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 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 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.

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 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.

Objective To investegate the effect of phosphorylated-P38 MAPK(mitogen-activated protein kinase) on the expression of caspase-3 in the substania nigra (SN) of MPTP-induced mouse model of(PD). Methods Mice were randomly divided into MPTP model group, which were treated with MPTP and inhibitor group. Once a day for 5 days; control group was treated with saline and DMSO as much as the model group received per day for 5 days. The behavioral were observed, immunohistochemistry and Western blot for TH, caspase-3 and phosphorylation of P38 MAPK were used to observe the change of positive cell number and the expression level in the SN of midbrain. Results Compared with the mice in control group, the model group showed typical symtoms of PD with decreased numbers of TH-positive neurons and the protein level of TH in SN of the midbrain by about 60% and 65% respec-tively(P<0.01) , the numbers of caspase-3 and phosphorylation of P38 MAPK immunoreactive cells and their protein level in the SN of the midbrain increased markedly (P<0.01). After giving SB203580, the above changes were reduced obviously (P <0. 01). Conclusion In the mouse model of subacute Parkinson's disease induced by MPTP, phosphorylated-P38 MAPK regulated caspase-3 in the SN of midbrain, the specific P38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 is neurologically oprotective to the mouse model.

Objective To compare the difference between volume computed tomography dose index (CTDIvol) and size-specific dose estimates (SSDE) in evaluating the radiation dose of abdominal CT scan.Methods Abdominal CT scan were performed on 180 patients with a Philips 256-slices spiral CT.The anterior-posterior dimension (AP) and lateral dimension (LAT) of each patients were measured at the level of left renal vein, and the effective diameter (ED) and SSDE were calculated with recorded CTDIvol Patients were categorized into 3 groups depending on body mass index (BMI): group A, BMI ＜ 20.0 kg/m2;group B, 20.0-24.9 kg/m2;group C, BMI ＞ 24.9 kg/m2.The differences between CTDIvoland SSDE of 180 patients and three different BMI groups were compared respectively.Results There was a significant difference between CTDIvol and SSDE of the 180 patients (t =-13.354, P ＜ 0.01), CTDIvol and SSDE were (9.91 ± 2.91) and (14.01 ± 2.82) mGy, respectively.For group A, CTDIvol and SSDE were (7.96 ± 1.83) and (12.83 ± 2.52) mGy, respectively (t =-8.417, P ＜ 0.01).Group B, CTDIvol and SSDE were (9.28 ± 1.76) and (13.62 ±2.18) mGy, respectively (t =-15.051, P ＜ 0.01).Group C, CTDIvol and SSDE were (12.19 ± 3.65) and (15.39 ± 3.47) mGy, respectively (t =-4.535, P ＜ 0.01).In addition, the mean percentage values of difference between CTDIvol and SSDE for the three groups were 62.83％, 47.80％, 28.40％, respectively, which meant CTDIvol underestimated the radiation dose compared to SSDE.With the BMI increasing, the values of difference between CTDIvol and SSDE decreased.Conclusions SSDE can be used to estimate the radiation dose of abdominal CT scan for a given size person.