Compelling evidences have shown that various types of cancer,including hepatocellular carcinoma,are originated from stem cells.The occurrenee,chemoresistance,metastasis and recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma are associated with a small population of cells called cancer ster cells.Although the origin of hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatic cancer stem cells remain controversial after a decade of intensive investigation,increasing scholars tend to believe that hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatic cancer stem cells can derive from malignant transformation of hepatic stem cells being exposed to various kinds of carcinogens.In this review,we mainly focus on the recent progress on malignant transformation of hepatic stem cells.

With the continuous development of the cancer stem cell theory,biomarkers for CSCs (Cancer stem cells) have gradually become the hot issues in tumor research.As the most commonly used CSCs biomarker,CD44 gains lots of attentions.This paper will review recent research about CD44 molecule and its powerful role in regulating tumor progenesis and progression.

AIM:To study whether or not Huangshao Yinxue Granula(HYG) has the therapeutic effect on experimental psoriasis. METHODS: The mice were treated with HYG 3.125,6.25,12.5,and 25 g/kg(i.g.) for 1 or 2 weeks.We studied the effects of HYG on mitosis in mice vagina epithelium,the formation of granular layer in scale epidermis of mice tails,the changes in CD3, CD4 and CD8 factors of the serum in psoriasis-like mice and guinea-pigs. RESULTS: HYG could inhibit the mitosis in mice vagina epithelium,promote the formation of granular layer in scale epidermis of mice tails.It could also diminish the value of serum CD4/CD8 of mice to regulate abnormal immune reaction.HYG had evident therapeutic effect on the ear skin damaged with 5% propanolol in psoriasis-like guinea-pigs. CONCLUSION: HYG has therapeutic effect on psoriasis-like animal models.

The paper is to report the observation of pharmacokinetic changes of the characteristic ingredients in the combinations of different-dose herbs of Shaoyao-Gancao decoction. After the establishment of HPLC analytical method of plasma effective constituents, rats were orally administered with different-dose herbs of Shaoyao-Gancao decoction. Blood samples at different times after administering these decoctions were collected, and then were analyzed by HPLC fingerprints technology. Pharmacokinetic parameters of characteristic peaks were analyzed by SPSS 15.0 software and DAS 2.0. At last, we looked for the correlation of those pharmacokinetic parameters and the dosage of Gancao. The best dose of Shaoyao-Gancao decoction was at the ratio of 4 to 4, which was consistent with the dose commonly used in ancient times. The absorption of characteristic peaks from Shaoyao-Gancao decoction was related with the dosage of Gancao, and there existed interaction between each characteristic ingredients. There existed the right dose-ratio of Shaoyao and Gancao to get the best effect. The absorptions of effective constitutents were mutual waxing and waning in order to increase biological effects together. It's demonstrated the compatibility connotation at a right dose-ratio of Shaoyao-Gancao decoction through the angle of pharmacokinetics.

The present work is to investigate the correlation between physical properties and deformation behaviors of tablet excipients, and rank them according to their plastic performances during compaction. The excipients selected were compacted using Korsch XP1 after measuring their physical properties where the compression parameters for evaluating deformation behaviors were Heckle equation, compression work and elastic stretch in die. The correlations between compaction descriptors and physical parameters were analyzed by canonical correlation analysis, and factor analysis was simultaneously employed to synthetically assess deformation behaviors for all our samples. The canonical variables show that true density (Pa) correlated negatively with plastic coefficient (PL) and positively with yield pressure (YP); compression degree (Cp) correlated negatively with fast elastic stretch (FES) as well as YP and positively with PL. When factor scores were used in combination with original data, the plasticity of our samples was sorted and ranked as high (-0.56 < F' < 0.21), intermediate (-0.16 < F' < 0.36), or low (0.38 < F' < 0.84), which are in accord with plasticity rankings previously reported in literature. This study indicates factor analysis can be an approach to evaluate deformation behaviors of pharmaceutical powders.

