Great progress has been made in the study of fatty liver with integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine in aspects of diagnosis, treatment and experimental study, etc. Most researches were designed to utilize diagnostic or model replicating method of western medicine to observe the effects or investigate the action mechanism of compound recipe, single Chinese herb or effective ingredients of Chinese herbs on fatty liver. According to the pathological mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), fatty liver is characterized by deficiency in nature and repletion in appearance, which involves three Zang viscera such as liver, spleen and kidney and manifests as spleen Qi deficiency, liver and kidney deficiency, phlegm and dampness heaping internally, and Qi stagnation and blood stasis. This facilitates us to use specific recipe or modified recipe to treat fatty liver from the points of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine and combining syndrome differentiation with disease differentiation. With gratifying achievement, this kind of approach has been the mainstream of the research on fatty liver and many researchers have reached an agreement on this point domestically. Spleen Fortifying and Blood Invigorating Recipe (SFBVER in brief, invented by our institute) can significantly improve the B ultrasound outcome of the liver in patients with fatty liver, with significant difference in B ultrasound scoring between pre-and post-treatment. It can alleviate the patients' symptoms, improve or regain liver function, decrease waist/buttocks ratio and the content of triglyceride and cholesterol in blood. SFBVER is superior to Dongbao Gantai Recipe in general effective rate. Experimental study also reveals that SFBVER can alleviate CCl(4) induced liver cell fatty degeneration and the inflammatory cell infiltration in rats, decrease the activities of ALT and AST, lower the content of triglyceride in liver, recover SOD activity in liver to normal level. The overall efficacy of SFBVER is superior to that of Dongbao Gantai Recipe. Further correlated study should be focused on inventing new preparation of traditional Chinese medicine and investigating its action mechanism with the guiding of the theory of TCM and referring to the latest discovery in fatty liver research in modern medicine.

Objective To explore the effect of the total saponins of Panax notoginseng (TSPN) on the expression of GFAP in hippocampus and brain water content in rats subjected global cerebral ischemia injury. Methods Using four-vessel occlusion method built the global cerebral ischemia model. Rats were divided into Sham group, vehicle group, and TSPN group. The rats in the TSPN group were administered TSPN intraperitoneally 30 min post-brain ischemia. The dose of TSPN (75 mg/kg) was suspended in 0.9% saline, once per day for days 1, 3, 7, and 14 after reperfusion. While rats in the vehicle group was treated with equal volume of 0.9% saline, one injection per day until the rats were sacrificed at either days 1, 3, 7, and 14 after brain ischemia. The brain water contentwas detected by dry-wet technique and GFAP expression in the dentate subgranular zone (SGZ) was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Moreover, immunofluorescence was applied to detect the GFAP/DCX in the SGZ, and western-blot was adopted to test the protein level of GFAP. Results The brain water content in the TSPN group was significantly lower than the vehicle group (P < 0.05); There was statistical difference in the GFAP+ cells density in SGZ at the 3th, 7th, 14th day in two groups (P < 0.05). Furthermore, compared with the vehicle group, the ratio of the GFAP/DCX to DCX in the SGZ at 7th, 14th d of TSPN group was significantly different (P < 0.05), and the protein level of GFAP on days 3, 7, 14 in the TSPN group was higher (P < 0.05). Conclusion TSPN could play a neuroprotective effect through promoting gliosis, neuroregeneration in the SGZ, and alleviating brain water content of rats following global cerebral ischemia.

