Mechanism of Baoyuan Jiedu Decoction in Alleviating Muscle Atrophy in Apcmin/+ Cachexia Mice / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To study the effect of Baoyuan Jiedu decoction on serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) content, expression of muscle atrophy F-box 1(Atrogin-1), muscle ring finger-1 (MuRF-1), uncoupling proteins-2 (UCP-2), uncoupling proteins-3 (UCP-3) in Apcmin/+ mice, in order to explore the mechanism in improving muscle atrophy in cancer cachexia model. Method: The 14-week-old Apcmin/+ cachexia mice model was randomly divided into model group, Baoyuan Jiedu decoction group (23 g·kg-1) and megestrol group (0.024 g·kg-1). C57BL/6J mice were normal group, with 10 mice in each group, and given continuous intragastric administration for 12 weeks. The quality of gastrocnemius muscle and the transverse diameter of muscle fibers were measured. The content of IL-6 in serum of Apcmin/+ cachexia mice was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expressions of Atrogin-1, MuRF-1, UCP-2, UCP-3 mRNA and protein in gastrocnemius muscle were detected by Western blot and quantitative real-time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). Result: Compared with the normal group, the weight of gastrocnemius muscle and the transverse diameter of fibers in the model group decreased significantly (PPPPConclusion: Reduction of the concentration of IL-6 in serum and the down-regulation of the expressions of Atrogin-1, MuRF-1, UCP-2 and UCP-3 genes may be the possible mechanism of Baoyuan Jiedu decoction in alleviating muscle atrophy in Apcmin/+ cachexia mice model.

The cloning, expression, purification and immunological identification of wild-type and mutant hepatitis B virus X gene in pGEX-6P-2 system / 病毒学报

To settle the foundation for the future research on the influence of wild and mutant (A1762T/ G1764A) HBV X gene on the progress of chronic HBV infection and hepatic tumorigenicity, wild and mutant (A1762T/G1764A) HBxAgs expression system was constructed. The wild and mutant (A1762T/ G1764A) HBV X genes were amplified with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from HBV genome were inserted into pGEX-6P-2 and confirmed by sequencing respectively. Prokaryotic expression vectors pGEX-6P-2-hbvx(w) and pGEX-6P-2-hbvx(m) (A1762T/G1764A) were constructed and transformed to Trans1-blue; wild and mutant HBxAgs were expressed through IPTG induction respectively; after refolding of inclusion body, the wild and mutant HBxAgs were purified with GSTrap FF; and analysised by SDS-PAGE, Western blot and ELISA. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the expression system was able to express target protein efficiently; the concentrations of purified wild HBxAg and mutant HBxAg were 4.88 mg/mL and 5.07 mg/mL respectively; Western blot analysis certified both the wild HBxAg and the mutant HBxAg could be recognized by the same monoclonal antibody against HBxAg; the two expressed fusion antigens coated in microtiter plate were able to react with the sera of HBV infected patients but not with the sera from healthy donors in ELISA. Results demonstrated that we successfully established a system for expression of hepatitis B x antigen and lay the foundation for further research on the role and molecular mechanisms of the mutant HBxAg in the progress of chronic HBV infection and hepatic tumorigenicity.

Observation on therapeutic effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on hyperemesis gravidarum / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To search for the best method for treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and fifty cases of hyperemesis gravidarum were randomly divided into 3 groups, acup-moxibustion group, Chinese drug group and Western medicine group, 50 cases in each group. The acup-moxibustion group were treated with acupuncture at Zhongwan (CV 12), Neiguan (PC 6), Zusanli (ST 36) and Yinlingquan (SP 9), and after arrival of qi, mild warming moxibustion of 10-15 min was added; the Chinese drug group with oral administration of modified Suye Huanglian Decoction , and the Western medicine group with oral administration of phenobarbital and supplement of water and electrolyte.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 86.0% in the acup-moxibustion group, 42.0% in the Chinese drug group and 38.0% in the Western medicine group with a significant difference among the 3 groups (P < 0.05), the therapeutic effect in the acup-moxibustion group being the best.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acup-moxibustion is the best method for hyperemesis gravidarum.</p>