The contents of berberine in Rhizoma Coptidis were determined after desication using different ways including drying in the sun directly or with a thin paper cover, roasted by the low-degree fire and cured in oven at different temperatures. The results show that desicating it in oven at low temperature can preserve the external apperence of Rhizoma Coptidis, cause less damage to the content of berberine, shorten the duration of desication and operate more easily, which is an effective method for processing Rhizoma Coptidis.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of CT-guided percutaneous celiac plexus block (NCPB) using 25 G controllable curved needle together with 22 G straight needle in treating refractory carcinomatous upper abdominal pain. Methods A total of 18 patients with advanced refractory carcinomatous upper abdominal pain were enrolled in this study. The carcinomatous upper abdominal pain failed to the three-step analgesic therapy. Guided by CT scan, percutaneous injection of ethanol with a 25 G controllable curved needle to destroy celiac plexus was carried out in all patients. According to WHO pain relief standards, the relieving degree of pain was evaluated before NCPB and 2 weeks, one, 2, 3 and 6 months after NCPB. The results were analyzed. Results The technical success rate was 100%. The short-term (within 2 weeks) efficacy rate was 88.8%and the complete remission rate was 38.8%. The long-term (over 3 months) efficacy rate was 50% and the complete remission rate was 20%. No severe complications occurred. Conclusion For refractory carcinomatous upper abdominal pain, CT-guided percutaneous celiac plexus block is a simple, safe and effective treatment.

0bjective To determine the immunogenicities of DNA vaccines expressing tat-rev-integrase(c-half)-vif-neffusion genes(TRIVN) derived from prevalent B', B'/C and AE recombinant subtypes of HIV-1 in China. Methods Two DNA vaccines were constructed by inserting the codon optimized tat-revintegrase(c-half)-vif-nef fusion genes derived from B' and B'/C subtype of HIV-1 into mammalian expression vector pSVI. 0. DNA vaccine containing tat-rev-integrase (c-half)-vif-nef fusion gene derived from HIV-1AE2f has been constructed previously. In vitro expression efficiencies of three DNA vaccines were determined by Western blot and their immunogenicities were compared by immunizing female BALB/c mice. IFN-γ ELISPOT assay was used to read out the specific T cell immunity. Results The constructed DNA vaccines were validated by restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing. Western blot assay showed three constructed DNA vaccines could be expressed at a comparable level in vitro. After vaccination, AE-TRIVN mounted T cell immune responses at (948.0 ± 330.0) SFCs/106 splenocytes, followed by the mixed DNA vaccine[ (500.0 ± 155.0) SFCs/106 splenocytes ], RL-TRIVN r[ ( 195. 1 ± 44.0) SFCs/106 splenocytes ]and CN-TRIVN [ (89.5 ± 17.0) SFCs/106 splenocytes]. Interestingly, we observed that single DNA vaccination induced specific T cell responses predominantly targeting Integrase (C-half) and Vif, whereas the mixed DNA could significantly improve T cell responses against Nef. Conclusion AE-TRIVN was the most immunogenic among the three DNA vaccines and the mixed DNA vaccination could change the immunogenic hierarchy of T cell epitopes across the fusion genes vaccine.