Objective To observe the effect and safety of the human glucagon-like peptide-1 analogue,liraglutide,versus insulin glargine in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus inadequately controlled with metformin alone.Method Ninty patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(aged 18-79 years,HbA1C 7.5％-10.0％,body mass index＜40 kg/m2) who had inadequate glycaemic control on metformin were allocated for the research with an open,randomized,parallel controlled clinical research method.The patients kept the original dose of metformin unchanged and were randomly assigned to the liraglutide group or the insulin glargine group according to a proportion of 1 ∶ 1.Liraglutide group started with a dose of 0.6 mg subcutaneous injection qd,changed to 1.2 mg subcutaneous injection qd after one week and kept unchanged until the end of the research.Insulin glargine group started with a dose of 0.1-0.2 U/kg according to the fingertips peripheral blood glucose level before breakfast on the continuous 3 d before every follow-up.At the baseline,after 4 weeks,12 weeks,20 weeks,and 26 weeks of treatment,HbA1C,blood glucose,lipids weight,blood pressure were arranged to measured.86 patients finally completed the study.Results Mean HbA1C and the success rate of HbA1C ＜7％ were similar between liraglutide group and insulin glargine group [(7.06 ± 0.87) ％ vs (7.25 ± 1.20) ％,47.73 ％ vs 45.23 ％,P＞0.05],while the percentage of subjects reaching the composite endpoint of HbA1C＜7％ with no hypoglycemia and no weight gain was significantly higher in liraglutide group than insulin group(P＜0.05) ; Fasting plasma glucose decreased more markedly in insulin glargine group,2 h postprandial plasma glucose was decreased more markedly in liraglutide group(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Liraglutide significantly reduced mean body weight by (3.21 ± 1.18) kg,waist circumference by (3.82 ± 1.21) cm,and body mass index by (1.95 ± 0.61) kg/m2 (P＜0.01 or P＜0.05),while in the insulin glargine group there sere rise of respective figure of(2.86 ± 0.43) kg,(1.52 ± 0.56) cm,and (0.61 ± 0.25) kg/m2 (P＜0.05),systolic blood pressure and serum triglyceride declined.There was no serious adverse affect in both groups,the incidence of mild hypoglycemia was significantly less in liraglutide group and has a statistically significant difference (4.55％ vs 21.43％,P＜0.05).Conclusions Liraglutide showed a good effect on reducing weight,systolic blood pressure,blood lipid and in addition to blood glucose control which is comparable to insulin glargine.What is more,liraglutide had good safety and tolerability,which can be regarded as a good choice for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus inadequately controlled with metformin alone.

Simultaneous concurrence of subacute thyroiditis and Graves' disease is rare.We present one case of subacute thyroiditis with Graves' disease and combine with other reports to explore the clinical characteristics and therapeutic considerations.If subacute thyroiditis is considered coexisting simultaneously with Graves' disease,radioactive iodine uptake,thyroid autoantibody,fine-needle aspiration of thyroid gland,thyroid nuclide imaging examination,etc,should be done to make correct diagnosis and to adjust the therapeutic plan.

Objective:To investigate the inhibitory effect and the related mechanism of Yiqi Jianpi Fang on aberrant crypt focus (ACF) in Wister rat colorectal cancer model.Methods:50 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups:TCM low dose group(TCM solution diluted 3 times,5 mL/kg daily gastric volume),TCM middle dose group (5 mL/kg daily gastric volume),TCM high dose group (15 mL/kg daily gastric volume),model group,normal group.With 10 rats in each group.The colorectal tissues were observed under microscope after methylene blue staining by immunohistochemistry method.Results:Compared with the model group,the number of ACF and large ACF in each TCM group were decreased (P＜0.05),and the number of ACF in the TCM middle dose group reduced most obvious,and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).The proliferation indexs of PCNA in intestinal gland cells 24 h and 48 h after modeling in the TCM groups were higher than those in the model group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The apoptosis index of intestinal gland cells 24 h and 48 h after modeling in the TCM groups were higher than those in the model group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The ectopic expression of β-catenin in TCM groups were lower than that in the model group,and it was highest in the high dose group,than was the low dose group,and the middle group was lowest(P＜0.05).The expression of MMP-7 in TCM groups were lower than that in the model group,and it was highest in the low dose group,than was the high dose group,and the middle dose group was lowest (P＜0.05).Conclusion:Yiqi Jianpi Fang can significantly reduce the number of ACF in Wister rats,inhibit the activation of Wnt signaling in colorectal cancer,reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer,and have a certain preventive effect.

To explore the effects of Qushi Huayu Decoction (QSHYD), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, in prevention and treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Jianpi Huoxue Decoction, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, on Kupffer cell signal pathway activation in rats with liver injury induced by Lieber-Decarli liquid diet and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). METHODS: SD rats were divided into normal, control liquid diet, ethanol liquid diet and ethanol liquid diet plus Jianpi Huoxue Decoction group. Rats were administrated with Jianpi Huoxue Decoction or distilled water via gastrogavage for 4 weeks after administration with ethanol or control liquid diet for 2 weeks respectively. After that, rats in each group were stimulated with LPS via gastrogavage for 3.5 h and harvested. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in serum and triglyceride (TG) in liver were analyzed. Pathological changes in liver tissues were observed in HE staining section. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-alpha) in portal vein plasma was assayed by ELISA. The protein expressions of CD68, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), phosphorylation-I kappa B (P-I kappa B) and TNF-alpha in liver were evaluated with Western-blotting. RESULTS: After the treatment with Jianpi Huoxue Decoction, the pathologic changes in liver tissue were lightened, levels of ALT in serum, TG in liver and TNF-alpha in portal vein plasma were decreased, and the protein expressions of CD68, TLR4, P-IkappaB and TNF-alpha in liver were reduced. CONCLUSION: Jianpi Huoxue Decoction can inhibit Kupffer cell signal pathway activation in rats with liver injury induced by Lieber-Decarli liquid diet and LPS.

To study the effects of Cordyceps mycelia extract (CME) on portal hypertension in rats with dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) induced liver cirrhosis and probe into the mechanism of the action.

[Abstract ] Objective Difficulties with the preparation of gastric cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been a main obstacle to the studies of gastric cancer .This article addresses the technology of the serum-free medium suspension cultivation of the MKN-45 gastric cancer cell line and screening of stem cells from the cell line based on the biomarkers of gastric CSCs . Methods MKN-45 cells were cultured in serum-free medium for 8 weeks and those in the logarithmic phase cultivated with hoechst 33342 followed by detection of the side cells by flow cytometry .When the side population cells reached 25%, all the cell microspheres were collected , hatched with CD133 and CD44, and subjected to fluorescence-activated cell sorting.The CDl33 +and CD44 +cells were selected as gastric CSCs . Results About 40%of the MKN-45 gastric CSCs were alive , prolif-erated, and formed floating cell balls .Side population cells constitu-ted 3.4% of the MKN-45 cells and 26.9% of the cell balls.The CDl33 +and CD44 +cells made up 11.2% of the MKN-45 cells and 90.3%of the cell balls. Conclusion Cell balls rich in CSCs can be successfully obtained by serum-free medium suspension culti-vation and CSCs can be screened out with hoechst 33342 and surface markers , which may serve as an experimental ground for the stud-ies of gastric CSCs .

Objective To investigate the relationship between recent chlamydia pneumoniae (Cp)infection and active ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods Seventy nine AS outpatients and 73 normal controls (NC) were enrolled into this study. Serum anti-Cp antibodies (CpIg) were tested using the enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Clinical and experimental data were collected. Patients with positive CpIgM or CpIgA were considered as having a recent Cp infection. Wilcoxon test, Student's t test, χ2 test and multivariate logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. Results Both AS patients and normal controls had a high prevalence for sero-positive CpIgG, which was 89％(70/79) vs 92％(67/73) respectively,while AS patients had a higher frequency of CpIgA and CpIgM when compared with NC [52％(41/79) vs 32％(23/73), χ2=6.61, P=0.010 for CpIgA; 80％(63/79) vs 21％(15/73), χ2=44.031, P＜0.01 for CpIgM]. The presence of CpIgM or CpIgA favored AS, the OR was 17.1 (95％CI 7.4～39.5), or 3.1 (95％CI 1.3～7.2),respectively. In addition, CpIgM was associated with disease activity parameters including ESR (χ2=2.56, P=0.021), CRP (χ2=7.28, P=0.007) and BASDAI (χ2=6.79, P=0.009). Furthermore, consecutive positive CpIgM favored the persistent active or relapsed disease, while negative CpIgM favored a reduced disease activity.There was no correlation between CpIgM/CpIgA and peripheral joint disease and enthesitis. Conclusion Recent Cp infection is highly associated with AS and CpIgM antibody relates with active AS, which indicates that Cp infections may be a critical triggering factor for active AS.