Effects of the Effective Constituents of Min Angelicae Sinensis Radix on Hyperhomocysteinemia Induced Rabbit Atherosclerotic Lesions / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To observe the effects of three effective constituents of Min Angelicae Sinensis Radix on hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) induced rabbit atherosclerotic lesions (AS).Methods Forty eight Japanese big ear rabbits were randomly divided into normal group, model group, Angelicae Sinensis Radix volatile oil group, Angelicae Sinensis Radix polysaccharide group, ferulic acid group and folic acid group, with 8 rabbits in each group. The HHcy rabbit model induced AS was duplicated by injected DL-methionine. After 8 weeks, each medication group was given relevant medicine for gavage. After 12 weeks, Hcy, TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C level in serum were detected, and abdominal aorta vascular ultrasound were observed.Results The model group was higher than the normal group in the level of Hcy (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the levels of Hcy in Angelicae Sinensis Radix volatileoil group, the ferulic acid group and the folic acid group decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the levels of TC, TG and LDL-C in AngelicaeSinensis Radix volatile oil group, ferulic acid group and folic acid group decreased (P<0.05). Abdominal aorta ultrasonography showed that the degree of AS was significantly attenuated in folic acid group, Angelicae Sinensis Radix volatile oil group and ferulic acid group.Conclusion Angelicae Sinensis Radix volatile oil and ferulic acid in Min Angelicae Sinensis Radix can reduce the harm to endothelium and can prevent and treat HHcy caused by rabbit AS.

Alterations of NK cell frequency and function in HIV/HCV co-infected patients / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the impacts of HIV/HCV co-infection to NK cells by investigating the changes of frequencies and functions of NK cells in HIV/HCV co-infected patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Frequencies and counts of NK cells were measured in patients with HIV mono-infection, HCV monoinfection, HIV/HCV co-infection and health control (HC) group by flow cytometer (FCM). After stimulated with PMA and K562 cells, PBMCs were examined the proportion of IFN-gamma+ NK cells by FCM. Proportion of killed K562 cells were detected to analyze the killing functions of NK cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The frequencies of NK cells, the percentages of IFN-gamma+ NK cells as well as the functions of NK cells killing the K562 cells in HIV/HCV co-infection, HIV mono-infection and HCV mono-infection groups were all lower than those of HC group significantly, the absolute counts and killing functions of NK cells in co-infection group were significantly lower than those of HIV or HCV mono-infection group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The counts and functions of NK cells were affected more in HIV/HCV co-infections than those in HIV or HCV mono-infection.</p>

The studies for activating and inhibitory receptors on natural killer cells in HIV/HCV co-infected patients / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the characteristics of inhibitory and activating receptor expressions on natural killer (NK) cells in HIV/HCV co-infected patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Numbers, frequencies and expressions of activating and inhibitory receptors of NK cells were measured with flow cytometry (FCS) from HIV/HCV co-infected group (n = 24), HCV mono-infected group (n = 34), HIV mono-infected group (n = 21) and healthy control group (HC, n = 20), then analysis and compare were performed among those groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The NK cell absolute counts in HIV/HCV group were significantly lower than those in other three groups. The NKP30 and NKP46 frequencies on NK cells in HIV/HCV, HIV and HCV groups were all significantly lower than those in HC group, but there were no significant differences of NKP30 among former three groups; and NKP46 frequencies in HIV/HCV and HIV groups were lower than those in HCV group, but there were no significant differences between former two groups. The NKG2A frequencies in HIV/HCV and HCV groups were all higher than those in HIV and HC groups significantly, but the NKG2A frequencies in HIV group were lower than those in HC group; There were no significant differences of NKG2D, CD158a and CD158b among those four groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>NK cell numbers and expressions of activiting receptors on NK cells obviously decreased in HIV/HCV co-infected patients, but some inhibitory receptors expressions increased, even higher than those of HIV mono-infected patients. NK cells impairments in HIV/HCV co-infection is more severe than HIV or HCV mono-infection.</p>

Development of a visible light-curing calcium hydroxide cement / 中国医疗器械杂志

A visible light-curing calcium hydroxide cement is presented here and the effects of its resin matrix on the Ca2+ releasing, compressive strength of set material and the pH value of water in which set materials immersed are evaluated. Experimental results show that the effects of the selected resin matrix on Ca2+ releasing, compressive strength and pH value are significant. The calcium hydroxide cement containing BEMA or EMA and HEMA as resin matrix has good properties. The pulp capping test showed that an excellent dentin bridge appeared in dogs capped teeth at 70 days. pulp, pulp capping, calcium hydroxide, visible light-curing, dental materials