The zebra fish model, as an integral animal model, features small volume, high throughput, low cost, short cycle and reliable experimental results, thus has been widely used in medical studies. Traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) constitute a complex system, their active ingredients and action mechanisms are among study hotspots in during the development of modern TCMs. Along with the constant improvement of advanced technologies and methods, zebra fishes have been increasingly applied in studies on TCMs and shown advantages in active screening, and toxicity and metabolism studies. In this paper, TCM studies by using zebra fishes in recent years are summarized to provide new ideas and methods for basic studies on TCMs.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Models, Animal ; Zebrafish ; genetics ; growth & development ; metabolism

Objective To screen the valid plasmid targeted toGCN5 among the constructed recombinant plasmids;and to explore the effects of histone acetylizad modification in regulating MSCs differentiation.Methods Exstract the constructed plasmids and transfect them into MSCs induced by 5-aza.For 24 h,observe MSCs;detect the transfect efficiency by flow cytometry;detect expression of protein GCN5 by Western-blot;detect the HAT activity by ELISA.Results Transfect efficiency was more than 20%;Expression of protein GCN5 and HAT activity had no difference in group ZJ1 and ZJ2,but had a significant difference to that in group ZJ3.HAT activity of experiment group was significantly lower than that of control groups.Conclusion The inhibition state of histone acetylation results in plasmid ZJ3,it can inhibit the differentiation process of MSCs.The results provide data for the clinical application of MSCs transplantation.

Objective To study the expression of E-cadherin( E-cad), p-catenin(β-cat) in labial salivary glands of patients with primary Sj(o)gren's syndrome (pSS) in order to explore their role in pathogenesis. Methods Biopsies of labial salivary glands were obtained from 52 patients with pSS and 30 healthy controls. The immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of E-cad and β-cat. Anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies were measured. Semi-quantitative analysis was performed by image analysis software. Ultra-structural changes was used by electron-microscopic techniques. Results ① The area of expression, optical intensity and the accumulated optical intensity of the E-cad group [(2513±1086) μm2, 0.212±0.041, 566 ±297 ] were lower than normal controls. The expression level was reduced as the increase of lymphocyte infiltration focus. ② The area of expression, the optical density and the accumulated optical density of the β- cat group [(12 324±7883) μm2, 0.113±0.031, 566±297] was lower than those of the control group. The expression level was reduced as the increase of the lymphocyte infiltration focus. ③ The E-cad expression and the p-cat expression was positively correlated in the labial gland of patients with pSS. ④ Howev-er, there was difference in the expression of E -cad and β -cat between patients with positive SSA and negative SSA antibodies. Conclusion In salivary samples, the expression of both E-cad and p-cat in patients with pSS is lower than those of the controls. Anti-SSA/SSB antibodies are important parameters of pSS and they may be involved in the pathogenesis of pSS.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of matrine on lung injury associated with single lung ventilation during thorac-ic surgery,and to explore and consummate the prevention and control measures of single lung ventilation related lung injury.Methods To-tally 97 cases of non small cell lung cancer patients were randomly divided into the observation group ( 50 cases ) and the control group (47 cases) .The two groups of patients were given the same way of anesthesia.Patients of the observation group received intravenous drip of 2 mL matrine injection which were dissolved in 100 mL saline solution 30 min before anesthesia, while patients of the control group were merely given 100 mL saline solution 30 min before anesthesia.The pulmonary shunt fraction( Qs/Qt) ,xanthine oxidase( XOD) ,myeloperoxi-dase(MPO),superoxide dismutase(SOD) and nitric oxide(NO) of the following points in time were compared:before anesthesia induction (T0),the instant of OLV (T1),60 minutes after OLV(T2),120 minutes after OLV(T3),after lung inflation (T4),and 24 hours after opera-tion ( T5) .Results At the time of T1 to T4,pulmonary shunt fraction of the two groups were both significantly higher than that at T0 with sig-nificant difference ( P<0.05) ,but there was no statistical difference in terms of intra-group comparison at different time points ( P>0.05) .The PMN counts of the two groups at the time of T2 to T5 were significantly higher than that of T0 with significant difference (P<0.05),and the PMN counts at the time of T2 to T5 in the control group were significantly higher than that in the observation group with significant difference (P<0.05).The levels of serum XOD,MPO,and SOD at T2 to T4 in both of the two groups were significantly higher than that at T0 with signif-icant difference (P<0.05),and the serum levels of XOD,MPO and SOD at T2 to T4 in the control group were significantly higher than those in the observation group with significant difference (P<0.05).The levels of serum NO at T2 to T4 in both of the two groups were significantly higher than that at T0 with significant difference (P<0.05),and it was significantly lower than that in the observation group with significant difference (P<0.05).Conclusion The matrine pretreatment of lung injury in the patients with single lung ventilation has a protective effect, which can reduce the levels of oxidative stress and promote the NO release in patients by reducing PMN,XOD and MPO levels.

Objective To compare the detection results and estimate the bias of two hematocyte analyzers of different brands . Methods Sysmex XE‐2100 hematocyte analyzer and Abbott CD‐1700 hematocyte analyzer were chosen to be the reference instru‐ment and comparison instrument ,respectively .40 cases of fresh whole blood samples were collected for the detection of WBC ,RBC , HGB ,HCT ,MCV ,MCH ,MCHC ,and PLT respectively by the two instruments .The correlation coefficient (r) ,regression equa‐tions and bias were calculated and compared to determine the comparability of the two instruments .Results The precisions of two hematocyte analyzers were satisfactory .When fresh whole blood was used as calibrators ,the results of all eight items of the two in‐struments had good correlations (r>0 .975) ,and the relative bias was acceptable .Conclusion The results of two hematocyte ana‐lyzers are comparable .With fresh whole blood using in the comparison test between different hematocyte analyzers ,systematic er‐rors can be discovered in time .

Objective To establish an animal model for immunological contact urticaria in mice.Methods A total of 60 BALB/c mice were randomly and equally divided into 5 groups:anti-dinitrophenol IgE monoclonal antibody (anti-DNP IgE) + 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) group and anti-DNP IgE + trimellitic anhydride (TMA) group both injected with anti-DNP IgE via tail veins firstly,followed by topical treatment with DNFB and TMA respectively on the ears at 24 hours after the injection,DNFB group,TMA group and normal saline (NS) group all injected with NS via the tail vein firstly,followed by topical treatment with DNFB,TMA and NS on the ears 24 hours after the injection.In the following 14 days,mice were observed daily for the appearance of wheals and for scratching behavior.All the mice were sacrificed at the end of the study followed by determination of the percentage of degranulated mast cells and spleen index as well as observation of pathological changes.Results Wheals were observed in all the mice (12/12) in the anti-DNP IgE + DNFB group,some mice (8/12) in the anti-DNP IgE + TMA group,but not observed in any mice in the other 3 groups.Compared with the NS group,both the anti-DNP IgE + DNFB group and anti-DNP IgE + TMA group showed a significant increase in the percentage of degranulated mast cells (70.21％ ± 26.01％ and 54.25％ ± 39.57％ vs.14.45％ ±6.79％,F=14.41,P=0.000),spleen index (7.54 ± 1.56 and 7.87 ± 1.18 vs.5.37 ± 1.16,F=4.29,P=0.004) and scratching frequency ((31.58 ± 3.58)/h and (22.17 ± 3.81)/h vs.(2.00 ± 0.85)/h at 30 minutes,F =437.86,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion A stable mouse model for immunological contact urticaria can be established quickly by sensitization with anti-DNP IgE and challenge with DNFB.

Objective To observe the estrogenic activity of octylphenol(OP) in vitro and to conduct a preliminary study of its mechanism. Methods The estrogenic activity of OP was detected by cell proliferation test of MCF 7 cells in vitro and the mechanism was preliminarily studied by growth curve analysis, cell cycle analysis, tamoxifen(Tam) antagonistic test and apoptosis detection. Results OP was found to have estrogenic activity to stimulate the proliferation of MCF 7 cells. Cell cycle analysis revealed that the cell proliferation indexes of OP and 17? estradiol(E 2) were higher than those of alcohol. The estrogenic activities of OP and E 2 to stimulate the proliferation of MCR 7 could be antagonized by Tam. Both OP and E 2 could inhibit the cell apoptosis of MCF 7 cells. Conclusion OP possesses estrogenic activity to stimulate the proliferation of MCF 7 cells. The mechanism may be due to binding to the estrogen receptor, which may have effect on cell proliferation and apoptosis.

Objective: To compare two methods (microbial assay and radioimmunoassay) for measuring plasma folate concentrations, and to examine the relationship between plasma folate levels, and alcohol consumption, tobacco use and body mass index, and the risk of hyperhomocysteinemia in China. Methods: We used a microtiter plate microbial assay and a radioimmunoassay to measure the folate concentration in 88 plasma samples. After comparing the results of these two methods and fitting a regression line, we examined the geographical, seasonal, and gender differences in folate concentration of plasma collected from 2 422 adults in south and north areas in China, and evaluated the association of plasma folate concentration, with alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, and body mass index, and with the risk of hyperhomocysteinemia, using the data from the two assays. Results: The data from the two assays had a linear relationship ( r =0.879, P =0.000); the regression was Y =0.683 X +0.308 (where X and Y were nature logarithmic transformations of plasma folate by microbial assay and radioimmunoassay, respectively); however, the mean plasma folate levels by microbial assay were much higher than those obtained by radioimmunoassay. Both data sets showed similar plasma folate distributions among Chinese adults, associations with other risk factors, and the risk of hyperhomocysteinemia. We estimated that 19.9% of the Southerners and 67.1% of the Northerners had plasma folate concentrations by radioimmunoassay lower than the 6.8 nmol/L used to define plasma folate deficiency. Conclusion: There is a linear relationship between plasma folate levels determined by microbial assay and radioimmunoassay, but because of the different levels obtained in the two assays, it is difficult to use the microbial assay results to evaluate folate status at this time. The use of 10.5 nmol/L as a cut off for plasma folate deficiency by microbial assay needs further study.

Objective To assess the function of motor nerve fiber in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) by single-fiber conduction studies.Methods According to the diagnostic standard of DPN issued in Toronto meeting in 2009,on the basis of the result of peroneal nerve conventional conduction study,a total of 65 patients with DPN in the Department of Endocrinology and the Department of Neurology of Tianjin Third Central Hospital from October 2012 to October 2013 were enrolled into the study,from whom 33 had abnormal sensory conduction (sensory-diabetic peripheral neuropathy group,S-DPN group),32 had abnormal sensory motor conduction (sensory motor-diabetic peripheral neuropathy group,SM-DPN group).Single-fiber conduction velocity (SF-CV) and single-fiber distal motor latency (SF-DML)were detected in all subjects.The obtained results were compared with the data from 34 healthy volunteers (control group).The relationship of SF-CV,SF-DML and the duration of diabetes mellitus,fasting glucose,HbA1 c was also studied in DPN patients.Results The SF-CV ((43.1 ± 3.6) m/s) was decreased in S-DPN group compared with control group ((47.5 ± 3.3) m/s,t =5.077,P ＜ 0.01).There were no significant differences in SF-DML ((3.6 ± 0.7) ms),motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV (49.5 ± 2.6)m/s) and DML ((3.4 ± 0.6) ms) in S-DPN group compared with that of control group ((3.4 ± 0.5) ms,(50.9 ± 3.5) m/s,(3.2 ± 0.5) ms,respectively).SM-DPN group had lower SF-CV ((35.2 ± 3.6)m/s,t =9.119,14.219),MCV ((40.9 ± 3.2) m/s,t =11.131,13.025) and increased SF-DML ((4.5±0.7) ms,t=5.692,7.231),DML ((4.2 ±0.7) ms,t=5.561,6.975) compared with the other two groups (P ＜0.01).SF-CV in DPN patients was negatively related to the diabetic duration (r =-0.340,P =0.006),while SF-DML had no correlation with duration of DM,fasting blood glucose and HbAlc.Conclusions Detection of SF-CV is easy to find early motor nerve dysfunction in DPN patients.SF-CV is decreased with the increasing duration of diabetes.

Objective To observe the response of the guiding vane to axial flow pump by testing two types of miniature axial flow pump,which have been developed by our group in recent years.Methods Two types of axial flow pump were tested in a mock circulation apparatus.Results The outputs of the two types of miniature axial flow pump all attain 5L/min against the pressure of 13.332kPa,which is enough for left ventricular assistance.The outputs are similarly related to their pre-load and after-load pressure.In this study,the guiding vane does not produce a significant affection on the hydrodynamic characteristic of the axial follow pump.Conclusion The guiding vane may be neglected in the design to improve the blood compatibility of a axial flow pump heart assist device.