Objective To observe therapeutic effects of HuGanJieXian decoction on rats hepatic fibrosis induced by tetrachloride. Methods Rat models of hepatic fibrosis were constructed by intraperitoneal injection of tetrachloride.HuGanJieXian decoction composed of low, middle, and high dose curcumin were given to these rats respectively at the same time. Sho-saiko-to compound treatment group and Fufangbiejiarangan Tablets treatment group were made as positive control groups. After twelve weeks, all rats were executed. Serum samples were kept for measuring serum levels of PC-Ⅲ, LN, and HA. Left livers were extirpated for pathologic examination including H.E and Masson stainings. Grade of hepatic fibrosis were evaluated according to SSS system. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) of supematant centrifugated from hepatic tissue homogenate were detected. Results Serum levels of PC-Ⅲ, LN, and HA were depressed obviously in decoction groups compared with those of fibrotic group (P<0.05) , especially in the low-dose curcumin group.HuGanJieXian Decoction could increase the level of SOD and decrease the level of MDA (P<0.05) , especially in the low-dose curcumin group. Staining of H. E and Masson showed that degrees of hepatic fibrosis in decoction groups were improved obviously compared with that of the fibrotic group. Conclusion HuGanJieXian Decoction can improve rat hepatic fibrosis, the mechanism of this effect may be associated with protecting hepatic cell membrane and anti- peroxidative damage.

To analyze and compare the protective effects of active components in different ethyl acetate extracts (EAEEPs) from Eclipta prostrate, in order to study the comparison of materials bases protecting normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells. The MTT assay was taken to compare the protective effect of different EAEEPs on cigarette smoke extracts (CSE) -induced NHBE cells. The ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) was applied to analyze the content of phenolic acid, coumaric grass ether and flavonoid in EAEEPs. According to the results, all of the eight EAEEPs (0-200 mg x L(-1)) showed certain protective effect on NHBE cells, with statistical difference. Specifically, the total mass of EAEEP VII (89.15 mg x L(-1)) and EAEEP VIII (57.44 mg x L(-1)), which showed the strongest activity, was not the highest, while EAEEP III (132.25 mg x L(-1)) displayed the highest total mass. In the combination with the "component structure" theory, the analysis showed a significant difference in the mass structure among phenolic acid, coumaric grass ether and flavonoid in EAEEP VIII and EAEEP VIII, which were 1.0: 1. 0: 0.5 and 1.0: 1.9: 0.8, respectively. The results suggested a specific optimal "component structure" relationship may exist in EAEEP, which could provide reference for the material base study and quality control.
Bronchi ; cytology ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Eclipta ; chemistry ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Humans ; Protective Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; adverse effects

BACKGROUNDMicrovascular decompression (MVD) is a well accepted surgical treatment strategy for trigeminal neuralgia (TN) with satisfying long-term outcome. However, considerable recurrent patients need more effective management. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of radiofrequency thermocoagulation rhizotomy (RTR) on patients with recurrent TN after MVD.

METHODSTotally 62 cases of recurrent TN after MVD undergoing RTR from January 2000 to January 2010 were retrospectively evaluated. Based on surgical procedures undertaken, these 62 cases were classified into two subgroups: group A consisted of 23 cases that underwent traditional RTR by free-hand; group B consisted of 39 cases that underwent RTR under the guidance of virtual reality imaging technique or neuronavigation system. The patients in group A were followed up for 14 to 70 months (mean, 40 ± 4), and those in group B were followed up for 13 to 65 months (mean, 46 ± 7). Kaplan-Meier analyses of the pain-free survival curves were used for the censored survival data, and the log-rank test was used to compare survival curves of the two groups.

RESULTSAll patients in both groups A and B attained immediate pain relief after RTR. Both groups attained good pain relief rate within the first two years of follow-up: 92.3%, 84.6% and 82.6%, 69.6% respectively (P > 0.05). After 2 years, the virtual reality or neuronavigation assisted RTR group (group B) demonstrated higher pain relief rates of 82.5%, 76.2% and 68.8% at 3, 4 and 5 years after operation respectively, while those in group A was 57.2%, 49.6%, and 36.4% (P < 0.05). Low levels of minor complications were recorded, while neither mortalities nor significant morbidity was documented.

CONCLUSIONSRTR was effective in alleviating the pain of TN cases suffering from unsuccessful MVD management. With the help of virtual reality imaging technique or neuronavigation system, the patients could attain better long-term pain relief.

