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OBJECTIVE To provide reference for clarifying improvement effects of Anemarrhena asphodeloides on sepsis- induced myocardial injury and potential material basis. METHODS Water extract of A. asphodeloides was extracted by thermal reflux method. Total xanthone and total saponins in A. asphodeloides were separated by macroporous adsorption resin. The mice model of sepsis-induced myocardial injury was established by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide. The effects of the location of three extraction fractions and the monomers of A. asphodeloides as mangiferin， timosaponin AⅢ and timosaponin BⅡ on the survival rate of the model mice were explored. HE staining was used to observe the effects of mangiferin， timosaponin AⅢ and timosaponin BⅡ on myocardial morphology in model mice. The effects of mangiferin on mRNA expressions of inflammatory cytokines [interleukin-6 （IL-6）， IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）] and the level of reactive oxygen species （ROS） in myocardial tissue of model mice were detected. RESULTS Compared with the model group， the survival rate of mice in the intervention group of total xanthone， total saponins and water extract was increased to different extents， especially total xanthone fraction. Mangiferin， timosaponin AⅢ and timosaponin BⅡcould improve the degree of myocardial cell swelling and muscle bundle arrangement disorder in model mice， especially mangiferin. Compared with model group， mRNA expressions of IL-6， IL- 1β and TNF- α， ROS level in myocardium of mice after mangiferin intervention were decreased to different extents. CONCLUSIONS The different extraction fractions of A. asphodeloides can improve survival rate of mice with sepsis-induced myocardial injury， especially total xanthone fraction. Mangiferin is the best among the three monomers of A. asphodeloides to improve sepsis-induced myocardial injury， which may play a role in anti-sepsis myocardial injury by anti-inflammation and antioxidantion.
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Objective To evaluate effects of artesunate on rosacea-like inflammation in mouse models.Methods Twenty-five male BALB/c mice aged 7 weeks were injected subcutaneously with 40 μ1 antibacterial peptide LL-37 into the back once every 12 hours for 4 sessions to establish mouse models with rosacea-like inflammation.These 25 mice were randomly and equally divided into 5 groups:after each injection of LL-37,model group were gavaged with sodium chloride physiological solution,treatment groups gavaged with 25,50 and 100 mg/kg artesunate solution separately,and positive control group gavaged with 30 mg/kg doxycycline hydrochloride solution.Another 5 healthy mice injected subcutaneously with pure water into the back for 4 sessions served as blank control group.Forty-eight hours after the initial injection of LL-37,changes in skin lesions and the intensity of erythema were assessed.Skin tissues at the dorsal injection site were resected and subjected to HE staining,the tissue structure was observed and the number of inflammatory cells was counted.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to estimate the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in skin lesions.Results The model group showed obvious inflammatory reactions,and significantly increased erythema score (3.20 ± 0.84),inflammatory cell count (517.27 ± 99.43) and MPO activity (0.57 ± 0.08) compared with the blank control group (all P ＜ 0.01).The positive control group showed significantly decreased erythema score (1.60 ± 0.89),inflammatory cell count (270.93 ± 124.63) and MPO activity (0.40 ± 0.05) compared with the model group (P ＜ 0.05,0.01,0.01,respectively).Moreover,the erythema score,inflammatory cell counts and MPO activity were all significantly lower in 50-(1.80 ± 0.84,286.00 ± 33.72,0.43 ± 0.05,respectively) and 100-mg/kg artesunate groups (1.40 ± 0.55,258.00 ± 36.44,0.40 ± 0.06,respectively) than in the model group (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).However,there were no significant differences in the erythema score,inflammatory cell count and MPO activity between 50-or 100-mg/kg artesunate group and the positive control group (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Artesunate can inhibit rosacea-like inflammatory reactions in mouse models,especially the middle-and high-dose artesunate.
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Objective To assess the in vitro antimite activity of artemether against Demodex folliculorum, and to provide evidence for the use of artemether in the treatment of skin diseases caused by Demodex folliculorum infection. Methods Artemether was diluted to different concentrations(20, 10, 5 and 2.5 g/L)with peanut oil. The pH values of working solutions of artemether and peanut oil were measured. Demodex folliculorum mites were divided into several groups(32 mites in each group)to be treated with artemether(20, 10, 5 and 2.5 g/L, artemether groups) or peanut oil(control group). Results There were significant differences in the time required for killing of Demodex folliculorum among the 20?, 10?, 5?and 2.5?g/L artemether groups and control group(Median[P25-P75]:3.00[2.00-3.88]vs. 6.00[4.13- 7.25]vs. 13.00[11.63- 14.50]vs. 17.00[15.25- 20.75]vs. 34.00[23.50- 39.50]hours, H=133.954, P 0.05). Moreover, the pH values of working solutions of artemether and peanut oil ranged between 7.0 and 7.1, and were close to neutral. Conclusion Artemether at 20, 10, 5 and 2.5 g/L can kill Demodex folliculorum in vitro, so artemether may serve as an alternative drug for the treatment of Demodex folliculorum infection.
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ObjectiveTo assess the impact of intense pulsed light (IPL) on the dermatopathological manifestation in a Bama miniature pig model of steroid-induced dermatitis.MethodsFive female Bama miniature pigs aged two months were selected.The white skin areas with white hair at both sides of the neck served as the target area.Halometasone(0.05％) cream was applied to the right target area twice daily for 60 days to establish a model of steroid-induced dermatitis.Then,3 pigs were randomly selected and irradiated with IPL of 25 J/cm2 at the model area with an interval of 3 weeks for 9 weeks,the remaining 2 pigs receiving no treatment served as the natural recovery group.Finally,skin tissues were obtained from the left and right target areas and subjected to haematoxylin and eosin staining for the observation of histopathological changes.ResultsA significant increase was observed in the layer number of keratinocytes and thickness of dermal collagen fiber in the IPL-treated pigs compared with the pigs in natural recovery group (6.27 ± 1.26 vs.2.98 ±0.92,t =3.27,P＜ 0.01; 1.88 ± 0.19 mm vs.0.84 ± 0.15 mm,t =4.25,P＜ 0.01).Moreover,IPL irradiation resulted in the regression of telangiectasis in the dermis.ConclusionIPL may increase skin thickness,relieve flushing and improve skin elasticity efficiently.
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Objective To explore the clinical effect of high intensity focused ultrasound(HIFU)combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)in the treatment of primary liver cancer.Methods A total of 106 patients with primary liver cancer were divided into two groups:50 cases were treated with TACE,and the other 56 were treated with combination of HIFU and TACE.The changes of AFP levels and the size of tumors after three months treatment were analyzed and compared with each other.The survival rates for one,two and three years were calculated with Kaplan-Meier method and compared between the two groups.Results In the two groups,AFP decreased significantly after treatment,but the combined group was superior to the other in AFP decrease.In the combined group,the 1-,2-and 3-year survival rates were higher than those in the TACE group with 82.3%,60.8%and 39.2% vs 68.0%,42.6%and 21.0%respectively(P＜0.01).No serious complications were seen,such as burn of skin,bleeding,gastrointestinal perforation. Conclusion The use of HIFU combined with TACE in the treatment of patients with primary liver cancers is feasible and safe.The combined group is superior to simple TACE for the management of primary liver cancers,and the former is more effective in decreasing AFP level and improving survival rates.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the role of the synthesis and degradation of collagen at the transcription level during liver fibrogenesis due to schistosomiasis japonica in rabbits.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>New Zealand rabbits challenged by cercariae of Schistosoma japonicum (S. japonicum) were served as animal models for liver fibrosis. Liver specimens were collected through operations at 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 24 and 28 wks after challenge. Type I collagen, type III collagen, type IV collagen, MMP-1 and MMP-9 mRNA levels of liver tissue were detected by RT-PCR + Dot blot. The size of egg granulomas and the degree of liver fibrosis were measured by histopathological examinations.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Type I collagen, type III collagen, type IV collagen, MMP-1 and MMP-9 mRNA levels increased simultaneously in the early stage after challenge. Most of them reached their peak at 10 weeks, and compared with normal controls, type I collagen, type III collagen, type IV collagen, MMP-1 and MMP-9 mRNA levels increased by 12.0-, 11.0-, 6.6-, 10.0- and 11.0-fold, respectively, coinciding with the change of egg granulomas, i.e., the change in the inflammatory process. Then both collagen and collagenase mRNA levels decreased. Type I, III and IV collagen mRNA levels declined to 2-fold to 3-fold as compared with normal controls (P < 0.05), while MMP-1 and MMP-9 mRNA levels declined close to normal levels (P > 0.05) at 28 wks. This study shows that the synthesis and degradation of collagen keep a dynamic balance at the early stage of schistosomiasis japonica challenge, while at the later stages the quantity of collagen synthesis was higher than that of collagen degradation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>It was confirmed at transcription level that when the quantity of collagen synthesis was higher than that of collagen degradation liver fibrogenesis may be resulted in.</p>