Objective To discuss the protection mechanism of total saponins from Panax japonicus on acute hepatic injury induced by carbon tetrachloride. Methods HepG2 cells were used to establish CCl4-induced liver cell injury model in vitro experiments. Mouse model of acute liver injury was caused by 1%CCl4 oil on Balb/c. Mice were randomly divided into normal group, model group and medicine group. Mice in the medicine group were given a gavage with 20 mL/kg total saponins from Panax japonicus, while mice in the other two groups were given a gavage with the same amount of stroke-physiological saline solution. MTT method was used to detect the activity of hepatic cells. The pathological changes of mouse liver were examined by HE staining. RT-PCR was used to detect changes in the expression of transforming growth TGF-β, TNF-α, and TLR4 mRNA. Results Compared with normal group, less hepatic cells survived in model group (P<0.01);compared with model group, more hepatic cells survived in medicine group (P<0.01). HE staining showed that damages in liver tissues of medicine group significantly improved than those in model group. RT-PCR results showed that the levels of TGF-β, TNF-α, and expression of TLR4 mRNA increased more significantly than those in model group;the expression of TGF-β, TNF-α, and TLR4 mRNA in medicine group decreased more significantly than those in model group, with statistical significance (P<0.01). Conclusion The total saponins from Panax japonicus has a protective effect on liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride.

To study the efficacy and possible mechanism of Yiqi Huayu Recipe (YQHYR), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, in preventing and treating degeneration of the articular cartilage in rats with osteoarthritis (OA).

Objective The aim is to observe the role and mechanism of estradiol ( E2 ) on the proliferation of rat hippocampal neural stem cells ( NSCs ) .Methods Twenty hippocampi from embryonic 17-day ( E17 ) SD rats were dissociated and plated into culture flasks with NSCs specific medium containing different concentrations of estradiol .The proliferation and the vitality of NSCs were detected by immunofluorescence against BrdU and MTT assay .The expression of estrogen receptors ( ERαand ERβ) was measured by immunofluorescence staining combined with Nestin double labeling . Results BrdU and MTT assay results showed that the cell number increased when the concentration of estradiol increased from 10 -10 to 10 -8 mol/L.The number of cell proliferation and the viability of cells were best at the concentration of 10 -8 mol/L compared to the other groups .However, when the estradiol concentration was increased from 10-8 to 10 -6 mol/L, the cell proliferative capacity declined gradually .Double immunofluorescence labeling showed that the two types of estrogen receptors ( ERαand ERβ) were expressed in the cultured hippocampal NSCs .Conclusion Estradiol promotes the proliferation of hippocampal NSCs in a certain concentration range , and ERαand ERβmay be involved in the estradiol-induced proliferation .

AIM:To investigate the effect of resveratrol on the lipids ( CHOL, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C) , ni-tric oxide ( NO) , peroxynitrite anion ( ONOO-) and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase ( iNOS) in the artery of the mice with ovariotomy ( OVX) .METHODS:The lipid levels and NO level in the serum were measured .The chan-ges of atherosclerosis were evaluated with Oil Red O staining .The expression of iNOS was measured by DAB staining and Western blot .The ONOO-production was measured by DAB staining .RESULTS:Compared with sham group , the levels of the lipids and NO production in OVX +high fat (HF) group were increased (P<0.05).Compared with OVX+HF group, the levels of the lipids and NO production in resveratrol group were decreased (P<0.05).Fourteen weeks later, the atherosclerosis model was successfully established .Compared with OVX +HF group, the iNOS expression and the ONOO-production in resveratrol group were decreased ( P<0.05 ) , while those in sham group were increased ( P <0.05).CONCLUSION:Resveratrol prevents and treats atherosclerosis by inhibiting the iNOS expression in C 57BL/6J mice.

To observe the effects of Qishe Pill, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on lumbar vertebral bone formation induced by long-time upright posture in rats and to investigate the potential mechanism.

Objective To observe the expression of ITF in colon of mice infected by mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) and the in-volvement of ganciclovir(GCV) .Methods Forty-eight BALB/c young mice were randomly divided into blank group ,virus group and GCV group ,each with 8 mice .Mice in virus group and GCV group received injection of 100 μL MCMV virus suspension (TCID50105 .31 /mL) ,and GCV group was given intraperitoneal injection of GCV once a day at the dose of 50 mg/kg from day 0 (24 hours after vaccination of virus ) ,for 14 days .At the same time the virus group and blank group were given the same dose of normal saline as controls .Murine cytomegalovirus loads in livers and colons were measured by PCR .The expression levels of ITF in mRNA in colon were detected by RT-PCR .Results After MCMV injection ,mice in virus group manifested aggressively apparent poor appetite ,less activity ,fur laxly ,unresponsiveness to stimuli ,growth retardation ,body weight not increased .All liver and colon tissue MCMV-DNA PCR electrophoresis of virus group had positive strip ,while the blank group did not .GCV group also showed less bright positive strip when compared with the virus group .Expression level of ITF mRNA was significant higher in GCV group than virus group ,there was statistically significant difference(P<0 .05) .Expression of ITF mRNA in virus group were higher than that in blank group ,there was statistical difference(P<0 .05) .Conclusion ITF is regarded as a fast reaction peptide in the course of mucosa impairments ,so ITF plays a protective role in delayed healing process after acute MCMV infection .

OBJECTIVETo establish an HPLC method for simultaneous determination of contents of loureirin A, loureirin B, 7,4'-dihydroxy flavone, pterostilbene and resveratrol in resina draconis and its extracts.

METHODKromasil 100-5C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) was used with the mobile phase of acetonitrile-1% glacial acetic acid at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1) and the column temperature at 40 degrees C. The detective wave length of loureirin A and B was detected at 278 nm, and 7,4'-dihydroxy flavone, pterostilbene and resveratrol was at 319 nm.

RESULTAll the five active components reached the resolved peaks within 40 min, indicating a good linearity (r > or = 0.999 7). The average recoveries of loureirin A, loureirin B, 7,4'-dihydroxy flavone, pterostilbene and resveratrol in resina draconis were 102.9%, 96.81%, 97.29%, 100.7% and 103.7%, with RSDs of 0.23%, 1.5%, 0.42%, 0.58% and 0.34%, respectively. The average recoveries of loureirin A, loureirin B, 7,4'-dihydroxy flavone, pterostilbene and resveratrol in extract of resina draconis were 102. 2% , 96. 93%, 97. 90% , 102.0% and 103.3%, with RSDs of 1.7%, 0.91%, 1.4%, 1.5% and 1.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe method is so easy, accurate, highly repeatable and stable that it provides good reference for the quality control of resina draconis and its extracts.

Chalcones ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Dracaena ; chemistry ; Flavones ; analysis ; Resins, Plant ; analysis ; Stilbenes ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the facial aging analysis of 1200 Han adult people in Dalian with iris diameter, so as to provide reference for facial rejuvenation in Han people.

METHODS1200 facial digital photographs from the second-generation ID card of China were stratified randomly selected as the research sample, excluding facial deformity, tattooing eyebrow, tattooing lid margin, ptosis, lip grain and eyebrow deformity cases, as well as the cases whose join point of upper eyelid and lower eyelid not exposed at the nasal side. These photos were divided into six cohorts: female aged 18, 38, and 68 years old; and male aged 18, 38, and 68 years old, with 200 cases in each cohort. The individual iris diameter was divided into 20 equal parts in each photograph, with each part marked one unit as individual iris diameter ruler. Ten values were made from a horizontal plane between the medial canthus to ten points at one face ( the line between two medial canthus is used as the horizontal line, circumocular and facial soft tissue were measured with individual iris diameter ruler on the photographs), then the results were analyzed with Adobe Photoshop software.

RESULTSThere are statistically significant differences in eyebrow height (36.42 ± 4.22 unit in 18 years old male group, 40.22 ± 6.90 unit in 38 years old male group, 34.83 ± 9.39 unit in 68 years old male group; 37.59 ± 6.72 unit in 18 years old female group, 41.09 ± 5.15 unit in 38 years old female group, 36.84 ± 9.45 unit in 68 years old female group), palpebral fissure height, physiognomic external canthus height, palpebral fissure width, pupil height and other items (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS(1) The brow position rises to the peak level at middle age (38 years old group), then drops down gradually with aging. (2) The physiognomic external canthus moves towards the nasal side and caudal side with aging. (3) Eyeball moves towards caudal side with aging. (4) The soft tissue around bilateral angle of mouth, nasal tip and submaxilla moves towards caudal side with aging. (5) The measurement of individual iris diameter ruler can apply to analyze the aging changes of facial soft tissue, and is more suitable for the case when facial photographs are taken at different distances.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aging ; China ; ethnology ; Cohort Studies ; Eye ; anatomy & histology ; Eyebrows ; anatomy & histology ; Face ; anatomy & histology ; Female ; Humans ; Iris ; anatomy & histology ; Lip ; anatomy & histology ; Male ; Nose ; anatomy & histology ; Photography ; Rejuvenation ; Sex Factors

Objective To analyze mRNA expression of silent information regulator 6 (SIRT6) gene in the blood of population with family history of longevity in Bama county of Guangxi and to explore its association with SIRT6 gene polymorphism and its protein Methods One hundred and thirty-seven people (aged 30 ~ 106, 70 males, 67 females, 6.57% Han nationality, 93.43% Zhuang and Yao nationalities) with family history of longevity (long-lived family history group), and 91 people (aged 22~89, 51 males, 40 females, all Zhuang and Yao nationalities) without family history of longevity were recruited in the study (non-long-lived family history group). Real-time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect mRNA expression of SIRT6 gene in two groups. Results SIRT6 mRNA expression of total and femals in long-lived family history group were higher than those in non-long-lived family history group (P<0.05). mRNA expression of GG and CG genotype of SIRT6 (rs350846) and G allele carriers in long-lived family history group were all higher than those in non-long-lived family history group and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). SIRT6 mRNA expression was not associated with serum SIRT6 protein in long-lived family history group (P>0.05). Conclusion The expression of mRNA in SIRT6 gene may be associated with familial aggregation of longevity in Bama County of Guangxi and high expression of mRNA of SIRT6 in G allele carriers contributes to longevity.

To research the action mechanism of Yiqi Huayu Bushen Recipe (YHBR), a compound of traditional Chinese herbal medicine, in treating cervical syndrome (CS) with kidney deficiency in rats.