In the view of the idea that the utilization of wild plants and animals in traditional Chinese medicine is destroying the biodiversity, this article discusses the relationship between traditional Chinese medicine and the biodiversity from a new point of view. The authors consider that reasonable utilization of the wildlife in traditional Chinese herbal medicine is beneficial to the protection of wildlife under proper management and guidance. However, there is still a long way to go to balance the relationship between the wildlife protection and exploration. In view of this, some propositions are put forward, including enforcing the relative laws and rules for herbal resources protection, carrying out the research work of the background data, formulating the standard for the classification of the rare and endangered species, accelerating the investigation of the substitute resources of extinctive wildlife for medical use, enforcing the citizens' consciousness of wildlife protection and developing the industrial and artificial cultivation of traditional Chinese herbal medicinal plants and animals.

In this study,we constructed 2 eukaryotic expressing plasmids namely pcS2?S and pFP,encoding HBV preS2+S envelope protein and human IL 2/IFN ? fusion protein, respectively. The double plasmid fusion protein was used as an adjuvant in preparation of a treatment type HBV gene vaccine. To investigate its feasibility for use as a therapeutic DNA vaccine, we've evaluated the immune response after injection into healthy mice, HBV transgenic(Tg) mice, New Zealand rabbits and Rhesus monkeys. The results showed that the therapeutic DNA vaccine can improve: (1)the CTL activity; (2)the HBsAg(30?g/ml) specific T lymphocyte proliferation in which the stimulation index(SI) and cytokines(IL 2/IFN r) release levels of the pS2.S immunized group(SI=5.6?0.9; 226.3?41.1/51.1?7.1pg/ml) were significantly higher( P

The peptides from HBV cytotoxic T lymphocyte(CTL) epitope were used to either stimulate or impact the immune effector (E) or CTL target (T) cells respectively, in order to investigate the cellular immune response induced by DNA vaccination in both healthy and HBV transgenic (Tg) mice. It was found that HBV DNA based immunization could induce CTL activity in healthy BALB/c mice, with intensity correlated with the E/T ratio and IFN ? secretion level in its supernatants. The target cells hit by HBsAg CTL epitope peptide(pp20) could be lysed by the active CTL induced by HBV DNA vaccine encoding preS2 and HBsAg, while the cell lysis could not be observed in the target cells impacted by the HBcAg CTL epitope peptide (pp10). The supernatant IL 12 secretion level (211 3?39 8pg?ml -1 ) in the DNA vaccination group was significantly( P

Objective To estimate the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and thyroid autoantibodies in adults with alopecia areata (AA), and to analyze the relationship between alopecia areata (AA) and thyroid autoimmunity in adults.Methods A predesigned questionnaire was used to collect data on demographic information, medical history,and family history of AA in first-degree relatives from patients with AA.Thyroid function was evaluated, and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO-Ab) was screened in all the patieuts.Statistical analysis was carried out by the chi-square test and Fisher's exact test.Results Totally, 209 patients with AA were enrolled.Of these patients, 6.7％ were complicated by thyroid diseases, 20.6％ were positive for TPO-Ab.Compared with the patients without TPO-Ab, those with TPO-Ab showed a significant increase in the proportion of patients with early-onset (＜ 18 years) AA (x2 =5.589, P =0.025),prevalence rate of alopecia totalis/alopecia universalis (x2 =9.990, P=0.006) and thyroid diseases (x2 =12.279, P =0.002), and incidence rate of AA in first-degree relatives (x2 =14.426, P =0.001).Conclusions The positive rate of TPO-Ab is increased in patients with AA.It is recommended to evaluate thyroid function and to screen for thyroid autoantibodies in patients with AA despite of the absence of clinical manifestations of thyroid diseases.

Objective To explore the relationship and clinical significance between the serum levels of oxidized low density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) and soluble P-selectin (SP-S),and carotid atherosclerosis (CA) in metabolic syndrome (MS) patients.Methods In 103 cases of MS patients and 44 healthy subjects (control group),in MS patients with 3 MS diagnostic criteria for the low risk group (51 cases),with ≥ 4 MS diagnostic criteria for high risk group (52 cases).Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque was measured by color Doppler ultrasound,serum Ox-LDL,SP-S was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay,and pearson regression analysis of linear correlation and classification of two non condition Logistic was performed.Results The serum levels of Ox-LDL,SP-S,carotid artery IMT in low risk group and high risk group were higher than those in control group [(36.42 ±7.17) μg/L and (54.44± 8.10) μg/Lvs.(30.08±7.15) μg/L,(71.46± 12.52) μ g/Land (89.33±20.28) μg/Lvs.(49.95 ± 12.49) μ g/L,(0.86 ± 0.11) mm and (1.00 ± 0.10) mm vs.(0.69 ± 0.11) mm],the difference was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.01).The incidence of plaque in high-risk group and low-risk group was significantly higher than that in control group [55.8％ (29/52) and 45.1％ (23/51) vs.15.9％ (7/44)],the difference was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.01).Linear correlation analysis results of Pearson display,Ox-LDL was positively correlated with SP-S (P ＜0.01).Conclusion Serum Ox-LDL and SP-S are independent risk factor for carotid atherosclerosis in MS patients,they can evaluate progression of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with MS.

BACKGROUND: It has become a hot issue to treat malignant tumors with retroviral mediated cytokines. But it remains a controversy whether retroviral mediated γ-interferon(IFN-γ) is valid in killing glioma cells and prolonging the survival of tumor carriers.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of retrovital mediated γ-interferon on the growth of glioma and the survival of tumor-carrying rats.DESIGN: Completely ramdomized trial based on animals.SETTING: Neurosurgery department of a hospital affiliated to a university.MATERIALS: The trial was conducted in the Neurosurgery Institute of Harbin Medical Unicersity from July 2002 to July 2004. The subjects were 60 male Wistar rats provided by the Animal Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical Unicersity. They were randomly assigned into 3groups: C6 control group, C6/PA317neo control group and C6/PA317IFN-γ treatment group, 20 in each group.INTERVENTIONS: Retroviral vector containing murine IFN-γ gene was transferred into retroviral package cell PA317. A high titer PA317IFN-γ cell line was obtained after G418 resistance screening. In the right basal ganglion area 1 × 106 C6 cells was injected in each of the rats. The rats in C6groups received no more intervention. Those in C6/PA317neo control group received injection of 1 × 106 PA317IFN-γ cells in the right basal ganglion 4days after C6 injection. Those in C6/PA317IFN-γ treatment group received injection of 1 × 106 PA317IFN-γ cells in the right basal ganglion 4 days after selected from each group to be kill, and the brains were taken out to make frozen sections for SABC immunohistochemical staining. The CD4 and CD8 T was measured with imaging processing software under microscope.RESULTS: The mean survival time of rats in C6 and C6/PA317neo control groups was(27.10 ± 0.82) days and (26.60 ± 0.93) days respectively( P ＞ 0.05), while that in treatment group was(49.30 ± 4. 17) days and there were five rats outlived beyond 60 days( P ＜ 0.01 vs the two controls). The tumor volume in the two control groups was of no difference but the tumor volume in treatment was significantly smaller than that in control groups( P ＜ 0. 01 ) . The CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes infiltration in treatment group was more than that in control groups( P ＜ 0.01) and there was no difference between the two controls( P ＞ 0.05) . It was also revealed through immunohistochemical examination that in treatment group there was Brdu positive cells on the 7th day and they disappeared on the 16th day. But there was no Brdu positive cells in the control groups.CONCLUSION: Intratumor injection of PA317IFN-γ induces anti-tumor immunal reaction in rats. Retroviral mediated IFN-γ inhibits tumor growth and prolongs rat survival.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have demonstrated that energy metabolism-related genes play important roles in intervertebral disc (IVD) cell adaptation to negative environmental factors, such as hypoxia and insufficiency of nutrient. But the effects of these genes in pressure-induced intervertebral disc degeneration remain uncertain.OBJECTTVE: To investigate continuous pressure-induced expression of energy metabolism genes: hypoxia-inducible factor 1α(HIF-lo), glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in rabbit annulus fibrosus (AF).DESIGN: A randomized controlled experiment.SETTING: The Central Laboratory and the Laboratory of Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology.MATERIALS: The experiment was carried out in the Central Laboratory and the Laboratory of Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from May to October 2005. Twenty-five Japanese white rabbits(about 4 months old, weighting 2.5-3.0 kg, provided by the Experimental Animal Center of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology) were selected to establish the animal model.METHODS: A controllable pressure-induced rabbit intervertebral disc degeneration model was adopted to impose various pressured on rabbit IVDs in vivo. The survived animals whose IVDs were compressed successfully were divided randomly into 4 groups. The IVDs were treated with no pressure as control (control group), with 15 kg axial load for 24 hours (24hours group), 72 hours (72 hours group), and 24 hours with 48 hours free for self-reparation (reparation group). Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of HIF-1α and GLUT-1. Western Blot and immunohistochemical test were carried out for the content and distribution of VEGF.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Expression of HIF-1α and GLUT-1, content and distribution of VEGF.RESULTS: Twenty of 25 rabbits entered result analysis. Two rabbits were missed because of vertebral fracture, while death of 3 rabbits within 1-3 days postoperatively caused another loss. ①HIF-1α. A very low expression was detected in the control group, while the expression in the 24 hours group was raised over 20 times than that in the control group (t=25.022, P＜0.01). The expression in the 72 hours group and reparation group decreased as compared with the 24hours group. ②GLUT-1 expressed weakly in the control group. The expression in the 24 hours group rose a lot as compared with the control group (t=18.314, P＜0.01) and the expression in the 72 hours group rose slightly than that in the 24 hours group (t =2.819, P＜0.05). The expression in the reparation group is close to that in the 24 hours group. ③Littie VEGF content was detected in the control group, while the content rose significantly in the other 3 groups. Immunohistochemical staining showed more VEGF positive stained cells in outer AF than in inner AF.CONCLUSION: Continuous pressure can strongly up-regulate the expression of energy metabolism gene: HIF-1α,GLUT-1 and VEGF in vivo. These genes play important roles in AF adaptation and reparation in over load-caused damage.

OBJECTIVE To study the characteristics of drug resistance and infection of mycoplasma. METHODS The mycoplasma was detected by culture,with an observation of drug susceptibility to 10 antibiotics. RESULTS The total positive rate of mycoplasma was 36.79%;of them Ureaplasma urealyticum(Uu) was 76.71%,Uu+ Mycoplasma hominis(Mh) was 19.87%,and Mh was 3.42%.The resistance rates to other antimicrobials were over 50.00% except JOS,CLA,MIN,DOX and OFL which were lower.The resistant rate to antibiotics for the mixed infection of Uu+Mh was significantly higher than Uu affection alone,from them to 6 antibiotics was over 60.00%. CONCLUSIONS The detection of mycoplasma infection and its drug resistance play an important guide role in the clinical treatment of urogential tract infection.

AIM: To explore the effect of L-arginine (L-Arg) on the arrhythmia induced by ischemia/reperfusion (IR) of the right coronary artery in rabbits. METHODS: 48 healthy adult rabbits were divided into 4 groups (n=12 of each) randomly: IRa group (120 min reperfusion after 30 min ischemia), IRb group (120 min reperfusion after 120 min ischemia), IRa+L-Arg group and IRb+L-Arg group. I/R model was established by occluding and loosening the root of the right coronary artery in rabbits. The changes of ECG and arrhythmia were recorded and graded. RESULTS: ① The longer time of IR was, the higher the score of the arrhythmia was found. The incidence of atrial-ventricular block (AVB), sinus-atrial block (SAB), even sinus arrest were detected and aggravated gradually. ② The incidence of AVB was decreased and from Ⅲ?→Ⅱ?→Ⅰ? markedly, some of sinus and atrial arrhythmia were transformed into sinus rhythm gradually, and all of the arrhythmia scores in IRa group were decreased significantly as compared with the same time phases of IRb group (P

The protective effect of niacinamide on interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta)-induced annulus fibrosus (AF) type II collagen degeneration in vitro and the mechanism were investigated. Chiba's intervertebral disc (IVD) culture models in rabbits were established and 48 IVDs from 12 adult Japanese white rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal control group, niacinamide-treated group, type II collagen degneration group (IL-1beta) and treatment group (niacinamide+IL-1beta). After culture for one week, AFs were collected for inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cysteine containing aspartate specific protease-3 (Caspase-3) and type II collagen immunohistochemical examination, and type II collagen reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results showed that rate of iNOS positive staining AF cells in the 4 groups was 17.6%, 10.9%, 73.9% and 19.3% respectively. The positive rate in treatment group was significantly lower than in the type II collagen degeneration group (P<0.01). Rate of Caspase-3 positive staining AF cells in the 4 groups was 3.4%, 4.2%, 17.6% and 10.3% respectively. The positive rate in treatment group was lower than in the type II collagen degeneration group (P<0.01). Type II collagen staining demonstrated that lamellar structure and continuity of collagen in treatment group was better reversed than in the degeneration group. RT-PCR revealed that the expression of type II collagen in treatment group was significantly stronger than that in type II collagen degeneration group (P<0.01). It was concluded that niacinamide could effectively inhibit IL-1beta stimulated increase of iNOS and Caspase-3 in AF, and alleviate IL-1beta-caused destruction and synthesis inhibition of type II collagen. Niacinamide is of potential for clinical treatment of IVD degeneration.