Objective The self-microemulsifying drug delivery system(SMEDDS) with tanshinone ⅡA was prepared in order to develop its new dosage forms.Methods Pseudo ternary phase diagrams were used to evaluate the self-microemulsification existence area under emulsifier,coemulsifer,and oil phase.The HPLC analysis in vitro was set up.Solubility in various vehicles was determined.The self-microemulsification efficiency was assessed,such as stability,particle size,and Zeta potential.Results The solubi-lity of tanshinone ⅡA in SMEDDS was about 2.5 mg/g,droplet size was within 20 nm,and the absolute value of Zeta potential was over 60 mV.The stability of SMEDDS with tanshinone ⅡA was better in centrifugal condition with high temperature but not good enough to the light.Conclusion The SMEDDS can make tanshinone ⅡA solublized in water,and is an optimum vehicle in new dosage forms of tanshinone ⅡA.

Objective: To investigate the role of retinoic acid (RA) in the differentiation, and maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) derived from cord blood monocytes, and its mechanism. Method: Nine cord blood samples were collected from healthy and well nourished newborns. Monocytes were isolated and cultured in vitro. Cells were divided into 4 groups: control group; retinoid acid receptor ? (RAR? )agonist group (RA group); RAR? antagonist group (RO group) and agonist plus antagonist group (RA+RO group). Part cells were collected in D9, and the surface markers on cells were detected by flow cytometer. The mixed lymphocyte reaction (allo-MLR) was used to evaluate the ability of DC to induce proliferation of T cells and the influence by RA and RAR?. Th cytokines were measured in protein level by ELISA and in mRNA levels by RT-PCR to decipher the effect of RA and RAR? in the regulation of Th1/Th2 balance by DCs. Results: The differentiation and maturation of DCs were inhibited significantly in RA group compared with control group. When RO was added into the culture, the effects of RA can be reversed. After MLR , the suppression effect of RA on allo-T cell proliferation was inversed by RO. During the influence of DC on Th cell polarization, RO could inhibit the down-regulation of Th1 cytokine (IFN-?) as well as the up- regulation of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-10) by RA, whether on protein levels or on mRNA levels. Conclusion: Retinoic acid inhibited the differentiation and maturation of DC derived from cord blood monocytes, reduced the ability to stimulate allo-T lymphocytes proliferation by DCs, and made immune response bias to Th2. RAR? plays a very important role in the regulation of RA on DCs.

Objective: To investigate the effects and mechanisms of vitamin A on tracheal mucosal immunity. Method: The rat model with vitamin A deficiency (VAD) was established. By use of immunohistochemical, RT-quantity PCR and ELISA methods, the number of dendritic cells (DCs, OX-62 positive cells), the maturation of DCs (the positive areas of CD80 and CCR7), the pathogen recognition receptors (the positive areas of TLR2 and of TLR4) and TLRs signal transduction (the mRNA level of MyD88), as well as cytokines production in tracheal mucous membrane were detected. Results: In VAD rats, the number of DCs in trachea was increased, but the expressions of CD80 and CCR7 were similar with control group. The TLR2 and MyD88 mRNA levels were up-regulated, and IL-12 production was also raised. However, Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-6 were reduced significantly in protein and mRNA levels, and the production of IL-10 protein was declined compared with the control. Conclusion: In VAD rats, the number of DCs, receptors of pathogens recognition, and cytokines production in trachea mucosa were significantly changed. The affection of VAD on DCs may play important role in the impaired mucosal immunity of trachea.

Objective To investigate the mechanisms underlying the protection by punicalagin against ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced damage to keratinocytes.Methods Cultured human HaCaT keratinocytes were divided into several groups:blank control group receiving no treatment,punicalagin groups treated with various concentrations of punicalagin,UVB group irradiated with UVB at 30 mJ/cm2,combination groups pretreated with different concentrations of punicalagin followed by UVB radiation at 30 mJ/cm2.The concentrations of punicalagin were 5,10,20,40 and 80 μmol/L in the cell proliferation assay,10,20 and 40 μmol/L in the other assays.After additional culture for different durations,methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was performed to evaluate the proliferation of HaCaT cells,Hoechst and propidium iodide (PI) staining as well as flow cytometry to detect the apoptosis in cells,reverse transcription-PCR to quantify the mRNA expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP1) in HaCaT cells,Western blot to determine the phosphorylation levels of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway-related proteins including P38,JNK and ERK.Statistical analysis was carried out by t test,one-way analysis of variance,and Dunnett's t-test.Results As the MTT assay showed,punicalagin at 10-40 μmol/L showed stronger pre-protective effects against UVB-induced damage to HaCaT cells compared with punicalagin at the other concentrations.The number of cells highly positive for both Hoechst and PI staining was larger in the UVB group than that in the blank control group,but smaller in the combination groups than in the UVB group.The percentage of apoptotic cells increased significantly in the UVB group compared with the blank control group (9.82％ ± 0.11％ vs.1.24％ ± 0.91％,P ＜ 0.01),but decreased significantly in the three combination groups (punicalagin (10,20 and 40 μmol/L) + UVB) compared with the UVB group (6.38％ ± 0.14％,5.24％ ± 0.17％ and 3.77％ ± 0.11％ vs.9.82％ ± 0.11％,all P＜ 0.01).Theexpression of MMP1 mRNA was significantly higher,but that of TIMP1 mRNA was significantly lower in the UVB group than in the blank control group (both P ＜ 0.01),whereas no statistically significant difference was observed in the expression of MMP1 or TIMP1 mRNA between the punicalagin groups and blank control group (all P ＞ 0.05).The pretreatment with punicalagin significantly reduced the expression level of MMP1 mRNA (P ＜ 0.01),but elevated that of TIMP1 mRNA (P ＜ 0.01) in the combination groups compared with the UVB group.As Western blot showed,the phosphorylation levels of P38,JNK and ERK were markedly increased in the UVB group (all P ＜0.01),but experienced no significant changes in the punicalagin groups (all P ＞ 0.05) compared with the blank control group,and decreased to different degrees in the combination groups compared with the UVB group (all P ＜0.01).Conclusion Punicalagin has a pre-protective effect on UVB-induced damage to HaCaT cells.

Objective To investigate the effects of 2 450 MHz microwave irradiation on the proliferation of cultured mouse fibroblasts in vitro, and the related gene and protein expressions. Methods Cells from mouse skin were directly radiated with microwaves of different intensities for different periods. The proliferation of fibroblasts was assayed by the MTT method, and the effects of microwave radiation on the fibroblast cell cycle were measured by flow eytometry. The mRNA expression of types Ⅰ and Ⅲ procollagen was detected by real-time RT-PCR. Anti-phosphoryl- ation extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK-1/2) antibody was introduced in immunofluorescence staining analysis to observe any changes in the phosphorylation of fibroblast protein ERK. Results ① 5 W/cm2 or 1.0 W/cm2 irradia- tion for 5 min, 15 min, or 30 min did not significantly decrease fibroblast proliferation, but irradiation at 5 W/cm2 for more than 5min caused a significant decrease in fibroblast proliferation. ②After 5 W/cm2 irradiation for 5 min, the percentage of cells in the G0/G1phase was significantly increased, and ERK was activated immediately after irradia- tion. ③The mRNA expression of type Ⅰ procollagen was down-regulated after microwave irradiation, and the magni- tude of the decreased expression correlated positively with the duration of irradiation. Thirty minutes of microwave ir- radiation at 1 W/cm2 or 5 minutes at 5 W/cm2 significantly down-regulated the mRNA expression of type Ⅰ procolla- gen and the ratio of types Ⅰ and Ⅲ. Conclusion High-intensity microwaves may inhibit the proliferation of fibro-blasts in a dose-dependent manner in vitro and down-regulate procollagen mRNA expression, which might be achieved by activating mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction gateways.

