Objective To explorethe effect of Bailingcapsule on epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT) inrats withadenine-in-duced tubulointerstitial fibrosis .Methods Tubulointerstitial fibrosis ani mal models were established and SDrats were dividedinto mo-del group (n=30) ,treatment group (n=30) andcontrol group(n=30) ,randomly .Experi mental rats were harvested at 7 w,12 w,17 wafter onset of experi ment and functional evaluations were performed. Histology ,i mmunohistology were examined to investigateboth histolopathology changes and the expression of bone morphogenic protein-7 (BMP-7) ,transforming growth factor-?1(TGF-?1)and a-smooth muscle actin (?-SMA) in kidneys at three ti me points mentioned above ,respectively .Results Compared with controlgroup ,24 h urinary proteinin model grouplost increasingly and significantly difference appeared at three ti me points relative to controlgroup(P0 .05) rel-ative to control group.There was significant difference at 12 wand 17 w(P

Objective To explore the effect of Bailing capsule on epithelial-mesenchymal transition( EMT) in rats with adenine-in-duced tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Methods Tubulointerstitial fibrosis animal models were established and SD rats were divided into mo-del group ( n = 30), treatment group ( n = 30) and control group( n = 30), randomly. Experimental rats were harvested at 7 w, 12 w,17 w after onset of experiment and functional evaluations were performed. Histology, immunohistology were examined to investigateboth histolopathology changes and the expression of bone morphogenic protein-7 (BMP-7), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1 )and a-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in kidneys at three time points mentioned above, respectively. Results Compared with controlgroup, 24 h urinary protein in model group lost increasingly and significantly difference appeared at three time points relative to controlgroup ( P ＜ 0.01 ). Urinary NAG in model group was markedly higher than that in control group from 7 w after onset (P ＜ 0.01 ) andwas increasingly raised at 12 w and 17 w (P＜0.01). The value of blood BUN and Cr in model group increased at 7 w (P＞0.05) rel-ative to control group. There was significant difference at 12 w and 17.w (P ＜ 0.01 ). Histologically, kidneys in model group, at 7 w,exhibited tubular casts and gently tubular dilation, granuloma in cortex, mononuclear cells infiltration in tubulointerstitial areas, andmild interstitial fibrosis. At 12 w, the degree of tubular injury and tubulointerstitial fibrosis gradually aggravated. Up to 17 w, diffusetubular dilation or atrophy was observed and focal tubules disappear. Diffuse interstitial fibrosis was exhibited. In normal kidneys, im-munohistochemistry suggested that the light expression of BMP-7 was detected in proximal renal tubular epithelial cells and marked ex-pression was identified in distal tubule, collecting duct, and renal tubular epithelial in junction area between cortex and medulla. How-ever, the expression of BMP-7 in kidneys of model group significantly decreased with increasing tubulointerstitial fibrosis and was nega-tive correlation with the expression of TGF-β1(r = -0. 981 P＜0.01) and α-SMA (r= -0.975 P＜0.01). Bailing capsule ad-ministration protected the expression of BMP-7 and reduced TGF-β1 and α-SMA expression before 12 w(P＜ 0.01 ). Conclusions Ourstudy shows an anti-fibrotic reno-protective function of Bailing capsule in rats with tubulointerstitial fibrosis via prevention of epithelial-mesenchymal transition at early stage. However, the beneficial effect lost with increasing tubulointerstitial fibrosis.

Objective: To compare tea polysaccharides(TPS) characteristics and their role in scavenging free radicals and reducing blood glucose(BG) in diabetic mice(DM). Methods: TPS was extracted from green,Oolong and black tea which were made from the same fresh leaves from Hubei,Fujian and Yunnan. Then the recovery rate of TPS, contents of neutral sugar, uronic acid and protein were analysed, and scavenging rate of -2Oand 稯H in vitro and hypoglycemic effect were also determined. Results: 1. The yield and contents of neutral sugar, uronic acid and protein of green tea TPS were the highest, and those of black tea TPS were the lowest. Oolong tea TPS acted the best in scavenging-2O and 稯H . 2. The hypoglycemic effect of TPS from Hubei tea was the best . The effect of TPS extracted from semi-fermented Oolong tea and fermented black tea was better than that of non-fermented green tea. 3. There were obvious differences in yield, free radical scavenging rate and effect of reducing BG among TPS extracted from tea in different regions. TPS extracted from Fujian tea had the best effect in reducing BG,but that from Yunnan tea had not. Conclusion: There was remarkable effect of region and process on physico-chemical characteristics,effect of scavenging radical and reducing blood sugar TSP.

