Objective The experiment was designed to observe the effect of inhaled arsenic trioxide(As2O3)and in combination with inhaled moxa leaf oil on eosinophils(EOS)and lung tissue's morphology in asthmatic guinea pigs, and to explore its mechanism of relieving wheezing. Methods The ovalbumin(OVA)-induced asthmatic guinea pig model was established. Sixty guinea pigs were randomly divided into As2O3 atomization inhalation group B1 As2O3 low dose group:2.0 mg/(kg·d), B2 As2O3 high dose group:4.0 mg/(kg·d), combined treatment group C1 low dose group:2.0 mg/(kg·d)+moxa leaf oil 0.05 ml, C2 high dose group: 4.0 mg/(kg·d)+moxa leaf oil 0.10 ml, saline aerosol inhalation group(group A) asthma model group)and normal control group(group D)according to random permutation table method. After 7 days medicated, the EOS in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)were compared. Guinea pig lung, heart, liver and kidney pathological specimens were prepared and the change of the lung tissue's inflammation and heart, liver and kidney tissue were investigated. Lung tissue’s electron microscopy specimens were prepared and the apoptosis of acidophilic cells and repair of alveolar epithelial cells were observed. Results Compared with asthma model group's EOS number[(58.08±19.01)×105], the difference in As2O3 low dose group、As2O3 high dose group、combined treatment low dose group、combined treatment high dose group and normal control group[(26.37±1.12)×105, (11.50±1.61)×105, (14.16±4.88)×105, (5.03±1.66)×105 and(0.35±0.16)×105, respectively] were statistically significant(P<0.01); there was statistical difference between As2O3 low dose group and As2O3 high dose group(P<0.01);There was statistical difference between As2O3 low dose group and combined treatment low dose group(P<0.01);There was statistical difference between As2O3 high dose group and combined treatment high dose group(P<0.05). Compared with combined treatment high dose group, difference in As2O3 low dose group、As2O3 high dose group and combined treatment low dose group was statistically significant(P<0.05). The difference in B1, B2, C1, C2 and D group was statistically significant compared with group A (P<0.01). The difference in B1 and B2, B1 and C1 group was statistically significant (P<0.01). The difference between B2 and C2 group was statistically significant(P<0.05). The difference in C2 group was statistically significant compared with group B1, B2 and C1(P<0.05). Conclusion EOS abnormal apoptosis was an important pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. The mechanism of arsenic trioxide anti-asthma was that arsenic trioxide could reduce acidophil infiltration and promote acidophilic cell apoptosis. The mechanism of moxa leaf oil anti-asthma was it could reduce acidophil infiltration. Smaller doses of the combination of inhaled As2O3 and moxa leaf oil was safe and effective to achieve the effect of relieving wheezing and the combined use had synergy.

Advocating green, nature, environmental protection, safety and the pursuit of efficacy are the trends of cosmetics in the world. In recent years, more and more Chinese herbal extracts with mild, high safety and small irritation are applied to cosmetics as the natural additives. This has become a new hot spot. The recent application advances of Chinese medicine raw materials in cosmetics are overviewed according to their main functions. This review will provide useful references for the future development and application of Chinese medicinal herbs cosmetics.
Animals ; Biomedical Research ; trends ; Consumer Product Safety ; Cosmetics ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Humans

Objective To explore the effects of sodium arsenie on Metallothionein(MT) isoforms genes expression,and to study the relevance between the MT expression and cell survival percentage. Methods Healthy persons blood was extracted aseptically and the lymphocytes were separated. The lymphocytes were treated by 0 (control) ,2,5,10,15,30,60 μmol/L sodium arsenites, respectively. The cell survival percentage was determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) reduction assay at 24,48,72 h intervals, while the expression of MT-1 and MT-2 were examined by RT-PCR in 72 h. Results The cell survival percentage in 2,5μmoL/L groups were (115.50± 11.80)% and (130.49±8.28)%,which were all higher than those in the control group [(100.00±0.00)%,all P < 0.05]at any intervals. In 10,15,30,60 μmol/L groups,the cell survival percentage[(78.12±9.33)%,(71.62± 10.82)%,(52.06±3.05)%,(40.98±5.41)%]increased along with the decrease of concentration,which showed a significant difference between these groups and the control group and 2,5μmol/L groups(all P < 0.05). There was no significant difference on MT-1 expression after exposed to different concentration sodium arsenites (0,2,5,10,15,30,60 μmol/L) for72 h(0.925±0.123,1.082±0.504,1.103±0.170,0.927±0.056,0.730±0.307,0.604± 0.173,0.540±0.075,all P > 0.05). The expression of MT-2 in 2,5μmol/L groups(1.503±0.212,1.557±0.377) was up regulated compared with that in control group(0.702±0.112) and MT-2 also expressed more than that in other groups(all P < 0.05). However,the expression of MT-2 declined when the concentraion was 10,15,30,60 μmol/L(0.814±0.139,0.679±0.201,0.607±0.229,0.533±0.102). There was no significant difference among the groups (all P > 0.05). The expression level oE MT-1,MT-2 was positively correlated with the cell survival pereentage(r = 0.955,0.909,all P < 0.05). Conclusions The sodium arsenite at concentration of 10 μmoL/L might inhibit the expression of MT of lymphocytes and low concentration sodium arsenite (2,5 μmol/L) might stimulate the lymphocytes to regulate the expression of MT-2 to higher levels,which can increase the cell survival percentage and exert the function of protecting cells.

Objective To observe the expression of cardiotrophin-1(CT-1) in ischemia-reinfusion cardiac muscle of rats and the effect of neuregulin-1(NRG-1).Methods The model of ischemia-reinfusion cardiac muscle of rats were prepared,35 rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:model group(n=8),NRG-1 pretreatment group(n=9),pseudo-surgery group(n=8) and normal control group(n=10).The CT-1 mRNA in the observed cardiac muscle of all groups was measured by RT-PCR and the relative amount of CT-1 mRNA were calculated,and for statistical treatment.Results The CT-1 mRNA of model group was(63.96?9.34),and it was higher than that of pseudo-surgery group(36.16?5.43)and normal control group(36.84?4.64).The significant differences were found in 3 groups(F=47.37 P

Objective To study the expression of mdm2 genes in nephroblastoma in children and relationship between mdm2 gene and clinical pathological parameters.Methods The protein expressions of mdm2 in 24 cases of nephroblastoma were detected with S-P immunohistochemical method.The relationships between mdm2 expression and clinicopathological parameters were analyzed.Results The positive rates of mdm2 in 24 cases of nephroblastoma were correlated with lymph node metastasis,clinical stage and tumor differentiation.There was a positive relationship between mdm2 protein expression and clinicopathological parameters such as lymph node metastasis,clinical stage and degree of differentiation(P

Objective To explore the value of deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA) content on clinical pathological characteristics of nephroblastoma in children.Methods Twenty-four cases of pediatric nephroblastoma from Jan.1993 to Dec.2007 were proved by pathology.The distribution of the 24 cases according to National Wilms Tumor Study group(NWTSG) criteria of USA was stage Ⅰ(12 cases),stage Ⅱ(7 cases),stage Ⅲ(5 cases).The pathology was highly differentiated in 10 cases,medium differentiated in 8 cases and low differentiated in 6 cases according to the level of differentiation.There were 9 cases of lymphatic metastasis and 15 cases of non-lymphatic metastasis in accordance with lymphatic metastasis.The DNA contents of 24 cases were determined by flow cytometry.Chi-square test was used to analyze the relationship among DNA ploidy and clinical stage,level of differentiation,lymphatic metastasis of children with nephroblastoma.Results Aneuploidy mainly occurred in clinical stage Ⅱ or stage Ⅲ(57.14%,100.0%),there was significant difference compared with that of stageⅠ(25.0%)(P

During the process of growth, harvesting, transportation, processing and storage, Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) can be easily contaminated by fungi and their metabolites like mycotoxins, which not only express negative effects on the quality and safety of CHMs and their processed products, but also pose great threats to human health. Now, some chemical synthetic fungicides have been frequently used to control the growth of fungi and accumulation of mycotoxins in the preservation of CHMs. However, the concentration and type of chemical fungicides allowed for postharvest application are restricted due to the disadvantages of their high residual toxicity, long degradation period and pollution to the environment and so on. Therefore, it is critical to research and develop some highly effective, safe and non-toxic, natural, environment-friendly fungistatic agents from plants to prevent CHMs from being contaminated by fungi and mycotoxins. The paper reviews mycotoxins and their harmfulness, the effective compounds of fungistatic plants as well as the antifungal mechanism to provide scientific evidences for developing novel and effective fungistatic agents plants. Then, the application prospect of fungistatic agents from plants in the preservation of CHMs was discussed.
Animals ; Fungi ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Fungicides, Industrial ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Mycotoxins ; metabolism ; toxicity ; Plant Diseases ; microbiology ; prevention & control ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; microbiology ; Preservation, Biological ; methods

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of etanercept plus Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycoside (TWP) in elderly patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSTotally 46 elderly patients with active RA were randomly assigned to the treatment group (22 cases) and the control group (24 cases). All patients received subcutaneous injection of etanercept, 25 mg each time, twice per week. The dosage was reduced to once per week 3 months later. Patients in the treatment group took TWP Tablet (10 mg each time, three times per day), while those in the control group took methotrexate (MTX), 10 mg each time, once per week. The whole course lasted for 24 weeks. Patients' rest pain, tender joint number, swollen joint number, health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), patients' global assessment, physicians' global assessment, erythrocyte sediment rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP), rheumatic factor were assessed at week 0, 4, 8, 12, and 24. The curative effect was statistically evaluated by the United States Institute of Rheumatology ACR20, ACR50, and ACR70 improvement criteria. Meanwhile, any adverse event was recorded and evaluated.

RESULTSTotally 41 completed the trial, and 5 dropped off (3 in the treatment group and 2 in the control group). Compared with the control group, there was no statistical difference in ACR20, ACR50, or ACR70 in the treatment group (P > 0.05). Compared with before treatment in the same group, there was some improvement in tender joint number, swollen joint number, visual analogue scale (VAS) for patients' global assessment, VAS for physicians' global assessment, ESR, CRP, and HAQ between the two groups, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group in the same phase, there was no statistical difference in the treatment group (P > 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the occurrence of adverse events between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSEtanercept plus TWP could achieve equivalent therapeutic effect to that of Etanercept plus MTX. The two regimens could improve clinical signs, symptoms, and QOL related to RA. They were well tolerated in the treatment of elderly patients with active RA.

Aged ; Antirheumatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Etanercept ; Female ; Glycosides ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Tripterygium ; chemistry

Oxidation method with sodium iodide was used to synthesize immunogenic antigen (PF-BSA) and coating antigen (PF-OVA) of paeoniflorin. UV spectroscopy showed that paeoniflorin was successfully conjugated with BSA and OVA. After immunized by PF-BSA, the mice can produce anti-paeoniflorin antibodies specifically. The ELISA test results showed the high titer (1:12 800) and specificity (IC50 = 0.791 mg x L(-1)) of the antiserum from mice injected with PF-BSA. Also, the antiserum showed low cross activities against nine traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) of small molecules. These artificial antigens were successfully synthesized and the anti-paeoniflorin antibody well prepared, which provides the experimental basis for the further study of ELISA and its kit.
Animals ; Antibodies ; analysis ; Antigens ; chemistry ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Monoterpenes ; chemistry ; immunology ; Serum Albumin, Bovine ; chemistry ; immunology

Dendrimers are highly branched macromolecules that have attractive nano-sized architectures. It seems that they can enter various cells easily because of their unique nanostructures and chemical properties, which make them to be one of important candidates of non-virus carriers for drug delivery or gene therapy. However, the understanding of cytotoxicity and related mechanisms of dendrimers are still limited. In recent years there has been rapid increases of researches regarding the biological effects of dendrimers, including the interactions of dendrimers to cells, transport mechanisms, intracellular distribution and biodistribution in vivo, as well as improvement of biocompatibility of dendrimers by surface engineering. In this paper, recent advances in the investigations of biological effect and surface modification for the dendrimers as drug or gene delivery systems were reviewed.
Animals ; Dendrimers ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Drug Delivery Systems ; methods ; Humans ; Macromolecular Substances ; chemistry ; Nanostructures