New progress in classification and diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

@#Sjögren's syndrome(SS)is a complex connective tissue disease, with an incidence only secondary to rheumatoid arthritis. The initial record was case reports in the late 19th century. In 1930, Henrik Sjögren proposed the conception of “Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca”for the first time, and preliminarily realized that SS was a systemic disease. Subsequently, the discovery of specific autoantibodies and the application of labial biopsy technique significantly improved the accuracy for SS diagnosis. As the understanding the disease improving, different classification criteria were proposed to improve the diagnostic accuracy. However, there still no classification criteria that can be applied as diagnostic criteria so far due to uncovered pathological mechanism of the disease. Currently, comprehensive managements are required with the cooperation of rheumatology, ophthalmology, and stomatology department. Further exploration of the pathogenesis and development of new diagnostic tools are expected to improve the diagnosis of SS. The paper aims to review the development of the classification criteria and to propose new ophthalmic examinations in order to improve the diagnosis of SS.

Detection of Ferric Iron Based on Fluorescence Quenching Effect of N-doped Carbon Quantum Dots / 分析化学

The photoluminescence properties of carbon quantum dots depend on their size and the properties of surface functional groups. The N-doped carbon dots ( using small molecular ethylenediamine ) with high quantum yield and excellent dispersibility were synthesized by one-step hydrothermal method with biomass tar that was generated in the reductive smelting process as a precursor. Rapid and accurate Fe3+ detection based on the selective fluorescence quenching effect of N-doped carbon quantum dots was achieved. The results showed that the as-synthesized N-doped carbon quantum dots were regular spherical, uniform in size with an average particle size of 2. 64 nm with a quantum yield of 26. 1%, and the crystal lattice spacing was 0. 25 nm, corresponding to the ( 100 ) facet of graphitic carbon structure. The functional groups on the surface of N-doped carbon quantum dots could interact with Fe3+ to form complex compound by coordination, leading to the fluorescence quenching effect. Fluorescence emission ratios kept a linear relationship with the concentrations of Fe3+ in the range of 0. 23-600 μmol/L with the detection limit of 230 nmol/L.

Breeding and microbiological quality control of germ-free pigs / 中国实验动物学报

The industry of germ-free animals has been a hot spot in research along with the rapid development of studies on the relationship between microbiota and host diseases. Because it is pathogen?free, and the high degree of simi?larity in anatomy, physiology, pathogenesis to humans, germ?free pig is considered a clinical relevant model to be widely used in life science research. Based on the current state of research of germ?free pig cultivation at home and abroad and the experimental studies carried out in our laboratory as well, this article gives a simple discussion on germ?free technique of domestic pigs.

Detection of Ferric Iron Based on Fluorescence Quenching Effect of N-doped Carbon Quantum Dots / 分析化学

The photoluminescence properties of carbon quantum dots depend on their size and the properties of surface functional groups. The N-doped carbon dots ( using small molecular ethylenediamine ) with high quantum yield and excellent dispersibility were synthesized by one-step hydrothermal method with biomass tar that was generated in the reductive smelting process as a precursor. Rapid and accurate Fe3+ detection based on the selective fluorescence quenching effect of N-doped carbon quantum dots was achieved. The results showed that the as-synthesized N-doped carbon quantum dots were regular spherical, uniform in size with an average particle size of 2. 64 nm with a quantum yield of 26. 1%, and the crystal lattice spacing was 0. 25 nm, corresponding to the ( 100 ) facet of graphitic carbon structure. The functional groups on the surface of N-doped carbon quantum dots could interact with Fe3+ to form complex compound by coordination, leading to the fluorescence quenching effect. Fluorescence emission ratios kept a linear relationship with the concentrations of Fe3+ in the range of 0. 23-600 μmol/L with the detection limit of 230 nmol/L.

Expression and significance of Dkk-1 and Bcl-2 protein in sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma / 重庆医学

Objective To explore the expression and significance of Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) and cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 (Bcl-2) protein in sinonasal squamoucell carcinoma(SNSCC) .MethodThe immunohistochemical SP method and Western blomethod were adopted to determine the expression of Dkk-1 and Bcl-2 in 30 specimenof SNSC(SNSCgroup) ,38 specimenof sinonasal inverted papillomas(SNIP group) and 20 specimenof middle turbinate mucosa(control group) .ResultThe expression of DKK-1 protein in the SNSCgroup wasignificantly down-regulated compared with the SNIP group and the control group ,while the expression of Bcl-2 protein in the SNSCgroup wasignificantly up-regulated compared with the SNIP group and the control group;in the SNSCgroup ,the positive rateof DKK-1 protein and Bcl-2 protein in the high and middle differentiation group and the low differentiation group were 100 .00% ,68 .75% ,33 .33% and 50 .00% ,62 .50% ,100 .00% respectively ,the differencewere statistically significan(P＜0 .05) .Conclusion Dkk-1 protein may play an importanpromoting role in the developmenand pro-gression procesof SNSC,the expression of Dkk-1 protein hanegative correlation with the expression of Bcl-2 protein in SNSC,which may become new targespoof SNSCgene therapy .

Effect of total flavones of Epimedium leptorrhizum on osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of total flavones of Epimedium leptorrhizum (YYH-C) on osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Ovariectomized female rats were randomly divided into the model group, YYH-C lower, middle and high dose (0.7, 1.4, 2.8 g x kg(-1)) groups, the positive drug Bujiale (0.15 mg x kg(-1)) group, and the sham group. The rats were orally ad-ministrated with drugs for three months. Parathyroid hormone (PTH), procollagen I N-terminal peptide (PINP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), calcium (Ca) and phosphrous (P) in serum were detected. Femur bones and vertebrae bones of left side were collected to determined bone metrological indexes, including bone mineral density (BMD), bone Ca, and bone ash weight/dry weight percentage. Femur bones of right side were collected to for a morphological observation of bone.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with the sham group, the model group showed significantly higher PTH and ALP content but obviously lower PINP and Ca content. The three YYH-C 3 groups could resist the decrease of PINP. Specifically, low and middle dose groups could remarkably inhibit the increase of PTH, and the high dose group could increase the Ca content in serum, but without significant effect on the rise in ALP. There was no significant difference in P content in serum in each group. BMD, ash weight/dry weight percentage, Ca and P content of the model group were significantly lower than those in the sham group. The high dose YYH-C group could significantly increase BMD. All of the three YYH-C groups could notably increase ash weight/dry weight percentage and Ca, P content in femur bones and vertebrae bones. YYH-C could significantly increase average thickness, area, area percentage of bony trabeculae, cortical bone area percentage of femoral shaft and the number of osteoblasts on the surface of bony trabeculae, and decrease the number of osteoclasts.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>YYH-C can effectively control the bone mass loss of rats with ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis, prevent the changes in bone microstructure, and inhibit bone absorption, so as to resist high turn-over osteoporosis after ovariectomy. [Key words] total flavones of Epimedium leptorrhizum; ovariectomized rat; osteoporosis</p>

The expression and significance of programmed cell death 5 and Bcelllymphoma/lewkmia-2 in sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the expression and significance of programmed cell death 5 (PDCD5) and Bcelllymphoma/lewkmia-2(Bcl-2) in sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC).@*METHOD@#Immunohistochemical method and Western Blot method was used to determine the expression of PDCD5 and Bcl-2 in specimen of SNSCC in thirty cases, sinonasal inverted papillomas (SNIP) in thirty-eight cases, and normal nasal mucosa in twenty cases.@*RESULT@#(1) The expression of PDCD5 protein in SNSCC significantly decreased compared with SNIP and normal nasal mucosa. (2) The expression of Bcl-2 protein in SNSCC up-regulated obviously compared with SNIP and normal nasal mucosa. (3) Positive rate of PDCD5 protein and Bcl-2 protein in well, moderate and low differentiatied group is respectively 100.00%, 83.33%, 38.89% and 50.00%, 70.83% and 100.00%, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). (4) In the follow-up cases, the survival rate of the patients with higher expression of PDCD5 protein was higher, but that with lower expression of Bcl-2 protein was higher.@*CONCLUSION@#The inactivation of PDCD5 protein and the activation of Bcl-2 protein may play an important role in the development of SNSCC, and there are a positive correlation between PDCD5 and Bcl-2 protein in SNSCC, which may be identified as a new therapeutic target.

Development of gastric precancerous lesion animal model / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a model of gastric precancerous lesion by using Aristolochic manshuriensis which contains aristolochic acids.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: control and three different doses of ethanol extractive of A. manshuriensis (EEA) (corresponding to aristolochic acid I 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 mg x kg(-1)), respectively. EEA was intragastrically given to rats every other day. At the end of the 10th, 15th, 20th week, part of the rats in each group was sacrificed and the stomachs were weighed. The gastric tumor was assessed by the weight and the relative stomach weight to the body weight. The stomachs were fixed in 4% neutral formalin, and the paraffin imbedding tissues were sliced and HE stained. Histomorphology was observed under the light microscope to determine gastric hyperplasia, mucosa precancerosis (atypical hyperplasia) and gastric cancer formation.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The rats treated with different doses of EEA for 10 weeks induced mucosa papillary, epithelioma hyperplasia. Histological observation showed mucosa precancerosis lesions characterized as atypical hyperplasia at the dose levels corresponding to aristolochic acid I 5.0 and 10.0 mg x kg(-1) treated for 10 weeks. The incidence rate of gastric precancerosis in those two groups was 100% at the 15th week. Malignant tumors were observed in most of the animals in 10.0 mg x kg(-1) group. The animals in 5.0 mg x kg(-1) group were well tolerant compared to 10.0 mg x kg(-1) group during the course of experiment, so the dose of aristolochic acid I 5.0 mg x kg(-1) and 10-15 weeks treatment were considered to be optimum to establish the model of gastric precancerosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A rat model of gastric precancerosis can be induced within a short duration by giving an oral administration of the ethanol extract of A. manshuriensis which contains aristolochic acids.</p>

Development of animal model for anaphylactoid test of rodent / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a simple and feasible method of anaphylactoid test on awaked small animals for screening and assessing anaphylactoid reaction of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) injection with different concentration of tween 80.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Test substances containing 0.4% Evans blue were intravenously injected into mice at volume of 20 mL x kg(-1) or guinea pigs at a volume of 30 mL x kg(-1). The behaviors were observed and the vascular permeability of ears evaluated by the extent of ear blue staining and absorbance of Evans blue extraction of ears were tested at 30 min after injection.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Tween 80 solution, Yuxingcao injection with tween 80, and Shuanghuanglian powder injection obviously increased vascular permeability of ears characterized as ear blue staining and increased absorbance of the Evans blue extract from ears extracted by acetone saline both in mice and in guinea pigs in a concentration-dependent (in the case of tween 80) or a dose-dependent (Shuanghuanglian) manner.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ear vascular permeability test in mice and guinea pigs can be used as animal models to screen and test anaphylactoid reaction induced by injections.</p>

Evaluation of vitro hepatotoxicity of monocrotaline by precision-cut liver slice technique / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To modify the empirical method of precision-cut liver slice technique, and study the hepatotoxicity of monocrotaline by this technique.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Liver slices were prepared by the domestic shaking slicer. The technique of precision-cut liver slice was established by detecting MTT reduction used as the slice viability under different culture medium, thickness of slices, pH and culture temperature. After monocrotaline and liver slices co-culture for 6, 24 h, the slice viability, enzyme activity of GPT, GOT, LDH, GGT and protein concentration were detected by MTT reduction, enzyme kinetics method and BCA protein assay method, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>When the thickness of slices was 200 microm and pH of medium was 6.8, culture temperature was 37 degrees C, BPM culture medium, the viability of slices could maintain on a steady level. LDH leakage was significantly increased and protein content was obviously decreased after monocrotaline co-culture for 24 h with final concentration 0.02, 0.1 and 0.5 g x L(-1). No statistically significant difference between control group and monocrotaline 3 dose groups was observed in the slice viability and the content of GPT, GOT, LDH, GGT and protein after monocrotaline co-culture for 6 h.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The slice viability could retain 24 h in modified BPM medium surroundings; monocrotaline displayed liver toxicity in some degree after co-culture for 24 hours in 0.02, 0.1 and 0.5 g x L(-1) concentration.</p>

Material and mechanisms for evaluation of Shuanghuanglian injection induced pseudoanaphylactoid reactions / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the substance basis and the mechanism of pseudoanaphylactoid reactions (PR) induced by Shuanghuanglian injection (SHLI).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>(1)The study of PR and the substance basis of PR of SHLI: ICR mice were divided into different test groups, the mice were intravenously injected with solutions of different concentration of SHLI, baicalin, forsythin, caffeotannic acid, positive control Compound 48/80 and normal sodium. All test substances were mixed with 0.4% Evans blue. The reaction and vascular permeability of the ears were observed and measured 30 min after SHLI injection. (2) The study of mechanisms: Mice were pretreated with an oral administration of Astemizol, intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide 75 mg x kg(-1) or Compound 48/80 4 mg x kg(-1), then mice were intravenously injected with SHLI. At last, vascular permeability of the ears in pretreated groups was compared with SHLI treatment alone group.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>SHLI of 300 mg x kg(-1) and 600 mg x kg(-1) caused obvious vascular hyperpermeability, but baicalin, forsythin and caffeotannic didn't cause vascular hyperpermeability in the ears. The Astemizol can decrease the degree of SHLI-induced vascular hyperpermeability of the ears in the mice. After intraperitoneal injected with cyclophosphamide, there was a slight decrease in the degree of SHLI-induced vascular hyperpermeability, but there was no marked changes in the degree of the SHLI-induced vascular hyperpermeability after the mice were pretreated with Compound 48/80.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SHLI in clinic equivalent dose can cause vascular hyperpermeability. Baicalin, forsythin and caffeotannic may not result in the PR of SHLI. The mechanism of the PR maybe relate to that SHLI stimulates histamine release, the activation of leucocyte maybe take part in the SHLI-induced PR, too. Antihistamine drug can prevent the genesis of PR which induced by SHLI.</p>

Content detection of bacterial endotoxin in two kinds of injection by gelatin technique / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect content of bacterial endotoxin in Yuxingcao and Qingkailing injections by specific and nonspecific tachypleus amebocyte lysate technique for in order to investigate the feasibility of specific tachypleus amebocyte lysate technique for detecting bacterial endotoxin in traditional Chinese drug injections.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Different batches of Yuxingcao and Qingkailing injections were detected by specific and nonspecific tachypleus amebocyte lysate kits.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Yuxingcao injection could be detected by specific and nonspecific tachypleus amebocyte lysate technique, Whereas Qingkailing injection could be detected only by specific tachypleus amebocyte lysate.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Using specific tachypleus amebocyte lysate as a substitute for nonspecific tachypleus amebocyte lysate is an effective method for detecting content of bacterial endotoxin in Qingkailing injection.</p>

Detection of bacterial endotoxin content in eight kinds of injection by cytokine revulsion / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>By using RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line, we studied the dose-effect relationship of endotoxin induced RAW 264.7 cells to release TNF-alpha, and then detected the content of endotoxin in 8 kinds of injections, so that we can investigate the feasibility and the interference factors of the novel test.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>By using endotoxin of different concentrations to induce RAW 264. 7 cells to release TNF-a, we drew the curve of dose-effect relationship between endotoxin and generated TNF-alpha. Then we detected the content of TNF-alpha in yuxingcao, shuanghuanglian, qingkailing, gegensu, xiangdan, qianrongmei and jiangxianmei injections and shuanghuanglian powder injection, and calculated their content of endotoxin.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The endotoxin could induce the cells to release TNF-alpha in a good dose-dependent manner, even at a very low concentration. In the range of maximum available dilution multiple, the content of endotoxin in the rest 7 kinds of injections was less than 1.0 EU x mL(-1) except qingkailing injection of two batch.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Cytokine revulsion has the advantage of wide detection range, high sensitivity, simple operation, and the detected endotoxin is of bioactivity. This method provides another technical mean for pyrogen test of injections.</p>

Pseudoanaphylactoid reaction analysis of Chinese herbal injections in Beagle dogs / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the preclinical evaluation method of pseudoanaphylactoid reactions for Chinese herbal injections.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Beagle dogs were divided into control group (C), 0.5% tween 80 group (T), Yuxincao injection containing 0.5% tween 80 (YT), distilled solution from Yuxincao (Y). Various groups of Beagle dogs were given 3 mL x kg(-1) of the test articles intravenously. The anaphylactoid reactions were observed immediately, while blood pressure, respiratory frequencies and heart rates were tested at 10 min and 30 min after administration.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>A variety of symptoms that range from cutaneous and mucosa signs to bronchospasma and cardiovascular collapse, including angioedema at lip, conjunctiva, ear and circumoral skin, somnolence, lethargy, breathless or dyspnea, severe hypotension etc were observed in T and TY groups from immediately post-injection to at least 30 min after administration. These reactions occurred at both first injection or repeated injections at 24 weeks intervals, manifesting that it was pseudoanaphylactoid reaction mediated by non-immune mechanisms.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Beagle dogs could be used as an animal model for preclinical evaluation of pseudoanaphylactoid reactions of Chinese herbal injection with sensitivity, reproducibility, and high clinic consistency.</p>

Pharmacology experimental study of new hematischesis compounds after Flos Sophorae carbonized / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To search new effective compounds, the different hemostatic effects of Flos Sophorae, Flos Sophorae Carbonisatus and principal constituent were observed.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Using the bleeding time (BT) and the recalcification time (RT) as the specificity indicators for the hematischesis function, the hemostatic effects of the following were observed. Flos Sophorae, Flos Sophorae Carbonisatus, characteristic value extraction thing A and B (SCE A and B) and the principal constituent after orally administered in normal rats in order to analyze the new hemostatic compounds.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Flos Sophorae, and Flos Sophorae Carbonisatus can obviously reduce BT and RT in rats, in which the effect of Carbonisatus is stronger than the crude. Otherwhile, SCE A and SCE B can also obviously reduce BT and RT in rats, in which the effects of SCE B surpassed those of SCE A. Furthermore, two characteristic compounds extracted from SCE B (kaikasaponin I called compound 1 and isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside named called 2) and other nominated principal constituents (rutin, tannin), can obviously shorten BT and RT in rats, among which compound 2 is most superior.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The Flos Sophorae, Flos Sophorae Carbonisatus and their character compounds can shorten! the BT and RT in rats. The compound 2 from SCE B has the most superior effect. Study showed that compound 2 should be the new hemostatic compounds after Flos Sophorae carbonized. The results also indicated that the increase of hemostatic effect after Flos Sophorae carbonized should be related with the coordination of various kinds of ingredient.</p>

Material and mechanisms induced pseudo allergic reactions of Yuxingcao injection / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the characteristics, sensitizin and the mechanism of pseudo allergic reaction induced by Yuxingcao injection.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Beagle dogs were randomly assigned to control group, 0.5% tween 80 group, Yuxingcao injection without tween 80 group, Yuxingcao injection included 0.5% tween 80 group. The animals in control group were intravenously injected with saline. The other group were intravenously injected with the corresponding test substances. Observe pseudo anaphylaxis of Beagle dogs within 30 min after administration. Blood pressure and respiration rate of Beagle dogs were measured before and after injection drugs 10 min and 30 min respectively. The pseudo allergic reactions were scored at same time points, and the sera of animals were collected to determine the HIS, CH50 and C5b-9 concentration using ELISA.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The scores of allergic reaction in 0.5% tween 80 group and Yuxingcao injection included 0.5% tween 80 group was evidently higher than that in control group in 2-5 min after administration. Animals of above two groups showed the symptoms of red swelling on ear part, pruritus, throwing the head, nausea, lapping the tongue, dysphoria and bradykinesia. Some of them had behaved with repose, urination, defecation, cyanosis, the frequency of breathes accelerating and blood pressure decreasing. The rate of pseudo allergic reactions was 100%. Serum CH50 concentration of 0.5% tween 80 group decreased 10 min after injection, while C5b-9 concentration increased. No obvious differences were observed 30 min after injection. There was no significant difference in HIS concentration between control group and treatment groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The pseudo allergic reactions appeared after intravenous 0.5% tween 80 and Yuxingcao injection when mixed with tween 80. Furthermore, Yuxingcao injection without tween 80 did not induce pseudo allergic reactions. It was suggested that the pseudo allergic reactions of Yu Xing Cao Injection was related to the cosolvent tween 80. The pseudo allergic reactions of tween 80 may relate to the activation of complement.</p>

Study of mercury cumulation in Cinnabar-treated rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the mercury cumulation following single dose or long-term use of Cinnabar to rats.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The Cinnabar which was used in the study contains 98% insoluble mercuric sulfide (HgS) and 21.5 mg x kg(-1) soluble mercuric compounds. Two separate experiments were performed: (1) Tweenty-eight fasting SD rats were orally given a single dose of Cinnabar at the dose of 0.8 g x kg(-1) and the other four rats were given ultra-filtrated water served as control group. Blood, livers, kidneys and brains of four rats were taken out at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 36 h respectively after treatment. Mercury quantity of each organ or blood sample was measured. (2) Forty SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: control group and Cinnabar 0.1, 0.4, 0.8 g x kg(-1) groups, each group containing 5 females and 5 males. The rats were intra-gastrically treated with Cinnabar once a day for successively 90 days, while the control group was given ultra-filtrated water. Mercury contents in blood, livers, kidneys and brain of each rat were measured at 16 h of fasting after last dosing.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Mercury contents of blood, liver, kidney and brain increased slightly after single dosing of Cinnabar at dose of 0.8 g x kg(-1), with the order from high to low liver > blood > brain > kidney. Whereas 90-day oral treatment of Cinnabar led to significant cumulation of mercury in organs but not in blood. Kidney' s cumulation of mercury was much higher than any other tested organs and blood. Brain's mercury cumulation was also very high. The contents of mercury in kidney and brain of 0.8 g x kg(-1) group (total intake of soluble mercury within 90 days was 1 548 microg x kg(-1)) were respectively 71.2 and 27.4 times higher than control group. Even though in the lowest dose 0.1 g x kg(-1) group (total intake of soluble mercury 194 microg? kg(-1)), the mercury cumulation folds in kidney and brain were 16.77 and 20.43 respectively. However, liver got lower mercury cumulation than kidney and brain, which led to only 2 folds mercury cumulation at dose of 0.8 g x kg(-1). Our previous study showed that 90-day administration of Cinnabar at the dose > or = 0.1 g x kg(-1) (total intake of soluble mercury 194 microg x kg(-1)) could cause pathological changes in kidney and liver, indicating both were the toxicity targets for Cinnabar. Those manifested that liver could be more sensitive than kidney to mercury. Though brain got 20 times mercury cumulation after 90 day treatment, the animals showed no abnormal signs in general behavior and brain histomorphology,which indicated that rat brain was not sensitive to mercury.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Soluble mercury in Cinnabar can be absorbed causing high cumulated in some organs, such as kidney and brain after long-term use of Cinnabar. Liver had also mercury cumulation, but was much lower than kidney. Total intake of soluble mercury for > or = 194 microg x kg(-1) within 90 days could cause toxicosis by mercury cumulation.</p>

Omparative study on allergen assessment animal models in Brown Norway rat and guinea pig / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the sensitivity of Brown Norway rats (BN) with Guinea pigs (GP) as allergen assessment animal models.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>BN rats and GP were randomly assigned to 1 control group, 2 Bovine serum albumin group (BSA), respectively. Animals in BSA groups of BN rats and GPs were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of 0.6% BSA 1 ml on day 1, 3, 5, respectively, and irritated by intravenous injection of 2.4% BSA 1 ml on day 7 and day 14 after the last sensitization, while the same volume of normal saline was given to control group on each time point mentioned above. The allergic reactions were scored within 1 h after each irritation treatment, and the sera of both BN rats and GPs were collected to detect IgE concentration by using ELISA. The sera were also applied for passive cutaneous anaphylaxis test (PCA test) in SD rats.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>No obvious allergic reactions were observed in BSA group of GPs after each irritation treat, however, the score of allergic response in BSA group of BN rats was evidently higher than that in control group after first irritation. PCA test by using sera from BSA group of BN rats after both irritations showed the strong positive result characterized as large amount of subcutaneous effusions of Evans blue in SD rats, however, the sera from BSA group of GP were negative in PCA test. Serum IgE concentration did not increase after each irritation in BSA group of both BN rats and GP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>BN rats were more sensitive than GPs on initiative systemic anaphylaxis test and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis test. Meanwhile, BN rats has an advantage in experimental treatment compared with Guinea pigs.</p>

Effects of cytochrome P450 isozymes on aristolochic acid renal cytotoxicity / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of cytochrome P450 isozymes on aristolochic acid induced cytotoxicity on renal proximal tubular epithelial cell (cell line HK-2).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Human renal tubular cells (cell line HK-2), were treated with aristolochic acid (AA) alone or in combination with cytochrome P450 isozymes inhibitors, including alpha-naphthoflavone (CYP450 1A1 and 1 A2 inhibitors), ketoconazole (CYP450 3A4 inhibitor), sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (CYP450 2A6 and 2E1 inhibitors), quinidine (CYP450 2D inhibitor), alpha-lipoic acid (NADPH: P450 reductase inhibitor), sulfaphenazole (CYP450 2C inhibitor) in the presence or absence of liver microsome(S9). The inhibition of cell proliferation rate was studied by MTT assay and the lactate dehydrogenase release rate was determined with continuous monitoring method.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>AA inhibits cell proliferation and promotes the release of LDH over the range of 12.5-100 mg x L(-1), in a dose-dependent manner. Addition of S9 into the culture system reduced AA cytotoxicity, with the cell proliferation inhibition reducing and the release of LDH decreasing (AA + S9 group vs the same concentration of AA alone group, P < 0.05). In the absence of S9, ketoconazole or alpha-naphthoflavone has no obvious effect on AA cytotoxicity, however,under the conditions of adding S9, ketoconazole or alpha-naphthoflavone enhances AA cytotoxicity. Other inhibitors of CYP450 isozymes has no distinct effect on AA cytotoxicity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The microsomal enzyme of Liver can reduce the AA cytotoxicity, and CYP450 3A, CYP450 1A may be the major cytochrome P450 isozymes which impact AA cytotoxicity.</p>

Protective effects of Xinnao Shutong capsule on acute cerebral ischemic injury of multiple infarcts in rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of Xinnao Shutong capsule (XNST) on energy metabolism dysfunction, free radical injury and inflammatic factors in the course of acute cerebral ischemic damage, and try to reveal the mechanism of the protection against ischemia.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>60 male Wistar rats weighing 280 - 320 g were randomly divided into five groups: normal, sham operation, model, XNST treatment( XNST-T) , and Western medicine treatment (WM-T) group. Acute multi-infarct model in rats was induced by injecting the embolus of blood powder through the right external carotid artery (ECA) into the internal carotid artery (ICA). At 72 hours after ischemia, morphologic change and the express of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin -1beta ( IL-1beta) in hippocampus CAl section and cortex were observed, biochemical criterions including the activity of Na+ -K+ -ATPase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in hippocampus were examined.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The morphologic change of hippocampus and cortex in both XNST-T and WM-T groups was milder than that in model group. The activity of Na+ -K+ -ATPase, LDH and SOD in hippocampus were all significantly decreased in model group (P <0. 01), and elevated in XNST group (P <0. 01) as well as in WM-T group (P <0. 01). The content of MDA in hippocampus was significantly increased in model group (P <0. 05), and was reduced in XNST group (P <0. 05) as well as in WM-T group (P <0. 01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results reveal that XNST has the protective effect against cerebral ischemic injury. And its possible mechanism is that XNST can prevent the upper pathological process.</p>