Multi-component traditional Chinese medicines are an innovative research mode for traditional Chinese medicines. Currently, there are many design methods for developing multi-component traditional Chinese medicines, but their common feature is the lack of effective connection of the traditional Chinese medicine theory. In this paper, the authors discussed the multi-component traditional Chinese medicine design methods based on medicinal property combination modes, provided the combination methods with the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine for the prescription combinations, and proved its feasibly with hypertension cases.
Animals ; Antihypertensive Agents ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo study the simple infection and super/co-infection of HAV-HEV, HGV in patients with viral hepatitis.

METHODSUsing EIA method to detect anti-HAV IgM, HBV serum markers, anti-HCV IgM, anti-HDV IgM, anti-HEV IgM, anti-HGV IgM in viral hepatitis patients with different clinical types.

RESULTSSeventy-three percent patients (154/210) had HBV infection markers, twenty-nine percent patients (61/210) had HAV infection marker, eight percent patients (17/210) had HCV, HDV infection markers, ten percent patients (21/210) had HEV infection and seven percent patients (15/210) had HGV infection. Only nine percent patients (20/210) had viral hepatitis serum markers negative. In all clinical types, sixty-one percent patients had only one type hepatitis virus infection, thirty-two percent patients had two types of hepatitis virus super/co-infection, six percent patients had three types of hepatitis virus super/co-infection. Super/co-infection often occurred in patients who had cirrhosis or hepatic failure.

CONCLUSIONHBV and HAV infection is very common in viral hepatitis patients, whereas HCV, HDV, HEV and HGV infection is relatively low; double super/co-infection of HAV-HEV, HGV frequently occurs in severe patients with viral hepatitis.

Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; GB virus C ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis A ; epidemiology ; virology ; Hepatitis A virus ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis E ; epidemiology ; virology ; Hepatitis E virus ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis Viruses ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; epidemiology ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Superinfection

Adult ; Amphotericin B ; therapeutic use ; Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Aspergillosis ; drug therapy ; virology ; Aspergillus ; pathogenicity ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Pleurisy ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; virology ; Superinfection ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo examine the protective effect of ecdysterone (ECR) against beta-amyloid peptide fragment(25-35) (Abeta(25-35))-induced PC12 cells cytotoxicity, and to further explore its mechanism.

METHODSExperimental PC12 cells were divided into the Abeta group (treated by Abeta(25-35) 100 micromol/L), the blank group (untreated), the positive control group (treated by Vit E 100 micromol/L after induction) and the ECR treated groups (treated by ECR with different concentrations of 1, 50 and 100 micromol/L). The damaged and survival condition of PC12 cells in various groups was monitored by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and MTT assay. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured by fluorometric assay to indicate the lipid peroxidation. And the antioxidant enzymes activities in PC12 cells, including superoxide dismutases (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), were detected respectively.

RESULTSAfter PC12 cells were treated with Abeta(25-35) (100 micromol/L) for 24 hrs, they revealed a great decrease in MTT absorbance and activity of antioxidant enzymes, including SOD, CAT and GSH-Px as well as a significant increase of LDH activity and MDA content in PC12 cells (P < 0.01). When the cells was pretreated with 1-100 micromol/L ECR for 24 hrs before Abeta(25-35) treatment, the above-mentioned cytotoxic effect of Abeta(25-35) could be significantly attenuated dose-dependently, for ECR 50 micromol/L, P < 0.05 and for ECR 100 micromol/L, P < 0.01. Moreover, ECR also showed significant inhibition on the Abeta(25-35) induced decrease of SOD and GSH-Px activity, but not on that of CAT.

CONCLUSIONECR could protect PC12 cells from cytotoxicity of Abeta(25-35), and the protective mechanism might be related to the increase of SOD and GSH-Px activities and the decrease of MDA resulting from the ECR-pretreatment.

Amyloid beta-Peptides ; toxicity ; Animals ; Catalase ; analysis ; Ecdysterone ; pharmacology ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; analysis ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; analysis ; Malondialdehyde ; analysis ; PC12 Cells ; Peptide Fragments ; toxicity ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo compare the therapeutic effect of Compound Recipe Gengniankang ( GNK) with that of hormone replacement treatment (HRT) on climacteric female rats with osteoporosis, and to investigate the roles of estrogen and estrogen receptors in the mechanism of osteoporosis.

METHODSClimacteric female rats with osteoporosis were chosen and divided into three groups (GNK group, HRT group and control group). Apoptosis of ovarian granulose cells was measured by terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Serum level of estradiol (E(2)), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) were determined by the method of radioimmunoassay (RIA). Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCT) technology was used to evaluate the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) in bone. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by double energy X-ray absorption (DEXA).

RESULTSIn the climacteric rats, BMD, serum E(2), ER mRNA expression in bone decreased remarkably, and serum FSH, LH and apoptosis of ovarian granulose cells increased obviously. After treating with GNK, all the indexes were reversed except serum E(2). The increase of E(2) was not significant.

CONCLUSIONGNK is effective on climacteric osteoporosis female rats. Its role is performed not by increasing serum E(2) but by enhancing ER in the bone and inhibiting apoptosis of ovarian granulose cells. GNK can deter further exhaustion of ovarian function.

Age Factors ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Bone and Bones ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Climacteric ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Hormones ; blood ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Osteoporosis ; metabolism ; Ovary ; drug effects ; physiology ; Rats ; Receptors, Estrogen ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo investigate dendritic cell (DC) malfunctions in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and try some means to restore the function in vitro.

METHODSTwelve CHB patients and 10 healthy people were enrolled in the study. Phenotype analysis and allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR) assay of DC from these subjects were made. Enzyme-linked ELISpot method for detecting IFN-gamma-producing CD8 (+) T cells were used to evaluate the efficacy of DC loaded in vitro with HBsAg or HBcAg.

RESULTSDC from patients had a lower expression of co-stimulatory molecules and impaired AMLR capacity, but was restored partially by cytokine cocktail in vitro. Mature DC loaded with HBsAg or HBcAg showed a greater capacity for IFN-gamma-production than immature DC.

CONCLUSIONMalfunction of DC from CHB patients may be rescued by a cocktail of cytokines, and therapeutic DC vaccines loaded with HBV protein might be helpful to treat CHB patients.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytokines ; immunology ; pharmacology ; Dendritic Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; virology ; Female ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; immunology ; Hepatitis B virus ; immunology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Viral Proteins ; immunology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of compound gengniankang (GNK) in regulating the endocrine and immune functions in aged female rats.

METHODSAged female rats with osteoporosis were selected as the object for observation and healthy young rats were taken for control. Animals were administered by GNK and nilestriol respectively, through gastric perfusion, for 3 months to observe the therapeutic effect of drug treatment on osteoporosis and the regulatory effect on endocrine and immune function. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by double energy X-ray absorption technique, serum levels of estradiol (E2), follicule-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were determined by RIA, T-cell subsets and apoptosis in spleen were detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTSIn aged rats with osteoporosis, the BMD decreased, serum level of E2 lowered, FSH and LH levels raised, splenic CD4+, CD4+/CD8+ significantly decreased and T-cell apoptosis rate significantly elevated. GNK could increase the BMD, lower the FSH and LH levels, but showed no significant effect on E2 level. It could increase the CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ ratio to nearby the normal range, and reduce the apoptosis of T-cells.

CONCLUSIONGNK has therapeutic effect on osteoporosis in aged rats, and is able to regulate the endocrine and enhance the immune function in organism.

Absorptiometry, Photon ; Aging ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Osteoporosis ; blood ; immunology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes ; pathology

AIMTo observe the behavior in learning and memory and the expression of c-fos gene from the brain of rats induced by beta-AP25-35, and the intervention of ecdysterone, in order to explore the protective mechanism of ecdysterone on the dysfunction of learning and memory of the rat induced by beta-AP25-35.