Objective To explore the reliability and validity of the simplified Chinese version of the Oswestry disability index (SCODI) and the curative effect of community-based rehabilitation for patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Methods 165 patients with LDH received community-based rehabilitation according to the severity of their LDH. Before treatment and after 3 months, the SCODI, the Roland-Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ) and a visual analogue scale (VAS) were used to evaluate the effects. The reliability and validity of the SCODI was thus tested. The reliability analysis included internal consistency as measured by Cronbach's coefficient,and test-retest reliability as measured by an interclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The validity analysis used Spearman's correlation coefficient (for concurrent efficacy validity) and factor analysis (for construct validity). The correlation between SCODI, RMDQ and VAS results was analyzed. Results There was statistically significant functional improvement and better QOL in LDH patients after community-based rehabilitation. The SCODI showed good validity and reliability. There was significant correlation among the SCODI, RMDQ and VAS results. Conclusion Community-based rehabilitation can significantly alleviate symptoms for patients with LDH and improve their QOL.The SCODI is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring the curative effect of community-based rehabilitation on patients with LDH.

Objective To compared the clinical efficacy of laparoscopic-assisted vaginal and laparotomy in the treatment of early endometrial cancer.Methods CLinical data of 180 patients with endometrial cancer were analyzed retrospectively,which were randomly divided into two groups:The laparotomy group were underwent conventional abdominal hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy;Laparoscopic group were underwent laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection.Operative time,blood loss,recovery time of gastrointestinal function,length of stay,the number of harvested lymph nodes,complications were compared.Results There were no significant differences in operative time,blood loss,the number of lymph nodes cleaned up between two groups(P ＞0.05).Recovery time of gastrointestinal function,and length of stay in the laparoscopic group was significantly shorter than the laparotomy group,the differences were statistically significant(t =2.898,2.564,P ＜0.05).The complication rates(11.0％ vs 19.1％) were no significant difference(P ＞ 0.05).Following up for 3 months to 27 months,recurfence rates(6.6％ vs 5.6％) and survival rates(98.9％ vs 97.8 ％) were no significant difference(all P ＞ 0.05).Conciusion The clinical efficacy of laparoscopic-assisted vaginal surgical treatment for early endornetrial cancer was significantly superior to laparotomy surgery with advantage of minimally invasive,quick recovery.

Objective To investigate the incidence of osteoarthritis disease, related factor and need of rehabilitation services. Methods 13579 questionnaires were sent randomly to the permanents resident in Xuhui District, and 12419 returned. Results The morbidity of cervical syndrome, lumbar diseases, knee osteoarthritis were 22.74%, 31.45%, and 23.37%, and more in females (P＜0.01). 23.12%, 16.59%, 20.12% patients with cervical syndrome, lumbar diseases, knee osteoarthritis accepted rehabilitation respectively, and 28.08%,36.05%, 34.18% accepted self-exercise. The top 3 complications were hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and gastropathy. Conclusion It is important to improve the rehabilitation intervention and health education to the females and the elders, as well as the community health services and the community general practice team.

AIM: To explore the effect of deoxynivalenol on apoptosis and proliferation of mouse thymocytes in vivo. METHODS: Effect of deoxynivalenol at different concentrations on apoptosis and proliferation of mouse thymocytes in vivo were studied with animal experiment, electron microscopic observation, DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometric analyses. RESULTS: FCM analysis showed that the apoptosis rates of the thymocytes in DON groups (0 5 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg, 4 mg/kg and 8 mg/kg) were significantly higher than that in control ( P

AIM: To study the effects of ?-amyloid protein (A?) on neural stem cells cultured in vitro. METHODS: Neural stem cells (NSC) were isolated from E13 SD rats and cultured in serum-free medium (DMEM/F12). After detected by nestin, the A? was added to the NSC medium to observe the viability and proliferation of NSC by MTT, cell count and flow-cytometric examination. The effects of A? on differentiated NSC were also observed. RESULTS: A? markedly inhibited the proliferation and the cell viability of NSC when its concentration was higher than 25 ?mol/L. The differentiatory ability of NSC was inhibited when A? was in very low concentration. CONCLUSION: A? significantly inhibits the proliferation and differentiation of NSC and this may be one of the reasons that Alzheimer's disease is induced. [