OBJECTIVEThymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) plays an important role in initiating dendritic cell mediated allergic inflammation. This study was designed to examine the effects of inhaled budesonide on TSLP expression in the lung tissues and on the bronchial-pulmonary pathology in asthmatic rats.

METHODSThirty-two female Sprague-Dawley rats were sensitized and challenged with inhaled ovalbumin (OVA) to induce asthma. The asthmatic rats were randomly divided into 2 groups on the 22nd day of OVA challenge: a budesonide treatment group that received inhaled budesonide at 0.32 mg/kg daily for 7 days and an asthma control group that received inhaled 0.9% normal saline for 7 days. TSLP expression in the lung tissues was measured by Western blot and fluorescent-immunohistochemistry 29 and 36 days after OVA challenge. Bronchial-pulmonary pathological changes were evaluated by hematoxylin & eosin and periodic acid-schiff staining.

RESULTSBudesonide treatment alleviated airway inflammation when compared with the asthma control group 29 days after OVA challenge. However, the airway inflammatory reactions were aggravated in the budesonide treatment group 36 days after OVA challenge (7 days after budesonide discontinuance). TSLP expression in the lung tissues was significantly lower in the budesonide treatment group than that in the asthma control group both 29 and 36 days after OVA challenge (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSInhaled budesonide can inhibit the TSLP expression in the lung tissues and alleviate lung inflammatory reactions in asthmatic rats, but there is end-of-dose failure.

Administration, Inhalation ; Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Blotting, Western ; Bronchi ; pathology ; Budesonide ; administration & dosage ; Cytokines ; analysis ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

AIMSTo screen for the predominant bacteria strains distributed in clean rooms and to analyze their phylogenetic relationships.

METHODS AND RESULTSThe bacteria distributed in air, surfaces and personnel in clean rooms were routinely monitored using agar plates. Five isolates frequently isolated from the clean rooms of an aseptic pharmaceutical production workshop were selected based on their colony and cell morphology characteristics. Their physiological and biochemical properties, as well as partial 16S rDNA sequences, were analyzed. Results showed that all the five isolates belong to Gram positive bacteria, of which three were Staphylococcus, one Microbacterium and one Bacillus species. Sensitivity tests for these bacteria isolates to 3 disinfectants showed that isolate F03 was obtuse, and had low susceptivity to UV irradiation, while isolates F02, F01 and F04 were not sensitive to phenol treatment. Isolates F04, F01 and F05 were resistant to chlorhexidine gluconate.

CONCLUSIONBacteria widely distributed in clean rooms are mainly a group of Gram positive strains, showing high resistance to selected disinfectants.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDYClean rooms are essential in aseptic pharmaceutical and food production. Screening bacteria isolates and identifying them is part of good manufacturing practices, and will aid in finding a more effective disinfection method.

Bacteria ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Drug Industry ; Environment, Controlled ; Industrial Microbiology

AIM:To remark the effect of Qingguang'an Ⅱ on expression of PAX6, Ngn1, and Ngn2 mRNA of rats with chronic high intraocular pressure.METHODS:Totally 40 male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, that was:A:blank group, B:model group, C:Qingguang'an Ⅱ low dose group, D:Qingguang'an Ⅱ moderate dose group, E:Qingguang'an Ⅱ high dose group, F:Yimaikang disket group.B, C, D, E, F groups of experimental rats were established the model of chronic high intraocular pressure (IOP) by cauterizing of superficial scleral vein.Animal model was established successfully by using monitoring IOP consistently keep above 25mmHg for 8wk as cut-off criterion.Tissues of Eyes were obtained after intragastric administration for 2wk and 4wk.The expressions of PAX6, Ngn1, and Ngn2 mRNA were investigated by Real-time PCR.RESULTS:At the time-point of 2wk, PAX6, Ngn1, and Ngn2 mRNA in group B were statistically expressed in lower level comparing with other groups (P<0.05).Moreover, at the time-point of 4wk, PAX6, Ngn1, and Ngn2 mRNA in group C, D and E were statistically expressed in higher level comparing with group F (P<0.05).Besides, PAX6, Ngn1, and Ngn2 mRNA in group C and D were statistically expressed in lower level comparing with group E (P<0.05).PAX6, Ngn1, and Ngn2 mRNA in group C and D were expressed in similar level(P>0.05).CONCLUSION:In summar, Qingguang'an Ⅱ and Yimaikang disket can remarkably increase the expressions of PAX6, Ngn1, and Ngn2, which suggest protecting the optic nerve of rats caused by chronic high IOP.What's more, this study indicated that, in the protection of optic nerve of rats with chronic high IOP, the high dose of Qingguang'an Ⅱ at the time-point of 4wk was the better choice.

