The study of traditional Chinese medicine and its complex prescription gradually adopted the methods of serum pharmacology, which has become a new researching thought and a gained more attention. In this article, the background of relevant researches, methodological discussions, analysis of the advantages and problems of serum pharmacology were reviewed. The serum pharmacology, for its unique value, will certainly has a brilliant prospect in its application to the research of traditional Chinese medicine and its complex prescription.

Caveolin are a family that proteins are highly conserved and located at the mammalian plasma membrane.They include four isoforms:Cav-1,Cav-2,Cav-3 and Cav-4.Caveolin proteins are implicated in endocytosis,lipid metabolism and cellular signaling.There is recent evidence that Cav-1 expression levels in tumour have been associated with tumour growth and metastasis,stromal car-1 expression downregulated have been also associated with mutli-tumor metastasis.

Objective To investigate the effect of etomidate on porcine adrenal cortical cells and the influence of preconditioning with small dose etomidate. Methods Porcine adrenal cortical cells were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) supplemented with 15% fetal bovine serum at 37℃ in 5% CO2 incubator for 24 h. The concentration was 2 × 106/ml. The experiment was performed in 2 parts. In part Ⅰ the cells were exposed to 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 1000 mol/L etomidate respectively and incubated for 6, 12and 24 h, while in control group, the cells were exposed to 0.5% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). Cell viability was measured using CCK-8 assay and apoptosis by flow cytometry, and the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of etomidate was calculated at 24 h of incubation. In part Ⅱ the cells were exposed to 0.6 μmol/L etomidate for 1 h and were allowed to recover for 4 h after etomidate washout, then etomidate 325 μmol/L was added and the cells were incubated for 24 h. Cell viability and apoptosis were assessed and the IC50 of etomidate was calculated as in part Ⅰ .Results Etomidate inhibited viability of porcine adrenal cortical cells and induced apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The IC50 of etomidate at 24 h of incubation was 325 μmol/L. Preconditioning with0.6 μmol/L etomidate for 1 h attenuated the apoptosis induced by etomidate 325 μmol/L. Conclusion Etomidate can inhibit cell viability and induce apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Preconditioning with small dose etomidate has protective effect.

Objective To investigate whether gastric hypersensitivity exists in functional dyspepsia patients, and to observe the number of mast cells in proximal gastric mucosa in gastric hypersensitivity patients and the change of mast cell degranulation after stimulation so as to evaluate the role of mast cells in gastric hypersensitivity. Methods Gastric sensation threshold was determined using barostat in 40 functional dyspepsia (FD) patients and 15 controls. Twenty three patients were divided into two groups on the basis of perception threshold: hypersensitivity group (FD H) and normal sensation group (FD N). Mast cells were stained by immunohistochemistry method, mast cell number was calculated by microscopy and the average optical density valves( A ) of mast cell were obtained by microspectrophotometry (MSP). The ultrastructure of mast cell was observed under electromicroscopy. Results Gastric sensation threshold (i.e. perception, discomfort and pain threshold) was significantly lower in FD patients than in controls ( P

Objective To establish a method used for quantitative determination of bufadienolides in human liver tissues by HPLC. Methods using solid phase extraction of human liver with Oasis (HLB car-tridge coupled with reserved phase HPLC and diode array detection. Results Recoveries obtained from spiked liver for the bufadienolides were better than 70% . The linearity was studied up to 1200ng/g and the detection limits of the method was 0.4ng for cinobufotalin and bufalin, 0.5ng for cinobufagin and resibufo-genin. Conclusion This method is fast and accurate. It is useful for forensic medicine detection.

0.05). The LDL-C and apoB concentrations in fasting serum in men with 54T allele were significantly higher than those with 54A allele (2.38?0.63 vs 2.21?0.57mmol/L, P

Objective To investigate the association of expressions of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2),matrix metanoproteinases-9(MMp-9)and Ki67 with occurrence,infiltration and metastasis of gastric cancer.Methods Fifty-eight surgically obtained and pathologically performed cancerous tissues were collected between Jan.2003 and Dec.2005.Among them,37 were males and 21 were females with mean age of 58.2 years(ranged from 31 to 76 years).Fifty-eight paracancerous tissues(5-6 cm apart form the cancer)were taken as controls.The expressions of COX-2,MMP-9 and Ki67 in cancerous or paracancerous tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry.Results The expressions of COX-2 and MMP-9 in cancerous tissues(82.76%and 68.9%,respectively)were higher than those in controls(37.93%and 24.14%,respectively,P＜0.01).The expressions of COX-2 and MMP-9 were not associated with sex,age,location and size of gastric cancer(P＞0.05),but were correlated with the depth of lymph node infiltration.metastasis and TNM stage(P＜0.05).The expression of MMP-9 was also associated with the degree of differentiation of gastric cancer(P＜0.05).There was a correlation between COX-2 and MMp-9 expressions in gastric cancer tissues(P＜0.05,C=0.359).The expression of Ki67 in tissues with positive expressions of COX-2 and MMp-9 was higher than that in negative ones(P＜0.O 1).Conclusion The COX-2,MMP-9 and Ki67 play important roles in metastasis and infiltration,which promote occurrence and development of gastric cancer.

Objective To investigate the diagnositic role of second generation colon capsule endoscopy in colorectal diseases.Methods After colon preparation procedure,fourteen volunteers were observed with second generation colon capsule endoscopy.During the examination,stomach and small bowel transit time,the colorectal examination time and the positive founding were recorded.Capsule excretion rate,the colon cleaning level and rate of adverse events also were assessed.Results Colorectal diseases including colon polyp,colon protrusion lesion and internal hemorrhoid were found in 7 volunteers.Stomach diseases including erosive gastritis and gastric ulcer in 10 volunteers.Small bowel diseases including small bowel polyp,ileum ulcer and small bowel protrusion lesion in 6 volunteers.Thirteen capsule were excreted within 480 minutes.The average colorectal examination time was 310 ± 125 minutes.The average stomach and small bowel transit time were 82 ± 39 minutes and 121 ± 73 minutes,respectively.The overall colon cleanliness was adequate in 7 patients.There are no severe adverse events during the examination.Conclusion The second generation capsule endoscopy can observe the colorectal mucosal changes and it might be considered as an adequate tool for colorectal diseases screening and diagnosis.

Objective To investigate relations between villus Benzo (a)pyrene (BaP)-DNA adducts and blighted ovum in early pregnancy, and to explore possible environmental factors influencing embryo development. Methods One hundred and two pregnant women with blighted ovum were selected into this study as research group; and 102 normal pregnant women were taken as control group; the age, gravidity, parity and gestational weeks of the two groups were matched. After artificial abortion, villi of the patients were collected and washed by normal saline. Then, the tissue was homogenated and genome DNA was extracted to detect quantity of the tissue. BaP-DNA adducts levels were examined by high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence method (HPLC). The personal information of pregnant women was collected by questionnaire. Logistic regression model was used to investigate the association between BaP-DNA adducts and blighted ovum. Results BaP-DNA adducts level in villi of research group [(8. 9±8. 2) adducts/108 nucleotides] was significantly higher than that of control group [(2. 0±1. 4) adducts/108 nucleotides], P＜0.05. The higher the BaP-DNA adducts in villi, the higher risk the blighted ovum; when the BaP-DNA adducts level increased to 6.06 adducts/108 nucleotides, the risk of blighted ovum might increase 59.39 times (95% CI:15.50-227.55). Maternal education level was a protective factor (OR=-0.21, 95%CI:-0. 19--0.03) after controlling potential confounders. Conclusions High level of villi BaP-DNA adducts might increase the risk of blighted ovum in early pregnancy, and could have an adverse effect on embryo development.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy of focused ultrasound for treating non-neoplastic epithelial disorders of vulvar. Methods212 patients with non-neoplastic epithelial disorders of vulvar were treated with focused ultrasound. The patients were followed up after the treatment,and symptom was observed and the efficacy was evaluated. ResultsThe efficacy of non - neoplastic epithelial disorders of vulvar of squamous hyperplasia,lichen sclerosus and mixed dystrophy was 99.2％, 100. 0％, 88.9％ respectively, the difference was not significat (P ＞ 0.05 ). The efficacy in different courses of patients was 100.0％ ( ＜ 2 years), 100.0％ (2 ～10 years) ,91.3％( ＞ 10 years) respectively,the difference was not significat( P ＞ 0.05). ConclusionFocused ultrasound was obviously effective in the treatment of patients with non-neoplastic epithelial disorders of vulvar.