Analysis of Water Adsorption and Thermodynamic Properties of Three Rhei Radix et Rhizoma Decoction Pieces / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To investigate the moisture adsorption and thermodynamic characteristics of raw products， wine-processed products and fried charcoal products of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma， in order to guide their drying and storage. Method:Static isotherm weighing method was used to determine the adsorption isotherm curves of three Rhei Radix et Rhizoma decoction pieces at 25， 35， 45 ℃， and the test data were fitted with 7 commonly used water adsorption models to determine the best model for studying the adsorption thermodynamic parameters of these decoction pieces. Result:The best adsorption models of these three decoction pieces were all GAB model. At 25， 35， 45 ℃， the absolute safe moisture content of fried charcoal products was 7.43%， 6.79% and 6.20%， of wine-processed products was 8.68%， 8.17% and 7.03%， of raw products was 9.88%， 9.36% and 7.77%， respectively. At 25， 35， 45 ℃， the relative safe moisture content of fried charcoal products was 9.46%， 8.63% and 8.21%， of wine-processed products was 11.49%， 11.03% and 9.74%， of raw products was 13.49%， 12.66% and 11.14%， respectively. The net equivalent heat of adsorption （Qst） and differential entropy （Sd） of these three kinds of decoction pieces all decreased with the increase of equilibrium moisture content， Qst and Sd were in accordance with the entropy-enthalpy complementary theory. The constant velocity temperatures of raw products， wine-processed products and fried charcoal products of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma were 386.66， 391.15， 394.34 K （unit conversion of 1 K=-272.15 ℃）， their Gibbs free energies were 0.372 2， 0.406 0， 0.372 2 kJ·mol-1， respectively. Their adsorption processes were an unspontaneous process driven by enthalpy. Conclusion:The orders of equilibrium moisture content， monomolecular layer moisture content， Qst and Sd of three Rhei Radix et Rhizoma decoction pieces are all raw products>wine-processed products>fried charcoal products. The moisture absorption capacity of the decoction pieces is ranked as raw products>wine-processed products>fried charcoal products. The frying and roasting process significantly affects the hygroscopicity and thermodynamic properties of the three decoction pieces， the reason for this difference may be that the high temperature of the stir-frying results in the decrease of the hygroscopic groups and the increase of the hydrophobic materials in raw products， and the change in the texture of the decoction pieces. The research on the water adsorption characteristics of three Rhei Radix et Rhizoma decoction pieces can provide reference for selecting their storage conditions and drying process.

Buyang Huanwu Decoction () reduces infarct volume and enhances estradiol and estradiol receptor concentration in ovariectomized rats after middle cerebral artery occlusion / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction (, BYHWD) on estradiol (E2) and estradiol receptor (ER) in serum and brain in ovariectomized rats after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Adult female rats were ovariectomized and focal cerebral ischemic was induced by MCAO. Rats were randomly divided into normal, ovariectomy (OVX), MCAO, OVX+MCAO, OVX+MCAO+E2, and OVX+MCAO+BYHWD group. Rats were administered BYHWD 5 g/kg daily, estradiol valerate 500 μg/kg per day or distilled water for 7 consecutive days. Neuronal function and infarct volume were measured on day 7 after artery occlusion, and E2 and ER concentration in serum and brain were checked by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>BYHWD significantly improved the neurological behavior, reduced the infarction volume, increased E2 concentration in serum and brain, and increased ER concentration in the brain in ovariectomized rats after MCAO.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The neuroprotective effects of BYHWD are associated with estrogen and its receptor.</p>