The pharmacokinetics of a long-circulating PEGylated Radix Ophiopogonis polysaccharide (ROP) was investigated in rats following i.v. or s.c. administration at three dose levels (9, 20, 50 mg x kg(-1)). A moderate coupling reaction between the hydroxyl-activated ROP and the amino-terminated mPEG was chosen to produce PEGylate ROP. The grafting degree of the prepared conjugate was 1.03, and the molecular mass of mPEG used was 20 kDa. High-performance gel permeation chromatorgraphy with fluorescein isothiocyanate prelabeling was established to determine levels of the conjugate in plasma. The results showed that the elimination half-life of the conjugate following s.c. administration was basically identical to that after iv administration. An accurate linear correlation was observed between administration doses and areas under the curve of plasma conjugate level vs. time profile, regardless of the administration route. The absolute bioavailability of the conjugate following sc administration was approximately 56%, and the mean in vivo residence time was 52.1 h, increased 2.4 times compared to those of iv administration. In general, linear pharmacokinetics was observed for the conjugate within the dose range studied, and sc should be a promising administration route for the conjugate.

Objective To study on FBD (composed with Poria cocos, Atractylodes macrocephala, and Angelica sinensis) used to improve learning and memory function of animals. Methods The mice were treated by ig FBD with the doses of 35, 70 and 140 mg/kg for one week continuously. Effect of FBD on dysmnesia of acquired learning of mice induced by scopolamine, dysmnesia of memory retention of mice induced by NaNO2, and dysmnesia of reappearance of memory of mice induced by 45% ethanol were studied. Improvement for the dysmnesia of memory due to chronic blood deficiency in brain of rats induced by ligating the carotid arteries of two sides were observed. Results FBD can improve the dysmnesia of mice induced by scopolamine, NaNO2, and 45% ethanol significantly, also dysmnesia due to chronic blood deficiency in brain of rats induced by ligating the carotid arteries. Conclusion FBD has the function to improve the learning and memory function of animals.

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation of dry granulation with Chinese extract powder physical properties and dry granulating process parameters to find out the main factors affecting the granulation progress.

METHODThe correlation with the physical properties including angle of repose, compression degree, cohesion, water content, feeding speed, wheel speed and wheel pressure with the yield of grain was investigated by multiple regression analysis.

RESULTThe results showed that compression degree, water content, feeding speed and wheel pressure was positively correlated with the yield of grain in measured range. The angle of repose, cohesion, wheel speed was negative correlated with the yield of grain in measured range.

CONCLUSIONDry granulating was highly influenced by the physical properties of herbal extracts and the parameters of dry granulating process. The greater impact on grain dry method are compression, cohesion and wheel speed.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Powders ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo establish an accurate and simple qualitative analytical method in vivo in the study on HPLC characteristic fingerprint of active components of dachuanxiong fang in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid, in order to lay a foundation for studies on components found in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid and provide basis for compatible regularity of initiators.

METHODHPLC characteristic fingerprint of active components of dachuanxiong fang in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid was established.

RESULTThe similarity of fingerprints of all of six batches of samples was above 0.85, RSD of their relative retention times in common peaks was less than 2. 0%.

CONCLUSIONThe fingerprints of active components of dachuanxiong fang in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid were stable and accurate that they can be used in qualitative analysis on in vivo components.

Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; metabolism ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plant Extracts ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Quality Control ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo observe the pharmacokinetic effect of Shaoyao Gancao compound on rats using different decocting methods, and to pharmacokinetically detect the the compatibility of the component compounds of the Shaoyao Gancao compound from the pharmacokinetic viewpoint.

METHODBased on the established HPLC analytical method of plasma effective constituents, rats were orally administered with a single or mixed decoction of Shaoyao and Gancao. Blood at different times after administering these decoctions were collected, and then variance analysis was made for pharmacokinetic parameters.

RESULTThe results of all six rats indicated that the absorption of the mixed decoction of Shaoyao and Gancao was greater than that of the single decoction. While, the absorption of the characteristic peaks at the retention time of 5.2, 11.0, 12.0, 14.6 min had statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONShaoyao Gancao compound was proved better than that of the single decoction from the pharmacokinetic viewpoint.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Biological Availability ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Plasma ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley