Objective To observe the efficacy of combinated inhaled glucocorticosteroid and long- ?2 - agonist for asthmatic children. Methods Forty- seven children with moderate or severe persistent asthma were treated with inhalation of the fluticasone pro-pionate and salmeterol. The PEF value and the mark according the symptom of asthma before and after treatment( week and month respectively) were recorded. At the same time the days of treatment the patient with the short - ?2 - agonist in the first week and the forth week respectively were noted. The subjective feeling and accident of patients also should be paid attention. Results There was significant difference (P

With the constant rise of energy price,it has a great practical meaning of using lignocellulose to produce ethanol.Xylose is a kind of monosaccharide whose content is only less than glucose in most lignocellulosic hydrolysates.There is some difficulty of producing ethanol from lignocellulose by the traditional ethanol production strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae,because it cannot metabolize xylose.People have tried to use genetic engineering technology and cell fusion method to modify Saccharomyces cerevisiae to make it metabolize xylose and produce ethanol for many years.This review indroduced the progress in this field.

To investigate the bioactivity of Nocardia rubra Cell (NC), the mice were used to assay the toxicity, the effects on immune organs, phagocytes of peritoneal macrophage and the antitumor activity by perfusion of NC to the stomach of mice. Results indicated that NC could obviously stimulate in vitro the phagocytosis of peritoneal macrophage from mice, and remarkably inhibit the growth of S180 in mice, and its LD50 was more than 10 g/kg. In conclusion, NC had low toxicity, it could significantly enhance the organism immunologic function and had obvious antitumor effect and the anti-infection effect against a pathogenic microorganism.

OBJECTIVEThe development of neonatology and the availability of pulmonary surfactant have been helpful in effective reduction of the mortality of very low birth weight infants at the expense of an increasing number of survivors with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) caused by lung immaturity. BPD is a common syndrome in newborns, especially in preterm infants, when treated with hyperoxia and mechanical ventilation. Unfortunately, there have been no effective measure for the prevention and treatment of BPD. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-1 (rh-IGF-1) on cell apoptosis and Clara cell secretory protein (CCSP) expression during the lung injury induced by hyperoxia, so as to assess its effect on the inflammatory lung injury and its developmental repair.

METHODSEighty full term neonatal Wistar rats under the same condition were divided randomly into four groups on the second day after birth. Group I was air control, group II was exposed to hyperoxia, group III air + rh-IGF-1, and group IV was treated with hyperoxia + rh-IGF-1. The pups in the control group were kept in room air, while pups in hyperoxia group were kept in a Plexiglas chamber and exposed to over 85% oxygen. Pups in group III were under the same raising condition except for exposure to room air and treated with intraperitoneal injection of rh-IGF-1 (1 microg/Kg) everyday from the third day. Pups in group IV were treated with intraperitoneal injection of rh-IGF-1 (1 microg/Kg) everyday from the third day of exposure to hyperoxia. Lung tissue sections of the neonatal rats were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) after 7 d of hyperoxia exposure, expression of CCSP was examined by immunohistochemical method, and apoptotic cell index of lung tissue was calculated by using TUNEL method.

RESULTSIt was observed from immunohistochemical examination that positive staining of CCSP was distributed mainly in distal and respiratory bronchioles. The percentage of Clara cells in distal and respiratory bronchioles epithelium decreased in hyperoxia group (32.17 +/- 3.19)% compared to that in air control group (68.32 +/- 2.04)%, P < 0.01. Statistically significant differences were found in intensity of positiveness of Clara cells between hyperoxia (29.45 +/- 5.56) and air control group (42.37 +/- 3.24), P < 0.01. TUNEL assay showed that most apoptotic cells were alveolar and bronchial epithelial cells. The apoptotic index increased significantly in the hyperoxia group (55.77 +/- 6.09)% compared to the air control group (16.41 +/- 4.01)%, (P < 0.01). The positive rate (52.98 +/- 2.68)% of Clara cells and the expression (41.22 +/- 6.36) of CCSP in hyperoxia + rh-IGF-1 group increased significantly when compared with hyperoxia group, and the differences between these two group were also statistically significant (P < 0.01). The apoptotic index increased significantly in the hyperoxia + rh-IGF-1 group (27.98 +/- 3.09)% compared to the hyperoxia group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSHyperoxia exposure can promote the pneumocyte apoptosis and inhibit the expression of CCSP. Rh-IGF-1 can remove the block of the formation of lung alveoli, increase the secretion of CCSP, mitigate inflammatory responses in airway and alleviate lung injury via pneumocyte apoptosis. Therefore, the results of this study provide a theoretic and experimental evidence for clinical application of rh-IGF-1 in prevention and treatment of BPD.

Alveolar Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Hyperoxia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Infant, Newborn ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lung ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats, Wistar ; Uteroglobin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of berberine on lipid metabolism disorder and lipid deposition in liver cells of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) rats induced by high fat diet.

METHODSAfter one week adaptable feeding, 45 SPF level male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, the normal control group, the model group, and the berberine group, 15 in each group. Except those in the normal control group, all rats were fed with high fat diet to prepare NAFLD model. As for rats in the berberine group, Berberine Hydrochloride was administered by gastrogavage. HE staining and oil red O staining were performed to identify the model after 8 weeks. Hepatocytes were isolated, and their activities and purities were tested by Typan blue staining and flow cytometry (FCM). Serum levels of TC, TG, HDL-C, and LDL-C were detected using automatic biochemical analyzer. mRNA expression levels of LXRα and FAS in liver cells were analyzed by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Protein levels of LXRα and FAS in liver cells were examined by Western blot.

RESULTSThe NAFLD rat model was successfully established by high fat diet. The yields of purified liver cells in each rat were (6.0-7.5) x 10(8). The viability of isolated liver cells with purity over 90% (tested by FCM analysis) was higher than 95%. Compared with the normal control group,the expression of LXRα and FAS at mRNA and protein levels was higher in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the expression of LXRα and FAS at mRNA and protein levels was obviously down-regulated in the berberine group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSLXRα/FAS signaling pathway was one of important signaling pathways of NAFLD lipid metabolism disorders. Berberine could recover hepatocyte fatty deposits in NAFLD rats by adjusting the LXR/FAS signaling pathway of hepatocytes, which might be one of important mechanisms for fighting against NAFLD.

Animals ; Berberine ; therapeutic use ; Diet, High-Fat ; Down-Regulation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Fatty Liver ; Hepatocytes ; Lipids ; Male ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; drug therapy ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction

In order to evaluate the effect and mechanism of the mulberry leaf alkaloid, flavones, and polysaccharide intervention on diabetes, the overall metabolite profiling characteristics for the plasma of diabetic mouse was performed by using an ultra-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS). The 8 potential biomarkers were found in diabetic mice plasma based on the data of MS/MS characteristics obtained from the UPLC-OrbitrapMS analysis, which mainly involved in sphingolipids, amino acid metabolic pathway. The principal component analysis showed that the normal group and model group were obviously distinguished and implied that metabolic disturbance was happened in diabetic mice plasma. The extracts of mulberry leaf flavonoids, polysaccharide, alkaloid had exhibited the effects of callback function for diabetic mice through regulating the amino acid metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism.
Alkaloids ; chemistry ; Amino Acids ; metabolism ; Animals ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Flavones ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Metabolomics ; Mice ; Morus ; chemistry ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Sphingolipids ; metabolism ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes on lipopolysaccharide(LPS) induced hepatocyte inflammation of rats and TLR4/p38MAPK signal pathway.

METHODThe hepatocytes of SD rats were cultured and identified in vitro. The medicated serum of soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes was prepared. The hepatocytes were treated with soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes. Then Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression in cultural supernatants were assayed by ELISA. The expressions of Toll-Like 4 (TLR4), p38 mitogen activated protein kinases (p38MAPK) and p-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38MAPK) were detected by Western blot.

RESULTThe rat medicated serum of soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes was extracted for 2-3 mL. The purified rat hepatocytes were 1.5 x 10(8)-2.0 x 10(8). The cell viability was above 95% detected by Typan blue staining. The hepatocytes were identified by immumofluorescence assay. The detection of hepatocyte cultural supernatants: compared with that of the control group, IL-6 and TNF-α expression were increased in the LPS group (P < 0.01). While compared with that of the LPS group, the expressions of IL-6 and TNF-α were decreased after soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes intervention (P < 0.01). The detection of hepatocyte proteins: compared with that of the control group, the protein expressions of p38MAPK, p-p38MAPK and TLR4 were all increased significantly in the LPS group (P < 0.01). Compared with that of the LPS group, the protein expressions of p38MAPK was decreased significantly in SB239063 group and it was also decreased in the soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes group, but with no significant difference. Compared with that of the LPS group, p38MAPK expression was reduced significantly in the soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes group and the SB239063 (p38MAPK pathway inhibitor) group (P < 0.01). TLR4 protein expression was decreased markedly in the soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes group (P < 0.01) but had no difference between the SB239063 group and the LPS group.

CONCLUSIONThe soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes may regulate hepatocyte inflammatory injury of rats through TLR4/p38MAPK signaling pathway.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; injuries ; metabolism ; Male ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Spleen ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo assess the clinical features and prognostic factors of malignant ovarian teratoma.

METHODSEighty-four patients with malignant ovarian teratoma between 1954 and 2001 were studied retrospectively. All patients were treated with surgery, the mid-period of follow-up was 146 months. Patient characteristics, surgical therapy, pathologic diagnosis, histological grade, and follow-up data were extracted and survival curves were depicted. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 10.0.

RESULTSThe average age was (33.5 +/- 16.1) years. Abdominal pain and abdominal extension were the main complaint. Thirty-seven women were diagnosed with malignant transformation of ovarian teratoma while 47 were of ovarian immature teratoma. Clinical stage was the only prognostic factor with significantly statistical differentiation. Five-year survival rate of malignant ovarian teratoma with stage I, II, III, and IV were (87.20 +/- 4.52)%, (50.00 +/- 35.36)%, (30.55 +/- 9.43)%, and 0.00%, respectively (P = 0.00). Five-year survival rate of ovarian immature teratoma with histological grade I, II, and III were (90.48 +/- 6.41)%, (68.75 +/- 11.59)%, and (57.14 +/- 16.38)%, respectively (P = 0.08). Among 31 women died of malignant ovarian teratoma, 27 (87.1%) died within 2 years after operation.

CONCLUSIONThis retrospective study suggests that malignant transformation of ovarian teratoma is clinically different from ovarian immature teratoma. Complete staging surgery or Debulking surgery followed by 4-6 courses adjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin, vincristine, and bleomycin are the principle treatment. Conservative surgery may well improve the life quality of younger patients. All patients should be closely followed up for at least 2 years.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Bleomycin ; administration & dosage ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Child ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Ovariectomy ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Teratoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Vincristine ; administration & dosage

Humans ; Deglutition ; Time Factors ; Language

The enzyme-inhibitor model and the sugar tolerance mouse model were used to evaluate the relationship between the inhibition rate of enzyme activity and concentration of Hippophae rhamnoides L. subsp. chinensis Rousi polysaccharide (HRP). The inhibitory patterns of enzyme and dose-dependent effects of HRP's effect on blood glucose using acarbose tablets as control were also examined. The mechanism underlying hypoglycemic effects of HRP was discussed. The results showed: in the enzyme-inhibitor model, the inhibitory activity of different concentrations of HRP (9.80, 19.60, 39.20, 78.40, 156.80 and 312.50 mg x L(-1)) on alpha-glucosaminidase (AG) inhibitory activity were 6.62%, 18.02%, 33.26%, 48.23%, 62.11%, 76.31%, 90.12%, IC50 was 31.59 mg x L(-1). The inhibitory rate of 25.00 x 10(3) mg x L(-1) acarbose tablets was only 64.87%, and IC50 was 10.75 x 10(3) mg x L(-1). In the sugar tolerance mouse model, different doses of HRP (240, 480, 960 mg x kg(-1)) tended to decrease levels of blood glucose compared with control group (acarbose tablets 375 mg x kg(-1)) at 15, 30, 60 and 120 min. It's further confirmed that HRP is a kind of competitive inhibitor of AG activity. Its inhibition rate increases with the increase of concentration in normal mice, and it subsequently improves the sugar tolerance showing the effect of reducing blood sugar.
Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Female ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors ; Hippophae ; chemistry ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Male ; Mice ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; alpha-Glucosidases ; metabolism