OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects and mechanisms of cordycepin,an effective component of cordyceps militaris, on renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) and its related eIF2α/TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.

METHODFirstly, 15 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 3 groups,the control group (Group A), the model group (Group B) and the cordycepin-treated group (Group C). After renal interstitial fibrotic model was successfully established by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), the mice in Group C were intraperitoneally administrated with cordycepin(5 mg x kg(-1) d(-1)) and the ones in Group A and B were administrated with physiological saline for 5 days. At the end of the study, the obstructed kidneys were collected and detected for the pathological changes of RIF, and the mRNA expressions of collagen type I (Col I) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in the kidney by Northern blot. Secondly, after renal tubular epithelial (NRK-52E) cells cultured in vitro were exposed to transforming growth factor (TGF) -β with or without cordycepin, the mRNA expressions of Col I and collagen type IV( Col IV) by Northern blot, and the protein expressions of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α), phosphorylated eIF2α ( p-eIF2α), Smad2/3 and phosphorylated Smad2/3 (p-Smad2/3) were tested by Western blot.

RESULTIn vivo, cordycepin alleviated RIF in model mice, including improving fibrotic pathological characteristics and mRNA expressions of Col I and α-SMA. In vitro, cordycepin induced the high expression of p-elF2α, and inhibited the expressions of p-Smad2/3, Col I and Col IV induced by TGF-β in NRK-52E cells.

CONCLUSIONCordycepin attenuates RIF in vivo and in vitro, probably by inducing the phosphorylation of eIF2α, suppressing the expression of p-Smad2/3, a key signaling molecule in TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway, and reducing the expressions of collagens and α-SMA in the kidney.

Actins ; analysis ; Animals ; Deoxyadenosines ; pharmacology ; Fibrosis ; Kidney ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Phosphorylation ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Smad Proteins ; physiology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo summarize recent studies on the biophysical characteristics of meridians and acupoints, so as to provide a basis and thinking for scientific studies.

METHODSTwenty-nine papers about biophysical characteristics of meridians and acupoints were reviewed from studies of electricity, heat, sound, light, magnetic and radionuclide.

RESULTSThe biophysical characteristics of meridians and acupoints have been proved in different domains, and meridians and acupoints objectively exist.

CONCLUSIONScientific studies on the biophysical characteristics of meridians and acupoints have vast vistas.

Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Meridians

Objective:To investigate the incidence trends and clinicopathologic characteristics of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducting using the following data:3,766 cases with thyroid disease in the People's Hospital of Wuhan University between January 2001 and July 2013;and 977 cases with thyroid cancer in the Hubei Cancer Hospital between Janu-ary 2006 and July 2013. Results:The incidence of thyroid cancer increased significantly since 2008, ranging from 14.94%to 18.10%(P<0.05). In particular, the PTC cases ranged from 85.33%to 90.89%(P<0.05). A total of 1,416 cases were diagnosed as PTC with a male to female ratio of 1:3.75. The positive rate of neck lymph node metastasis (NLNM) was significantly different in terms of gender and age (P<0.05). Significant differences were also found between the unifocal group and the multifocal group;the positive rate of NL-NM was 77.94%in the latter group. The rate of NLNM in PTC was 72.29%, which had higher significance compared with Hashimoto's thyroiditis or with nodular goiter. Conclusion: The incidence of thyroid cancer is increasing. Cases involving males aged below 45 years old and with>1 cm tumor diameter and multifocal PTC are more likely to be complicated with NLNM.

Lipase gene from Penicillium expansum(lip07) was cloned and over-expressed in Pichia pastoris.a random mutant named ep8,which contained a single amino acid substitution,was obtained by using the lip07 as an error-prone PCR template in previous study.ep8 shows higher thermostability than that of lip07,To further improve the thermostability of the lipase,the Lys of wild-type(lip07) and mutant(ep8) in 202 were substituted by Ala using the Overlap extension PCR technique respectively.The mutant genes(lip07-K202A and ep8-K202A) were subcloned into pAO815,and then transformed into the Pichia pastoris GS115 for extracelluar expression,respectively.15% SDS-PAGE analysis indicated that the molecular mass of PEL-ep8-K202A and PEL-lip07-K202A are both about 28kDa,which is same with the wild-type lipase.The Tm of PEL-ep8-K202A is 41.66℃,2.63℃ higher than that of the wild-type(39.03℃) and 1.21℃ higher than the random mutant(PEL-ep8:40.45℃);the Tm of single mutant(PEL-lip07-K202A) is 37.08℃,2℃ lower than that of the wild-type lipase.

Objective To screen altered proteins of hippocampus in the stress-induced depression (STRID) rat model, and explore the potential molecular mechanism. Methods Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control group and STRID group, 10 rats in each group. Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) methods including fasting for solids and liquids, electric foot-shock, reversing day and night, cold water swimming, cage tilt, scare stimulation and tail pinch were conducted on STRID rats with no repeats for 28 days to make up the depression animal model. The control group was normally fed during this period. After the stress stimulation, the hippocampus protein samples were used for two dimensional electrophoresis to screen the differentially expressed protein, and then mass spectrum identification and function analyze were conducted. Results Compared with the control group, 34 proteins were altered in STRID group. Among which, 18 were up-regulated, and 16 were down-regulated. The differentially expressed proteins mainly located in cytoplasm, mitochondrion, extracellular exosome and myelin sheath. The involved signaling pathways included metabolic pathway, oxidative phosphorylation pathway, and Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease pathways. Conclusion The altered proteins and dysfunction of nerve signaling, and the excess of oxidative phosphorylation in hippocampus of STRID rats may be one of the pathogenesises.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of Xinlikang (XLK) on angiotensin II (Ang II) induced hypertrophic cultured neonatal rat's cardiomyocyte (CMC).

METHODSPrimary cultured neonatal rat's CMCs with the purity certified by immunohistochemical technique, were divided into three groups. Rats in the normal control group were untreated; those in the model group were established into hypertrophic models but underwent no treatment; and those in the XLK group were established to hypertrophic models and treated with XLK containing serum obtained from rats with aorta coarctation after 8 days of feeding with XLK. MTT and phase-contrast microscope were used to evaluate the effect of XLK on cell activity, pulsating rhythm and surface area; Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) expression was determined by radioimmunoassay; Protein content was determined by Bradford method; and DNA synthesis was detected by flow cytometric assay.

RESULTSImmunohistochemistry results showed that more than 90% of the cells were alpha-sarcometin actin stained positive cells. No significant effect of XLK on normal CMC was found. Ang II could significantly induce hypertrophy in CMCs, and XLK could significantly decrease the increased surface area and the accelerated pulsating rate in them. ANP expression was 780 +/- 38 microg/L in the model group, and 430 +/- 23 microg/L in the control group, and the elevated expression of ANP in model rats was significantly decreased in the XLK group; The DNA content in the G0/G1 and G2/M phases was significantly enhanced and at the same time it was accompanied with increase of total protein content in the model rats after being stimulated by Ang II for 24 h, showing that serum-containing XLK could also significantly suppress total protein synthesis (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONXLK could improve Ang II mediated pathological growth of CMCs without influencing the growth of normal CMCs, suggesting that XLK is probably an effective drug for treatment of myocardial hypertrophy and heart failure.

Angiotensin II ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; metabolism ; Cell Size ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA ; biosynthesis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hypertrophy ; Myocardial Contraction ; drug effects ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proteins ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Vasoconstrictor Agents ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy of Chibixiao Recipe (CBX) in combination with minocycline and spironolactone in treating rosacea in females.

METHODSSixty-eight women with rosacea were randomly assigned to the treated group (48 cases) and the control group (20 cases), both of which were treated with minocycline and spironolactone taken orally, but to the treated group, the Chinese herbal recipe, CBX was given additionally. Besides, cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen was applied to those with apparent capillary dilatation. The therapeutic course for both groups was 8 weeks. The levels of serum testosterone before and after treatment were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA), and a 4-month follow-up was conducted.

RESULTSIn the treated group the cure-markedly effective rate was 87.5% and the recurrent rate was 6.5%, while in the control group, they were 45.0% and 41.2% respectively. Comparisons in the indexes between the two groups all showed significant difference (both P<0.01), with the cure-markedly effective rate higher, and the recurrent rate lower in the treated group. The serum level of testosterone got lowered in both groups ( P<0.05 and P<0.01), but the lowering in the treated group was more significant, showing significance when compared with that in the control group ( P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONCBX in combination with Western medicine has effect in treating rosacea superior to that of Western medicine alone, and could effectively reduce recurrent rate and the serum level of testosterone. female rosacea, testosterone, Chibixiao Recipe, minocycline, spironolactone

Adult ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Minocycline ; administration & dosage ; Recurrence ; Rosacea ; blood ; drug therapy ; Spironolactone ; administration & dosage ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo observe the curative effect of porous tantalum rod and Gugutou Huaisiyu Capsule (GHC) for steroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head (SONFH).

METHODSA total 60 hips of 50 SONFH patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group and the control group according to grouping time, 25 in each group (30 hips). Patients in the control group were implanted with porous tantalum rod, while those in the treatment group additionally took GHC (5 pills each time, three time per day for 2 successive months; and then twice per day for 4 successive months). Then all patients were followed-up to observe Harris hip score. The curative effect and the femoral head survival time were assessed.

RESULTSA total of 49 patients (59 hips) were followed-up. The Harris hip score of the two groups at the final follow-up was significantly improved after treatment, with statistical difference when compared with before treatment (P < 0.01). Besides, it was higher in the treatment group than in the control group. The curative effect and the survival time were superior in the treatment group, with statistical difference when compared with the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPorous tantalum rod combined GHC got better effect in treating SONFH. It could significantly improve the function of affected hips and prolong the survival time of femoral head.

Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Femur Head Necrosis ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Prostheses and Implants ; Steroids ; adverse effects ; Tantalum

This study is to establish an HPLC-DAD-ELSD method for simultaneous determination of 5 flavones and saponins in Rhizoma Anemarrhenae including neo-mangiferin, mangiferin, timosaponin B II, timosaponin B III and timosaponin A III. Samples were analyzed on a Merck Purospher STAR column(4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm). The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile( A) and 0. 1% formic acid (B) with gradient elution at a flow rate of 1.0 mL · min(-1). The column temperature was set at 40 °C. The DAD detector wavelength was set at 254 nm. The ELSD conditions were as follows: the nebulizing gas flow rate was 2.0 L · min(-1) and temperature of drift tube was 105 °C. The volume was 10 μL. The five compounds were well separated with good linear correlations. The mean recoveries were between 102.0%-104.0%. This method was quick and reliable which provides a foundation for quality control of R. Anemarrhenae.
Anemarrhena ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; instrumentation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Flavones ; analysis ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Saponins ; analysis

UNLABELLED(GPL) in patients suffered from chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) differentiated as Pi-deficiency with damp-heat retention and blood stasis in TCM Syndrome differentiation.

METHODSSixty-eight patients fitting to the admission criteria were randomly divided into two groups, 36 patients were treated with KWG in the treated group and 32 were treated with Weifuchun in the control group, all were treated for 2 treatment courses (12 weeks as one course).

RESULTSThe curative effects on gastroscopy and pathologic changes in the treated group were significantly superior to those in the control group (P < 0.05). The comparison of clinical efficacy, symptom improvement, anti-Helicobactor pylori effect between the two groups was insignificantly different (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONKWG is an effective drug for GPL.

Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Gastric Mucosa ; pathology ; Gastritis, Atrophic ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Precancerous Conditions ; drug therapy ; pathology