Objective To understand how about the female consumers know the skin conditions of themselves and which they concern by a comprehensive questionnaire. Methods Three hundred and twenty-eight healthy volunteers in Shanghai were involved in this study. They were divided into 5 age groups equally. The questionnaire included the skin conditions, i.e. skin moisture, sebum, whiteness, redness, xanthochromia, homogeneity, spots, fine line, wrinkle, elasticity, angiotelectasis,pore, sagging, smoothness, gloss, roughness, scales and sensitivity. Each condition was divided into 10 grades to assess the skin conditions of the face (exposed site), upper arm (non-exposed site) and the perfect skin status. SPSS11.5 software was used to analyze the correlations of the skin conditions with ages. Results The skin concerns were difference in the 5 groups. Skin aging of sagging, wrinkle, spots and fine line became prominent from group C (35 to 40 years old). The correlations between the skin concerns of facial moisture, sebum, whiteness, homogeneity, spots, wrinkle, fine line, elasticity, sagging, sensitivity, upper arm sebum, spots, elasticity, angiotelectasis, sagging and roughness with ages were very significant (P＜0.01). Conclusion The changes of the volunteers'concerns about sebum, pore, sagging, elasticity, fine line and wrinkle with age in different age group are consistent with the quantitative measurement results from the oversea studies.

In this paper, Liuwei Dihuang pill was used to study the identification of Chinese patent medicine by fluorescence sequencing typing technology. The DNA of Paeonia suffruticosa was used as template to amplify by five pair of FAM fluorescence labeling primers. Then, the amplified products were sequenced. The sequencing results were analyzed by GeneMarker V1.80 to screen the best fluorescence labeling primers. As a result, psbA-trnH fluorescence labeling primer was used to identify the raw materials of Liuwei Dihuang pill. The results showed that three kinds of raw plant medicinal materials in Liuwei Dihuang pill were able to be correctly identified by psbA-trnH fluorescence labeling primer. The fluorescence sequencing typing technology can stably and accurately distinguish raw medicinal materials in Chinese patent medicine.
DNA Primers ; chemistry ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; chemistry ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; standards ; Fluorescent Dyes ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; instrumentation ; methods ; Quality Control ; Staining and Labeling

Lian Qiao Bai Du Wan was used to study the identification of Chinese patent medicine by molecular marker technique. DNA was extracted through modified CTAB method. The psbA-trnH and rbcL sequences were gradient amplified, and PCR products were ligated with the pEASY-T5 vector and then transformed into Trans1-T1 cells, respectively. Clones were selected randomly and sequenced. All sequences were analyzed by BlastN and the neighbor-joining (NJ) phylogenetic tree was constructed by MEGA 4.0. The results showed that nine kinds of medicinal materials can be identified by psbA-trnH sequences, and six kinds of medicinal materials by rbcL sequences from Lian Qiao Bai Du Wan. Molecular marker technique can stably and accurately distinguish multi-origin medicinal materials in Chinese patent medicine.

The antitussive activity assay for the root extraction of Disporum cantoniense was carried out with coughing mice induced by ammonia liquor. The results showed that the ethanol and water extractions of D. cantoniense possess strong antitussive activity, and the high dose of the former was better than positive control, and then the constituents of the ethanol extraction were separated and purified by various modern chromatographic techniques. Their structures were identified by physico-chemical properties and spectroscopic data. As a result, eight compounds were isolated and identified as stigmast-4-en-3-one(1), (22E, 24R)-ergosta-5, 7, 22-trien-3beta-ol(2), obtucarbamate A(3), obtucarbamate B(4), neotigogenin(5), azo-2, 2'-bis[Z-(2,3-dihydroxy-4-methyl-5-methoxy) phenyl ethylene] (6),dimethyl {[carbonylbis (azanediyl)] bis( 2-methyl-5, 1-phenylene) j dicarbamate (7) , and quercetin-3-O-pB-D-glucopyranoside(8). All compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time, and the result of bioactivity-directed isolation showed that compounds 3, 4, and 6 had obvious effect on antitussive activity, and compound 6 had the same level as positive control.
Animals ; Antitussive Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Female ; Liliaceae ; chemistry ; Male ; Mice

