Objective To investigate the influence of the purging fire and removing toxin method on chemokines and adhesion factors related to vascular endothelialitis injury induced by toxin of trimeresurus stejnegeri bite.Methods ① Animal experiment:50 healthy New Zealand white rabbits were chosen.According to random numbers generated by statistical software,they were divided into normal control group,model group,low,middle and high dose Sheshang capsule groups,10 in each group.Trimeresurus stejnegeri bite model was replicated by injecting 0.75 mL/kg snake venom into subcutaneous tissues of rabbits' right hind legs.And the same volume of normal saline was injected into the rabbit in the normal control group.After the model was established for 6 hours,the rabbits in low,middle and high dose Sheshang capsule groups received 174,348 and 522 mg· kg-1 · d-1 of Sheshang capsule solution respectively (the content of capsules was dissolved in normal saline to make liquid with 17.4,34.8 and 52.2 g/L Sheshang solution respectively,so the volume of gavage of each group was 10 mL· kg-1 · d-1);in the model and normal control groups,the same amount of normal saline was given by gavage,once daily for consecutive one week.24 hours after the last gavage,the blood of the rabbits was collected through an auricular border vein and the serum was separated by centrifuge ready for use.Meanwhile,the whole abdominal aorta segment of the rabbit was harvested and kept them in liquid nitrogen ready for use.② Cell experiment:human umbilical vascular endothelial cell (HUVEC) was cultured with MEM for 24 hours.The solution was replaced and according to the random number generated by statistical software,the cells were divided into blank control group,model group and low,middle,high dose Sheshang capsule medicinal serum groups,10 wells in each group.Trimeresurus stejnegeri toxin cell model was reproduced by addition of 5 mg/L snake venom into the cell culture medium.After 6-hour culture,the cells of model group and blank control group received 10％ normal rabbit serum,and the cells of low,middle and high dose Sheshang medicinal serum capsule groups received serum containing 5％,10％ and 15％ drug,respectively.After culture for 72 hours,the cells were collected and the total RNA was extracted.The real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to detect the levels of mRNA of interleukin-8 (IL-8),monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1),intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in the vascular endothelial cells of rabbit aorta abdominalis and human umbilical vein,and the content of serum E-select element (CD62E) was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results In model group,the expression levels of mRNA in IL-8,MCP-1,ICAM-1,VCAM-1 and the content of CD62E were all increased significantly in the endothelial cells of rabbit aorta abdominalis and HUVEC compared with those in control group [when the mRNA expression levels of IL-8,MCP-1,ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in normal and blank control group were all being 1,the mRNA expression levels (2-△ △Ct) of the above mentioned inflammatory factors and adhesion molecule in animal model group were 3.96 ± 0.39,3.07 ± 0.27,3.71 ± 0.26,3.94 ± 0.26,and the mRNA expression levels (2-△ △Ct) of the above mentioned inflammatory factors and adhesion molecule in HUVEC model group were 3.53±0.70,2.24±0.48,3.13±0.44,2.80±0.13,respectively,all P ＜ 0.01].The content of CD62E in serum was increased significantly in model group compared with that in normal control group (μg/L:1.31 ± 0.22 vs.0.82 ± 0.13,P ＜ 0.01),the mRNA expression levels of IL-8,MCP-1,ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were decreased significantly in low,middle,high dose Sheshang capsule groups compared with those in model group in endothelial cells of aorta abdominalis of rabbits and HUVEC [abdominal aorta:IL-8 mRNA (2-△ △Ct) were 1.13 ± 0.19,1.26 ± 0.16,1.27 ± 0.17 vs.3.96 ± 0.39,MCP-1 mRNA (2-△ △ Ct) were 1.79 ± 0.24,2.22 ± 0.38,1.76±0.19 vs.3.07±0.27,ICAM-1 mRNA (2 △△Ct) were 2.05±0.11,1.68±0.09,2.37±0.48 vs.3.71±0.26,VCAM-1 mRNA (2-△△Ct) were 1.59±0.08,1.40±0.11,1.84±0.11 vs.3.94±0.26;HUVEC:IL-8 mRNA (2-△△Ct) were 2.33±0.59,2.82±0.82,2.51±0.77 vs.3.53±0.70,MCP-1 mRNA (2-△△Ct) were 1.59±0.35,1.48±0.36,1.54±0.29 vs.2.24±0.48,ICAM-1 mRNA (2-△△Ct) were 1.46±0.38,1.77±0.65,1.73±0.50 vs.3.13±0.44,VCAM-1 mRNA (2-△△Ct) were 2.49±0.24,2.18±0.19,2.45±0.24 vs.2.80±0.13,all P ＜ 0.05].The contents of CD62E were decreased significantly in middle,high dose Sheshang capsule groups compared with the content in model group (μg/L:1.01 ±0.14,1.04±0.13 vs.1.31 ±0.22,all P ＜ 0.01),but there were no statistical significant differences among the three drug group (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The therapy of purging fire and removing toxin can treat vascular endothelial injury by inhibiting the inflammatory response induced by Trimeresurus stejnegeri bites.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Bushen Huoxue Granule (BHG) on dopamine (DA) neurotransmitter and dopamine transporter (DAT) in the brain of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) as an adjunctive therapy.

METHODSNinety-four PD patients were randomly assigned to two groups, 47 in each group. Madopar was given to all as the basic treatment group. The placebo was given to those in the control group while BHG was given to those in the treatment. The therapeutic course for all was three months. Before and after treatment DA levels in the brain of patients were detected by encephalofluctuograph (EFG) technique. Changes of DAT in the striatum of patients in the treatment group were detected by positron emission tomography (PET) and region of interest (ROI) analysis.

RESULTS(1) Before treatment the DA level was lower in the two groups than the normal value, showing significant difference (P < 0.01), but with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). After treatment the DA level obviously increased in the two groups, showing significant difference from that before treatment (P < 0.01). No significant difference existed in the DA level in the two groups when compared with the normal value (P > 0.05), but with significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). Better results were obtained in the treatment group than in the control group. (2) The DAT radioactive accumulation inside the striatum increased obviously in the treatment group after treatment. ROI analysis showed the total ratio of striatum/cerebellum before and after treatment was 1.86 +/- 0.32 and 2.61 +/- 0.53 respectively, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBHG could improve the DA level of PD patients, and increasing DAT contents in the striatum, thus playing a role in effectively treating PD.

Aged ; Brain ; metabolism ; Dopamine ; metabolism ; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy

Objective To obtain scientific data for control of iodine deficiency disorders(IDD) by reviewing the surveillance information of school children intelligence quotient(IQ) after the implementation of universal salt iodization. Methods One thousand five hundred and eighty children were selected from 11 primary school in Dalian city of Liaoning province during 2006 to 2009. IQ was measured by Combined Raven Test-C2(CRT-C2) in China. Groups of IQ were classified as outstanding(≥ 130), excellent (120- 129), above average (110- 119), average (90 - 109), below average(80 - 89), margin(70 - 79), low(≤69). Urinary samples of children were collected randomly. Urinary iodine were determined by As-Ce catalytic spectrophotometry. The growth characteristics of IQ were analyzed according to surveillance year and born year. Results The average IQ of children aged 8-10 were 110.4 ± 14.0,112.5 ± 12.4,117.2 ± 11.4,116.2 ± 12.6, respectively, increased year by year from 2006 to 2009. Its average annual increase from 2007 to 2009 were 2.1,3.4,1,9 compared with the IQ in 2006 respectively. The medians of urinary iodine were 224.7,266.7,222.1 μg/L from the year 2007 to 2009, respectively, which were all between 200 - 300 μg/L and can be classified as more than adequate level. The average IQ of children born during the year of 1994 to 2000 were 106.7 ± 13.0,108.1 ± 13.9,108.5 ± 13.4,111.3 ± 14.3,113.6 ± 12.5,115.3 ± 12.3,119.8 ± 11.2, respectively. Its average annual increase from 1995 - 2000 were 1.4,0.9,1.5,1.7,1.7,2.2 compared with the IQ born in 1994 respectively. The ratio of IQ in margin group and low group were all below 2% ; the ratio was increasing in excellent group and outstanding group and decreasing in average group and below average group significantly year after year(x2 = 52.471,34.329,66.483,11.148, all P<0.01). Conclusions Universal salt iodization improves IQ scores. IQ index should be brought into the surveillance project and put in use in IDD control.

Background Glial cells perform specialized function in many aspects of the development,homeostasis,and function of neurons.Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs)and glia interactions are critically important in glaucomatous neurodegeneration.However,the precise mechanisms of glial activation and ganglion cells damage are still remained unclear. Objective This study was to assess the early responses of glial cells in the retina,optic nerve and optic chiasm in rat models of acute high intraocular pressure (IOP),and to examine the expression of nestin,a neuronal progenitor marker,in the reactive glias. Methods Acute high IOP of 110 mmHg was induced in the right eyes of 6 clean adult female Wistar rats by infusing normal saline solution into the anterior chamber for 60 minutes.Three normal matched Wistar rats were used as controls.The rats were sacrificed by overanaesthesia and sections of retina,optic nerve and optic chiasm were collected on 3 days and 7 days after the injection.Rat retina was examined by Nissl staining to illustrate the gross structure changes.Loss of axons of RGCs in the optic nerve was assessed by immunostaining of β Ⅲ-tubulin.Double labeling of glia] fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and nestin was performed in sections of retina,optic nerve and optic chiasm to evaluate the glial responses.The use of the animals complied with Statement of Animal Ethic Committee of Peking University Third Hospital. Results In control rats,GFAP-positive glial cells were observed in the retina,optic nerve and optic chiasm,where only weak positive response for nestin was noticed.Three days after acute IOP elevation,thickness of inner plexus form layer was significantlydecreased in comparison with the control rats.A loss of 46％ RGCs was found in the rats with ocular hypertension.Obvious increase of GFAP expression was displayed in the retina,and processes of GFAP-positive glia cells extended into outer retina accompanied with significant up regulation of nestin.Axons in the optic nerve demonstrated a tendency of degeneration.Nestin expression increased significantly in the GFAP-positive glias in the optic nerve.Cross-sectional area of optic chiasm corresponding to the injured retina decreased relative to its countcrpart.Astrocyte like GFAP and nestin-colabeled glials were observed in this part of optic chiasm.The pathological changes of the retina,optic nerve and optic chiasm in hypertensive eyes aggravated on 7 days. Conclusions Acute ocular hypertension induce early onset of RGCs loss and axon degeneration.Neuronal injury is accompanied with glial reaction.Reactive glial cells express neuronal progenitor markers.The structural changes of the optic nerve and optic chiasm occur simultaneously with the high IOP.

