Chinese herbal property theory (CHPT) is the fundamental characteristic of Chinese materia medica different from modern medicines. It reflects the herbal properties associated with efficacy and formed the early framework of four properties and five flavors in Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica. After the supplement and improvement of CHPT in the past thousands of years, it has developed a theory system including four properties, five flavors, meridian entry, direction of medicinal actions (ascending, descending, floating and sinking) and toxicity. However, because of the influence of philosophy about yin-yang theory and five-phase theory and the difference of cognitive approach and historical background at different times, CHPT became complex. One of the complexity features was the multiple methods for determining herbal property, which might include the inference from herbal efficacy, the thought of Chinese Taoist School and witchcraft, the classification thinking according to manifestations, etc. Another complexity feature was the multiselection associations between herbal property and efficacy, which indicated that the same property could be inferred from different kinds of efficacy. This paper analyzed these complexity features and provided the importance of cognitive approaches and efficacy attributes corresponding to certain herbal property in the study of CHPT.

Chinese herbal property is the highly summarized concept of herbal nature and pharmaceutical effect, which reflect the characteristics of herbal actions on human body. These herbal actions, also interpreted as presenting the information about pharmaceutical effect contained in herbal property on the biological carrier, are defined as herbal property expressions. However, the biological expression of herbal property is believed to possess complex features for the involved complexity of Chinese medicine and organism. Firstly, there are multiple factors which could influence the expression results of herbal property such as the growth environment, harvest season and preparing methods of medicinal herbs, and physique and syndrome of body. Secondly, there are multiple biological approaches and biochemical indicators for the expression of the same property. This paper elaborated these complexities for further understanding of herbal property. The individuality of herbs and expression factors should be well analyzed in the related studies.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic values of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and computed tomographic virtual endoscopy( CTVE) in protuberant lesions of upper gastrointestinal tract. Methods EUS and CTVE were used to diagnosis the 48 patients with protuberant lesions of upper gastrointestinal tract which were diagnosised by gastroscopy. All of the results except 11 cases were compared with pathological diagnosis. Results The accuracy of electronic gastroscopy, EUS and CTVE on the diagnosis of the protuberant lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract were 16.7% ,89. 6% ,66. 7% , respectively . There was a significantly difference among them (P

Herbal property theory of traditional Chinese medicines is the theoretical guidance on authentication of medicinal plants, herborization, preparation of herbal medicines for decoction and clinical application, with important theoretical value and prac- tical significance. Our research team proposed the "three-element" theory for herbal properties for the first time, conducted a study by using combined methods of philology, chemistry, pharmacology and mathematics, and then drew the research conclusion that herbal properties are defined as the chemical compositions-based comprehensive expression with complex and multi-level (positive/negative) biological effects in specific organism state. In this paper, researchers made a systematic mathematical analysis in four aspects--the correlation between herbal properties and chemical component factors, the correlation between herbal properties and organism state fac- tor, the correlation between herbal properties and biological effect factor and the integration study of the three elements, proposed future outlook, and provided reference to mathematical studies and mathematical analysis of herbal properties.
Drug Compounding ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Models, Theoretical ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

· AIM: To observe the effects of PTEN and the tumor suppressor gene in proliferative LECs of the rabbit.·METHODS:Forty-two white rabbits were randomly divided into test group (36 rabbits) and control group (6rabbits). The transparent lenses of treated rabbits were operated with extra capsular cortex extraction, and the controls were kept untouched. The rabbits were sacririced at 1d, 3d, 1wk, 2wK, 1mo and 2mo after surgery.Immunohistochemistry was applied to detect proliferative cellular nuclei antigen (PCNA) as well as hybridization in situ and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) were applied to detect phosphatase as well as tensin homology deleted on chromosome 10(PTEN) mRNA in lens equartor.·RESULTS:PCNA expression increased significantly to a high level at 1wk, began to reduce 2wk later, and recovered to the normal level 1 or 2mo after the surgery.PTEN mRNA expressed positively in normal rabbit LECs.The relative PTEN mRNA contents reduced greatly at 1dafter operation and remained low level at 3d. It began to increase slightly at 1wk, kept rising at 2wk and regained the normal expression after 1 or 2mo. There was inverse correlation between the PTEN mRNA and PCNA expression.·CONCLUSION: PTEN mRNA expresses positively in normal rabbit LECs plasma. PTEN participates in LECs proliferation and correlates with lens proliferative conditions.