METHODSMicroinjection of beta-AP25-35 into hippocampus induced learning and memory dysfunction of rats. The learning and memory of rats were observed by Morris Water Maze. The expression of c-fos gene in the brain was detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe results of Morris Water Maze showed that after rats were microinjected beta-AP25-35 into hippocampus, the rats in model group took longer latency and searching distance compared with the ones in control group (P < 0.01), and the rats in treated group (ECR 4 mg x kg(-1), ECR 8 mg x kg(-1) and nimodipine 7.2 mg x kg(-1)) took shorter latency and searching distance, especially the ECR 8 mg kg(-1) group (P < 0.01). At the same time, after the 5 days training, there was a higher expression of c-fos in hippocampus and cortex from the rats in control group than that in model group (P < 0.01), but in the treated group, there was a relatively higher expression of c-fos, especially the ECR 8 mg x kg(-1) group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONMicroinjection of beta-AP25-35 into the rat hippocampus resulted in dysfunction of learning and memory. Ecdysterone was shown to improve the learning and memory of the rats and increase the expression of c-fos. Increasing the expression of c-fos is probably one of the most molecular mechanism of its protection.

Amyloid beta-Peptides ; antagonists & inhibitors ; toxicity ; Animals ; Ecdysterone ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression ; Genes, fos ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Microinjections ; Peptide Fragments ; antagonists & inhibitors ; toxicity ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective　To observe the changes of glucocorticoi d receptor (GR) in hepatic cytoplasm in rats after scalding-induced pathologic al stress and its regulation. Methods　The receptor binding capa city (R0) and the apparent dissociation constant (Kd) of GR in hepatic cytopla sm of normal, low-degree and heavy-degree scalded rats were measured with rad io-ligand binding assay, with ［3H］ dexamethasone as ligand. The changes of R0 and Kd of GR were regulated by injections of anti-rat TNFα, IL-1β a ntibodies, α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), and KPV peptide( Ac- D-Lys-L-Pro-D-Val) respectively in vivo. Results　The R 0 of GR in hepatic cytoplasm in rats 12 h after heavy-degree scalding ［Mass action robust: （205.52±30.14） fmol/mg; Scatchard: （208.45±30.78） fmol/mg ］were significantly lower than that of control group ［Mass action robust:（307 .86±24.22） fmol/mg;Scatchard:（306.71±27.96） fmol/mg］(P<0.01), but no s ignificant difference was found in the R0 of GR between the control and the ra ts 12 h after low-degree scalding ［Mass action robust: （285.19±16.62） fmol/ mg ; Scatchard: （296.64±16.06） fmol/mg］. The injection of anti-rat TNFα, IL-1β antibodies, α-MSH and KVP all prevented the decline of R0 of GR in h epatic cytoplasm in rats with severe scalding. Conclusion　The injections of anti-rat TNFα, IL-1β antibodies, α-MSH or KPV can attenuate the reduction of GR in rat hepatic cytoplasm caused by severe scalding-induced pathological stress to some extent.

Objective To develop a new method for the simultaneous determination of seven polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs)in water by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction based on solidification of floating organic droplet(DLLME-SFO)with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS). Methods The experimental conditions of DLLME-SFO were determined with dodecanol as extractant solvent, methanol as dispersive solvent, inonic strength increased by adding 8% NaCl. After vortexed for 1 min and centrifuged at 4 000 r/min for 5 min, the water sample was cooled down in an ice bath till dodecanol became solid and formed a small ball. Then the solidified dodecanol phase was transferred, and directly detected by GC-MS method after it melted. Results Good linearities were obtained for the seven polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons within the range of 5 μg/L-200 μg/L. The correlation coefficients were above 0.996. The detection limits ranged from 1.6 ng/L to 3.2 ng/L. The average recoveries ranged from 86.2% to 105% and the RSDs from 3.8% to 9.4%. Conclusion The method is sensitive, fast and simple. It has the advantage of little organic solvent consumption, which is friendly to environment and suitable for the detection of seven PAHs in water.