression rates on stimulated CD3 +T cells were significantly higher than that of unstimulated CD3 +T cells. CONCLUSIONS: There is small amount of NKT cells in adult human peripheral blood. The expression rates of IFN-? and IL-4 on these lymphocytes are higher than CD3 +T cells, suggesting that NKT cells are important immunomodulatory cells in special microvironments.

According to the level of selenium (Se) and methionine (Met) in diet, Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, group A (normal Se and normal Met); group B (Low Se and normal Met); group C (low Se and low Met). The animals were sacrificed after 8-week feeding. The results showed that the alteration of myocardial ultrastructure was slight in group B. Decreased activities of cytochrome oxidase and succinate dehydrogcnase of myocardial mitochonria and decreased activities of GSH-Px in the blood, heart and liver in group B were observed, as compared with those in group A. But the level of TBA was higher than that of group A.The above mentioned changes in group C were extremely apparent than group A or B, indicating both Se and Met deficiency in diet may concern the etiology of Keshan disease.