Deficiency of Qi (healthy energy) and blood stasis are the basic pathological changes of hepatic fibrosis according to the theories of traditional Chinese medicine. Fuzheng Huayu Capsule, a compound Chinese herbal medicine for hepatic fibrosis, is produced in the light of this pathological mechanism. More than a decade of clinical studies and experimental researches show that this medicine has effects of protecting hepatic cells, relieving liver injury, and controlling the development of hepatic fibrosis. It has definite functional mechanisms on anti-hepatic fibrosis. It is a safe and effective medicine for hepatic fibrosis, and deserves to be well introduced to clinic.

Objective To explore the effect of let-7c-1 on the learning and memory of PTZ-induced epileptic rats and its relevant mechanism.Methods A model of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) was induced via PTZ kindling in SD male rats.The epileptic rats were divided into epilepsy group,agomir-control group,let-7c-1 agomir group (12 rats for each).Twelve rats were served as a negative control group.The behavior and the expression levesl of let-7c-1,Bcl-2 protein and Caspase3 were evaluated at 28 days following PTZ.Results Compared to the negative group,the escape latency of epilepsy group was prolonged and the crossing times as well as the quadrant total distance in the target were reduced (P＜0.05).However,those parameters were not significantly different between the epilepsy group and the agmoir-control group (P＞0.05).Compared to the agmoir-control group,the escape latency of let-7c-1 agomir group was prolonged and the crossing times as well as the quadrant total distance in the target were reduced (P＜ 0.05).The expression levels of let-7c-1 and let-7c-1 were 1.35±0.32 in agmoir-control group and 62.53±21.01 in agomir group (F=50.97,P＜0.05).The expression levels of let-7c-1 were higher in let-7c-1 agomir group than in other groups (P＜0.05).Compared to the negative group,the expressions of Bcl-2 protein in other groups were decreased (P＜0.05) and the Caspase3 protein were increased (P＜0.05).Compared to the agomir-control group,the expression of Bcl-2 protein was significantly decreased and the expression of Caspase3 protein was significantly increased in let-7c-1 agomir group (P＜0.05).Conclusions The present study shows that let-7c-1 may impair the learning and memory of PTZ-induced epileptic rats through decreasing the Bcl-2 protein and increasing Caspase3 protein in the hippocampus.

Objective To investigate the influence of deep brain stimulation (DBS) at high frequency to the bilateral nucleus accumbens on morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) and relapse behaviors during extinction phase in rats. Methods Twenty adult SD rats were employed in the experiment. Through stereotactic operation, outer electrode cannula was implanted into rats' bilateral nucleus accumbens. After 5 days of rest, the morphine-dependent rat model with CPP was established through intraperitoneal morphine injection (10 mg/kg). The rats, after being randomly divided into experimental group (morphine+DBS) and control group (morphine+sham DBS), were electrically stimulated using DBS circuits. Rats in the experimental group were given high frequency electrical stimulations while the control group was given sham stimulation. The CPP score of the two groups was recorded the day after stimulation until successful extinction and then the extinction time was compared between the two groups. After successful extinction the rats were given small dose of morphine to trigger relapse within 24 hours, and the CPP score was recorded and compared between the two groups.Results Compared with the control group (six days), the experimental group (26 days) had a longer extinction time. After relapse, the retention time within the drug-paired chamber of the experimental group was (357.01±192.72) s, obviously shorter than that of the control group ((704.91±181.35) s;t=2.370, P=0.034 6). Conclusion High frequency DBS to rats' bilateral nucleus accumbens can prolong extinction time but inhibit relapse behavior.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnosis and therapeutic effects for fungal otitis externa by clinical symptoms, endoscopic findings, and fungus culture of the ear discharge. METHOD: Sixty outpatients diagnosed with otitis externa were enrolled in the study. All patients were treated with a thorough debridement of the ear and one antifungal medication regimens (compound resorcinol solution) in case of a positive fungus culture. One subgroup of patients treated with daub glycerol during 2 weeks of follow-up. RESULT: Positive cultures were found in 42 cases. The efficacy was observed in all patients even in those who received only ear endoscopy. CONCLUSION Fungal otitis externa could be easily diagnosed by ear endoscopy. A thorough debridement of the ear and utility of compound resorcinol solution is an easy and effective approach for treatment of fungal otitis externa.
Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Debridement ; Fungi ; Glycerol ; Humans ; Otitis Externa ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Otomycosis ; diagnosis ; Outpatients

Objective To investigate the effect of high frequency stimulation of bilateral nucleus accumbens on relapse behaviors in morphine-dependent rats.Methods Twenty adult SD rats were employed in the experiment.Through stereotactic operation,outer electrode cannula was implanted into rats' bilateral nucleus accumbens.After 5 days of rest,the morphine-dependent rat model with conditioned place preference (CCP) was established through intraperitoneal morphine injection (10 mg/kg).After acquisition of CPP,normal saline was replaced with morphine for CPP extinction training.CPP test was used to exam the effect of extinction.The rats,after being randomly divided into experimental group (morphine+DBS) and control group (morphine+sham DBS),were electrically stimulated using modified DBS circuits.Rats in the experimental group were given high frequency electrical stimulation while the control group was sham stimulation.After consecutive stimulation for 7 days,rats in the two groups were given small dose of morphine (3 mg/kg)to trigger relapse.Results (1) The CPP score increased after the establishment of rat models compared with pre-establishment of the rat models((616.2±74.7) s vs (353.9±84.3) s,P＜0.01).(2) The CPP score after extinction training decreased compared with pre-conditioned CPP score ((456.4± 148.8) s vs (353.9±84.3) s),P=0.0847) and had no statistical difference compared with post-conditioned CPP score ((456.4±148.8) s vs (616.2± 74.7) s,P=0.0219).(3) When the relapse was induced by small doses of morphine within 24h after the last stimulation,the CPP score of the experimental group decreased compared with the CPP score of control group ((330.1 ±212.6) s vs (684.2±230.2)s,P=0.0029),and the relapse was restrained.Conclusion High frequency DBS of bilateral nucleus accumbens can attenuate relapse behavior in rats

PURPOSE: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a prevalent chronic microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus involving disturbances in electrolytes and the acid-base balance caused by a disorder of glucose metabolism. NHE1 is a Na+/H+ exchanger responsible for keeping intracellular pH (pHi) balance and cell growth. Our study aimed to investigate roles of NHE1 in high glucose (HG)-induced apoptosis in renal tubular epithelial cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Renal epithelial tubular cell line HK-2 was cultured in medium containing 5 mM or 30 mM glucose. Then, cell apoptosis, oxidative stress, NHE1 expression, and pHi were evaluated. NHE1 siRNA and inhibitor were used to evaluate its role in cell apoptosis. RESULTS: HG significantly increased cell apoptosis and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and 8-OHdG (p<0.05). Meanwhile, we found that HG induced the expression of NHE1 and increased the pHi from 7.0 to 7.6 after 48 h of incubation. However, inhibiting NHE1 using its specific siRNA or antagonist DMA markedly reduced cell apoptosis stimulated by HG. In addition, suppressing cellular oxidative stress using antioxidants, such as glutathione and N-acetyl cysteine, significantly reduced the production of ROS, accompanied by a decrease in NHE1. We also found that activated cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Type I (PKG) signaling promoted the production of ROS, which contributed to the regulation of NHE1 functions. CONCLUSION: Our study indicated that HG activates PKG signaling and elevates the production of ROS, which was responsible for the induction of NHE1 expression and dysfunction, as well as subsequent cell apoptosis, in renal tubular epithelial cells.
Antioxidants/metabolism ; Apoptosis/*drug effects ; Cation Transport Proteins/*metabolism ; Cell Cycle/drug effects ; Cell Line ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Epithelial Cells/*cytology/drug effects/*metabolism ; Glucose/*pharmacology ; Glutathione/metabolism ; Humans ; Kidney Tubules/*cytology ; Oxidative Stress/*drug effects ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Sodium-Hydrogen Antiporter/*metabolism

Objective To observe the level of serum hepatocyte growth factor(HGF)in patients with hypertension(HT).Methods HGF,fasting plasma glucose(FBG),postprandial plasma glucose(2hPG),glycosylated hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c),total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),systolic blood pressure(SBP),diastolic blood pressure(DBP),body mass index(BMI)and waistline(w)were detected in 30 patients with hypertension,30 patients with hypertension complicated by type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM),and 30 normal controls such indexes as.Results The level of serum HGF in HT group[(413.87±90.87)ng/L],and HT+T2DM group[(413.72±98.72)ng/L]were higher than that in control group[(120.45±25.11)ng/L](P＜0.05),but there was no significance between HT group and HT+T2DM group(P＞0.05).There existed a positive correlation between HGF and FBG,SBP(r=2.273,r=5.353,P＜0.05).Conclusion Higher levels of HGF is found in patients with hypertension and hypertensin complicated with T2DM,which indicates the severity of dysfunction of vascular endothelium.

Human tumor suppressor gene beclin 1 regulates cell growth through autophagy. The mRNA expression of beclin 1 was reported to be down-regulated in breast cancer with high frequency of loss of heterozygosity (LOH). However, there was no report about the expression levels or the regulatory mechanisms of beclin 1 in gastric and colorectal cancer. Both the mRNA and protein expression levels of beclin 1 was detected in the tissues of gastric and coiorectai cancers, as well as the aberrant DNA methylation and LOH related to the expression of beclin 1. By comparing with normal tissues adjacent to the tissue of these tumors, it was found that beclin 1 mRNA expression levels were significantly decreased in gastric tumor tissue. Furtherly by explorating the 5' region of beclin 1 gene sequence, a large and dense CpG island was discovered and meanwhile methylations in the promoter and the intron 2 regions of beclin 1 were found in both gastric and colorectal tumors. And LOH was found in gastric tumors. These findings suggested that aberrant DNA methylation, as well as LOH, were involved in the regulation of beclin 1 expression in gastric and colorectal cancer.

Objectiye To investigate the effect of selective COX-2 inhibitor, nimesulide, on inhibiting proliferation of the human acute myeloid leukemia HL-60 cells. Methods HL-60 cells were treated with different concentration of nimesulide. HL-60 cell proliferation was examined by CCK-8 method. Flow cytometry, Western blotting and ELISA were used to measure the effect of nimesulide on apoptosis, cell cycle,COX-2, PGE2, bax, bcl-2 and c-myc. Results Nimesulide inhibited HL-60 cells proliferation in a dose and time dependence manner. Nimesulide induced cell apoptosis and arrested cell cycle in G0-G1 phase. The expression of COX-2 protein declined after treated with nimesulide 48 h, the total apoptosis in 100, 200,400 μmol/L nimesulide-treated group and control group were (24.97 ± 6.36) %, (34.22 ± 5.76) %, (44.59 ±6.69) % and (4.11 ± 1.26) %, there were significant differences (P ＜ 0.05). Nimesulide inhibited the synthesis of PGE2, the expressions of bcl-2 and c-myc protein and upregulated the expression of bax protein simultaneity.Conclusion Nimesulide significantly inhibited the proliferation of HL-60 cells and induced cell apoptosis,which may be associated with the downregulation of COX-2 expression, reduction of PGE2 synthesis, arrest of cell cycle and regulation bcl-2, c-myc and bax protein expression.

Objective To detect the expression of VEGF in NHL and analyze the relation of the expression levels with malignant aggressiveness,treatment response,and prognosis.Methods The expression of VEGF in lymph nodes taken from 39 NHL patients Wag measured by immunohistochemical-staining method.9 patients with benign lymphadenopathy were acted as control.Results The expression of VEGF in NHL(79.5%)was higher than that in the contrel(44.4%)(P=0.048＜0.05).In NHL,the VEGF level was higher in aggressive lympboma than that in indolent lymphoma(x2=5.284,P=0.044＜0.05).The patients had the higher-level expression as the Ann Arbor stage Wag higher,and the patients who had the higher-level expression of VEGF had higher serum LDH level,lower chemotherapy remission,unfavorable prognosis and lower 3-year survival (P＜0.05).Conclusion The expression of VEGF in NHL was increased.It was correlated with histopathological grade,Ann Arbor stage,chemotherapy response and prognosis.