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.

Objective To investigate the influence of blood pressure level on carotid intima‐media thickness (CIM T ) and plaque in elderly patients with coronary heart disease(CHD) .Methods 100 elderly CHD patients with hypertension admitted in our hospital from Jan .to Dec .2012 was collected .an epidemiological investigation was applied ,and blood pressure was measured .carotid CIMT and plaque were determined by colored Doppler ultrasound .multivariate linear regression model or Logistic regression model was used to analyze the effect of blood pressure on CIMT and plaque .Results A total of 100 subjects were enrolled .CIMT and plaque prevalence were (0 .7 ± 0 .1)mm ,45 .8% in 48 males and (0 .7 ± 0 .1)mm ,34 .6% in 52 females .the difference was statisti‐cally significant(χ2 =5 .609 ,P=0 .018) .multiple regression models showed that ,after adjusting relevant factors ,CIMT increased 0 .001 14 mm with SBP 1 mm Hg increase and CIMT increased 0 .001 18 mm with pulse pressure 1 mm Hg increase in males .Lo‐gistic regression model showed that the risk of plaque number >1 was higher in grade Ⅲhypertension compared to grade 1 hyper‐tension(OR= 2 .115 ,95% CI= 1 .128~ 3 .966 ,P= 0 .020) .Conclusion Elderly CHD patients with hypertension ,especially in males ,carotid CIMT increase while systolic BP and high pulse are high ,which cause the high risk of carotid artery plaque;hyperten‐sion is a independent risk factor for atherosclerosis in elderly CHD patients .

Objective To investigate the effects of valsartan on experimental left cardiac function and the vasoactive substance in rats with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).Methods Seventy Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 group:①Sham groups: including Sham 1(n=5) and Sham 4(n=5).The pericardium of rats in Sham groups were cut open and sutured immediately.The rats were routinely breeded for 1 week and 4 weeks,1.5 mL saline was poured into stomach once a day.②Control groups: AMI 1 (n=10) and AMI 4 (n=10).Anterior descending branches of coronary artery of Wistar rats were ligated to establish models of AMI.The rats with AMI were poured into stomach with 1.5 mL saline once a day after AMI for 1 week and 4 weeks.③Valsartan groups: VAS 1 (n=10) and VAS 4 (n=10).The rats with AMI were poured into stomach with valsartan 10 mg?kg-1 and 1.5 mL saline for 1 week and 4 weeks(once a day).Cardiac function was assayed by arterial cannulatio.Angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ),aldosterone (ALD),endothelin (ET),thromboxane A2(TXA2) and prostacyclin I2 (PGI2) in serum were measured by radioimmunoassay.Results ① Valsartan could evidently improve cardiac function on the 1st and 4th week after experimental AMI.+dp/dtmax and-dp/dtmax were both increased on the 1st and 4th week and more evidently on the 4 week.②Compared with control groups,valsartan decreased the levels of ALD,ET and TXA2 in plasma and increased the levels of AngⅡ and PGI2 in plasma.Conclusion Valsartan could improve left cardiac function on late stage of infarction,the effect improve not only systolic function,but also diastolic function.

Objective The enhanced patterns of atherosclerotic plaque on dynamic contrastenhanced MRI have not been well studied. The aim of this study was to explore the patterns of plaque enhancement and their underlying mechanism by using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI).Methods Atherosclerotic plaques were induced in the aorta of 12 New Zealand White rabbits by a combination of endothelial denudation and high-cholesterol diet. Ten to sixteen weeks after surgery, DCEMRI was performed with a fast spin echo T1 weighted sequence. Thirty-five phases of images were obtained at 71-second intervals. Gd-DTPA was injected coincident with the third scan via marginal ear vein. Specimens were harvested within 12 hours after imaging for HE staining and CD31 immunohistochemical staining which was used to highlight nco-vessels. Plaque enhancement patterns were studied and compared with histological findings. Signal intensity of each plaque section was normalized to pre-contrast signal intensity of psoas muscle, after which signal intensity versus time curve was drawn. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to reveal association between histological neo-vessel count and descriptive parameters derived from signal intensity versus time curve. Results Plaques were significantly enhanced by Gd-DTPA. Enhancement patterns could be described as fast-in and slow-out. Differences in patterns of enhancement were observed between tissues, with fibrous tissue enhanced more than lipid aggregation and leukocyte foci. Peak enhancement( 1. 05 ±0. 30) , initial slope(0. 82 ± 0. 28 ) and area under the curve at early phase(4.97 ± 1.67) derived from signal intensity-time curve had significant correlations with neo-vessel count( 117.7 ± 93. 3) ( r= 0. 553,0. 468, 0. 554 respectively, P ＜ 0. 05 ) . Conclusions The enhanced patterns of atherosclerotic plaque by Gd-DTPA were fast- in and slow-out. Neovascularization, increased endothelial permeability and extracellular matrix may be the reasons for plaque enhancement by Gd-DTPA. DCE-MRI has the potential to quantify the extent of neo-vasculature formation within plaques.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of NAP activity detection in SLE.Methods Technique of AS-BI was used to NAP staining of peripheral blood smear in patients with newly-diagnosed SLE(30 cases)and normal healthy women(30 cases),to observe positive rate and positive score of NAP.Results The positive rate was(22.1±8.8)% in group SLE,(56.8±9.4)% in group normal;The positive score was(22.2±8.9)in group SLE,(58.2±9.8)in group normal.The positive rate and positive score were much lower in patients with SLE comparing with those in group normal.Differences were statistically significant(P＜0.01).Conclusions The detection of NAP is useful in the patients with newly-diagnosed SLE,but we must go on researching the pathogenesis of NAP activity decreased in SLE.

