OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Yangfei Ziyin Decoction (YZD) on symptoms, serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and aquaporin-5 (AQP-5), and pathology of Sj6gren's syndrome (SS) model mice.

METHODSTotally 60 mice were divided into 6 groups according to random digit table, i.e., the model group, the normal control group, the high, medium, low dose YZD groups (administered with YZD at 36.7, 18.4, 9.2 g/kg, 0.2 mL/10 g), the Chinese patent medicine group [CPM, administered with total glucosides of paeony at 0.6 g/kg], 10 mice in each group. All intervention was performed for six successive days in a week, with an interval of one day, a total of 50 days. Body weight, salivary secretion, food and water intake were measured at day10, 20, 30, 40, and 50, respectively. At day 50 blood was collected. Submandibular gland, thymus, and spleen were weighed. Serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and AQP-5 were detected by ELISA. Pathological changes of submandibular gland were observed. Results Compared with the normal control group, there was no change in water intake of mice in the model group, but with reduced salivary secretion (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Thymus/spleen/submandibular gland weight and index increased in the model group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Compared with the model group at the same time point, salivary secretion increased in the CPM group and 3 YZD groups (P < 0.01 , P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, thymus/spleen/submandibular gland weight and index decreased in the CPM group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Thymus/submandibular gland weight and index decreased in the low dose YZD group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Thymus/submandibular gland weight and index, and spleen index decreased in high and medium dose YZD groups (P < 0.01 , P < 0.05). Levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 decreased, but AQP-5 level increased in the CPM group (P < 0.05). AQP-5 level increased in high and medium dose YZD groups (P < 0.01 , P < 0.05). In the model group alveoli and duct of salivary gland were destroyed, alveoli and duct were irregular, epithelial cells were degenerated, necrotic, and desquamated. Mild-to-moderate lymphocytic infiltration occurred around submandibular gland. Pathological changes were alleviated in the CPM group and 3 YZD groups.

CONCLUSIONYZD could improve clinical symptoms, serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, AQP-5, and pathological changes of SS model mice.

Animals ; Aquaporin 5 ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Glucosides ; Interleukin-6 ; Mice ; Paeonia ; Salivation ; Sjogren's Syndrome ; drug therapy ; Submandibular Gland ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

OBJECTIVE To observe the effect of Qi Kwai Granule particles on the expression of in-terleukin 6 (IL-6), monocyte chemotactic protein 1(MCP-1) and transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1) in diabetic nephropathy(DN)rats and evaluate the protective effect of Qi Kwai Granule particles against renal injury of diabetic nephropathy. METHODS This experiment adopts adopted the high-sugar-high-fat diet and intraperitoneal injection of 2％ STZ+unilateral renal ligation to establish rat model of diabet-ic nephropathy.50 model rats were then randomly divided into model group,Irbesartan group,Qi Kwai Granule particles of high, medium, low dose group, 10 rats in each group. 10 normal rats were set as the sham operation group.Intragastric administration for 8 weeks were measured in rats.Measure the value of rat blood glucose by blood glucose meter,the determination of serum interleukin 6(IL-6)con-tent by ELISA, the expression of MCP-1 and TGF-β1by immunohistochemistry method. The value of rat blood glucose were measured by blood glucose meter.Serum interleukin 6(IL-6)were determinat-ed by ELISA.Expression of MCP-1 and TGF-β1were evaluated by immunohistochemistry method.RE-SULTS The blood glucose of Qi Kwai Granule particles of high,medium groups were decreased com-pared with those of the model group(P<0.05).The content of IL-6 of Qi Kwai Granule particles of high, medium groups were reduced(P<0.01). The content of MCP-1, TGF-β1in kidney of Qi Kwai Granule particles of high, medium, low dose groups were decreased (P<0.01). CONCLUSION Qi Kwai parti-cles have protective effect on renal tissue of diabetic nephropathy rats.Its mechanism might be related to the decrease of blood glucose value and IL-6,the inhibition of the expression of MCP-1 and TGF-β1.

Objective To observe the anti-tumor effects of Agrimonia Pilosa Ledeb(APL) ,a Chinese herbal medicine ,on hepato-cellular carcinoma cells in vitro and investigate the underlined mechanisms preliminarily .Methods APL water extracts were pre-pared .SMMC-7721 cells were cultured with the medium containing different concentrations of APL water extracts ,and at different time points ,cell viabilities were measured by the MTT assay and inhibitory rates (IR) were calculated ;cell morphologic changes were observed under a light microscope ;apoptotic ratios were measured by flow cytometry ;and the expressions of Bcl-2 and P53 proteins were examined by immunocytochemistry .Results After the cells were cultured with the medium containing APL water ex-tracts for 24 h ,48 h and 72 h ,no obvious effects were found on the cell proliferation in 5 mg/mL group and 10 mg/mL group ,but IR were 0 .5% ,23 .9% and 27 .5% in 20 mg/mL group and 23 .3% ,51 .7% and 71 .6% in the 40 mg/mL group ,respectively .In the groups with effects on the cells proliferation ,morphological characteristics of apoptosis were obvious ,and the cell apoptotic ratios were 19 .5% and 23 .0% in 20 mg/mL group and 33 .4% and 42 .7% in 40 mg/mL group at 48 h and 72 h .The expressions of Bcl-2 protein were 71 .9% and 58 .5% in 20 mg/mL group and 47 .9% and 26 .5% in 40 mg/mL group at 48 h and 72 h ,and the ex-pressions of P53 protein were 22 .9% and 50 .6% in 20 mg/mL group and 48 .7% and 83 .7% in 40 mg/mL group at 48 h and 72 h . Conclusion The water extracts of APL are able to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells dose-time depend-ently in vitro ,which might be associated with the expression changes of Bcl-2 and P53 protein .

Objective To establish a more sensitive method to detect free cancer cells in peritoneal washings of gastric cancer cases during surgery. Methods The CEAmRNA levels in peritoneal washings in 65 cases of gastric cancer were detected by Real-time RT-PCR. PLC was applied simultaneously to detect free cancer cells. Negative controls included the peritoneal washings from 5 cases of benign gastric diseases and the blood samples from 5 cases of healthy adult volunteers. Results (1)CEAmRNA was not found in peritoneal washings in benign gastric diseases and in blood of healthy adult volunteers. (2)The positive percentage of free cancer cells detected by Real-time RT-PCR was 47.7%, while PLC′s was only 12.3%.(3)The positive rate of CEAmRNA showed a significant difference between gastric cancer with serosal invasion and without serosa invasion groups, between peritoneal metastasis group and no peritoneal metastasis groups, and also between stages I+II and III+IV diseases(all P

ObjectiveTo explore the neural mechanism of attention impairment in children with primary nocturnal enuresis.MethodsERPs elicited by performing the continuous operation test(CPT) were assessed in 20 children with primary nocturnal enuresis and 20 normal children.The Go/Nogo measurements of enuretic group at central scalp(Cz) were compared with the normal children and analyzed.Results1.Behavior results: there was no significant difference in the reaction time,the correct number and the false number between primary nocturnal enuresis and control group(P>0.05).2.ERP:(1)Go stimulate:the latency of Go-N2 and P3 of the children with primary nocturnal enuresis were longer than the normal control group(Go-N2:(326.80±46.40)ms vs (295.90±38.27)ms,P3:(438.80±62.60)ms vs (402.60±39.74)ms),and the difference had statistic significance(P<0.05).(2)Nogo stimulate:①Amplitude: the amplitude of Nogo-N2 of the children with primary nocturnal enuresis were lower than that of the normal control group((-10.55±3.30)μV vs (-14.12±5.99)μV),and the difference had statistic significance(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the amplitude of Nogo-P2 and Nogo-P3(P>0.05).②Latency: the latency of Nogo-P2 of the children with primary nocturnal enuresis was longer than that of the normal control group((214.10±27.85)ms vs (198.30±19.16)ms),and the difference had statistic significance(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the latency of Nogo-N2 and Nogo-P3(P>0.05).ConclusionAttention impairment in children with primary nocturnal enuresis might be caused by the information processing speed and conflict monitoring function obstacle,but it is not because the reactive inhibition dysfunction,thus result in the lack of arousal function and bedwetting.

Objective To determine the influence of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitor on the blood brain barrier (BBB) transport of amphotericin B (AmB)..Methods An in-vitro BBB model was established with brain capillary endothelia cells (BCEC). AmB was chosen as the test drug and verapamil was chosen as the inhibitor of P-gp.Cellular uptake of AmB at different time points and with series of verapamil concentrations were performed respectively after the determination of appropriate incubation time and drug dosage by the cytotoxicity assay. The AmB concentrations of series of samples were detected using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. One-way ANOVA analysis and Bonferroni test were used for data analysis.Results The cellular transport of AmB was accumulated as the time prolonged.The inhibitor group had a significant higher cellular uptake levelsof AmBat the time point of 90 min (t=6.753,P=0.001),120 min (t=3.574,P=0.016) and 150 min (t=4.759,P=0.005) as compared with the control group.The AmB cellular uptake level increased significantly when BCEC were incubated with verapamil of 2 μmol/L (P=0.000),5 μmol/L (P=0.014),10 μmol/L (P=0.000),50 μmol/L (P=0.014),75 μmol/L (P=0.000) and 100 tμmol/L (P=0.000),respectively,compared with the control group.Conclusion The P-gp inhibitor verapamil can enhance the cellular uptake of AmB which indicates that P-gp is involved in the BBP transport of AmB.

OBJECTIVE: A rapid and selective method has been developed for the determination of propofol in blood by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). METHODS: The blood was extrasted with the solution of internal standard, the extracted residue was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using selected-ion monitoring mode. RESULTS: The linear range was 0.1-10 microg/mL. The coefficient(R2) was 0.993 1. The detection limit was 0.05 microg/mL. CONCLUSION The method is simple and rapid, offering superior sensitivity and selectivity for propofol. The method can be used successfully during clinical and forensic toxicology.
Anesthetics, Intravenous/blood* ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Humans ; Propofol/blood* ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective To investigate the executive function of the patients with first-episode schizophrenia,and their relationships with the positive and negative symptoms. And to evaluate the activation characteristics of prefrontal cortex(PFC) in the schizophrenia. Methods Near-infrared spectroscopy(NIRS) was used to assess the activation of the bilateral PFCs during the computerized version of Tower of London(TOL) tasks in schizophrenia and controls. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS) was used to assess the psychiatric symptoms of the schizophrenia. 40 schizophrenic patients and 40 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects participated in this study. Results ( 1 ) The number of correct TOL responses in patients ( one-move ( 7.35 ± 1. 94 ), two-move ( 7.30 ± 2.53 ), three-move ( 6.58 ± 2.53 ), four-move ( 2.90 ± 1.89 ) ) was significantly less than the healthy controls( one-move (8.82 ± 1.48 ), two-move ( 8.38 ± 1.59 ), three-move ( 7.68 ± 1.47 ), four-move ( 3.73 ±1.71 ); P＜0. 05 ). ( 2 ) There was a significant negative correlation between the patients' task performance and the negative symptom scores(P ＜ 0.05 ). (3) The majority of the prefrontal area was activated in health subjects.Patients were characterized by significant decreased activation in the left PFC during the TOL task compared to healthy subjects. Conclusion Schizophrenic patients have executive function disorder at the initial stage of the disease.The results support that schizophrenia patients have hypofrontality ,and executive function is significantly negatively correlated with negative symptoms. NIRS my be a useful tool for research and clinical assessment for major psychoses.

Portal hypertension (PH) was defined as an increase in portal pressure caused by various etiologies. The formation of portosystemic collateral circulation was a compensatory form of PH. Gastrointestinal varices were one of the clinical manifestations of PH, and which clould be broadly divided into esophageal varices (EV), gastric varices (GV) and ectopic varices (EcV). At present, it is found that EcV has difficulty in diagnosis, large amount of bleeding, difficulty in hemostasis and poor prognosis. So far, the study of EcV is very limited. There was no guideline and expert consensus on EcV treatment. This review will focus on the epidemiological features of EcV and the research status of endoscopic treatment.

OBJECTIVETo compare the regulatory effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) at acupoints Zusanli (ST36) and Hegu (LI4) on the visceral hyper-sensitivity in the rat model of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and to explore the acting targets and specialty of acupoints.

METHODSExcept 8 rats of the normal control group, the rest 32 rats were prepared to set up the IBS models. IBS animal model was prepared by enema with acetic acid. Model rats were divided into three groups. Except for rats in the model group for control, those in the other two groups were treated 20 min by EA on ST36 (EA-ST36) and LI4 (EA-LI4) respectively for 2 weeks to observe the effect on behavior response of viscera sensitivity. The changes of neuropeptide (NPY), the somatostatin (SS) levels in blood and tissues of brain and intestine were monitored as well.

RESULTSThe volume thresholds for abdomen uplifting and back hunching were obviously increased after EA-ST36 (P<0.05), but showed insignificant change after EA-LI4. NPY contents lowered and SS contents increased in model rats; both EA-ST36 and EA-LI4 could raise the level of thalamic NPY (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively), but showed insignificant effects on NPY in colonic tissue. As for SS content, its colonic level could be reduced by EA-S36 and EA-LI4 (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively), however, its blood level was affected only by EA-ST36 (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEA-ST36 or EA-LI4 could regulate the NPY in thalamus and SS in colonic tissue, the former could affect blood level of SS as well. It is deemed that NPY and SS may be the key substances for regulating the action of acupuncture in the brain-intestinal axis; their different levels could be regarded as an indicator for the functional difference between the acupoints.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Electroacupuncture ; methods ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Neuropeptide Y ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Somatostatin ; metabolism ; Viscera ; physiopathology