More than half of the world’s populations are considered to be infected by Helicobacter pylori. It causes a chronic inflammation of the stomach, which is implicated in the pathogenesis of gastric ulcer and cancer. Silibinin, a polyphenolic flavonoid derived from milk thistle, has been known for its hepatoprotective effects, and recent studies have revealed its chemopreventive potential. In the present study, we examined the anti-inflammatory effects of silibinin in human gastric cancer MKN-1 cells and in the stomach of C57BL/6 mice infected by H. pylori. Pretreatment with silibinin attenuated the up-regulation of COX-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in H. pylori-infected MKN-1 cells and mouse stomach. In addition, the elevated translocation and DNA binding of NFκB and STAT3 induced by H. pylori infection were inhibited by silibinin treatment. Moreover, H. pylori infection in combination with high salt diet resulted in dysplasia and hyperplasia in mouse stomach, and these pathological manifestations were substantially mitigated by silibinin administration. Taken together, these findings suggest that silibinin exerts anti-inflammatory effects against H. pylori infection through suppression of NF-κB and STAT3 and subsequently, expression of COX-2 and iNOS.

More than half of the world’s populations are considered to be infected by Helicobacter pylori. It causes a chronic inflammation of the stomach, which is implicated in the pathogenesis of gastric ulcer and cancer. Silibinin, a polyphenolic flavonoid derived from milk thistle, has been known for its hepatoprotective effects, and recent studies have revealed its chemopreventive potential. In the present study, we examined the anti-inflammatory effects of silibinin in human gastric cancer MKN-1 cells and in the stomach of C57BL/6 mice infected by H. pylori. Pretreatment with silibinin attenuated the up-regulation of COX-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in H. pylori-infected MKN-1 cells and mouse stomach. In addition, the elevated translocation and DNA binding of NFκB and STAT3 induced by H. pylori infection were inhibited by silibinin treatment. Moreover, H. pylori infection in combination with high salt diet resulted in dysplasia and hyperplasia in mouse stomach, and these pathological manifestations were substantially mitigated by silibinin administration. Taken together, these findings suggest that silibinin exerts anti-inflammatory effects against H. pylori infection through suppression of NF-κB and STAT3 and subsequently, expression of COX-2 and iNOS.

OBJECTIVETo test and verify the transient therapeutic effect of acupuncture at point "Qingchuan" on bronchial asthma.

METHODSTwo hundred cases of bronchial asthma at acute attack stage were divided into a trial group of 100 cases treated with acupuncture at point "Qingchuan" and a control group of 100 cases treated with acupuncture at Dingchuan (EX-B1).

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 92.60% and the effect occurred within 42-860 seconds after acupuncture in the trial group, and 81.0% and within 114-126 seconds in the control group, respectively, with very significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at point "Qingchuan" can significantly improve asthmatic state in the patient of bronchial asthma with action of rapidly stopping asthma.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Asthma ; therapy ; Humans

Due to the multi-component and multi-target features of Chinese medicinal materials (CMMs),multiple active components could be more reasonably represent the quality of CMMs compared with the single-component QC mode. However,it is still difficult to apply the multi-component QC mode because of the instability, high cost and inaccessibility of reference substances of CMMs. Saponins are glycosides with aglycones of triterpene or spirostane and widely distributed in plants. Saponins are also the major active constituents of many CMMs,with multi-effects of inhibiting tumors,regulating the immune system,inhibiting virus,preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases. Therefore,rational and effective control of the quality of CMMs containing saponins is of great significance for ensuring the clinical safety and efficacy of such CMMs and related products. The quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker (QAMS) can use only one reference substance to achieve the simultaneous monitoring of multiple components in CMMs,and make up the weaknesses of multi-component QC mode, and has been well developed and validated in the QC and evaluation of CMMs for more than ten years since it was put forward. And now it has been widely used in the QC of CMMs containing saponins. Based on the investigation of QAMS theory and literatures in the past decade,studies on the QC of CMMs and related preparations containing triterpenoid saponins and steroidal saponins by QAMS were summarized and discussed systematically. In addition,some possible problems were analyzed and interpreted,in order to provide reliable basis for more QC of CMMs and reference for the continuous use and in-depth development of this method in the research of CMMs.

Aim To investigate the slope ratio method for the determination of anticoagulant activity of leeches. Methods Three batches of leeches, four groups of Japanese medical vermiculite yinpian and fifteen groups of leech preparations were chosen, with contrast medicinal leeches herbs and Philippine cattle leech contrast medicinal materials, and different concentrations of leaching solutions were prepared in parallel. APTT value was determined after anticoagulant activity was determined by slope ratio method for the joint validation of laboratory, intermediate precision and accuracy between the linear range. Results The slope ratio method was accurate and accurate in the determination of anticoagulant activity of leeches, with linearity between 64% and 156% relative titer level. Conclusion Slope ratio method can be used to determine the anticoagulant activity of leeches.