Objective To optimize the preparation process for Fangji Huangqi Granules. Methods With the extraction rates of tetrandrine, fanchinoline, astragaloside Ⅳand solid as the parameters, the extract conditions of Fangji Huangqi Granules were optimized by orthogonal design . Then the anti-inflammation effect of the extracts was observed on the mice and rats. Results The optimal preparation process was as follows:the mixture of medical materials was firstly refluxed twice with total 10 times of 70 %alcohol,1.5 hours for each time, and then extracted twice with total 12 times of boiling water ,1.5 hours for each time. The anti-inflammation effect of the extracts was obvious on the mice and rats. Conclusion The optimal preparation process is reasonable and with high extraction rate of active components.

The complete genomes of more cyanobacterial strains have been completed for sequence, and genetic engineering of cyanobacteria has evolved in the post-genome era. Since Kaneko and colleagues had completed the sequence for the complete genome of Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 in 2001, functions of some genes in this genome, including fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (FBA) gene, have been predicated using the method of bioinformatics. However, little information is available regarding whether this gene can encode FBA and its product characteristics of related enzyme. Here, to explore this information, the predicted II-FBA gene-encoding region in Cyanobase database was cloned by PCR method and then ligated into pET-32a to generate the expression vector, pET-FBA-II. The results of SDS-PAGE indicated that the expression level of the expected target polypeptide was approximate 23.4 percent as compared to total protein and the molecular weight is about 40 kDa as compared to the protein molecular marker. The results of enzyme activity analysis showed that the activity of II-FBA was ~11.8 U per mg protein and owned a standard activity of II-FBA. To sum up, the results not only prove the functional prediction of this II-FBA gene from the Cyanobase database, but also provide the important conditions for further studying its physiological and biochemical characteristics and functions of the gene expression product.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic mechanism of three-step sequential method (TSSM) on patients with corticosteroid-dependent asthma (SDA).

METHODSForty patients with SDA were randomly assigned according to the randomizing number table to two groups equally, the treated group treated with three-step sequential recipes plus inhalation of Pulmicort Turbuhaler 200 microg, twice a day, and the control group treated with Pulmicort Turbuhaler alone. The therapeutic course for both groups was 12 - 14 weeks. Changes of the symptom score of asthma, the corticosteroid dosage used and the lung function were observed and the positive expression rate of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in peripheral CD4+ T cells were determined by flow cytometry before and after treatment.

RESULTSThere was significant difference in the asthma symptom score, the oral corticosteroid dosage and the lung function between the treated group and the control group after treatment (P < 0.01). The expression rate of Th2 reduced, the ratio of Th1/Th2 increased significantly after treatment in both groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), but the changes were more remarkable in the treated group than those in the control group, showing significant difference between them (P < 0.01), while the expression rate of Th1 had no obvious change after treatment with no significant difference shown between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTSSM can regulate imbalance of Th1/Th2, inhibit generation of inflammatory cytokines, decrease airway hyper-response, and therefore improve the pulmonary function, alleviate the asthmatic symptoms and reduce the patients' dependence on corticosteroid.

Adult ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Glucocorticoids ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; methods ; Substance-Related Disorders ; drug therapy ; etiology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; drug effects ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo observe the dynamic change of apoptosis and proliferation of cardiac muscle cells (CMC) after being induced by Angiotensin II (Ang I), and the effect of TCM herbs for supplementing qi and/ or activating blood circulation on it.

METHODSThe cultured CMC of SD suckling rat were treated by Ang II, and the amplitude, rhythm and frequency of cell pulsation, the protein content, area size and apoptosis of cells at various phases as well as the influence of TCM herbs afterwards were determined by image pattern analysis system, flow cytometry and biochemical assay.

RESULTSIn the model group, cell pulsation showed quickened frequency from the 24th to 48th hr after Ang II treatment with the highest amplitude at the 24th hr; the cell area enlarged at the 24th hr, the enlargement became evident at the 48hr. Cell content of protein increased at the 24th hr, which reached to its peak at the 48th hr; an increasing trend of cell number was shown from the 12th to 48th hr; cell apoptosis started to appear at the 24th hr, it increased gradually from the 48th to 72th hr, and reached to the peak at the 72th hr (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). All the Chinese herbs, both for supplementing qi and/or activating blood circulation, especially when they were used in combination, showed favourable preventive and therapeutic effect on CMC (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), either at the early phase (24-48th hrs) mainly manifesting hypertrophy and proliferation or the late phase (48-96th hrs) mainly manifesting apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONThere exist characterized phasic windows of CMC after being treated by Ang II, the window of hypertrophy-proliferation phase and the window of cell apoptosis phase. When CMC were mainly in hypertrophic manner, myocardial hypertrophy may appear. Cell apoptosis may be one of the mechanisms for turning myocardial hypertrophy to heart failure, and it could be improved by Chinese herbs for supplementing qi and/or activating blood circulation.

Angiotensin II ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; Qi ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Time Factors

The focus of microbiologists has moved to the rare actinomycetes.For selective isolation of rare actinomycetes that all play the important role in bioactive compounds,the approaches which involve the methods using gellan gum and flooding solution、 rehydration-centrifugation(RC)、 extremely high frequency radiation(EHF)、 bacteriophage and sucrose-gradient centrifugation were introduced in this paper.

Objective To identify and characterize uveal melanoma associated protein variants with two-dimensional electrophore- sis and mass spectrometry.Design Experiment study.Participants 4 cases of specimens of uveal melanoma and 4 cases of normal con- tributed uveal tissue.Methods Proteins from uveal melanoma and normal urea were separated with two-dimensional eleetrophoresis (2-DE)and visualized with Coomassie G-250.Gels were analyzed by Image Master 5.0 software.The mass spectra were measured by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionizatian time-of-flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF MS)and searched against NCBI database using Mascot software.Main Outcome Measures Differential proteins.Results A set of 30 proteins were differentially expressed in uveal melanoma compared to nomal urea.Twenty-four types of protein only expressed in uveal melanoma.Five types of protein were up-regu- lated and 1 type of one down-regulated.These proteins can be subdivided into groups according to cellular function,such as enzyme, signal transduction,signal regulation,cytoskehton,immune,etc.Conclusions There is significant difference in protein profilings be- tween uveal melanoma and normal uvea.The differentially expressed proteins may be associated with the development of uveal melanoma.

Objective To investigate the stress distribution in the abutment and supporting tissues of distal-extension removable partial dentures with mesial and distal occlusal rest under loading. Methods A modular denture model was used to build a model of mandibular dentition defect ( 765┬567 loss) with HyperMesh 7.0 software. Prosthetics with mesial (M model) and distal occlusal rest (D model) were designed with UG 5.0 software, and the finite element models were completed with HyperMesh 7.0 software. The stress distribution was analyzed in the abutment and supporting tissues of distal-extension removable partial dentures with mesial and distal occlusal rest when bilateral vertical forces were applied. Results Compared with M model, D model provided much larger maximum stress in abutments and periodontal membrane. Stress of D model mainly concentrated on roots of 4┬4 , while that of M model uniformly distributed on roots of 43┬34 . The maximum stress of M model was significantly larger than that of D model on the mucosa of edentulous region. The maximum stress on alveolar bone of two models' edentulous region was equal, while the stress of M model distributed more widely. Conclusion It is prior to select mesial occlusal rest in distal-extension removable partial dentures.

Objective To establish HPLC fingerprints for the identification of Ilicis Rotundae Cortex (Jiubiying), dried bark of Ilex rotunda Thunb., and its adulterant, dried bark of Ilex godajam (Colebr.) Wall.. Methods Some samples named Jiubiying were collected from some medicine markets and drugstores. The HPLC fingerprints were obtained to detect Jiubiying and Ilex godajam. The software Similarity Evaluation System of Chromatographic Fingerprints of Traditional Chinese Medicine (2004A edition) was used to evaluate fingerprints. Results The fingerprints of Jiubiying and Ilex godajam were established. Methodological study met the technical requirements of fingerprints. There were 31 and 28 common peaks in Jiubiying and Ilex godajam, respectively. Jiubiying and Ilex godajam could be classified into two clusters by principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis. Conclusion Jiubiying and Ilex godajam can be identified by HPLC fingerprints. This method can provide an effective method for quality evaluation of Jiubiying.

Objective To study the effect of selenium on peripheral and splentic T-cell subset, apoptosis of spleen cells in fluorosis chicken and its mechanism. Methods One hundred and eighty 8-day Hailanhe chicks were randomly divided into 3 groups(each 60): ①control group: 195 mg/kg fluoride and 0.08 mg/kg of selenium; ②fluorine group : 1000 mg/kg fluoride and 0.08 mg/kg of selenium ;③selenium antagonism group : 1000 mg/kg On 30~(th), 60~(th), 90~(th) day, peripheral and splentic CD4~+, CD8~+ T-cell subset analyses underwent flow cytometry and apoptosis of spleen cells were detected by TUNEL for study subjects. Results Compared with control group, the CD4~+ T-cell subset of peripheral in fluorine group was decreased obviously in 30,60,90 days[ (35.36± 4.27)% vs (24.29 ± 2.96)%, (47.65 ± 5.42)% vs (41.62 ± 3.96)%, (49.58 ± 3.98) % vs (42.35 ± 6.03 )%, P < 0.05 or < 0.01 ], CD4~+/CD8~+ ratio also was decreased obviously [ ( 1.701 ± 0.145 )% vs (1.393 ± 0.163)%,(2.712 ± 0.345)% vs (1.781 ± 0.201)%,(2.438 ± 0.356)% vs (1.973 ± 0.229)%, P< 0.05 or < 0.01]. Compared with fluorine group, the CD4~+ T-cell subset of peripheral in selenium antagonism group [ (29.40 ± 3.38)%, (45.40 ± 6.01 )%, (46.85 ± 5.25)%, P < 0.05 or < 0.01 ] was increased obviously in 30,60,90 days,CD4~+/CD8~+ ratio in 60,90 days[(2.004 ±0.314)%,(2.211±0.229)%,all P<0.01]also was increased obviously.Compared with control group,the CD4~+ T-cell subset of spleen cells in fluorine group was decreased obviously in 30,60,90 days[(47.33±5.35)% vs(41.91±4.83)%,(49.28±5.24)% vs(41.26 ±4.56)%,(34.31±4.15)%vs(29.33±2.89)%,all P<0.01],CD4~+/CD8~+ ratio also was decreased obviously[(1.927 ±0.244)% vs(1.525 ±0.265)%,(1.847±0.224)% vs(1.640±0.198)%.(1.265±0.174)% vs(0.878±0.092)%,P<0.05 or<0.01].Compared with fluorine group,the CD4~+ T-cell subset of spleen cells in selenium antagonism group in 60,90 days[(44.87±5.43)%,(32.62±3.37)%,all P<0.05]was increased obviously,CD4~+/CD8~+ ratio in 30,60, 90 days[(1.703 ±0.201)%,(1.772±0.215)%,(0.991±0.124)%,P<0.05 or<0.01]also was increased obviously. The apoptosis ratio of spleen cells in fluorine group in 30,60,90 days[(2.31±0.36)%,(2.76±0.22)%,(3.04± 0.29)%]was higher than that in control group[(1.14±0.21)%,(1.23±0.23)%,(1.29±0.20)%,P<0.01].The apoptosis ratio of spleen cells in selenium antagonism group in 60,90 days[(2.42 ±0.32)%,(2.73±0.39)%]was lower than that in fluorine group(P<0.05 or<0.01).Conclusion A certain concentration of selenium can antagonize the immunity inhibition of fluorine by decreasing apoptosis and improving the unbalance of T-cell subset.