Natural Calculus Bovis,one of the precious traditional Chinese medicines,is the dried gallstone in bovine gallbladder,bile duct or hepatic duct.It is one of the essential components of the formulation of a variety of traditional Chinese medicines.Due to high price and rareness of natural Calculus Bovis,Chinese researchers have developed artificial Calculus Bovis,cultured Calculus Bovis and Calculus Bovis Sativus as substitutes of it.They are mainly composed of bilirubin,bile acids,amino acids and inorganic elements.Due to the co-existence of natural Calculus Bovisa and its substitutes in the market,and the complex composition of them,identification,quality control and material basis study of them are important issues in recent years.Currently,the quality control of them mainly focus on cholic acid and bilirubin.In order to fully solve the quality control problem of natural Calculus Bovis and its substitutes,researches on testing techniques of other bile acids or other components have already started.In this paper,research progress on the chemical compositions,quality control and the test technology of bilirubin,bile acids,amino acids and other components of Calculus Bovis are reviewed,in order to provide reference for further research of Calculus Bovis.

Objective To investigate the compatible stability of alanylglutamine by using continuous series infusion device,and provide experimental evidence for reasonable clinical use of alanylglutamine. Methods pH,osmolality and quantity of insoluble particles were measured by using pH meter, automatic freezing osmometer and intelligent particle detector respectively.A HPLC method was built for the determination of the content of alanylglutamine. Results pH and quantity of insoluble particles of the two tested groups did not change significantly over time. Osmolality and the content of alanylglutamine fluctuated greatly in the first half an hour. Conclusion Continuous series infusion device may not mix each bottle of solution very well.It is suggested to premix these solutions to ensure the stability of the dilution ratio and the osmotic pressure of the mixture in the process of the infusion.

Objective To analyse the risk factors and prognosis of new on-set postoperative atrial fibrillation in different age and gender groups.Methods The study is a retrospective analysis in 516 patients from a single center.All cases were divided into 5 groups by ages as:＜ 40 years (n =61),40-49 years (n =97),50-59 years (n =115),60-75 years (n =140),and ＞ 75 years(n =103).We retrospectively analysed the difference in the occurrence-and recurrence-rate of POAF,risk factors,feature of coronary artery in different age and gender groups.Results There were no statistics differences in the same age group.The major risk factors were smoking,family history of coronary artery disease and hyperlipaemia in age ＜40 years group and 40 ～ 49 years group.while the major risk factors were hypertension and diabetes in the 60-75 years group and age ＞ 75 years group.The percentage of smoking patients decreased along with adding age.There was obviously statistical difference in the recurrence-rate of POAF across all groups during 24 follow-up months (P ＜ 0.05).The number of coronary lesion was increased with age.There were more ostial lesions in the 60-75 years group and age ＞ 75 years group.Conclusion There are different risk factors and characteristics among POAF patients in different age and gender groups.It is of great significance for us that comprehensive clinical intervention measures are taken to prevent recurrence of AF.

Objective:To evaluate the inhibitory effect of 5 Chinese herbal medicinal ingredients baicalin, andrographolide, hes-peridin, polyphenols and daidzein on the activity of carboxylesterase 1 (CES1) and carboxylesterase 2 (CES2). Methods: The spe-cial probes respectively for CES1 and CES2, namely imidapril and CPT-11, imidaprilat and SN-38, were used to investigate the poten-tial effect of the above drugs on CES1 and CES2 in rat liver microsomes incubation system. Results:Compared with that in the control group, the activity of CES1 and CES2 was not significantly influenced by the above 5 Chinese herbal medicinal ingredients ( P <0. 05). Conclusion:Baicalin, andrographolide, hesperidin, polyphenols and daidzein exhibit no inhibitory effect against CES1 and CES2, and further studies should be conducted to confirm the effect in vivo.

BACKGROUND:More and more evidence suggests that macrophages and inflammation reactions are involved in the formation and development of nephrolithiasis. Previous studies have found that calculi crystals can stimulate macrophages to release high mobility group protein B1.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the synergistic effect of high mobility group protein B1 in calcium phosphate induced release of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factorαand monocyte chemotactic factor 1 from human macrophages.
METHODS:(1) The induced U937 cells were respectively stimulated with RPMI (blank), 100 mg/L calcium phosphate, 100μg/L high mobility group protein B1 and 100 mg/L calcium phosphate+100μg/L high mobility group protein B1 for 1, 2 and 4 hours to col ect cellsupernatant. (2) The induced U937 cells were respectively stimulated with 100 mg/L calcium phosphate, 100 mg/L calcium phosphate+10μg/L high mobility group protein B1, 100 mg/L calcium phosphate+50μg/L high mobility group protein B1, 100 mg/L calcium phosphate+100μg/L high mobility group protein B1 for 4 hours to col ect cellsupernatant. Levels of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factorαand monocyte chemotactic factor 1 were determined by ELISA.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The levels of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factorαand monocyte chemotactic factor 1 in the cellculture supernatant of 100 mg/L calcium phosphate group and 100μg/L high mobility group protein B1 group were both higher than those in the blank group in a time-dependent manner (P<0.05). The levels of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factorαand monocyte chemotactic factor 1 in the cellculture supernatant of different concentrations of high mobility group protein B1 groups were al higher than those in the 100 mg/L calcium phosphate group in a concentration-dependent manner (P<0.05). The results suggest that both calcium phosphate and high mobility group protein B1 can induce the release of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factorαand monocyte chemotactic factor 1 from human macrophages and the high mobility group protein B1 has the synergistic effect with calcium phosphate to induce interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factorαand monocyte chemotactic factor 1 from human macrophages.

With the advent of bezoar substitutes, bezoar compound has been widely used in clinics. Bezoar is commonly applied in the traditional prescriptions for emergency. Due to the complex compositions and difficult soluble constituents, the prescriptions show the disadvantages of low bioavailability and slow onset in clinical application, and the effectiveness is usually related with the adminis-tration route and characteristics of dosage form of the preparations. The exiting bezoar compound and its new dosage forms were summa-rized in the paper, and the existing bezoar compound preparations were stated according to the characteristics of dosage forms and com-pound clinical application in order to promote the development and application of bezoar new dosage forms.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of salvianolic acid B (SAB) and curcumin, the extracts of Salvia Miltiorrhiza and Curcuma Longa, on the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cell (HSC), and the extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) expression in it.

METHODSRat's HSC-T6 were cultured and treated by SAB or curcumin. The inhibitory effect on cell proliferation was determined by 3-(4, 5-dimthyl-2-2thiazoly)-2, 5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetry, and the expression levels of alpha smooth actin (alpha-SMA), collagen type I, and ERK were determined by Western blot.

RESULTSSAB and curcumin inhibited the proliferation and activation of rat's HSC-T6 in dose-dependent fashion and significantly reduced the expression level of alpha-SMA (P < 0.01). Curcumin significantly reduced the expression of collagen type I (P < 0.05). Both SAB and curcumin showed insignificant effect on the ERK expression level, but they could significantly reduce the level of phosphorylated-ERK expression, showing significant difference as compared with that in the control group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05 respectively).

CONCLUSIONSAB and curcumin could significantly inhibit the proliferation, activation of HSC, and the production of type I collagen in HSC, the mechanism may be associated with their inhibition on ERK phosphorylation.

Animals ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Curcuma ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Extracellular Matrix ; drug effects ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; metabolism ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; Rats ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology