Objective To investigate the influence of extract of schisandra chinensis and paeonia veitchii on level of cytokines in asthmatic rats .Methods SD rats were randomly divided into three groups :Chinese medicine-treated ,untreated asthma ,physiologi-cal saline control groups .The tracheal pathology and symptom of different groups were observed ,then cytokine expressions in ser-um were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA ) .Results Chinese herb extract obviously improved tracheal pathology and airway symptoms .The levels of IL-4 ,IL-6、IL-13 in serum of Chinese medicine-treated and untreated asthma groups were significantly increased ,while the IFN-γ expression was reduced .But after treatment of Chinese herb extract ,compared with untreated asthma group the IFN-γexpression was significantly increased in Chinese medicine-treated group .Conclusion The effect of extract of schisandra chinensis and paeonia veitchii could reduce airway inflammation of asthma rats may by significantly in-creased IFN-γexpression .

OBJECTIVE: To study the sedative and antistress action of Shenqiwuweizi capsule. METHODS: The sedative and hypnotic experiments were made to observe the action of Shenqiwuweizi capsule on the mice's sleep induced by pentobarbital sodium at subthreshold dosage or hypnotic dosage. The swimming and hypoxia tolerance experiment were performed to observe the effects of Shenqiwuweizi capsule on the swimming time and hypoxia tolerance time in mice. RESULTS: Shenqiwuweizi capsule could obviously prolong the sleeping time of mice induced by pentobarbital sodium, increase the number of sleeping animals caused by pentobarbital sodium at subthreshold dosage, and significantly prolong the time of swimming and hypoxia tolerance in mice. CONCLUSION: Shenqiwuweizi capsule had sedative and anti-stress action.

The chemical constituents from Euphorbia lunulata was investigated in this paper. Fourteen compounds were isolated and purified by column chromatographies on silica gel and preparative HPLC. Their structures were identified by physiochemical properties and NMR data analysis as lupeol (1), euphol (2), cassipourol(3) , 24-methylenecycloartan-3beta-ol (4), 24-hydroperoxycycloart-25-en-3beta-ol (5), 25-hydroperoxycycloart-23-en-3beta-ol (6), betulin (7), uvaol (8), (23E) -25-methoxycycloart-23-en-3beta-ol (9), (23E) -cycloart-23,25-dien-3beta-ol (10), 24-methylenecycloartan-3beta, 28-diol (11), salicinolide (12), 2alpha, 3beta, 5alpha, 9alpha, 15beta-pentaacetoxy-11,12-epoxy-7beta, 8alpha-diisobutyryloxyjatropha-6 (17) -en-14-one (13) and 3beta, 5alpha, 15beta-triacetoxy-7beta-isobutyryloxy-9alpha-nicotinoyloxyjatropha-6 (17), 11(E)-dien-14-one (14). Among them, compounds 1-11 were isolated from E. lunulata for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Euphorbia ; chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Stereoisomerism

AIM　To investigate effect of urotensin Ⅱ (UⅡ)on proliferation of aort a smooth muscle cells （ASMC）of rat and study the signal transduction pathway o f it. METHODS　In cultured ASMC of rat, UⅡ was used to stimulate proliferation of these cells and levels of ［3H］-TdR incorporation were used to evaluate the speed of DNA synthesis, and different inhibitors were used to s tudy the action of different signal transduction pathway of mitogenic effect of UⅡ on VSMC. RESULTS　1×10-9～1×10-7 mol*L- 1 UⅡ caused marked concentration-dependent increasing of ［3H］-TdR i ncor poration of ASMC. ［3H］-TdR incorporation of 1×10-9,1×10-8 and 1×10-7 mol*L-1 UⅡ were 22%（P<0.05）, 57%（P<0.01）and 65%（P<0.01）higher than control. Nicardipine, H7, W7 and PD98059 , which are inhibitors of calcium channel, PKC, CaM-PK and MAPK respectively, inhibited the effects of UⅡ obviously, with the inhibitory rate by 55%（P< 0.01）, 27%（P<0.01）,18%（P<0.05）and 16%（P<0.05）respectively . CONCLUSION　UⅡ is a strong mitogen for VSMC and the mitogenic e ffect of UⅡ is probably mediated by Ca2+, PKC, CaM-PK and MAPK signal tr ansduction pathway.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Ningdong Granule (NG) on serum levels of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) of children patients with Tourette's syndrome (TS).

METHODSTotally 90 TS children patients were randomly assigned to the NG group, the NG + Tiapride group (abbreviated as the combined treatment group), and the Tiapride group, 30 in each group. Besides,another 30 healthy children were recruited as the healthy control group. Patients in the NG group were treated with NG (consisting of all gastrodia rhizome, Codonopsis pilosula, Ophiopogon japonicus, white peony root, Rhinocerotidae, oyster, earthworm, licorice root, etc.), one dose daily, administered by dissolving it in boiled water, taken in two portions in the morning and in the evening respectively. Patients in the Tiapride group took Tiapride Tablet, 50 -100 mg each time, twice daily. The dosage was adjusted according to individual difference and changes of pathogenic conditions. The maximal dosage was 300 mg per day. Those in the combined treatment group were treated with equal dose of NG and Tiapride Tablet in combination. The treatment course was 3 months for all. Changes of pathogenic condition before and after treatment were assessed by Yale global tic severity scale (YGTSS). Serum levels of IL-12 and TNF-alpha were detected by enzyme-labeled immunosorbent assay (ELISA) before and after treatment.

RESULTS(1) The total effective rate of the NG group, the combined treatment group, and the Tiapride group was 79.3%, 83.3%, and 67.9%, respectively. It was the lowest in the Tiapride group (P < 0.05). It was significantly higher in the combined treatment group than in the NG group (P < 0.05). (2) The post-treatment YGTSS score was obviously lower in each group after treatment than before treatment (P < 0.05). The posttreatment YGTSS score was obviously lower in the NG group and the combined treatment group than in the Tiapride group (P < 0.05), but with no statistical difference between the fromer two groups (P > 0.05).(3) Compared with the healthy control group before treatment, serum levels of IL-12 and TNF-alpha (pg/mL) were 124.95 +/- 22.78 and 209.52 +/- 21.69 in the NG group, 126.14 +/- 25.65 and 208.97 +/- 22.46 in the combined treatment group, 123.00 +/- 24.26 and 205.10 +/- 26.16 in the Tiapride group, being higher than those in the healthy control group (64.56 +/- 27.59 and 78.13 +/- 33.42; P < 0.05). After treatment, serum levels of of IL-12 and TNF-alpha were 104.67 +/- 16.84 and 183.01 +/- 24.95 in the NG group, 109.04 +/- 16.81 and 179.87 +/- 23.45 in the combined treatment group, significantly lower than before treatment (P < 0.05). But there was no statistical difference in serum levels of IL-12 or TNF-alpha in the Tiapride group between before treatment (123.00 +/- 24.26 and 205.10 +/- 26.16) and after treatment (117.75 +/- 16.79 and 199.76 +/- 33.21; P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONNG could modulate abnormal serum levels of IL-12 and TNF-alpha in TS children patients, which might be one of its pharmacodynamic mechanisms for treating TS.

Adolescent ; Child ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; blood ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Tourette Syndrome ; blood ; drug therapy ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

AIM To investigate effect of urotensin Ⅱ (U Ⅱ )on proliferation of aorta smooth muscle cells (ASMC) of rat and study the signal transduction pathway of it. MEfHODS in cultured ASMC of rat, U Ⅱ was used to stimulate proliferation of these cells and levels of [3H]-TdR incorporation were used to evaluate the sped of DNA synthesis, and different inhibitors were ed to study the action of different signal transduction pathway of mitogenic effect of UⅡ on VSMC. RESULTS. 1 ? 10-9~l ? 10-7 mol. L-l U Ⅱ caused marked concentration-de pendent increasing of [3H]-TdR incorporation of ASMC [3H]-TdR incorporation of 1 ? 10-9, 1 ? 10-8 and １ ? 10-7 mol. L－l U Ⅱ were 22%'(P

