Objective To observe the metabolomic changes of amniotic fluid in control group and administration group,and to explore the toxicity of aqueous extract of rhubarb on reproduction and embryonic development of pregnant rats.Methods Pregnant rats in teratogenic sensitive period were given rhubarb aqueous extract by gavage for 10 days.The toxicity of rhubarb to maternal rats and the abnormal conditions of dead fetus and absorbed fetus were observed.The amniotic fluid samples were detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS),the amniotic fluid metabolic profiles were compared by principal component analysis(PCA)and partial least squares(OPLS-DA),and the differential lipids were analyzed by metaboanalyst 5.0.Results Rhubarb administration in the teratogenic sensitive period can significantly reduce the number of live fetuses,and lead to adverse phenomena such as absorption of fetuses and premature death of fetuses.The preliminary results of lipomics showed that rhubarb could cause the metabolic disorder of amniotic fluid in pregnant rats,and there were metabolic abnormalities in lipids in amniotic fluid such as PI,PC and LPC.Conclusion Under the equivalent dose of the maximum dose recommended by the clinic,the aqueous extract of rhubarb has certain reproductive and embryonic toxicity to rats;Rhubarb may affect the normal development of rat embryos by causing the disorder of lipid metabolism in amniotic fluid.

Objective To investigate the clinical effects and complications of uterine artery embolization (UAE) therapy using different embolic agents in treating uterine adenomyosis. Methods During 2004—2011, a total of 45 female patients with uterine adenomyosis were admmitted to authors’ hospital to receive uterine artery embolization therapy. The embolic agents used in the procedures included domestic iodized oil, sodium alginate microspheres and Embosphere microspheres. The patients were randomly divided into group A (n=15, using domestic iodized oil as embolic agent), Group B (n=13, using sodium alginate microspheres as embolic agent) and group C (n = 17, using Embosphere microspheres as embolic agent). After the treatment, all the patients were followed up for over 2 years, focusing on the observation of the clinical symptoms such dysmenorrheal, changes of MRI signs and severe complications. The results were analyzed and compared among the three groups. Results After UAE, the clinical symptoms such as the degree of dysmenorrhea, menstrual quantity, etc. were improved in all patients. Six months after UAE, the obvious remission rate of dysmenorrheal in group A, B and C was 33.3% (5/15), 30.8% (4/13) and 41.1%(7/17) respectively. Twelve months after UAE, MRI scanning showed that the uterine sizes in group A, B and C were reduced to 49.19%, 48.25% and 50.05% respectively. Follow-up examination at 24 months after UAE showed that recurrence of dysmenorrheal in group A, B and C was seen in 2, 4 and 2 cases respectively, and amenorrhea was seen in 2 cases of group A and one case in group C. Conclusion The use of domestic iodized oil, sodium alginate microspheres or Embosphere microspheres as embolic agents in performing super-selective uterine artery embolization for adenomyosis can effectively relieve the degree of dysmenorrheal, decrease the uterine size. In addition to ovarian dysfunction, the uterine cavity adhesion may be also a possible cause of amenorrhea occurring after UAE may. In order to ensure a similar clinical efficacy, the use of granular solid embolic agent is preferred as its safety is possibly higher than the liquid embolic agents.

Objective The action mechanisms of Qingfei Oral Liquid ( QFOL) in the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus ( RSV) infection need to be studied more deeply.The aim of this study is to examine the expressions of interleukin ( IL)-10 and IL-17 in the lung tissue and those of Treg and Th17 in the spleen tissue of RSV-infected mice before and after treated with QFOL, and to explore the action mechanisms of QFOL from the perspective of the Treg/Th17 cy-tokines balance. Methods Fifty BABL/c mice were equally ran-domized to five groups: blank control, RSV model, Ribavirin, low-dose QFOL, and high-dose QFOL.Models of RSV ( long strain) infec-tion were made in the latter four groups.At 48 hours after viral activa-tion, the mice of the control and RSV model groups were treated intragastrically with 0.9%normal saline and those in the Ribavirin and QFOL groups with Ribavirin at 0.0025 g/mL and QFOL at 1.33 g/mL and 4 g/mL, respectively, all for 72 hours.Then all the mice were killed and the lung tissue harvested from 5 animals in each group for pathological analysis, while the levels of IL-10 and IL-17 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of the other 5 detected by ELISA.The expressions of the cytokines Treg and Th17′in the spleen from 4 mice in each group were determined by flow cytometry. Results Compared with the RSV models, pathologic changes were significantly re-duced in the mice of the QFOL, Ribavirin and control groups (P<0.01), the expression of IL-10 remarkably up-regulated in the low-dose QFOL, high-dose QFOL, Ribavirin, and control groups ([39.21 ±1.57] vs [43.54 ±1.03], [46.64 ±0.48], [47.83 ±0.87], and [50.44 ±1.04] ng/L, all P<0.01), while the level of IL-17 markedly down-regulated ([70.96 ±0.53] vs [55.92 ±0.83], [33.66 ±0.70], [21.92 ±1.38], and [9.42 ±0.59] pg/mL, all P<0.01).The expressions of Treg/Th17′were significantly in-creased in the low-dose QFOL, high-dose QFOL, Ribavirin, and control groups (2.89 ±0.52, 6.38 ±0.36, 3.95 ±0.26, and 3.54 ± 0.85) as compared with that in the RSV models (0.96 ±0.16) (all P<0.01).Both low-and high-dose QFOL groups showed statisti-cally significant differences from the Ribavirin group in the levels of Treg, Th17, and Treg/Th17 (P<0.05). Conclusion QFOL can regulate the balance of Treg/Th17, increase the expression of IL-10 and decrease that of IL-17 in the lung tissue of RSV-infected mice, which further proves the efficacy of QFOL in the treatment of RSV-induced pneumonia.

Objective Few reports are seen about the effects of cooling blood and removing stasis on nephrin and podocin . This study was to evaluate the therapy of cooling blood and removing stasis for Henoch -Sch?nlein purpura nephritis ( HSPN) and its ac-tion mechanisms by observing the effects of Danshao Granular Ⅲ on hematuresis , proteinuria and the expressions of nephridial nephrin and podocin in HSPN rats . Methods Twenty-one SD male rats were e-qually randomized to a blank control , an HSPN model , and a Dan-shao group.At 13 weeks after modeling , the animals in the model group were treated intragastrically with distilled water , while those in the Danshao group with Danshao Granular Ⅲtwice daily for 4 weeks. Then, the urinary red blood cell ( RBC) count was examined , the
24 h urinary protein quantity determined , the glomerular mesangial changes observed under the light microscope , the protein expres-sions and distributions of nephrin and podocin detected by indirect immunofluorescence , and their mRNA expressions determined by re-al-time PCR. Results The urinary RBC count and 24 h urine protein quantity were significantly higher in the HSPN model than in the blank control group (26.5/HP vs 0.3/HP and [2.214 ±1.090]g/24 h vs [0.624 ±0.354]g/24 h, both P<0.01).The model rats showed obvious pathological changes in the renal tissue .The urinary RBC count and 24 h urine protein volume were remarkably de-creased in the Danshao group as compared with the models (0.8/HP vs 26.5/HP and [1.000 ±0.651]g/24 h vs [2.214 ±1.090] g/24 h, both P<0.01).The pathological changes in the renal tissue of the Danshao group were reduced in comparison with those of the model group.The protein expression of nephrin was higher in the former than in the latter (65.975 ±14.414 vs 43.520 ±0.632, P<0.01) and so was that of podocin though with no statistically significant difference (P>0.05).The distributions of nephrin and podocin were improved after Danshao treatment .The mRNA expressions of nephrin and podocin were markedly higher in the Danshao group than in the HSPN models (0.530 ±0.089 vs 0.117 ±0.021 and 0.490 ±0.160 vs 0.033 ±0.025, P<0.05). Conclusion Danshao Granular Ⅲ, with its main action mechanisms of cooling blood and removing stasis , can effectively reduce urinary RBC count and urinary protein quantity and improve the symptoms of HSPN in rats .

BACKGROUND:Longitudinal study of changes in obesity is an important method to explore the etiology, which can provide scientific basis for preventing and control ing obesity.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of age, observation period and birth cohort on the obesity prevalence of adults in Jiangsu province through the age-period-cohort analysis.
METHODS:20-69-year-old adults in Jiangsu province were col ected as the research objects. The stratified cluster sampling method was used to col ect the obese data in 2000-2010, and analyzed with SAS software. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Obesity prevalence of 1946-1950 birth cohort to 1976-1980 birth cohort was gradual y increased (P<0.05) from 2000 to 2010. Obesity prevalence from 1931-1935 birth cohort to 1941-1945 birth cohort was not significantly increased (P>0.05). With the increasing age in each age group of over 25 years old, the risk of obesity was increased gradual y. There were significant differences in the odds ratios between the baseline groups of 20-25 years old and the age groups of over 25 years (P<0.05). Compared with the 1995-1999 birth cohort, the other periods had a slight influence on the obesity prevalence (P>0.05). Compared with 1976-1980 birth cohort, there were no significant differences in the risks of obesity of the birth cohorts after 1951-1955 (P>0.05). But the risk of obesity from 1946-1950 birth cohort to 1931-1935 birth cohort was gradual y significant since the 2000;obesity risks of those born in the different times were different;rural area wil be the key area than 45 years old.

OBJECTIVETo study the regulation trend of resveratrol on TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6 expressions in bronchoalveolar layage fluid (BALF) of RSV-infected BALB/c mice at different time points.

METHODRSV-induced BALB/c mice were orally administered with resveratrol. Their BALFs were collected at 24, 72 and 144 h after the first nasal drip with RSV to detect the level of TNF-alpha, IL-1P3, IL-6 by EILSA.

RESULTThe expression of TNF-alpha, IL-1Pf and IL-6 in BALF increased significantly compared with the normal group (P <0. 01) after 24 hours of RSV infection, while the expression of TNF-alpha (P < 0.01), IL-1beta (P < 0.05), IL-6 (P < 0.01) in the resveratrol group decreased notably compared with the model group. After 72 hours of infection with RSV, although the expression of TNF-alpha (P < 0.05), IL-1beta (P < 0.01) and IL-6 (P < 0.01) in BALF in model group were higher than those in the normal group, they were much more lower than at 24 h. The expression of IL-1beta and IL-6 (P < 0.05) in the resveratrol groups were down-regulated significantly, but no difference had been shown in TNF-alpha expression compared with the RSV infection group. After infection with RSV for 144 h, the expression of IL-1beta (P < 0.01) and IL-6 (P < 0.05) in BALF in the model group were higher than those in the normal group, but there was no difference in the secretion of TNF-alpha. The expression of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 showed also no remarkable difference between the resveratrol groups and the RSV infection group.

CONCLUSIONResveratrol can inhibit the over expression of inflammatory factors TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of RSV-induced BALB/c mice and keep them at a low level with the passing of infection time.

Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; immunology ; Female ; Interleukin-1beta ; analysis ; Interleukin-6 ; analysis ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; analysis

Natural coumarins have strong pharmacological activities. In this paper, the absorption and metabolism of natural coumarins were introduced by analyzing and summarizing the related literature in recent years. The research of absorption and metabolism will be propitious to further understand their pharmacological mechanism and provide basis for developing new drugs of coumarins.
Absorption ; Animals ; Coumarins ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans

In this study, laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) was used to determine the location and relative quantity of flavonoids in the leaves of Apocynum venetum L. from the top, middle and basal parts of the branch. The leaves of the plants of one, two and three years old, separately, were collected in July. ANOVA and LSD test were employed in the statistical analysis. The results indicated that flavonoids located mainly in xylem conduit of vein, collenchyma, epidermic cells and cuticle. The data of flavonoids contents under statistical analysis showed that difference existed in the leaves of different parts and different ages. This study provided the reliable scientific material about the analysis of the ecological and the exploitation of the leaves of Apocynum venetom L.

Objective To identify the relationship between viral factors and disease progression in patients with acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Methods Ninety-seven adult patients with acute HBV infection in Shanghai Changhai Hospital were enrolled in this study and followed up for 24 weeks. Epidemiological, biochemical and virological parameters of all patients were collected. HBV S region from sera of 54 patients with acute HBV infection were genotyped using direct nucleotide sequencing. Differences of means between groups were compared by t-test, and frequency between groups was compared by X test. Results The clinical manifestations of all patients were mild and the 83 patients spontaneously developed HBeAg and HBsAg seroconversion. However, 14 patients had a tendency of chronicity, with HBV DNA level higher than patients without chronicity tendency [(6. 17 ±1. 04) 1g copy/mL vs (3. 86±1. 85)1g copy/mL;t = 5. 95, P<0. 01]. Among the 14 patients, 6 obtained HBsAg seroconversion after antiviral therapy and the other 8 developed to be sustained HBV carrier who had not received antiviral therapy. The main genotypes of acute HBV infection were genotypes B and C. There were no statistically significant differences of epidemiological factors and biochemical results between patients with the two genotypes of HBV infection. High viral load at baseline was the risk factor of chronicity tendency. Conclusions The main genotypes of acute HBVinfection in Changhai Hospital in the year from 2003 to 2007 are genotypes B and C. There is no significant relationship between genotype and clinical outcome. While high viral load at baseline is significantly associated with chronicity tendency. Proper antiviral therapy can decrease sustained HBV infection rate.

Objective To investigate the distribution of genotypes in chronic HBV infection (CHB) and acute HBV infection (AHB) patients in Shanghai. Methods Sixty-two patients with AHB and 73 patients with CHB admitted to ('hanghai Hospital of Shanghai between 2003 and 2007 were studied. Viral genotypes of all the patients were determined by direct gene sequencing.Meanwhile, epidemiological, clinical and biochemical parameters of all patients were collected. Mean values of different groups were compared by t test while frequency was compared by chi square test. Results The major prevalent genotypes in both AHB and CHB patients were genotype B and C (48.4% vs 51.6% in AHB patients and 26.0% vs 74.0% in CHB patients). The proportion of genotype B was higher in AHB patients compared to CHB patients (P= 0.02). Epidemiological factors and clinical outcomes were not statistically different among patients with different viral genotypes. The proportion of genotype C was much higher in CHB patients compared to AHB patients (P=0.006). The main transmission route of AHB was heterosexual interaction which was 18 out of 62 (29.0%), but in CHB patients, it was prenatal transmission which was 38 out of 73 (52.1%). Conclusions In shanghai, the main HBV genotypes in both AHB and CHB patients are genotype B and C. The proportion of genotype B is relatively high in AHB patients while proportion of genotype C is more common in CHB patients. There is no significant relationship between genotypes and the clinical outcomes of AI-IB patients.