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ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Yifei Huatan decoction on relieving airway hyperviscosity in asthmatic rats with spleen deficiency syndrome and its mechanism. MethodFifty-five SPF level SD rats at 8-9 week of age were used to induce asthma with spleen deficiency syndrome by animal modeling of traditional Chinese medicine combined with asthma of western medicine. After successful modeling， the rats were divided into model group， dexamethasone group， low， medium， and high-dose Yifei Huatan decoction groups by random number table method， and 11 clean SD rats at 8-9 week of age were recorded as a normal group. Rats in the dexamethasone group were given 0.087 5 mg kg-1 dexamethasone acetate by gavage. Rats in the low， medium， and high-dose Yifei Huatan decoction groups were given 0.8， 1.6， 3.2 g kg-1 Yifei Huatan decoction liquid extract by gavage， respectively. Rats in the model group and the normal group were given 10 mL kg-1 distilled water. The medicine were given once per day for 8 w， and the general situation of each group was observed. The levels of interleukin-4 （IL-4）， IL-13， and interferon-γ （IFN-γ） in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid （BALF） were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The pathological changes in lung tissues of rats were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Alcian blue-periodic acid Schiff （AB-PAS） staining was used to detect the hyperplasia of airway goblet cells and mucus secretion in rats. The mRNA expressions of transforming growth factor-β1 （TGF-β1）， Smad2， Smad3， mucin 5AC （MUC5AC）， and mucin 5B （MUC5B） in the lung tissues of rats were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. The protein expressions of TGF-β1， Smad2， Smad3， MUC5AC， and MUC5B in the lung tissues of rats were detected by Western blot. ResultAs compared with the normal group， rats in the model group showed the symptoms of spleen deficiency syndrome， such as decreased body weight， muscle emaciation， decreased food intake， increased water intake， increased anal temperature， tiredness， and decreased swimming endurance， accompanied by dyspnea symptoms such as wheezing and nodding. As compared with the normal group， IL-4 and IL-13 levels in the BALF of the model group were significantly increased （P<0.01）， while the IFN-γ level was significantly decreased （P<0.01）. In the model group， a large number of inflammatory cells were observed in the mucosa and submucosa of the airway， and the smooth muscle of the trachea was significantly thickened. The hyperplasia， deformation， and exfoliation of various epithelial cells were observed in the mucosa， and the pathological scores of lung tissue increased significantly （P<0.01） in the model group. A large number of goblet cells were observed in the airway with the formation of plenty of mucous thrombus in the model group， and the positive relative staining area of airway， and mRNA and protein expressions of TGF-β1， Smad2， Smad3， MUC5AC， and MUC5B were significantly increased （P<0.01）. As compared with the model group， IL-4 and IL-13 levels in BALF of the dexamethasone group and the Yifei Huatan decoction groups decreased， while the IFN-γ level increased. The inflammatory cell infiltration in airway mucosa and submucosa， the thickening of tracheal smooth muscle， the hyperplasia， deformation， and exfoliation of epithelial cells in mucosa were gradually decreased， and the pathological scores of lung tissues decreased significantly （P<0.01） in the dexamethasone group and the Yifei Huatan decoction groups. Goblet cell proliferation gradually decreased， and the positive relative staining area of airway， and mRNA and protein relative expressions of TGF-β1， Smad2， Smad3， MUC5AC， and MUC5B decreased with statistically significant difference （P<0.05， P<0.01）. There was no significant difference in the above indexes in the dexamethasone group and the Yifei Huatan decoction low-dose group. The above indexes were dose-dependent in the low， medium， and high-dose Yifei Huatan decoction groups. ConclusionYifei Huatan decoction reduces airway hyperviscosity in asthmatic rats with spleen deficiency syndrome， which may be related to the inhibition of TGF-β1， Smad2， Smad3， MUC5AC， and MUC5B expressions， down-regulation of IL-4 and IL-13 levels， and up-regulation of IFN-γ level.
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Objective To understand and master the system for assessing the strategies, management and effect of special medical services marketing. Methods Survey sheets on customer satisfaction towards special medical services and survey sheets on the effect of special medical services on the caliber of medical personnel were fandomly distributed to the patients and medical staff in a particular hospital and special topic interviews and statistical analyses of special topic survey data were conducted. Results The satisfaction rate of customers receiving special medical services was 98.9%, and special medical services had a positive effect on the improvement of the quality of medical services, economic benefits and the caliber of the medical personnel. Conclusion Correct orientation is the marketing strategy guiding special medical services. Market-based orientation, marketing-based medical services and resources-based guidance are of important practical values to special medical services while high quality, high caliber and high benefits are the major indexes for assessing special medical services.
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Objective To find out about the effect of the trustee policy on the quality of medical workers' material life so as to further improve the trustee reform. Methods An investigation was made via questionnaires on the annual income, consumption structure and housing area of 320 medical workers in hospitals that had adopted trusteeship. Results After the adoption of trusteeship in 2002, the quality of all the medical workers' material life was improved, but there was a signiticant difference among the doctors, nurses and medico-technicians (P
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Objective: To investigate the effect of matrine (Ma) on telomerase activity and cell cycle in hepatoma cell line HepG 2 cells. Methods: TRAP ELISA method was used to determine the telomerase activity in HepG 2 cells which were treated with different concentrations of Ma. Plasmid inserted with 800 bp of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) promoter was transiently transfected into HepG 2 cells by lipofect. Different concentrations of Ma were added into culture media 2 h later, and the activity of the hTERT promoter was tested 48 h after transfection. In addition, the percentages of HepG 2 cells in different cell cycle were determined by the flow cytometry on the 24, 48 and 72 h respectively after adding the different concentrations of Ma. Results: The telomerase activity of HepG 2 was suppressed by Ma at the dose of 750 ?g/ml and the expression of hTERT promoter was also inhibited. The percentage of G 0/G 1 stage cells increased and the percentage of S and G 2/M stages cells decreased in both 500 ?g /ml and 750 ?g /ml groups 48 and 72 h after Ma was added. Conclusion: Ma may have inhibitory effect on hTERT promoter expression, which is related to the telomerase activity and cell cycle regulation.