Objective To analysis the outcome of gastroscopy and B ultrasonography in patients of post hepatitis cirrhosis with portal hypertension, and to evaluate the degree of cirrhosis in clinic and affording suggestions in preventing complication. Methods One hundred and ninety two cirrhosis patients with portal hypertension were divided into three groups : mild, moderate and severe group based on the extent of esophageal varicosis. By estimating the diameter of portal vein, thickness of spleen and width of splenic vein in three groups to investigate their correlation with the extent of cardio-esophageal varicosis. Results The incidences of gastric varices in these three groups have prominent difference,The severer the degree of esophageal varices , the higher the incidence of gastric varices. According to the different degree of esophageal varices, the diameter of portal vein,thickness of spleen,diameter of splenic vein are differed. There is linear relation between thickness of spleen and diameter of splenic vein. Conclusion Diameter of portal and splenic vein, thickness of spleen,can provide valuable suggestion in predicting the presence of portal hypertension,but further confirmation is based on the result of gastroendoscopy.

Objective: Investigate the curative effect of acupuncture on dysphasia in hypophrenia children. Methods: One hundred and sixty children with hypophrenia and dysphasia were randomly divided into an acupuncture group of 80 cases, a language training group of 40 cases and a composite group of 40 cases for clinical observation. Total intelligence quotient (TIQ), vocal intelligence quotient (VIQ) and practical intelligence quotient (PIQ) were compared between pretreatment and posttreatment in the children themselves and between the groups before and after treatment. Results: The total efficacy rate was 77.5% in the acupuncture group, 82.5% in the composite group and 52.5% in the language training group. Conclusion: Acupuncture significantly raises TIQ, VIQ and PIQ in the sick children. Language training only raises VIQ to some degree.Acupuncture in cooperation with language training is an effective way to treat this disease.

Objective Retrospective analysis of clinical features, treatment results and prognostic factors in 19 patients with anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). Methods Diagnostic and treatment data of 19 patients with ALCL from Jan 2003 to Feb 2007 were analyzed. Results Among the sample group, 18 patients (94.74 %) shows B-symptoms, extranodal involvement is present in 14 patients (73.7 %), clinical misdiagnosis rate reaches 84.2 %. The overall response rate to chemotherapy is 100 %, complete remission rate after 6 courses chemotherapy were 95 %, the probabilities of event free survival at 1 and 2 years were both 88.2 %, relapse occurred in one case. Conclusion In the studied group, majority of ALCL patients have B-symptom. Extranodal involvement is present earlier, and clinical misdiagnosis rate is high. While it' s found that ALCL is sensitive to chemotherapy and tend to get good prognosis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlations of 24 biochemical markers in the seminal plasma with routine semen parameters.

METHODSAccording to the WHO5 standards, we analyzed the routine semen parameters of 66 subfertile men, including the semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, sperm motility, and the percentage of progressively motile sperm (PR). Based on the calibration and quality control measures and using an automatic biochemistry analyzer or electrolyte analyzer, we detected 24 biochemical markers in the seminal plasma of the patients, including total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), globulin (Glb), uric acid (UA), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), alpha hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (αHBDH), adenosine deaminase (ADA), glucose (Glu), triglyeride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), urea nitrogen (UN), creatinine (Cr), high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), K+, Na+, Cl- , Ca, Mg, and phosphorus (P). Then we analyzed the correlations of the 24 biochemical markers with routine semen parameters.

