Objective: To investigate the effect of astragalus on the serum levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), renal function and the damage of renal morphology in ischemic acute renal failure (IARF). To study the protective mechanism of astragalus in IARF. Methods: The rats were pretreated with astragalus or vehicle for 3 days. IARF was induced by left renal artery clipping for 60 min, after the right kidney was removed. Biochemical parameters for serum HGF,blood urea nitrogen(BUN),creatinine(Cr) were measured and histological analyses of the kidneys were performed by tubular grading. Results: There have no significant difference between the serum HGF levels of I/R controls and the levels observed in sham-operated group (P > 0.05). Serum HGF levels in astragalus treated group was significantly increased than those of I/R control group(P < 0.01) .After 4 h of I/R, serum levels of BUN and Cr were increased in I/ R control rats compare with Sham-operated rats(P < 0.01). Astragalus treatment reduced the levels elevation(P < 0.05). Simultaneously,. I/R-induced severe damage in renal morphology were significantly ameliorated by astragalus treatment(P < 0.01). Conclusions: Astragalus pretreatment can alleviate the damage of renal function in IARF. It is may be one of the mechanisms of astragalus for protecting renal tissue in IARF that astragalus can induce the expression of HGF.

To observe the regulative effect of electroacupuncture(EA) on plasma levels of some brain gut peptides in dogs, contents of gastric secretin(GT), vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP), somatostatin(SS) and endothelin(ET) in plasma were simultaneously measured by radioactive immunonassay method in the dogs with or without EA stimulation at different acupoints. The results showed that in the Zusanli(st 36) group, after EA stimulation, an increase was observed in plasma contents of GT and VIP( P

Objective To investigate the regulation of electroacupuncture(EA)on gastric mucosal blood flow(GMBF) and its relation to the contents of plasma and gastric mucosal calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP) in dogs.Methods Twenty dogs were randomly divided into four groups:blank control group,no meridian point group,Shangjuxu group and Zusanli point group.By using laser doppler flowmeter(LDF)and radioimmunoassay method,GMBF,contents of CGRP were simultaneously measured,with or without EA stimulation at different acupoints in expermental dogs.Results In the Zusanli group,after EA stimulation, an increase was observed in plasma CGRP content(P

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), and compare it with contrast-enhanced CT(CECT). Methods Eighty-one focal liver lesions were evaluated with CEUS and CECT, diagnostic value of two modalities were calculated, vaseularity manifestations of two modalities in arterial phase were compared. Results The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of CEUS were 96.6 %, 86.9 %, 94.9 %, 90.9 %, 93. 80%, respectively, and the diagnostic value of CECT were 98.3%, 82. 6%, 93.4%, 95.0%, 93.8%, respectively. Among all the metastasis, hypervascular manifestation lesions in arterial phase of CEUS and CECT were 72% (18/25) and 32% (8/25)( P <0.05). Conclusions The diagnostic value of CEUS and CECT in focal liver lesions are comparably satisfying,and there is no significant difference between them, the combination use of two modalities would improve the diagnosis performance. CEUS can show more hypervaseular metastasis than CECT in arterial phase.

Objective: To establish the optimum preparation process for Suxiaoxintong Dropping Pills (Cortex moutan, Rhizoma Chuanxiong, Borneolum Syntheticum). Methods: The preparation conditions, such as the different kinds of primary substance, cooling agent, the proportion between the extracts and primary substance etc. were studied with L 18 (3 7) orthogonal design. Results: Six batches of the products prepared with the process on the experimental result were conformed to the standard of the Chinese pharmacopoeia. Conclusion: It has been proved that the process is available.

0.05). After EA at Tsusanli, a significant increase was observed in ir SP and ir VIP content in the pituitary gland and peripheral blood, CD4 +, RBC C 3b RR, RBC ICR in the peripheral blood of the normal rats (P0.05). SP and VIP contents in the pituitary gland and the peripheral blood increased (P

Objective To probe into the gene therapy of psoriasis using antisense oligonucleotides to attenuate the expression of K14 gene and protein in keratinocytes and evaluate the inhibitory effects of liposome conjugated antisense oligonucleotides on the proliferation of keratinocytes. Methods The antisense, sense and mismatched oligonucleotides for K14 gene were synthesized and conjugated with lipofectin respectively. Finally they were subsequently transfected into cultured keratinocytes in vitro. The expression of K14 gene was tested by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression of K14 protein was measured by immunohistochemistry. The variation of cell growth cycle was detected by flow cytometry. Results The expression of K14 gene and protein was markedly decreased in keratinocytes treated with K14 antisense oligonucleotides. The cell growth cycle was inhibited effectively by antisense oligonucleotides with lipofection, but not by sense and mismatched oligonucleotides. Conclusions Antisense oligonucleotides conjugated with lipofectin might be a hopeful method to inhibit the proliferation of keratinocytes by inhibiting the expression of K14 mRNA and protein.

To explore the mechanism of electroacupunture (EA) of Zusanli (ST36)in protecting gastric mucosa of dogs.Twenty mongrel dogs were randomly allocated to four groups: blank control group (Group A), non acupoint group (Group B), Shangjuxu (ST37) group (Group C) and Zusanli (ST36) group (Group D). Dynamic gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF) was monitored by laser Doppler flowmeter and calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) contents in plasma and gastric mucosa were measured simultaneously by radioimmunoassay method. After sixty minutes of EA, GMBF and CGRP contents in plasma and gastric mucosa were increased in Group D (P

Objective To evaluate and screen out the specific characters of thyroid nodules on grayscale and color Doppler ultrasonography. Methods One hundred and four thyroid nodules in 95 patients were studied with gray-scale and color Doppler ultrasound before surgery.According to the probability of malignancy,the main independent characters were screened out by Logistic regression analysis and then got the formula which could calculate the probability of malignancy.Results Fifty three nodules,included 44 hyperplasia,7 adenomas,1 switch granuloma and 1 Hashimoto's disease,were benign.Fifty one nodules,included 47 papillary carcinomas,3 medullary carcinomas,1 metastatic carcinomas,were malignant pathologically.The significant characters to differentiate malignant from benign were the shape,margin,border,halo,echostucture,echogenecity,echo uniformity,calcicum,bolood vessel shape and partial abnormal rich blood of thyroid nodules.After two variables logistic regression analysis,a fomula were worked out.Probability of malignancy=1/1+e-z,which z=-7.44+1.30×halo+1.05×calcicum+1.5×vessel shape.If a thyroid nodule with no halo,microcalcicum and irregular vessel shape,the probability of malignancy was 0.99,while with complete halo,no calcicum and regular vessele shape,the probability of malignancy of the nodule was 0.02.Conclusions The halo,calcium and blood vessel shape of thyroid nodules were three independent characters of thyroid nodules to predict malignant thyroid nodules on gray scale and color Doppler ultrasound.

A reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography method for the simultaneous analysis of 23 kinds of phenolic components in water extract of porpolis (WEP) was developed. The separation was performed on ZORBAX Eclipse XDB C_(18) column (150 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm) by gradient elution. The mobile phase consisted of ethanol with 0.1% formic acid at the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The detection wavelengths were 256 and 280 nm. The injection volume was 20 μL, and the column temperature was maintained at 35 ℃. The method showed good linear relationship, precision and repeatability. The recoveries were between 93.3% and 106.6%. Eighteen Reference compounds were detected in WEP of Hehei by this method. The content of Catechin was the highest(30.50 mg/g), the next was 3,4-dimethoxycinnamic acid (15.41 mg/g). Nine Reference compounds were detected in WEP of Yunnan. The content of catechin was also the highest (11.23 mg/g), the next was chrysin (15.41 mg/g). Similarity of WEPs between the products of Hebei and Yunnan were 0.099 (256 nm) and 0.194 (280 nm). The chemical compositions of two WEPs were remarkably different.