Chinese herbal prescription (CHP) is the main method and mean of clinical medication in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The CHP efficacy is the summary of multi-herb function under the guidance of TCM theories. With the development of modern science and technology, the scientific and organic interpretation of scientific connotation of CHP efficacy is a difficult problem in TCM. In this paper, the modern research ideas and methods of CHP efficacy, which greatly enriched the modern research content of CHP efficacy as well as promoted its research and development, were discussed and summarized.

Liver cancer stem cell plays an important role in hepatocarcinoma occurrence and metastasis.Presently, the two theories about the source of liver cancer stem cells are mature hepatocytes' dedifferentiation and hepatic stem cells' blocked differentiation.Side population cell sorting and different surface antigen labeling are general sorting methods of hepatocarcinoma stem cells.Targeting the liver cancer stem cells population provides an effective way to the treatments of liver neoplasms.

Objective:To investigate the effects of enteral nutrition assisted therapy in preventing postoperative anastomotic fistula in patients with esophageal cancer and its influence on immunity,healing process and nutritional recovery.Methods: The clinical data of 90 cases of patients with esophageal cancer who underwent surgical treatment were retrospectively analyzed.According to the mode of postoperative nutritional support,the patients were divided into group A(n=34),B(n=30)and C(n=26)three groups.Group A was treated by immune-enhancing enteral nutrition(Supportan)assisted therapy.Group B was treated with routine enternal nutrition(Nutrison Fibre)assisted therapy.Both of the two groups were treated with 25%,50% and 100% of the full dose on the 1st,2nd and 3rd-7th day after surgery.Later,the dose was reduced day by day till normal diet.Group C was treated by parenteral nutrition assisted therapy.Since the 1st day after surgery,patients in group C were intravenously injected with glucose,vita min and a mino acid mixed liquid calculated by 125.52 kJ/kg.8-10 d later,patients gradually transited to the normal diet.The incidence rates of anastomotic fistula,pulmonary infection and incision infection,wound healing time,total hospitalization time and initial exhaust time were observed and compared between the three groups.The changes of immune index [T lymphocytes and its subsets(CD3+,CD4+,CD8+)],inflammatory factors[C reactive protein(CRP),IL-6]and nutrition indexes[serum total protein(TP),albumin(ALB)]before surgery,on the 1st and 8th day after surgery were recorded.Results: ①There were significant differences in the incidence rates of postoperative anastomotic fistula and pulmonary infection between the three groups(P<0.05),and the incidence rates in group C were significantly higher than those in the other two groups(P<0.05).②There were significant differences in wound healing time,total hospitalization time and initial exhaust time between the three groups(P<0.05)and that of group C group was longer than that of the other two groups(P<0.05).③On the 1st day after surgery,the levels of immune indexes such as CD3+,CD4+,CD4+/CD8+ and nutrition indexes such as TP and ALB in the three groups were significantly lower than those before surgery.CD8+ levels and levels of inflammatory indexes such as CRP and IL-6 were significantly higher than those before surgery(P<0.05).However,there was no significant difference between the groups(P>0.05).On the 8th day after surgery,the nutrition indexes in the three groups were still significantly lower than those before surgery.However,those in group A and B were significantly higher than those in group C(P<0.05);the inflammatory factors were still significantly higher than those before surgery(P<0.05)but those in group A and B were significantly lower than those in group C(P<0.05).Among the three groups,there was no statistical significance in comparing the immune indexes with those in group A(P>0.05).The levels of CD3+,CD4+,CD4+/CD8+ in the other two groups were lower than those before surgery while CD8+ level was higher than that before surgery(P<0.05).Conclusion: To apply enteral nutrition assisted therapy in patients with esophageal cancer after surgery can effectively improve the prognosis.It has positive effects on shortening the healing process,improving the immune function and improving the nutritional status.

