Synthesis and biological evaluation of substituted 3-(2'-benzimidazolyl)coumarin platinum(II) complexes as new telomerase inhibitors.

Eight new platinum(II) complexes Pt1-Pt8 with substituted 3­(2'­benzimidazolyl) coumarins were successfully synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), infrared spectrophotometry (IR) and elemental analysis. Crystallographic data of these Pt1-Pt8 complexes showed that the Pt(II) has distorted four-coordinated square planar geometry. Pt1-Pt8 were found to display high cytotoxic activity in vitro against the cisplatin-resistant SK-OV-3/DDP cancer cells with a low IC50 from 1.01-10.32 µM, but low cytotoxicity on the normal HL-7702 cells. Further studies revealed that Pt1-Pt3 induced apoptosis in SK-OV-3/DDP cancer cells via mitochondria dysfunction signaling pathways. Our findings also indicated that Pt1 was a telomerase inhibitor targeting c-myc promoter elements.

[The physicians' recognition and treatment of hypochondriac pain before the Ming Dynasty].

There were two phases for the recognition and treatment of hypochondriac pain before the Ming Dynasty, and the Song Dynasty being their demarcation line. Before the Song Dynasty, hypochondriac pain was regarded generally as a concomitant symptom, generally attributed to pathogen of coldness, and the materia medica with the warm nature were always used for the treatment. This recognition was related with the traditional idea paying attention predominantly to the yang of the yin-yang theory. Since the Song Dynasty, especially the Jin-Yuan Period, the hypochondriac pain was regarded gradually as an independent symptom. Physicians got more and more recognition about its causes and pathogenesis. The treatment was changed from dispelling cold to activating qi, and the idea of treatment based on syndrome differentiation on hypochondriac pain was finally established, reflecting the influence of spirit of medical innovation during the Jin-Yuan Period on the recognition of disease.

[Influence of channel theory of traditional Chinese medicine on the development of viscera-bowels theory].

The core contents of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), channel theory and viscera-bowels theory, had been affecting each other, though each had its own independent pattern of development. The identification of yin-yang nature of viscera-bowels and their interconnections had a close relationship with the influence of channel theory. Initially, the "two-yin and two-yang" was used as the standard to determine the yin-yang nature and quantity of yin-qi and yang-qi of the viscera-bowels. Afterwards, when the titles of "three-yin" and "three-yang" were established and given and connected with the viscera-bowels and channels, the communication between the viscera-bowels and "three-yin and three-yang" was bridged and set up. Under the influence of the relationship of exterior-interior of the channels and the relationship of its connection with the underlying viscera organs, the theory of interconnection of viscera-bowels became mature. Hence, the channel-viscera theory in the Chapter of Channels in the Miraculous Pivot predominated and played a mainstream role, resulting in the gradual fading away of other heterodoxical theories that eventually declined.

[The characteristics of Chinese traditional health concepts].

The life concept of "relative equilibrium between yin and yang, with a perfect body and spirit", the healthcare concept of "stressing equal importance of both body and mind, with appropriate movements and rest", the prevention concept of "obeying the law of nature and avoiding pathogen at optimal time", the disease concept of "yin-yang disharmony resulting in pathogen excess-vital qi deficiency", the diagnostics concept of "macroscopic investigation and sticking to pathogenesis", and the therapy concept of "holistic regulation and cooperation of physician and patient" are the characteristics of Chinese traditional health concepts, which are worthy of inheriting and developing.

[A study on medical history and historiography of medicine].

Medical history is the objective process of the development of medicine. Medicine historiography is the recording, interpretation and comments of this process. Historiography of medicine is often called medical history. By subject attribute, historiography of medicine belongs to history and could be divided into study on specific medical historiography (the objective ibeing medical history), historical materials on medicine (the objective is to offer reliable materials for specific medical historiography) and study on medical historiography (the objective being mthe historiography of medicine itself).

[On the historiographical attributes of bibliography and theories of school in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)].

The historiography includes three parts: the writing of history; the study of the development of historical method, historical research and writing; and any body of historical literature. The TCM bibliography belongs to the body of historical literature. The "Theories of Schools in TCM" describe opinions and contributions of the famous historical doctors, which is a type of the academic history of TCM, and could be called "Specific TCM Historiography". More attention should be paid to the consistency of TCM bibliography, TCM theories of schools and TCM history, so as to strengthen the relations, solidarity and co-operation between scholars of the above three subjects, and then the current and future research can be served better.

[Reviewing over the history of integrative medicine in China in 20th century].

Integrative traditional Chinese and Western medicine (integrative medicine) is the advanced scientific thinking system in order to settle the relationship between traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, which is advocated based on the convergence of traditional Chinese and Western medicine and the scientifization of traditional Chinese medicine. The establishment of the guideline of integrative medicine and the unceasing acquirement of researches are one of the light spots of Chinese medical history in the 20th century. The medical pattern of integrative medicine founded gradually in uneven pathway in the past half century reveals its tremendous advantages increasingly and should give an important impact on the progress of the Chinese medicine and even that of the world medicine.

[Review on experimental studies on Yin-yang theory of traditional Chinese medicine].

A series of experimental studies on TCM yin-yang theory performed by researchers of integrated western and Chinese medicine was aiming at the seeking of the real objective nature of yin-yang. However, no matter how you exclusively equalize any pairs of life phenomena or materials to yin and yang, you will mix up the relationship between generality and specificity, concrete and abstract, which would torture the real nature of things. The original intention of the researchers failed. However, during the process of experiments, they found the mechanism of medicines for strengthening yang and nourishing yin and its indications, and the obvious mutual restricting action of two agents for strengthening yang, Radix Aconiti lateralis preparata and Cortex Cinnamomi, which was unkown before, and this is even of more significant theoretical and clinical values. The proposal of "Adjustment of the Regular Threshold of yin and yang" will deepen the recognition on the mechanism of human regulation and this should gain positive appraisal.

Effect of nonylphenol on plasma vitellogenin of male adult guppies (Poecilia reticulata).

Adult male guppies (Poecilia reticulata) were exposed to 4-nonylphenol (NP) at nominal concentrations of 10, 60, and 150 microg/L for 7, 14, or 21 days. Significant induction of vitellogenin (VTG) was found in male guppies exposed to 1 microg/L of 17beta-estradiol and 60 or 150 microg/L of NP after 7, 14, or 21 days. Maximum induction was seen after 14 days of treatment at these concentrations. On the other hand, significant induction of VTG in male guppies exposed to 10 microg/L of NP was observed only after 21 days of treatment. A time-dependent tendency of reduction of the gonadosomatic index (GSI) in male guppies treated with 17beta-estradiol or NP was observed, but no corresponding concentration-dependent tendency was detected. There were also no differences in the liver somatic index (LSI) of male fish treated with various concentrations of NP during the above-mentioned exposure periods. Preliminary data presented in this study strongly suggests that measurement of plasma VTG induction in male guppies is a suitable and rather sensitive indicator of exposure to estrogenic chemicals.