This study was aimed to investigate the effects of ursolic acid on human hepatic stellate cells (HSC-LX-2) proliferation and its mechanism.Different doses of ursolic acid were incubated with HSC-LX-2 cellin vitrof or 48 h.MTT was used for the detection of HSC-LX-2 cell proliferation.The expressions of PDGF-ERK signaling pathway associated proteins were measured by western blot.The results showed that the proliferation of HSC- LX-2 cells was inhibited by ursolic acid in a dose-dependent manner.The inhibition rate of 20,30 and 40μmol·L-1 of ursolic acid was 9.1%,42.3% and 62.6%,respectively.The IC50 was 35.2μmol·L-1.After incubated with ursolic acid for 48 h,protein levels of PDGF-R and p-ERK in 30 and 40μmol·L-1 group were significantly decreased when compared with the normal group (P<0.05 orP<0.01),except the ERK protein.It was concluded that ursolic acid can inhibit HSC-LX-2 cell proliferation.Its mechanism may be related to the blockage of PDGF-ERK signaling pathway.

Objective To study a new method of minimally invasive balloon kyphoplasty (PKP)for treatment of chronic osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. Methods The study involved 27 patients with chronic osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures treated with PKP in our hospital from February 2007 to February 2009. There were 11 males and 16 females, at mean age of 72.4 years (range 55-86 years). The history of chronic osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures ranged 3-17 months (mean 7.6 months). The pathological changes were determined at one stage in 25 patients and at two stage in two. According to the Genant classification, there were 10 patients (11 vertebrae) at grade two and 17 patients (18 vertebrae) at grade three. Before operation, the visual analog scale (VAS) score was average 8.3, the ratio of compression height of the anterior vertebral body to the posterior vertebral body was 39% by X-ray measurement and the kyphosis angle was average 15.60°. All patients received PKP under local anesthesia. Results Patients were followed up for average 11.2 months, which showed that all the patients achieved significant pain relief and ambulation at days 3 or 4 after operation. Cardiorespiratory function was significantly improved, with no reoccurrence of pain or severe complications found.After operation, the VAS score was average 2.8, ratio of compression height of the anterior vertebral body to the posterior vertebral body was average 47.6% and the kyphosis angle was average 15.60°. Conclusions Minimally invasive PKP can achieve rapid relief of pain, help early ambulation, decrease various complications resulting from long-term confinement to bed and improve cardiorespiratory function for elderly patients with chronic osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures of the vertebral body mainly with pain but without nerve injury.

Objective:To investigate the protective effect of cimetidine on mice with fractionated X-ray irradiation through right thorax.Methods:Thirty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group, irradiation group and irradiation + cimetidine group (100 mg/kg), 10 mice in each group. Mice right thorax was locally irradiated with X-rays at a dose rate of 0.883 Gy/min to a cumulative dose of 24 Gy, 8 Gy per day in 3 d. After irradiation, the irradiation + cimetidine group was given cimetidine (100 mg·kg -1·d -1) for 7 d consecutively, and Ctrl and IR groups were given saline. Seven days after irradiation, the mice weight, spleen index and its T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes and NK cells were measured. Spleen tissue was stained with HE for pathological observation. Results:The fractionated irradiation lightly suppressed mice growth but obviously induced abscopal damage on spleen so that the spleen index were decreased. The irradiation group (0.369±0.011) had statistically significant difference compared with the control group(0.396±0.022)( t=2.978, P<0.05), the spleen pathological structure became disorder, and the percentages of CD3+ , CD4+ , CD3+ CD4+ , CD3+ CD8+ lymphocytes in spleen were decreased significantly( t=5.754, 3.570, 4.442, 5.281, 4.570, P<0.05). Cimetidine could partially restore the weight of irradiated mice, relieved spleen structure damage and effectively restored lymphocyte subsets, and partly recovered the levels of CD3+ , CD3+ CD4+ , CD3+ CD8+ lymphocytes in the spleen ( t=3.523, 2.706, 2.520, P<0.05). Conclusions:Cimetidine, as a potential radiation protection drug, could effectively reduce the mouse spleen injury induced by X-ray fractionated irradiation by improving mouse immune function.

Objective To establish a direct extraction ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of bongkrekic acid in corn flour. Methods Bongkrekic acid was directly extracted with 80% methanol from corn flour samples, and the supernatant after vortex and centrifugation was determined after passing through membrane filtration. At the same time, the corn flour samples were extracted by solid phase extraction. The determination results of the two methods were compared. Results The linearity of standard series was good within the range of2-20 μg/L, and the linearity coefficient was＞0.999. The determination result of the positive sample by direct extraction method was 193.40 mg/kg (n=6). Adding the standard to the blank sample at the levels of 2, 6, and 10 μg/L, the calculated recovery rate was 75.82% - 99.33%, and the relative standard deviation was 3.54 % - 8.45%. The detection limit of the method reached 6 μg/kg. After extraction by solid phase extraction, the determination result of the positive sample was 196.84 mg/kg (n=6). The recovery rate was 77.12% -100.83%, with a relative standard deviation of 8.32% - 9.54%. Conclusion Compared with the solid phase extraction, the direct extraction method for the extraction of bongkrekic acid from corn flour has the advantages of rapidity, simplicity, and cost savings.