Theory of “combination of disease with syndrome” has been widely used in the establishment and evaluation of experimental animal models. The ulcerative colitis animal models with spleen-kidney yang deficiency pattern were established based on the theory according to complex factors. These models were not only required to show the features of “disease” and “syndrome” at the macro characterization, but also combined with microscopic biological indicators and prescription test so as to make comprehensive evaluation. But the problems in the establishment and evaluation of “combination of disease with syndrome” models hindered further development, such as the weak connection between disease and syndrome, multiplicity of models, and limitations in evaluation standards. Therefore, further improvement in the establishment and evaluation of models will make great sense to better ulcerative colitis animal models with spleen-kidney yang deficiency pattern.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Zhenqing Recipe (ZQR) on non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL), and the expression of hepatic salt-inducible kinase 1 (SIK1) and sterol-regulatory element binding protein-ic (SREBP-lc) in type 2 diabetes rats.

METHODSA rat model of type 2 diabetes was established by high fat/sucrose diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of small dose streptozotocin (STZ) . Modeled rats were randomly divided into the model group, the ZQR group, and the metformin group, 8 in each group. Eight rats were recruited as a normal control group. ZQR at the daily dose of 12 g crude drugs/kg was administered to rats in the ZQR group by gastrogavage. Metformin suspension at the daily dose of 150 mg/kg was administered to rats in the metformin group by gastrogavage. Equal volume of distilled water was administered to rats in the normal control group and the model group. All medication lasted for 12 weeks. The levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), free fatty acid (FFA), serum triglyceride (TG), serum total cholesterol (TC), serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were detected. The body weight and wet liver weight were weighed, and the liver weight index calculated. The liver TG content was measured. The pathological changes of liver and the expression of SIK1 were observed by HE staining and immunohistochemistry. The mRNA and protein expression of SIK1 and SREBP-1c were detected using RT-PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, FBG, FFA, TG, TC, ALT, AST, liver weight index, and liver TG contents significantly increased (P < 0.01); liver steatosis was severe, the mRNA and protein expression of SIK1 obviously decreased (P < 0.01); mRNA and protein expression of SREBP-1c increased (P < 0.01). After drug therapy, compared with the model group, FBG, FFA, TG, TC, ALT, AST, and liver weight index significantly decreased, liver TG contents significantly decreased, the mRNA and protein expression of SIK1 obviously increased, while mRNA and protein expression of SREBP-1c obviously decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) in the ZQR group and the metformin group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); and the pathological changes were also improved. All the indices were improved more in the ZQR group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn this experiment, we found that the expression of SIK1 decreased in NAFL rats with type 2 diabetes. ZQR could alleviate lesion of NAFL type 2 diabetes rats possibly by up-regulating hepatic SIK1 expression at mRNA and protein levels.

Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Fatty Liver ; complications ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1 ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the protective effects of felodipine on mRNA levels of endothelial nitricoxide synthase (eNOS) and inducible nitricoxide synthase (iNOS) as well as the level of nitrogen monoxidum (NO) from human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) injuryed by oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). Methods Isolated HUVECs were divided into blank control group,ox-LDL injury group treated with ox-LDL of different concentrations (6,12.5 and 25 mg/L),and intervention group of felodipine (0.1,1.0 and 10 ?mol/L)+ox-LDL (25 mg/L). Then eNOS and iNOS expressions were measured by real time-polymerase chain reaction and the level of NO in the supernatants of the cultures was assayed by nitrate reductase method. Results The mRNA expressions of eNOS and iNOS in HUVECs and NO level in the supernatants during treatment with different ox-LDL concentrations were higher than those in control group. However,felodipine significantly down-regulated the expression of iNOS in HUVECs injured by ox-LDL and inceased NO generation. Conclusion Felodipine has protective effects on endothelial cells. The mechanism may be related to its lowering the mRNA expression of iNOS induced by low ox-LDL concentration and increasing NO production.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of felodipine on reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation,mRNA level of inflammatory factors such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1),in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) injured by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) so as to explore felodipine's anti-atherosclerosis mechanism independent of its anti-hypertensive effect. Methods Isolated HUVECs were treated with ox-LDL at different concentrations (6,12.5 and 25 mg/L) for 24 hours so that the optimal concentration and time of ox-LDL treatment were selected. Then the cells were incubated with ox-LDL and treated with felodipine at different concentrations (0.1,1 and 10 ?mol/L). Intracellular ROS level was determined by flow cytometry (FCM). Expressions of inflammatory factors ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were measured by real time-polymerase chain reaction (real time-PCR). Results ROS generation was increased in HUVECs after treatment with different concentrations (6,12.5 and 25 mg/L) of ox-LDL for 24 hours and there was a significant difference at 25 mg/L ox-LDL (P

Objective:To establish a rapid, sensitive and accurate HPLC-QTOF/MS determination method for the illegally added antihypertensive drugs in traditional Chinese medicines and healthy care products .Methods:An Agilent Eclipse plus C 18 column ( 50 mm ×2.1 mm,1.8 μm) was adopted with the mobile phase of 0.5%formic acid and acetonitrile with gradient elution .The flow rate was 0.2 ml· min-1 .The electrospray ionization source was applied and operated in a positive ion mode .Results:The detection limit of 18 antihypertensive drugs was within the range of 0.2-2.5 ng· ml-1 .Reserpine was found in one sample .Conclusion:The method is selective and sensitive , which can be used for the detection of 18 chemical medicines illegally added in antihypertensive traditional Chinese medicines and health care products .

OBJECTIVE To investigate the clinical characteristics,risk factors and preventive measures for nosocomial pneumonia in patients with post-hepatitis liver cirrhosis.METHODS A prospective and retrospective study was carried out to investigate the clinical data of 495 patients with post-hepatitis liver cirrhosis in Department of Infectious Diseases during Jan 1,2005 to Dec 31,2007.RESULTS The incidence rate of the nosocomial pneumonia in post-hepatitis liver cirrhosis patients was 13.50 %.The death rate was 25.40 %,which was obviously higher than 6.8% of patients without no nosocomial infection(?2=23.77,P

″Herb-Pairs″, also known as pair drugs, refers to a prescription consisted of two relatively fixed traditional Chinese medicine, is the most basic, most simple and most common form of medication prescription in traditional Chinese medicine compound compatibility. It is not a random combination of two herbs, nor is the simple accumulation of efficacy, but the simple and delicate experience of ancient Chinese medicine practitioners. As a bridge between single drug and prescriptions, it is the embodiment of the regular and dialectical connotation. Therefore, research on Herb-Pairs has always been the most basic and most important entry point for compound compatibility studies. However, the interaction between herbs and herbs is an effect with a downside as well as benefits. The beneficial herb-herb interaction in Herb-Pairs include mutual promotion, mutual enhancement, mutual restraint between two drugs and counteract toxicity of another drug. And the harmful herb- herb interaction in Herb- Pairs includes mutual inhibition and antagonism. All of these interactions areby means of affecting the metabolism of components to play a therapeutic effect. Using the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) binding model, the combination of drug metabolism and pharmacodynamics can further elucidate the influence on effect caused by drug concentration and metabolism, which can help elucidate the mechanism of drug action. Consequently, in this review, the herb-herb interactions in terms of pharmacokinetic were summarized to elucidate rule of TCM compatibility.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Chinese materia medica (CMM) combined chemotherapy on the recurrence, metastasis, and the disease free survival (DFS) of stage II and III colorectal cancer (CC) patients after radical cure.

METHODSRecruited were 366 inpatients and outpatients with stage II and III colorectal cancer (CC) from Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, and Tumor Department of Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2002 to December 2008. A non-randomized concurrent control method was adopted. Patients were assigned to the combination group (treated by CMM + chemotherapy, 189 cases) and the chemotherapy group (177 cases) according to whether they were willing to receive the CMM treatment for more than 6 successive months. By using follow-ups at clinics, by letter, and by telephone, the DFS, 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year DFS ratios were observed. The correlations between DFS and the gender, age, tumor location, staging of clinical pathology, pathological type, chemotherapeutic cycle, radiotherapy, CMM treatment, end point event (recurrence and metastasis) were analyzed.

RESULTSThe recurrence or metastasis occurred in 145 cases (39. 61%) of the 366 patients. Of them, local recurrence occurred in 17 cases (11.72%), liver metastasis in 45 cases (31.03%), lung metastasis in 52 cases (35.86%), and metastasis in other parts in 53 cases (36.55%). Results of one-factor analysis showed six factors such as the tumor location, pathological type, staging of clinical pathology, chemotherapeutic cycle, radiotherapy, and CMM treatment were correlated with the DFS, showing statistical difference (P<0.01, P<0.05). Results of multifactor analysis showed staging of clinical pathology, chemotherapeutic cycle, and CMM treatment were correlated with the DFS, showing statistical difference (P<0.01). Results of stratified study on the staging of clinical pathology indicated that the primary tumor location (P=0.016) and the pathological type (P=0.047) were the independent predictors for DFS of stage II CC. The median DFS of the two groups could not be calculated. Results of stratified study on the stages of clinical pathology indicated that CMM treatment (P=0.000) and chemotherapeutic cycle (P=0.017) were independent predictors for DFS of stage III CC. As for comparing the composition ratio of the two therapeutic cycles, results showed the baselines of the chemotherapeutic cycle of the two groups were balanced. Further comparison showed the median DFS for the chemotherapy group at stage III was 24. 16 months, while it could not be calculated in the combination group. The DFS, 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year DFS ratios were 92%, 72%, 61%, and 59%, respectively in the stage III CC combination group, while they were 74%, 50%, 36%, and 20%, respectively in the stage IlI CC chemotherapy group.

CONCLUSIONCMM combined chemotherapy could prolong the DFS of stage III CC patients after radical cure.

Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; mortality ; pathology ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Phytotherapy

Six bacterial strains were isolated from lead-zinc mine tailings with the age of about 100 years, and their phylogenetic position was determined by the analysis of partial 16S rRNA gene sequence. Three strains belonged to genus Arthrobacter, and were close to A. nicotinovorans and A. histidinolovorans. Other three strains belonged to genus Agromyces, and were close to Ag. mediolanus. All of them were resistant to Pb(NO_(3))_(2), CdCl_(2), ZnSO_(4), CuSO_(4) and CoCl_2. Relatively, minimal inhibitory concentration(MIC)of Zn~(2+) and Co~(2+) of three Arthrobacter strains was significantly higher than that of three Agromyces strains. Additionally, these strains displayed strong adsorption of Pb(NO_(3))_(2), CdCl_(2), ZnSO_(4). Averagely three Arthrobacter strains could adsorb about 400mg of Pb~(2+), 177mg of Cd~(2+) or 80mg of Zn~(2+) per gram of dried cells. Therefore, these strains were important candidates for application in bioremediation of heavy metal-contaminated environment.

Objective:To compare two flexible embryo catheters and determine whether clinical out-come differs in the in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET)cycles.Methods:This prospective control study was conducted by one doctor between July 2012 and November 2013.In the study,2 064 patients undergoing fresh embryo transfer by using IVF-ET/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)-ET in Reproductive Medical Center of Peking University Third Hospital were recruited.The subjects were di-vided into two groups.Cook Sydney IVF embryo transfer catheters (product model:K-JETS-7019-SIVF) were used for embryo transfer in group 1 (n =949),and FrydmanCCD catheters (product model:131230301)were used in group 2 (n =1 115).Pregnancy outcomes were compared between these two groups.Results:There was no significant difference in age,diagnosis for infertility and stimulation proto-col used between the two groups.In addition,there was no difference in the number of oocytes collected and in the number and score of embryos transferred.The significantly higher implantation rate,clinical pregnancy rate,and live birth rate (34.40% vs.26.92%,51.21% vs.41.52%,42.57% vs. 33.09%,P <0.05)were observed in group 1 compared with group 2.The abortion rate was not signifi-cantly different between the two groups (11.93% vs.15.98%,P >0.05).The proportion of difficult transfer was higher in group 1 than that in group 2 (5.27% vs.3.41%,P <0.05 ).There was no difference in the clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate between the two difficult transfer cycles.Con-clusion:The type of embryo transfer catheter affects the clinical outcome in IVF.Good clinical outcome can be obtained by using Cook Sydney IVF catheter,which is worthy of clinical promotion.