Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Rheumatic Diseases ; diagnosis ; drug therapy

Objective To investigate the effects of Ruangan granule on transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)/Smads signaling pathway in liver fibrosis in rats. Methods A total of 105 Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model group and colchicine, Dahuang-Zhechong pill group, high-, medium- and low-dose Ruangan granule groups (n=15 in each group). Liver fibrosis was induced by carbon tetrachloride and a high-cholesterol diet. After modeling, the low-, medium- and high-dose Ruangan granule groups were intragastric administrated Ruangan granule mixed suspension 3.6, 7.2, 14.4 g/(kg?d), respectively;Dahuang-Zhechong pill group was administrated with Dahuang-Zhechong pellets mixed suspension of 0.18 g/(kg?d);the colchicine group was intragastric administrated with colchicine mixed suspension of 0.108 mg/(kg?d);and the normal control group and the model group were intragastric administrated with the equal volume of distilled water. All rats were intragastric administrated for 8 weeks. The expressions of TGF-β1, Smad3 and Smad7 proteins in the liver tissue were detected with immunohistochemical staining method. The expressions of TGF-β1, Smad3, Smad7 mRNAs in the liver tussue were detected by RT-PCR. Results The expressions of TGF-β1 (2.59 ± 0.99 vs. 0.43 ± 0.21) and Smad3 (2.56 ± 0.67 vs. 0.41 ± 0.18) proteins and TGF-β1 mRNA (2.25 ± 0.21 vs. 0.71 ± 0.09) and Smad3 (2.34 ± 0.03 vs. 0.78 ± 0.12) mRNAs in the model group were significantly increased than those in the normal control group (all P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the expressions of TGF-β1 (1.12 ± 0.27 vs. 2.59 ± 0.99) and Smad3 (1.05 ± 0.34 vs. 2.56 ± 0.67) proteins in the high-dose Ruangan granule group decreased significantly, the expression of Smad7 increased significantly (2.33 ± 0.62 vs. 0.36 ± 0.18), and the expressions of TGF-β1 (1.09 ± 0.11 vs. 2.25 ± 0.21) and Smad3 (1.10 ± 0.02 vs. 2.34 ± 0.03) mRNAs decreased significantly, the expression of smad7 mRNA (1.18 ± 0.13 vs. 0.38 ± 0.11) increased significantly (P<0.05). Conclusions Ruangan granule can regulate the TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway via down-regulation of TGF-β1, Smad3 and up-regulation of Smad7 in liver fibrosis in rats.

Objective To observe theRuangan granule on liver fibrosis in rats liver pathology change, the influence of hepatic function and hepatic fibrosis indexes, and to discusses the mechanism of its action to provide the basis for clinical prevention and treatment of liver fibrosis.Methods A total of 105 Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal control group, a model group and a colchicines group, and Dahuang-Zhechong pill group, high-, medium- and low-doseRuangan granule groups (n=15 in each group). Liver fibrosis was induced by carbon tetrachloride and a high-cholesterol diet. After modeling, the low-, medium- and high-doseRuangan granule groups were intragastric administratedRuangan granule mixed suspension 3.6, 7.2, 14.4 g/(kg?d), respectively;Dahuang-Zhechong pill group was administrated with Dahuang-Zhechong pellets mixed suspension of 0.18 g/(kg?d); the colchicine group was intragastric administrated with colchicine mixed suspension of 0.108 mg/(kg?d); and the normal control group and the model group were intragastric administrated with the equal volume of distilled water. All rats were intragastric administrated for 8 weeks. HE staining and Masson trichromatic collagen staining were used to observe the pathological changes of liver While the change of AST, ALT, PH, TP and serum HA, LN, C-Ⅳ, PCⅢin blood serum were detected. Results Masson trichromatic collagen staining showed that, the percentage of liver collagen fiber area in rats of theRuangan granule high-dose group was significantly decreased (7.06 ± 1.18) % compared with model group (23.49 ± 1.34) %, colchicine group (11.35 ± 1.83) %, rhubarb worm pill group (15.27 ± 1.22) %,Ruangan granule medium-dose group (14.52 ± 1.75) %, and low dose group (16.08 ± 1.56) % (P<0.05 orP<0.01). Compared with model group,Ruangan granule high-dose group rats serum AST (75.86 ± 5.23 U/Lvs. 157.62 ± 24.04) U/L, the ALT (80.15 ± 5.94 U/Lvs. 160.58 ± 26.47) U/L, PH (52.58 ± 4.98μg/Lvs. 98.66 ± 6.75)μg/L significantly reduced, TP (74.19 ± 3.56 g/Lvs. 51.73 ± 5.92)g/L increased significantly (P<0.01).Ruangan granule high-dose group rats serum HA (277.22 ± 106.34 ng/mlvs. 553.19 ± 172.38 ng/ml), LN (89.82 ± 5.68 ng/mlvs. 134.25 ± 10.64 ng/ml), C-Ⅳ (47.94 ± 8.65 ng/mlvs. 84.18 ± 13.83 ng/ml), PCⅢ (16.53 ± 4.88 ng/mlvs.31.57 ± 5.35 ng/ml) decreased significantly in the model group (P<0.01).ConclusionRuangan granule has obvious effects for resisting liver fibrosis.

Objective To evaluate the usefulness of diffusion-weighted MR combined with routine T2 WI in finding the possible residual foci in uterine cervical cancers after radical chemo-radiation therapy.Methods This was a retrospective study including 25 consecutive cervical cancer patients who received hysterectomy after radical chemo-radiation therapy.All of them underwent MR examinations post-chemoradiation and just before operation.Images of T2 WI alone and those of T2 WI combining DWI were evaluated respectively by 2 senior radiologists,in order to decide whether there were residual tumors.ADC values were also measured.Taking the post-operation pathological results as the gold standard,the accuracies,sensitivities and specificities of T2 WI alone,T2 WI combining DWI,and ADC values were all calculated.Results In those 25 patients,9 were found with foci of residual cancer in operative pathology,while no cancer cells were found in the other 1 6 patients.The accuracy,sensitivity and specificity in finding the positive residual cancer using T2 WI alone were 56.0%,77.8% and 43.8%,comparing with 72.0%,66.7% and 75.0% in T2 WI combining DWI.The accuracy and specificity increased with statistical significance after combining DWI (P =0.01 6 for accuracy,P =0.031 for specificity),while the sensitivity decreased but did not reach statistically significant level (P =0.099).No difference in ADC values was found.Conclusion DWI can be used as a supplementary sequence in finding the existence of residual tumors of cervical cancer after radical chemo-radiation therapy.Routine T2 WI combing DWI increased the specificity and accuracy,but still facing the risk of decreasing sensitivity.

Objective To investigate the clinical application of cloth in turning patients over. Meth-ods 80 emergent patients of long-term bedridden without automtic movement and with spinal cord injury and paraplegia were divided into the observation group and the control group with 40 cases in each group. The ob-servation group used cloth for turning over, while the control group used the traditional free hand turning over method, the advantages and disadvantages of the two groups were compared. Results From the aspects of patients' subjective comfort, skin integrity, the labor intensity of nurses, the observation group was better than the control group. Conclusions Turning patients over with cloth overcomes the pushing, pulling, drnging and other defects of traditional flee-hand method, keep patients feel comfortable and skin integrity and non-dam-aged, nurses feel easy because of less labor and time.

This study taking gestodene (GEST) as a model, investigated the factors affecting reservoir-type intravaginal ring (IVR)'s drug release. This paper reported a gestodene intravaginal ring of reservoir design, comprising a gestodene silicone elastomer core encased in a non-medicated silicone sheath, separately manufactured by reaction injection moulding at 80 degrees C and heating vulcanization at 130 degrees C is reported. The test investigated the factors affecting drug release through a single variable method, taking the drug release rates of 21 days as standards. When changing the thickness of the controlling sheath outside, the ratio of the first day of drug release and mean daily release (MDR), named the relatively burst effect, is closing to 1 with the thickness of controlling sheath increasing, while the 1.25 mm sheath corresponding to 1.04 controlled the burst release effectively; a positive correlation (r = 0.992 2) existed between the average drug release (Q/t) and drug loading (A) within a certain range. The C6-165 controlling sheath with high solubility of GEST is easier to achieve controlled release of the drug; GEST crystalline power is more effective to implement controlled release of drugs among difficent states of the drug. A 1/4 fractional segment core gives a relatively burst effect of 1.76, while the 1/1 and 1/2 are 1.93 and 1.87 separately, at the same drug loading, concluding that use of a fractional segment core would allow development of a suitable GEST reservoir IVR. In summary, GEST reservoir-type IVR could be adjusted by the thickness of controlling sheath, the loading of drug, the material properties of controlling sheath, the dispersion state of drug, the additive composition and structure of intravaginal ring, to control the drug release behavior and achieve the desired drug release rate.
Administration, Intravaginal ; Contraceptive Agents, Female ; administration & dosage ; Contraceptive Devices, Female ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Delivery Systems ; methods ; Norpregnenes ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Silicone Elastomers ; chemistry ; Solubility

Objective To study immunoregulatory activity of polysaccharide of mudan cortex (PSM) on immunodepressive mice. Method The immunodepressive mice model was established with cyclophosphamide treated and tumor-bearing. PSM was orally administered to mice for 10 d. MTT method was used to observe the prolifernation of lymphocytes. The function of macrophage in abdominal activity was measured. Sectrophotometric determination was adopted to evaluate the ability of plaque forming cell. Result PSM could enhance the function of macrophage, increase the content of plaque forming cell, and promote the prelifernation of lymphocytes. Conclusion PSM could enhance immunofunction of immunodepressive mice.

Objective To study the influencing factors,treatment and prevention of venous thromboembolic (VTE) in elderly patients with malignant tumor.Methods The clinical findings in forty elderly patients with malignant tumor combined with VTE from our hospital within 5 years were analyzed retrospectively.The risk,site,time,prevention and treatment of VTE in these tumor patients were analyzed and summarized.Results After active treatment,the positive efficacy response was obtained in 26 cases (65.0％),no-response in 14 cases (35.0％).Specifically,14 cases died,7 cases cured,and 19 cases were improved.Besides cancer and aging,the elderly tumor patients were considered as the high-risk group because of the risk factors including hypertension,diabetes,hyperlipidemia,pulmonary infection,surgery,radiation,chemotherapy and so on.D-dimer level was significantly increased in elderly malignant tumor patients with VTE.Venous thrombosis could occur at any stage.Venous thrombosis was found before tumor in 1 case.The most common site of DVT was the lower limbs,especially the left lower extremities (14 cases,35％).Most of internal carotid vein and upper limb vein thrombosis were associated with peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) Conclusions The elderly patients with malignant tumor is the extremely high risk groups for venous thrombosis,and their quality of life and survival will be seriously impacted.Anticoagulant therapy through the whole process of treatment in patients with VTE is beneficial.The prevention and treatment of VTE play an important role in the tumor patients with risk factors such as chronic diseases,high D dimer level,radiation and chemotherapy,which should attract the attention of clinicians.

Human proximal tubule epithelial cell line,HK-2 cells,were cultured with various concentrations of insulin for 48 h.Human urate transporter (hUAT) mRNA was detected by realtime quantitative PCR.hUAT mRNA levels were down-regulated by insulin (5,25,125,500 μIU/ml)in a dose-dependent manner (relative expression median were 0.95,0.40,0.24,and 0.23).In vitro,the expression of hUAT mRNA in HK-2 cells is associated with the concentration of insulin.

Objectives To study the role of IL-17 and IL-23 in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) by detecting the expression levels of IL-17 and IL-23 in peripheral blood of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients treated by RCHOP.Methods T wenty-five patients with B-cell NHL who achieved remission after 6 to 8 cycles of R-CHOP as a NHL group,20 healthy volunteers were recruited as a normal control group.RT-PCR was used to detect the expression levels of IL-17 mRNA and IL-23mRNA in NHL patients and health volunteers.Results The expression level of IL-17mRNA andIL-23 mRNAin the patients with NHL before therapy and the patients with NHL who achieved remission was lower than that in the normal control group (P＜0.05).The expression level of IL-17mRNA andIL-23mRNA in the patients with NHL who achieved remission was higher than that in the patients with NHL before therapy (P=0.001,P＜0.05).Conclusion IL-17 and IL-23mRNA expressions are higher after treated with R-CHOP.The expression levels of IL-17 mRNA and IL-23 mRNA in NHL patients are related with prognosis and efficacy.