Effect of hepatitis B virus X protein on suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 expression / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of hepatitis B virus-encoded X protein (HBx) on the expression of host-encoded suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS-1) and to explore the possibility of an underlying mechanism involving modulation of CpG island methylation in the SOCS-1 gene promoter.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The immortalized human derived non-tumor liver cell line QSG7701 was transfected with a recombinant HBx plasmid (pcDNA-X) or an empty vector control plasmid (pcDNA3.0) and stably transfected clones were selected by G418 resistance screening. Untransfected cells served as negative controls. Expression of SOCS-1 mRNA and protein was detected by real-time quantitative PCR and western blotting. The methylation status of SOCS-1 was detected by methylation-specific PCR (MSP). The significance of intergroup differences was analyzed by one-way ANOVA or pairwise comparison with post-hoc LSD test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>SOCS-1 mRNA level was significantly lower in the pcDNA-X/QSG7701 cells compared to that in the pcDNA3.0/QSG7701 and untransfected cells (0.3249+/-0.0536 vs. 1.0543+/-0.1937 and 1.00; F = 19.6, P = 0.042). SOCS-1 protein level was similarly lower in the pcDNA-X/QSG7701 cells (0.1496+/-0.0106 vs. 0.1984+/-0.0438 and 0.2152+/-0.0816; F = 19.4, P = 0.048). The SOCS-1 promoter region showed methylation only in the pcDNA-X/QSG7701 cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HBx-expressing human hepatocytes have down-regulated SOCS-1 expression, both at the mRNA and protein levels, and this effect corresponds to increased methylation in the SOCS-1 promoter region harboring CpG islands.</p>

Expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin in oral squamous cell carcinomas of tongue: correlation with the clinicopathologic features and patient prognosis / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine the E-cadherin and beta-catenin expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma of tongue (OSCCT) and investigate the relationship of these markers with clinicopathologic features and patient prognosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Quantitative immunohistochemistry analysis was used to examine E-cadherin and beta-catenin expression in lesions of 30 OSCCT patients. The relationship between the expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin and clinicopathological features was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The decreased expression of E-cadherin was observed in 19 of 30 (63%) tumours from patients who eventually developed a recurrent tumour and was also associated with recurrence (P=0.007). The expression of E-cadherin was associated with survival (P=0.018) and an independent prognostic factor in univariate analysis. There was no correlation between the expression level of E-cadherin and sex, age, histological differentiation, tumour size, clinical stage, or lymph node metastasis. The high expression of beta-catenin was observed in 18 of 30 (60%) tumours. No correlation between beta-catenin expression and clinicopathological features was observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The absence or reduced expression of E-cadherin was closely associated with recurrence and survival in OSCCT patients. The aberrant expression of E-cadherin may provide a useful prognostic marker in OSCCT.</p>

Scanning electron microscopic study of titanium-hydroxyapatite, the functionally graded-material implanted in rabbits / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The purpose of this study was to observe the tissue tolerance of Ti-HA functionally graded-material (FGM) and the form of the material-bone interface.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The sintered Ti -HA FGM, pure HA and pure Ti were respectively implanted into the parietal bone of rabbits. The specimens were observed by SEM at 2, 4, 8 postoperative weeks.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the early stage, the new bone surrounding the Ti -HA FGM formed earlier with larger amount and better maturity than the pure Ti. The condition was similar to the pure HA. Two months after the operation, direct bonding of material-bone interface was formed between the Ti -HA FGM and the new bone as an integral body. However, there was a little space left between the new bone and the pure Ti.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The Ti -HA FGM has good tissue tolerance. Its early integration with bone is similar to pure HA and better than pure Ti.</p>

An experimental study on PLGA carrier for oral tissue engineered mucosa by subcutaneous implantation in rabbits / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To look for the best carrier for cultivating oral tissue engineered mucosa.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A series of membrane of scaffold materials of polycleclide-co-plycoclide (PLGA) were studied on their weight and biocompatibility after they had been implanted subcutaneously in rabbits for 1, 2, 3, 4 weeks respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>PLGA I , II, III degraded completely in rabbits after 2, 3, 4 weeks respectively. The other PLGA membrane degraded about 50% after 4 weeks. Histologically, the reactions of PLGA I, II, III with surrounding tissues were normal and membranes had a good biocompatibility.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The biodegrading rate of PLGA II is suitable for clinic practice. PLGA II was a promising carrier for oral tissue-engineered mucosa due to its excellent biocompatibility and biodegrading rate.</p>