Objective To demonstrate the frequency changes in immune cells on secreting interleukin-10 (IL-10),interferon-? (IFN-?),tumor necrosis factor-? (TNF-?) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) under the stimulation of a mimic 7-amino acid peptide of HCV HVR1 (7P),and to explore the mechanism of such changes. Methods The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from healthy people and co-cultured with 7P. Intracellular cytokine staining was performed using antibodies against IL-10,IFN-?,TNF-? and IL-4. The related cells were harvested on a FACSCalibur flow cytometer,and then analyzed with FACSCalibur software. Results Compared to the controls,the frequency of immune cells secreting IFN-? was significantly increased in both CD4+CD8-,CD4-CD8+ T cells and NK,NKT cells (P

Head ; surgery ; Humans ; Neck ; surgery ; United States

The average life expectancy in Macau is ranking the second in the world, the consumption of fresh medicinal plants is a profound culture in Macau. The paper focus on the distribution of the antioxidant herbs, a comprehensive investigation and analysis the amount of the plant resources was carried out. The antioxidant activity of alcohol extracts was determined by using the DPPH method, and six kinds fresh herbs with high antioxidant free radical activity were screened out. Reference to adult daily dose of vitamin C, it is calculated that the daily dose amount of fresh herbs is less than 200 g. For the expected shortage of resources and the ecological status of Macau, we give some suggestions of herbal introduction in population ecology reconstruction.
Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Ecosystem ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Macau ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo observe the curative effects of combined therapy with Kangyanling (KYL, a Chinese herbal preparation) and Omeprazole on post-burn digestive dysfunction.

METHODSPatients with post-burn digestive dysfunction were assigned to two groups, the 32 in the treated group, including 18 with acute stress gastrointestinal mucosal hemorrhagic lesion and 14 with toxic enteroparalysis, were treated by KYL plus Omeprazole, and the 20 patients in the control group, 11 with acute stress gastrointestinal mucosal hemorrhagic lesion and 9 with toxic enteroparalysis were treated with Omeprazole alone. The pH value in gastric mucosa was determined before and 12 h after treatment, the hemostasis effects in 48 h, and the anti-paralysis effects in 72 h were observed as well.

RESULTSThe pH value in gastric mucosa of both groups before therapy were all lower than the normal range, it raised after treatment in the treated group (P < 0.05), approaching to the normal range, but with no significant change in the control group. The total hemostatic rate and the anti-paralysis rate was 77.8% and 85.7% respectively in the treated group, and 45.5% and 0% in the control group, all shown statistical significance between groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCombined therapy with Kangyanling and Omeprazole has obvious curative effects on post-burn gastric dysfunction.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anti-Ulcer Agents ; therapeutic use ; Burns ; complications ; Child ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; drug therapy ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction ; drug therapy ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Omeprazole ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Stomach Diseases ; drug therapy ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To observe the effect of catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor (COMTI) tolcapone on levodopa-treated patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and on the motor function fluctuation, and safety taking this drug.Methods50 PD patients treated with levodopa were divided into the trial group and control group with 25 cases in each group. The patients in the trial group were given tolcapone 100 mg three times per day. The cases in the control group were given placebo with the same dose. The hepatic function of the patients was examined every month after administration. The time variety of patients' motor function fluctuation was recorded by the diary. The time of clinical observation was 6 months.ResultsThe UPDRS scores of the trial group in the first and second months after taking tolcapone were not significantly different from that of the control group ( P>0.05), but scores of the third to sixth months were significantly different from that of the control group ( P<0.05～0.01). There was a significant difference between UPDRS scores of the trial group before and after treatment ( P<0.01～0.001). The Honhe-Yahr scores of the trial group in the first and second months after treatment were not significantly different from that before treatment ( P>0.05), but scores of the third to sixth months were significantly different from that before treatment ( P<0.05). The motor function fluctuation of the patients in the trial group improved significantly after treatment ( P<0.05). The numbers of the cases had dry mouth, nausea and astriction were 3 respectively; those had acratia, insomnia and diarrhea were 2 respectively; those had muscular soreness, abdominal distention, hidrosis and fidget were 1 respectively. All adverse effects had a little influence to administration. The hepatic function of all patients had no significant change.ConclusionTolcapone can increase the curative effect of PD patients treated with levodopa and improve the motor function fluctuation, and is safety after taken.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of effective parts of Zingiber officinal (EPZ) on the adhesion of ECV-304 cells with monocytes cultivated in vitro and on the expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and adhesion molecules.

METHODThe model of ECV-304 cell oxidative stress injury was established by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Then EPZ-contained blood serum was taken as experimental drug. The adherence of monocytes to endothelial cell were measured by method of rose Bengal. The total RNA of cells was extracted. The intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and MCP-1 mRNA expression in cells were detected by RT-PCR. MCP-1 protein expression were detected by ELISA.

RESULTEPZ could decrease the adhesion of monocytes with ECV-304 cells obviously. Meanwhile it could diminish the expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and MCP-1 in injured ECV-304 cells.

CONCLUSIONEPZ could inhibit H2O2-induced ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and MCP-1 expression in ECV-304 and could inhibit the adherence of monocytes to endothelial cell, which may result in the protect effect in endothelial cells.

Animals ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Cells, Cultured ; Chemokine CCL2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Ginger ; chemistry ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; pharmacology ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Monocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics

The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on learning-memory of rats with low estrogen-induced cognitive impairment and the possible mechanism. The rat model was established by ovariectomy, which resulted in low estrogen-induced cognitive impairment. EA was applied continuously for 3 months 2 weeks after ovariectomy. Morris water maze was used to test the ability of spatial learning and memory. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time quantitative RT-PCR were used to detect the concentration of serum estradiol (E2) and relative expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) mRNA in hippocampus, respectively. The result showed that, compared with the sham group, the ovariectomy model group exhibited longer escape latency, reduced number of platform-crossing, lower concentration of serum E2, and decreased expression of ChAT mRNA in hippocampus. EA shortened the escape latency and increased the number of platform-crossing in the ovariectomy model group. Moreover, the concentration of serum E2 and the hippocampal expression of ChAT mRNA in the ovariectomy model group were significantly elevated by EA treatment. These results suggest EA is capable of improving learning and memory in ovariectomized rats, and the mechanism involves the up-regulation of the expression of ChAT mRNA in hippocampus induced by the increase of the serum concentration of estrogen.
Animals ; Choline O-Acetyltransferase ; metabolism ; Cognition Disorders ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Estradiol ; blood ; deficiency ; Female ; Hippocampus ; enzymology ; Learning ; Memory ; Ovariectomy ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo identify the relationship between p53-dependent apoptosis associated genes and tumor metastasis.

METHODSmRNA differential display (mRNA DD) was adopted for gene cloning after the different metastatic potential lung cancer cell lines were infected by Adv-p53 (a reconstructed adenovirus encoding wild type p53 gene). RT-PCR, Northern blot and Western blot assays were used to confirm the result from mRNA DD.

RESULTSAfter induction by p53 gene, the ANNEXIN A2 gene had differential expression in the cell lines; its level was down regulated in all the cells infected by Adv-p53 gene, especially in the Anip973 cell lines with high metastatic potential. RT-PCR, Northern blot and Western blot assays confirmed the consequence.

CONCLUSIONThe experimental data suggest that the ANNEXIN A2 gene may relate to cellular apoptosis induced by p53 gene. The affirmative relationship between ANNEXIN A2 gene and p53 needs further investigation.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Annexin A2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Apoptosis ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Blotting, Northern ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transfection ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To observe the effect of hypoxia reoxygenation on activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD)and MDA content as well as[Ca~(2+)],concentration and mitochondria membrane poten- tial of intestinal epithelial cell-6(IEC-6)in IEC culture medium and explore the protective effect and mechanism of serum containing Ziqi-liquid(a preparation of Chinese herbal medicine)on hypoxia reoxy- genation damaged IEC-6.Methods Hypoxia reoxygenation damage model of IEC-6 was made.SOD activity and MPA content in IEC-6 culture medium were determined by ultraviolet spectrometry after hy- poxia reoxygenation and treatment with Ziqi-liquid.Meanwhile,MMP changes and[Ca~(2+)]concentration were detected by laser scanning confocal microscopy.Results After hypoxia reoxygenation,SOD and MMP were significantly decreased,but MDA content and[ Ca~(2+)] concentration significantly increased (P＜0.01),and significantly facilitated by serum containing Ziqi-liquid.Conclusion Hypoxia reoxy- genation can damage IEC-6,but the serum containing Ziqi-liquid has significant protective effect on it.