Separation, characterization and anti-psoriasis effect of self-assembled nanoparticles from Shaoyao Gancao Decoction / 中国中药杂志

This study aims to separate and characterize self-assembled nanoparticles(SAN) from Shaoyao Gancao Decoction(SGD) and determine the content of active compounds. Further, we aimed to observe the therapeutic effect of SGD-SAN on imiquimod-induced psoriasis in mice. The separation of SGD was performed by dialysis, and the separation process was optimized by single factor experiment. The SGD-SAN isolated under the optimal process was characterized, and the content of gallic acid, albiflorin, paeoniflorin, liquiritin, isoliquiritin apioside, isoliquiritin, and glycyrrhizic acid in each part of SGD was determined by HPLC. In the animal experiment, mice were assigned into a normal group, a model group, a methotrexate group(0.001 g·kg~(-1)), and SGD, SGD sediment, SGD dialysate, and SGD-SAN groups of different doses(1, 2, and 4 g·kg~(-1)) respectively. The psoriasis grade of mice was evaluated based on the pathological changes of skin lesions, the content of inflammatory cytokines, organ index and other indicators. The results showed that SAN obtained by centrifugation at 13 000 r·min~(-1) for 30 min was stable after dialysis for 4 times, which were uniform spherical nanoparticles with the particle size of(164.43±1.34) nm, the polydispersity index of(0.28±0.05), and the Zeta potential of(-12.35±0.80) mV. The active compound content accounted for more than 70% of SGD. Compared with the model group, SAN and SGD decreased the skin lesion score, spleen index, and inflammatory cytokine levels(P<0.05 or P<0.01) and alleviated the skin thickening and infiltration of inflammatory cells. However, the sediment group and the dialysate group had no obvious effect. SGD showed a good therapeutic effect on imiquimod-induced psoriasis in mice, and SAN demonstrated the effect equivalent to SGD in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, we conclude that the SAN formed during decocting is the main active form of SGD, which can lower the levels of inflammatory cytokines, promote the normal differentiation of keratinocytes, and reduce the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the treatment of psoriasis lesions in mice.

Effect of Glucocorticoid on Serum Cytokines in Children with Primary Nephrotic Syndrome / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To study the effect of glucocorticoid on serum interleukin(IL)-1,IL-6,transforming growth factor-?_1(TGF-?_1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-?) in children with primary nephrotic syndrome(PNS).Methods The levels of cytokines on serum were compared in 3 different patho-type,and IL-1,IL-6,TGF-?_1 and TNF-? in serum were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) in 25 children with PNS before and after treatment with glucocorticoids.Results Significant difference of IL-1,IL-6,TGF-?_1 and TNF-? were found between the two group before and after the treatment(P0.05).The level of TGF-?_1 in MCD was lo-wer than that in MsPNG,FSGS before and after the treatment(P0.05),and the level of it in FSGS was higher than that in MsPNG after the treatment(P