Objective To study the clinicopathologieal features and expression of cyclin D1 and p53 in epithelial ovarian tumors,and to investigate the correlation between pathogenesis of ovarian cancer and epithelial borderline tumors.Methods Fifty four cases of ovarian borderline tumors and 45 cases of ovarian carcinomas from the People's Hospital,Peking University were reviewed retrospectively.The clinical data and pathological findings were analyzed.Immunohistochemical study of cyclin D1 and p53 was performed in all 99 cases.Results(1)In borderline tumors,the age of patients ranged from 14-82 (mean age=42.5)years.International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics(FIGO)stage of borderline tumors was stage Ⅰ in 48 cases,stage Ⅱ in 3 cases,and stage Ⅲ in 3 cases.In ovarian carcinomas,the age of patients ranged from 26-80(mean age=53.5)years.FIGO stage of carcinoma was stage Ⅰ in 6 cases, stage Ⅱ in 8 cases,stage Ⅲ in 26 cases,and stage Ⅳ in 5 cases.In follow-up of 54 cases with borderline tumors the 5-year survival rate was 98% and of 45 cases with carcinomas a 5-year survival rate of 51% was noted.(2)In 54 cases of borderline tumors,mucinous types accounted for 56%(30/54)and serous types accounted for 30%(16/54).There were 5 cases with micropapillary pattern,3 cases with peritoneal implants,3 cases with lymph node involvement,6 cases with microinvasion,one case with intraepithelial carcinoma,and one case with mural nodules.In 45 cases of carcinomas,serous carcinoma was the most (49%,22/45).The remainder included 3 cases of mucinous types,8 cases of endometrioid types,6 cases of transitional cell types,3 cases of mixed phenotype and 3 cases of undifferentiated types.(3) Overexpression of cyclin D1 and p53 was observed in 31%(14/45)and 56%(25/45)of ovarian carcinomas, respectively.There was a significant association between p53 overexpression and tumor grade.In the borderline tumor group,69%(37/54)had overexpression of cyelin D1 and 6%(3/54)had overexpression of p53.There were significant differences in expression of cyclin D1 and p53 between conventional serous borderline tumors and high-grade serous carcinomas(cyclin D1:91% vs 26%;p53:0 vs 58%).However, micropapillary serous borderline tumors and low-grade serous carcinomas showed remarkably similar expression of cyelin D1 and p53.Conclusions Epithelial ovarian borderline tumors are distinct from ovarian cancer in clinical progress and prognosis,and histological types.Overexpression of cyclin D1 is common in ovarian borderline tumors and low grade carcinomas.And overexpression of p53 is more common in high grade ovarian carcinomas.Conventional serous borderline tumors are distinct from high-grade serous carcinomas in pathogenesis.Micropapillary serous borderline ovarian tumors may be closely related to low grade serous carcinomas.

Objective To study the inhibitory effect of antigliomatin on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in rat C6 brain glioma cells.Methods The rat brain glioma cells was cultivated with the stationary culture technique.The different rat C6 brain glioma cells groups were treated with 2,4,8,and 16 ng?L-1 antigliomatin for 72 h in vitro and then the inhibitory effect of antiglioma on the expression of VEGF was observed with immunohistochemical method.Results The cytoplasm and(or) nucleus of most VEGF positive cells were stained to yellow brown.VEGF expressed significantly in cytoplasm of the rat C6 glioma cells in control group.The density of the VEGF positive cells was decreased in glioma compared with control group after treated with antigliomatin for 72 h(P

To investigate the effect of Tripterygium wilfordii polycoride (TWP) on LPS-induced macrophage inflammatory response, particularly the inhibitory effect on inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-1β and the regulatory effect on inflammation via TLR4/NF-κB. The MTT method was adopted to test the effects of tested drugs, TWP, dexamethasone (DXM) and azathioprine (AZA) on cell growth to define the appropriate concentration. LPS was used to induce the inflammatory reaction in mouse RAW264. 7 cell lines. The Elisa kit was adopted to test the release level of TNF-α and IL-1β. The Western blotting was applied to test the protein expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β. The RT-PCR was adopted to test the expressions of TLR4 and NF-κB. According to the results, TWP could inhibit the release of macrophage inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-1β in a dose dependent manner. All of TWP groups showed a weaker efficacy than that of the DXM group. But the TWP high dose group revealed a better effect on TNF-α and equal effect on IL-1β compared with the AZA group. TWP show an equal or better effect in down-regulating TLR4 and NF-κB p65 expressions in a dose dependent manner than DXM and AZA. In conclusion, TWP could inhibit TLR4 and NF-κB p65, which may be related to the down-regulation of TLR4 and NF-κB p65 receptor expressions.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Interleukin-1beta ; genetics ; immunology ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; immunology ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; immunology ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; genetics ; immunology ; Transcription Factor RelA ; genetics ; immunology ; Tripterygium ; chemistry

Objective To observe the expression of Bcl-2,Bax and proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) in liver of rats with hepatic fibrosis and the effects of transforming growth factor (TGF)-?1 vaccine on them.Methods Thirty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned into 3 groups,named healthy control group(n=10),hepatic fibrosis group(n=10) and TGF-?1 vaccine treated group(n=10).The animal model with hepatic fibrosis was established by injecting solution dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) into abdominal cavity with concentration as 0.5% and dose as 0.2 mL/ 100 g.In TGF-?1 vaccine treated group,every rat was not only injected with DMN but also 150?g TGF-?1 vaccine protein.On the 42nd day,all rats were sacrificed.Then the blood and the liver tis- sues were collected.The expression levels of Bcl-2,Bax and PCNA in liver tissues were detected by S -P immunohistochemistry and observed by routine pathological evaluation.Alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and albumin(Alb) were determined by auto biochemical analytical tool.Serum levels of hyaluronic acid (HA),laminin(LN) were detected by radioimmunoas- say (RIA).Results The expression of Bax,which promoted apoptosis,directly correlated with pathological grade in liver of rats,while the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-2/Bax,which protected a gainst apoptosis,inversely correlated with pathological grade in liver of rats.The expression levels of TGF-?1 and Bax in healthy control group were significantly lower than those of fibrosis group,how ever,the expression levels of Bcl-2 were comparable between these two groups.As compared with fi- brosis group,the expression of TGF-?1 was significantly lower while the expression of Bcl-2 was sig nificantly higher in TGF-?1 vaccine treated group.However,the expression of Bax was comparable between these two groups.The expression level of PCNA of fibrosis group was significantly higher than that of healthy control group but dramatically lower than that of TGF-?1 vaccine treated group (Both P

To explore advantages of Chinese medicine (CM) by analyzing differences in the origin of philosophy for human health between CM and Western medicine (WM). Methodologically, a distinctive feature of CM is its systems theory, which is also the difference between CM and WM. Since the birth of CM, it has taken the human body as a whole from the key concepts of "qi, blood, yin-yang, viscera (Zang-Fu), and meridian and channel", rather than a single cell or a particular organ. WM evolves from the Western philosophic way of thinking and merely uses natural sciences as the foundation. The development of WM is based on human structures, or anatomy, and therefore, research of WM is also based on the way of thinking of decomposing the whole human body into several independent parts, which is the impetus of promoting the development of WM. The core of CM includes the holistic view and the dialectical view. Chinese herbal medicines contain various components and treat a disease from multiple targets and links. Therefore, Chinese herbal medicines treat a diseased state by regulating and mobilizing the whole body rather than just regulating a single factor, since the diseased state is not only a problem in a local part of the body but a local reflection of imbalance of the whole body.
Holistic Health ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Medicine ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Philosophy ; Systems Biology ; Western World

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Bushenhuoxue Yin (BSHXY), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) levels in the brain of a mouse model of Parkinson disease (PD).

METHODSForty-five C57BL/6 mice were randomized into MPTP-induced PD model group, BSHXY treatment group and normal control group. The contents of NO and the two cytokines in the brain tissue of the mice were determined by spectroscopy and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively.

RESULTSThe concentration of NO in the brain tissue of the PD model group was 5.93 ∓ 0.79 µmol/g.protein, significantly higher than that in BSHXY group (P<0.01) and normal control group (P<0.01). The levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ in the PD model group were 0.36 ∓ 0.11 ng/L and 0.83 ∓ 0.25 ng/L, respectively, also higher than those in the other two groups (P<0.01 or 0.001). But BSHXY group and the normal control group showed no significant differences in the levels of NO, TNF-α and IFN-γ (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of BSHXY on PD is partially attributed to decreased content of NO, TNF-α and IFN-γ in the brain.

Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Parkinson Disease ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy ; Random Allocation ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism