Baicalein is an important component of traditional Chinese herb, Scutellariae Radix(Huang Qin), and has various efficacies, including anti bacterial, antivirus, anti inflammation, protecting the liver function, diuresis, anti tumor, and shows good values in clinical application. It was majorly applied to acute or chronic inflammation. This article reviews developments in its pharmacological action and mechanism and provides theoretical evidences for exploiting of baicalein.

Objective: To investigate the effects of rosuvastatin on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and periostin, cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) expression, and to explore rosuvastatin on ventricular remodeling in experimental rats after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: A total of 45 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 group, Sham operation group,n=15 and AMI group,n=30, the AMI model was established by left anterior descending coronary ligation. After 24 hours of AMI, the rats were further divided into 2 groups, AMI + rosuvastatin group, the rats received gastric rosuvastatin 1mg/(kg?d), and AMI group, the rats received gastric normal saline.n=15 in each group and all animals were treated for 6 weeks. The mRNA and protein expressions of CT-1 and periostin were examined by real time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, the contents of superoxide anion (O2-·) and hydroxy radical (OH·) were detected by colorimetric method among different groups. Results: Compared with Sham operation group and AMI + suvastatin group, the mRNA and protein expressions of CT-1, periostin, the contents of (O2-·), (OH·) and left heart weight index were increased in AMI group at non-infraction zone,P<005. Compared with Sham operation group, the mRNA and protein expressions of CT-1, periostin, the contents of (O2-·), (OH·) and left heart weight index were increased in AMI + suvastatin group at non-infraction zone,P<005. Compared with AMI group, the mRNA and protein expressions of CT-1 and periostin were decreased in AMI + rosuvastatin group,P<005. Conclusion: Rosuvastatin may improve ventricular remodeling via inhibiting ROS production and CT-1, periostin expression in experimental rats after AMI.

OBJECTIVE: To study the assistant effect of Scutellaria barbata extract (ESB) in 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) chemotherapy. METHODS: A mouse model of transplanted hepatoma H22 was used in this study to evaluate the synergic and attenuating effects of ESB in chemotherapy. Tumor inhibition rate, life span of mice and the toxicity of chemotherapy were observed. The body weight, tumor weight, thymus index and spleen index in H22-bearing mice were also measured. The phagocytotic function of macrophages was studied by observing phagocytization of peritoneal macrophages. RESULTS: The increase of body weight in 5-FU plus ESB groups was higher than that in 5-FU group, and the side effects such as anorexia, abdominal distention and athrepsy were relieved. Compared with untreated group, prolonged lifetime in 5-FU plus high-dose ESB group and 5-FU plus low-dose ESB group was improved. Life prolongation rates in 5-FU plus high-dose ESB group and 5-FU plus low-dose ESB group were 61.46% and 23.59% respectively. High-dose ESB, 5-FU, 5-FU plus low-dose ESB and 5-FU plus high-dose ESB could inhibit the tumor growth, and the tumor inhibition rates were 36.98%, 42.26%, 52.45% and 65.28%, respectively. Thymus index and spleen index were increased significantly in 5-FU plus low-dose ESB group and 5-FU plus high-dose ESB group. White blood cell (WBC) count was decreased obviously in 5-FU group, while the count of WBC was increased in 5-FU plus low-dose ESB group and 5-FU plus high-dose ESB group. The phagocytotic function of macrophages was also increased in 5-FU plus low-dose ESB group and 5-FU plus high-dose ESB group. CONCLUSION: ESB can enhance the effect of chemotherapy, relieve the side effects and improve immune function of mice in chemotherapy. These results suggest that ESB, as a biochemical modulator to enhance the therapeutic effects, is useful in cancer chemotherapy.

Objective Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) is an important phospholipid component in the cell membrane and is involved in the formation of membrane asymmetry. PE is exposed on the cell surface with phosphatidylserine during apoptosis. However, the effects of PE on cell apoptosis are not clear. In this study, we investigated effects of PE on apoptosis in human cervical cancer HeLa cells. Methods HeLa cells were used as the experiment material, and were divided into five groups: blank PE, respectively. The cell growth was tested by MTT assay; the cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed using flow cytometry. Results Compared with the control group, PE inhibited the growth of HeLa cells in all the treatment groups in dose- and time-dependent manners, and induced the apoptosis, but did not change the cell cycle. Conclusion PE inhibits the growth of HeLa cells by inducing the apoptosis.

Objective To study the correlation between splenic macrophage (M?) phagocytosis and peripheral blood cell count in cirrhotic portal hypertensive (CPH) patients Methods Spleen M? phagocytosis was measured in 20 CPH patients with hypersplenism and 6 patients with traumatic spleen rupture Results The M? phagocytosis rate in CPH patients was (12 6?3 0)% compared with (6 9?0 5)% in traumatic patients ( P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of TMEM16A in gastric carcinoma and its clinical implications.

METHODSA total of 72 surgical specimens of gastric carcinoma were collected for examination of TMEM16A expression with immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSTMEM16A expression was detected in the cytoplasm and cell membrane of the tumor cells. Of the 72 specimens of the tumor tissues, the total positivity rate of TMEM16A expression was 80.56% (58/72), significantly higher than the rate in the adjacent tissues (4.17%, 3/72, P<0.005).

CONCLUSIONAberrant expression of TMEM16A occurs in the majority of gastric carcinoma cases. TMEM16A can be used as a new candidate target for diagnosis and treatment of gastric carcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Anoctamin-1 ; Carcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Chloride Channels ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo predict and identify B-cell linear epitopes of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg).

METHODSThe B-cell linear epitopes of HBeAg were predicted using the software provided by NCBI Database and Immune Epitope Database (IEDB) and synthesized by a solid-phase method followed by conjugation with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). The KLH conjugates were used for immunization of New Zealand white rabbits, and the immune response of the rabbits was monitored by direct ELISA using a bovine serum albumin conjugate of the predicted epitopes. RESULTS Four new B-cell linear epitopes of HBeAg were identified, namely (1)MDIDPYKEFG(10), (37)LYREALESPEHCSP(50), (74)SNLEDPAS(81) and (127)RTPPAYRPPNAPIL(140). The rabbits immunized with the KLH conjugate showed an antibody titer over 1:512 000. The antisera of B-cell linear epitopes collected could specifically react with HBeAg as shown by ELISA.

CONCLUSIONFour B-cell linear epitopes of HBeAg have been confirmed using bioinformatics methods, which provides new evidence for further functional studies of HBeAg in hepatitis B.

Animals ; Computational Biology ; Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte ; immunology ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; immunology ; Hepatitis B virus ; immunology ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy and safety of antiviral treatment in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and decompensated cirrhosis and determine the effects of virological response on long-term prognosis.

METHODSSixty-six consecutive,interferon (IFN)-na(i)ve patients with HCV infection and decompensated cirrhosis were enrolled in this prospective study. All patients were given a 48-to 72-week course of IFN plus ribavirin (RBV) combined therapy,with a low accelerating dosage regimen using either:pegylated (PEG)-IFNa-2b at 1.0-1.5 mug/kg/week,PEG-IFNa-2a at 90-180 mug,or standard IFN-a-2b at 3MU,every other day.RBV was given at 800 to 1000 mg/day. All patients were routinely monitored for adverse drug reactions and virological response.Effects of treatments on patient survival were assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTSAt the end of treatment,74.2% of patients were HCV RNA-negative,with 45.5% having achieved sustained virological response and 28.8% having relapsed;the remaining 25.7% of patients showed non-virological response (NVR). Among the patients with HCV genotype 1, 65.9% achieved end-of-treatment virological response (ETVR) and 34.1% achieved SVR;among the patients with HCV genotype 2,90.9% achieved ETVR and 68.2% achieved SVR. The positive and negative predictive values of early virological response (EVR) for ETVR were 95.7% and 75.0% respectively, and for SVR were 65.2% and 100% respectively. Compared with baseline,patients who achieved ETVR had better liver function,as evidenced by changes in levels of total bilirubin,alanine aminotransferase and albumin,as well as prothrombin activity and Child-Pugh score (t =4.564,11.486,2.303,2.699,3.694 respectively, all P less than 0.05).Compared with the NVR patients, the ETVR patients had lower risk of hepatic decompensation and hepatocellular carcinoma, and had improved survival (x2=18.756,6.992,7.580, respectively, all P less than 0.05).Twelve (18.2%) patients experienced serious adverse events,with 10 requiring premature treatment withdrawal and 2 dying.

CONCLUSIONAntiviral treatment for patients with HCV infection and decompensated cirrhosis using interferon in a low accelerating dosage regimen in combination with ribavirin is feasible.Patients who achieved ETVR had significantly improved long-term prognosis.

Alanine Transaminase ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Hepatitis C ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; virology ; Liver Neoplasms ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Recombinant Proteins ; therapeutic use ; Ribavirin ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome