Objective To explore the different concentrations of glycyrrhizin on hepatic stellate cell proliferation and its regulation mechanism.MethodsHepatic stellate cell proliferation rate of three different concentrations of glycyrrhizin was detected by MTT assay.The expression of cyclin E was detected by immunocytochemistry.ResultsMTT assay was used to detect the cell proliferation inhabitation in different concentration groups,from control group 0.8 mg/L glycyrrhizin group to 1.2 mg/L glycyrrhizin group and 1.6 mg/L glycyrrhizin group.The cell proliferation inhibited rates were 0,2.73%,14.75 % and 25.96%.The difference was significant (P＜0.05).The numbers of Cyclin E positive cells in different concentrations of glycyrrhizin group were significantly different compared with control group,and it was concentration dependently decreased (P＜0.01).ConclusionsGlycyrrhizin concentration dependently inhibited rat hepatic stellate cells proliferation and it could reduce the expression of cyclin E and inhibit the proliferation of rat hepatic stellate cells.

Objective To evaluate the BALB/c murine infective effects in different concentrations and different aerosol challenge times by Bordetella pertussis.Methods Four experiment groups according to different concentrations and different aerosol challenge times were designed.BALB/c murines were challenged by aerosol way.Group 1: 1010cfu/mL Bordetella pertussis challenge 15 min, group 2: 1010cfu/mL challenge 30 min, group 3: 109cfu/mL challenge 30 min, group 4: 1011cfu/mL challenge 30 min, using the normal saline challenge 30 min as control.At 0d,3d,7d,14d and 21d after challenge, the WBCs of all groups were measured and lung tissues were homogenized to calculate the bordetella pertussis clone in lung.Results After 3 days of challenge, WBCs in all groups were slightly increased.The WBCs of group 1, group 2, group 3 and group 4 were significantly increased after 7 days, with the average numbers of 8.52×109 per/L, 1.74×1010per/L, 1.15×1010per/L and 5×1010per/L, respectively.After 14 days, they were 1.77×1010per/L, 1.67×1010per/L, 1.27×1010per/L and 3.84×1010per/L respectively.WBCs in all groups were dramatically declined after 21 days.The WBC of negative control group had no obvious change during the whole process with the stable number of 3.4~7.0×109per/L.Bordetella pertussis were detected in lung of all experimental groups in each sampling point.The CFU in lung wase at peak at 7d or 14d after challenge, which was obviously decreased at 21d.Conclusion This aerosol challenge method can establish a bordetella pertussis infection mouse model successfully.

Objective To investigate the effects of different concentrations and adsorption methods of aluminum hydroxide adjuvant produced by different manufacturers on the immunogenicity of the diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis and inactivated poliovirus combined vaccine ( DTaP-sIPV) . Methods Five anti-gens of DTaP were adsorbed onto different concentrations (0. 42 mg/ml, 0. 47 mg/ml and 0. 52 mg/ml) of aluminum hydroxide from different manufacturers through sequential and separate adsorption. Adsorbability, anti-pertussis toxin ( PT)/filamentous hemagglutinin ( FHA)/pertactin ( PRN)/diphtheria toxoid ( DT)/tet-anus toxoid ( TT) antibodies and the potency of vaccines were detected. Results The adsorbability of alu-minum hydroxide adjuvant slightly decreased with the reduction of concentration. No significant difference in potency and antibody level was observed between sequential and separate adsorption. Moreover, no signifi-cant difference in antibody level was observed between vaccines prepared with aluminum hydroxide adjuvant produced by General Chemical Corp and our institute. Conclusion Aluminum hydroxide adjuvant produced by our institute at the concentration of 0. 52 mg/ml and separate adsorption method are suitable for prepara-tion of DTaP-sIPV.

