Objective To explore the role of p38MAPK and TGF?2 in the development of diabetic retinopathy.Methods Fifteen Hamsters were induced into diabetic models by intraperitoneal injection of Streptozotocin(40 mg/kg once a day) for 3 d and 13 Hamsters were successfully established,whose blood glucose was over 13.5 mmol/L.Ten Hamsters as controls were intraperitoneally injected of physical saline of the same volume.At 16th week after induction,the total RNA of retina from all sacrificed Hamsters was collected.The mRNA expressions of p38MAPK,TGF?2 in retina were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and their protein levels by Western blotting.Results The mRNA expressions of p38MAPK,TGF?2 in retina were of high tendency and their protein levels increased.Conclusion p38MAPK signal pathway may involve in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy.

Professor LIU Bi-chen has 60 years' experience in the traditional Chinese medicine.He possesses the unique theories,rich clinical experience and excellent clinical effect.He has made contributions to the Pediatrics of traditional Chinese medicine.The article tries to summarize the essence of LIU Bi-chen's clinical experience,as to show the regulation and characteristics and give introduction to the reader.it is mainly consists of the thought of cure from the lung、shaoyang theory、medicinal formular、applied of arctium fruit.etc.

Objective To evaluate the effects of mild hypothermia therapy on cerebral function and edema as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI ) during the first 72 hours after restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC)in a porcine model.Methods Ventricular fibrillation was induced in 33 Inbred Wuzhishan miniature swine.After ventricular fibrillation untreated for 8 min,standard CPR was initiated and 30 animals got ROSC.The ROSC animals were randomly (random number)assigned to normothermia group (n=15 ) and hypothermia group (n =15 ).The hypothermia group immediately received endovascular cooling to regulate temperature to 33 ℃,which was maintained for 12 h,followed by passive rewarming at 0.5 ℃/h to 37 ℃.The two groups were scanned to get Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)at baseline (before experiment),6 h,12 h,24 h,and 72 h after ROSC.The statistical analysis was carried out with Student t test,One-way repeated-measures and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.Results Compared with the normothermia group,the hypothermia group exhibited a higher 72-h survival rate (73.3% vs.40%,P<0.05),lower neurological deficit scores (43.81 vs.119.50;P<0.01),a lesser decrease in the apparent diffusion coefficient during DWI and milder cerebral edema on DWI image. Conclusions Cerebral edema occurred at early stage after ROSC.Cerebral edema was worst at 6 hours after ROSC and then subsided gradually.Hypothermia therapy could reduce cerebral edema and produce a protective effect on neurological function.MRI could effectively reflect the underlying trend of cerebral injury of swine within the first 72 h after ROSC,and demonstrated that hypothermia could reduce brain edema, increase cerebral blood flow,and reduce the production of toxic metabolites.DWI could monitor brain injury after resuscitation and could be used to evaluate the efficacy of hypothermia intervention dynamically.

This study aims to establish a new method for quality evaluation of Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix by simultaneous determination of five iridoids (loganic acid, 6'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosylgentiopicroside, swertiamarin, gentiopicroside, sweroside), and to detect five iridoids in the root of eight species (Gentiana macrophylla, G. straminea, G. crassicaulis, G. dahurica, G. robusta, G. waltonii, G. lhassica, and G. tibetica). The separation was carried out on a Shiseido SPOLAR C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) column eluted with mobile phase of water containing 0.04% formic acid (A) and acetonitrile (B) in a gradient program. The flow rate was 0.8 mL x min(-1). The detect wavelength was set at 240 nm. The column temperature was kept at 30 degrees C. The volume of injection was 5 microL. The five iridoids were well separated with ideal linear correlations. The average recoveries were 97.35% - 106.23%. All the five iridoids were detected in the root of eight species. The contents of same species changed in a somewhat wider range. The contents in root of G. dahurica were lower than that in other species.
China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Gentianella ; chemistry ; Iridoid Glycosides ; analysis

We wished to study the intracellular transport of adenoviruses. We constructed a novel recombinant adenovirus in which the structural protein IX was labeled with a mini-singlet oxygen generator (miniSOG). The miniSOG gene was synthesized by overlapping extension polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cloned to the pcDNA3 vector, and expressed in 293 cells. Activation of miniSOG generated sufficient numbers of singlet oxygen molecules to catalyze polymerization of diaminobenzidine into an osmiophilic reaction product resolvable by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). To construct miniSOG-labelled recombinant adenoviruses, the miniSOG gene was subcloned downstream of the IX gene in a pShuttle plasmid. Adenoviral plasmid pAd5-IXSOG was generated by homologous recombination of the modified shuttle plasmid (pShuttle-IXSOG) with the backbone plasmid (pAdeasy-1) in the BJ5183 strain of Eschericia coli. Adenovirus HAdV-5-IXSOG was rescued by transfection of 293 cells with the linearized pAd5-IXSOG. After propagation, virions were purified using the CsC1 ultracentrifugation method. Finally, HAdV-5-IXSOG in 2.0 mL with a particle titer of 6 x 1011 vp/mL was obtained. Morphology of HAdV-5-IXSOG was verified by TEM. Fusion of IX with the miniSOG gene was confirmed by PCR. In conclusion, miniSOG-labeled recombinant adenoviruses were constructed, which could be valuable tools for virus tracking by TEM.
Adenoviruses, Human ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Arabidopsis Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Flavoproteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Phototropins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Singlet Oxygen ; chemistry ; Staining and Labeling ; Transfection

Human adenovirus type 41 (HAdV-41) is considered to be a "fastidious adenovirus". E1-deleted HAdV-41 cannot be rescued or amplified in 293 cells. To propagate recombinant HAdV-41 in 293 cells, the backbone plasmid pAdbone41 was reconstructed. That is, the E3 coding sequence of HAdV-41 was deleted and replaced with the HAdV-5 E4orf6 gene; and the E1A enhancer of HAdV-5 was inserted upstream of the E4 promoter of HAdV-41. Novel adenoviral plasmid pAd41E4EE-GFP was generated by homologous recombination of the shuttle plasmid pSh41-GFP with the modified backbone plasmid in the Escherichia coli BJ5183 strain. Adenovirus HAdV-41-E4EE-GFP was rescued by transfecting 293 cells with linearized pAd41E4EE-GFP. After seven rounds of propagation, viruses were purified by the CsCl ultracentrifugation method. HAdV-41-E4EE-GFP in 1.0 ml with a particle titer of 8 x 10(10) vp/mL was obtained which had a particle-to-infectious ratio of 50 : 1. The genome of HAdV-41-E4EE-GFP was confirmed by restriction analyses and polymerase chain reaction. These results showed that a novel HAdV-41 vector system was established in which recombinant HAdV-41 could be constructed and packaged in 293 cells.
Adenoviruses, Human ; genetics ; growth & development ; physiology ; Cell Line ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; physiology ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Plasmids ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombination, Genetic ; Transfection ; Virus Assembly

Objective To prepare and identify the andrographolide-hydroxypropyl-?-cyclodextrin(an- drographolide-HP-?-CD)inclusion compound.The tool ratio between andrographolide and HP-?-CD and the thermodynamic constants in inclusion were studied simultaneously.Methods The andrographolide- HP-?-CD inclusion compound was prepared with lyophilization technique.Meanwhile,the inclusion com- pound was identified by differential scanning calorimetry(DSC)methods,infrared spectrometry(IR),and X-ray diffraction(XRD),respectively.The tool ratio between host and guest moleculars and the thermo- dynamic constants during the inclusion process were also researched by phase solubility method.Results An 1:1 molar ratio inclusion complex of andrographolide with HP-?-CD could be formed at 25,35,and 45 C.The phase diagram was A_L type and the procedure of inclusion was a heat release process.Conclusion The solubility of andrographolide-HP-?-CD inclusion compound can be increased obviously by the above- mentioned preparing techniques.

Melatonin has been reported to inhibit hepatic fibrosis and the mechanism may be correlated to its anti-oxidant effect.Nevertheless,the mechanism is not completely identified.This study was conducted to investigate the effects of melatonin on TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway in liver fibrosis in rats.The liver fibrosis model was made by the subcutaneous injection of CCl4.The liver pathology changes were detected using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and Van Gieson (VG) staining.Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were measured with an autoanalyzer.Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities and levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydroxyproline (Hyp) in liver were evaluated by spectrophotometry.Expression levels of TGF-β1,Smad2/3,phosphorylated Smad2/3 (p-Smad2/3) and Smad7 in liver were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis.Results showed that melatonin suppressed CC14-induced liver fibrosis,along with an improvement in histological changes,significant decreases in pathologic grading sores and obvious decreases in Hyp levels in liver.Melatonin improved liver function indicated by decreased serum ALT and AST activities.In addition,melatonin exerted its anti-oxidant effects,as supported by decreased MDA levels and increased GPx activities in liver.Furthermore,melatonin inhibited TGF-β1/Smad pathway,as evidenced by decreased TGF-β1,Smad2/3 and p-Smad2/3 expression and increased Smad7 expression in liver.In conclusion,melatonin may suppress CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats via inhibiting TGF-β1/Smad pathway.It is possible for melatonin to be a potential reagent to treat and cure liver fibrosis.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of sinew-bone balancing manipulation in treating lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and offer clinical evidence to support the concept of paying equal attention to sinew and bone. Methods: Sixty LDH patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, with 30 cases in each group. The observation group was treated with the sinew-bone balancing manipulation, and the control group received conventional Tuina (Chinese therapeutic massage) manipulation. The clinical efficacy and posterior muscle chain tone effect were compared between the two groups by observing the visual analog scale (VAS) score, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, and posture-associated indicators. Results: The total effective rate was 86.7％ in the observation group, higher than 76.7％ in the control group, but the between-group difference in efficacy was statistically insignificant (P>0.05). After treatment, the VAS and JOA scores, angle-dependent muscle tone indicator of the posterior muscle chain, and lumbar posture symmetry showed significant changes in both groups (P<0.05). The VAS and JOA scores, angle-dependent muscle tone indicator of the posterior muscle chain, and lumbar posture symmetry in the observation group were significantly different from those in the control group after treatment (P<0.05), but the between-group difference in the general posture symmetry was statistically insignificant (P>0.05). Conclusion: Both the sinew-bone balancing and conventional Tuina manipulations can reduce pain in LDH patients, improve lumbar function, and adjust the angle-dependent muscle tone coefficient of the posterior muscle chain and lumbar posture symmetry; except for the general posture symmetry of the posterior muscle chain, the sinew-bone balancing manipulation wins out over the conventional Tuina manipulation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical value of Paroxetine combined with mid-frequency electrical pulse acupoint stimulation (EPAS) in the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE).

METHODSTotally 69 PE patients were equally assigned to receive oral Paroxetine 20 mg/d, mid-frequency EPAS, or oral Paroxetine 10 mg/d combined with mid-frequency EPAS (P + EPAS) , all for 8 weeks. We obtained the intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) and Chinese Index of Premature Ejaculation (CIPE-5) scores of the patients before and after treatment, and compared adverse reactions among the three groups of patients.

RESULTSOne patient of the Paroxetine group gave up treatment because of abdominal pain and nausea. Compared with the baseline, the patients in the Paroxetine, EPAS, and P + EPAS groups all showed markedly increased IELT ([0.92 ± 0.11] vs [4.07 ± 0.11] min, P < 0.01; [0.92 ± 0.12] VS [2.78 ± 0.17] min P < 0.05; [0.91 ± 0.09] vs [5.31 ± 0.13], P < 0.01) and decreased CIPE-5 scores (12.5 ± 3.0 vs 22.0 ± 2.1, P < 0.01; 12.8 ± 2.9 vs 19.5 ± 1.9, P > 0.05; 13.1 ± 2.8 vs 25.2 ± 2.1, P 0.01), with statistically significant differences between the P + EPAS group and the other two (P < 0.05). The total effectiveness rate was 95.7% in the P + EPAS group, remarkably higher than in the Paroxetine (72.7%, P < 0.05) and the EPAS group (47.8, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONOral Paroxetine combined with mid-frequency EPAS has a higher safety and efficacy than either Paroxetine or EPAS alone in the treatment of PE.

Acupuncture Points ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; methods ; Ejaculation ; Electroacupuncture ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Paroxetine ; therapeutic use ; Premature Ejaculation ; therapy ; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome