Objective: To investigate whether atorvastatin can prevent renal injury in mice independent of the lipid-lowering effects. Methods: CD36-/- SR-A-/- ApoE-/- mice were randomly assigned to a high fat diet (high fat group) and high fat diet plus atorvastatin (atorvastatin) group; male C57BL mice with a chow diet served as controls. Terminal blood samples were taken for plasma cholesterol assay 14 weeks later. Renal sections were used for histological and immunohistochemistry assessments. The lipid accumulation in the kidney was evaluated by Oil Red O (ORO) staining. The mRNA expression of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), collagen I and IV, fibronectin, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were analyzed by real-time PCR. Results: Blood total cholesterol levels (LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol) were not nd high fat group. Meanwhile, ORO staining showed that atorvastatin significantly different between atorvastatin group a decreased lipid accumulation in the kidney; Masson and H-E staining demonstrated that atorvastatin therapy attenuated massive structural changes, including mesangial proliferation, interstitial matrix deposition, accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins, tubular-interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration, and renal deformations with glomerulosclerosis/tubulointerstitial fibrosis in the high fat group. Moreover, atorvastatin therapy not only decreased TGF-β expression at mRNA and protein levels, but also decreased the expression of factors related to fibrosis. Conclusion: Atorvastatin can protect the kidney independent of the lipid-lowering effects and SR-A, CD36 receptor pathways, and it might be related to decrease of TGF-beta expression.

Objective To explore clinical characteristics in boys and girls with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) and provide refe-rences for clinician′s correct diagnosis and cognition.Methods The clinical characteristics and laboratory examination of 88 children with SLE were comparatively analyzed from Dec.1993 to Sep.2007 by a retrospective cohort study.There was a ratio of 1.04.9 between boys and girls with SLE,and the peak incidence was among adolescent girls(10-15 years old),accounting for 60.2% of all children with SLE.There was no difference in onset age between the 2 groups.Disease activity was evaluated using SLE disease activity index(SLEDAI).Clinical characteristics and laboratory examination were studied by Spearman rank correlation analysis.Results There were significant differences in the constituent ratio of onset symptom and clinical symptom between boys and girls with SLE.Initial manifestation in boys with SLE was mainly skin lesion while in girls with SLE was fever.There were no significant difference for the incidence of each organ lesion between boys and girls with SLE,but higher rate of anemia and hepatic disfunction in girls with SLE was found.There were up trends of splenomegaly,abnormal electroence phalogram,butterfly erythema occurred in girls with SLE,while gastrointestinal symptoms,serositis,eyes damage occured in boys with SLE.Nephrotic syndrome was the main type of renal damage in both groups(boys:40.0%,girls:45.7%).There were significant differences in the constituent ratio of detection rate in laboratory examination,but no significant difference of positive rate was found in any kind of item between boys and girls with SLE.There was some relationship between C3 and muti-organ lesion,double stranded DNA(dsDNA) and renal lesion through correlation analysis for girls with SLE.Conclusions There are some differences of initial manifestation between boys and girls with SLE,the clinical features and laboratory examination show no gender difference.C3 may be a indicator of the disease severity for girls with SLE.

Irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) is a quite common disease,and it is a functional enteropathy that characterized by abdomen discomfort or pain,diarrhea,constipation or the mix of both.At present the clinical diagnosis refers to the Roman Ⅱ standard,but it is easy to create leaks examines.In 2006,the new Roman Ⅲ standard let clinician have a more objective basis regarding diagnosis of children with IBS.Its treatment is a complex therapy based on the symptom and serious degree of the symptom.The author will introduce children with IBS with emphasis on the diagnosis and treatment progress.

In this paper, the action of suet oil in the preparation of self-assembled micelles of the active flavonoids in Epimedium in the simulated human environment was researched. Twelve suet oil samples were collected from different growing areas and different positions of sheep or goat to simulate the formation of micelles. Then the effects of the fatty acids in suet oil on the preparation of self-assembled micelles were studied furthermore. The results showed that the micelles had a dispersed state and spherical smooth surface. To compare the diameter, potential, encapsulation efficiency and drug loading of the 12 batches micelles, the micelles prepared by the suet oil from Qinghai were more stable and had a higher encapsulation efficiency. The fatty acids in suet oil could promote the formation of self-assembled micelles, but the whole suet oil had a better effect. Above all the study, we confirmed that the suet oil promoted the formation of self-assembled micelles of the flavonoids in Epimedium, it laid foundation for further research about increasing the efficacy of Epimedium and improved the absorption of the active flavonoids in Epimedium.
Animals ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; China ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Electric Conductivity ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Fatty Acids ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; Geography ; Goats ; Humans ; Micelles ; Oils ; chemistry ; Sheep

To prepare sagittatoside B with epimedin B Hydrolyzed from cellulase. With the conversion ratio as the index, the effects of pH value, temperature, reaction time, dosage of enzyme and concentration of substrates on the conversion ratio were detected. L9 (3(4)) orthogonal design was adopted to optimize the preparation process. Hydrolyzed products were identified by MS, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR. The results showed that the optimum reaction conditions for the enzymatic hydrolysis were that the temperature was 50 degrees C, the reaction medium was pH 5.6 acetic acid-sodium acetate buffer solution, the concentration of substrates was 20 g x L(-1), the mass ratio between enzyme and substrate was 3: 5, and the relative molecular mass of the reaction product was 646.23. NMR data proved that the product was sagittatoside B. The process is simple and reliable under mild reaction conditions, thus suitable for industrial production.
Cellulase ; metabolism ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hydrolysis ; Temperature ; Time Factors

To evaluate the properties of solidifying volatile oil with graphene oxide, clove oil and zedoary turmeric oil were solidified by graphene oxide. The amount of graphene oxide was optimized with the eugenol yield and curcumol yield as criteria. Curing powder was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effects of graphene oxide on dissolution in vitro and thermal stability of active components were studied. The optimum solidification ratio of graphene oxide to volatile oil was 1:1. Dissolution rate of active components had rare influence while their thermal stability improved after volatile oil was solidified. Solidifying herbal volatile oil with graphene oxide deserves further study.
Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Clove Oil ; chemistry ; Curcuma ; chemistry ; Eugenol ; Graphite ; chemistry ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Oils, Volatile ; chemistry ; Oxides ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Powders ; Sesquiterpenes

In order to evaluate the characteristic of porous starch (PS) as the solid dispersions carrier of the total Epimedium flavonoids (TEF), the PS was used. The dissolution of icariin was selected as an indicator to analyze the differences of dissolution between TEF and its solid dispersion. TEF was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). Solid dispersion was irregular block and no powder characteristics of TEF and PS could be seen in SEM, DSC and XRD analysis suggested that TEF may be present in solid dispersion as amorphous substance. The dissolution rate of icariin has been improved significantly when the proportion of TEF and PS was 1:2. PS as a traditional solid dispersion carrier is worthy of further study.
Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; Porosity ; Solubility ; Starch ; chemistry ; X-Ray Diffraction

Objective To determine the effects of 1320 nm non-ablative laser on the proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts,and the secretion of basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF)and transforming growth factor-?1(TGF-?1)in vitro.Methods Human dermal fibroblasts were cultured,and irradiated three times by 1320 nm laser at a dose of 15,20 and 24 J/cm~2,respectively.The levels of bFGF and TGF-?1 were examined by ELISA at 0,24,48 and 72h after the irradiation.The number of fibroblasts before and after irradiation were determined.Results The number of fibroblasts and the secretion of bFGF both in- creased after the irradiation at the doses of 20 J/cm~2 and 24 J/cm~2(P

OBJECTIVETo explore the Mechanism of nonablative skin rejuvenation.

METHODThe Kunming mice be used as subjects and divided into three groups (A, B, C). A, B, C groups were irradiated with 1 320 nm cooltouch laser (20 J/cm2) in the skin of left back; B and C groups were irradiated two and three times respectively; the skin of right back of A, B, C groups was adopted as control. The expression of bFGF and TGF-beta1 in the mouse skin was examined by the immunohistochemistry . The fibroblasts were isolated from the foreskin and cultured. One group is a control and other three ones are low, intermediate and high energetic groups respectively. The fibroblasts were irradiated by laser with 15 J/cm2 ,20 J/cm2 and 24 J/cm2 energy for three times. We examined the levels of bFGF and TGF-beta1 by ELISA in 0, 24, 48 and 72 hours.

RESULTSAccording to this research on immunohistochemistry result, there are significant differences in the expression of bFGF and TGF-beta1 between the group irradiated by three times and others (P < 0.01). The number of fibroblasts get increased after being irradiated by laser. The ELISA result indicates that the secretion of bFGF increased in the group of intermediate and high energetic level after laser irradiating and may reach the peak at 24 hours (P < 0.01). The amount of TGF-beta1 secretion, however, seems to get decreased in each group at all energetic levels, and at 24 hours it can reach the top level as well.

CONCLUSIONThe direct influence of laser on the fibroblasts is to promote secretion of bFGF and to inhibit secretion of TGF-beta1, while its influence on the tissue is to promote the secretions of the both. Nonablative skin rejuvenation not only can induce fibroblasts to secrete more bFGF but also induce the blood vessels to release cytokines which stimulate endothelial cell to express more of bFGF and TGF-beta1. Furthermore, fibroblastic proliferation can accelerate by laser's irradiating.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Cosmetic Techniques ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; radiation effects ; secretion ; Laser Therapy ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Rejuvenation ; Skin ; cytology ; radiation effects ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVERotavirus is the single most common cause of severe dehydrating diarrhea in young children worldwide, but the pathogenesis and immunity against this disease are not completely understood. A prospective study was conducted to assess gene expression of toll-like receptors (TLR) in children with acute rotavirus diarrhea.

METHODSSeventy-five children with acute rotavirus diarrhea and 38 control children were enrolled in this study from Sep. 2004 to Jan. 2005. All the 75 patients had detailed records of clinical characteristics. Rotavirus antigen was detected by ELISA from stools. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were separated by Ficoll reagent and RNA was extracted by Trizol. The levels of mRNA for five TLRs in PBMC were examined by fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTSPatients with acute rotavirus infection had elevated mean levels of TLR 2, 3, 4, 7, 8 mRNA expressions in PBMC within 3 days since onset of the disease, P less than 0.05. But only TLR 2, 3, 8 mRNA levels remained increased in patients within 7 or 14 days since onset (P less than 0.05). Mean levels of mRNA for TLR 4 in PBMC was higher in patients with more severe diarrhea including longer duration of diarrhea, more episodes of diarrhea per day and higher severity scores (P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONManifold TLR may play roles in the start-up and regulation of immune responses in children with acute rotavirus diarrhea. These findings will be helpful to further recognize immune response in Chinese children with rotavirus diarrhea and, consequently, may provide directions and insights that could prove critical to the prevention or treatment of this important disease.

Acute Disease ; Antigens, Viral ; analysis ; Child, Preschool ; Diarrhea ; genetics ; virology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Feces ; virology ; Gene Expression ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Infant ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rotavirus ; immunology ; physiology ; Rotavirus Infections ; genetics ; virology ; Toll-Like Receptors ; genetics