Objective To observe the influence of Yishen Huoxue prescription on expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor-2 (VEGF-2) and Notch4 in rats with unilateral ureter obstruction (UUO).Methods Ninety-six male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, UUO model group, losartan group, and Yishen Huoxue group, with 24 rats in each group. The rat models of renal fibrosis were reproduced by using UUO method, and they were treated by Yishen Huoxue herb prescription or losartan intra-gastric administration respectively for therapeutic interference. In the sham operation group, simply the unilateral ureter was separated from the near-by tissues and then the abdomen incision was stitched. The blood was collected on 7, 14 and 21 days after operation for determination of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (SCr). Kidney tissues specimens were harvested, and microvessed desity (MVD), the protein expression levels of VEGF-2 and Notch4 in the kidney were detected. Results Compared with UUO model group, BUN and SCr in both treatment groups were significantly decreased with significant difference (allP < 0.01). BUN and SCr in Yishen Huoxue group were slightly lower than those in losartan group without significant difference (bothP >0.05). The expression levels of VEGF-2 and Notch4 in sham operation group at each time point were in normal range; with the time extension, the expressions of VEGF-2 and Notch 4 protein were slightly increased, and the descent degree of MVD in kidney was aggravated gradually in UUO model group. The VEGF-2 and Notch4 protein expressions in kidney tissues of the two treatment groups were significantly increased compared with those in model group, the expression of VEGF-2 (A value) reached the highest level on the 14th day after operation (VEGF-2 levels in sham operation, model, Yishen Huoxue Herb prescription and losartan groups were 0.18±0.09, 4.73±0.72, 7.27±1.35, 8.11±1.64 on the 14th day, and they were 0.19±0.07, 4.05±0.88, 7.10±1.12,7.79±1.53 on 21th day, respectively), later representing a tendency of slight decrease, and Notch4 protein expression (A value) peaked on the 21st day (0.62±0.35, 9.08±1.52, 14.48±3.14, 15.54±3.38 in above four groups, allP < 0.05). The degrees of decrease in renal MVD (microvessel/mm2) in the both treament groups was significantly less than that in model group (45.20±6.25, 25.34±4.67, 30.23±4.20, 32.26±4.36 on the 7th day, 46.07±6.22, 20.06±3.98, 26.88±4.36, 26.95±4.11 on the 14th day, 45.18±6.10, 17.79±3.72, 21.71±4.25, 21.68±4.41 on the 21st day in above four groups,P < 0.05 orP < 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in the above values between Yishen Huoxue herb group and losartan group.Conclusion Traditional Chinese medicine benefiting qi for activating blood circulation therapy (Yishen Huoxue herb prescription) has obvious improving effect on the microvascular injury in the process of renal fibrosis that possibly is related closely to the drug regulation on VEGF/Notch signaling cascade.

Objective To establish a RP-HPLC method investigate the processing technique and mechanism of Eucommiae Cortex.Methods The RP-HPLC method was applied to simultaneously determining six ingredients,geniposidic acid,geniposide,genipin,chlorogenic acid,(+)-pinoresinol-di-β-D-glucopyranoside,and(+)-syringaresinol-di-β-D-glucopyranoside,in the different processed barks of Eucommia ulmoides.Results The valid method with good accuracy could be well used to study the processing technique of E.ulmoides;Besides,target ingredients in E.ulmoide were decreased within 6 h when they were processed.Conclusion Established RP-HPLC is a reliable method which could be used to research the processing technique of the barks ofE.ulmoides.Moreover,the result of this study could be provided with significant evidence of processed barks of E.ulmoides.

Objective Parotidectomy and superficial parotidectomy are traditional surgical treatment to the malignant parotid gland tumour although they have many defects.The aim of this study was to analyze the feasibility of individualized treatment to patient according to tumor`s size and TNM stage. Methods Thirty three patients with low grade malignant parotid gland tumours from Dec 2005 to Dec 2010 were recruited in the present study.All the patients received the territorial surgical resection firstly.Then, 9 cases re-ceived the expanded territorial surgical resection (1 case had recurrent probability, accepted adjuvant radiotherapy).Sixteen cases un-derwent parotidectomy with complete tumor resection ( 2 case had envelope invasion, accepted adjuvant radiotherapy) .Eight cases ac-cepted adjuvant radiotherapy(4 cases on T1 and T2 stage preserved facial nerve although the nerves adhering to tumors, and other 4 ca-ses on T4a stage accepted facial nerve excision ) . Results Follow up ranged from 3.5 to 8.5 years and no recurrences were docu-mented.9 patients who accepted territorial surgical resection showed fine facial symmetry.8 cases of them without adjuvant radiotherapy had good salivary secretion.Nine cases of other 24 patients showed temporary facial nerve injury and recovered within 1 to 4 months. Four cases with facial nerve excision showed permanental facial paralysis. Conclusion To protect the function of parotid gland to the greatest extent, the small low grade malignant parotid gland tumors without facial nerve invasion could have territorial surgical resection. Combined territorial surgical resection with postoperative adjuvant radiation therapy is useful to avoid the tumors recurrence and en-croachment of facial nerve to protect the facial nerve function.