Semen Cuscutae is a kidney-essence invigorating Chinese drug which is widely used in the clinic. In this study, the effects of the flavonoids extracted from Semen Cuscutae (FSC) on the function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonads axis in animals was investigated. The results showed that FSC can increase the weight of uterus and promoted the cornification of vaginal epithelial cells in bilateral ovariectomized mice, which suggested that FSC may have estrogen-like activity. In normal female rats, it increased the weight of pituitary, ovary and uterus, but did not increase plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) level. The binding capacity of ovary to 125 I-HCG/LH receptor was significantly elevated the reactivity of luteinizing-releasing hormone (LRH) was increased, and the LRH-induced LH secretion was enhanced in ovariectomized rats. In immature male mice, FSC increased the weight of epididymis and testis, and stimulated HCG-induced secretion of testosterone in short-term cultured rat Leydig cells. It is suggested that FSC can improve the functions of reproductive and endocrine system.

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect of glycyrrhizic acid ointment on chronic eczema in guinea pigs.Methods Totally,60 Kunming male mice,60 Kunming mice and 60 albino guinea pigs were respectively classified into 6 groups:model group,ointment base group,dexamethasone group,high-,medium-and low-dose glycyrrhizic acid group.To observe the effect of glycyrrhizic acid ointment on the swelling of mouse auricles,dexamethasone and different doses of glycyrrhizic acid ointment were topically applied to both auricles of male mice in corresponding groups followed by the establishement of mouse auricle swelling model induced by xylene.One and a half hours later,the mice were sacrificed,and the weight of swelling auricles was weighed.Scratching behavior was induced by dextran 40 in Kunming mice following the application of dexamethasone or glycyrrhizic acid ointment.The latent period and frequency of scraching were recorded for every Kunming mice.To establish a model of eczema,guinea pigs were sensitized with dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB,5％) in the neck and back and challenged by DNCB (0.1％) on the inner surface of right ears once a week for 4 weeks;subsequently,both auricles were treated with dexamethasone or glycyrrhizic acid ointment once a day for 10 days.Then,the thickness of auricles of guinea pigs was measured,and skin tissue was obtained from the right ear of guinea pigs and subjected to a pathological analysis.Results The high- and medium-dose of glycyrrhizic acid ointment could suppress the xylene-induced swelling of mouse auricles (P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜ 0.01 ).The latent period of scratching could be lengthened by high dose of glycyrrhizic acid (P ＜ 0.05).The three doses of glycyrrhizic acid all reduced scratching frequency in Kunming mice (P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜ 0.01 ).Attenuated swelling of auricles (P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜ 0.01 ) and relieved pathological changes were observed in guinea pigs after treatment with glycyrrhizic acid ointment.Conclusion Glycyrrhizic acid ointment shows a therapeutic effect on chronic eczema in guinea pigs.

Objective To evaluate the changes of cardiac function and myocardial perfusion by Gated 99Tcm-MIBI myocardial perfusion imaging after autologous mesenchymal stem cell implantation in patients with acute myocardial infarction at high altitude area.Methods 33 patients with anteroseptal myocardial infarction were ran- domly divided into two groups.18 patients (control group) underwent percutaneous tranluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and 14 cases (transplantation group) received additional mesenchymal stem cell transplantation.Myocardi- al perfusion imaging were performed in all patients before and at 6 and 12 months after treatment.Results Com- pared to pre-implantation,LVEF of transplantation group was improved 8%～9%after 6 months.The improving lev- els of control group were lower.However,there were not statistical differences among all data.Conclusion Mesen- chymal stem cell transplantation could improve myocardial systolic function and myocardial perfusion.

Objective:To study the preparation technique for magnetic poly D,L-lactide-co-glycolide phenylarsine oxide nanoparticles (M-PLGA-PAO-NPs) and to characterize the resultant product. Methods: M-PLGA-PAO-NPs were prepared by using emulsion-evaporation process. The morphology of the prepared nanoparticles were observed by transmission electron microscope and the magnetism of the particles was determined by vibrating sample magnetometer. Meanwhile, we also evaluated the mean diameter, encapsulation ratio, and drug loading rate of the particles. Results: The nanoparticles had a regular spherical surface, with 80% of them having a diameter of 140-500 nm. We also found that the drug loading rate of the particles was 3.2% and the mean encapsulation ratio was 34.2%. The drug had satisfactory magnetic property. Conclusion: Our method can obtain M-PLGA-PAO-NP with satisfactory quality, it is simple-to-use and the prepared particles can meet the requirement of pharmaceutics.

Objective To investigate the change characteristics of serum ferritin(SF)and parathormone (PTH)levels in differ-ent stages of chronic kidney disease(CKD)and their correlation with serum beta 2-microglobulin(β2-MG).Methods The levels of serum PTH,SF andβ2-MG in different stages of CKD were detected and the detection results were compared with those in the con-trol group.The correlation between serum SF and PTH withβ2-MG in each stage of CKD was analyzed.Results The level of ser-um PTH,SF andβ2-MG in the compensation group had no statistical difference compared with the control group (P >0.05),while which had statistical differences among the decompensation group,renal failure group and uremia group (P <0.05)The correlation analysis showed that serum PTH was positively correlated with serumβ2-MG in 145 cases(r=0.92,P <0.05),and the serum SF level was also positively correlated with serumβ2-MG level(r=0.92,P <0.05).Conclusion Detecting serum PTH,SF andβ2-MG levels possesses the important clinical significance for understanding CKD condition and prognosis.

