S100A8 protein in inflammation / 生理学报

S100A8, an important member of the S100 protein family, is a low-molecular-weight (10.8 kDa) calcium-binding protein containing conserved EF-hand structural motifs. Previous studies have shown that the biological function of S100A8 protein is associated with a variety of inflammatory diseases, for example asthma. S100A8 protein plays important roles in the regulation of inflammation. It can activate inflammatory cells and cytokines via chemotactic activity for neutrophils, and bind to the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), thus mediating intracellular inflammatory signaling transduction. Additionally, recent studies have reported the anti-inflammation activity of S100A8 protein, which indicates that S100A8 may have a more complex function of biological regulation in the different pathophysiological conditions. In this review, we summarized the studies on the functions and molecular mechanisms of S100A8 protein in inflammation, which would propose a novel strategy for the prophylaxis and treatment of asthma and other inflammatory diseases.

Characteristics and superiorities of acupuncture medicine / 中国针灸

Four characteristics and five major superiorities of traditional Chinese acupuncture was expounded in this article. The four characteristics are (1) theoretical characteristic which focuses on meridians, acupoints, circulation of qi and blood; (2) effect mechanism of disease prevention and treatment based on external stimulation and internal regulation; (3) clinical diagnosis with the combination of differentiation of syndromes according to meridians and collaterals, zang-fu organs, eight principles and diagnosis based on acupoints; (4) technical characteristic of adoption of unique apparatus and special manipulations. The five superiorities are (1) diagnosis: simple, rapid and accurate; (2) technique: easy to study and manipulate; (3) therapeutic effect: quick and obvious effect, extensive indications; (4) safety: non-toxic and less side-effects; (5) cost: comparatively cheap. Thus, it is held that acupuncture should play a more important role in medical service system with unique Chinese characteristics.

Validation of the libraries of the serial analysis of gene expression by the application of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To validate and supplement the libraries of serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) by the application of the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction PCR).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The primers were designed based on the full sequences of the genes. Nine single matched tags, 6 multiple matched tags, 1 non-matched tag due to the update of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database, and 2 non-matched tags were selected to fulfill the validation of real-time PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The genes were all specifically amplified by the primers pairs. The expressions of the single matched tags were identical to those of the SAGE libraries; however, the expressions of only 3 genes of the 6 multi-matched tags were identical to those of the SAGE libraries. The PCR data of the non-matched tag due to the update of the NCBI database were opposite to those of the SAGE libraries. The data did not support the significant difference of the non-matched gene of the SAGE libraries.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Real-time PCR is a reliable tool for the validation of high through-put data such as SAGE. The reliability of data depends on the match of the tags of the SAGE libraries.</p>

Thinking about academic development of acupuncture and moxibustion in recent ten years / 中国针灸

Through combing the academic development of acupuncture in recent ten years, objectively reflects the real development status of acupuncture subject on these aspects sucl as basis, clinic, equipment, teaching and standardization, etc., shows the scientific and technological achievements and the highlights of the acupuncture academic development, analyzes the bottleneck and dilemma of the acupuncture academic development. It is indicated that there are several problems existed in acupuncture researche at present, such as the scale and the input of the acupuncture theory research are not enough, the basic research and clinical application is disjointed, the correlation between the acupoints and viscera need more systematic and further researches, the design level of clinical research on acupoints' main indications should be improved. From now on we should follow the inherent rule of the traditional theory of Chinese medicine and the way of integrated thinking, explore the new rule of acupuncture academic development, in order to fit the new historical period, and comprehensively promote the sustainable and coordinated development of acupuncture science.

Effect of emodin on proliferation and differentiation of rat preadipocytes / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of emodin (EMO) on the proliferation and differentiation of rat preadipocytes.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Separating and culturing rat preadipocytes, grouping the wells that preadipocytes were growing according to certain concentration such as 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160 micromol x L(-1) randomly, MTT spectrophotometry and flow cytometry (FCM) were adopted to determine the effect of EMO on proliferation of rat preadipocytes. The accumulation of TG (triglyceride) in adipocytes was assayed by oil red O staining, and the morphological changes of the adipocytes were determined by morphology observation.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>EMO in the range of 20-160 micromol x L(-1) could inhibit the proliferation and differentiation of preadipocytes in a dose and time dependent manner, and induce apoptosis of preadipocytes in a certain degree.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EMO should have a potential to serve as a fat-reducing drug.</p>

Effects of Pulmicort Respules on airway resisitance and airway remodeling in rats with asthma / 上海第二医科大学学报

Objective To investigate the effects of Pulmicort Respules on the airway resistance and airway remodeling in rats with allergic asthma. Methods Thirty-two SD rats were randomly divided into blank control group,asthma model group,Pulmicort Respules group and normal saline control group,with 8 rats in each group.On the 14th day of allergization,rats were challenged by ovalbumin inhalation and were treated correspondingly.On the 28th day,airway resistance was determined,HE staining was conducted in lung tissues of each group,and airway remodeling related parameters were also measured. Results The airway resistance of Pulmicort Respules group was significant lower than that of blank control group,asthma model group and normal saline control group(P

Effects of different segments of acupuncture serum on eosinophil counts in the rat with eosinophilia / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To further analyze and identify effective components of anti-asthma in acupuncture serum.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Changes of eosinophils in the peripheral blood of rats with eosinophilia were observed for 10 days after intravenous injection of the different segments of serum (serum: normal saline = 1:20, 2.5 mL/kg, from the first day of the model establishment, for 3 consecutive days).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After intravenous injection of different segments of serum, the eosinophil counts in the peripheral blood decreased significantly from the 3rd day as compared with those of the model group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The effective components of acupuncture serum from asthmatic rats treated by acupuncture for eosinophils are not a single component, and acupuncture stimulation may produce many kinds of components of anti-asthma.</p>