As a kind of regional folk medicinal herbs, "Qi medicinal herbs" have their own distinguishing medicinal features, and are the important basis for the development of regional medical work. So according to the existent documents and main results of the research and typical data, "Taibai Qi medicinal herbs" are taken as the principal regional folk medicinal herbs to integrate and summarize the present situation of "Qi medicinal herbs", and to analyze and conclude the characteristics of natural resources of "Qi medicinal herbs". Research and development strategies of "Qi medicinal herbs" are proposed in this paper, which provide a reference for their naming method and research.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the liver injury in model rats with endotoxemia and to observe the protective effect of Compound 912 Liquid on it.

METHODSRats were randomly divided into three groups, the endotoxemia model group (EMG, injected by lipoplysaccharides (LPS) peritoneally), the intervention group (IG, treated with Compound 912 Liquid via gastrogavage 1 h before model establishing) and the normal control group (NCG). Blood samples of rats were taken at the time points of the 2nd, 4th, 8th, 12th, 48th, 72nd hour and the 7th day after modeling for measuring liver function, levels of plasmatic endotoxin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-10 (IL-10). The pathological change of liver was observed using light microscope and electro-transmission microscope.

RESULTSThe peak concentration of endotoxin detected at 2 hour after modeling in the IG was significantly lower than that in the EMG (0.358 +/- 0.056 vs 0.685 +/- 0.030), but insignificant difference (P > 0.05) was shown between them in TNF-alpha level. The level of IL-10 continuously rose in IG after treatment, it was still higher than normal level until day 7 (49.096 +/- 4.076 vs 43.454 +/- 5.928, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLPS can induce the increase of serum inflammatory cytokines and anti-inflammatory cytokines in rats to injure liver. Therefore, the inflammatory reaction indicated by LPS may be one of the mechanisms for liver injury. Preventive medication with Compound 912 Liquid showed a significant liver protective effect.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Endotoxemia ; blood ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Female ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Liver Diseases ; prevention & control ; Male ; Multiple Organ Failure ; prevention & control ; Phytotherapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

ObjectiveTo analyze the relationship between clinical characteristic pathology and prognosis in infant with intra-abdominal solid tumor.MethodsFifty-two infants(less than 1 year old) with abdominal solid tumor from Apr.1998 to Feb.2007 in Shanghai Children's Medical Center and from Jan.2001 to Feb.2007 in Shanghai Xinhua Hospital were reviewed.The history of these children were reviewed.Features and clinical pathology of these children with their prognosis were analyzed and followed up by telephones and children return visit records from 5 months to 8 years.ResultsLess than 1 month,7 cases;1 month to 1 year old,45 cases.Teratoma 23 cases(44.23%),neuroblastoma 9 cases(17.31%),nephroblastoma 6 cases(11.54%),hepatoblastoma 5 cases(9.62%),epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the liver 3 cases(5.77%),congenital mesoblastic nephroma 3 cases(5.77%),fusiform cell epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of pancreas 1 case(1.92%),hamartoma of the liver 1 case(1.92%),retroperitoneal small cell malignant tumor 1 case(1.92%).Benign:malignant=1:1.Among the benign tumor,male:female=1:1.Among the malignant tumor,male:female=2.33:1.0.All children were treated with tumor resection,and combined with chemotherapy for those whose tumors were malignant.ConclusionsAmong infant abdominal solid tumors,teratoma and neuroblastoma are much more than other tumors.The cases of benign tumors are almost as much as the malignant tumors.The benign tumors did not have sex differences,and had good prognosis after surgical resection.However,in malignant tumors,the incidence rate of male is obviously higher than female.Completely resection of those malignant tumors with chemotherapy would get little incidence of recrudescence and low case fatality rate.Early diagnosis and early treatment play an important role in prognosis.

