Objective To understand the schistosomiasis prevention knowledge of middle school students from areas with dif-ferent endemic levels in Hubei Province. Methods The schistosomiasis endemic regions were divided into transmission con-trolled areas and endemic controlled areas in Hubei Province,middle school students from different types of areas were selected through stratified randomized cluster sampling and were investigated by questionnaire. Results A total of 3 204 students were se-lected and investigated. The awareness rate of schistosomiasis prevention and control knowledge among the students ranged from 65.1%-90.3%. Overall,the students from endemic controlled areas had higher knowledge rates of all the items than those from transmission controlled areas(all P<0.05). The middle school students acquired schistosomiasis prevention knowledge mainly from the teachers,parents,doctors and schistosomiasis staff. Conclusion Health education to students should adopt different ways targeting at different endemic levels in the future.

The aim of laboratory evaluation of basic education is to improve the quality of experimental teaching,which demands thorough reforms of many aspects,including the ranks of teachers,administration,content,methods and instrument of teaching. This article summarizes the experience and achievement of Functional Laboratory Centre,Central South University during under- graduate teaching evaluation by the Ministry of Education in 2006.

The study is to report the establishment of a method of screening the antitumor compounds based on the dynamic bio-response profile of cells to make up for the shortages of conventional end-point tests such as tedious operation and low sensitivity. Based on the principle of electric impedance of cells, the real-time cell electronic sensing (RT-CES) system was used to monitor the effect of epirubicin (EPI), cisplatinum (DDP) and carboplatin (CBP) on the growth of HepG2 cells, with the cell index (CI), half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) and detachment curve as evaluation indexes. Meanwhile, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and microscopy were applied for verification. The results showed that CI curve could sensitively real-time profile the inhibitory effect of model drugs on HepG2 cells. The IC50 of EPI, DDP and CBP were 0.53 +/- 0.04, 9.79 +/- 0.26 and 597.00 +/- 3.79 microg x mL(-1), respectively. What's more, the significant differences of detachment curves of the three drugs indicated that their functional mechanisms might be different, this is consistent with the literature. The RT-CES system with non-invasive, label-free and real-time characteristics could be used to monitor the bio-response profile of the three drugs to HepG2 cells, allowing to qualitatively and quantitatively distinguish the antitumor activities of the three drugs, and could be a complementary method for the present screening of antitumor compounds.

Tong-Mai(TM) granules were composed ofRadix Salviae Miltiorrhizae(Danshen),Rhizoma Chuanxiong(Chuanxiong) andRadix Puerariae(Gegen). It had the effect of activating blood circulation. It had been used to treat ischemic cardio-cerebrovascular diseases in the clinical practice. This research combined serum pharmacochemistry and serum pharmaocology to study the material basis of active components in TM granules. After single or multiple intragastric administrations of TM granules, serum blood samples of rats were collected at different time points. LC-MS/MS method was developed to analyze chemical components of TM in blood serum samples. The cardiomyocyte hypoxia / reoxygenation (H/R) model was used in the evaluation of cardiomyocyte protection by TM. The correlation analysis was also conducted between serum concentration of TM and cardiomyocyte activity. The results showed that 8 components of pueraria flavonoid, 5 components of salvianolic acids and 2 components fromGegen were promptly absorbed and reached their highest concentrations at 5 or 30 min after administration. After 3 times of medication, the serum concentration was obviously higher compared to single medication. The drug-serum of TM showed significant protective effect on the cardiomyocyte H/R injury with dose-effect relationship. Daidzein, lithospermic acid, salvianolic acid A, salvianic acid A and rosmarinic acid presented as the most correlated components linked to the effect of activating blood circulation by TM. The serum pharmacochemistry / serum pharmacology related studies provided references for the verification of material basis of active components in compound Chinese medicine.

BACKGROUND: Xiaohuoluo pill can expel pathogenic wind, remove dampness and activate collaterals. It is used for treatment of Bi-syndrome due to wind-cold-dampness, pain and numbness in limbs.OBJECTIVE: To observe the pharmacological effect of Xiaohuoluo pills on secondary immune response, specific immunity (including cellular immunity and humoral immunity), non-specific immunity [including complement 3(C3), mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS) and red blood cell (RBC)adhesion function] and free radical injury as well as pain and many other inflammations in mice.DESIGN: A randomized controlled stratified trial.SETTING: Guangzhou Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chinese Materia Medica; Department of Pharmacy, Guangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.MATERIALS: Totally 628 NIH and ICR mice of 6 to 8 weeks were involved in this trial. Xiaohuoluo pills (components: Dannanxing, Zhichuanwu, Zhicaowu, Dilong, Ruxiang and so on; Chenli Pharmaceutical Factory,Guangzhou; Brach No. 19980612) were used in this trial. Rabbit antimouse immunoglobulin G (IgG) and C3 antiserum reagent kit (Guangzhou Institute of Medicine and Health) and reagent kit for measuring the antioxidizing activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) (Jiancheng Institute of Bioengineering, Nanjing) were used.METHODS: This trial was carried out in the Guangzhou Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chinese Materia Medica; Department of Pharmacy, Guangzhou Institute of Medicine and Health during September 1998 to December 1999. ① To observe the suppressive effect of Xiaohuoluo pills on cock red blood cell (CRBC)-induced secondary immune response: Eight-four ICR mice, male and female in half, were selected.Twenty of 84 mice served as blank controls; The other 64 mice were intraperitoneally injected with cyclophos-phamide (CY) of 0.2 g/kgonce. On the 4th and 12th days, CRBC was intraperitoneally injected into the mice twice to induce immunoenhancing pathological models to form secondary immune response. Mice served as blank controls were intraperitoneally injected with the same volume of normal saline; The immunoenhanced mice were assigned into 3 groups by a lot: CY group (n=20, CY, 40 mg/kg, intragastric administration, I.g.), Xiaohuoluo pills (n=21, Xiaohuoluo pills suspension, 5.54 g/kg, I.g.) and model group (n=20, distilled water, the same volume as other groups, I.g.); once a day within 7 successive days. 19 days later, the levels of serum IgG and C3 were measured with single immunodiffusion method, and the level of circulating immune compound (CIC) was measured with polyethylene glycol precipitation method. ② To observe the suppressive effect of Xiaohuoluo pills on delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH): Fifty-four ICR mice, male and female in half, were selected. On the 1st day, the mice were sensitized by subcutaneous injection of 10 g/L 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzen e (DNFB) of 50 μL for each. On the 4th day, the sensitized mice were assigned into 3 groups by a lot: Prednisone group (n=18, prednisone, 0.01 g/kg, I.g.), Xiaohuoluo pills (n=18, Xiaohuoluo pills suspension, 5.54 g/kg, I.g.), model group (n=18, distilled water, the same volume as other groups, I.g.), all once a day within 7 successive days. 11 days later, 10 g/L DNFB of 25μL was spread on the right ear of each mouse in each group. The swelling degree was calculated 24 hours later (The mass difference between right ear and left ear). ③ To observe the suppressive effect of Xiaohuoluo pills on immune adhesion function of RBC of mouse: Thirty-six NIH mice, male and female in half, were selected and assigned into 3 groups by a lot: CY group (n=12, CY, 20 mg/kg,I.g.), Xiaohuoluo pills (n=12, Xiaohuoluo pills suspension, 5.54 g/kg, I.g.)and blank control group (n=12, distilled water, the same volume as other groups, I.g.), once a day within 7 successive days. 7 days later, blood was taken from the orbit of mice for calculating the rosette rate of RBC-C3b receptor and the rosette rate of RBC immune compound. ④ To observe the suppressive effect o20 Mg/kg, I.g.),Xiaohuoluo pills group (Xiaohuoluo pills suspension, 5.54 g/kg, I.g.) , once a day within 7 successive days; IgM-type hemolytic concentration (HC50)was measured at 2 hours after the last administration on the 7th day [ (Sample absorption / Absorption at HC50 of CRBC) ×diluted time]. The levels of serum C3 and MDA and the activity of SOD were measured according to the method from corresponding reagent kit. ⑥ To observe the suppressive effect of Xiaohuoluo pills on agar granulation tissue hyperplasia in mice:Fifty-nine NIH mice were selected and given subcutaneous injection of 20 g/L agar of 0.5 mL for each. 24 hours later, the mice were assigned into 3 groups by a lot: diclofenac group (diclofenac, 10 mg/kg,I.g..), Xiaohuoluo pills group (Xiaohuoluo pills suspension, 5.54 g/kg, I.g.) and model group (distilled water, the same volume as other groups, I.g.), once a day within 7 successive days; On the 8th day, the mice were sacrificed. The hyperplasiainhibiting effect was presented in the form of the mass of agar granulation tissue in one kilogram body mass ⑦ To observe the suppressive effect of Xiaohuoluo pills on acetic distortion reaction: Sixty-three NIH mice were se lected and assigned into 3 groups by a lot: diclofenac group (diclofenac,50 mg/kg, I.g.), Xiaohuoluo pills group (Xiaohuoluo pills suspension, 5.54 g/kg,I.g.) and model group (distilled water, the same volume of other groups, I.g.),once a day within 2 successive days. At 2 hours after the last administration, the mice were given intraperitoneal injection of 0.1 mol/L acetic acid of 0.2 mL for each one. The times of distortion of mice within 20 minutes were counted. ⑧ To observe the effect of Xiaohuoluo pills on the acute exudative inflammation evoked by dimethylbenzene, croton oil and carrageenan, and the level of prostaglandin E in the inflammatory exudates:Totally 219 NIH mice were selected and assigned into 3 groups by a lot:diclofenac group (diclofenac, 50 mg/kg, I.g.), Xiaohuoluo pills group (Xiaohuoluo pills suspension, 5.54 g/kg, I.g.) and model group (distilled water, the same volume of other groups, I.g.) once a day within 2 successive days. At 2 hours after the last administration, dimethylbenzene of 25 μL was spread on the right ear for 20 minutes, or croton oil of 25 μL was also spread on the right ear, 4 hours later, the swelling of right ear was calculated (mass of right ear-mass of left ear). 10 g/L carrageenan of 20 μL was subcutaneously injected into the right foot, 3 hours later, the swelling degree was calculated (The difference of right foot and left foot); and the level of prostaglandin E in the inflammatory exudates was measured. ⑨ t test(t' test for heteroscedasticity) was used for comparing the difference in measurement data among groups.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pharmacological effect of Xiaohuoluo pills on secondary immune response, specific immunity, non-specific immunity and free radical injury as well as pain and many other inflammations in mice.RESULTS: Totally 628 NIH and ICR mice were involved in result analysis. ① The level of IgG and CIC of mice in the model group was significantly higher than that in the other 3 groups respectively (P ＜ 0.01),while the level of C3 was significantly lower than that in the other 3 groups (P ＜ 0.05 to 0.01). ② The swelling degree of mice in the diclofenac group and Xiaohuoluo pills group was significantly lower than that in the blank control group respectively ( both P ＜ 0.01). ③ The rosette rate of RBC-C3b receptor and RBC immune compound in the blank control group was significantly higher than that in the other 2 gro ups respectively (P ＜ 0.01). ④ The phagocytic index (K value )in the diclofenac group and Xiaohuoluo pills group was significantly lower than that in the blank control group, respectively (both P ＜ 0.01).⑤ IgM-type HC50 and the level of serum MDA of CY group and Xiaohuoluo pills group were obviously lower than those in the immune control group (P ＜ 0.01),while the level of C3 was higher than that of immune control group, there was no significant difference in the activity of serum SOD between CY group or Xiaohuoluo pills group and immune control group (P ＞ 0.05). ⑥The ratio of agar granulation tissue mass to body mass in the diclofenac group or Xiaohuoluo pills group was significantly lower than that in the model group(P ＜ 0.01).⑦ The times of distortion of mice within 20 minutes in the diclofenac group or Xiaohuoluo pills group were signifi cantly less than those of model group(P ＜ 0.01,0.05).⑧The ear swelling degree of dimethylbenzene-induced inflammatory models and croton oil-induced inflammatory models,and foot swelling degree of carrageenan-induced acute inflammatory models as well as the level of prostaglandin E in the inflammatory exudates in the diclofenac group were significantly milder or lower than those in the model group(P ＜ 0.05 to 0.01),and the level of prostaglandin E in the inflammatory exudates in the Xiaohuoluo pills group was significantly lower than that in the model group (P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION: Xiaohuoluo pills possess pharmacological effects of immunosuppression, anti-proliferative inflammation, analgesia and antioxidation.

The paper is to report the establishment of a method for quickly evaluating compatibility of Chinese medicines injections. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) was used to evaluate compatibility of Yiqifumai (YQFM) and vitamin C injection (Vc)/5% glucose injection (5% GS). The diversification of Gibbs free energy (deltaG), enthalpy (deltaH) and entropy (deltaS) were used to decide reaction types of colliquefaction procedures of different injections. The reactive profiles were used to determine signs and quantity of heat. And high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used as a supportive method for ITC. Then, feasible binding sites were analyzed based on the information of spatial structures of major compositions. During the colliquefaction procedure of YQFM and Vc, [deltaH] > T[deltaS], so, the reaction is enthalpy-driving. And the reactive profile showed that a big deal of heat was given out during the procedure. Obviously, chemical reactions happened and the major compositions changed. On the other side, the reaction of YQFM mixed with 5% GS was entropy-driving, because [deltaH] < T[deltaS]. The reactive profile showed there was a little heat gave out. So, non-chemical reactions happened, and the major compositions did not change. The conformity existed between the results of ITC and HPLC. ITC could be used to evaluate the compatibility of Chinese medicines injections because of the advantages of ITC, such as real time, fast, sensitive and having more parameters.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of curcumin on the injury in hippocampal neurons and the expression of regulated upon activation nonnal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) in hippocamp during cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in rats with spontaneous hypertension (SH).

METHODSMale Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats and spontaneous hypertension rats (SHR) were randomly divided into five groups (n = 6): sham group (W-Sham and S-Sham group), ischemia/reperfusion group (W-/R and S/R group), curcumin group (S-Cur group) . Each group was splitted into 5 subgroups of 3 h,12 h, 1 d, 3 d and 7 d according to the time interval before reperfusion. Global brain ischemia/reperfusion model was established by 4-VO method. Hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE staining) was used to observe the vertebral cell morphology in hippocampal CA1 region. Nissl staining was applied to detect the average density of cone cells in hippocampal CA1 region. The expression of RANTES in hippocamp was determined by ELISA. The behavior of the rats was evaluated at 7 days after reperfusion. Results: Compared with the sham group rats, the ability of learning and memory was significantly decreased in ischemia/reperfusion group rats, the number of injured neurons were greatly elevated , the protein expression levels of RANTES was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Compared with W-I/R group rats, the ability of learning and memory in S-I/R group rats was greatly reduced, the number of injured neurons increased extremely, the protein expression level of RANTES was significantly enhanced( P <0.05). The number of injured neurons declined significantly in S-Cur group rats, the ability to learn and remember of these rats was improved and the RANTES protein content decreased significantly (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHR are more susceptible to ischemia/reperfusion induced hippocampal neuronal injury which may be improved by curcu min. Its underlying mechanism is possibly associated with the inhibition of RANTES protein expression level.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Chemokine CCL5 ; metabolism ; Cognition ; drug effects ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hypertension ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism

Objective To understand the prevalence and influential factors of allergic diseases among infants aged 6-24 months in Enshi prefecture to provide the basis for the prevention of the allergic disease in infants and young children .Methods 1 724 in-fants were extracted by using multi-stage stratified cluster sampling and the data including the demographic characteristics ,family condition ,caregiver condition and behavior ,and allergic disease information were collected by the questionnaire survey .The multiva-riate Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the influential factors of allergic diseases .Results Among the investiga-ted infants and young children ,the prevalence of allergic diseases was 11 .83% ,which was dominated by eczema with the prevalence of 7 .54% ,followed by allergic asthma (1 .97% ) .The univariate Logistic regression analysis showed that allergic diseases were as-sociated with the nationality (χ2 =17 .865 ,P=0 .000) ,month age(χ2 =9 .420 ,P=0 .009) ,feeding patterns(χ2 =6 .304 ,P=0 .043) and ,time for adding solid food(χ2 =12 .695 ,P=0 .002) and family income(χ2 =9 .259 ,P =0 .010) .The multivariate Logistic re-gression analysis showed that the ethnic minority [OR95% CI:1 .86(1 .27~2 .73) ,P=0 .001]and artificial feeding [OR95% CI:1 .17 (1 .01~2 .82) ,P=0 .045]had the higher risk for suffering from allergic diseases ,the month age between 18 to 24 months[OR95%CI:0 .57(0 .39~0 .84) ,P=0 .005]and the family income>30 000 yuan each year [OR95% CI:0 .64(0 .43~0 .96) ,P=0 .030]were negatively correlated with the allergic diseases in infants and young children .Conclusion The prevalence of allergic diseases among infants and young children aged 6-24 months in Enshi prefecture is relatively higher and the infants of ethnic minority ,low month age ,artificial feeding and lower family income have the higher risk of allergic diseases .

The study is to report the establishment of a method of screening the antitumor compounds based on the dynamic bio-response profile of cells to make up for the shortages of conventional end-point tests such as tedious operation and low sensitivity. Based on the principle of electric impedance of cells, the real-time cell electronic sensing (RT-CES) system was used to monitor the effect of epirubicin (EPI), cisplatinum (DDP) and carboplatin (CBP) on the growth of HepG2 cells, with the cell index (CI), half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) and detachment curve as evaluation indexes. Meanwhile, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and microscopy were applied for verification. The results showed that CI curve could sensitively real-time profile the inhibitory effect of model drugs on HepG2 cells. The IC50 of EPI, DDP and CBP were 0.53 +/- 0.04, 9.79 +/- 0.26 and 597.00 +/- 3.79 microg x mL(-1), respectively. What's more, the significant differences of detachment curves of the three drugs indicated that their functional mechanisms might be different, this is consistent with the literature. The RT-CES system with non-invasive, label-free and real-time characteristics could be used to monitor the bio-response profile of the three drugs to HepG2 cells, allowing to qualitatively and quantitatively distinguish the antitumor activities of the three drugs, and could be a complementary method for the present screening of antitumor compounds.
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Biosensing Techniques ; methods ; Cell Count ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Electric Impedance ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Tangshenkang Granule (TG) containing serum on renal mesangial cells' (RMCs) proliferation and TGF-β1/Smad2/3 pathway in the high glucose condition.

METHODSTwelve SD rats were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., the low dose TG group, the middle dose TG group, the high dose TG group, and the blank control group, 3 in each group. After 7-day gastrogavage via portal vein blood, rats were sacrificed and their serum samples were collected. RMCs were cultured in common rat serum and TG containing serum respectively. The proliferation of mesangial cells was determined by methly thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay to determine the optimal TG containing serum concentration. Expression levels of TGF-β1 mRNA and protein were determined by real time quantitative PCR and ELISA. Smad2/3 protein expression and phosphorylation were determined by Western blot and immunofluorescence.

RESULTSTG containing serum at different doses could inhibit high glucose induced RMC cells' proliferation, TGF-β1 over-expression and Smad2/3 phosphorylation.

CONCLUSIONTG containing serum could inhibit high glucose induced RMC cells' proliferation, and its mechanism might be possibly associated with inhibiting TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Glucose ; Mesangial Cells ; Phosphorylation ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serum ; Signal Transduction ; Smad2 Protein ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism