Objective To investigate the effect of surfactant protein A (SP-A) on the production of MIP-2 and binding activity of NF-?B in rat tubular epithelial cells, and evaluate its possible role in renal inflammation. Methods Confluent cultures of NRK-52E cells (a renal tubular epithelial cell line of rat origin) were pretreated with various concentrations of SP-A(0 to 80 ?g/ml) and stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (10 ?g/ml) with 2% serum. MIP-2 expression was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The effect of SP-A on NF-?B binding activity was assessed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Results MIP-2 mRNA and protein was expressed and up-regulated in NRK-52E cells stimulated by LPS. The expression of MIP-2 was down-regulated by SP-A. NF-?B binding activity was inhibited by SP-A in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusion SP-A binding activity and down-regulates the expression of MIP-2 in renal tubular epithelial cells, which may play an important role in the modulation of renal tissue inflammation.

Objective To evaluate the effect of ALD on podocyte apoptosis and the possible roles of Akt in ALD-induced apoptosis. Methods The cultured rat podocytes were incubated with increasing concentrations of ALD (10-9~10-5 mol/L) for variable time periods. Apoptosis was evaluated by cell nucleus staining and flow cytometry. RT-PCR was used to examine the expression of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR)and 11 Beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11?-HSD2) mRNA in podocyte. Activation of Akt/PKB was evaluated by performing Akt kinase assay. Results ALD induced podocyte apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The proapoptotic effect was attenuated by the presence of spironolactone (10-7mol/L). The expression of MR and 11P-HSD2 mRNA was demonstrated in the podocytes by RT-PCR. ALD also inhibited the activity of Akt in a dose-dependent manner, but the inhibitory effect was significantly ameliorated by the presence of spironolactone. The activity of Akt was negatively correlated with podocyte apoptosis. Conclusion ALD induces apoptosis in rat podocytes through the signaling mechanism by which Akt is inhibited.

Objective To investigate the relationship of fetal total bile acid (TBA) concentration with the change of fetal pancreas endocrine secretion and its impact on fetal growth and development in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy(ICP). Methods The concentrations of TBA, insulin, glucagon and glucose in the cord blood were measured in 30 fetuses with maternal ICP (case group) and 30 fetuses of normogravidas(control group) after elective cesarean section during the same period in the Department of Obstetrics of Xiangya Second Hospital of Central South University from March 2007 to February 2008. The cord blood TBA concentration was investigated by enzyme method and the concentrations of insulin and glucagon were investigated by radioimmunoassay. The glucose was measured by oxidase-superoxide method. The neonatal weight, length and the ponderal index (PI) were measured after parturition. Results (1) The cord blood insulin concentration (9.0±3.3) mU/L and the ratio of insulin over glucagon 0. 048±0. 028 in the case group was significantly lower than that of controls(10.1±3.7) mU/L,0.050±0. 020 (P<0.05). The concentrations of TBA(10.3±3. 8)μmol/L and glucagon(235±57) ng/L in case group were obviously higher than that in controls (4.1±1.3)μol/L, (205±34) ng/L(P<0.05). But no difference was shown in the glucose concentration in cord blood between the ease and control groups [(3.4±1.1) mmol/L vs (3.6± 1.2 )mmol/L, P > 0.05]. (2)The neonatal weight and length in case group were significantly lower than that of control [(3163±478) g vs (3498±393)g, (46.5±2.3) cm vs (49.3±1.9)cm, P<0.01]; while the Ponderal index in ease group was significantly higher than that of control group (3.13±0. 23 vs 2. 92±0. 29,P <0.01). (3) The cord blood TBA concentration respectively showed a linear relationship with the cord blood insulin concentration, the cord blood glucagon concentration and the ratio of insulin over glucagon in the case group. With the increase in cord blood TBA concentration, the cord insulin concentration and the ratio of insulin over glucagon decreased; meanwhile the cord blood glucagon concentration rose(P<0.01). The cord blood insulin concentration and the ratio of insulin over glucagon in case group were respectively positively correlated with the neonatal weight and length, and were negatively correlated with the PI (P<0.01); while the cord glucagon concentration was respectively negatively correlated with the neonatal weight and length, and positively correlated with the P1 (P < 0.01 ).Conclusions In 1CP fetus pancreas, there are hypoinsulinism, glucagon oversecretion, and decrease of the ratio of insulin over glucagon, which is closely correlated with fetal TBA concentration. The endocrine function of fetal pancreas affects the fetal growth and development.

Objective To evaluate the value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the differential diagnosis of cystic pancreatic lesions.Methods Thirty-four cystic pancreatic lesions confirmed clinically or pathologically were collected,including 11 case of non-neoplastic pseudocyst,5 cases of simple cyst,6 cases of serous cystadenoma,10 cases of mucinous cystadenoma and 2 cases of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma.All the patients underwent routine serial MR and echo-planar DW imaging examination of the pancreas with b values of 0 and 600 s/mm2.The appearances of signal intensity of DWI with all cysts were recorded.ADC maps were reconstructed,and the ratio of the cysts and cyst-to-pancreas ADC (ADCR) were calculated.The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to evaluate the diagnostic value of ADC and ADCR.Results Among all the 16 non-neoplastic cysts,2 cysts were slightly hyperintense in DWI,and 14 cysts were isointense.Among all the 18 neoplastic cysts,17 cysts appeared slightly hyperintense or hyperintense in DWI,and 1 cyst was isointense.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.001).The ADC values of non-neoplastic and neoplastic cysts were (3.30 ± 0.30) × 10-3,(2.74 ± 0.34) × 10-3 mm2/s ; and the ADCR values of non-neoplastic and neoplastic cysts were 1.85 ± 0.20,1.31 ± 0.21,the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.001).The areas under the ROC curves of ADC and ADCR diagnosing neoplastic cysts were 0.94 ± 0.04,0.98 ± 0.02,respectively.An ADC of 3.105 × 10-3 mm2/s showed 81.3％ sensitivity and 94.4％ specificity for predicting neoplastic cysts.An ADCR of 1.525 showed 100％ sensitivity and 88.9％ specificity for predicting neoplastic cysts.Conclusions Diffusion-weighted imaging is of importance in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of pancreatic cysts,and can be applied as a complementary tool for routine MRI.

BACKGROUND:At present, a great quantity of research has shown the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s for vascular restenosis. However, studies concerning their combined application to restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with diabetes mel itus are presently lacking.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of combined application of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s and benefiting-Qi nourishing-Yin and dissolving-congestion prescription on restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in dogs with diabetes mel itus.
METHODS:A dog model of vascular restenosis with diabetes mel itus was established by bal oon injury of femoral artery and intravenous injection of al oxan. After successful model induction, 22 dog models were randomly divided into three groups:model group (n=6), treatment with Chinese medicine (n=8), and combined treatment with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s and Chinese medicine (n=8). Serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay preoperatively and at 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks postoperation. Samples of vessels were taken to conduct pathomorphological observation and quantitative analysis of proliferation degree. Tissues, including heart, liver, kidney and pancreatic gland, were col ected to evaluate the safety of stem cel transplantation using hematoxylin-eosin staining at 8 weeks postoperation.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels began to increase at 1 week postoperation in the Chinese medicine group and combined treatment group, at 4 weeks postoperation in the model group compared with preoperation (P<0.05). At al time points, serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels were highest in the combined treatment group, but lowest in the model group (P<0.05). Quantitative analysis of vascular proliferation demonstrated that at 8 weeks postoperation, new intimal area, new intimal/medial areas and stenosis rate were highest in the model group, but lowest in the combined treatment group at 8 weeks postoperation (P<0.05). Safety assessment of stem cel transplantation showed morphological structures of the heart, liver, kidneys and pancreas were normal, no necrosis. In a word, the effects of the combined application of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s and benefiting-Qi nourishing-Yin and dissolving-congestion prescription were much pronounced in preventing restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in dogs with diabetes mel itus rather than single therapy of Chinese medicine. It is a safe and effective treatment to prevent vascular restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in dogs with diabetes mel itus.

Good medicinal herbs, good drugs. Good evaluation method and indices are the prerequisite of good medicinal herbs. However, there exist numerous indices for quality evaluation and control in Chinese medicinal materials. However, most of these indices are non-interrelated each other, as well as having little relationship with efficiency and safety. The results of different evaluatior methods may not be consistent, even contradictory. Considering the complex material properties of Chinese medicinal materials, single method and index is difficult to objectively and comprehensively reflect the quality. Therefore, it is essential to explore the integrated evaluation methods. In this paper, oriented by the integrated evaluation strategies for traditional Chinese medicine quality, a new method called integrated quality index (IQI) by the integration of empirical evaluation, chemical evaluation, and biological evaluation was proposed. In addition, a study case of hypertoxic herb Aconitum carmichaelii Debx. was provided to explain this method in detail. The results suggested that in the view of specifications, the average weight of Jiangyou aconite was the greatest, followed by Weishan aconite, Butuo aconite, Hanzhong aconite, and Anxian aconite; from the point of chemical components, Jiangyou aconite had the characteristic with strong efficacy and weak toxicity, next was Hanzhong aconite, Butuo aconite, Weishan aconite, and Anxian aconite; taking toxicity price as the index, Hanzhong aconite and Jiangyou aconite have the lower toxicity, while Butuo aconite, Weishan aconite, and Anxian aconite have the relatively higher one. After the normalization and integration of evaluation results, we calculated the IQI value of Jiangyou aconite, Hanzhong aconite, Butuo aconite, Weishan aconite, and Anxian aconite were 0.842 +/- 0.091, 0.597 +/- 0.047, 0.442 +/- 0.033, 0.454 +/- 0.038, 0.170 +/- 0.021, respectively. The quality of Jiangyou aconite is significantly better than the others (P < 0.05) followed by Hanzhong aconite, which is consistent with the traditional understanding of genuineness. It can be concluded that IQI achieves the integrated control and evaluation for the quality of Chinese medicinal materials, and it is an exploration for building the good medicinal herbs standards. In addition, IQI provides technical supports for the geoherbalism evaluation, selective breeding, the development of precision decoction pieces, high quality and favourable price in market circulation, and rational drug use.
Aconitum ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; standards ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; standards