Objective To discuss the method,safety and effect of malignant pancreas tumor treated by CT guided percutaneous embedding of~(125)I. Methods 32 cases of malignant pancreas tumor with CT scan and contrast enhancement were retrospectively analysed.All the cases had been confirmed pathologically be- fore CT guided therapy.The number of~(125)I particle was 12～46,The distance between particles was 0.～1.2 cm. The number of puncture point was 1～2.The number of puncture direction was 2-5 times.Results Regarding 32 cases for 1 month,the size of the tumor reduced in 11 cases,no change in 20 cases,and increased in 1 case.As for 31 cases for 2 months,the size reduced in 16 cases,no change in 13 cases,and enlarged in 3 cases.Regarding 30 cases for 3 months,the size reduced in 18 cases,no change in 11 cases,and increased in 3 cases. Regarding 28 cases for 6 months, he size reduced in 10 cases, no change in 5 cases, and in- creased in 13 cases.Regarding 22 cases for 1 year,12 cases had been done the second therapy,the size of the tumor reduced in 16 cases,no change in 3 cases,and increased in 3 cases.Conclusion The size of pancreas tumors were reduced obviously,the symptoms were relieved after the treatment.The method turned out to be safe and accurate.

Objective To establish the method for isolation and culture of porcine Sertoli cell sand detect the expression of the immune privilege-related molecules in the cultured cells. MethodsTestes were aseptically removed from the 10-to 15-days old Large White piglets. Testes were decap-sulated, minced and then digested with 0.2% (W/V) collagenase type V, 0.25% (W/V) trypsin and 0.05% (W/V) DNaseI. In the primary isolation, Sertoli cells were cultured at 37℃with 5% CO2.Inverted phase contrast microscopy and HE staining were used to observe the morphology of Sertoliceils, and the Sertoli cells were identified under an electron microscope. Viability and apoptosis ofcultured cells were measured with the AnnexinV-PI staining by flow cytometry. The expression of sox9, FasL, TGF-β and clusterin in Sertoli cells was detected by RT-PCR. The viability of long-termcultured Sertoli cells was assayed by MTT. Results In the cultured total cells, Sertoli cells accountedfor more than 90%. The apoptosis rate and mortality of Sertoli cells was (2.61±0.96)% and (2.12±0.74)% respectively. RT-PCR revealed that the expression of sox9, TGF-β and clusterin in theSertoli cells was strongly positive, but FasL was weakly positive. Viability of cultured cells measuredby MTT conformed that the sertloli cells could survive more than 21 days. Conclusion The isolationand culture methods of the neonatal porcine Sertoli cells was established. Under the culturedconditions, the Sertoli cells can express the immune privilege molecules and successfully survive at least 21 days.

BACKGROUND: Propofol has been reported to protect vascular endothelial cells against oxidative stress. In this study we investigated its effect on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and examined the possible signaling pathways. METHODS: HUVECs were pretreated with propofol (1, 5, 25, and 50 microM) for 30 min and then co-incubated with 0.4 mM H2O2 for 4 h. Cell viability was assessed using a Cell Counting Kit-8. Cell apoptosis was analyzed using flow cytometry with annexin V/propidium iodide staining, and evaluated by quantifying caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 expression levels. The expression levels of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphorylated (p)-p38 MAPK, cJun-N-terminal kinases (JNK), phosphorylated (p)-JNK, Akt and phosphorylated Akt [(p)-Akt] (Ser473) were measured by western blotting. RESULTS: H2O2 treatment induced the activation of caspase-3, downregulated Bcl-2 expression, and up-regulated Bax expression, all of which were dose-dependently attenuated by propofol pretreatment. Furthermore, propofol significantly ameliorated H2O2-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, JNK, and Akt in HUVECs. CONCLUSIONS: Propofol can protect HUVECs against H2O2-induced apoptosis via a mechanism that may involve p38 MAPK, JNK, and Akt signaling pathways.
Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Count ; Cell Survival ; Endothelial Cells ; Flow Cytometry ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells* ; Humans* ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Oxidative Stress ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases ; Propofol* ; Protein Kinases