Objective:We estimated the effect of Xinxuetong on the left ventricular function in hyperten-sion. Methods :Transaortic and transmitral flow velocity was studied by pulsed Doppler echo cardiographybefore and after vein administration of Xinxuetong. Results: It was shown that Peak A, IRP andPeak A/Peak E decreased after administration of Xinxuetong. Conclusion:This study suggests that Xinx-uetong can significantly improve the diastolic function and the treatment of hypertension.

Objective To evaluate the protective effect of Ulinastatin on pathological changes of lung induced by paraquat (PQ) intoxication in rats. Method Sixty female SD rats were randomly and equally divided into three groups ( n = 20 in each group). On the experimental day, the rats of group A (control group) received 1 mL of saline intragastrically; the rats of group B (PQ, group) received 1 mL of PQ intragastrically (40 mg/kg diluted in saline) and then treated with saline injected intraperitoneally once a day, and the rats of group Group C (Ulinastatin treatment group) received 1 mL of PQ intragastrically (40 mg/kg,diluted in saline) and then treated with 1 mL of Ulinastatin ( 120 000 IU/kg) intraperitoneally twice a day. The rats ( n = 5 in each subgroup) were sacrificed on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th day for observing the histopathological changes of the lung stained with hematoxylin-eosin stain (HE) and Masson's trichrome stain. Data were semi-quantitatively analyzed by SPSS10.0 software. Hierarchical data were analyzed by rank and inspection. The data that have significance analyzed by comparison test (Bonferroni methods). Results Paraquat intoxication resulted in significant alveolitis and lung fibrosis. Ulinastatin treatment alleviated lung edema, hemorrhage, inflammatory cell infiltration, and fiber aggregation. Conclusions These data demonstrated the Ulinastatin exerted protective effects against PQ-induced lung injury. Ulinastatin could to be used in clinical management for PQ intoxication.

Objective To investigate the effects of ulinastatin on autophagy and apoptosis of lung cells in rats with acute paraquat poisoning.Methods A total of 150 Wistar rats were randomly (random number) divided into three groups.The rats in control group had stomach lavaged once with 1 mL of normal saline followed by intraperitoneal injection of 1 mL normal saline twice a day.PQ poisoning model was produced by stomach lavaged once with 1 mL of 40 mg/kg PQ solution followed by intraperitoneal injection of 1 mL normal saline once a day.In PQ + ulinastatin (PU) group,UTI in dose of 12 000 U/kg was intraperitoneally injected in rats twice a day.The lung tissue was obtained on the 7th day after modeling,and the histopathological changes were observed under microscope after hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining.The positive expressions of autophagy-related LC3 protein LC3 and Bcl-2 pretein in lung tissue were observed after immunohistochemistry staining,and the levels of LC3、Bax 、Bcl-2 proteins were determined by Western blot.Results HE staining Results showed:it was observed from the PQ poisoning group that the abnormal cellular structure,enlargement in the pulmonary alveoli,leaking a lot of inflammatory cells,increased thickness of the alveoli wall and bleeding in the local area of lung tissue.Compared with the PQ poisoning group,the above changes in ulinastatin groups were relieved.Western blot Results showed:compared with the control group,the protein expressions of LC3-A/B were significantly increased in PQ poisoning group [LC3-A/B expression (A scale):0.22 ± 0.05 vs.0.14 ± 0.03,F =22.48,P ＜ 0.01].compared with PQ group,the expression of LC3 A/B obviously increased in the group of PU [LC3-A/B expression (A scale):0.36 ± 0.08 vs.0.22 ± 0.05,F =22.78,P ＜ 0.01].compared with Con group,the expression of Bcl-2/Bax obviously decreased in the group of PQ [Bcl-2/Bax expression (A scale),0.11 ±0.04 vs.0.83 ± 0.09,F =154.43,P ＜ 0.01].Compared with PQ poisoning group,the protein expressions of Bcl-2/Bax were obviously increased in PU groups [Bcl-2/Bax expression (A scale):(0.63 ± 018) vs.(0.11 ±0.04),F =154.43,P ＜0.01].Immunohistochemistry result:compared with Con group,the expression of LC3 and Bcl-2 obviously decreased in the group of PQ [LC3expression (A scale):(78.34±10.71) vs.(117.58±15.26),F=31.63,P＜0.01) (Bcl-2 expression (A scale):(62.54±9.74)vs.(130.52 ± 9.86,F =118.44,P ＜ 0.01).Compared with PQ poisoning group,the protein expressions of LC3 and Bcl-2 were obviously increased in PU groups [LC3expression (A scale):(162.58 ± 25.76) vs.(78.34 ± 10.71),F=31.63,P＜0.01]; [Bcl-2 expression (A scale):(145.56±10.26) vs.(62.54±9.74),F=118.44,P ＜ 0.01].Conclusions Theendoplasmic reticulum stress-autophagy is activated in the lung cells of rats with acute PQ poisoning.UTI can adjust endoplasmic reticul um stress,increased the expression of Bcl-2 and enhance the proportion of Bcl-2/Bax to protect the lungs of rats from acute PQ poisoning.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of ω?6 soybean oil fat emulsion on folium sennae?induced diarrhea in mice. Methods Thirty?six Kunming mice were randomly divided into three groups,including control,diarrhea,ω?6 soybean oil fat emulsion group(12 mice in each group). Besides the mice in control group,other mice were administrated folium sennae by gavage for 15 days to establish the diarrhea model. Then mice in ω?6 soybean oil fat emulsion group received ω?6 soybean oil fat emulsion by intravenously administration at a dose of 15 mL/kg daily since 6th day after intragastric administration of folium sennae for 10 days. Animals in control group and diarrhea group were intravenously adminis?tered with same volume of saline. The body weight ,general state and diarrhea index of the mice in each group were dynamically assessed. Ten days after intravenous injection,mice in every group were sacrificed and tissues were collected. Morphology of intestine mucosa was observed after HE staining. Albumin(ALB)level in plasma was evaluated by biochemical method. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA)expression in intestine mucosa were assessed by immunohistochemical method. Results Compared with that in the diarrhea group,the general status,body weight and diarrhea index of mice in ω?6 soybean oil fat emulsion group were improved significantly. Ten days after intravenously administration ,pathological change in intestine mucosa of mice in ω?6 soybean oil fat emulsion group was improved significantly ,ALB level in plasma and PCNA expression in intestine mucosa were significantly increased(P<0.05)compared with that in diarrhea group. Conclusion ω?6 soybean oil fat emulsion has a significant protective effect on the diarrhea of mice induced by folium sennae ,which may be related to the up?regulated expression of PCNA by ω?6 soybean oil fat emulsion.

Objective To explore the clinical significance of Ezrin and β?catenin in breast cancer. Methods Immunohistochemical staining method was adopted to detect Ezrin and β?catenin protein expression level in 145 cases of breast cancer tissues,and their correlation with clinical data and prognosis of breast cancer was analyzed. Results Ezrin was expressed in 70 cases(48.3%),β?catenin was expressed in 82 cases (56.6%),and there was significantly negative correlation(r=0.267,P=0.001). The higher histologic grade of breast cancer,the higher expres?sion level of Ezrin(P=0.007),and the lower expression level of β?catenin(P<0.001). Ezrin expression level was increased significantly(P=0.027),but β?catenin expression level was reduced significantly(P=0.011)in lymph node positive breast cancer tissue. Ezrin expression was sig?nificantly correlated with shorter overall survival(P=0.004)and disease free survival(P=0.017)of breast cancer patients,but β?catenin expres?sion was significantly correlated with longer overall survival(P<0.001)and disease free survival(P=0.001)of breast cancer patients. However , Ezrin and β?catenin were not the independent risk factors of breast cancer patients as determined by multivariate Cox regression. Conclusion Ez?rin was significantly negative correlated with β?catenin in breast cancer. They play a role in the progression and poor prognosis of breast cancer , which can be used as breast cancer treatment targets.