RESULTSThe levels of the TP, Alb, and Glb proteins in the seminal plasma were positively correlated with sperm concentration, so was that of Alb with the total sperm count, and the AST and LDH activities with sperm concentration and total sperm count. The AKP activity in the seminal plasma was correlated negatively with the semen volume, but positively with sperm motility. The αHBDH activity exhibited a positive correlation with both sperm concentration and total sperm count, with a coefficient of correlation (r) above 0.7. The UN level was correlated negatively with the semen volume, so was the Cr level with the semen volume, sperm concentration, and total sperm count, and the Glu level with sperm concentration and total sperm count. The TG level was correlated positively with the semen volume, but negatively with sperm motility. The levels of seminal plasma ALT, GGT, ADA, UA, TC, CK, and hsCRP showed no correlation with the above-mentioned semen parameters. None of the seminal plasma K+, Na+, Ca, Mg, and P levels was found correlated with semen parameters except the Cl- level, which was negatively correlated with the semen volume.

CONCLUSIONMany biochemical markers in the seminal plasma are closely related to routine semen parameters, indicating that these biochemical components may play roles in spermatogenesis, sperm maturation, and physiological metabolism.

AIM To investigate whether pioglitazone can protect cortical neurons from lipopolysaccharides(LPS)-induced neurotoxicity and the mechanisms responsible for this protective effect. METHODS After 7 d cultures，cultured cortical neurons were incubated with LPS 10 mg·L~(-1) for 4-24 h with or without other drugs. In co-incubation experiments, other drugs were added to the neurons 30 min or 1 h prior to incubation with LPS. The cell viability was assessed by MTT assay. The neuronal apoptosis was quantified by scoring the percentage of cells with apoptotic nuclear morphology after Hoechst 33258 staining. The cultured cells were then fixed on the 7th day and immunocytochemically stained with phosphorylated JNK1 antibody. The protein expressions of active caspase 3 and phosphorylated JNK1 were measured by Western blot. Nitric oxide (NO) generation was measured by Griess method. RESULTS The decrease of cell viability and the increase of apoptotic cells in cultured cortical neurons were observed incubated with LPS for 24 h compared with the normal controls. The cell viability of cortical neurons was decreased from (100.0±10.9)% in the normal control group to (72.3±2.1)% in the LPS-treated group and the apoptotic cell percentages were increased from (11.5±4.2)% in the normal control group to (39.5±8.2)% in the LPS group. LPS induced the increases in phospho-JNK1, active caspase 3 expression, and NO generation. Pioglitazone 0.01, 0.1 and 1 μmol·L~(-1), respectively inhibited LPS-induced decrease in cell viability and increase of apoptotic morphology, active caspase 3 expression in cultured neurons. In LPS+pioglitazone 1 μmol·L~(-1) group, cell viability was （97.8±9.7）%, the apoptotic cells percentage was (20.6±5.0)%, NO generation (6.8±1.3)μmol·L~(-1). Furthermore, pioglitazone also inhibited LPS-induced the increase in JNK1 phosphorylation and NO generation. JNK inhibitor SP600125 5 μmol·L~(-1) significantly inhibited LPS-induced neurotoxicity, cell viability was increased from (72.3±2.1)% to (109.8±11.8)%, the apoptotic cells percentage from (39.5±8.2)% decreased to (19.1±4.8)%, NO generation from （21.1±5.0）μmol·L~(-1) decreased to（4.0±1.3）μmol·L~(-1). The PPARγ antagonist GW9662 10 μmol·L~(-1) did not reverse the effects of pioglitazone. In LPS+pioglitazone 1 μmol·L~(-1)+GW9662 10 μmol·L~(-1) group, cell viability was (90.7±6.9)%, the apoptotic cells percentage was (23.4±4.1)%, and NO concentration was (5.8±0.7)μmol·L~(-1). CONCLUSION Pioglitazone protects cortical neurons against LPS insult at least via inhibiting JNK activity and NO generation, but not PPARγ activation.