Objective： The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of E-cadherin,α -catenin,β -catenin,and γ -catenin in gastric carcinoma and dysplasia and to determine the relationship with tumorigenesis and biological behavior of gastric cancer. Methods： The expression of E-cadherin, α -catenin, β -catenin, and γ -catenin in 43 patients with gastric carcinoma and gastric biopsy specimens from 22 patients with dysplasia and 10 healthy controls were determined using immunohistochemistry. Results： Membranous staining was observed in control biopsy specimens for all components of the complex. Abnormal expressive rates of E-cadherin,α -catenin,β -catenin in gastric carcinomas (53.5％ ,55.8％ ,51.2％ ,respectively) were significantly higher than that in gastric mucosal dysplasials （ 22.7％ ,22.7％ , 18.2％ , respectively P<0.05） ,and the rates in advanced gastric carcinomas were also significantly higher than that in early gastric carcinoma（ P< 0.01, P< 0.05, P< 0.01,respectively） . Tumors with a decrease in E cadherin occurred significantly more frequently in undifferentiated gastric carcinoma (P< 0.05). There were higher abnormal expressive rates of E-cadherin and β  catenin in the patients with tumor infiltrating out of serosa and with lymph nodes metastasis （ P<0.01 or P< 0.05） . Up to 50.0％ of gastric dysplasials and 76.7％ of tumors stained abnormally for one or more components of the cadherin catenin complex (P< 0.05), and the lymph nodes metastasis rates for one or more components of the E cadherin complex was significantly higher than that for no one components of the E cadherin complex (P< 0.01). Conclusion： The decreased expression of E cadherin and part of the catenins correlate with tumor stage, poor differentiation, infiltrative tumor growth, and lymph nodes metastasis, which suggests that E cadherin complex play a critical role in the course of chang from gastric mucosal dysplasials to gastric carcinoma. Thus, study of all the components of E cadherin catenin complex may be more valuable than single component of the complex for the detection of patients with gastric carcinoma.

This paper is aimed to report the development of a method for the determination of the binding rate of plasma protein with salvianolic acid B. In vitro, equilibrium dialysis method was used to imitate the binding process between salvianolic acid B and plasma protein, in vivo, ultrafiltration method was used and the binding rate with HPLC was determined. Plasma samples were treated with methanol to precipitate the protein, and the buffer solution was directly determined after filtering. The calibration curve of the buffer solution was linear in the range of 0.5-20 microg mL(-1). The calibration curve of the plasma was linear in the range of 2-200 microg mL(-1). The extract recovery was 68.6%-81.9%. RSDs of intra- and inter-day precisions were all less than 8.5%. The binding rates of plasma protein with salvianolic acid B in vitro was 75.2% and in vivo was 92.1%. This paper shows the high binding power of salvianolic acid B to plasma protein with high sensitivity, good reproduction, simple management and fulfilling the requirement.
Animals ; Benzofurans ; blood ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Blood Proteins ; metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Male ; Protein Binding ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reproducibility of Results ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrafiltration ; methods

Microgravity is known to produce a number of neurological disturbances during space flight; however, the underlying mechanism of these disturbances is yet to be elucidated. There have been some reports about the increased oxidative stress under microgravity or simulated microgravity. In the present study, we investigated the process of oxidative stress induced by simulated microgravity in different areas of rat brain, which may shed light on the mechanism of neurological disturbances and further neuroprotective research in spaceflight. After adaption for 7 d, 40 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were matched for body weight and randomly assigned to control groups (7, 14, 21 and 28 d) and tail-suspended simulated microgravity groups (7, 14, 21 and 28 d). The tail-suspended groups were treated with 30 angels of tail suspension and the control groups were treated similarly to the tail-suspended groups but without tail suspension. After the required times, different structures of rat brain, including cerebellum, cerebral cortex and hippocampus, were harvested and frozen for the further determination. Griess assay, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) assay, competitive ELISA and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) assay were used for the observation of the changes of reactive nitrogen species (RNS), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitrotyrosine (NT) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), respectively. As shown in the results, there were different changes in various brain regions after tail suspension compared with control groups. (1) In cerebellum, NT increased after 7 d tail suspension, decreased after 14 d and increased again after 28 d; MDA increased after 14 d; RNS increased and TAC decreased after tail suspension for 21 d; (2) Increase of NT after14 d tail suspension, increase of MDA and decrease of TAC after 21 d were found in cerebral cortex; (3) In hippocampus, RNS increased after tail suspension for 7 d, decreased after 14 d and increased again after 28 d; MDA increased after 21 d; NT increased after 28 d; TAC increased after 7 d and recovered after 21 d. These results suggest that simulated microgravity induced by tail suspension increases the level of oxidative stress in rat brain; however, there are different features in different areas of rat brain. During the response to simulated microgravity, rat brain tissues present a similar process from adaptive response to irreversible oxidative damage.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Brain ; physiopathology ; Hindlimb Suspension ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Weightlessness Simulation

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of curcumin on the expressions of collagen type I protein and transforming growth factor-beta1 mRNA in lung tissues of rats with pulmonary fibrosis.

METHODS96 male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups with 24 rats in each group: the normal control group, the model group, the prednisone treated group, and the curcumin treated group. Pulmonary fibrosis was induced by intra-bronchial injection of bleomycin A5. From the 15(th) day after bleomycin administration, rats in the prednisone treated group and the curcumin treated group were given prednisone (5 mg/kg) or curcumin (300 mg/kg) respectively once daily by intragastric administration. In the same way, rats in the normal control group and the model group were given 1% Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose (10 ml/kg) once daily. The histological changes of lung tissue were evaluated by Haematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson's trichrome. The rats were randomly sacrificed on the 21(st), 28(th), 42(nd) and 56(th) day after bleomycin administration. The type I collagen expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) mRNA expression of lung was detected by the semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSPulmonary fibrosis in the curcumin treated group was significantly reduced as compared with the model group and the prednisone treated group on the 42(nd) and 56(th) day (P < 0.05). The expression of type I collagen protein in the curcumin treated group was significantly decreased than that in the model group and the prednisone treated group on the 28(th), 42(nd) and 56(th) day after bleomycin administration (P < 0.05). The TGF-beta(1) mRNA expression in the curcumin treated group was 0.61 +/- 0.09 and 0.48 +/- 0.16 respectively on the 21(st) and 28(th) day after bleomycin administration (P < 0.05). It was significantly decreased than that in the model group on the 21(st), 28(th) day after bleomycin administration and lower as compared with the prednisone treated group on the 21(st) day (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCurcumin could suppress BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats at the fibrosing stage, with the possible mechanism of inhibiting the synthesis and deposition of type I collagen protein and depressing the overexpression of TGF-beta(1) mRNA. The therapeutic effect of curcumin on pulmonary fibrosis is better than prednisone.

Animals ; Collagen Type I ; genetics ; metabolism ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Weiganli on the level of FL in bone marrow and serum of myelosuppressed anemic mice, and to explore it's function on hematopoietic regulation.

METHODModels of myelosuppressed anemic mice were induced by radiation and chemotherapeutic drug, and the mice were randomly divided into normal group, myelosuppressed anemic group, and Weiganli group (high dose 100 g x L(-1), medium dose 50 g x L(-1), low dose 25 g x L(-1)). Effect of Weiganli on the number of the peripheral blood cells and bone marrow nucleated cells (BMC) were evaluated. Effect of Weiganli on the level of FL (Flt3 ligand) was investigated by ELISA technique.

RESULTHigh dose of Weiganli could significantly increase granulocytes, erythrocytes, Hb and BMC, while both the medium dose and the low dose had more significant action in increase of platelet. The level of FL in bone marrow and serum were lower in Weiganli group than that in myelosuppressed anemic group, especially in high and medium dose group.

CONCLUSIONThe myelosuppresion of mice which induced by radiation and chemotherapeutic drug could be significantly relieved by Weiganli.

Anemia ; blood ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Animals ; Bone Marrow ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; blood ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Myeloid Cells

OBJECTIVETo assess the clinical effect and safety of the Chinese medicine Longbishu Capsule combined with mesylate doxazosin in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) of the kidney deficiency and blood stagnation type.

METHODSThis was a randomized, double-blind, double-simulation control study. We equally assigned 60 men diagnosed with BPH of the kidney deficiency and blood stagnation type to an experimental and a control group, the former treated with mesylate doxazosin plus Longbishu Capsule and the latter with mesylate doxazosin plus placebo. We compared the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL), Chinese symptom score (CSS), maximal urinary flow rate (Qmax), and prostate volume between the two groups of patients before and after 6 months of medication.

RESULTSAfter treatment, there were 5 cured cases, 13 markedly effective cases, 9 effective cases, 1 ineffective case, and 2 eliminated cases in the experimental group, as compared with 2 cured cases, 8 markedly effective cases, 10 effective cases, 7 ineffective cases, and 3 eliminated cases in the control group. The total effectiveness rate was obviously higher in the former (96.4%) than in the latter (74.1%). IPSS, Qmax, and CSS were improved in both of the groups after medication, even more significantly in the experimental than in the control group (IPSS: 15.22 ± 2.98 vs 18.15 ± 5.88, P <0.05; Qmax: [13.56 ± 2.26] ml/s vs [11.78 ± 2.97] ml/s, P <0.05; CSS: 6.18 ± 2.13 vs 9.52 ± 3.15, P <0.05). Because of the difference in the QOL score between the two groups at the baseline (P = 0.038 <0.05), no more comparison was made in this aspect after treatment.

CONCLUSIONThe combination of Longbishu Capsule with mesylate doxazosin is safe and effective for the treatment of BPH.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Capsules ; Double-Blind Method ; Doxazosin ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome ; Urination

Objective To study the chest image appearances of penicilliosis marneffei(PSM)in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS).Methods Chest imaging features of PSM in 36 patients with AIDS were retrospectively analyzed.Results Radiographic features of infiltrative lesions and focal lung consolidation were found in 14 cases(38.89%),in which 2 cases were with single lung disease(5.56%)and 12 cases with bilateral lung involvement(33.33%).Eight cases had diffuse lesions (22.22%),10 cases had reticular image patterns(27.78%),9 cases had nodular patterns(25.00%), 7 cases had ground-glass shadows(19.44%),6 cases had diffuse miliary lesions(16.67%),4 cases had enlarged bilar and enlarged mediastinum lymph nodes(11.11%).Cystic lesions was found in 5 cases (13.89%).Four cases had pleural effusion(11.11%),and 2 cases had nodular bump(5.56%). Pericardial effusion and pneumothorax each appeared in 1 case(2.78%).By HRCT,infiltrative lesion and focal lung consolidation were found in 32 patients(88.89%),in which 4 cases were with single lung lesions (11.11%)and 28 cases were with bilateral lung lesions(77.78%).Thirteen cases had diffuse lesions (36.11%),10 cases had pulmonary interstitial hyperplasia(27.78%),9 cases had nodular patterns (25.00%),8 cases had ground-glass shadows(22.22%),9 cases had diffuse miliary lesions(25.00%), 21 cases had enlarged lymph nodes in the mediastinum(58.33%).Cystic lesions were found in 8 cases (22.22%).Thirteen cases had pleural effusion(36.11%),and 2 cases had nodular bump(5.56%). Pericardial effusion and pneumothorax each appeared in 1 case(2.78%).Conclusion The image appearances of PSM in patients with AIDS include infiltrative lesions or focal lung consolidation,ground- glass shadow,enlarged hilar and mediastinum lymph nodes,pleural effusion,interstitial involvement or reticular image pattern(pulmonary interstitial hyperplasia),diffuse miliary lesion,and cystic lesion.