It has been demonstrated that neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) is critical for the induction and maintenance of long term potentiation (LTP) in the CA1 region of rat hippocampus. In the present study, we investigated the changes in NCAM mRNA expression and NCAM protein level after the induction of LTP in vitro using the techniques of in situ hybridization and Western blot. The results showed that the number of NCAM mRNA positive labelled neurons significantly increased (76.6+/-11.5 neurons) 10 min after tetanus when the slope of fEPSP markedly increased. The level of NCAM protein also increased significantly (7.190+/-0.64 arbitrary unit/50 microg protein) 10 min after tetanus. The number of NCAM mRNA positive labelled neurons no longer changed (73.3+/-14.0) 1 h after tetanus, however, the NCAM protein level (9.031+/-0.71) at 1 h after tetanus was higher than that at 10 min after tetanus. Moreover, the NMDA receptor inhibitor AP-5, which blocked LTP, prevented the increase in NCAM mRNA expression and NCAM protein level. The results demonstrate that NCAM mRNA expression maintains a high level, whereas NCAM protein changes from a low level to a high level during induction and maintenance of LTP.
Animals ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; physiology ; Long-Term Potentiation ; physiology ; Male ; Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

The present study examined the changes in 26S proteasome activity and the signal molecule mechanism regulating 26S proteasome activity in long term potentiation (LTP) in rat hippocampal slices. The results are as follows: 26S proteasome activity was 190+/-14.3 cpm/(100 microg.2 h) before tetanus, a significant increase in 26S proteasome activity (273+/-18.3 cpm/(100 microg.2 h) was found 10 min after tetanus, when the slope of fEPSP was markedly increased. Interestingly, 26S proteasome activity returned to baseline level (210+/-12.8 cpm/(100 microg.2 h) 60 min after tetanus. Moreover, the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor inhibitor AP-5, which blocked LTP, prevented the increase in the 26S proteasome activity. The results suggest that NMDA receptors contribute to the transient increase in 26S proteasome activity during induction of LTP in the hippocampal CA1 region.
Animals ; Hippocampus ; enzymology ; physiology ; Long-Term Potentiation ; physiology ; Male ; Peptide Hydrolases ; metabolism ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the role of MRI diffusion imaging in the diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis.

METHODSFifty-eight rabbits were divided randomly into a blank control group (n = 10) and a model group (n = 48). Carbon tetrachloride was injected intraperitoneally into the animals of the model group to induce liver fibrosis. SE-EPI sequence was used in diffusion weighted imaging for all the rabbits. Then apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and exponential apparent diffusion coefficient (EADC) of their livers were obtained with Functool 2.0 software. The degrees of liver fibrosis of the rabbits were graded with histological examinations. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 11.0 statistical software. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare every rank data respectively. P less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTSWhen the b value was 300 s/mm2, ADC of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was (2.460+/-0.424) x 10(-3) in the control group (S0). ADCs were (2.170+/-0.311) x 10(-3), (1.950+/-0.248) x 10(-3), (1.635+/-0.296) x 10(-3), (1.566+/-0.353) x 10(-3) in the model group (S1, S2, S3 and S4). EADC of DWI was 0.102+/-0.044 in the control group and were 0.167+/-0.047, 0.183+/-0.042, 0.216+/-0.054, 0.219+/-0.048 in the model group (S1, S2, S3 and S4). ADC and EADC of the control group and model group had significant differences (F = 12.13, P = 0.0006; F = 10.06, P = 0.004 respectively). When the b value was 500 s/mm2, ADC of DWI was (2.044+/-0.215) x 10(-3) in the control group, ADC were (1.907+/-0.223) x 10(-3), (1.785+/-0.232) x 10(-3), (1.542+/-0.268) x 10(-3), (1.312+/-0.212) x 10(-3) in the model group (S1, S2, S3 and S4). EADC of DWI was 0.1106+/-0.069 in the control group and EADCs of DWI were 0.1764+/-0.073, 0.1889+/-0.056, 0.2421+/-0.079, 0.2657+/-0.037 in the model group (S1, S2, S3 and S4). ADCs and EADCs of the control group and model group had significant differences (F = 14.57, P = 0.0002; F = 10.42, P = 0.003 respectively). There was a significant difference of ADCs between S1 and S4 of the model group when b value were 300 s/mm2 and 500 s/mm2 (P = 0.03, P = 0.044 respectively). No differences were found between other subgroups in the model group.

CONCLUSIONOur preliminary study shows that measuring ADCs and EADCs has a good potential in diagnosing and quantifying hepatic fibrosis, especially when using b values of 300 sec/mm2 and 500 sec/mm2.

Animals ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Female ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; diagnosis ; Male ; Pilot Projects ; Rabbits