AIM: To observe the alteration of urotensin II (UII) receptors and contractile response to UII in rat aorta after balloon angioplasty injury. METHODS: The plasma membrane isolated from balloon injured aorta was used to study the binding of [ 125 I]-UII to the membrane and the contractile potency of UII on rat aorta was assayed. RESULTS: In contrast to the normal aorta, the contractile potency to UII enhanced in balloon injury artery and the calculated maximal number of specific binding sites (Bmax) was increased about 44% and 36% respectively in rat artery after balloon injury 3 and 21 days ( P

Objective To analyze the characteristics of iatrogenic urerteral injury and summarize the experiences in prevention,diagnosis and treatment of iatrogenic urerteral injury. MethodsA review was made on the injurycauses,the injury locations,the treatment time,the methods of surgical procedures and the results of treatment in 17 patients with iatrogenic ureteral injury treated surgically from 1997 to 2003. Results Of 17 cases of iatrogenic ureteral injuries,gynecological,general surgical and urological procedures resulted in ureteral injuries in 12 cases (71%),four (24%) and one (6%),respectively. Of all the injuries,65% (11/17) appeared in the lower part of the ureter,18% (3/17) in the middle part of the ureter and 18% (3/17) in the upper part of the ureter. The main injury causes were ligation,partial ligation,complete transection and perforation,accounting for 29% (5/17),41% (7/17),24% (4/17) and 6% (1/17),respectively. Four cases were found during operation,nine at days 2-11 after operation and four were treated 3-6 months after injury. Treatment methods included end-to-end ureteral anastomosis in seven cases,ureteroneocystostomy in three,ureteral lithotomy in one,pure ureteral lysis in three and post-lysis double-J tube insertion in three. All patients were cured. The follow-up ranging from six months to three years showed no patients suffering from urinary tract infection,hydronephrosis or atrophy. Conclusions The location and type of injury determine the type of surgical repair. A thorough knowledge of pelvic anatomy and mastering the basic steps of diagnosis and treatment are critical for prevention and management of the iatrogenic urerteral injury.

ObjectiveTo identify serum specific protein biomarkers for the early diagnosis of lymphoma patients by using surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS)protein chip array.MethodsSELDI-TOF-MS technique and weak cation exchanger (WCX2)protein chip were used to detect the serum proteomic patterns of 96 patients with lymphoma (86 patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and 10 patients with Hodgkin lymphoma)and 30 normal control.The serum level of LDH were measured by biochemical methods,the serum level of β2-MG and CA125 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).ResultsFour protein peaks pattern mass/charge ratio (M/Z) 6880,8564,8692 and 13751 were decreased in lymphoma patients,and they could be used to distinguish lymphoma from healthy people and other malignant tumors.Their sensitivity and specificity were 82.29 ％ and 80.00 ％,78.13 ％ and 73.30 ％,75.00 ％ and 80.00 ％,71.88 ％ and 83.30 ％ respectively in lymphoma patients.When it was used to early diagnosing lymphoma in stage Ⅰ or Ⅱ,the sensitivity of four protein peaks pattern (M/Z 6880,8564,8692 and 13 751) were 77.55 ％,71.43 ％,71.43 ％ and 67.35 ％respectively and the specificity of all four protein peaks pattern were 100.00 ％.Four protein peaks pattern sensitivity were higher than LDH,CA125 and β2-MG respectively.ConclusionApplication of SELDI-TOF-MS can be of great potential for the early diagnosis of lymphoma patients.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of Baisuifang Granule in treating cognitive malfunction after cerebral infarction. METHODS: One hundred and sixty patients with cerebral infarction were divided randomly into two groups. Eighty patients were treated with Baisuifang Granule and 80 with nimodipine for two months. Clinical observation and laboratory examinations were performed for Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), clinical symptoms, Chinese Stroke Scale (CSS), hemorrheological indexes and fibrinogen before and after the treatment. RESULTS: Baisuifang Granule could improve MMSE, reduce the scores of clinical symptoms and CSS, and meliorate the blood rheology. The total effective rate for clinical symptoms in the Baisuifang treated group accounted to 76.25%, with statistical difference comparing to 58.75% of nimodipine treated group (P<0.05). There was significant difference in symptom integral, CSS and whole blood viscosity at the high shear rate, respectively (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Baisuifang Granule is an effective Chinese medicine for treating cognitive malfunction after cerebral infarction.