Objective To study the effect of Tibetan MedicineManu-Xitanggranules on the expression of prostaglandin E2 and TNF-a on adjuvant arthritis (AA) rats.Methods A total of 60 rats were randomly divided into the control group, the model group, the Aspirin group, the low-, medium- and high- dose Manu-Xitang granules groups (each group with 10). Complete Freund's adjuvant method was used for the adjuvant arthritis model except the control group. All the groups started treatment at 8th day, and the treatment last 20 days. The low-, middle- high-dosage groups were treated with 2.0, 1.0, 0.5g/(kg body weight) Manu-Xitang granules, while the the Aspirin group with ASP (0.27 g/kg), control and medol groups with the equal Volume saline. The body weight, the swelling of primary side of arthritis index were observed. The levels of PGE2 and TNF-α were measured by ELISA.Results At 6th, 12th, 18th day, compared with the model group, the body weights in Aspirin group, the low-, middle-, high-dosage groups significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01); at the 6th day, the foot swelling (0.40% ± 0.18%, 0.50% ± 0.25%, 0.55% ± 0.35%vs. 0.85% ± 0.15%) in the Aspirin group, middle-, and high-dosage groups significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). And the PGE2 (0.66 ± 0.31vs. 0.39 ± 0.11) and TNF-a (0.72 ± 0.24vs. 0.50 ± 0.15) in the high- dose group were significantly lower than the model group (P<0.05).Conclusions The Tibetan medicineManu-Xitanggranules could treat AA through the changes of PGE2 and TNF-a.

OBJECTIVEIn order to get the method for improving the salt resistance of Lycium ruthenium seeds and seedlings under NaCl stress, the seed germination and physiological characteristics of L. ruthenium seedlings was studied.

METHODSeveral physiological indexes of L. ruthenium seeds under NaCl stress, such as the germination rate (Gr), germination vigor (Gv), germination index (Gi), vigor index (Vi), and relative salt damage rate were measured. Other indexes of the seedlings like relative water contents (RWC) , chlorophyll contents, soluble protein contents, electrolyte leakage, the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), and peroxidase (POD) were also measured.

RESULTNaCl at lower concentration could promote the seed germination but inhibit the seed germination at higher concentration. After the treatment by CaCl2 at the different concentrations, all germination indexes were increased. With the increase of salt concentration, the relative water contents and the contents of chlorophyll were decreased, the content of MDA and electrolyte leakage were increased. The change trend of POD activity showed the first increase and then decrease with the increase of salt concentration, which was similar to that of the soluble protein. After the treatment by CaCl2, relative water contents, chlorophyll and POD activities were decreased more slowly, and also electrolyte leakage and MDA contents increased slowly.

CONCLUSIONThe CaCl2 could significantly alleviate the damages to the seeds and seedlings of L. ruthenium under NaCl stress, and promote the salt resistance to the seeds and seedlings of L. ruthenium.

Calcium ; pharmacology ; Germination ; drug effects ; Lycium ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Seedlings ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Seeds ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Sodium Chloride ; metabolism

Objective To study the life quality of 2 - 3 years old survivors in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Methods Severe neonates were randomly assigned to intervention group (group 1,30 cases) and non- intervention group (group 2,30 cases) depending on the early intervention applied or not,as well as 30 healthy newborns as normal controls. The physical,neurological conditions and intelligence test were taken regularly. To investigate the psychological state, actions, temperament and family conditions when they were2-3 years old.Results Mental development index(MDI) and physical development index(PDI) in early interventional group were significant higher than those in group 2(P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of HLA class I and II alleles with generalized vitiligo in ethnic Han Chinese in north China.

METHODSBy employing polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific primer (PCR-SSP) procedure 34 generalized vitiligo patients in north China were studied for HLA I and II alleles and were compared with 102 healthy controls.

RESULTSThe allelic frequencies of HLA-A*30, Cw*06, DRB1*07, and DQB1*0201 were increased significantly in generalized vitiligo and especially in the patients without family history compared with the controls.

CONCLUSIONThese alleles positively associated with generalized vitiligo in Chinese Han patients in north China, might provide clues to reveal the susceptibility gene(s) of vitiligo in Chinese and as well as the immunnogenetic mechanisms of disease.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genes, MHC Class I ; genetics ; Genes, MHC Class II ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Vitiligo ; ethnology ; genetics

Adult ; Antibodies, Anticardiolipin ; blood ; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid ; blood ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphatidic Acids ; immunology ; Phosphatidylcholines ; immunology ; Phosphatidylethanolamines ; immunology ; Phosphatidylinositols ; immunology ; Phosphatidylserines ; immunology ; Reference Values

BACKGROUNDHaptoglobin (Hp) is one of the acute-phase proteins. Recent studies have demonstrated that Hp exerts immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory actions and may be one of the inhibitory factors of immune reactions in the skin. In this study we investigated the regulation of Hp expression in a human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT by various cytokines and glucocorticoid.

METHODSHaCaT cells were cultured with IL-6 (50 ng/ml), TNF-alpha (20 ng/ml), IFN-gamma (20 ng/ml) or IL-4 (20 ng/ml) with or without 1 micromol/L dexamethasone in 6-well plates for 12, 24 and 48 hours. Both the cells and the supernatants were collected to detect the changes of Hp expression by reverse-transcription PCR, ELISA and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe results showed that Hp expression were elevated at both the mRNA and protein level by the combination of IL-6, TNF-alpha or IL-4 with dexamethasone, whereas the three cytokines alone did not upregulate the Hp expression. IFN-gamma showed no effect on the Hp expression in HaCaT cells.

CONCLUSIONSThese findings suggest that different inflammatory cytokines as well as glucocorticoid may be involved in the regulation of Hp expression in keratinocytes, and this may be one of the negative feedback mechanisms in inflammatory skin diseases.

Cell Line ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; Glucocorticoids ; pharmacology ; Haptoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-4 ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-6 ; pharmacology ; Keratinocytes ; chemistry ; drug effects ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology

Zuotai (gTso thal) is a typical representative of Tibetan medicines containing heavy metals, but there is still lack of modem safety evaluation data so far. In this study, acute toxicity test, sub-acute toxicity test, one-time administration mercury distribution experiment, long-term mercury accumulative toxicity experiment and preliminary study on clinical safety of Compound Dangzuo were conducted in the hope of obtain the medicinal safety data of Zuotai. In the acute toxicity test, half of KM mice given the lethal dose of Zuotai were not died or poisoned, and LD50 was not found. The maximum tolerated dose of Zuotai was 80 g x kg(-1). In the subacute toxicity test, Zuotai could reduce ALT, AST, Crea levels in serums under low dose (13.34 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and medium dose (53.36 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)), with significant difference under low dose, and increase the levels of ALT, AST, MDA, Crea in serums under high dose (2 000 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)); besides, the levels of BUN and GSH in serums reduced with the increase in dose of Zuotai, indicating a significant dose-effect relationship. In the one-time administration distribution experiment, the content of mercury in rat kidney, liver and lung increased after the one-time administration with Zuotai, with a significant dose-dependent relationship in kidney. In the long-term mercury accumulative toxicity experiment, KM mice were administered with equivalent doses of Zuotai for 4.5 months and then stopped drug administration for 1.5 months. Since the 2.5th month, they showed significant mercury accumulation in kidney, which gradually reduced after drug withdrawal, without significant change in mercury content in liver, spleen and brain and ALT, AST, TBIL, BUN and Crea in serum. At the 4.5th month after drug administration, KM mice showed slight structural changes in kidney, liver and spleen tissues, and gradually recovered to normal after drug withdrawal. Besides, no significant difference in weight gain was found between the Zuotai group and the control group. According to the findings of the clinical safety study of Dangzuo, after subjects administered Dangzuo under clinical dose for one month, their serum biochemical indicators, blood routine indicators and urine routine indicators showed no significant adverse change. This study proved that traditional Tibetan medicine Zuotai was slightly toxic, with a better safety in clinical combined administration and no adverse effects on bodies under the clinical dose and clinical medication cycle. However, long-term high-dose administration of Zuotai may have a certain effect on kidney.
Adult ; Animals ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; pharmacokinetics ; toxicity ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; Male ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; Mice ; Middle Aged ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) in Han nation of northeast China.

METHODSStandard microcytotoxicity test and polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primers method were used to detect the HLA class I antigens and HLA-DRB1 and DQB1 alleles in 27 patients with PV and results were compared with control group.

RESULTSGene and phenotype frequencies of HLA-A3, A26(10), B60(40), and B13 (27.99%, 48%; 16.11%, 30%; 23.02%, 41%; 16.11%, 30%, respectively) increased significantly in PV group compared with control (1.01%, 2%; 0.5%, 1%; 4.61%, 9%; 5.13%, 10%, respectively). After P value correction, the difference of A3, A26 (10), and B60 (40) between the two groups was still significant. The gene frequencies of HLA-DRB1*140x (1401, 1404, 1405, 1407, 1408), DRB1*120x, and DQB1*0503 alleles in PV group (42.26%, 25.46%, and 23.02%) were significantly higher than control group (5.09%, 7.74%, and 1.89%). After P value correction, the difference was still significant between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONPV significantly relates with HLA in PV patients of Han nation of northeast China.

Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; ethnology ; China ; ethnology ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; HLA-A Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-A3 Antigen ; genetics ; HLA-B Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DQ Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DQ beta-Chains ; HLA-DR Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DRB1 Chains ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pemphigus ; genetics ; Phenotype

Objective To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the general adult population in the Hulunbeir Prefecture, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region where many minorities of north China live. Methods Sampling surveywas performed in the residents aged 20 years and older in the Hulunbeir Prefecture. All the investigated subjects were tested for urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR); hematuria by microscopy of urinary sediment; and GFR estimated by modified MDRD equation for Chinese adults (eGFR). The related risk factors of CKD were also investigated. Results A total of 4522 subjects were enrolled in the study. The prevalence of albuminuria was 7.11％, hematuria was 2.64％ and reduced eGFR [60 ml-min-1·(1.73 m2)-1] was 2.75％. The prevalence of hypertension was 38.90％; hyperglycemia 6.61％; hyperlipidemia 2.72％; increased waist 24.79％ and metabolic syndrome 15.02％. After the subjects with combined microalbuminuria, hematuria and reduced eGFR were excluded, the prevalence of CKD was 12.95％. Logistic regression analysis and stratified analysis showed increased age, increased waist, elevated systolic pressure, hyperglycemia,hypertriglyceridemia and metabolic syndrome were independently associated with albuminuria;increased age, elevated systolic pressure and hyperglycemia were independently associated with reduced eGFR; increased age was independently associated with hematuria. Conclusions The prevalence of adult CKD is 12.95％ in the Hulunbeir Prefecture, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Independent risk factors of CKD include increased age, increased waist, hypertension,abnormal blood glucose or lipid, and metabolic syndrome.

Acetic Acid ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Aged ; Cysts ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged