Cryptosporidium spp.are protozoan parasites that infect the epithelial cells of the gstrointestinal tract of hosts.In humans,cryptosporidiosis is usually a self-limiting infection in immunocompetent individuals,but severe diarrhea and dissemination to extra-intestinal sites can occur in high-risk individuals,such as the very young,the elderly,immunedeficiency individuals,particularly in HIV-positive patients.So far,molecular epidemiological data have confirmed the presence of 30 species and over 40 genotypes with genus Cryptosporidium,with 21 species and genotypes being found in humans.The majority of human cryptosporidiosis cases are responsible for C.hominis and C.parvum.Human cases caused by C.meleagridis,C.ubiquitum,C.felis and C.canis have been increasing.Besides that,with data accumulation of molecular epidemiology of human cryptosporidiosis,some more Cryptosporidium species and genotypes were newly identified in humans.This paper mainly reviews epidemiology status of these new emerging Cryptosporidium species and genotypes in humans.

To investigate the effects of icariin, an effective extract from traditional Chinese medicine Epimedium pubescens with the function of tonifying kidney, in promoting osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cell line C3H10T1/2, and to explore the underlying mechanism.

The true meanings of the terms of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) need to be analyzed on a logical basis. It is not suitable to use a new term to interpret an old term of TCM, or arbitrarily specify the special term of TCM corresponding to some substances of modern medicine. In philosophy of language, language has a logical structure, which reflects the structure of the world, that is to say, language is the picture of the world in a logical sense. Using this idea, the authors collected the ancient literature on "kidney essence", and extracted each necessary condition for "kidney essence". All necessary conditions formed a sufficient condition to define the term "kidney essence". It is expected that this example can show the effectiveness of philosophy of language in analysis of the terms of TCM.

To observe the effects of icariin, psoralen and oleanolic acid, the three active ingredients of Yinyanghuo (Herba Epimedii Brevicornus), Buguzhi (Fructus Psoraleae) and Nuzhenzi (Fructus Ligustri Lucidi), respectively, on gene expression profile of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) from rats with corticosterone-induced osteoporosis.

To study the immunoregulatory effect of an optimal Chinese herbal monomer compound, which consists of three monomers, namely, icariin, baicalin and Astragalus saponin I, in a mouse model of allergic rhinitis.

Icariin is one of the key active components of Epimedium species, which is most widely applied to supplement the kidney in traditional Chinese medicine. Scientific research has found that icariin possesses extensive therapeutic effects such as protecting neurons from injury, promoting growth of neuronal synapse, improving sexual dysfunction and bone morphogenesis, as well as anti-inflammation, anti-tumor and anti-depression functions. Considering that molecular mechanism is the fundamental basis for pharmaceutical efficacy of icariin, in this article, the authors retrospectively retrieved 122 scientific papers recorded in the PubMed database with "icariin" in the title from January 1, 1995 to January 5, 2011. It was found that icariin has been closely highlighted in the intervention of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signal pathways, inhibition of phosphodiesterase 5, and regulation of nuclear receptors. Besides, the authors also discussed the main orientation for molecular mechanism of icariin in future research.

Objective: To study the optimal combined ratio of baicalin, icariin and Astragalus saponin I from a Chinese herbal compound Biminne. Methods: Firstly, a mouse model of allergic rhinitis was established by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin (OVA) and aluminum hydroxide gel suspension, and the effective dose range of baicalin, icariin and Astragalus saponin I was detected by 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide inner salt method. Secondly, 10 groups of combinations of baicalin, icariin and Astragalus saponin I assembled by U*(10)(10(8)) form were employed to determine the optimal combination by means of analyzing of the inhibitory effect on the splenocyte proliferation. Finally, the effects of each effective ingredient and the optimal combination were compared by observing the splenocyte proliferation, the contents of interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in supernatant of the splenocyte cultures and the ratio of IL-4 to IFN-gamma in order to verify the result. Results: Baicalin or icariin at concentrations ranging from 2 to 10 mumol/L, and Astragalus saponin I from 1 to 10 mumol/L effectively suppressed the splenocyte proliferation. When the proportion of baicalin, icariin and Astragalus saponin I was 1:2.14:2.65, the inhibitory effect was most remarkable. Further research confirmed the rationality of the optimal combination. Conclusion: An optimal combination of the major effective ingredients from Chinese herbal compound Biminne most effectively suppresses the proliferation of splenocytes from sensitized mice and regulates the cytokine secreting.