AIM: To analyze curative effect of four regulating-intestines prescriptions (Wumei Wan, Baitouweng Tang, Shenling Baizhu San and Tongxie Yao-fang) on the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) through summing up the previous animal experimental results.METHODS: We collected the conclusions in the papers related to four regulating-intestines prescriptions for the treatment of UC which were published recently, made comparisons from the aspectsof symptoms, physical sign, pathological change, cytokine and its protein expression, blood adhesion molecule, cell apoptosis and controlling gene and analyzed the pathogenesis of UC and action mechanism of four regulating-intestines prescriptions. Four regulating-intestines prescriptions included Wumei Wan,Baitouweng Tang, Shenling Baizhu San and Tongxie Yaofang. Wumei Wan is from Treatise on Exogenous Febrile Diseases and Synopsis of the Golden Chamber, which consists of dark plum, asarum herb, dried ginger, Chinese goldthread, Chinese angelica root, aconite root, pricklyash peel, cassia twig,ginseng (sun-dried ginseng) and bark of cork tree and has marked effect in treating colic caused by ascariasis and persistent dysentery. Baitouweng Tang, from Treatise on Exogenous Febrile Diseases, consists of medicinal herbs such as pulsatilla root, Chinese goldthread, bark of cork tree and ash bark, which has functions of clearing away the heat-evil, expelling superficial evils and relieving dysentery. In addition, it has marked effect in treating heat-type dysentery. Shenling Baizhu San, from Prescriptions of Peaceful benevolent Dispensary, consists of medicinal herbs such as pulp of lotus seed, coix seed, amomum fruit, balloon flower root, white hyacinth bean, poria, ginseng (sun-dried ginseng), glycyrrhiza, bighead atractylodes and rhizoma dioscoreae, which has the nature of replenishing qi to invigorate the spleen and eliminate wetness to arrest diarrhea and has marked effect on treating diarrhea due to the hypofunction of spleen. Tongxie Yao-fang which is from The Complete Works of Zhang Jingyue consists of four herbals of agehead atractylodes, root of herbaceous peony, dried tangerine peel and ledebouriella root and has the functions of soothing liver and invigorating spleen and stopping diarrhea, and has marked effect on treating liver sthenia and deficient spleen, borborygmus and abdominal pain and diarrhea.RFSULTS: ① Because UC is a chronic protracted dysentery with deficiency of vital energy and existing of evil energy, the vital energy will be harmed if its treatment is specialized in removing and dissolving the stagnation, evil energy will continue to exist and stagnation will continue to accumulate if its treatment is specialized in strengthening vital energy and inducing astringency. Only supporting healthy energy and expelling evil energy is the correct therapy method. This is in accordance with the main treatment of Wumei Wan ②Eliminating dampness and pathogenic heat from the blood to treat diarrhea is the main treatment method of Baitouweng Tang, and this is incompletely suitable for the treatment of UC.③Shenling Baizhu San had the effect on soothing liver and invigorating spleen and stopping diarrhea, and this is also incompletely suitable for the treatment of UC. ④ The prescription of Tongxie Yaofang is used for treating diarrhea caused by deficient spleen and liver sthenia, and spleen controlled by liver, and abnormal ascent and descent. It accords with main pathogenesis of UC, deficient spleen, excessive dampness of deficient spleen and it is weaker in invigorating the spleen in catabasis of UC than Shenling Baizhu San. Therefore, Wumei Wan has the best curative effect,Baitouweng Tang the second, Shengling Baizhu San the third and Tongxie Yaofang a little poor.CONCLUSION: UC belongs to recurrent dysentery, and its pathogenesis is in accordance with the main treatment of Wumei Wan, but not the other three prescriptions, so Wumei Wan is the most efficient prescription in treating ulcerative colitis. Diagnosis and treatment based on an overall analysis of signs and symptoms of TCM is the premise of obtaining the best curative effect. Modeling of animal tests must be consistent with the type of syndrome of the traditional Chinese medicine. Ating ulcerative colitis (UC) from aspects such as symptom, physical sign, pathological changes, adherence factor, cytokine and its protein expression, apoptosis and its controlling gene by means of modeling, which proves their functions and effects are different and their curative effect are also different due to their different ingredient though they all have the functions of treating. Results of this test show Wumei Wan has the best curative effect, Baitouweng Tang the second, Shenling Baizhu San the third and Tongxie Yaofang a little poor[1-11] Mechanism of four regulating-intestines prescription in the treatment of ulcerative colitis is discussed from the viewpoints of traditional Chinese medicine as follows.