Objective To invesgate the safety and efficacy of the second generation biodegradable polymer Cobalt-Chromium sirolimus-eluting stent (EXCEL2) stent in diabetic patients by a subgroup analysis of of the CREDITⅡand CREDIT Ⅲ trials. Methods All patients who were implanted with the EXCEL2 stent were enrolled in the CREDITⅡand CREDIT Ⅲ trials. The primary endpoint was target lesion failure at 24-month, defi ned as a composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction (TV-MI) and target lesion revascularization(TLR). The secondary endpoint was endpoints including all-cause death, all myocardial infarction (MI) or any revascularization.Results A total of 828 patients were included from the patients who were implanted with the EXCEL2 stent in the CREDIT II and CREDIT Ⅲ trials. 24-month follow-up rate was 99.5%. There was no significant difference in the primary endpoint (P>0.05) and event rates of the secondary endpoints(P>0.05) between the diabetic and non-diabetic group, which included all-cause death[diabetics (2.5%)vs.non-diabetics(1.4%),P>0.05],myocardial infarction(MI)(7.5% vs.5.0%,P>0.05),all from of revascularization(5.0% vs.3.9%,P>0.05),and stent thrombosis(0.6% vs.0.4%,P>0.05).Conclusions EXCEL 2 stent met the objective performance goal on effcacy and safety, which can reduce make stent restenosis, target vessel revascularization ,with 160 diabetic cases among them, and stent thrombosis in diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVESTo observe the effects of pioglitazone on morphological changes and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF b)-induced rat hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vitro, and to investigate the anti-fibrotic mechanism of pioglitazone.

METHODSCultured rat HSCs were divided into a no-treatment control group, a TGF b-treated group, and a TGFb plus different dosage pioglitazone-treated group. The morphological changes of the cultured HSCs were observed. The expression of CTGF was assessed by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. The level of collagen type III in the culture supernatant was measured by ELISA.

RESULTSTGFb induced morphological changes, and increased the expressions of CTGF and collagen type III of the HSCs (P less than 0.05). Pioglitazone prevented the TGFb induced morphological changes of the HSCs. The expression of CTGF and the levels of collagen type III in the pioglitazone group were lower than the TGF b-treated group (P less than 0.05). This prevention effect was dose-dependent (P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPioglitazone blocks the excretion of CTGF and collagen type III of cultured HSCs, preventing the development of liver fibrosis.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type III ; secretion ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Thiazolidinediones ; pharmacology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study pharmacological effects of PEC (the oral liquid which consists of Panax quinquefolium, Epimedium brevicornum, Schisandra chinensis Bail and Cervus eplaphus) on mice.

METHODExperiments were carried out through swimming test, step-through, spontaneous activity and sleeping time.

RESULTWhen 5-10 mL x kg(-1) of PEC was given orally for 7 days, it could prolong swimming duration of mice in water tank, and increase the tolerant ability against oxygen-deficiency. PEC could also improve cognitive-deficiency induced by taking off sleep with force in mice after given orally for 7 days. The PEC could increase the spontaneous activity in mice, antagonize the inhabitation induced by Valium, and shorten the sleeping time caused by sodium pentobarbital.

CONCLUSIONPEC has strong potential neuro-pharmacological activities such as anti-fatigue, improving cognitive-deficiency in mice.

Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Fatigue ; drug therapy ; Hypoxia ; drug therapy ; Male ; Memory Disorders ; drug therapy ; Mice ; Panax ; chemistry ; Pentobarbital ; pharmacology ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Schisandra ; chemistry ; Sleep ; drug effects ; Swimming

To investigate the Fe2+ effects on root tips in rice plant, experiments were carried out using border cells in vitro. The border cells were pre-planted in aeroponic culture and detached from root tips. Most border cells have a long elliptical shape. The number and the viability of border cells in situ reached the maxima of 1600 and 97.5%, respectively, at 20-25 mm root length. This mortality was more pronounced at the first 1-12 h exposure to 250 mg/L Fe2+ than at the last 12-36 h. After 36 h, the cell viability exposed to 250 mg/L Fe2+ decreased to nought, whereas it was 46.5% at 0 mg/L Fe2+. Increased Fe2+ dosage stimulated the death of detached border cells from rice cultivars. After 4 h Fe2+ treatment, the cell viabilities were > or =80% at 0 and 50 mg/L Fe2+ treatment and were <62% at 150, 250 and 350 mg/L Fe2+ treatment; The viability of border cells decreased by 10% when the Fe2+ concentration increased by 100 mg/L. After 24 h Fe2+ treatment, the viabilities of border cells at all the Fe2+ levels were <65%; The viability of border cells decreased by 20% when the Fe2+ concentration increased by 100 mg/L. The decreased viabilities of border cells indicated that Fe2+ dosage and treatment time would cause deadly effect on the border cells. The increased cell death could protect the root tips from toxic harm. Therefore, it may protect root from the damage caused by harmful iron toxicity.
Iron ; toxicity ; Oryza ; cytology ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Plant Roots ; cytology ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Seedlings ; cytology ; drug effects ; growth & development

This paper has introduced the terms, concept and characteristics of superfine comminution of traditional Chinese medicine. The progress in the study on the superfine comminution of the single drug and compound prescription was analyzed, and work principles of equipment in common use for superfine comminution were outlined. The future application of superfine comminution technique in traditional Chinese medicine was forecast and the problems that should be solved during the future research work were also pointed out in the paper.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Nanotechnology ; Particle Size ; Powders ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; instrumentation ; methods

Objective:To understand the nutritional risk in patients with IBD,its related factors and nutritional treatment options.Methods:IBD patients treated in Peking University first hospital from January 2006 to December 2015 were studied.Using the Nutritional risk screening 2002 (NRS2002) nutritional risk assessment of the patients were evaluated.According to the body mass index (BMI),patients were divided into normal BMI group (BMI 18.5 ～ 23.9),low BMI group (BMI ＜ 18.5) and high BMI group (BMI ≥ 24).We analyzed the nutritional risk related factors and compared the difference of nutritional therapy options,regarding the UC and CD patients respectively.Results:A total of 388 patients with IBD were enrolled in the study,with UC 306 and CD 82 patients.The total nutritional risk was 49.5％.Although there was no difference in BMI distribution between UC and CD,CD was more likely to have nutritional risk than UC (CD 64.6％,UC 45.4％,(P =0.002).The nutritional risk of low BMI group was 95.7％.There were no differences in age,sex,and family history in IBD patients for the occurrence of nutritional risk.The more frequently recurrence,severe of disease activity,and the wider rang of disease bring the higher nutritional risk for UC patients.But for CD patients,penetrating type,having a history of surgery and severe of disease activity had higher nutritional risk.Adequate caloric nutrition therapy in patients with CD was 77.4％ higher than that of UC 46.8％,(P ＜ 0.001).It was a main principle of our center that UC patients with severe recurrence should not emphasize enteral nutrition and CD patients should first deal with the contraindications before starting enteral nutrition.Conclusions:IBD patients have a high nutritional risk and CD is more obvious than UC,particularly in low BMI patients.The nutritional risk of patients with UC and CD has its own associated factors.It is safe to treat IBD patients with enteral nutrition as long as the indications and contraindications were well controlled.

Invigorating blood and dissolving stasis method is a kind of unique therapy of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) treatment, which efficacy has become increasingly prominent in the treatment of ophthalmology.With the further studies of blood stasis and invigorating blood and dissolving stasis therapy, it is widely used in clinical ophthalmology, and get good effects beyond thought, especially when western medicine has no curative effects.It improved the cure rate of fundus oculi disease from the eyelids, conjunctiva, lacrimal sac, vitreous body to the choroid and retina, optic nerve and macula lutea, from surface to fundus, or pathological changes related to inflammation, degeneration, necrosis, atrophy, hyperplasia of fibrous tissue hyperplasia.This paper is aim to explain the definition of invigorating blood and dissolving stasis and make a review of basic research and clinical application about it in several diseases.