Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Activities of Angelicae Sinensis Radix： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Angelicae Sinensis Radix， derived from a medicinal and edible plant Angelica sinensis， is one of the traditional bulk Chinese medicines. In addition to gynecological blood stagnation and deficiency， its indications also include dysmenorrhea， deficiency and cold-induced abdominal pain， and rheumatoid arthritis. With the in-depth study of Angelicae Sinensis Radix， its anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities have attracted widespread attention. However， there has been no systemic report. The present study comprehensively reviewed the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of Angelicae Sinensis Radix （including its compositions， extracts， and different processed products） and mechanisms published in recent 30 years. The anti-inflammatory effect of Angelicae Sinensis Radix was achieved mainly by blocking the expression of proteins and genes in nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）， mitogen-activated protein kinases （MAPK）， and Janus kinase （JAK）/signal transducer and activator of transcription （STAT） signaling pathways， inhibiting the release of inflammatory mediators including tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， nitric oxide （NO）， prostaglandin E2 （PGE2） and IL-1β， and maintaining the high sensitivity of immune cells in the host to external stimuli. The mechanism of analgesic effect may be related to the suppression of the production of algesic substances （such as inflammatory factors and chemokines） or blocking of the amplification and transmission of pain perception in cascade reaction. Furthermore， the study also pointed out some problems in modern research and proposed suggestions on its future research to provide references for investigation and clinical applications of Angelicae Sinensis Radix.

Comparative analysis of the pathogenic mechanisms of street rabies virus strains with different virulence levels / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To characterize two strains of street rabies virus (RABV) isolated from the brain tissue of cattle from Inner Mongolia. Differences in the histopathological and ultrastructural changes in the brain tissue of infected mice were determined to reveal variation in the pathogenesis of infection between street rabies virus strains.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ten-day-old mice were intracranially inoculated with one of three virus strains and brain tissue harvested when the mice were moribund. Various histopathological and ultrastructural markers of disease were then compared between the groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Infection with the street virus strain CNM1101C resulted in severe neuronal dendrites damage, but only mild cell apoptosis, T lymphocyte infiltration and microglial activation. Infection with the other street virus strain, CNM1103C, was characterized by cell apoptosis, T lymphocyte infiltration and microglial activation as well as dendrites damage. However, in comparison, infection with the attenuated virus strain CTN caused severe T lymphocyte infiltration, microglial activation and cell apoptosis, but left the neuronal dendrites intact.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The two street rabies virus strains isolated from cattle from Inner Mongolia had different levels of virulence and caused distinct pathological changes in infected mice. Therefore, we concluded that different pathogenic mechanisms exist between different RABV strains.</p>

Identification of animal rabies in Inner Mongolia and analysis of the etiologic characteristics / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To perform pathological observation and etiological identification of specimens collected from dairy cows, beef cattle and dogs which were suspected of rabies in Inner Mongolia in 2011, and analyze their etiological characteristics.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Pathological observation was conducted on the brain specimens of three infected animals with Hematoxylin-Eosin staining, followed by confirmation using immunofluorescence and nested RT-PCR methods. Finally, phylogenetic analysis was conducted using the virus N gene sequence amplified from three specimens.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Eosinophilic and cytoplasmic inclusion bodies were seen in neuronal cells of the CNS; and rabies non-characteristic histopathological changes were also detected in the CNS. The three brain specimens were detected positive. N gene nucleotide sequence of these three isolates showed distinct sequence identity, therefore they fell into different groups in the phylogenetic analysis. N gene in the cow and dog had higher homology with that in Hebei isolate, but that in the beef cattle had higher homology with that in Mongolian lupine isolate and Russian red fox isolate.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Rabies were observed in the dairy cow, beef cattle and canine in the farm in Inner Mongolia, in 2011, which led to a different etiologic characteristics of the epidemic situation.</p>

Expressions of interleukin 18 and prostaglandin E2 and their correlation in the synoviocytes of patients with osteoarthritis / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the expression of interleukin 18 (IL-18) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and their relationship in the synoviocytes of patients with osteoarthritis (OA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The synovial tissues were obtained from 30 OA patients to isolate the synoviocytes for primary culture. The concentrations of IL-18 and PGE2 in the supernatants of synoviocyte culture were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The concentration of IL-18 averaged 51.559-/+27.614 pg/ml and PGE2 327.036-/+333.561 pg/ml in the supernatant of the synoviocytes. A significant positive correlation was noted between their expressions (r=0.863, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>IL-18 may induce the production of PGE2, and their interactions they may play an important role in the pathogenesis of OA.</p>

Effect of Coflex interspinous stabilization and vertebral arch pedicle screw implantation on the stability of three-dimensional motions of the lumbar spine / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of Coflex interspinous stabilization and vertebral arch pedicle screw implant on the stability and motion of the lumbar spine.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The range of motion (ROM) of 6 fresh adult human cadaver lumbar spine specimens (L(1) approximately S(1)) was biomechanically tested in forward flexion/extension stretch, left/right lateral bending and left/right axial rotation. The ROM and neutral zone (NZ) of the segments L(2/3), L(3/4), and L(4/5) were measured and compared in 3 conditions, namely intact condition (a), rigid fixation of the segment L(4/5) with vertebral arch pedicle screw (b), and condition b plus L(3/4) stabilization with Coflex device (c).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The ROM of segment L(4/5) was significantly smaller in conditions b and c than in condition a in all the directions (P<0.05). The ROM of segment L(3/4) was significantly smaller in conditions a and c than in condition b in extension stretch (P<0.01), smaller in condition a than in conditions b and c in left/right lateral bending (P<0.01), and decreased significantly in the order of a<c<b in forward flexion stretch and left/right axial rotation (P<0.05). The ROM of segment L(2/3) was significantly smaller in conditions a and b than in condition c in extension stretch (P<0.01), but showed no significant differences between the 3 conditions in the other directions (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The ROM of the segment superior to the lumbar spine with rigid fixation increases in all the directions, but can be reduced with Coflex device implanted in the superior segment, which results in only increased ROM of the segment superior to Coflex device in extension stretch.</p>

Biological characteristics of human degenerative vertebral endplate cells / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the morphology and phenotypes of cells extracted from the endplate in the intervertebral discs and identify the factors affecting their biological characteristic.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The intervertebral disc endplate were digested enzymatically, and the morphology of the obtained cells was examined under light microscope. Immunhistochemical analysis of collagen II and real-time PCR was carried out, and the morphologies, viability, cell growth, apoptosis and chondrocyte matrix production were compared between the cells isolated from the degenerative and normal vertebral endplates.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cells in primary culture presented with spherical and oval morphology, and the cytoplasm was stained blue with toluidine blue. The morphologies of the cartilage endplate cells and the articular cells were almost identical. All the freshly isolated cells expressed collagen II. The degenerative vertebral endplate cells showed decreased expression of collagen II with increased apoptotic cells as compared with normal vertebral endplate cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The intervertebral disc endplate cells, like articular cartilage cells, express cartilage-specific matrix proteins. Degenerative vertebral endplate cells show decreased cell vitality with increases cell apoptosis.</p>

Molecular genetic evolution analysis of new A(H1N1) influenza virus / 病毒学报

In order to analyze the molecular epidemiology of A (H1N1) influenza virus in 2009, the complete genome sequences of influenza strains from different host sources downloaded from the NCBI were analyzed on genetic evolution by DNAstar software in this research. The results showed that 79 mutation sites of new A (H1N1) influenza virus were observed compared to previous human A (H1N1) influenza strain, including 14 mutation sites new in all A (H1N1) influenza sources and 37 mutation sites only observed in swine strain. A significant difference was represented in antigenic sites between new A (H1N1) influenza strain and the previous human A (H1N1) strain. This phenomenon shows the new A (H1N1) influenza strain is either originated from the recombination of human and swine strain or from the infection in pig populations and gradual mutation to human tansmission, which remains to be further studied.

Determination of the concentrations of interleukin-18 and other cytokines in the synovial fluid in patients with osteoarthritis / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the concentrations of interleukin-18 (IL-18), IL-6, IL-8, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the synovial fluid in patients with osteoarthritis (OA), and explore the role of IL-18 in the pathogenesis of OA.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The synovial fluid was collected from 30 patients with knee OA, and the concentrations of IL-18 and the other cytokines were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A linear regression was performed between IL-18 and the other cytokines.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average IL-18 and PGE2 concentrations were 220-/+304 pg/ml and 89-/+104 pg/ml in the synovial fluid, respectively, and the two cytokines showed a positive correlation in the synovial fluid (r=0.628, P=0.001). The IL-18 concentration was also correlated to the concentrations of IL-6 (1200-/+1587 pg/ml, n=22; r=0.590, P=0.008) and IL-8 (5190-/+6024 pg/ml, n=9; r=0.776, P=0.014).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>IL-18 can promote PGE2 production, which causes cartilage degradation in OA, thus therapies targeting this cytokine may prove an effective approach to early OA treatment.</p>

Comparison of proviral genomes between the Chinese EIAV donkey leukocyte-attenuated vaccine and its parental virulent strain / 病毒学报

The donkey leukocyte-attenuated vaccine of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) was the first lentiviral vaccine that induced solid protection from the infection of virulent strains. To elucidate the mechanism of increased immunogenicity and attenuated virulence of the vaccine, the proviral genomic DNA of an EIAV vaccine strain, EIAV(DLV121) was analyzed and compared with the genome of a parental virulent strain EIAV(DV117). Full length viral genomic DNAs were amplified as two segments by LA-PCR and were cloned. Because of the genomic diversity of retroviral quasispecies, 10 full-length sequences of EIAV(DLV121) and 4 full-length sequences of EIAV(DV117) from randomly picked clones were analyzed. Results showed that the average length of the complete nucleotide sequence of EIAV(DLV121) was 8,236bp and EIAV(DV117) was 8,249bp, with the inter-strain diversity of 2.8%. As for individual genes between the vaccine and virulent strains, the differences in nucleotide sequence of S2, LTR and env were significantly higher than the other genes with the diversity of 4.1%, 3.7% and 3.1%, respectively. Considerable variations in deduced amino acid sequences were found in S2, S3 and env. The diversities were 10.4%, 5.6% and 4.8%, respectively. Furthermore, the LTR of EIAV(DLV121) consisted of at least 5 subtypes grouped by their nucleotide sequences. There were two additional N-linked glycosylation sites in the deduced amino acid sequence of EIAV(DV117) gp90 than that of EIAV(DLV121). Among glycosylation sites in the gp90 of virulent strain, 3 were found unique only in EIAV(DV117), of which 2 were located in the principle neutralizing domain (PND). In addition, there was one EIAV(DLV121) -specific glycosylation site, which was positioned in the PND, too. Taken together, it is clear that greatly increased genomic diversity exists in the EIAV vaccine strain, which provides important information for the further study on biological characters of the Chinese EIAV attenuated vaccine.