Objective To observe the effects of protein and anthraquinones glycosides from Radix Polygoni Multiflori(RPM) on learning and memory as well as associated enzymes and metabolites in mice with D-galactose-induced aging.Methods Eighty Kunming mice were equally randomized into 8 groups: normal group,model group,vitamin E(90mg?kg-1?d-1) group,high-and low-dose RPM protein(20 and5 mg?kg-1?d-1 respectively) groups,high-and low-dose RPM anthraquinone glycoside(28 and 7mg?kg-1?d-1 respectively) groups,combination(low-dose RPM protein and low-dose RPM anthraquinone glycosides)group.Except the normal group,the mice in other groups received subcutaneous injection of D-galactose to indue the aging model.The learning rate of mice was detected with trisection radiation maze,memory was evaluated by one-time passive avoidance response,cerebral superoxide dismustase(SOD) and monoamine oxidase(MAO) activities as well as malondialdehyde(MDA)content were detected with ultraviolet spectrophotometer,and hepatic lipofuscin(LF) content was examined with fluorescence spectrophotometer.Results Memory of aged mice was much improved in high-dose RPM protein group(P

In order to investigate the role of Th17 cytokines in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of IL-17, IL-23 (p19/p40), and IL-6 in skin lesions and non-lesions of the patients with psoriasis and skin tissues of normal subjects. The results showed that the mRNA expression levels of IL-17, IL-23p19, IL-23p40 and IL-6 in psoriasis lesion were significantly higher than those of non-lesions (1.231 +/- 0.843 vs 1.003 +/- 0.044, 1.166 +/- 0.142 vs 0.765 +/- 0.133, 1.125 +/- 0.104 vs 0.730 +/- 0.103, 1.186 +/- 0.222 vs 0.976 +/- 0.122, respectively, all P < 0.05). Meanwhile, The expression levels of IL-17 mRNA, IL-23p19 mRNA, IL-23p40 mRNA and IL-6 mRNA were higher in non-lesions than those in normal skin tissues (1.003 +/- 0.044 vs 0.620 +/- 0.104, 0.765 +/- 0.133 vs 0.584 +/- 0.078, 0.730 +/- 0.103 vs 0.000 +/- 0.000, 0.976 +/- 0.122 vs 0.656 +/- 0.121, respectively, all P < 0.05). The overexpression of Th17 cytokines in the skin lesions of patients with psoriasis may indicate that Th17 cytokines play a very important role in the immunopathogenesis of psoriasis.

In order to investigate the role of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis, the expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 was immunohistochemically detected in skin lesions of the patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis, skin lesions of the patients with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis, and skin tissues of normal subjects. The results showed that the expression of MMP-9 in lesions of diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis was significantly lower than that of normal skins (P<0.05). However, no significant difference in the level of MMP-9 in the limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis and normal skin was found. Meanwhile, the expression of TIMP-1 in lesions of diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis and limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis were significantly higher than that of normal skins (both P<0.05). It was suggested that the expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 might play an important role in the development of systemic sclerosis.

To investigate the role of progesterone receptor (PR) expression in malignant melanoma (MM), PR and proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression were immunohistochemistrically evaluated in a series of 35 specimens of MM, and the correlation between the immunohistochemistrical findings and clinicopathological data was also analyzed. PR expression was detected in 25.7% (9/35) of the patients with MM. No PR expression was observed in nevi. PR expression was inversely correlated with PCNA expression (r=-0.353, P=0.026). PR expression was slightly increased in females, subjects aged under 55 y, those with ulceration, non-acral subtype and diagnosis delay longer than 1 y, but the difference was not statistically significant. Selective expression of progesterone receptor in malignant melanoma might be correlated with inhibited tumor growth.
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Immunohistochemistry ; Melanoma/*metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Prognosis ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen/*metabolism ; Receptors, Progesterone/*biosynthesis ; Receptors, Progesterone/genetics ; Skin/metabolism ; Skin Neoplasms/metabolism

In order to investigate the mRNA expression and function of interleukin-23 (p19/p40) and interleukin-12 (p35/p40) in the psoriatic lesion, no-lesion and normal human skin, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of IL-23 (p19/p40) and IL-12 (p35/p40). The results showed that the expression of IL-23p19 mRNA and p40 (IL-12/IL-23) mRNA were higher in psoriatic lesion than those of non-lesional skin and normal skin. The levels of IL-23p19 mRNA and p40 (IL-12/IL-23) mRNA were higher in psoriatic non-lesional skin than normal skin. However, no significant difference was found in the level of IL-12p35 mRNA among the psoriatic lesional skin, non-lesional skin and normal skin. It was suggested that IL-23 might be more important in the pathogenesis of psoriasis than IL-12.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Herba dendrobii on rats with stomach-heat syndrome and to explore the mechanisms.

METHODRats were fed with decoction of Rhizoma Zingiberis for 15 continuous days to induce the model of stomach-heat syndrome. After modeling, Herba Dendrobii (HD) decoction were given (in the doses of 1.5, 0.75 g x kg(-1) respectively) for 10 days. After treatment, amount of the daily diet, volume and absorbance of urine, pellet number and moistness of excrement, color and coating degree of tongue were recorded; the body thermal effects were detected with thermal texture maps (TTM) system; the biochemical indexes of blood reflecting the physiological function of stomach, including thromboxaneB2 (TXB2), 6-keto-prostaglandin F1alpha(6-keto-PGF1alpha), motilin (MTL), gastrin (Gas), somatostation (SS), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) were measured by radio immunoassay; and the histological changes of gastric mucosa were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) stain.

RESULTThe model rat had yellow coating and red tongues (P < 0.05). The amount of daily diet were increased (over 10%), urine volume and excrement pellet number were decreased (over 10%). The their urine color became deep (P < 0.01) and their excrement became dry. The temperatures in head, neck, left fore-armpit, chest, up-abdomen, mid-abdomen of the model rats were raised up (difference > 0.5 degrees C or difference > 1.0 degree C ). The content of 6-keto-PGF1alpha in blood of model rats decreased evidently (P < 0.01), and the contents of MTL, Gas and IL-8 increased conspicuously (P < 0.01). The histological changes of gastric mucosa in the model rats were as follows: diffuse congestion, infiltration of neutrophil, less secretion, decrease of the number of chief and parietal cells, etc (P < 0. 05 or P < 0.01). After treatment with HD, except the daily food weight, the temperatures in head, neck and chest, the content of MTL and the number of chief cells, the other indexes observed above were improved noticeably (difference > 0.5 RC or difference > 1.0 degree C, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe reason why HD relieves the general symptom and sign the gastric mucosa of rats with stomach-heat syndrome is that HD can increase 6-keto-PGF1alpha and decrease IL-8, Gas, TXB2 in their blood.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Gastric Dilatation ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Gastrins ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-8 ; metabolism ; Male ; Motilin ; metabolism ; Prostaglandins ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Detection, Psychological ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Stomach Diseases ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Syndrome ; Thromboxanes ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo establish a scientific, rapid anti-aging prediction model.

METHODAccording to the institutional principle of Chinese prescription medicine and by using the theory and method of artificial neural network, a BP model was built up to cope with the relation between anti-aging and four natures, five flavors as well as meridian tropism of Chinese medicinal herbs.

RESULTThe accuracy that the model predicted the prescription's anti-aging index of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) was 93. 33%.

CONCLUSIONThe model can predict the efficacy of anti-aging prescription very well.

Aging ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Neural Networks (Computer) ; Prescription Drugs ; pharmacology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

In order to investigate the role of Th17 cytokines in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of IL-17, IL-23 (p19/p40), and IL-6 in skin lesions and non-lesions of the patients with psoriasis and skin tissues of normal subjects. The results showed that the mRNA expression levels of IL-17, IL-23p19, IL-23p40 and IL-6 in psoriasis leision were significantly higher than those of non-leisions (1.231±0.843 vs 1.003±0.044, 1.166±0.142 vs 0.765±0.133, 1.125±0.104 vs 0.730±0.103, 1.186±0.222 vs 0.976±0.122, respectively, all P＜0.05). Meanwhile, The expression levels of IL-17 mRNA,IL-23p19 mRNA, IL-23p40 mRNA and IL-6 mRNA were higher in non-leisions than those in normal skin tissues (1.003±0.044 vs 0.620±0.104, 0.765±0.133 vs 0.584±0.078, 0.730±0.103 vs 0.000±0.000, 0.976±0.122 vs 0.656±0.121, respectively, all P＜0.05). The overexpression of Th17 cytokines in the skin lesions of patients with psoriasis may indicate that Th17 cytokines play a very important role in the immunopathogenesis of psoriasis.

To investigate the role of progesterone receptor (PR) expression in malignant melanoma (MM), PR and proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression were immunohistochemistri- tally evaluated in a series of 35 specimens of MM, and the correlation between the immunohisto- chemistrical findings and clinicopathological data was also analyzed. PR expression was detected in 25.7% (9/35) of the patients with MM. No PR expression was observed in nevi. PR expression was inversely correlated with PCNA expression (r=-0.353, P=0.026). PR expression was slightly in- creased in females, subjects aged under 55 y, those with ulceration, non-acral subtype and diagnosis delay longer than 1 y, but the difference was not statistically significant. Selective expression of pro- gesterone receptor in malignant melanoma might be correlated with inhibited tumor growth.

In order to investigate the role of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis, the expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 was immunohistochemically detected in skin lesions of the patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis, skin lesions of the patients with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis, and skin tissues of normal subjects. The results showed that the expression of MMP-9 in lesions of diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis was significantly lower than that of normal skins (P＜0.05). However, no significant difference in the level of MMP-9 in the limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis and normal skin was found. Meanwhile, the expression of TIMP-1 in lesions of diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis and limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis were significantly higher than that of normal skins (both P＜0.05). It was suggested that the expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 might play an important role in the development of systemic sclerosis.