BackgroundRetinal pigment epithelial(RPE) cells can secrete platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and PDGF receptor(PDGFR).Studies have shown that PDGF plays a key role in the formation of proliferative vitreous retinopathy(PVR). ObjectiveThis study was to investigate the proliferation and apoptosis changes of RPE after blockage of the PDGFR-α expression by antisense oligonucleotide ( ASODN ) in vitro. Methods Human RPE cells strain was cultured in low glucose DMEM with 10％ fetal bovine serum.Logarithmic phase cells were collected and incubated in 96-well plate at the density of 5 × 105 cells/hole.PDGFR-α ASODN was transfected into RPE cells at different concentrations for 48 hours.The cells of the blank control group were regularly cultured without any transfection.The changes of PDGFR-α expression were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR),and the proliferation of RPE was detected by MTT as the A490 value.Hoechst 33258 fluorescence staining was used to determine the apoptosis of RPE.Flow cytometry method (FCM) was applied to detect the change of cell cycle and apoptosis rate of RPE cells. ResultsThe A490 values of RPE cells were 1.45±0.12,1.07±0.06,0.65±0.05 in blank control group,1.0 μmol/L Lipo-ASODN group and 2.0 μmol/L Lipo-ASODN group with the significant difference(P=0.00 ),and that of 1.0 μmol/L Lipo-ASODN group and 2.0 μ mol/L Lipo-ASODN group were significantly lower than the blank control group ( P =0.00,0.00).Hoechst 33258 staining showed that the apoptosis cells were obviously more in Lipo-ASODN group compared with blank control group.PDGFR-α ASODN transfection induced an increase of percentage of RPE cells in G0/G1 phase( F =206.70,P =0.00),and the apoptosis rates in 1.0 μmol/L Lipo-ASODN group and 2.0 μmol/L Lipo-ASODN group were significantly enhanced in comparison with blank control group ( 37.8 ± 1.3 vs 10.5 ± 0.1,61.2 ± 1.9 vs 10.5 ± 0.1 ) ( F =1808.90,P =0.00 ).Expression intensity of PDGFR-α mRNA in RPE cells in Lipo-ASODN groups was lower. ConclusionsBlocking the PDGFR-α expression with ASODN technology can suppress proliferation and induce apoptosis of RPE cells.Intensity of PDGFR-α mRNA expression in RPE cells is ASODN dose-dependent.ASODN targeted to PDGFR-α offers an experimental basis of the gene therapy for PVR.

OBJECTIVETo understand the levels of total physical activities among different populations, and the distribution of four domains.

METHODSWith proportional stratified sampling and cluster sampling method, 3555 subjects were selected including officials, company staff, high school students, community population and floating population.

RESULTSThe proportions for inactive, insufficiently active, minimally active and health enhancing physical active (HEPA active) as a whole were 20.5%, 10.1%, 26.5% and 42.9% respectively. Community population had the highest level of HEPA active which was 65.6%. Floating population had the highest level of inactivity of 33.1%. Apart from the male floating population, the active level in transportation, physical activity among the investigated were the highest compared to other three active domains. Leisure-time physical activity was in the opposite.

CONCLUSIONThe type of physical activities among general citizens were mainly of physical activity related to transportation but less leisure-time physical activity was seen. Floating population had the highest level of both HEPA activity and inactivity.

Administrative Personnel ; China ; Exercise ; Female ; Humans ; Leisure Activities ; Life Style ; Male ; Students ; Transportation

Objective: To investigate the function and mechanism of phospholipase Cγ1 (PLCγ1) in cell-matrix adhesion in colorectal cancer. Methods: Highly metastatic colorectal cancer cell line LoVo and lowly metastatic colorectal cancer cell line SW480 were subjected to cell-matrix adhesion assay. U73122 (a specific inhibitor of PLC) and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) (an inhibitor of NF-κB) were used to study the effect of PLCγ1 and NF-κB on cell-matrix adhesion. Furthermore, Western blot and gel electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA) were performed to detect the mechanism of PLCγ1 in colorectal cancer cell adhesion to matrix. Results: Inhibition of PLCγ1 or NF-κB resulted in reduction of cell-matrix adhesion in a dose-dependent manner in LoVo cells(P<0.05), but had no marked effect on SW480 cells. Western blot analysis showed that epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulated the phosphorylation of PLCγ1 in LoVo. The results of EMSA indicated that inhibition of PLCγ1 signaling pathway also down-regulated the activity of NF-κB while EGF reversed the function. Conclusion:These data suggest that PLCγ1 plays a pivotal role in the EGF-induced cell-matrix adhesion of highly metastatic colorectal cancer cells and that NF-κB is also functional in this signaling pathway.

