Effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation on CCl₄-induced liver injury in rats and intervention effects of Yiguanjian / 中国中药杂志

The aim of this paper was to observe the function of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) transplantation in process of liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) and the intervention effect of Yiguanjian (YGJ), a compound of Chinese herbal medicine. Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal group, model group, cell transplantation (CT) group, YGJ group and cell transplantation plus Yiguanjian (CTY) group. Liver injury was induced through subcutaneous injection with CCl₄ at a dose of 3 mL·kg⁻¹ body weight for 4 weeks, twice a week. They were injected for a total of 9 times. After the first injection with CCl₄, rats in the CT group and CTY group were injected with the third-generation BMSCs at dose 1×10⁶ (suspended in 1 mL saline solution) via tail vein. Rats in the YGJ and CTY groups were also intragastrically administered with Yiguanjian once a day. Rat serum ALT and AST activities were increased significantly on the second day after injection with CCl₄, while BMSC transplantation and Yiguanjian decreased their activities. After 4 weeks of injection with CCl₄, serum ALT, AST and -GT activities, and serum TNF- and IL-6 expressions were increased, while TBIL were decreased in model rats compared with normal rats. Meanwhile, liver cells edema, plasmatic loose, and numerous lipid droplets were observed in rats of the model group. BMSC transplantation aggravated liver injury compared with model rats, which was manifested by decreasing SOD activity, increased MDA, TG, TNF- and IL-6 levels, and aggravated necrosis level of hepatocytes, fusion of lipid droplets, and collagen deposition in liver tissue. Yiguanjian decreased liver injury induced by CCl₄ alone and CCl₄ plus BMSC transplantation. SRY gene hybridization method was used to detect the positive SRY expressions in heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney, especially in liver, while Yiguangjian decreased liver SRY expression. Wnt and -catenin showed high expressions in rats of normal group, which were decreased significantly in rats of models group, while Yiguanjian increased their expressions. In conclusion, BMSC transplantation could exacerbate liver injury, while Yiguanjian could protect liver injury induced by CCl₄ and BMSC transplantation, which was related to decreasing the homing of BMSCs to liver and up-regulating Wnt/-catenin signaling pathway.

Evaluation of Literature Quality of Randomized Controlled Trials on Wrist-ankle Acupuncture for Low-back Pain / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To evaluate the literature quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on wrist-ankle acupuncture (WAA) for low-back pain in recent ten years; To analyze the existing problems in the clinical research;To provide corresponding improvement suggestions. Methods A computer-based retrieval was performed to search out the reports of RCTs on WAA for low-back pain from CNKI, Wanfang Data, CBM, Chongqing VIP, PubMed, and Cochrane Library was retrieved by computers. The search scope was January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2016. The 25 items in the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) Statement and 6 items of the Standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA) were consulted for assessing the literature quality of RCTs on WAA for low-back pain. Results 18 articles were included. There were many problems about literature of RCTs on WAA for low-back pain, mainly including that the type of test design was not clear, outcome indicators were incomplete, random method reports were not specific, accepted diagnostic criteria and efficacy criteria were not used, reporting interventions were incomplete. Conclusion Recently, literature quality of RCTs on WAA for low-back pain is low. It is suggested that CONSORT Statement and STRICTA should be taken into consideration in the conducting and reporting of RCTs on WAA for low-back pain, and the report quality of clinical research in this field should be improved.

China's growing contribution to military Chinese medicine (2005-2014): a ten-year literature survey / 中西医结合学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>In China, people have relied on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for thousands of years to keep healthy and treat diseases. TCM also plays an important role in military health services and now forms a new discipline called military Chinese medicine (MCM). However, the type, quality and focus of research articles about MCM have not been reported. The present study was performed to analyze the growing trends of MCM and investigate China's contribution to military health services.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>China's MCM publications were retrieved from the PubMed database, as well as China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data and Chongqing VIP database from 2005 to 2014.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The study found that the number of published articles increased markedly from 2005 to 2014. Basic research studies comprised a small percentage of the literature. Among these studies, military training injury and special military environmental medicine were the most common research subjects in MCM. Military hospitals were the main institutions generating MCM literature.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The quality of MCM research is generally low, as indicated by the proportion of publications in core journals. Studies on MCM still lack high-quality publications and international cooperation.</p>

Study on inhibitory effect of calycosin on hepatic stellate cell activation in rats by up-regulating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ / 中国中药杂志

To observe the effect of calycosin on the proliferation and activation of primary hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in rats, and prove calycosin shows the effects through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ(PPARγ) and farnesoid X receptor (FXR). The results indicated that calycosin could inhibit HSC proliferation and expressions of activation marker smooth muscle actin-α and type I collagen. With the increase in HSC activation time, FXR expression reduced, but with no notable impact from calycosin. Calycosin could up-regulate PPARγ expression and its nuclear transition in a concentration-dependent manner. Its prohibitory effect on HSC activation could be blocked by PPARγ antagonist. In conclusion, calycosin could inhibit HSC activation and proliferation, which may be related with the up-regulation of PPARγ signal pathway.

