Object The immunoregulation function was studied in experimental animals to observe the effect of single and/or combined use with Radix Aconiti (RA) and Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae (RST). Methods The response of delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) in mice, the phagocytosis of abdominal macrophages (M?) in mice, and the production of special antibodies in mice were observed. Results The two Chinese materia medica (CMM) in combination use could induce the increasing of phagocytosic function of M? hypoimmunitic model mice, the inhibiting on the responses of DTH in the hyperimmunitic model mice and the non immunosuppressive treated mice. On the production of special antibodies in mice, the enhance effect was found in RA used in single, and the suppressive effect was found when using the combination of the two CMM. Conclusion In accordance with the mechanism of the disorder between the anti inflammation effect and the induce inflammation effect to arthritis in the immune system, these data indicate that the bidirectional effect of combination of the two CMM used on the immune responses, may be the involved mechanism on treating arthritis.

BACKGROUND:Previous experiment has confirmed that the nitinol artificial esophagus is an artificial succedaneum which can be used for replacing an esophagus resected and rebuilding esophageal tube.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the tissue reaction of the neo-esophagus and the adjacent organs injury contacted with the nitinol artificial esophagus after replacement.
METHODS:Eight miniature pigs were selected and modeled by resection of a 70 mm segment of the thoracic esophagus. After modeling, the nitinol artificial esophagus was inserted into the proximal and distal end of the thoracic esophagus at an insert distance of about 10 mm. After that, the nitinol artificial esophagus with polyester connecting ring was sewed into the thoracic esophagus in a manner of ful-thickness anastomosis. After operation, the pigs were subjected to feeding regulation measures to control the shedding time of the artificial esophagus. Two model pigs were sacrificed for anatomical observation at 1, 2, 3, 4 months postoperatively, respectively. The tissue reaction during the neo-esophagus formed procedure and adjacent organs injury contacted with the nitinol artificial esophagus were observed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Al pigs survived without complications such as thoracic hemorrhage, pneumothorax, pyothorax, esophageal perforation and anastomotic leakage. The experimental animals with the nitinol artificial esophagus fixed in situ had no dysphagia for eating semisolids food (Bown’SⅡ). Autopsy findings showed that there was slight membrane-like adhesion between partial pleura and lung. No hydrothorax was found. The nitinol artificial esophagus was wrapped up by the neo-esophagus. There was slight membrane-like adhesion between the neo-esophagus and the adjacent organs such as the lung, aorta and esophageal mucosa. The esophageal mucosa covered the neo-esophageal entocoele from esophageal stumps to intermedius of neo-esophagus until completely covered. Histological findings of the neo-esophagus showed that in imbed cycle of the nitinol artificial esophagus the tissue reaction showed aseprtic inflammation reaction and foreign body reaction around the implant. These tissue reactions were most severe at 1 month after operation and thereafter relieved gradual y.

Objective To study the chemical constituents in the roots of Phlomis medicinalis.Methods The compound was isolated and repeatedly purified by macroporous resin,silica gel column chromatography,TLC,and Prep-HPLC.Its stracture was elucidated by physical and chemical properties and NMR spectra.Results One iridoid glucoside was obtained and elucidated as 8,10-dehydropulchelloside.Conclusion The compound is a new one.

Objective To analyze the genetic model of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD).Methods The segregation analysis and polygenic multiple threshold model were used to prove the polygenic model and to estimate the heritability and recurrence risk of ADHD in each degree relatives.Results 1. The average heritability of ADHD was (102.47?9.78)%;2.The first-degree relatives of probands were in high risk for ADHD(23.0%)compared with colony prevalence rate(2.6%). The ADHD prevalence of each degree relatives rapidly decreased with the increased magnitude of consanguineous relationship of each degree relatives and ADHD probands. Conclusions The genetic model of ADHD is the most likely polygenic inheritance with major genes, which suggested that the genetic factor might play an important role in the liability variance of ADHD.Apart from the involvement of multiple genes,each gene contributes a small additive effect,and the major genes may be involved as well.

Objective HupA is one of the potential drugs which can be used to treat Alzheimer's disease(AD).The aim of this study was to explore the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of HupA in vivo by using 11C-HupA.Methods A total of 25 SD rats were studied.They were divided into 5 groups (5 rats in each group).All had intravenous injection of 22 MBq(in0.2 ml)11C-HupA through tail vein.Dynamic im-aging Was acquired from 5 to 90 minutes after injection.Venous blood and organ activities were collected at 5,15,30,60.and 90 minutes after injection.Percentage activity of injected dose per gram of tissue(%ID/g)was calculated to characterize the biodistribution of tracer in different brain regions: frontal,apical, temporal,occipital,cerebellum,hippocampus,striatum,thalamencephalon, and brain stem, Variance analysis using SPSS 11.5 software was performed and compared among the study groups.Results 11C-HupA was character-istic for its quick clearance from blood,with half time T1/2 of (14.61±1.77) min,and clearance rate (CL)macokinetics of 11C-HupA in rats corresponded to a one-compartment model.with an activity curve(area 11C-HupA distribution in different brain regions,being greater in cerebral cortex,hippocampus,hypothala-mus and brain stem. Conclusions Pharmacokinetic study of 11C-HupA in brain was fast.convenient and showed high specificity and sensitivity.Its ability to quantitatively evaluate brain function and its character-istic distribution in mice provided some evidence for monitoring therapy in AD patients.

OBJECTIVETo observe the auxiliary efficacy and safety of Hebi Recipe (HR)in treating early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSTotally 63 early RA patients with Gan-Pi disharmony were randomly assigned to the treatment group [32 cases, treated by HR (one dose per day, taken in two portions for 24 successive weeks) plus Methotrexate (MTX)] and the control group (31 cases, treated by MTX alone). The dosage of MTX was increased from 7.5 mg to 12.5 mg, once per week, 24 weeks as one course of treatment. Efficacy for Chinese medical syndromes, American College of Rheumatology 20 (ACR20) improvement rate, disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28), laboratory related indices [ESR, rheumatoid factor (RF), C-reactive protein (CRP), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP)], and related ultrasonic inspection items (synovium thickness, synovium blood flow classification, effusion of joint), and adverse reactions were observed.

RESULTSThe total effective rate (83.9%, 26/31 cases) and ACR20 improvement rate (74.2%, 23/31 cases) were higher in the treatment group than in the control group [60.7% (17/28 cases), 46.4% (13/28 cases); P < 0.05]. Compared with before treatment in the same group, DAS28 score, ESR, RF, CRP, CCP, synovium thickness, synovium blood flow classification, effusion of joint all decreased in the two groups after treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Compared with the control group after treatment, ACR20 improvement rate, DAS28 score, ESR, RF, CRP, CCP, synovium thickness, synovium blood flow classification, effusion of joint all decreased in the treatment group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Liver dysfunction occurred in 1 case of the treatment group. One leucopenia and 2 liver dysfunction occurred in the control group.

CONCLUSIONHR could effectively improve joints and systemic symptoms of early RA patients with Gan-Pi disharmony.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; C-Reactive Protein ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Methotrexate ; Phytotherapy ; Rheumatoid Factor ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome

Rutaecarpine (Rut) is a type of indole quinazoline alkaloid exracted from Ruticarpum. Studies showed that Rut has a wide range of pharmacological effects, such as anti-hypertension, anticancer, anti-inflammation, anti-thrombus formation. Currently, many scholars are committed to developing it into a new antihypertensive and anti-inflammatory drug with all new mechanisms. But studies found that Rut is a highly fat-soluble drug with low water and oil solubility. Its high insolubility is the main obstacle in its oral absorption and application, which greatly reduced its bioavailability. Therefore, hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) was used as the inclusion material to prepare Rut-HP-beta-CD inclusion complex in this experiment, in order to increase its water solubility and bioavailability. In this experiment, the inclusion complex was prepared by the stirring-freeze-dry method. The preparation process was optimized by the orthogonal test, with the inclusion rate as the index, and molar ratio between host and guest molecules, inclusion temperature, time and stirring speed as the impacting factors. Moreover, the inclusion complex was verified by detecting the apparent solubility, thin layer chromatography, microscopic identification, melting point detection and dissolution study. The results showed that under the conditions of the molar ratio between Rut and HP-beta-CD of 1: 1, temperature at 60 degrees C, inclusion time of 4h and stirring speed at 600 r x min(-1), the inclusion rate of Rut-HP-beta-CD reached 91.04%. Therefore, the preparation process of Rut-HP-beta-CD inclusion under the optimum conditions is simple and feasible, with a highest inclusion rate and reproducibility, and could significantly improve Rut's solubility and bioavailability, and provide a reliable experimental basis for its clinical application.
2-Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin ; Alkaloids ; chemistry ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Rutaceae ; chemistry ; Solubility ; beta-Cyclodextrins ; chemistry

Objective To explore whether the process of oxidative stress exists in schizophrenia through analyzing changes of levels of malondialdehyde(MDA) and superoxide dismutase(SOD) ,and analyse the influence of age on SOD and MDA .Methods Serum levels of MDA and SOD in the schizophrenia group and healthy control group were detected by using enzyme‐linked immu‐nosorbent assay(ELISA) and were statistically analysed by using t test .Results Compared with the healthy control group ,there was an increase in serum level of MDA and a decrease in serum level of SOD in the schizophrenia group ,and had statistically signifi‐cant differences(P<0 .05) .Moreover ,statistically significant differences were found between subjects in the same age group of the two groups(P<0 .05) .Meanwhile ,serum levels of MDA and SOD were respectively compared in the two groups between different age groups ,it was shown that in the schizophrenia group and healthy control group there were no statistically significant differences of serum levels of MDA and SOD between subjects 50 years old and over and subjects younger than 50 years old(P>0 .05) .Conclu‐sion The process of oxidative stress exits in patients with schizophrenia ,and oxidative stress may be involved in the occurrence and progression of schizophrenia .Patients′age may not be significantly correlated with schizophrenia .

Objective To measure the levels of cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies responding to various subtypes of HIV-1 strains in people with HIV-1 infection in Chongqing and to analyze their character-istics.Methods Two hundred and thirty-six plasma samples were collected from patients with chronic HIV-1 infection in Chongqing city.The single-round-infection assay in TZM-bl cells were performed to screen the plasma samples with cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies against various subtypes of HIV-1 strains by using HIV-1 pseudovirus strains and to measure the 50%inhibitory dose ( ID50 ) .Results Eight-een out of 236 (7.63%) plasma samples were able to neutralize various B subtypes and/or C subtypes of HIV-1 pseudovirus strains, among which 15 plasma samples showed the great ability to neutralize pseudovir-us strains of different subtypes.Conclusion The cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies against various sub-types of HIV-1 strains existed in plasma samples collected from people with chronic HIV-1 infection in Chongqing city.

Objective To observe the effects of Chinese medicinal herbs with the efficacy of invigorating spleen, upbearing the clear, and tonifying spleen on the obesity degree, fat hormones, and insulin resistance in diet-induced obesity (DIO) rats;To choose better anti-obesity herbs from different Chinese medicinal herbs that can tonify spleen. Methods Among the 130 Wistar rats, 10 were chosen as the blank control group (fed with basal forage), and the remaining 120 were administered with high-fat high-nutrition forage for 13 weeks. According to weight, 50 DIO rats and 10 diet-induced obesity resistance (DIO-R) rats were obtained. DIO rats were divided into model group (normal saline), sibutramine group, invigorating spleen group (Atractylodix Rhizome and Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex), upbearing the clear group (Bupleuri Radix and Aurantii Fructus Immaturus) and medicine for tonifying qi and spleen group (Astragali Radix). All groups received gavage with corresponding drugs. Rats in the blank control group and the DIO-R group received gavage with normal saline. The basal forage was administered to rats in the blank control group, while high-fat forage was continually given to rats in the other six groups. Insulin resistance index (IRI), blood glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and adiponectin were detected after blood withdrawing. TNF-α and adiponectin in the fat homogenate were examined. Results Compared with the blank control group, body weight, IRI, and cholesterol of rats in the model group significantly increased (P<0.01);adiponectin in homogenate reduced (P<0.01);serum and adipose homogenate TNF-α increased (P<0.01). Compared with model group, body weight, IRI, cholesterol of rats in DIO-R group significantly decreased (P<0.01);adiponectin in fat homogenate increased (P<0.01). Body weight and cholesterol of rats in the sibutramine group significantly decreased (P<0.01), while serum and adipose homogenates TNF-αdecreased (P<0.05, P<0.01). Body weight, IRI and cholesterol of rats in upbearing the clear group decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01);serum and adipose homogenate TNF-α decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01);adiponectin increased in fat homogenate (P<0.05). IRI, cholesterol and serum TNF-αof rats in the invigorating spleen group decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01);adiponectin in serum and adipose homogenate increased (P<0.05). BMI, blood glucose, IRI and cholesterol of rats in Astragali Radix group decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01);TNF-α decreased and adiponectin increased in serum and adipose homogenate (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion Astragali Radix could reduce obesity induced by high-fat forage, and its effects on improving glucose and lipid metabolism disorder and IR are better than the other TCM groups. Its mechanism is related to decreasing TNF-α and increasing adiponectin level.