Objective To evaluate the effects of curcumin on the expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-related kinase (p-ERK) and phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein (p-CREB) in the spinal dorsal horn and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) in type 2 diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) in rats.Methods Type 2 diabetes mellitus was induced by high-fat and high-sucrose diet and intraperitoneal streptozotocin (STZ) 35mg/kg,and confirmed by fasting blood glucose level≥ 16.7 mmol/L in male Sprague-Dawley rats.Type 2 DNP was confirmed by the mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal withdraw latency (TWL) measured on day 14 after STZ administration ＜ 80％ of the baseline value,and the rats with type 2 DNP were randomly divided into 3 groups (n =27 each):type 2 DNP group (group DNP),curcumin group (group Cur) and solvent control group (group SC).Curcumin and corn oil 100 mg/kg (25 mg/ml) were injected intraperitoneally once a day for 14consecutive days starting from 14 days after administration of streptozocin in Cur and SC groups,respectively.Another 27 normal rats were served as control group (group C) and were fed with common forage.MWT and TWL were measured at 3,7 and 14 days after curcumin injection (T1 3),and the lumbar segment 4-6 of the spinal cord and DRGs were removed at the same time for determination of the expression of p-ERK and p-CREB (by Western blot).Results Compared with group C,MWT was significantly decreased,TWL was shortened,and the expression of p-ERK and p-CREB in spinal dorsal horn and DRGs was up-regulated at T1-3 in DNP and SC groups,and at T1 in Cur group (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with group DNP,MWT was significantly increased,TWL was prolonged,and the expression of p-ERK and p-CREB in spinal dorsal horn and DRGs was down-regulated at T2,3 in Cur group (P ＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the MWT,TWL and expression of p-ERK and p-CREB between DNP and SC groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Curcumin can attenuate type 2 diabetic DNP by inhibiting up-regulation of the expression of p-ERK and p-CREB in the spinal dorsal horn and DRG in rats.

Objective To explore the changes of plasma corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) levels in the young rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage.Methods Two hundred and forty young rats were randomly divided into three groups:hypoxic-ischemic brain damage group ( model group,n =80),sham-operated group ( n =80),and normal control group ( n =80).The plasma CRF levels of rats in three groups were detected at 1 h,3 h,6 h,12 h,l d,3 d,5 d and 18 d after hypoxia-ischemia,per ten rats for each time point.Plasma CRF levels were measured by radioimmunoassay.Results Plasma CRF levels of model group,shamoperated group and normal control group showed no significant difference in the young rats after 1 h,3 h,6 h,12 h of hypoxia-ischemia ( P ＞ 0.05 ).But plasma CRF levels in the model group were respectively significantly lower than those of sham-operated group and normal control group after 1 d and 3 d of hypoxia-ischemia ( P ＜0.001 ),and then recovered to the control group levels after 5 d and 18 d of hypoxia-ischemia ( P ＞0.05 ).Conclusion Hypoxia-ischemia affects plasma CRF levels in the young rats,which is related with the duration after hypoxia-ischemia.

Objective To investigate clinical features of lower motor neuron lesion (LMNL) caused by the single level lower thoracic disc protrusion (LTDP),and to observe clinical outcomes of surgical treatment.Methods Between January 1997 and December 2009,17 patients with LMNL caused by single level LTDP underwent en bloc resection of the superior articular process,Cave-in 360° circumferential decompression and internal fixation in our hospital.MRI and CT scans were taken to confirm lesion levels:T10-11 in 4 patients of whom 3 had patellar clonus and ankle clonus,T11-12 in 5 patients of whom 4 had ankle clonus,and T12L1 in 8 patients who only had positive Babinski sign.The neurologic status was assessed using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scoring system.The muscle strength of the tibialis anterior was assessed using the Manual Muscle Test (MMT).Sagittal Cobb angle and cross-sectional area of the dural sac at the level of maximal compression in MRI were also observed.Results All patients were followed up for 22 to 76 months (average,48.6 months).The mean JOA score increased from preoperative 5.88±1.11 to 9.53±0.94 at final follow-up (t=16.143,P＜0.05).The muscle strength of the tibialis anterior recovered to more than grade 4 in all patients.Postoperative Cobb angle was unchanged compared with that before operation.MRI indicated that the cross-sectional area of the dural sac at the level of maximum compression increased from preoperative 35.8±7.3 mm2 to postoperative 132.9±6.5 mm2 (t=70.78,P＜0.05).Conclusion LMNL can be caused by LTDP.The eu bloc resection of the superior articular process,Cave-in 360° circumferential decompression and internal fixation can provide a satisfactory decompression effect and marked recovery of neurological function.

Objective To explore the regulation function of Icariine on the expression of bone morphogenetic protein signaling pathway Smad1,Smad5,Smad4 and to explore the mechanism of promoting MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation and differentiation.Methods MC3T3-E1 cells were treated by 0,10-9,10-8 and 10-7 mol/L Icariine respectively.After stimulated by Icariine 1 d,2 d and 3 d,MTT method and population diploid time were used to observe the cell proliferation,and the cell alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level was assayed.At 21 days later,the alizarin red staining was proceeded.At 1,2 and 3 days later,the RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression level about Smad1,Smad5 and Smad4,and the Western blot was to detect the Smad1,5 and Smad4 protein.At 2 days later,the RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression level about Runx2,BMP-2 and osteoprotegerin (OPG),and the Western blot was used to analyze osteocalcin (OCN) protein level.Results After simulated by Icariine,the proliferation (MTT test),the ALP activity and mineralization of osteoblasts were increased,the cell population diploid was reduced (P＜0.05).At 1,2 and 3days later,the results of RT-PCR showed that Icariine continued increasing the mRNA level of Smad1,5 and Smad4 in 10-8 mol/L.At 2 days later,Smad1,Smad5 and Smad4 mRNA expression were obviously reduced in 0 mol/L group,and At 3 days later,Smad1,Smad5 and Smad4 mRNA expression were obviously reduced in 10-9 and 10-7 mol/L groups.At 2 days later,BMP-2,Runx2 and OPG mRNA were obviously increased in 10-8 mol/L group.The results of Western blot showed that OCN,Smad1,Smad5 and Smad4 protein were obviously up-regulated in 10-8 mol/L group.Conclusion Icariine occurs the expressions of BMP-2,Runx2,Smad1,Smad5 and Smad4 by stimulating the bone morphology of MC3T3-E1 cells directly,and promotes the osteogenic differentiation in the manner of expression level synchronous rising.

Objective:To investigate the expression of chemokine receptor CXCR4 in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues,hepatocellular carcinoma cell line-MHCC97,human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs)and the ascites level of CXCL12,ligand of CXCR4,so as to lay a foundation for studying the role of CXCR4 in the metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods:The expression of CXCR4 mRNA and protein was examined by RT-PCR and Western blotting in 21 specimens of hepatocellular carcinoma tissues,MHCC97 cells,HUVECs,and 17 specimens of normal hepatic tissues.Meanwhile,the levels of CXCL12 in ascitic fluids were assayed by ELISA in 18 hepatic cancer patients.Results:The relative expression values of CXCR4 mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues,MHCC97 cells,and HVECs were 2.21?1.09,2.14?1.15 and 1.72?1.20,respectively;and those of CXCR4 protein were 1.51?0.12,1.76?0.25,and 1.89?0.24,respectively;and those of CXCR4 protein were 1.51?0.12,1.76?0.25,and 1.89?0.24,respectively.CXCR4 mRNA and protein were not detected in normal hepatic tissues.ELISA results showed that the 18 hepatocellular carcinoma samples had a CXCL12 concentration range of 783-8 364 pg/ml(median value 6 871 pg/ml)in ascitic fluids.Conclusion:CXCR4 is highly expressed in the hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and cells,which is not associated with the clinical staging of the cancer.The elevated CXCL12 level in the ascitic fluid of cancer patients indicate that CXCR4 may play an important role in the metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective To study the effects of Cad-Ⅱgene on osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells in vitro. Methods The human marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) were isolated and cultured in vitro before they were divided into 2 groups. In the transfeetion group, the hBMSCs were transfeeted with Cad- Ⅱgene;in the simple osteogenic inducement group, they were cultured in the condition medium. Then the expressions of Cad- Ⅱ protein were determined and the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities and the expressions of ostcocalein were measured at 3, 7, 14 and 21 days for comparison between the 2 groups. Results The ALP activity and positive expression of osteoealcin were regulated significantly higher in the transfeetion group than in the simple osteogenic inducement group at different times (P <0.05). The mineralized nodes began to appear at 14 days in the 2 groups and increased with time. Conclusion Cad-Ⅱgene transfeetion can promote differentiation of hBMSCs into the osteoblasts.