Objective:To explore the anti-inflammatory effect of pomegranate peel polyphenols on a rat auriclular model of acne and its mechanism of action.Methods:Totally, 36 specific-pathogen-free SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: blank group, model group, low-, medium- and high-dose pomegranate peel polyphenol groups and positive control group. In all groups except the blank group, 0.5 ml of 100% oleic acid was applied to the openings of bilateral auricular ducts once a day for 3 consecutive weeks, followed by subcutaneous injections of 50 μl of Propionibacterium acnes suspension at the oleic acid-applied sites once a day for 3 consecutive days, so as to establish a rat auriclular model of acne. After the model was confirmed to be successfully established by naked eyes, the low-, medium-, high-dose pomegranate peel polyphenol groups were topically treated with 0.5 mg of 1.4%, 2.8%, 5.6% (mass fraction) pomegranate peel polyphenol ointment respectively, the positive control group was topically treated with 0.5 mg of clindamycin hydrochloride gel, and the blank group and model group were topically treated with the same amount of distilled water. All the topical treatments were performed twice a day for 2 consecutive weeks. Twenty-four hours after the last topical treatment, abdominal aortic blood samples were collected, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was conducted to detect the serum level of interleukin 17 (IL-17) in rats; rat auricular tissues were resected, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to observe histopathological changes of the skin tissues in each group, and immunohistochemical study to determine the expression of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) , hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) , and retinoic acid-related orphan receptor-γt (RORγt) in local tissues. Data meeting the assumptions of homogeneity of variances were analyzed by using one-way analysis of variance, and those that did not meet the assumptions of homogeneity of variances were analyzed by using Kruskal-Wallis H test; multiple comparisons were performed by using least significant difference- t test. Results:Compared with the model group, the pomegranate peel polyphenol groups and positive control group showed marked improvement in cysts, desquamation, crusts and epidermal keratinization, and reduced infiltration with inflammatory factors in the dermis at the modeling site. The serum level of IL-17 was significantly lower in the low-, medium- and high-dose pomegranate peel polyphenol groups (61.03 ± 5.99 ng/L, 55.35 ± 2.24 ng/L, 54.35 ± 4.29 ng/L, respectively) , positive control group (48.11 ± 4.07 ng/L) and blank group (42.10 ± 5.62 ng/L) than in the model group (70.24 ± 3.30 ng/L; t = 3.12, 5.34, 5.70, 8.29, 10.54, respectively, all P<0.05) . Immunohistochemical study revealed that the HIF-1α expression level was significantly lower in the low-, medium- and high-dose pomegranate peel polyphenol groups (0.29 ± 0.05, 0.29 ± 0.03, 0.33 ± 0.02, respectively) and positive control group (0.30 ± 0.01) than in the model group (0.41 ± 0.04; t = 4.89, 5.50, 3.62, 5.21, respectively, all P<0.05) ; the RORγt expression level was significantly lower in the low- and high-dose pomegranate peel polyphenol groups (0.28 ± 0.02, 0.31 ± 0.04, respectively) than in the model group (0.35 ± 0.02, t = 3.68, 2.18, respectively, both P<0.05) ; there was no significant difference in the mTOR expression level among these groups ( P = 0.119) . Conclusion:Pomegranate peel polyphenols could improve inflammatory reactions in the rat auriclular model of acne, which may be related to the down-regulation of HIF-1α/RORγt signaling pathway.

As a classic prescription for invigorating spleen and replenishing qi, Sijunzi Decoction has a good clinical efficacy in the treatment of gastric cancer. It can improve chemotherapy resistance, reduce the toxic and side effects of chemotherapy, promote postoperative recovery, enhance immunity, improve the nutritional status of patients, improve the quality of life of patients and prevent precancerous lesions. Network pharmacology studies have shown that Sijunzi Decoction exerts anti-gastric cancer effects through multiple active ingredients, multiple targets and multiple pathways, and quercetin may be the main active component in Sijunzi Decoction to exert anti-gastric cancer effects. The main mechanisms of Sijunzi Decoction in the treatment of gastric cancer include regulating the expression of cell cycle and apoptosis-related gene proteins, and inhibiting the proliferation, migration, invasion and gastric cancer stem cell characteristics of gastric cancer cells.

Objective:To evaluate the effects of a booster immunization with a candidate tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis combined vaccine (Tdap) in a rat model after primary vaccination with diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis and Sabin strain inactivated poliovirus combined vaccine (DTacP-sIPV) or diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, inactivated poliovirus and haemophilus type b combined vaccine (DTacP-IPV/Hib) for further preclinical study.Methods:Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups and respectively immunized with a self-developed DTacP-sIPV, a marketed DTacP-IPV/Hib and normal saline at 0, 1, and 2 months of age. Serum levels of antibody against each component in each group were detected before immunization and after each dose. A booster dose of the candidate Tdap was given 10 months after primary immunization. Serum levels of antibody against each component in each group were detected before, 1 month and 6 months after the booster immunization.Results:One month after three doses of primary immunization, the geometric mean titers (GMT, Log2) of antibodies against diphtheria toxoid (DT), tetanus toxoid (TT), pertussis toxin (PT), filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) and pertactin (PRN) in the DTacP-sIPV group were 17.41, 18.34, 18.11, 19.93 and 13.91, respectively, and the seroconversion rates of these components all reached 100%. Ten months after primary immunization, the GMTs of antibodies against DT, TT, PT, FHA and PRN decreased to 15.17, 14.26, 13.60, 14.51 and 10.39, respectively, and the seroconversion rates remained above 89%. One month after booster immunization, the GMTs of antibodies against DT, TT, PT and FHA in the DTacP-sIPV and DTacP-IPV/Hib groups were 16.49/17.26, 16.80/17.63, 16.70/17.74 and 18.48/19.26, respectively, and the seroconversion rates of these components all reached 100% with no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05). The GMTs of anti-PRN antibody in the DTacP-sIPV and DTacP-IPV/Hib groups were 13.07 and 11.00, and the seroconversion rates were 100% and 88%, which were higher in the DTacP-sIPV group than in the DTacP-IPV/Hib group ( P<0.05). Six months after booster immunization, the GMTs of antibodies against DT, TT, PT, FHA and PRN in the DTacP-sIPV and DTacP-IPV/Hib groups decreased to 15.74/14.87, 15.07/15.14, 14.84/15.73, 16.62/16.37 and 11.44/9.96, respectively, and the seroconversion rates remained above 88%. Conclusions:Booster vaccination with the candidate Tdap vaccine induces humoral immune response following primary immunization with DTacP-sIPV or DTacP-IPV/Hib in the Wistar rat model, while the antibody titer decreases with time.