Curcumin is a principal polyphenolic curcuminoid extracted from turmeric rhizome, which has been used for treating inflammation of joints, ulcers, jaundice and other disorders in Asian traditional medicine. In recent years, many studies have indicated that curcumin plays important roles in treatment of liver diseases. Curcumin attenuates liver injury and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by lowering the release of inflammation cytokines, minimizing oxidative stress, enhancing the sensitivity of insulin and altering lipid metabolism. Curcumin shows potent anti-fibrosis activity, contributing to inhibit the activation of hepatic stellate cells and reduce the deposition of extracellular matrix by its regulation of PPAR-γ, NF-ΚB and TGF-β signaling pathways. Moreover, curcumin exhibits anti-cancer effect by inducing G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in several hepatoma cell lines. However, poor water solubility and low bioavailability of curcumin limit its clinical applications. To overcome its limited systemic bioavailability, many new approaches have been explored to deliver curcumin effectively. This article focuses on advances in the effects of curcumin and its derivatives for treatment of liver injury, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis and hepatocarcinoma.
Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; Liver Diseases ; drug therapy ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; PPAR gamma ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the gene expression profiles of type Ⅳ collagen, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) at the onset of radiation pulmonary fibrosis, so as to explore their possible roles in the pathogenesis of pulmonary radiation injury. Methods The whole lung was irradiated with 20Gy of 60Co ?-ray in C57 mice. At 1, 2 and 4 weeks after irradiation, both irradiated mice and corresponding number of normal control mice were sacrificed. Alterations in mRNA transcription of type Ⅳ collagen, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were observed by RT-PCR at different time points post-irradiation. The mean optical density of electrophoretic bands was measured and analyzed by image analyzer. Result The mRNA expression of type Ⅳ collagen was up-regulated gradually after irradiation with the passage of time. The mean optical density of electrophoretic band was 0.202 at 1 week post irradiation and reached its peak value (0.340) at 4 weeks post irradiation; the mRNA expression of MMP-9 was up-regulated significantly and reached its peak value (0.730) at 1 week post irradiation. It began to lower at 2 weeks (0.592). The mRNA transcription of TIMP-1 began to increase slightly 1 and 2 weeks post irradiation (0.987) and reached its peak value (2.027) at 4 weeks post irradiation. Conclusion 60Co ?-ray can stimulate mRNA expression of type Ⅳ collagen, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 with different profiles at different time points. Complex interactions among them may result in early tissue remodeling after pulmonary radiation injury, and it bears close relation with subsequent pulmonary fibrosis.

Database of analgesic traditional Chinese prescriptions manages 3 sub-databases of information on disease, herbs, and compound prescription intelligently and relatively. When a key word is input into the database, the associated information of herbs, their compound prescriptions, actions and effects will be displayed immediately. Starting from setting inclusion criteria, the module of database was designed according to application purpose, and the searching strategy was designed according to regularity of prescription compatibility. The compound prescription can be quantitatively estimated as monarch, minister, assistant and guide in order.

Objective To evaluate the levels of serum organochlorine pesticide residues in breast cancer patients and benign breast disease patients from Tangshan areas. Methods One hundred fifty-eight breast cancer patients and 129 benign breast disease patients from two districts of TangShan were entrolled in the study. The levels of serum organochlorine pesticides ( DDTs and HCHs) were detected through gas chromatography/electron capture. Spearman's rank correlation was used between age, BMI and the level of serum organochlorine pesticide residues in patients. Results The serum levels of a-HCH, p-HCH and PP'-DDE between breast cancer patients and benign breast disease patients were statistically different(P <0. 05). The serum levels of p-HCH and PP'-DDE were positively correlated with age and BMI in both groups, with correlation coefficients of 0. 272 and 0. 330 for age and 0. 207 and 0. 313 for BMI in the breast cancer patients,as well as correltion coefficients of 0. 339 and 0. 260 for age and 0. 227 and 0. 209 for BMI in the benign breast disease patients. Conclusions The levels of organochlorine pesticide residues in serum in breast cancer patients were higher than those in benign breast disease patients and were positively correlated with age and BMI. The results offer more information to the pathogenesis, prevention and control measures of breast cancer.

[Objective]To explore the surgical method and clinical effects for the treatment of old thoraco-lumbar vertebrral fracture with kyphosis and spinal cord injury[Method]Thirty-six patients with old thoraco-lumbar vertebral fracture with kyphosis and spinal cord injury from 1998 to 2003,all had undergone anterior decompression through posterior median approach.[Result]All patients were followed-up.Kyphosis was rectified well.The Frankle classification of all but 3 patients with complete paraplagia increased one or more degrees after operation.[Conclusion]Operation through posterior median approach can achieve anterior decompression effectively.

Objective To observe the influence of serum containing Tongmai on the anoxic myocardial cell. Methods The serum containing Tongmai effective components was extracted and used to interfere the anoxic myocardial cell, then the concentration of the LDH and troponin I in the culture medium of the cardiac myocyte was measured. Results The concentration of LDH and troponin I increased significantly in the culture mediun of the anoxic cardiac myocyte. The intervention of the serum containing Tongmai can significantly decreased the concentration of LDH and troponin I in the culture medium of the anoxic cardiac myocyte. Conclusion Tongmai can protect the cardiac myocyte from anoxic damage.

Objective To compare the glycemic control of different management approaches in type 1 diabetic mellitus (T1 DM) children,and to evaluate the influence factors associated with glycemic control.Methods This survey included 68 T1DM children from January 2012 to December 2014 in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University of more than 1 year management.Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were detected to assess glycemic control.Twenty-three T1DM children who participated in the World Diabetes Foundation(WDF) management program (group A) were compared with 45 T1DM children who were managed by themselves (group B).The clinical data were analyzed to explore the correlations with glycemic control.Results The HbA1c of 68 children was (8.86 ± 2.00)％,and only 21 cases (30.9％) had optimal HbAlc (HbAlc ＜ 7.5％).The level of HbA1 c of group A (7.60 ± 1.57)％ was significantly lower than that of group B[(9.40 ± 1.91) ％] (t =-4.045,P =0.001).Group A had less fluctuation in blood glucose than group B,which the duration more than 3 years.Duration (F =2.277,P =0.004),frequency of self-monitoring blood glucose (F =9.375,P =0.001),diabetic education (F =3.276,P =0.002),and diabetic diet (t =-2.046,P =0.025) were associated with glycemic control.Conclusions The glycemic control of T1 DM children at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University was at the medium level,most of them haven't reached the target levels.The WDF management program could significantly and continuously monitor the glycemic level.Diabetic education and more frequent self-monitoring blood glucose and diabetic diet are associated with better glycemic control.

Objective To study the impact of the high temperature and muggy weather on the people’s life and work. Methods The data of summer temperature and relative humidity (Jun-Aug) from 1971 to 2000 and that of 2006 were used and the characteristic of muggy weather and distribution in main cities, Chengdu, Guangyuan, Yibing, Suining and Dazhou in Sichuan basin were compared, the influence of the thermal environment on people comfort degree was evaluated by using temperature-humidity index. Results 177 high temperature days, 17 high temperature processes, 167 muggy weather days and 12 muggy processes were seen in 5 cities in Sichuan basin in the summer of 2006. The thermal environment of Chengdu and Dazhou mainly manifested the lighter heat, heat and lower comfort degree. At 2 p.m., the relative humidity weakened the comfort degree in Chengdu, but enhanced it in Dazhou. The duration of non-comfort degree in Dazhou was longer than that in Chengdu. Conclusion The relative humidity has a strong impact on people comfort degree and the combined use of temperature and relative humidity will be useful to evaluate the city thermal environment and people comfort degree.

Objective: To review the experience of one-stage surgical management of thoracic aortic aneurysm associated with coronary artery disease. Methods: From June 1999 to July 2002, fifteen patients (all the male, average age 57.21 year-old, ranged 40-66 year-old) underwent thoracic aortic aneurysm repair and concomitant coronary revascularization. The diagnosis are aortic root aneurysm in 5 cases,ascending aortic aneurysm in 2,arch aortic aneurysm in 3,and aortic dissecting in 5. 14 patients received operation through midsternotomy,including ascending aorta replacement in 2, Bentall technique in 4, David technique in 1 and total arch replacements in 3 patients. Left thoracotomy and off-pump CABG was done in 1 case. Results: 1 patient died in 30 days after operation. Followed up for a mean duration of 17 months,there were no late death and no reoperation and no related events occurred. Conclusion: Thoracic aortic replacement and CABG (coronary artery bypass grafting) could be done at one-stage. Concomitant coronary revascularization may aggressively obviate CAD events.

Objective To improve the level of diagnosis and treatment of the traumatic and hemorrhagic shock.Methods 50 cases of patients with sever traumatic and hemorrhagic shock treated in our department between May 2004 and May 2007 were analyzed retrospectively,and their age,shock severity scale,time to hospital after in- jury,operation,fluid resuscitation volume etc were analyzed to show the relationship between the factors and the out- come.Results The rescue success rate was 76%(38 cases),and traumatic mortality was 24%(12 eases).Conclu- sion Shock severity scale and incorreet resuscitation manipulation are the main factors affecting the result of resusci- tation and treatment of traumatic shock,and early surgery can effectively improve the result of severe trauma thera- py.