Importance of zinc in human immune system / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

Zinc is one of the essential trace elements for human. It is essential for human health. In recent decades, the distribution and transport of zinc in human body have gradually become more evident. The immunomodulatory effects of zinc on the immune system have also been elucidated. Zinc is involved in regulating the cellular signaling pathways of immune cells and affecting the development of immune organs, the physiological state and function of immune cells and the secretion of cytokines. It is an indispensable element in the immune system and plays an important role in maintaining the integrity and stability of the immune system. This article briefly introduced the distribution and transportation of zinc in the human body, with the emphasis on the relationship between zinc and the development and function of immune cells.

Effect of Modified Anshentang on Serum Inflammatory Factors, Immune Function, Bone Metabolism on Treatment of Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis in Early and Middle Stages / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:This study aims to investigate the clinical efficacy of modified Anshentang on the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis in early and middle stages with kidney deficiency and cold-governing syndrome and its effect on serum inflammatory factors， immune function， and bone metabolism indexes of patients. Method:In this study， 120 patients were randomly divided into control group and observation group， 60 cases in each group. On the basis of ethotrexate treatment， patients in control group took Bushen Shuji granule orally， while patients in observation group took modified Anshentang orally for 8 weeks. Before and after treatment， patients in two groups were observed for clinical symptoms ［ bath ankylosing spondylitis patient global score （BAS-G）， bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index （BASDAI）， spondyloarthritis research consortium of Canada （SPARCC）， traditional Chinese medicine symptoms （TCM symptoms）<italic> </italic>］， serum inflammatory factors ［ tumor necrosis factor-<italic>α </italic>（TNF-<italic>α</italic>）， macrophage migration inhibitory factor （MIF）， interleukin-23 （IL-23）］， immune function ［ immunoglobulin A（IgA）， immunoglobulin G（IgG）， immunoglobulin M（IgM）］， bone metabolic indicators ［osteocalcin （BGP）， bone morphogenetic protein-2 （BMP-2）， bonespecific alkaline phosphatase （BALP）］. The clinical efficacy， adverse reactions and recurrence rates of 12 months in two groups were observed. Result:During the study， 4 cases dropped out from control group and 2 cases from observation group. The total effective rate of 96.55% （56/58） in observation group was higher than 80.36% （45/56） in control group （<italic>χ</italic>²=4.827，<italic>P</italic><0.05）. The recurrence rate of 5.17% （3/58） in observation group was lower than 19.64% （11/56） in control group （<italic>χ</italic>²=5.187， <italic>P</italic><0.05）. Compare with control group after treatment， BAS-G，BASDAI， SPARCC， TCM symptoms， TNF-<italic>α</italic>， MIF and IL-23 in observation group were significantly decreased （<italic>P</italic><0.05）， while BGP， BMP-2， BALP， IgA， IgG and IgM were significantly increased （<italic>P</italic><0.05）. The incidence of adverse reactions was 12.07%（7/58） in observation group， which was lower than 32.14%（18/56） in control group （<italic>χ</italic>²=4.826，<italic>P</italic><0.05）. Conclusion:Modified Anshentang is effective in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis in early and middle stages with kidney deficiency and cold-governing syndrome， and the incidence of adverse reactions is low.

THE EFFECT OF SHARK CARTILAGE ACTIVE EXTRACT (SCAE) ON THE LUNG METASTASIS AND IMMUNE FUNCTION IN MICE / 中国海洋药物

The effect of shark cartilage active extract (SCAE) on the lung metastasis and the immune function were studied in C57 mice with oral administration. The formation of pulmonary metastasis (B16 melanoma)was significantly inhibited, with an inhibitory rate of 33. 1%. The proliferation rate of spleen cells to ConA was obviously increased,the increased rate being as high as that of the normal. The cytotoxicity of LAK cells is also increased,but lower than that of the mormal.