Objective] Explain the intentions of those famous TCM combinations for disease according to Shennong Bencao Jing. [Methods] Find out the principles to make up those famous TCM prescriptions based on understanding the efficacy of medicine described in Shennong Bencao Jing, through combining comparing the original documents of each other with the clinical practice of Mr. Xu Xiaodong. The natural medicine such as Gan Dihuang, Baizhu and Chai Hu were used as mediums to relate those famous TCM prescriptions and Shennong Bencao Jing. [Results] The original documents of Shennong Bencao Jing and those famous TCM prescriptions which were related together by natural medicine such as Gan Dihuang, Baizhu and Chai Hu have much in common. For example, Gan Dihuang used in Si Wutang, Huang Tutang etc. according to the effect of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis described in Shennong Bencao Jing. Chang Pu used in Changpu Yujintang according to the effect of resuscitation and restoring consciousness described in Shennong Bencao Jing. Baizhu used in Fangji Huangqi Tang, Mahuang Jiazhu Tang of Jinkui Yaolue according to the antiperspirant effect described in Shennong Bencao Jing. Chai Hu used in Xiao Chaihu Tang, Chaihu Shugan San etc. according to the effect of relieving the abdominal discomfort, attacks of chills and fever described in Shennong Bencao Jing. The theory of Shennong Bencao Jing is well applied in clinical teaching and practice by Mr. Xu Xiaodong, bringing students a lot of inspiration. It is possible to explain the principles of making up those famous TCM prescriptions and guide the compatibility of TCM according to Shennong Bencao Jing. [Conclusion] Doctors in the ancient world have inherited and developed the Shennong Bencao Jing theory when filling the prescription; comprehension and application of those famous TCM prescriptions will be more original according to Shennong Bencao Jing. The theory of Shennong Bencao Jing is worth our further study and extension.

Objective To explore the relationship between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)gene polymorphisms and the susceptibility to pediatric epilepsy.Methods BDNF polymorphisms in 128 patients with pediatric epilepsy and 132 healthy controls were analyzed with polymerase chain reaction restriction and fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).Results There were significant differences between pediatric epilepsy and controls on genotype frequency of BDNF-270C/T (X2 =7.08,P =0.03 ).The CC genotype was positively associated with pediatric epilepsy (OR =3.91,95％CI =1.26 ～ 12.14).No differences in genotype or allele frequencies of the other polymorphisms were found between patients and controls.The frequencies of haplotypes did not show significant differences between patients and controls.Conclusion These findings support the hypothesis that BDNF-270C/T polymorphism may contribute to the risk of developing pediatric epilepsy.

Objective To investigate the effects of magnetic stimulation (MS) on the proliferation and differentiation of endogenous neural stem cells (NSCs)/progenitor cells after spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. Methods Forty-six Wistar rats were used, of which 40 were used to make an animal model of spinal cord injury (SCI) by administering a 10 g x 12.5 cm impact at the T8 level. The other 6 served as the normal controls. The SCI model rats were evenly divided into a magnetic stimulation (MS) group ( n = 20) and a control group ( n = 20). The rats in the MS group received 0.5 Hz and 1.44 T magnetic stimulation 24 h post injury, then 30 pulses per day for 7 days. The rats in the other groups were not exposed to MS. The scale of Basso, Beatti and Bresnahan (BBB) was used to assess hindlimb neurological function. Rats were sacrificed at the 24th hour, and at the 1st, 4th and 8th weeks after SCI. The ratio of nestin to microtubule associated protein 2 (MAP2)/nestin in the cells of the spinal cord was determined by immunofluorescence. Results The BBB scores in the MS group were signifi-cantly higher than those of the control group at 1, 4 and 8 weeks post SCI. Nestin and the MAP2/nestin ratios were mild in the normal spinal cords, but increased after SCI. They were higher in the MS group than that in the control groups at all time points. Conclusions MS can promote nestin expression in the spinal cord after SCI and facili-tate neural differentiation.

Sox9 gene was cloned from immortalized precartilaginous stem cells and its eukaryotic expression vector constructed in order to explore the possibility of bone marrow-derived stromal cells differentiation into precartilaginous stem cells induced by Sox9. A full-length fragment of Sox9 was obtained by RT-PCR, inserted into pGEM-T Easy clone vector, and ligated with pEGFP-IRES2 expression vector by double digestion after sequencing. The compound plasmid was transfected into born marrow-derived stromal cells by Lipofectamine 2000, and the transfection efficacy and the expression of Sox9 and FGFR-3 were observed. Flow cytometry was used to identify the cell phenotype, and MTT was employed to assay proliferative viability of cells. Sequencing, restrictive endonuclease identification and RT-PCR confirmed that the expansion of Sox9 and construction of Sox9 expression vector were successful. After transfection of the recombinant vector into bone marrow-derived stromal cells, the expression of Sox9 and FGFR-3 was detected, and proliferative viability was not different from that of precartilaginous stem cells. It was concluded that Sox9 gene eukaryotic expression vector was successfully constructed, and the transfected bone marrow-derived stromal cells differentiated into the precartilaginous stem cells.
Base Sequence ; Bone Marrow Cells/*cytology ; Cartilage/*cytology ; Cell Differentiation/genetics ; Cells, Cultured ; Cloning, Molecular ; Genetic Vectors/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3/metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis ; Recombinant Proteins/genetics ; SOX9 Transcription Factor/biosynthesis ; SOX9 Transcription Factor/*genetics ; Stem Cells/*cytology ; Stromal Cells/*cytology ; Transfection

To design and synthesize a series of novel scutellarein 4'-L-amino acid prodrugs with more potent anti-oxidative activity and improved physicochemical properties. Scutellarein was used as lead compound, according to successful experience of improving bioavailability of oral administration drugs by active transport mechanism, principle of hybridization was used to introducing L-amino acid structural fragments at 4'-position of scutellarein to design and synthesize target scutellarein 4'-L-amino acid prodrugs. The synthetic compounds were tested on their physicochemical properties and in vitro anti-oxidative activity against H202 induced oxidative damage in PC12 cells. Five compounds were found to have more potent anti-oxidative activity than positive control VE. Moreover the physicochemical properties of synthesized compounds were evaluated, and the results revealed that L-amino acid ether derivatives are more stable (t1/2 9-92 h) than their corresponding ester derivatives (t1/2 0.5 h). Water solubility of scutellarein 4'-L-amino acid ester and ether derivatives were 1 796-4 100 microg.mL-1 and 27.7-81.1 microg.mL-1 respectively, in comparison with scutellarin, the solubility of compounds 18, 19 and 22, 24-27 increased about 120-280 fold and 2-6 fold respectively. All these results suggested that L-amino acid prodrug strategy has significant potential in scutellarein prodrug design.

-tiated into the precartilaginons stem cells.