Basic research and interdisciplinary application of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） have been continuously extended and rapidly developed with the continuous funding and promotion of basic research on TCM supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China （NSFC）， and the overall level of basic research on TCM has been significantly improved， which has made important contributions to the diagnosis and treatment mechanism of TCM by "clarifying， identifying， and interpreting"， providing benchmark guarantees for basic research and industry development of TCM. This article focused on the application and funded projects of NSFC in 2023 under the H31 application code of TCM. It analyzed the project types， branch codes， research question categories， supporting units and regions， research directions， and keywords and summarized the characteristics of the currently funded projects in H31. At the same time， it analyzed the relevant problems in the project application process and put forward several suggestions， so as to provide a reference for scholars in the field of TCM. In 2023， a total of 8 334 applications for three types of projects （general projects， projects for young scholars， and regional projects） under the H31 code have been received by NSFC， which is the highest number in the past five years. However， the proportion of funding is still on a downward trend， and there is fierce competition among applicants. Finally， 804 projects for the three categories under the H31 code have been funded. The total funding decreased in 2022， and the average funding amount of the general project and the regional project has dropped to the lowest in the past five years. It is found that the development of branch research and the research questions under the H31 code is unbalanced. Few projects have focused on the original theory of TCM. Some projects are detached from the characteristics and research laws of TCM. Most researchers lack innovative research ideas， and the applications they write are filled with routines and patterns. In addition， the issue of scientific integrity remains a primary principle for project applicants.

BACKGROUND:The cultivation of mammary gland stem cel s is of great significance for the development of mammary gland and breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE:To seek an easy method to isolate and culture mammary gland stem cel in vitro, and verify the safety of cel s.
METHODS:Mammary epithelial cel s were isolated from normal tissues surrounding breast cancer, and CD49f-and EPCAM-positive cel s were sorted using flow cytometry fol owed by surface marker analysis and cel colony formation ability analysis. Afterwards, real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was used to detect C-erbB-2 and Maspin mRNA expression in mammary gland stem cel s, breast cancer tissues and normal tissues surrounding breast cancer.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Human mammary gland stem cel s were successful y cultured and highly expressed CD49f and EPCAM, with the presence of mixed colony, pleural epithelial cel colony, and myoepithelial cel colony. c-erbB-2 was lowly expressed while Maspin highly expressed in mammary gland stem cel s. Our experimental findings indicate that the mammary gland stem cel s derived from normal tissue surrounding breast cancer have biological safety.

Aim To investigate the effect of preventive administration of icariin on learning and memory abili-ties and brain mitochondrial oxidative stress in senes-cence-accelerated mouse prone8 ( SAMP8 ) . Methods
The 6-month-old SAMP8 mice were randomly divid-ed into the SAMP8 model group, ICA groups (75, 150 mg · kg-1 ) , the positive Diethylstilbestrol ( DES ) group and estrogen receptor inhibitor ICI182780 com-bined with ICA (150 mg·kg-1 ) group, with 8 mice in each group. 8 same month old SAMR1 mice were selected as the normal control group. After oral admin-istration for 8 weeks, Morris water maze test and step-down passive test were used to investigate the effects of preventive administration of ICA on learning and mem-ory abilities in SAMP8 mice. Cerebral cortex mitochon-dria were isolated to determine the effect of preventive administration of ICA on the oxidative stress by detec-ting reactive oxygen species ( ROS) level, lipid perox-ides ( MDA ) content, glutathione GSH content and catalase ( CAT ) activity. Results Preventive treat-ment of ICA could significantly improve the abilities of place navigation and space exploration of SAMP8 mice, enhance their reflex ability in step-down passive test. ICA could also reduce the level of ROS and MDA content, increase GSH content in brain mitochondria of SAMP8 mice. CAT activity was not obviously changed. Compared with ICA high dose group, the learning and memory abilities of mice in ICA and estrogen receptor inhibitor ICI182780 co-administrated group were signif-icantly decreased. However,brain mitochondria oxida-tive stress was not changed obviously. Conclusion Preventive administration of icariin can significantly improve learning and memory abilities and brain mito-chondrial oxidative stress in SAMP8 mice. The mecha-nism of ICA improving learning and memory abilities may be related to its estrogen-like effect;while the ac-tion on brain mitochondrial oxidative stress may be in-dependent of estrogen receptor.

The applications accepted and approved by general program, young scientist fund and fund for less developed region of national natural science funds in the discipline of Chinese materia medica, NSFC in 2011 have been introduced. The character and problems in these applications have been analyzed to give a reference to the scientists in the field of Chinese material medica.
China ; Foundations ; Materia Medica ; Natural Science Disciplines ; Research Support as Topic

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of icariin (ICA) on learning and memory abilities and cholinergic system in senescence-accelerated mice SAMP10.

METHODThe 8-month-old senescence-accelerated mice were randomly divided into the model SAMP10 group and the positive Donepezil group (1 mg x kg(-1)) and ICA groups (50, 100, 200 mg x kg(-1)), with 12 mice in each group. Another 12 8-month-old mice SAMR1 were selected as the normal control group. After 30 days of oral administration, Morris water maze, SMG-2 water maze and experimental platform were used to test the effects of ICA on learning and memory abilities of SAMP10 groups. By colorimetric determination of AChE activity in the cortex, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay detection of ACh, ChAT, MCBC of the cerebral cortex, the effect of ICA on the cholinergic system of SAMP10 was observed.

RESULTICA could improve the abilities of space exploration and positioning navigation of SAMP10, shorten the latency in SMG-2 water maze, enhance their jumping ability in response to the passive test, and increase levels of ACh, ChAT, MCBC in the cerebral cortex of SAMP10. But its active effect on AChE in SAMP10 cortex was not obvious.

CONCLUSIONDifferent doses of icariin can improve learning and memory abilities of SAMP10 to varying degrees, which may be related to its effect on the cholinergic system.

Acetylcholine ; analysis ; Alzheimer Disease ; drug therapy ; Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; chemistry ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Learning ; drug effects ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Mice ; Parasympathetic Nervous System ; drug effects

Polo-like kinase 1(PLK1)is a serine/threonine kinase which is highly conserved, and its activity is elevated in many human tumor cell lines.Lots of reports have shown that PLK1 is critical for all stages of mitosis.The newest report finds that PLK1 is required for DNA synthesis, maintenance of DNA integrity, and prevention of cell death.PLK1 physically binds to the tumor suppressor p53 in mammalian cultured cells, and inhibits its transactivation activity as well as its function in activate checkpoint protein and its pro-apoptotic function.Also PLK1 is involved in the development of tumors, and Polo-like kinase1(PLK1)regulates IFN induction by MAVS, breakdown the innate immunity. Various of inhibitors of PLK1 show the feature of high performance and low toxicity, suggesting that PLK1 may be a feasible target for cancer therapy and immunity therapy.

OBJECTIVETo explore the dynamic effects of Yinqiao detoxifcation oral liquid (YQD) on NK cell lysis in spleen and serum concentration of IFN-gamma in SCID mouse infected by influenza A virus FM1.

METHODThe mice were divided into six different groups randomly. Except normal control, other mice were intranasally instilled with 15 TCID of virus. Three dosage groups of YQD (5.0, 10.0, 20.0 g x kg(-1)) were respectively fed with YQD. Positive control group was administrated orally with 0.07 g x kg(-1) of ribavirin. Normal control and model group were fed with physiological saline. After 1, 3, 5 and 7 days' infection, spleens and serum were collected. Then the NK cell lysis was detected by LDH release kit and the concentration of IFN-gamma was examined by ELISA assay.

RESULTContents of IFN-gamma reached to peak value on the 3th day and until the 5th day. Later, the level of IFN-gamma returned to normal level. The variation tendency of activity of NK cell in spleen was according with that of IFN-gamma. But it reached the maximum value until the 5th day. The activity of NK cell lysis in three groups of YQD was well above that i n model group. In addition, therapeutic action of both 10.0 g x kg(-1) and 20.0 g x kg(-1) of YQD treatment groups was better than that of 5.0 g x kg(-1).

CONCLUSIONThe data showed that serum concentration of IFN-gamma and NK cell lysis were improved by YQD at different time, which was demonstrated YQD could perform well in immune system.

Animals ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Influenzavirus A ; physiology ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Killer Cells, Natural ; drug effects ; physiology ; Mice ; Mice, SCID ; Random Allocation ; Spleen ; immunology ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Yinqiao detoxifcation oral liquid on activity of natural killer cells (NK) and serum content of TNF-alpha, TGF-beta1 of BALB/C nude mouse infected by influenza virus.

METHODTo establish infected mice model by FM1 followed by intragastric administration of Yinqiao detoxifcation oral liquid for treatment. LDH method was used to observe NK cells. ELISA method was used to determine the levels of TNF-alpha, TGF-beta1, in serum on 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th days after infection.

RESULTComparing to the normal group, the NK activity of the model group was significantly increased on 1 dpi (day post infection), and significantly decreased on 3, 5, 7 dpi. The NK activity of three dosage groups (5, 10, 20 g x kg(-1)) of Yinqiao detoxifcation oral liquid were respectively higher than that of the model on 3, 5, 7 dpi, especially with high dose (P < 0.01). The serum level of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1 of model group is higher than that of normal group on 1, 3, 5, 7 d. Compared with model group, the serum level of Yinqiao detoxifcation oral liquid groups (5, 10, 20 g x kg(-1)) were decreased in different degree on every time point, especially the serum level of the higher dose of Yinqiao detoxifcation oral liquid decreased on 3 dpi (P < 0.05), Yinqiao detoxifcation oral liquid inhibit the serum level of TGF-beta1 in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONYinqiao detoxifcation oral liquid could enhance the activity of NK cell and decrease the serum level of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1 of the mice infected by influenza virus.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Influenza A virus ; immunology ; physiology ; Influenza, Human ; drug therapy ; immunology ; virology ; Killer Cells, Natural ; drug effects ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Random Allocation ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; immunology

Immunodeficient animals are animal models that are suitable for medical research. Beige-Nude mice are deficient in both T lymphocytes and natual killer (NK) cells simultaneously. The T cell activity and NK cell activity are much lower in Beige-Nude mice. They were bred for cancer research at first. Researchers have studied the immunologic characteristics of Beige-Nude mice vastly and deeply since 1970s. So this expands its application in medical research.

Objective To measure 222Rn and 220Rn concentrations in the underground non-uranium mines in Shandong Province,and to estimate the annual effective dose to the miners.Methods Concentrations of 222Rn and 220Rn in selected gold,iron,coal and clay mines were determined by passive time-integrating detectors with CR-39.Activity concentrations of 226Ra,232Th and 40K were determined using gamma spectrometry equipped with HPGe detector.Results The average concentrations of 220Rn in the gold,iron,coal and clay mines were estimated to be 1200,280,120 and 40 Bq/m3,respectively.The activity concentrations of 226Ra,232Th,40K in the ores for gold,iron,coal and clay mines ranged the same as the soil in China.The annual effective dose due to radon exposure in gold and iron mine was 7.70 mSv and 1.74 mSv,respectively.The annual doses received by miners in the coal and clay mines were lower than 1 mSv.Conclusions Underground miners in some gold and iron mines should be treated as workers occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation.The measurement such as increasing ventilation should be implemented to reduce underground radon concentration in these mines.