In order to study the antibacterial activity of Chinese medicinal herbs to Ureaplasma ure- alyticum(Uu),we examined the inhibitory effect of 156 Chinese medicinal herbs to 14 standard strains of Uu by microdilution method in vitro.The results showed that Uu had a higher sensitivity to Cortex phellodendri,Radix angelicae dahuricae,Fructus kochiae,Radix et rhizoma rhei(MIC_(90)≤7.81mg of dried medicinal herbs/ml);a moderate sensitivity to Radix glycyrrrhizae,Radix isatidis,Rhizoma cop- tidis,Herba andrographitis,Herba houttuyniae(15.63≤MIC_(90)≤62.5);a lower sensitivity to Cortex meliae,Herba leonuri(62.5250).It is our opinion that Chinese medicinal herbs are of momentous signfi- cance in the treatment of Uu infection.

Objective To investigate the relationship between expression of matrix metalloproteinases of dermal fibroblasts and wrinkle formation in photoaging skin.Methods In situ hybridization histochemistry and immunocytochemistry were used to detect the expression of matrix metalloproteinases MMP-1,MMP-3mRNA and the expression of tissue inhibitor of MMP-1at(TIMP-1)protein in dermal fibroblasts from non-lesional skin of psoriatic patients during and after PUVA treatment.Results The expression of MMP-1and MMP-3mRNA of dermal fibroblasts from non-lesional skin was persistently up-regulated during PUVA thera-py,and lasted more than6months after treatment;while the expression of TIMP-1protein was only slightly expressed for a short period during PUVA therapy.Conclusion Wrinkle formation in photoaging skin after PUVA therapy is correlated with the imbalance of expression of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors of dermal fibroblasts.

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of transforming growth factor beta receptors (TGF?RⅠ, TGF?RⅡ) in basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Methods The expression of TGF?RⅠand TGF?RⅡwere assessed by quantitative real-time PCR and streptavidin -peroxidase (SP) immunohistochemical techniques in specimens of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and normal control skin. Results Eighteen patients with basal cell carcinoma and twenty-four with squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled in the study. The expression levels of TGF?RⅠand RⅡmRNA were significantly down-regulated in basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in comparison with those in control skin specimens (P

Objective To establish an animal model by placing one end of PICC in the hepatic portal vein of a beagle dog and leaving the other end out of its body.Methods Six Beagle dogs were given respiration anesthesia through orotracheal intubation.An incision was made through the right rectus abdominalis to locate the superior mesenteric vein (SMA) and the main hepatic portal vein.The left branch of SMA was separated and cut to put PICC into the main hepatic portal vein before being ligated and fixed.The other end of PICC was elicited through the right abdominal wall and passed beneath the skin to the back neck and fastened in case of movement.Results The anesthetic effect was good and all the operations were successful.The mean operation time was about an hour and the mean blood loss was about 15 ml.The incision healed 5-7 d after operation.Conclusion The establishment of the model can improve the effects of liver-targeting drugs,which can cut down the dosage,lower the cost of treatment and experiment and reduce the adverse effect of medicines.Through PICC,we can directly draw blood from the hepatic portal vein to measure the blood concentration before the first pass elimination.Then according to the concentration,we can calculate the absorption rate in the gastrointestinal tract,which can facilitate related experimental studies.

Objective To investigate the expressions of transforming growth factor beta receptors (TGF beta R), receptor-activated Smads and common-partner Smad in condylomata acuminata. Methods Tissue samples were collected from 20 patients with condylomata acuminata and 15 normal human controls.EliVisionTM plus immunohistochemical technique was used to detect the distribution and expression of TGF beta R Ⅰ , TGF beta R Ⅱ, Smad1/2/3, phosphorylated Smad2/3 and Smad4 in condylomata acuminata and normal control skin. Results Positive immunohistochemical staining for TGFbeta R Ⅰ , TGFbeta R Ⅱ,Smad1/2/3, p-Smad2/3 and Smad4 was detected in the epidermis of normal control skin. The intensity of im-munohistochemical staining was significantly lower for TGFbeta R Ⅰ , TGFbeta R Ⅱ, Smad1/2/3, p-Smad2/3and Smad4 in the epidermis of condylomata acuminata than in that of normal control skin (P < 0.05 or < 0.01). Conclusion The expressions of TGF beta R, receptor-activated Smads and common-partner Smad are decreased or absent in the epidermis of condylomata acuminata, which might interfere with TGF be-ta/Smad signaling and contribute to the development of epidermal hyperplasia in condylomata acuminata.

Objective Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease, which mainly involves joints across the body, resulting in joint stiffness and loss of daily activity. Recent evidence suggests that numerous self-reacting T cells, including Th1 and Th17, infiltrate the synovium in RA patients, accompanied by functionally-compromised Treg. Iguratimod, a new small molecule with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, has shown curative effects in animal models of arthritis. In this study, we aimed to test the clinical effects of Iguratimodˊs on RA patients and its role in immunoregulation. Methods We examined the clinical effects of iguratimod on RA patients in a random controlled clinical trials and analyzed its effects on Th1, Th17 and Treg as well as their associated cytokines and transcription factors by flow cytometry and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Then t-test, chi-square test and rank sum test were used to conduct statistical analysis. Results Our results revealed that iguratimod therapy provided significantly greater clinical benefit [ACR20, ACR50, ACR70 reached 50%, 20%, 15% respectively in iguratimod treatment group, Z=-2.216,P=0.027] than placebo group with the reduction of Th1 and Th17 but increment of Treg after iguratimod treatment [Th1: week 0 (26.5 ±8.0)%, week 24 (14.2 ±7.3)%, P<0.01; Th17:week 0 (1.7±0.7)%, week 24 (1.3±0.4)%, P<0.05;Treg:week 0 (6.8±1.6)%, week 24 (8.9±2.9)%, P<0.05], which was statistically significant. Conclusion Our results provide theoretical and clinical based evidence for the impact of iguratimod on immunomodulation of RA.

Eight compounds were isolated from ethyl acetate fraction of 80% ethanol extract of the hulls of Garcinia mangostana by silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, as well as prep-HPLC methods. By HR-ESI-MS, MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectral analyses, the structures of the eight compounds were identified as 16-en mangostenone E(1), α-mangostin(2), 1,7-dihydroxy-2-(3-methy-lbut-2-enyl)-3-methoxyxanthone(3), cratoxyxanthone(4), 2,6-dimethoxy-para-benzoquinone(5), methyl orselinate(6), ficusol(7), and 4-(4-carboxy-2-methoxyphenoxy)-3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid(8). Compound 1 was a new xanthone, and compound 4 was a xanthone dimer, compound 5 was a naphthoquinone. All compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time except compounds 2 and 3. Cytotoxic bioassay suggested that compounds 1, 2 and 4 possessed moderate cytotoxicity, suppressing HeLa cell line with IC_(50) va-lues of 24.3, 35.5 and 17.1 μmol·L~(-1), respectively. Compound 4 also could suppress K562 cells with an IC_(50) value of 39.8 μmol·L~(-1).
Humans ; Garcinia mangostana/chemistry* ; HeLa Cells ; Antineoplastic Agents ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Xanthones/pharmacology* ; Garcinia/chemistry* ; Plant Extracts/chemistry* ; Molecular Structure