Application and research of acupuncture in military / 中国针灸

Acupuncture has remarkable effects of pain relieving and functional restoration on injuries of soft tissue and joint due to military training. As more and more attention has been attached to the impact of psychological states and biorhythm disorder on the fighting ability of military staff, acupuncture has found its place in treating chronic fatigue, combat stress reaction, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder as well as regulating circadian rhythms. The therapeutic effect of acupuncture in military training-related physical damage and psychological trauma has already been proved by numerous clinical practices and researches. It is held that using acupuncture as an alternative could not only save medical resources, but also enhance the fighting ability of the army. However, the current clinical studies is facing the problem of limited sample size. Therefore, randomized controlled trials in large scale and multiple centers should be further carried out toward military staff, so as to provide more speaking evidences to the prevention and treatment of physical and psychological diseases.

Effect of Yiguan Decoction on differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into hepatocyte-like cells: an experimental research / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Yiguan Decoction (YGD) on differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) into hepatocyte-like cells in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rat BMSCs were isolated using whole bone marrow adherent method. The properties of BMSCs were identified by analyzing the expression of surface cytokines by flow cytometry. The third passage cells were differentiated into fat cells to identify their features. BMSCs were incubated with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) plus fibroblast growth factor 4 (FGF4) or YGD containing serum YGD for 21 days. The mRNA expression of alpha-fetoprotein (alphaAFP), albumin (Alb), and hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha (HNF4alpha) were detected by real time PCR. Expression of AFP and cytokeratin 18 (CK18) protein was detected by cell immunofluorescence. Glycogen synthesis was observed using periodic acid-Schiff stain (PAS). CK18, Wnt 3alpha, and alphacatenin protein expressions were detected by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>High expression of CD90, CD29, and CD44, and low expression of CD34 and CD11b were observed in BMSCs isolated by whole bone mar- row adherent method, and numerous lipid droplets were observed in BMSCs using oil red O staining. Both YGD containing serum and growth factor stimulated the expression levels of Alb, AFP, HNF4alpha mRNA and CK18 protein. The down-regulated expression of Wnt 3alpha and beta-catenin could be detected at 21 days after induction. The synthesized glycogen granule could be seen. Down-regulated Wnt 3alpha and beta-catenin expression could also be observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>YGD could induce the differentiation of rat BMSCs into hepatocyte-like cells, which was related to down-regulating Wnt/beta-catenin signal pathway.</p>

Correlation between urinary iodine level and thyroid disease / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To investigate the relationship between urinary iodine level and thyroid disease.Methods The study used a case-control design.One hundred and nine patients with thyroid disease from the Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Institute for Endemic Disease Control were selected as case group from 2011 to 2012,and these patients were divided into three groups:Graves's disease (GD) group (n =48),chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (HT) group(n =34) and thyroid nodules group(n =27).Sixty-two healthy people from the same region were selected as a control group.Urinary iodine was determined using arsenic cerium catalytic spectrophotometry,thyroid autoantibody (TRAb) and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) was detected using electrochemiluminescence,while iodine absorption rate was measured using thyroid function analyzer,and thyroid volume was measured using type-B ultrasonic method.The relationship between urinary iodine level and patients with thyroid disease was compared with that of control group.Results Urinary iodine levels of patients with GD,HT,thyroid nodules and control groups were 313.95,375.20,220.20 and 196.50 μg/L,respectively.Urinary iodine levels of patients with GD and HT groups were higher than that of control group(Z =3.238,4.275,all P ＜ 0.0125).Urinary iodine level of patients with HT was higher than that of thyroid nodules(Z =3.762,P ＜ 0.0125).Iodine uptakes of GD,HT,thyroid nodules and control groups were (84.20 ± 16.90)％,(23.51 ± 6.72)％,(28.34 ± 8.02)％ and (29.31 ± 8.41)％; TRAbs of patients with GD,HT,thyroid nodules and control groups were (58.57 ± 20.31)％,(2.54± 1.00)％,(2.98 ± 0.83)％ and (3.01 ± 1.21)％; TPOAbs of patients with GD,HT,thyroid nodules and control groups were (117.03 ± 57.21)％,(251.00 ± 98.20)％,(16.81 ± 9.87)％ and (15.00 ± 7.23)％.Iodine uptake,TRAb and TPOAb of GD group were higher than those of control group(P ＜ 0.05).TPOAb of HT group was higher than that of control group(P ＜ 0.05).Urinary iodine levels of GD group and HT group were positively correlated with TPOAb(correlation coefficient were 0.462,0.478 all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Excessive iodine intake is found in patients with GD and HT.Determination of urinary iodine is helpful for individualized iodine supplementation.

Preventive effects of jiedu granules combined with cinobufacini injection versus transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in post-surgical patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a case-control trial / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the therapeutic effects of Jiedu granules, a Chinese medicine (CM) compound, plus cinobufacini injection, which was extracted from skin of Bufo bufo gargarizans Cantor, to prevent the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after surgical resection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this case-control trial, a total of 120 patients who stayed in Changhai Hospital were enrolled from December 2001 to December 2006. Sixty patients were treated with Jiedu granules plus cinobufacini injection to prevent tumor recurrence after operation (CM group) and 60 patients were treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) after operation (TACE group). Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were determined to evaluate the therapeutic effects of post-operative management of patients with HCC.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>PFS in the CM group was 18.07 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 12.49-23.65] and the 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-year PFS rates were 61%, 39%, 26%, 22% and 12%, respectively. PFS in the TACE group was 8.03 months (95% CI: 6.63-9.44) and the 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-year PFS rates were 34%, 11%, 7%, 2% and 0%, respectively. There was significant difference in survival rate between the two groups (P<0.01). The mean survival time (MST) of patients in the CM group was 49.53 months versus 39.90 months of the TACE group. The 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-year survival rates were 90%, 82%, 80%, 70% and 63%, respectively, in the CM group, and 79%, 70%, 60%, 60% and 36%, respectively, in the TACE group. There was significant difference in survival time between the two groups (P=0.045).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Jiedu granules plus cinobufacini injection, a combination that is commonly used for post-operation management of HCC, can postpone tumor recurrence and metastasis, prolong the survival time and increase the survival rate of post-surgical patients with HCC. However, these findings need to be confirmed in a prospective, randomized controlled trial.</p>

Complete genomic sequence of a watermelon isolate of cucumber green mottle mosaic virus in northern China / 病毒学报

The complete genomic sequence of a watermelon isolate of Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV-LN) in Liaoning province was determined and compared with other cucurbit-infecting tobamoviruses. The genomic RNA of CGMMV-LN comprised 6422 nt, and 5'- and 3'- noncoding regions consisted of 59 nt and 175 nt, respectively. The encoded four proteins were two replicase proteins of 186 kD and 129 kD, move protein of 29 kD and coat protein of 17.4 kD. The alignment results of complete nucleotide sequence showed that CGMMV-LN shared identities of 97.6%-99.3% with four other CGMMV isolates, but only shared identities of 61.7%-62.8% with three other tobamoviruses. Homology trees generated from replicase proteins of 186 kD and coat proteins suggested that cucurbit-infecting tobamoviruses could be separated into two subgroups: subgroup I comprising all the isolates of CGMMV and subgroup II comprising Cucumber fruit mottle mosaic virus, Kyuri green mottle mosaic virus and Zucchini green mottle mosaic virus.

To verify the determination of iodine in foodstuff by dry ashing As3-Ce4+ catalytic spectrophotometry / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To verify the determination of iodine in foodstuff by dry ashing As3+-Ce4+catalytic speetrophotometry.Methods The mixture of foodstuff powder and the solution of K2CO3,ZnSO4,KClO3 and NaCl was heated and dried at 105℃ for 3 hours,then heated by a adjustable electric heater for around 0.5 hour,transferred into muffle fumace to eremated at 600℃ for 4 hours.The dissolved ash was measured by As3+-Ce4+catalytic speetrophotometry.The linear range of the calibration and sensitivity were tested;The precision and accuracy for three kinds of iodine in samples of difierent pumpkins were tested:The iodine contents of standard urine samples and the American standard materials were tested as well.Results This testing covers iodine ranged from 4.4 ng to 250 ng.The relevance coefficient of standard curve was from-0.9997 to-0.9993.The pumpkin iodine contents detected were 45.8,145.0,195.6 μg/kg,with constant variables of 4.3%,3.0%and 3.9%respectively.The recovery was 96.8%,97.8%and 97.6%for three kinds of iodine in samples[(47.2±2.6),(71.9 4-3.3),(95.9±2.4)μg/kg].The relative error was-6.5%when the American standard materials were assessed.The relative error were 11.0%.10.7%and 10.7%when the standard urine samples of three kinds were tested.Conclusion This method,easy to be pefformed with better precision and accuracy,is suitable to measure food iodine as well as total iodine in urine.

Influence of SEN virus infection on their response to lamivudine in patients with chronic hepatitis B / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influence of SEN virus infection on their response to lamivudine in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>SEN virus-D and -H DNA were detected in 45 CHB patients who received lamivudine 12 months with nested-PCR, and YMDD motif mutations in HBV DNA were investigated with gene chip.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positive rate of SEN virus DNA was 11.1% (5/45), and there were four out of the five SEN virus DNA positive patients whose HBV DNA was positive, among them, two patients existed YMDD motif mutation. While ten out of the forty SEN virus DNA negative patients appeared HBV DNA positive. The response rate was significant lower in SEN virus-infected patients than that in uninfected patients (chi 2=3.97, P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Coinfection with SEN virus in chronic hepatitis B patients may adversely affect the outcome of treatment with lamivudine</p>