Objective To investigate the effects of different pacing sites of right ventricle on serum N terminal Pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-ProBNP) and left ventricular systolic function.Methods A total of 76 patients with an implanted DDD pacemaker were randomly divided into right ventricular septal pacing group (RVSP group,n=40) and right ventricular apex pacing group (RVAP group,n=36) according to the ventricular leads position.Serum NT-proBNP level,left ventricular end diastolic dimension(LVEDD)and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)were analyzed before and 6 months after operation in the two groups.Results There was no difference in serum NT-proBNP level between the two groups before operation,but the serum NT-proBNP level increased in both groups 6 months after operation,and it was higher in RVAP group than in RVSP group (P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in LVEDD and LVEF in RVSP group before and after implantation (P＞0.05).Compared with pre-implantation,LVEDD was increased and LVEF was decreased in RVAP group 6 months after implantation (both P＜0.05).Linear correlation analysis showed that serum NT-proBNP level was negatively correlated to LVEF (2γ=-0.76,P＜0.05).Conclusions Compared with RVAP,RVSP can keep the normal sequence of electrical activity and exert less adverse effects on left ventricular systolic function.Therefore,RVS is an ideal pacing location.

AIM: To investigate the effect of Qingjiening(QJN) on cytokines in sheep red blood cell(SRBC)-immunized mice. METHODS: After immunization of mice with SRBC, the effect of QJN o n IL-1、IFN-?、IL-2 in mice was observed, the IFN-? level was measured by macrophage NO - 2-release assay, the IL-1 level was measured by thymocyte a ssay, the IL-2 level was measured by mitogen activated lymphocytoblast assay. RESULTS: QJN can significantly inhibit mice to secrete IL-1、IFN- ? and IL-2. CONCLUSION: The immunosuppressive activity of QJN may be associate d with inhibition of immunocyte to secret IL-1、IFN-? and IL-2.

Objective To observe the effects of dehydrocorydaline (DHC) on proliferation and collagen secretion of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) cultured by high glucose;To provide experimental evidence for clinical application of Rhizoma Corydalis. Methods CFs cultured in vitro with high glucose were made into models. Collagenase and trypsin were used for the combine digestion of CFs from ratsbornin 24 h. 2-4 generation CFs were cultured by high glucose (25 mmol/L), and then 100, 50, 25 mg/L dethydrocorydaline was added for intervention. Cellular morphology of CFs was observed after 24, 48 h. CFs proliferation was detected by MTT method. Cell cycle was assessed via flow cytometry. The levels of collagen Ⅰ and collagen Ⅲ were determined by ELISA. Results CFs began to grow adherence 3 hours after planting, and CFs cultured by high glucose significantly proliferated 24, 48 h later (P<0.05, P<0.01). The percentage of S+G2+M phase CFs increased significantly after 48 h (P<0.01). The secretion of collagen Ⅰ and collagen Ⅲ also increased significantly (P<0.01). After the intervention of DHC, CFs proliferation was significantly inhibited (P<0.01);the percentage of S+G2+M phase CFs decreased (P<0.01);the secretion of collagen Ⅰ and collagen Ⅲ was reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion DHC can reduce CFs proliferation, decrease collagen secretion of CFs cultured by high glucose, and has potential effects of anti-myocardial fibrosis.

Objective To observe the effects of betulinic acid (BA) on proliferation of human hepatoma stem cell;To discuss its anti-cancer mechanism from the aspects of cell cycle and cell apoptosis. Methods HepG2 stem cells were cultivated in vitro and testified the self-renewal capacity. The effects of BA in concentration of 40, 20, 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25μmol/L on the cell vitality of cultured human liver cancer stem cells for 24 and 48 hours were measured with CCK-8 method. The human hepatoma stem cell line HepG2 was administrated by BA at concentrations of 40, 20, 10, 5μmol/L for 48 hours, and cell cycle and apoptosis rate were measured by flow cytometry. Results BA could inhibit HepG2 stem cell proliferation obviously with dose-effect relationship. BA influenced cell cycle, and induced tumor stem cell apoptosis. 40μmol/L BA blocked cell cycle in S phase, and cell apoptosis rate reached 10.86%. Conclusion BA has obvious inhibitory effects on proliferation of HepG2 liver cancer stem cell, which probably plays a part in anti-cancer by influencing cell cycle and inducing cell apoptosis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibition effect of Salvia chinensis extraction (SJC) on growth of H22 bearing tumor, and to analyze the mechanism about the anti-tumor effect.

METHODWith hepatoma H22 bearing mice, ICR mice were inoculated with H22 cells by subcutaneous injection. On day 2 after inoculation, the ICR mice were randomize into 5 groups, they were the control group, the high, middle, low dosages of SJC, and the positive-control group. Administrated 10 days, the inhibition rate of tumor in the treatment groups were analyzed at 11th day. Meanwhile, Immunostaining with antibodies against CD105 and VEGF were used to investigate the tumor-related angiogenesis. In addition, the effect of SJC on angiogenesis of tumor were investigated on chick embry chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) inoculated H22 cells.

RESULTIn contrast to model group, the inhibition rate of the high, middle, and low dosages of SJC were 26.44% (P < 0.05), 42.28% (P < 0.01) and 32.59% (P < 0.05), respectively, and SJC could significantly reduced the express of VEGF and microvessel density (MVD) (P < 0.01). Injection with 6.25 g x L(-1) doses of SJC could significantly inhibited the angiogenesis of tumor, the inhibition rate of tumor-related angiogenesis was 50.67% (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSJC showed anticancer effect, and maybe it is related to down-regulation VEGF and reducing MVD, then inhibiting the tumor-related angiogenesis.

Animals ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Plant Extracts ; therapeutic use ; Salvia ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of tetrahydropalmatine, dehydrocorydaline, berberine and palmatine on anoxia and peroxidation injuries in cardiomyocytes, and study the marterial basis of the anti-ischemia effect on myocardium of Rhizoma Corydalis.

METHODNeonatal rat cardiomyocytes were cultured in vitro, and subjected to an anoxia-reoxia and the hydrogen peroxide injury models. The four compounds were added into the culture medium. The cell viability was measured by MTT method to determine the safe concentrations and the anti-hydrogen peroxide injury effects of the compounds. The LDH activity in culture mediums was measured with the enzyme reaction dynamics-monitoring method to value the anti-anoxia injury effects of the compounds.

RESULTAt most up to 500 mg x L(-1), tetrahydropalmatine showed no sinificant effect on the cell viability, while dehydrocorydaline, berberine and palmatine significantly decreased the cell viability, exceeding 6.3, 0.6 and 6.3 mg x L(-1), respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Tetrahydropalmatine, dehydrocorydaline, berberine and palmatine significantly inhibited LDH leakage induced by anoxia-reoxia injury, at concentrations of 50-100, 1.25-5, 4 and 30 mg x L(-1), respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). None of the four compounds showed significant effect on the hydrogen peroxide injury.

CONCLUSIONThe anti-ischemia effect in myocardium of Rhizoma Corydalis is related to the direct protective effects on cardiomyocytes of its components, tetrahydropalmatine, dehydrocorydaline, berberine and palmatine, amomg which tetrahydropalmatine and dehydrocorydaline are the most important, the former with high safety and low efficacy, while the latter with low safety and high efficacy. And the direct protective effects on cardiomyocytes of these four components may be attained through mechanisms other than anti-peroxidation.

Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Berberine ; pharmacology ; Berberine Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Cell Hypoxia ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; pharmacology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats

Objective To study whether prostaglandin E1 (LipoPGE1) could prevent contrast medium-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) plus diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM).Methods Total 198 CHD patients with DM received coronary angiography (CAG) or PCI were randomly divided into PGE1 group and control group.All patients received routine treatment,and the PGE1 group also received 20 ml normal saline and 20 μg PGE1 (intravenous injection,1 time/d) for 10 days.The rate of CIN and the level of serum urea nitrogen (BUN),creatinine (Scr),cystatin C (Cys C) were measured before and 48 hours and 5 days after contrastmedium administration.Results The level of Scr,BUN and Cys C were lower in PGE1 group [(113.92±54.89)μmmol/ L,(7.85±4.05)mmol/L,(1.38±0.34)mg/L]for 48 hours and[(86.72±35.26)μmmol/L,(6.61 ± 3.09 ) mmol/L,( 1.29 ± 0.29) mg/L]for 5 days than in control group [(129.22±50.18)μmmol/L,(9.26±3.95)mmol/L,(1.56±0.23)mg/L]for 48 hours and[(109.83+31.76)μmmol/ L,(8.07±3.11)mmol/L,(1.37±0.21)mg/L]for 5 days (all P＜0.05).The dose of contrast-medium was positively correlated with the level of Scr and BUN (r=0.74,P＜0.05 and r =0.82,P＜0.01,respectively).The patients' renal function in the PGE1 group was better than in control group after contrast-medium administration (P ＜0.05).BUN and Scr were positively correlated with the volume of contrast-medium (r=0.74,P＜0.05,r=0.82,P＜0.01).Conclusions PGE1 may prevent contrast medium-induced nephropathy in patients with CHD combined with DM.