BACKGROUND: Studies have showed that Chengzai pill is of distinct significance in the treatment of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head through increasing bone mineral density, bone weight, bone strength and rigidity, it also reverses the low levels of estrogen. OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of Chengzai pill on the genes of cell adhesion molecules on bone cells of steroid-induced ostaonecrotic rats, and to understand the role to resume normal blood transport in femoral head of steroid-induced osteonecrosis. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Grouping controlled observation was performed in the Pharmacological Laboratory of Wangjing Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences and laboratory of CapitalBio Corporation between March and August in 2006. MATERIALS: Six male SD rats of 6 months old and weighing (280:1:20) g were used in this study. Chengzai pill was consisted of 22 Chinese medicines, such as Chinese Angelica, Eucommia Bark, Milkvetch Root, Barbary Wolfberry Fruit, Degelatined Deer-hom, Desertliving Cistanche, Eupolyphaga seu Steleophaga, Leech, Danshen Root and Himalayan Teasel Root, which were offered by Beijing Boran Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. METHODS: The lipopolysaccharide and methylprednisolone were applied to prepare a rat model of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head. Six rats were divided into model group and Chengzai pill group at random with 3 rats in each group. The rats in the Chengzai pill group were administrated with methylprednisolone for the first time and then 1.5 g/kg Chengzai pill solution, once a day, totally for 6 weeks. The total RNA was extracted from femoral head in all rata 6 weeks later and then gene expression profiling was analyzed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Gene action pathway of cell adhesion molecules in gene expression profile. RESULTS: Compared with model rats, there were totally 8 downregulated genes of cell adhesion molecules which changed by a minimum of 1.5 folds in cell adhesion molecules pathway of Chengzai pill group, three rats were present with 633 genes (506 down-regulated and 127 up-regulated), 883 genes (640 down-regulated and 243 up-regulated) and 593 genes (408 down-regulated and 185 up-regulated), respectively. MAS software classification analysis showed 79 action pathways were involved in 297 genes.CONCLUSION: Following Chengzai pill administration, those downregulated genes recover the cognitive functions of macrophage and target cell in rats, also renew the normal survival condition of epithelial cells including vascular endothelial cells. Cell adhesion molecules action pathway returns to normal levels. This is the key to resume normal blood transport in femoral head of steroid-induced osteonecrosis.

4-Hydroxycoumarins ; blood ; Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) on regulation of intestinal inflammatory reaction in rats with acute pancreatitis.

METHODSFifty-four SD rats were randomly divided into a severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) group, an electroacupuncture (EA) group and a sham-operation (SO) group, 18 cases in each group. 3.5% sodium cholate was used to made SAP model by retrograde injecting in cholangiopancreatic duct. After the success of model making, the EA group was treated with EA at bilateral Zusanli (ST 36) for 30 min. The SO group and the SAP group were fixed at the same time for 30 min without treatment. All the rats were killed at 3 h, 6 h and 12 h after modeling in batches. The pathological changes of pancreatic tissue and intestinal epithelium were observed, and the expression of small intestinal occludin protein and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kappaB) were detected by immunohistochemical SP method.

RESULTSThe pathologic score and the expression of small intestinal NF-kappaB p65 at 3 h, 6 h and 12 h after modeling in the EA group and the SO group were significantly lower than those in the SAP group (all P < 0.05), and the expression of small intestinal occludin protein in the EA group and the SO group were significantly higher than that in the SAP group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) can alleviate pancreatic injury by reducing the expression of NF-kappaB p65 and enhancing the expression of occludin protein in the intestinal epithelium in the SAP model rats.

Acupuncture Points ; Acute Disease ; therapy ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Humans ; Intestine, Small ; metabolism ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; metabolism ; Occludin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pancreatitis ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVE:To study improvement effect of modified mahuang chanyi decoction on allergic rhinitis(AR)model guinea pigs and its mechanism. METHODS:32 guinea pigs were randomly divided into normal group (0.9% Sodium chloride in-jection),model group (0.9% Sodium chloride injection),experimental [Modified mahuang chanyi decoction,5.18 g (medicinal materials)/kg] group and control [Fluticasone propionate nasal spray,50 μg/(guinea pig·d)] group. Except for normal group,other groups received ovalbumin 30 mg and calmogastrin 30 mg intraperitoneally to induce AR model. Except for control group,other groups were given relevant medicine intragastrically,twice a day for consecutive 15 d. Nasal symptoms of guinea pigs were ob-served and recorded,and then analyzed and scored. The protein expression of nasal mucosa SHP-1 was detected by immunohisto-chemistry,the serum contents of IL-4 and IFN-γ were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS:Compared with normal group,model group suffered from AR symptom,and nasal symptoms score was increased;and the protein expression of nasal mucosa SHP-1 and the serum content of IL-4 increased,while the content of IFN-γ decreased(P<0.05). Compared with model group,AR symptom of experimental group and control group were improved;nasal symptoms score,the protein expression of nasal mucosa SHP-1 and the serum content of IL-4 decreased while the content of IFN-γ increased(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Modified mahuang chanyi decoction shows certain improvement effect on AR,and its mechanism is associated the decrease of IL-4 content and the increase of IFN-γcontent in serum.

Objective To study the bioavailability and bioequivalence of erythromycin ethylsuccinate granules in healthy male volunteers.Methods In a randomized two-period crossover study,20 healthy male volunteers received single 500 mg test and reference formulations of erythromyein ethylsuccinate granules.The plasma concentrations of erythromycin were assayed by microbiological method.Results The parameters of test and reference preparations were as follows:T_(max)(0.86?0.22)and (0.80?0.13)h,C_(max)(2.13?0.64)and(2.16?0.61)mg/L,t_(1/2)(2.04?0.2)and(1.97?0.4)h,AUC_(0-t)(4.96?1.73)and(4.63?1.52)mg?h/L,respectively.There was no significant difference between the two preparations.The rela- tive bioavailahility of the test granules was(109.1?22.8)%.Conclusions The two preparations of erythromycin ethylsucci- nate granules are bioequivalent.

Objective To study the interobserver variabilities and the differential diagnosis value of Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System-Ultrasound (BI-RADS-US) lexicon for small ( ≤ 2 cm) breast nodules. Methods Between January 2009 and December 2011, 289 patients with small (≤2 cm) breast nodules (n=317) were included. According to sizes, the lesions were divided into two groups, i.e., 0-1 cm (n=160) group and 1-2 cm (n=157)group. Each lesion was described independently by 3 radiologists using BI-RADS-US lexicon. Interobserver variabilities were assessed by Kappa test. Chi-square test was used to compare the frequency difference of the descriptors between malignant and benign lesions. Sensitivity, speciifcity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negtive predictive value were calculated. Results (1)Moderate agreements were obtained for lesion shape, orientation, margin, echo pattern, surrounding tissue and calciifcations (κ=0.44, 0.57, 0.48, 0.43, 0.51 and 0.57) in 0-1 cm group. Substantial agreements were obtained for lesion shape, orientation, margin and echo pattern (κ=0.65, 0.61, 0.64 and 0.63) in 1-2 cm group. (2)Irregular shape, non-parallel orientation, non-circumscribed margin, echogenic halo and microcalciifcations were more frequently found in malignant nodules than in benign nodules in 0-1 cm group [52.3% (34/65) vs 20.0% (19/95), 38.5%(25/65) vs 13.7%(13/95), 75.4%(49/65) vs 32.6%(31/95), 18.6%(12/65) vs 0 (0/95) and 10.8%(7/65) vs 2.1%(2/95);χ2=18.19, 13.08, 28.22, 16.39 and 3.95;P=0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000 and 0.047]. Similarly, irregular shape, non-parallel orientation, non-circumscribed margin, echogenic halo, shadowing, changes of Cooper′s ligament and microcalciifcations were signiifcantly more frequent found in malignant nodules than in benign nodules in 1-2 cm group [74.2%(49/66) vs 12.1%(11/91), 36.3%(24/66) vs 5.5%(5/91), 93.9%(62/66) vs 22.0%(20/91), 37.9%(25/66) vs 3.3%(3/91), 30.3%(20/66) vs 7.7%(7/91), 15.2%(10/66) vs 0 (0/91) and 16.7%(11/66) vs 4.4%(4/91);χ2=62.59, 24.21, 79.40, 31.22, 13.73, 12.30 and 6.67;P=0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000 and 0.010]. (3)In both groups, a good sensitivity was demonstrated (75.4%&93.9%) when using the non-circumscribed margin as a criterion for malignancy, and high speciifcity was achieved in two groups (80.0%-100%and 87.9%-100%) when other descriptors including irregular shape, non-parallel orientation, echogenic halo, shadowing, changes of Cooper′s ligament and microcalciifcations were used as differentiation criteria. Conclusions Good interobserver agreement can be achieved using the BI-RADS-US lexicon in the diagnosis of small breast nodules. Non-circumscribed margin are proved as the most valuable sign for screening malignant breast lesions ≤ 2 cm. High speciifcity was found for irregular shape, nonparallel orientation, echogenic halo, shadowing, Cooper′s ligament changes and microcalciifcations, which can help biopsy and preoperative diagnosis.

Objective To discuss the feasibility of Monte Carlo N-particle transport code(MCNP)simulated calculation.Methods The calculation in water phantom was contrasted with the practical measurements and the reported values using the percent depth dose(PDD)curve and normal peak scatter factor.Results There Was no significant difference between calculated and measured results in the 10 cm×10 cm field(t＝-0.41,P>0.05),however,there were significant differences in the 5 cm×5 cm field(t=7.2,P<0.05)and in the 12 cm×12 cm field(t=-4.6,P<0.05).There was no significant difierence between the calculated results and the reported values(t=-1.91,P>0.05).In the same radiation field,the PDD decreased as the depth increased,but increased as the size of the radiation field increased at the same depth.PDD and normal peak scatter factor were both important parameters for calculation of prescribed dose.Conclusions It is possible to establish a set of accurate and comprehensive percent depth doses and normal peak scatter factor parameters so as to provide the basis of clinical use, quality assurance and quality control for radiotherapy.

Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Models, Biological ; Muscle Contraction ; physiology ; Physical Endurance ; physiology ; Reference Values

This article summarized the progresses of pharmacokinetic about traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in recent 10 years. Reports indicated that the studies of pharmacokinetic about TCM were in the stage of exploratory. Many factors restricted the progresses of pharmacokinetic such as complexity of medicine components, multi-target of drug effect and imperfect of evaluation methods. With the developing of modern analytical techniques and indication of TCM theories, we believe that the pharmacokinetic study will be constantly updated and improved.
Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Tissue Distribution

Objective To apply team based learning (TBL) in the teaching of dental endodontics for undergraduates in order to expand and deepen the TBL teaching in stomatology education.Methods TBL was used among 2008 grade oral undergraduates in Chongqing Medical University.Average test scores of 2008 grade undergraduates before and intra class were calculated and questionnaire was designed.At the same time,final examination scores between 2007 grade and 2008 grade under-graduates were compared.Results There was no significant correlation in average test scores before and intra class (r =0.027,P ＞ 0.05).Final examination scores were higher in 2008 grade than in 2007 grade.Based on the questionnaire survey,learning interests,sense of teamwork and classroom knowledge grasp of 2008 grade undergraduates were obviously elevated.Conclusions TBL teaching significantly improve students' learning effect and it can be promoted in stomotology education.