Effects of moxibustion at Shenque (CV8) on gastrointestinal function in rats undergoing gastric perforation repair / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the effects of moxibustion at Shenque (CV8) in promoting gastrointestinal function recovery in rats following gastric perforation repair and explore the underlying mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty male SD rats with glacial acetic acid-induced gastric perforation underwent surgical repair of the perforation. The rats were then randomized 8 days later into model group (n=10), domperidone group (n=10), and moxibustion group(n=10) and treated with physiologic saline, domperidone suspension, and moxibustion at Shenque (CV8), respectively. Gastric antral myoelectric activities of the rats were observed and peripheral blood levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and T lymphocyte subpopulation were determined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Gastric antral myoelectric activities in rats receiving moxibustion were stronger than those in the model group (P<0.05) but comparable with those in domperidone group (P>0.05). TNF-α and IL-6 level were decreased significantly and T lymphocyte subpopulations increased significantly in moxibustion group compared with those in the model and domperidone groups (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Moxibustion at Shenque (CV8) can promote the recovery of gastrointestinal functions in rats undergoing gastric perforation repair possibly by enhancing gastrointestinal electric activity, suppressing inflammation, and improving the cellular immune function, and can therefore serve as a simple and effective adjuvant therapy during the perioperative period.</p>

Sanhuangyinchi decoction pretreatment ameliorates acute hepatic failure in rats by suppressing antioxidant stress and caspase-3 expression / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of Sanhuangyinchi decoction (SHYCD) pretreatment on acute hepatic failure (AHF) induced by D-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rats and explore the possible mechanisms involving antioxidant stress and cell apoptosis-related protein expression.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-eight SD rats were randomized equally into control group, AHF model group, high-, medium- and low-dose SHYCD groups, and Bicyclol group. Five days after administration of the corresponding drugs, the rats were challenged with peritoneal D-galactosamine (700 mg/kg) plus LPS (10 ug/kg) injections to induce AHF acute hepatic failure except for those in the control group. At 48 h after the injections, blood samples were collected from the rats to detect the levels of ALT, AST, TBIL, PT, INR and FIB, and pathological changes and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in the liver were examined; immunohistochemistry and western blotting were used to detect caspase-3 protein expression in the liver.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The levels of ALT, AST, TBIL, TP and INR in the 3 SHYCD groups and Bicyclol group significantly decreased (P<0.05) while FIB significantly increased in comparison with those in the model group. SHYCD obviously ameliorated the pathological changes, enhanced SOD activity (P<0.05), and decreased MDA levels (P<0.05) and caspase-3 expression (P<0.05) in the liver tissue. SHYCD at the medium dose produced similar effects to Bicyclol (P>0.05) and showed better effects at the high dose than Bicyclol (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SHYCD pretreatment can dose-dependently ameliorate AHF in rats possibly by suppressing antioxidant stress and caspase-3 expression to decrease hepatic cell apoptosis.</p>

Effects of Sanren decoction on Th1/Th2 cytokines in rats with spleen-stomach damp-heat syndrome / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of Sanren decoction on the immune function of rats with spleen-stomach damp-heat (DHSS) syndrome.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty male SD rats were randomly allocated into normal control group, DHSS model group, and 3 Sanren decoction groups (high, medium and low doses). The effects of the decoction on the body mass, rectal temperature (RT), water and food intake, histopathological changes of the gastrointestinal mucosa and serum levels of interleukin (IL)-4 and interferon (IFN)-γ were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The serum levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 in the model group significantly increased compared with those in the control group (P<0.01), with a slightly increased IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio (P>0.05). Sanren decoction obviously reduced the rectal temperature and significantly decreased the production of both cytokines. High-dose Sanren decoction caused more markedly decreased IL-4 level (P<0.05) to result in a significantly increased IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>A shift of Th1/Th2 balance toward Th1 immune response is demonstrated in rats with DHSS syndrome, and Sanren decoction produces a protective effect on the gastrointestinal mucosa by immunoregulation.</p>

Effect of recombinant adenoviruses with CD/TK fusion suicide gene on human hepatocellular carcinoma cells / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE: To investigate gene-therapy for human hepatocellular carcinoma with adenovirus vectors by double suicide gene CD/TK. METHODS: Double suicide gene CD/TK was liberated from eukaryotic vectors pCEA-CD/TK and subcloned into shuttle vectors, and the transfer plasmid pAdtrack-CMV-CD/TK was formed after linearizing with Pac 1. It was recombinated with pAdeasy-1 in bacteria BJ5183. The identified adenovirus plasmid was digested by Pac1 and was transfected into 293 cells to pack the adenoviruses. After PCR determination, its titre was measured, and the infection rate and efficacy were tested in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. RESULTS: pAdtrack-CMV-CD/TK and pAd-CD/TK were tested by endonuclease digestion. Ad-CD/TK was produced in 293 cells, and the human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (SMMC7721) infected by Ad-CD/TK were killed after 5-FC was used, and bystander effects were observed. CONCLUSION: Recombinant adenoviruses with CD/TK fusion suicide gene have a high infection rate and efficacy for human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.