Quality control is one of the key scientific tissues in the modernization of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM). In order to overcome the deficiencies of assessment indexes, including little systematization and quantification, as well as loose association with clinical efficacy and dosage, a new integrated method named controllability pyramid ( CP) is first proposed in this paper. In addition, some study cases are used to explain how this model is constructed. We hope the establishment of CP could promote the clinical-orien- ted integrated innovation research of TCM, and provide control strategy and technology examples for improving the quality of Chinese medicines and clinical efficacy.
China ; Drug Evaluation ; methods ; standards ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; standards ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; standards ; Quality Control

BACKGROUND:Theex-vivo expanded autologous adipose-derived stem cels have the capability of multipotential differentiation and have a broad application prospect in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. OBJECTIVE:To observe the nasal mucosal structural repair and functional reconstruction usingex-vivo expanded autologous adipose-derived stem cels. METHODS:Ten patients with mucosal damage due to the physical or chemical factors were enroled, including six cases of mucosal scar and four cases of mucosal ulceration. Autologous adipose tissue was extracted forin vitro isolation, culture and expansion of adipose-derived stem cels. Before transplantation, quality safety testing was done. Al the patients were injected adipose-derived stem cels (1×107/cm2 0.1 cm mucosal tissue sample at 30 days before and after transplantation for hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson ) at an interval of 15 days, totaly for three times. Nasal volume, minimum cross-sectional area, and mucociliary clearance function were determined at 30, 90, 150 days after the final injection. Three of 10 patients were selected to take a 0.1 cm× trichrome staining, and AB-PAS staining. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Clinical symptoms were aleviated in al patients undergoing transplantation of adipose-derived stem cels. Compared with the baseline data, the nasal volume and minimum cross-sectional area were both decreased at 30, 90, 150 days after transplantation (P < 0.05), and the mucociliary clearance function was improved but not significantly (P > 0.05). Compared with the baseline data, the inflammation of the nasal mucosa was significantly reduced, colagen fibers arranged neatly, the deposition was decreased, and mucin secreted from goblet cels was increased in the selected three patients at 30 days after cel transplantation. These findings indicate thatex-vivo expanded autologous adipose-derived stem cels can be used to reconstruct the nasal mucosal structure and its function.

Most Chinese medicine has good clinical efficacy and application. However, the material basis is vague for the lack of basic research, the value of Chinese medicine is hard to reflect for the low technology level and product quality is difficult to maintain for the quality control indicator selection is incorrect. Chinese medicine Jinfukang oral liquid is a typical product of Chinese medicines. Jinfukang oral liquid was selected as a model drug in this article. Based on the overall concept and systems theory of traditional Chinese medicine, the research idea and technology system for modern Chinese medicine secondary exploitation was formed. The system includes three parts, for the first, basic research to make clear the components structure and their action mechanism, for the second, technology upgraded to optimize process and improve the product quality, for the last, exploring the associated industry to form the industrial chain. The research ideas and technology system based on the material basis research and development of modern Chinese medicine, guided with component structure in Chinese medicine and aimed clinical needs. This research ideas and technology system provides strategies and methods for the development of modern Chinese medicine secondary exploitation.
Administration, Oral ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; standards ; Drug Therapy ; standards ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; standards ; Humans ; Quality Control

AIM: To observe the clinical effect of combined cataract and primary open-angle glaucoma underwent phacoemulsification and glaucoma drainage device implantation. ·METHODS: We selected in our hospital from January 2014 to February 2016, 42 cases (42 eyes) with primary open-angle glaucoma with cataract. According to random number table method, all of the patients were randomly divided into two groups, control group and study group. In control group, 21 patients ( 21 eyes ) underwent trabecular resection combined phacoemulsification;in study group patients, 21 patients ( 21 eyes ) , underwent EX-PRESS glaucoma drainage device combined phacoemulsification. Compared parameters included postoperative complications and filtering bleb, visual acuity, intraocular pressure ( IOP ) and other clinical indicators between two groups. ·RESULTS: Preoperative IOP of two groups was no significantly different (P>0. 05). Postoperative IOP at each time point was significantly lower than before treatment (P<0. 05). At 1d, 1 and 4wk after treatment, IOP of the study group was significantly lower than the control group (all P<0. 05); at 12wk after treatment, IOP of the two groups was not significantly different ( P> 0. 05). At 12wk after treatment, surgical success rate of study group was 95%, significantly higher than that of control group 71% (P<0. 05). The postoperative best corrected visual acuity of two groups was no significantly different (P>0. 05). At 12wk after treatment, 21 patients in study group were shown as functional filtering bleb, while in the control group 18 cases was functional filtering bleb. ·CONCLUSION:Using EX-PRESS glaucoma drainage device combined with phacoemulsification in treating cataract with primary open-angle glaucoma is reliable, the curative effect is better than that by trabeculectomy combined with phacoemulsification treatment.