Erhuang quzhi compounds is one of the protecting liver and inhibiting toxin prescriptions series summarized by Jinqi Yuan and other famous doctors of traditional Chinese medicine during the long-term clinical practice. It is very effective for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but its mechanism is not clear. This research investigated mechanism of Erhuang quzhi granules (EQG) in the treatment of NAFLD. All the animal welfare and experimental procedures are in accordance with the regulations of the Animal Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University. Mouse models of NAFLD were established by feeding with methionine and choline deficient diet (MCDD) for five weeks. While feeding MCDD, the treatment groups were given EQG (16.25 g·kg^-1·d^-1) and atorvastatin (ATO, 7.20 mg·kg^-1·d^-1) by gavage. The effects of EQG on serum biochemical indices, liver pathological changes, and inflammatory cytokines in mice of NAFLD were investigated. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), immunocytochemistry (ICH) and Western blot assays were used to detect the levels of mRNA and protein associated with nuclear factor kappa B/Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NF-κB/NLRP3) in liver. The results showed that EQG significantly reduced the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and improved the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). The result of hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining showed that EQG reduced lipid deposition in livers of mice. Meanwhile, EQG notably decreased the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-18 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and mRNA levels of NF-κB, NLRP3, IL-1β, TNF-α, down-regulated the expression of F4/80, IκB kinase β (IKKβ), NLRP3 and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC) and inhibited the activation of NF-κB and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1 (caspase-1). These findings announced that EQG could improve NAFLD via NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway possibly, which provides a theoretical basis for the further development and utilization of EQG in clinic.

Objective To explore the levels of neuron-specific enolase(NSE)in serum and cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) of children with convulsion,and its significance to the diagnosis of neuronal damage was evaluated.Methods Sixty patients were enrolled,and they were divided into 4 groups:non-nervous system disease group,peripheral nervous system disease group,brief convulsion group,and prolonged/status convulsion group.The levels of NSE in serum and CSF were detected in 4 groups,and the electroencephalography(EEG) and computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging(CT/MRI) examinations were taken to observe the changes in patients with convulsion.Results The levels of NSE in serum and CSF of children with convulsion increased significant,especially in the prolonged/status convulsion group.Changes of NSE levels in serum and CSF were similar.Meanwhile,significant changes were found in EEG between the brief convulsion group and prolonged/status convulsion group;but no significantly changes were found in CT/MRI between the 2 groups.Conclusions NSE detection might be valuable to the diagnosis for neuronal damage in early time.The changes of NSE levels are similar to those in EEG,which are more sensitive than the changes in CT/MRI.It is very important to combine the NSE detection in serum or CSF and EEG examination in early time after convulsion for judgement to the neuronal damage and prognosis.

Objective To investigate the effect of astilbin on expression of CTLA-4 in activated T cells of mouse heart transplantation model with acute rejection.Methods Cardiomyocytes of BALB/ c mouse and spleen cells of C57BL/6 mouse were separated.The cardiomyocytes(2?10~5/ml)as irri- tation cells and spleen cells(1?10~6/ml)as responsers were mixed and cultured.The model of mouse heart transplantation with acute rejection in vitro was established.Three groups were set up:control group,Astilbin(15/?g/ml) group,Astilbin+anti-CTLA-4 mAb 9H10 (30?g/ml)group.Apoptosis of T cells was observed by TUNEL.The expression of CTLA-4 in activated T cells was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot.Results Apoptosis indexes of activated T cells in Astilbin group were sig- nificantly higher than those in the control group(73.4%?12.5% vs 35.1%?9.2%,P＜0.01). The expression of CTLA-4 in Astilbin group was significantly higher than control group(P＜0.01), but there was no apparently difference between control group and Astilbin+CTLA-4 mAb group(P＞0.05).Conclusion Astilbin induces apoptosis of activated T cells in heart transplantation,which may be partially related to its enhanced expression of CTLA-4.

Base on the Kawakita powder compression equation, a general theoretical model for predicting the compression characteristics of multi-components pharmaceutical powders with different mass ratios was developed. The uniaxial flat-face compression tests of powder lactose, starch and microcrystalline cellulose were carried out, separately. Therefore, the Kawakita equation parameters of the powder materials were obtained. The uniaxial flat-face compression tests of the powder mixtures of lactose, starch, microcrystalline cellulose and sodium stearyl fumarate with five mass ratios were conducted, through which, the correlation between mixture density and loading pressure and the Kawakita equation curves were obtained. Finally, the theoretical prediction values were compared with experimental results. The analysis showed that the errors in predicting mixture densities were less than 5.0% and the errors of Kawakita vertical coordinate were within 4.6%, which indicated that the theoretical model could be used to predict the direct compaction characteristics of multi-component pharmaceutical powders.

To investigate the effects of Shenqi Jiedu Decoction (SQJDD), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on expressions of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), smad2 and smad3 proteins in renal tissues of rats with chronic renal failure (CRF) induced by adenine, and to explore the mechanisms of SQJDD in treating CRF.

Objective To explore the developmental toxicity of tributyltin chloride and the effects on sex hormone in female offspring rats through maternal gestation exposure. Methods Pregnant Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups, 4 in each group. They were treated with TBTC by gavage at the dose of 0, 1, 2.5 and 5 mg/kg bw respectively from days 12-20 of gestation. 10 female offspring rats were randomly selected from each group and killed on postnatal day 70. The liver, kidney, uterus and ovary were weighed and the organ indexes were calculated. Pathological examination for liver, kidney, uterus and ovary were performed. Follicle stimulating hormone(FSH), luteotropic hormone(LH), testosterone(T) and estradiol(E2) in serum was determined by radioimmunity method. Results Increase of body weight in 2.5, 5 mg/kg bw groups significantly decreased(P

Objective To investigate T-cell receptor(TCR)ζchain gene expression level in peripheral blood T cells from patients with multiple myeloma(MM),thereby to estimate the feature of T cells activation status.Methods Real-time PCR with SYBR Green I technique Was used for detecting TCR ζchain expression level in peripheral blood mononuelear cells(PBMC)of 24 cages with MM and 24 normal individuals.β2-microglobulin(β2M)gene expression was used as an endogenous reference.Relative changes in TCRζchain expression level were analyzed by the 2-△α×100%method between patients with MM and normal individuals.Results Compared with normal individuals,TCRζchain gene expression was obviously down regulated in PBMC from patients with MM(P=0.019).The expression level of TCR ζchain gene is not significantly age-associated in MM patients[(1.83±1.72)%,(3.46±2.75)%](P=0.525).Conclusion This is the first description in the expression feature of TCRζchain gene in MM patients.TCRζchain expression Was decreased in most of MM patients,which might be related to celhar immunodeficiency.

AIM To study the effect of rutoside (Ru) on blood rheology in murine acute pancreatitis (AP). METHODS Blood rheology, enzymatic levels and pathology of the pancreas were evaluated in all Wistar rats. The pancreatic sections were scored and compared. RESULTS In AP group, the whole blood viscosity, the plasma viscosity, the eryrocyte sedimentation, the hematocrit, the agglutinatin index of red blood cell, and the rigidity index were significantly elevated. The pancreatitis injury was described as evident pancreatic acinar necrosis and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Ru 120, 60, 30 mg?kg -1 (sc) ameliorated the abovementioned adverse pathophysiological changes seen in the control group. CONCLUSION During the course of AP, rutoside ameliorated the blood rheology abnormality and showed a protective effect on pancreatic tissue.

The progress in integrative medicine (IM) of coronary heart disease (CHD) in 2013 was summarized in this paper. Gratifying progress has taken place both in clinical studies and basic research of IM on CHD during 2013. We got some innovation in Chinese medical etiologies and pathogeneses of CHD. We also got some improvement in researches on Chinese medical syndromes in various fields. Many clinical studies have proved Chinese medicine and pharmacy is playing a role in preventing and improving CHD patients. In-depth basic researches on preventing and treating CHD by IM are gradually undergoing. Acting targets and mechanism are further clarified. Besides, we also pointed out the developing tendency of CHD researches and the current deficiency in CHD researches, hoping to provide reference for further studies in this field.
Coronary Disease ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine

Base on the Kawakita powder compression equation, a general theoretical model for predicting the compression characteristics of multi-components pharmaceutical powders with different mass ratios was developed. The uniaxial flat-face compression tests of powder lactose, starch and microcrystalline cellulose were carried out, separately. Therefore, the Kawakita equation parameters of the powder materials were obtained. The uniaxial flat-face compression tests of the powder mixtures of lactose, starch, microcrystalline cellulose and sodium stearyl fumarate with five mass ratios were conducted, through which, the correlation between mixture density and loading pressure and the Kawakita equation curves were obtained. Finally, the theoretical prediction values were compared with experimental results. The analysis showed that the errors in predicting mixture densities were less than 5.0% and the errors of Kawakita vertical coordinate were within 4.6%, which indicated that the theoretical model could be used to predict the direct compaction characteristics of multi-component pharmaceutical powders.
Cellulose ; chemistry ; Excipients ; chemistry ; Fumarates ; chemistry ; Lactose ; chemistry ; Models, Chemical ; Powders ; chemistry ; Pressure ; Starch ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical