OBJECTIVE To explore the possible mechanism of Qingchang Huashi Formula in the treatment of ulcerative colitis(UC).METHODS Fifty C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into a control(Ctrl)group,a model group,a low-dose Qingchang Huashi Formula group,a high-dose Qingchang Huashi Formula group,and a 5-aminosalicylic acid(5-ASA)group based on body weight.The UC model was established in mice by drinking 3%dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)for 6 d.On d7 and d8,DSS was withdrawn and ultrapure water was given daily.Ultrapure water or different drugs were administered orally throughout the experiment:Ctrl and model groups received 0.2 mL of ultrapure water,while the low-dose and high-dose Qingchang Huashi Formula groups re-ceived 6 and 12 g·kg-1,respectively,and the concentration of 5-ASA was 100 mg·kg-1.Body weight and fecal characteristics of the mice were recorded daily,and the experiment ended on d9.Serum was collected from mice for serum metabolomics and inflam-matory factor expression analysis.The colons of the mice were isolated and their lengths were measured,and the distal colon was ob-tained for pathological analysis.The livers and colons of the mice were isolated for subsequent total bile acid analysis.RESULTS Compared with the Ctrl group,the model group mice showed a significant decrease in body weight and colon length(P<0.000 1),a remarkable increase in disease activity index(P<0.000 1).The concentration of inflammatory factors IL-1β and TNF-α was signifi-cantly increased(P<0.000 1).High-dose and low-dose Qingchang Huashi Formula,as well as 5-ASA could significantly alleviate the loss of body weight,increased DAI,colon shortening,and disappearance of colon tissue morphology in mice.Through ELISA tes-ting,it was found the concentration of IL-1β and TNF-α was remarkably decreased after Qingchang Huashi Formula and 5-ASA treat-ment(P<0.01,P<0.000 1).Through LC-MS analysis of serum metabolites and KEGG enrichment analysis,we found that interven-tion with Qingchang Huashi Formula could significantly affect the primary bile acid synthesis,secondary bile acid synthesis and bile se-cretion.Using total bile acid reagent kit,we found that the total bile acid in the liver of colitis mice did not show significant changes when compared with the Ctrl group of mice,and the concentration of total bile acid in the serum was significantly reduced,the concen-tration of TBA in the colon was significantly increased(P<0.05).After intervention with the Qingchang Huashi Formula,the concen-tration of total bile acid in the serum of mice was significantly increased,while the concentration of total bile acid in the colon was re-duced(P<0.05).Compared with mice in Ctrl group,the levels of deoxycholic acid(DCA)and taurine deoxycholic acid(TDCA)in serum of colitis mice were significantly reduced(P<0.05).After intervention with Qingchang Huashi Formula,the levels of DCA,TD-CA and Ursodeoxycholic acid(UDCA)in serum of mice were restored(P<0.01).CONCLUSION Qingchang Huashi Formula can effectively relieve DSS-induced colitis in mice,reducing immune inflammatory response,reregulating the disorder of serum metabolism and enterohepatic circulation.

OBJECTIVE To explore the possible mechanism of Qingchang Huashi Formula in the treatment of ulcerative colitis(UC).METHODS Fifty C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into a control(Ctrl)group,a model group,a low-dose Qingchang Huashi Formula group,a high-dose Qingchang Huashi Formula group,and a 5-aminosalicylic acid(5-ASA)group based on body weight.The UC model was established in mice by drinking 3%dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)for 6 d.On d7 and d8,DSS was withdrawn and ultrapure water was given daily.Ultrapure water or different drugs were administered orally throughout the experiment:Ctrl and model groups received 0.2 mL of ultrapure water,while the low-dose and high-dose Qingchang Huashi Formula groups re-ceived 6 and 12 g·kg-1,respectively,and the concentration of 5-ASA was 100 mg·kg-1.Body weight and fecal characteristics of the mice were recorded daily,and the experiment ended on d9.Serum was collected from mice for serum metabolomics and inflam-matory factor expression analysis.The colons of the mice were isolated and their lengths were measured,and the distal colon was ob-tained for pathological analysis.The livers and colons of the mice were isolated for subsequent total bile acid analysis.RESULTS Compared with the Ctrl group,the model group mice showed a significant decrease in body weight and colon length(P<0.000 1),a remarkable increase in disease activity index(P<0.000 1).The concentration of inflammatory factors IL-1β and TNF-α was signifi-cantly increased(P<0.000 1).High-dose and low-dose Qingchang Huashi Formula,as well as 5-ASA could significantly alleviate the loss of body weight,increased DAI,colon shortening,and disappearance of colon tissue morphology in mice.Through ELISA tes-ting,it was found the concentration of IL-1β and TNF-α was remarkably decreased after Qingchang Huashi Formula and 5-ASA treat-ment(P<0.01,P<0.000 1).Through LC-MS analysis of serum metabolites and KEGG enrichment analysis,we found that interven-tion with Qingchang Huashi Formula could significantly affect the primary bile acid synthesis,secondary bile acid synthesis and bile se-cretion.Using total bile acid reagent kit,we found that the total bile acid in the liver of colitis mice did not show significant changes when compared with the Ctrl group of mice,and the concentration of total bile acid in the serum was significantly reduced,the concen-tration of TBA in the colon was significantly increased(P<0.05).After intervention with the Qingchang Huashi Formula,the concen-tration of total bile acid in the serum of mice was significantly increased,while the concentration of total bile acid in the colon was re-duced(P<0.05).Compared with mice in Ctrl group,the levels of deoxycholic acid(DCA)and taurine deoxycholic acid(TDCA)in serum of colitis mice were significantly reduced(P<0.05).After intervention with Qingchang Huashi Formula,the levels of DCA,TD-CA and Ursodeoxycholic acid(UDCA)in serum of mice were restored(P<0.01).CONCLUSION Qingchang Huashi Formula can effectively relieve DSS-induced colitis in mice,reducing immune inflammatory response,reregulating the disorder of serum metabolism and enterohepatic circulation.

Background and purpose:Traditional Chinese medicine with notable effect and little adverse reaction is increasingly concerned about the medical profession because of its great potential and advantage in treating pancreatic carcinoma. In this experiment, we studied the effects of oridonin on apoptosis and cytoskeletal protein F-actin in human pancreatic carcinoma SW1990 cells. Methods:SW1990 cells in culture medium were treated with different concentrations of oridonin. The inhibitory rate of the cells was measured by MTT assay. Morphology of cell apoptosis was observed by DAPI stain and cell apoptotic rate was detected by lfow cytometry (FCM). The morphological changes of F-actin were observed by laser confocal microscopy. Results:The growth of human pancreatic carcinoma SW1990 cells was signiifcantly inhibited by oridonin. Apoptosis morphological changes including condensation of chromatin and nuclear fragmentation were observed clearly by DAPI stain. The early apoptotic rate of SW1990 cells treated with 25, 50μmol/L oridonin was signiifcantly higher than that of the control group (3.78±0.46, 9.51±0.63 vs 0.73±0.06, P<0.05), and the late apoptotic rate and cell necrosis rate were also signiifcantly higher than that of the control group (14.40±1.78, 20.53±2.54 vs 4.16±0.31, P<0.05). F-actin was showed from polymerization to depolymerization after oridonin treatment. Conclusion:Oridonin can obviously inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of SW1990 cells. The mechanisms may involve the depolymerization of F-actin after treatment with oridonin.

This article was aimed to study the inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis by β-el-emene extract from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Rhizoma Zedoariae on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells, as well as the effect on expression of apoptosis-related proteins in liver cancer-burdened H22 mice. Human HepG2 cells were cultured in vitro. MTT method was used in the determination of β-elemene on cell prolif-eration. Apoptosis of cells were detected by the Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining method. Through the establish-ment of liver cancer-burdened H22 mice model, the inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis-related protein expression by β-elemene on tumor-burdened mice were observed. The results showed that β-elemene inhib-ited HepG2 cell proliferation, which was dose- and time-dependent. Annexin V-FITC/PI method detected early apoptotic cells. Inhibitions of tumor growth on tumor-burdened mice from different groups were different. Inhibition of tumor growth in the high-dose β-elemene group was relatively low, and that of the middle-dose was more obvi-ous. It was concluded that β-elemene can effectively inhibit human HepG2 cells proliferation. The inhibition on pro-liferation of cancer cells was through the inducing of cell apoptosis. It was also related to the upregulation of apopto-sis-related protein Caspase-3 and downregulation of NF-κB P65.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and safety of radioactive pancreatic duct stents implanted in the pancreatic ducts of pigs by endoscopy. Methods Different doses of 125I radioactive pancreatic duct stents were implanted in the pancreatic ducts of pigs by endoscopy. Blood tests were conducted before and after implantation. 14,30 and 60 days after implantation of the radioactive stents, the pigs were euthanized in batch. All animals underwent post modem examination to exclude intra-abdominal hemorrhage,pancreatic fistula or peritonitis. During autopsy,the liver,bile ducts,head of the pancreas,stomach and duodenum were examined for perforation,stricture or dilation and damage of the surrounding structures.Results Fourteen pigs were implanted with pancreatic duct stents by endoscopic procedures.There was no effusion,hemorrhage or necrosis in the adjacent duodenum,stomach,liver or right kidney.The noral morphological structures of the duct of Wirsung disappeared in all the treated pigs.Histopathological examination revealed that the stents were surrounded by necrotic tissue and outside fibrous tissue. During the follow-up period, the width of outside fibrous tissue gradually increased. There were no serious abnormalities noted in the blood tests after implantation. Conclusion It is indicated that the radioactive stents are safe in all the difierent dose groups. For future clinical application, it is feasible to design a special radioactive stent for each patient according to the size,shape and position of the pancreatic tumor.