Adult ; Aged ; Electrocoagulation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microvascular Decompression Surgery ; Middle Aged ; Radiosurgery ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhizotomy ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Trigeminal Neuralgia ; surgery ; therapy

Objective To study the influence and dose effect of ultrasound on the contraction of uterine smooth muscle in rats.Methods Estradiol benzoate was injected into rats three days before conducting an in-vitro experiment.Their uteri were resected and irradiated with ultrasound(0.8 MHz,3 W/cm~2,0-40 rain).The contrac- tion frequency and amplitude were recorded using an MS-302 biological experiment system.Results It could be seen that the contraction frequency and amplitude,and general contractile activity were significantly increased during ultrasonic irradiation(P＜0.01).The increased contraction frequency and amplitude lasted for ten minutes,and then the normal contraction pattern resumed.The contraction frequency as well as the percentage change in eontraction fre- quency were highest during the first 15 minutes of ultrasonic irradiation;the contraction amplitude as well as the per- centage change in amplitude were highest during 40 minutes of ultrasonic irradiation.Contraction activity was at its highest for 30 minutes,but the percentage change in activity was highest for 20 minutes.Conclusions Ultrasound can induce uterine smooth muscle contraction in rats.This biological effect is related to the irradiation time.

Background Age-related cataract is one of the common causes of blindness.Although the pathophysiology of age-related cataract is far from clearly understood,it is well accepted that DNA damage plays an important role in the disease pathogenesis.Objective The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the DNA damage in peripheral lymphocytes of age-related cataract.Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out.This study complied Declaration of Helsinki and approved by Ethic Committee of Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University.Written informed consent was obtained from each subject.Two hundred and eleven patients with agerelated cataract and 147 normal subjects were enrolled from a “ Jiangsu Eye Study:Funing 2011 Eye Disease Epidemic Survey”.All the subjects aged from 50 through 80 years with matched age and gender between the two groups.The percentage of tail DNA and Olive tail moment (OTM) were detected by comet assay to assess the extent of DNA damage in peripheral lymphocytes.Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS 17.0 software,and the differences of the percentage of tail DNA and OTM were compared between the age-related cataract group and normal control group by independent sample t test as well as among the 50-59 years group,60-69 years group and ≥70 years group by one-way analysis of variance.Results Comet assay showed a round lymph cell with the clear border in the normal group;while in the age-related cataract group,the cell was bigger with a comet-like tail.The percentage of tail DNA and OTM in peripheral lymphocytes were (21.75 ± 3.51) ％ and 6.54 ± 1.65 in the age-related cataract group,and those in the normal control group were (9.31 ±3.60)％ and 2.18 ± 1.10,respectively,with significant differences between them (t =32.67,P =0.00 ; t =28.02,P =O.00).In the 50-59 years subgroup of the age-related cataract group,the percentage of tail DNA and OTM in peripheral lymphocytes were (20.04±2.86) ％ and 5.92± 1.14,and in the 60-69 years subgroup of the age-related cataract group,the percentage of tail DNA and OTM in peripheral lymphocytes were (20.77 ±2.93) ％ and 6.13 ± 1.14,which were significantly reduced in comparison with (22.79 ± 3.67)％ and 6.95±1.91 of the ≥70years subgroup(TailDNA％:q=2.75,P=0.00; q=2.02,P=0.00;OTM:q=1.03,P =0.02 ; q =0.82,P =0.00).Conclusions The pathogenesis and development of age-related cataract probably is associated with DNA damage.

OBJECTIVETo observe the synergistic effect of Qilian decoction (QLD) with corresponding hypoglycemic agents on insulin sensitivity in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 and its influence on related inflammatory cytokines.

METHODSSixty-two patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 were selected and randomly divided into two groups, they were treated with hypoglycemic agent in routine, and QLD was given orally, one dose taken in twice a day. Parameters as fasting blood glucose, insulin, peptide C, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6) were measured before and after treatment, and insulin sensitive index (ISI) was also calculated.

RESULTSThe level of fasting blood glucose lowered after treatment in both groups (P<0.01); levels of fasting insulin, peptide C, ISI, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and CRP significantly lowered after treatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the effect was better than that in the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONQLD could improve the insulin resistance and lower the levels of related inflammatory cytokines.

Aged ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Insulin ; blood ; therapeutic use ; Insulin Resistance ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peptides ; blood ; Phytotherapy ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

We revisited the "Xiao Chaihu Decoction event (XCHDE)" occurred in late 1980s in Japan and the Bupleuri Radix related adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports in China After careful review, comparison, analysis and evaluation, we think the interstitial pneumonitis, drug induced Liver injury (DILI) and other severe adverse drug envents (ADEs) including death happened in Japan is probably results from multiple factors, including combinatory use of XCHDE with interferon, Kampo usage under modern medicine theory guidance, and use of XCHD on the basis of disease diagnosis instead of traditional Chinese syndrome complex differentiation. There are less ADE case reports related to XCHD preparation in China compared to Japan, mostly manifest with hypersensitivity responses of skin and perfuse perspiration. The symptoms of Radix Bupleuri injection related ADEs mainly manifest hypersensitivity-like response, 2 cases of intravenous infusion instead of intramuscular injection developed hypokalemia and renal failure. One case died from severe hypersensitivity shock. In Chinese literatures, there is no report of the interstitial pneumonitis and DILI associated with XCHDG in Japan. So far, there is no voluntary monitoring data and large sample clinical research data available. The author elaborated the classification of "reevaluation" and clarified "re-evaluation upon events" included the reaction to the suspected safety and efficacy events. Based on the current status of the clinical research on the Radix Bupleuri preparations, the author points out that post-marketing "re-evaluation upon suspected event" is not only a necessity of continuous evaluation of the safety, efficacy of drugs, it is also a necessity for providing objective clinical research data to share with the international and domestic drug administrations in the risk-benefit evaluation. It is also the unavoidable pathway to culture and push the excellent species and famous brands of TCM to the international market, in that it enhances the pharmaceutical manufactures the ability to control enterprise risk and eliminate the negative impact on traditional Chinese medicine. With the widely used and ADR report concentrated Radix Bupleuri injection as an example, the author provide a new approach to post-marketing clinical research.
Bupleurum ; chemistry ; Drug Compounding ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; etiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Product Surveillance, Postmarketing ; methods ; Safety

OBJECTIVETo establish human colorectal crypt cell line.

METHODSColorectal crypt cells were separated from human fetal gut by dispase I digestion, AKP-negative cells from fetal colorectal crypt were collected and cultured on Matrigel matrix. Subsequently the primary cultured cells were transfected with recombinant retrovirus containing human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and simian virus 40 large T antigen (SV40 LT) in 48 h. The characterization of immortalized cells was identified after the transfection and cells were screened with antibiotics for 12 approximately 16 weeks and expanded.

RESULTSMucin, cytokeratin-pan, 8, 19 were presented in immortalized cells by immunohistochemical staining; ectopic expressions of both hTERT and SV40 LT were also found in immortalized cells by Western blotting. Agarose electrophoresis showed that the cells expressed Musashi-1 mRNA. No evidence of carcinogenesis was found in nude mouse experiment and soft-agarose cloning test.

CONCLUSIONThe immortalized human colorectal crypt cells were characterized and the established cell line may be an ideal target for carcinogenesis study in vitro.

Cell Line, Transformed ; Colon ; cytology ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; Fetus ; Humans ; RNA, Neoplasm ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Simian virus 40 ; immunology ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Telomerase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; Transfection ; methods

AIMTo explore the effect of remodeling and biomechanical properties after chronic treating with tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

METHODSThe spontaneously hypertensive rat(SHR) were given with BH4 chronically. The opening angle in the zero-stress state , wall-to-lumen area ratios (W/L) of thoracic aorta and the relationship between pressure and diameter (P-D) of mesenteric artery were measured by computer image analysis in 4, 16, and 26 week-old respectively.

RESULTSTreating with BH4 chronically from 4 weeks-old in SHR, there was a significant decrease in morphometric parameters of the thoracic aorta and an increase in the zero-stress state of opening angle of elastic artery. The P-D curve of mesenteric artery moved upward.

CONCLUSIONTreating with BH4 prevented the structure and function of artery from abnormal changing, including to attenuate the resistant vascular hypertrophy and recover the vascular elasticity and expansibility.

Animals ; Arteries ; physiopathology ; Arteriolosclerosis ; prevention & control ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Biopterin ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR

Objective To investigate the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, the expression of EBV latent membrane protein 1 ( LMP1 ) and oncogene bcl-2 in lung cancer patients. Methods EBER1 in 108 cases of lung cancer were detected with in situ hybridization. EBV positive and negative lung cancer tissues were analysed for the expression of LMP1 and Bcl-2 by immnohistochemistry. The average area (AA)and integral optical density (IA) of each sample was measured with the digital medical image analyzing system. ResultsIn 108 cases of lung cancer, 36 cases were EBER1 positive and 7 cases were LMP1positive. The expression of Bcl-2 was higher in EBV positive lung cancer tissues than that in EBV negative.The AA value was 58014. 23 ±6918.45 and 38156.22 ± 4096. 79, while the IA value was 11. 00 ± 1.48 and 8.03 ±0. 78 respectively. No statistic difference was fund in the expression of Bcl-2 betwen LMP1 positive and negative lung cancer tisssues. ConclusionEBV infection in lung cancer increased the expression of bcl-2, which may play a role in the occurrence or development of lung cancer. The increased expression of Bcl-2 may not be induced by LMP1. The exact mechanism need further study.