Objective To investigate the effect of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in rats and on dendritic cells (DCs) in mesenteric lymph nodes.Methods Forty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 11) using simple random sampling: normal control group, TNBS group, APS group, and 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) group.Experimental colitis was induced in rats by TNBS enema in the last three groups.Rats in APS and 5-ASA groups were treated by gavage with APS (0.75 g ? kg-1 ? d-1) and 5-ASA (100 mg ? kg-1 ? d-1) on the 10 consecutive days following TNBS administration.The rats were then sacrificed and the colonic inflammatory scores of rats were measured, including the scores of disease activity index ( DAI) , macroscopic lesions, and histological damages,as well as the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO).The expressions of major histocompatibility complex class Ⅱ(MHC Ⅱ ) and costimulatory molecule CD86 on DCs were determined by flow cytometry.Results Compared with the TNBS group, APS group had significantly decreased scores of DAI ( P = 0.007 ) , macroscopic lesions (P =0.017), and histological damages (P = 0.016).Moreover, its level of the activity of MPO dropped but without statistical significance (P =0.183).TNBS group had significantly higher expressions of MHC Ⅱand CD86 molecules on DCs than the normal control group (P = 0.005, P = 0.008), APS group (P = 0.023, P = 0.018), and 5-ASA group (P = 0.017, P=0.013).Conclusion APS may attenuate TNBS-induced colitis in rats and downregulate the activation of DCs in mesenteric lymph nodes.

Early diagnosis is one of the difficulties in strangulated intestinal obstruction.Serological markers for the early diagnosis of intestinal obstruction has become a hot spot resently.Studies have shown that histidine decarboxylase had a high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of gastric mucosal injury of intestinal obstruction,which would be expected to become an effective serological marker for the early diagnosis of strangulated intestinal obstruction.In this review,the author will describe the advance of serum histidine decarboxylase level for diagnosis of strangulated intestinal obstruction.

Objective To investigate the effects of Astragalus polysaccarides (APS) on 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in rats. Methods Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 8 ): control group, TNBS group, low-dose APS group, high-dose APS group, and prednisone group. Experimental colitis was induced in rats by enema administration of TNBS. Rats in APS and sions and histological damages were determined, and the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) was measured in the excised colonic tissues. Cytokine levels including interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Both macroscopic lesions and histological colonic damages induced by TNBS were reduced by low-dose APS treatment. These were accompanied by significantly attenuated colonic MPO activity (P = 0. 03) and the increase of IL-4 and IL-10 levels. The macroscopic lesions and MPO activities of high-dose APS group were higher than TNBS group, histological damage and level of IL-4 were lower, and level of IL-10 was higher, but all without statistical significance. Levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were lower than those of TNBS group, but there was no significant difference between prednisone group and TNBS group. Levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were significantly lower in prednisone group than in control group ( P = 0. 049, P = 0. 001 ). Conclusions Different doses of APS have different effects on TNBS-induced colitis. Lower dose of APS has the therapeutic potential inexperimental colitis, while higher dose of APS may aggravate the disease.

Objective To assess the nutritional risk of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).Methods The nutritional status of 112 IBD patients from PUMC Hospital were evaluated by Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002).Using Chinese standard,a body mass index (BMI) that was lowered than 18.5 kg/m~2 according to clinical material was regarded as malnutrition,and the score was recorded as 3.The se-verity of ulcerative colitis (UC) was evaluated using True-Love criteria as mild,moderate,and severe.Crohn's disease (CD) was evaluated using Harvey-Bradshaw Index as in remission stage (≤4),moderately active stage (4-8),and severely actively stage (≥9).Results All these 112 patients,including 70 UC cases and 42 CD cases,were evaluated by NRS2002.Forty-five patients (40.2%) were judged as at the risk of malnutrition.The incidence of malnutrition was significantly higher in CD patients than in UC patients (52.4% vs.32.9%,P<0.05).It was also significantly correlated with the severity of disease.In patients with severe IBD,the rate of mal-nutrition evaluated by BMI according to clinical material was significantly lower than the rate of nutritional risk.Con-clusions The risk of malnutrition is high in IBD patients.NRS 2002 can be used for nutritional risk screening.

OBJECTIVE:To optimize the preparation technology of Angelica sinensis powder and conduct screening for the op-timal particle size thereof. METHODS:With the contents of volatile oil and ferulic acid as the indexes,screening was conducted for the optimal drying temperature,dry welding time and particle size of the crude drug A. sinensis,and the stabilities of the A. si-nensis powder with different particle sizes which was packed by simulating that sold in the market were investigated. The verifica-tion tests on the preparation technology were conducted. RESULTS:The optimal conditions for preparing the crude drug A. sinensis were as follows as drying temperature of 60-70℃,drying for 4.5-5 hours and being crushed into moderate-sized powder;the stabil-ity of the moderate-sized powder which was packed by simulating that sold in the market was the best. In the verification tests on the preparation technology,the average content of the volatile oil was 0.46 ml/g,with RSD of 0.034%(n=3);the average con-tent of the ferulic acid was 0.123 μg/ml,with RSD of 0.026%(n=3). CONCLUSIONS:The optimized technology is stable and feasible,and the stability of the moderate-sized A. sinensis powder is the best.

Objective To investigate the distribution of air microorganisms in soldies′living quarters of one under-ground tunnel during airtight survival training .Methods Anderson sampling was carried out in Area A and Area B ( living quarters) and Area C (a toilet) at designated time and place.After sampling, the culture and identification of microorgan-isms were finished .Results ①In the living quarters of the whole underground tunnel , the total number of bacteria ranged from 125 to 37 800/m3,but it was 2692, 1844 and 2199/m3, respectively in Area A, B and C.The mean number of bac-teria was 2245/m3 .The number of fungi ranged from 0 to 10 017/m3 .The total number of fungi of Area A , B and C was 1064 , 883 and 1011/m3 .The mean number was 986/m3 .②The number of bacteria in the living areas presented three fea-tures:the total bacteria showed overall three peaksin Area A and B, buttwin peaksin Area C.In Area A and B, the number of bacteria exhibited low colony at first but fluctuated heavily later .In Area C, it decreased gradually to the mini-mum,and the fungi showed a wavy and irregular trend .③The air microbial species included cocci ( Micrococcus, Coriolis of Staphylococcus aureus, S.epidermidis and S.equorum) , bacilli ( Acinetobacter baumannii, A.lwoffii and Alcaligenes faeca-lis),and fungi (Mucor and Saccharomyces).Conclusion Although the content of microorganisms was up to the military hygiene standards , it was higher than in the same kind of tunnels .Themulti peakphenomenon of microbial distribution suggests that the change of air microorganisms in tunnels has its own characteristics .Most of the air microorganisms are con-ditioned pathogens that may cause illness if they are not under control .

AIM: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of Jianing Decoction (Rhizoma sparganii, Rhizoma curcumae, Radix bupleuri, Fructus schisandrae chinensis, Spuama manis, Radix polygoni multifrori, Spica prunellae, Flos chrysanthemi indici, Fructus ligustri lucidi) (JN) on autoimmune thyroiditis. METHODS: An animal model of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) in rats was developed by using thyroglobulin of porcine (PTg). These animals were divided into JN group, triptolide (TP) group and control group. Pathological changes were observed in the thyroid tissues and serum thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) and thyroglobulin antibodies (TGAb) were determined by the method of radiorimmuoussay. RESULTS: The serum TGAb and TPOAb were significantly higher in EAT model group than those in normal group (P

Objective: To review the progress of surgical treatment for the thoracolumbar spinal tuberculosis.

AIM: To investigate the effect of bilirub in on acute lung injury (ALI) and the mechanism. METHODS: 30 male Wistar rats were divided into normal group, ALI group and bilirubin treatment group. Lung specimens were examined by histopatho logical te chnique. Lung index (LI) and lung permeability index (LPI) were measured. Moreov er, white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil percentage (PMN%) and the content o f protein (Pr) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), as well as the conten ts of sup eroxide dismutase (SOD), malonaldehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the lung homogenate were determined. RESULTS: (1) In ALI group: LI, WBC count, PMN%, Pr and LPI incre ased significantly compared with normal group (P 0.05) was observed. (2) In ALI group, the content of MDA was significantly high er (P0.05). CONCLUSION: Bilirubin relieves ALI induced by LPS in rats via an tioxidation.

Objective To clone, express Tp0319 gene from Treponemapallidum (T. pallidum), and to assess the immunocompetence of recombinant protein. Methods The immuno-dominant region of Tp0319gene was chosen by computer analysis, amplified from T. pallidum complete genome by PCR, subcloned into the expression vector pQE32 to construct a recombinant plasmid, pQE32/Tp0319, which was then expressed in E. coli M15. The recombinant protein was purified with Ni-NTA affinity chromatography, and identified by using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electropheresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blot. New Zealand rabbits were immunized with the recombinant protein, and the titer of anti-Tp0319 antibodies in sera from immunized rabbits were measured with indirect ELISA. Also, indirect ELISA with the recombinant Tp0319 as coating antigen was performed to detect the anti-Tp0319 antibody in sera from 200 normal human controls and 200 patients with syphilis. Results The prokaryotic expression vector pQE32/Tp0319 was constructed successfully, and the recombinant protein Tp0319 with a molecular weight of about 30 000 was attained. Specific humoral response was elicited by the recombinant protein in New Zealand rabbits and the specific antibody titer was more than 1: 10 240 after immunization for 3 times. Western blot proved that the recombinant protein could specifically react with anti-T. pallidum IgG antibody-positive sera. Indirect ELISA was successfully developed with the recombinant Tp0319, and detected antibodies to T. pallidum in control sera with a sensitivity and specificity of 100% (40/40), respectively. Compared with T. pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) assay, the sensitivity and specificity of the indirect ELISA were 92.6% and 100%, respectively, in the detection of T. pallidum in sera from patients and controls, and the concordance between the indirect ELISA and TPPA was 96%. Conclusions The prepared recombinant protein shows a satisfactory immunocompetence, which may lay a foundation for its further application in the serodiagnosis of syphilis.