Objective To analyse the expression of alpha-fetoprotein variant-L3(AFP-L3)and glypican-3(GPC-3)in primary he-patic carcinoma(PHC)with different concentration of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP),so as to provide references for the diagnosis of PHC.Methods 240 cases of outpatients,inpatients and individuals on physical examination were selected as subjects and serum levels of AFP-L3 and GPC-3 were detected.All of the subjects were divided into negative group(0≤AFP<20 ng/mL),low concen-tration group(20≤AFP<400 ng/mL)and high concentration group(AFP≥400 ng/mL)according to the serum levels of AFP.Ser-um levels of AFP-L3 and GPC-3 were compared among the three groups.And the sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of single de-tection of AFP-L3 or GPC-3 and those of combined detection of AFP-L3 and GPC-3 were compared as well.Results The serum levels of AFP-L3 and GPC-3 in the low concentration group and high concentration group were both higher than those in the nega-tive group,and those in the high concentration group were also higher than those in the low concentration group,had statistically significant differences(P < 0.05 ).The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of combined detection of AFP-L3 and GPC-3 were 84.4%,95.9% and 93.8% respectively,which were higher than those of single detection of AFP-L3 or GPC-3.Conclusion Com-bined detection of AFP-L3 and GPC-3 could improve the sensitivity,specificity and accuracy for diagnosis of PHC,which has clinical significance for the diagnosis of PHC.

No abstract available.
Angiotensin II* ; Angiotensins* ; Hydrocortisone* ; Insulin*

0.05]. At 20, 30 and 40 days concentration of endostatin[(212.80?85.91) ?g/L,(293.63?62.53) ?g/L, (271.57?32.45) ?g/L, respectively] were higher than that of the control group (P

Objective To set up the rolling circle amplification (RCA) system for detecting hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), and to evaluate the specificity and sensitivity of this system. Methods Plasmids containing full-length of wild-type HBV genome were treated with restriction enzyme and T4 DNA ligase, and then were concentrated. The DNA fragments were recovered by the nucleic acid purification kit and severed as standard HBV cccDNA. Total DNA was extracted from hepatic tissues of seven chronic hepatitis B patients. RCA method was used to amplify genomes from tissue samples. Standard HBV cccDNA, 3.2 kb liner HBV DNA, normal hepatic tissue samples and 15 serum samples of patients with chronic HBV infection were used as controls to determine the specificity of RCA. Ten-fold serial dilutions of standard HBV cccDNA were used for determining the sensitivity. Results The standard HBV cccDNA was successfully constructed and could be detected by RCA method. HBV cccDNA could be amplified from 2 mg hepatic tissue samples at least of HBV infected patients, and could be detected as low as 1 ×102 copy/μL. cccDNA was not detected in 3.2 kb liner HBV DNA, normal hepatic tissue samples and 15 serum samples of chronic HBV infected patients. Conclusion RCA method can be used for rapid and simple detection of HBV cccDNA with high specificity and sensitivity.

ObjectiveTo determine the impact of lupus flares on maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE).MethodsData was obtained from 46 pregnancies of 44 pregnant women with SLE.The relationship between lupus flares and pregnant outcomes,and the risk factors for adverse maternal and fetal prognosis were analyzed.T-test,X2 test or Fisher's exact test and Logistic regression were used for statistical analysis.Results① Lupus flares occurred in19(41％)pregnancies(group A) and stable lupus disease was observed in 27(59％) pregnancies(group B) during pregnancy.Compared to pregnancies in patients with stable lupus disease at the conception(n=32),pregnancies in patients with unstable lupus disease at the conception(n=8) had higher lupus flare during pregnancy( 100％ vs 16％,P＜0.05).(②) The common manifestations of lupus flares during pregnancy were lupus nephritis (LN) (11 cases),skin rashes (10 cases),arthritis (7 cases),and the common complication was infection ( 11 cases).(③) The incidence of premature labor,fetal growth retardation (FGR) and fetal loss in group A was 42％,47％ and 26％ respectively,which was significantly higher than that of the group B (7％,15％ and 0 respectively)(P＜0.05).There was no difference in the incidence of preeclampsia,fetal distress and neonatal asphyxia between the two groups ( 16％ vs 7％,16％ vs 19％,5％ vs O,respectively,P＞0.05).The incidence of premature labor and FGR in patients with active LN was higher than that of patients without active LN (55％ vs 11％,64％ vs 17％,respectively,P＜0.05).(④)The binary Logistic regression analysis showed that renal impairment,hypocomplementemia,aPL and serum urea nitrogen level were independent risk factors for premature delivery,FGR,fetal loss and fetal distress.Conclusion(①) Lupus flares during pregnancy increase the incidence of premature labor,FGR and fetal loss.Active LN during pregnancy can increase the incidence of premature labor and FGR.② Renal impairment,hypocomplementemia,aPL and serum urea nitrogen level are associated with adverse fetal outcomes in pregnant patients with SLE.