Activin Receptors, Type I ; analysis ; Animals ; Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus ; chemistry ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver Regeneration ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta ; analysis ; Sodium Glutamate ; Transforming Growth Factor alpha ; analysis ; genetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; analysis ; genetics

Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of AGTR1 promoter methylation with the risk of essential hypertension (EH),and to explore whether the methylation levels of AGTR1 were influenced by antihypertensive drug therapy.Methods In the current case-control study,with community population-based multi-stage sampling method,a total of 288 individuals including 96 controls,96 gender-and age-matched incidence essential hypertension(In-EH) patients and 96 gender-and age-matched prevalent essential hypertension(Pre-EH) patients were recruited from Han Chinese families in Ningbo City.The baseline data,blood samples and serum biochemical indexes of participants were obtained through questionnaire,conventional check-up and laboratory detection.Methylation levels of CpGdinucleotides in genepromoter of AGTR1 were measured using bisulfite pyrosequencing.Conditional logistic regression was used to adjust for confounding factors,and find the CpG sites which were sensitive to EH and drug.Results Body mass index,triglycerides,fasting blood glucose,high-density lipoprotein and uric acid among the three groups were significantly different (P ＜ 0.05).Conditional logistic regression showed that methylation of CpG1 was significantly lower in both In-EH and Pre-EH than in controls (Controls vs.In-EH):9.66 ± 5.45 vs.6.74 ± 4.32,OR =0.888,95 ％ CI:0.792-0.995;(Controls vs.Pre-EH):9.66 ± 5.45 vs.4.99 ± 3.97,OR =0.454,95 ％ CI:0.226-0.913.No significant result was observed between In-EH and Pre-EH (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Hypomethylation of CpG1 in AGTR1 gene is a risk factor for EH.However,no effect of antihyptensive drug therapy on the changes of DNA methylation levels in AGTR1 was found.

Haplotypes ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension ; Thrombotic Microangiopathies

Intestinal tract, which produces more than fifty kinds of gut peptides, is regarded as the largest endocrine organ. With regard to the gut peptides, a number of studies were focused on their structure, function and the roles in some diseases. The changes in output or distribution of gut peptides in the intestinal tract during development have been largely unknown. This study was aimed to investigate the changes of somatostatin (SST) and somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) in small intestinal and hepatic tissues during the development of macaque. The tissue samples of small intestine, liver or blood samples from peripheral and portal vein of 4 macaques in 6-month fetus, 2-day neonate, 45-day neonate and adult were obtained after anesthetization. The concentrations of SST in blood or tissues of macaques were measured by radioimmunoassay. The distributions of SST in small intestinal or hepatic tissues were visualized by immunohistochemical staining. The expression of SSTR2 was detected by in situ hybridization. SST concentration of intestinal tissue in 6-month-old macaque was (27.3+/-16.6) ng /mg protein and light positive staining of SST was localized in mucosal crypts but negative in muscle layer. The intestinal concentration of SST increased gradually with macaque development and reached to the peak [(120.1+/-35.3) ng /mg protein] in adult. It was significantly higher than that in fetus (P<0.01). Strong positive staining of SST was found in both mucosal crypts and myenteric nerve plexus of adult animal. SSTR2 was obviously expressed in intestinal epithelium of fetus but its expression was greatly reduced in epithelium and was shifted to mucosal crypts when grown to adult. Negative staining of SSTR2 in muscle layer of fetal or neonatal macaque turned to be positive in myenteric nerve plexus of adult. The levels of SST or SSTR2 in liver decreased gradually during development. SST concentrations of small intestinal tissue kept significantly higher than those of hepatic tissues in the macaque developing stages. SST levels of portal vein were also maintained significantly higher than those of peripheral blood in the macaque developing stages. In conclusion, the level of SST and expression of SSTR2 in mucosal crypt increased gradually with macaque development. SST from intestinal tract was quickly degraded in portal vein before entering into liver. SST positive myenteric nerve plexus was visualized only in mature macaque.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Fetus ; Intestine, Small ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; Macaca mulatta ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Male ; Receptors, Somatostatin ; metabolism ; Somatostatin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThere are two different types of chronic active Epstein-Barr virus (CAEBV) infection: chronic EBV (CEBV) having persistent infectious mononucleosis (IM)-like illness with relatively good prognosis, and severe CAEBV (SCAEBV)infection that has rather severe manifestations and generally poor prognosis with many life-threatening complications, such as EBV-associated malignant lymphoma and hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS). The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinical and prognostic characteristics in 12 cases with SCAEBV infection.

METHODData of 12 cases with SCAEBV infection were analyzed retrospectively, which included clinical and auxiliary examination, pathological data, especially EB virus (EBV)-antibodies and DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and infected tissue, and follow-up information.

RESULTOf the 12 cases, 7 were male and 5 were female. The age at the onset of diseases ranged from 35 months to 14 years (median, 11 years). The major manifestations were fever (100%), splenomegaly (91.7%), hepatomegaly (83.3%), lymphadenopathy (75.0%), and others, including skin rash, development retardation, jaundice, ascites, pulmonary hypertension, oral ulcer, cholecystitis and pleural effusion. The abnormalities of auxiliary examination were as follows: elevated LDH level (91.7%), liver dysfunction (83.3%), anemia (75.0%), leukopenia (58.3%), neutropenia (50.0%), thrombocytopenia (25.0%) and abnormal chest X-ray findings. At the time of onset, 58.3% of the patients had an IM-like illness. In all of the 12 cases, EBV serologic tests revealed high IgG antibody levels against EB viral capsid antigen (VCA). The patients often had positive IgM and IgA antibodies against VCA (33.3% and 66.7%) as well. Elevated IgG antibody level to early antigen (EA) (100.0%), occasionally positive IgA antibody (40.0%) were also seen. The mean load of EBV-DNA detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the PBMC was (8.12 x 10(6), median)copies/ml. Four of 12 cases presented a poor clinical course, two of whom died from EBV-associated HPS, 1 from severe multiple pathogens infection, and 1 from multiple organ failure. In addition, 1 case developed Hodgkin's T cell lymphoma and another case showed hepatopulmonary syndrome in 2 years after splenectomy.

CONCLUSIONSThe clinical feature of SCAEBV infection varied exceedingly. EBV-DNA load in PBMC of SCAEBV infected patients was significantly increased. More attention should be paid to the disease because of its severe complications, poor prognosis and high mortality.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chronic Disease ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the secular trend of infection rate, risk factor exposure rates for nosocomial pneumonia (NP), and to evaluate the nosocomial infection surveillance and control programs efficacy in an university hospital from 1993 to 2000.

METHODSAll 126 665 hospitalized patients from 1993 to 2000 were studied for NP. The independent risk factors for NP were analyzed by using case-control study method and logistic regression technique. The time-specific rates for NP and risk factor exposure were calculated annually.

RESULTSThe infection rates for NP were decreased by 50% from 1.20% in 1993 to 0.60% in 2000. The logistic regression analysis showed that the independent risk factors for NP were immunosuppressive therapy (OR = 2.72), chemotherapy (OR = 2.17), cancer (OR = 1.45), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, OR = 1.88), ICU (OR = 3.18), coma (OR = 3.26), tracheotomy (OR = 14.95), hemodialysis (OR = 5.12), bone or lumbar puncture (OR = 1.82). The time-trends for exposure rates of COPD and bone or lumbar puncture were slightly decreased, however those for the others and the synthetic risk factors were not changed significantly.

CONCLUSIONThe infection rates for NP were significantly decreased in the case of no change for exposure rates of risk factors for NP, this suggests that the nosocomial infection surveillance and control programs were effective for lowering infection rate for NP in this hospital.

China ; epidemiology ; Cross Infection ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Hospitals, University ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Infection Control ; methods ; Inpatients ; statistics & numerical data ; Prospective Studies ; Reproducibility of Results ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Risk Factors ; Time Factors