The therapeutic effect of Balanophora polysaccharide on acetic acid gastric ulcer in rats and its mechanism / 中国药理学通报

Aim To study the therapeutic effect of Balanophora polysaccharide(BPS)on gastric ulcer(GU)induced by acetic acid in rats and to investigateits mechanisms. Methods Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group, GU model group, omeprazole positive group(3.6 mg·kg-1), and low, medium and high dose of BPS treatment groups(100, 200 and 400 mg·kg-1). The GU model group was prepared by acetic acid cautery method, and the morphology and pathological changes of ulcers were observed by visual observation combined with HE staining, and the ulcer area and inhibition rate were measured and calculated; superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity, malondialdehyde(MDA)content and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-PX)activity were measured by enzymatic assay; tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-6(IL-6)content were detected by ELISA. The expression levels of epidermal growth factor(EGF)and epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)were measured by immunohistochemistry staining and Western blot. Results Compared with the sham-operated group, obvious ulcer damage was seen in the model group. Compared with the model group, the BPS-treated group showed a significant reduction in ulcer area, an increase in SOD and GSH-PX activity and EGF and EGFR expression levels, and a significant decrease in MDA, TNF-α and IL-6 content. Conclusions BPS has a therapeutic effect on GU in rats, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of oxidative stress, suppression of inflammatory stimuli and promotion of regenerative repair of gastric mucosa.

Current understanding of the intestinal microbiota of piglets / 中国实验动物学报

The role of intestinal microbiota in mammals and humans are gaining increasing attention. The health of piglets requires a dynamically balanced intestinal microbiota. However, there are temporal and spatial changes in the distri-bution and composition of microbiota from the esophagus to the rectum during the life cycle of the pig. The intestinal micro?biota has various beneficial functions in pig, like nutrient metabolism, intestinal mucosal barrier, immune responses and pathogen infection. A variety of factors play an important role in the formation and stabilization of intestinal microbiota, in?cluding the ways of delivery ( vaginal or caesarean) , the diet during infancy ( breast milk or formula feeds) and the usage of antibiotics or antibiotic-like molecules. In this review, we mainly discussed the relationship between intestinal microbi?ota and the intestinal health of piglets from the aspects of the composition and colonization of intestinal microbiota, as well as the functions and influencing factors of intestinal microbiota, so as to further understanding the importance of intestinal microbiota in intestinal function of piglets.

Research Advances in Treatment of Myeloma Nephropathy-Review / 中国实验血液学杂志

Myeloma nephropathy is a common complication in patients with myltiple myeloma (MM) that causes high morbidity. In the majority of cases, renal impairment is caused by the accumulation and precipitation of light chains, which form casts in the distal tubules, resulting in renal obstruction. This review discusses the recent advances on its treatment, so as to provide reference for clinical treatment of MM induced-renal failure.

Research Advances on Treatment of Multiple Myeloma Bone Disease--Review / 中国实验血液学杂志

The main features of multiple myeloma bone disease (MBD) are hyperactivity of systemic bone destruction and inhibition of new bone formation. Its clinical manifestations include pain, osteoporosis, pathologic fractures and associated nerve compression symptoms etc. MBD is one of the most common complications of multiple myeloma (MM). Its misdiagnosis rate is higher, and the patients' quality of life and prognosis are poor. This review discusses the most recent advancement on its pathogenesis and novel therapies, so as to provide reference for clinical treatment of MBD.

Prediction of H7N9 epidemic in China / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>In March 2013, human cases of infection with a novel A (H7N9) influenza virus emerged in China. The epidemic spread quickly and as of 6 May 2013, there were 129 confirmed cases. The purpose of this study was to analyze the epidemiology of the confirmed cases, determine the impacts of bird migration and temperature changes on the H7N9 epidemic, predict the future trends of the epidemic, explore the response patterns of the government and propose preventive suggestions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The geographic, temporal and population distribution of all cases reported up to 6 May 2013 were described from available records. Risk assessment standard was established by analysing the temperature and relative humidity records during the period of extensive outbreak in three epidemic regions in eastern China, including Shanghai, Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces. Risk assessment maps were created by combining the bird migration routes in eastern China with the monthly average temperatures from May 1993 to December 2012 nationwide.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the confirmed cases, there were more men than women, and 50.4% were elderly adults (age >61 years). The major demographic groups were retirees and farmers. The temperature on the days of disease onset was concentrated in the range of 9°C-19°C; we defined 9°C-19°C as the high-risk temperature range, 0°C-9°C or 19°C-25°C as medium risk and <0°C or >25°C as low risk. The relative humidity on the days of disease onset ranged widely from 25% to 99%, but did not correlate with the incidence of infection. Based on the temperature analysis and the eastern bird migration routes, we predicted that after May, the high-risk region would move to the northeast and inland, while after September, it would move back to north China.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Temperature and bird migration strongly influence the spread of the H7N9 virus. In order to control the H7N9 epidemic effectively, Chinese authorities should strengthen the surveillance of migrating birds, increase poultry and environmental sampling, improve live poultry selling and husbandry patterns and move from a "passive response pattern" to an "active response pattern" in focused preventive measures.</p>

Effect of gingerol on substance P and NK1 receptor expression in a vomiting model of mink / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Gingerol is the generic term for pungent constituents in ginger, which has been reported to be effective for inhibiting vomiting. We attempted to investigate the antiemetic effect of gingerol and its effective mechanism on substance P and NK(1) receptors in minks.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The antiemetic effect of gingerol was investigated during a 6-hour observation on a vomiting model in minks induced by cisplatin, (7.5 mg/kg, intraperitoneal). The distribution of substance P and NK(1) receptors in the area postrema and ileum were measured by immunohistochemistry, and the expression of NK(1) receptor in the area postrema and ileum were measured by Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The frequency of cisplatin induced retching and vomiting was significantly reduced by pretreatment with gingerol in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). Substance P-immunoreactive was mainly situated in the mucosa and submucosa of the ileum as well as in the neurons of the area postrema. The immunoreactive production of NK(1) receptor was mainly situated in the muscular and submucosa of ileum and the neurons of area postrema, gingerol markedly suppressed the increased immunoreactivity of substance P and NK(1)1 receptor induced by cisplatin in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05), and exhibited effective inhibition on the increased expression levels of NK(1) receptor in both the ileum and area postrema dose-dependently (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Gingerol has good activity against cisplatin-induced emesis in minks possibly by inhibiting central or peripheral increase of substance P and NK(1) receptors.</p>

Creation of tissue engineered cartilage with internal support / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To test the hypothesis that tissue-engineered cartilage can be bioincorporated with a nonreactive, permanent endoskeletal scaffold.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Chondrocytes obtained from swine articular were seeded onto polyglycolic acids(PGA) scaffold which was incorporated with high-density polyethylene (Medpor). After cultured in vitro for two weeks,the cell-scaffold construct was implanted into subcutaneous pockets on the back of nude mice. Six weeks later,the newly formed cartilage prosthesis was harvested, and a small part of sample was evaluated by gross view, histology, type II collagen immunohistochemistry and biochemistry. PGA scaffold seeded with cells as the control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The newly formed cartilage was very similar to normal cartilage in both gross view and histology, and jointed Medpor tightly. The center of control group was hollow.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This pilot technique combining tissue engineering with a permanent success in creating cartilage without "hollow" phenomenon. biocompatible endoskeleton demonstrated</p>

Regeneration of autologous tissue-engineered cartilage by using basic-fibroblast growth factor in vitro culture / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of the basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) to regenerate an autologous tissue-engineered cartilage in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The Cells were harvested from the elastic auricular cartilage of swine,and were plated at the concentration of 1 x 10(4) cells/cm2 , studied in vitro at two different media enviroments: Group I contained Ham's F-12 with supplements and b-FGF, Group II contained Ham's F-12 only with supplements. The passage 2 cells (after 12.75 +/- 1.26 days) were harvested and mixed with 30% pluronic F-127/Ham's F-12 at the concentration of 50 x 10(6) cells/ml. It was injected subcutaneously at 0.5 ml per implant. The implants were harvested 8 weeks after the vivo culture and examined with the histological stains.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The chondrocytes displayed morphologically similar to the fibroblasts in the media containing basic-FGF. The number of cell doublings (after 12.75 +/- 1.26 days) in vitro culture was as the following: Group I, 70; Group II, 5.4. Eight 8 weeks after the vivo autologous implantation, the average weight (g) and volume (cm3) in each group was as the following: Group I, 0.371 g/0.370 cm3 Group II, 0.179 g/0.173 cm3 (P < 0.01). With the b-FGF in vitro culture, the cells were expanded by 70 times after 2 weeks. Histologically, all of the engineered cartilage in the two groups were similar to the native elastic cartilage.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These results indicate that the basic-FGF could be used positively to enhance the quality and quantity of the seeding cells for the generation of the well-engineered cartilage.</p>