Purpose: Measuring viability of a three-dimensional in vitro organotypic human oral tissue model has been suggested as an alternative test method to the oral mucosa irritation test of oral care products. The aim of this study was to investigate the production of two different cytokines using organotypic human oral tissue model following exposure to chemicals that are commonly used in oral care products. Materials and Methods: The organotypic human oral tissues were exposed to ethanol, sodium lauryl sulphate or hydrogen peroxide for 90 minutes. Following exposure, interleukin (IL)-1α and IL-8 productions were assessed and correlated with cell viability testing as well as histology of the organotypic human oral tissues.Result: High levels of IL-8 were released from organotypic human oral tissues in all of the test and control groups without any significant differences between them. In contrast, differences were found in IL-1α release between the test and control groups. Additionally, the trend of IL-1α release corresponded to the phenotypes observed in histological analysis while different trend existed between IL-1α release and cell viability. Conclusion The study concluded the non-specific release of IL-8 for the assessment of oral care product chemicals’ toxicity, while potential of measuring IL-1α cytokine level as the possible alternative test method.

Ankylosing spondylitis has become a common disease, whether early stage of the low back pain or disability of the late stage of the disease has a serious impact on life quality. There is an urgent need of safe and effective treatment to treat the disease. This article introduced two cases of ankylosing spondylitis treated by modified Jingang Pills, with significant efficacy.

Objective: To investigate the anti-tumor effect and anti-inflammatory activity of Boschniakia rossica (BR). Methods: The expression of tumor marker, GST-P, p53 and p21ras proteins in promotion stage of rat chemical hepatocarcinogenesis were examined by immunohistochemical technique ABC method. Anti-tumor effect of BR was investigated by inhibitory test on Sarcoma180. Anti-inflammatory activity of BR was tested by xylene-induced mouse ear swelling method. Results: BR-H2O extract (the H2O extract fractionated from BR-Methanol extract with CH2Cl2 and H2O) 500 mg/kg has inhibitory effect on the formation of diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P) positive foci in rat liver with the expression of mutant p53 and p21ras proteins lower than those of non-treated hepatic preneoplastic lesions. BR extract showed inhibitory effect on Sarcoma180 and anti-inflammatory effect in mice by xylene-induced mouse ear swelling tests. Conclusion: BR- H2O extract exerted inhibitory effect on DEN-induced preneoplastic hepatic foci in promotion stage of rat chemical hepatocarcinogenesis and might suppress the growth of solid Sarcoma180 in mice. Both CH2Cl2 and H2O extract from BR exerted anti-inflammatory effect in mice.