Panax notoginseng saponins improve recovery after spinal cord transection by upregulating neurotrophic factors

Saponins extracted from Panax notoginseng are neuroprotective, but the mechanisms underlying this effect remain unclear. In the present study, we established a rat model of thoracic（T10） spinal cord transection, and injected Panax notoginseng saponins（100 mg/kg） or saline 30 minutes after injury. Locomotor functions were assessed using the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan（BBB） scale from 1 to 30 days after injury, and immunohistochemistry was carried out in the ventral horn of the spinal cord at 1 and 7 days to determine expression of nerve growth factor（NGF） and brain-derived neurotrophic factor（BDNF）. Our results show that at 7–30 days post injury, the BBB score was higher in rats treated with Panax notoginseng saponins than in those that received saline. Furthermore, at 7 days, more NGF- and BDNF-immunoreactive neurons were observed in the ventral horn of the spinal cord of rats that had received Panax notoginseng saponins than in those that received saline. These results indicate that Panax notoginseng saponins caused an upregulation of NGF and BDNF in rats with spinal cord transection, and improved hindlimb motor function.

Isolation and characterization of an ERF-B3 gene associated with flower abnormalities in non-heading Chinese cabbage

BrcERF-B3 gene, a member of ethylene-responsive factor family, was screened from a mutant plant in non-heading Chinese cabbage（Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis） by cDNA-AFLP technology. We got full length cDNA of two BrcERF-B3 genes by homology-based cloning from two materials and found that their nucleotide sequences were the same by sequencing. The BrcERF-B3 protein, belonging to the B3 subgroup of the ERF subfamily, shared a close relationship with B. rapa. RT-PCR result showed that BrcERF-B3 expressed only in mutant stamen rather than maintainer stamen. qRT-PCR results indicated that BrcERF-B3 expressed highly during reproductive growth development and in the early of mutant buds, suggesting BrcERF-B3 might be involved in the formation of abnormal flower in mutant. What＇s more, the expression of BrcERF-B3 was more significant to ABA, Me JA and cold stresses in mutant than in maintainer and was down-regulated in NaCl treatment in two lines, implying BrcERF-B3 might be different roles in biotic and abiotic stresses.

To Explore the Chinese Medicine Syndrome Types and Integrative Therapy from Clinical Relative Factors of Patients with Advanced Prostate Cancer

Current Situation and Problems of the Treatment in Advanced Prostate Cancer In recent years,the incidence of prostate cancer shows a rising trend in China with an increase of 70%and has been the first place in the growth rate of malignant tumor in the male reproductive system. Prostate cancer has become a serious threat to male senior’s health.Because of the application of

FACTORS AFFECTING CHINESE POST-GRADUATE EFL LEARNERS' ORAL PROFICIENCY

The article investigates factors affecting Chinese postgraduate EFL learners’ oral proficiency. Little practice, fear of errors and unscientific classroom management are found to be the major factors. Also an overemphasis on written English instruction seems to be another root cause. After the discussion of the results of this investigation a series of methods are suggested for reference.

Awareness of Age-related Macular Degeneration and Its Ris Factors among Beijing Residents in China

Background： Age-related macular degeneration （AMD） is a major cause of irreversible blindness, and awareness of this disease is important in the prevention of blindness. However, lack of public awareness of AMD was sbown in previous studies, and there was no report of AMD awareness in the Mainland of China. Therefore, the aim of our study was to assess the awareness of AMD and its risk factors among Beijing residents in China. Methods： A cross-sectional, computer-assisted, telephone investigation was conducted to measure the awareness of AMD among Beijing residents. All the contacts of potential respondents were randomly generated by computer. Only those above 18 years of age and willing to participate in the study were included. The questionnaire for the study was moditied from the AMD Alliance International Global Report. Pearson＇s Chi-square test and binary logistic regression analysis were used to identify the factors that affected the knowledge of AMD. Results： Among 385 Beijing residents who agreed to participale, the awareness of AMD was 6.8%, far below than that of cataract and glaucoma. Participants who were above 30 years of age （odds ratio [OR] 6.17, confidence interval [el] 1.44-26.57）, with experience of health-related work （OR 8.11, CI3.25-20.27）, and whose relatives/friends or themselves suffering from AMD （OR 32.18, CI11.29-91.68） had better AMD awareness. Among those familiar with AMD, only 35% of them identified smoking as a risk factor, and only 23.1% of the residents believed that smoking could lead to blindness. Conclusions： The sample of Chinese population had limited knowledge of AMD. Educational programs need to be carried out to raise public awareness of AMD.

A traditional Chinese herbal medicine compound preparation versus interventional therapy after resection of small hepatocellular carcinoma:22-year follow-up

OBJECTIVE:To compare the long-term effectiveness of compound Ruanjianhugan(RJH)tablets and interventional therapy(IT) in patients after resection of small hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).METHODS:A retrospective study was conducted in 399 patients after resection of small HCC who were admitted between January 1987 and December 2008 in the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Center of Minimlly Invasive Surgery,First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University.Four groups were based on different therapy modes:a TCM-only(TCMO) group,a TCM combined with interventional therapy(TCM-IT) group,an interventional therapy-only(ITO) group,and a simple operation(SO) group.Prognostic factors were correlated with overall survival(OS) and OS rates were calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method,and multivariate analyses for factors affecting survival were evaluated by the Cox proportional hazard model.RESULTS:The median OS was 151.20 months in the TCM-IT group,43.87 months in the ITO group,and 20.77 months in the SO group.All survival rates of the TCMO group were higher than those of the other three groups(>50%).The 5-,10-,and 15-year OS in the TCMO and ITO patients were 83.94%,45.50%,and 71.22% and 33.34%,55.58%,and 9.26%,respectively(risk ratio,0.209;95% confidence interval,0.126-0.347;P=0.000).Multivariate analysis revealed that the independent risk factors were therapy mode(P=0.000),sex(P=0.005),family history(P=0.011),TNM Classification of Malignant Tumor staging(P=0.000),medical care-seeking behavior(P=0.021),and maximum diameter(P=0.030).CONCLUSION:Long-term oral use of compound RJH tablets may improve OS for small HCC after resection compared with IT.

Effect of Two Chinese Medicinal Compounds,Blood-Activating and Water-Draining Medicine,on Tumor Necrosis Factor α and Nuclear Factor κ B Expressions in Rats with Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Objective：To investigate the effect of blood-activating Chinese medicinal compounds and waterdraining Chinese medicinal compounds on tumor necrosis factor alpha（TNF-α）and nuclear factor kappaB（NF-κB）expressions in rats with intracerebral hemorrhage（ICH）at the acute stage,and to monitor their therapeutic effect and mechanism of action on inflammation and cerebral edema.Methods：A rat model of cerebral hemorrhage was achieved by injecting autologous arterial blood into the caudate nucleus.A total of 168 rats were randomly divided into 4 groups：blood-activating medicine group（n=42）,water-draining medicine group（n=42）,sham operated group（n=42）,and the model group（n=42）.A series of brain samples were obtained at days 1,3 and 5 after ICH from rats in all groups.Protein expression levels of TNF-αand NF-κB were measured by immunohistochemical staining and gene expression levels of TNF-αand NF-κB were measured by real-time fluorescent PCR.Results：Compared to the sham operated group,protein expression levels of TNF-αand NF-κB in the model group significantly increased（P〈0.01）.Protein and gene expressions of TNF-αfrom the blood-activating medicine group and water-draining medicine group significantly decreased when compared to those in the model group（P〈0.05）.Meanwhile,compared to the model group,the expression of NF-κB in the blood-activating medicine group significantly decreased（P〈0.05）,while expression of NF-κB in the water-draining medicine group did not differ（P〉0.05）.Conclusions：Blood-activating Chinese medicinal compounds and water-draining Chinese medicinal compounds can alleviate inflammation of peripheral tissue and cerebral edema.However,the blood-activating Chinese medicinal compounds were more effective than the water-draining Chinese medicinal compounds.The possible effective mechanism may be by means of inhibiting the activation of NF-κB so as to suppress the transcription of target genes including gene expression of TNF-α.

Variants of Interferon Regulatory Factor 5 are Associated with Neither Neuromyelitis Optica Nor Multiple Sclerosis in the Southeastern Han Chinese Population

Background： Neuromyelitis optica （NMO） and multiple sclerosis （MS） are demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system. Interferon regulatory factor 5 （IRF5） is a common susceptibility gene to different autoimmune disorders. However, the association of IRF5 variants with NMO and MS patients has not been well studied. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate whether IRF5 variants were associated with NMO and MS in the Southeastenl Han Chinese population. Methods： Four single nucleotide polymorphisnls （SNPs） were selected and genotyped by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry in 111 NMO patients, 145 MS patients and 300 controls from Southeastern China. Results： None of these 4 SNPs was associated with NMO or MS patients. Conclusions： Our preliminary study indicates that genetic variants in IRI~ may affect neither NMO nor MS in the Southeastern Han Chinese population. Further studies with a large sample size and diverse ancestry populations are needed to clarify this isstie.

Prognostic factors for community-acquired pneumonia in middle-aged and elderly patients treated with integrated medicine

OBJECTIVE:To identify prognostic factors in middle-aged and elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia(CAP) who underwent integrated interventions involving traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and modern medicine.METHODS:Patients aged ≥45 years and diagnosed with CAP were divided into a middle-aged cohort(45-59 years) and an elderly cohort(≥60 years),and clinical data comprising 75 predictor variables in seven classes were collected.After replacing missing data,calibrating multicenter differences and classifYing quantitative data,univariate and multivariate analysis were performed.RESULTS:On multivariate analysis,eight independent risk factors-respiration rate,C reactive protein(CRP),cost of hospitalization,anemia,gasping,confusion,moist rales and pneumonia severity index(PSI)-were correlated with the outcome "not cured" in the elderly cohort.Nine factors-neutrophil percentage(Neu%),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),time to clinical stability,appetite,anemia,confusion,being retired or unemployed,Gram-negative bacterial infection and educational level-were correlated with not cured in the middle-aged cohort.CONCLUSION:Independent predictive risk factors correlated with adverse outcomes in elderly patients were higher respiration rate,CRP≥four times the mean or median for the patient's center,cost of hospitalization>11,323 RMB and PSI>II,plus anemia,gasping,confusion and moist rales;those in middle-aged patients were higher Neu%,BUN≥mean or median,loss of appetite,anemia,confusion,being retired or unemployed and lower educational level.Gram-negative bacterial infection and time to clinical stability>9 days were protective factors.

NO ASSOCIATION BETWEEN TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR ALPHA AND OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER IN CHINESE HAN POPULATION

Objective To investigate association between tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in Chinese Han population.Methods Plasma concentrations of TNF-α were measured in 61 drug-free patients who fulfilled DSM-Ⅳ criteria for OCD and 93 healthy controls.TNF-α concentrations in blood were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Two polymorphisms of TNF-α gene were investigated in the same patients and healthy controls:-308 G/A and-238 G/A.The allelic and genotypic frequencies of these polymorphisms were examined by using DNA sequencing method.Results Plasma levels of TNF-α did not differ between patients and controls (P=0.292).No significant results were observed for any of the alleles at the-308 G/A or-238 G/A polymorphism of the TNF-α gene.Finally a haplotype consisting of genotypes of these two markers was also examined.No association was observed for any haplotype (P=0.108).Conclusion No significant differences were observed between patients and controls in plasma levels of TNF-α.There is no association between the-308 G/A and-238 G/A TNF-α gene polymorphisms and OCD in our Chinese samples.However,the results need to be replicated in larger samples.

The Feel Good Factor The Chinese people are becoming more charity conscious

Han Yuan, an 11 -year-old boy in Beijing, has just spent the most meaningful New Year's Day of his life. At the party held by Han's primary school on that day, students, their parents and teachers donated or auctioned off articles to help fund a free training school for migrant workers' children.

Effects of Shen-Fu Injection (参附注射液) on Apoptosis of Regulatory T Lymphocytes in Spleen during Post-Resuscitation Immune Dysfunction in A Porcine Model of Cardiac Arrest

Objective： To investigate whether Shen-Fu Injection（参附注射液, SFI） reduces post-resuscitation immune dysfunction in a porcine model of cardiac arrest by modulating apoptosis of regulatory T lymphocytes（Treg） in the spleen. Methods： After 8-min untreated ventricular fibrillation and 2-min basic life support, 24 pigs were divided into 3 groups with a random number table, i.e. SFI group, epinephrine（EP） group, and saline（SA） group（8 in each group）, which received central venous injection of SFI（1.0 m L/kg）, EP（0.02 mg/kg） and SA, respectively. The same procedure without CA initiation was achieved in the sham-operated（sham） group（n=6）. After successful return of spontaneous circulation（ROSC）, apoptosis rate of splenic Treg was detected by flow cytometry; and the m RNA expression of forkhead/winged helix transcription factor（Foxp3） of splenic Treg was detected by real time-polymerase chain reaction; and the levels of interleukin-4（IL-4） and interferon-γ（IFN-γ） in porcine splenic Treg were detected by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）. Results： Compared with the sham group, the apoptosis rate of Treg was significantly decreased, and the levels of Foxp3 m RNA expression, IFN-γ, IL-4 and IFN-γ/IL-4 were increased in the SA group（P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）. Compared with the EP and SA groups, SFI treatment increased the apoptosis rate of Treg and reduced the levels of Foxp3 m RNA expression, IFN-γ and IFN-γ/IL-4（P〈0.05）. Conclusions： SFI has significant effects in attenuating post-resuscitation immune dysfunction by modulating apoptosis of Treg in the spleen.

Huoxue Anxin Recipe(活血安心方)Promotes Myocardium Angiogenesis of Acute Myocardial Infarction Rats by Up-Regulating miR-210 and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

Objective： To investigate the microR NAs（miR NAs） expression profile of acute myocardial infarction（AMI） rats and the regulating effects of Huoxue Anxin Recipe（活血安心方, HAR） on angiogenesis-related miR NAs and genes. Methods： Forty-five Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 3 groups according to a random number table： sham, AMI, and AMI＋HAR groups（15 in each group）. AMI rats were established by ligation of the left descending coronary artery. HAR was intragastrically administered to rats of the AMI＋HAR group for successive 21 days since modeling, meanwhile the same volume of 0.9% normal saline was administered to rats of the sham and AMI groups. Doppler echocardiography was used for noninvasive cardiac function test. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe the histopathological change. miR NAs expression profile was detected by quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction（qR T-PCR）. The mR NA and protein expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor（VEGF）, and a target gene of miR-210 was further detected by qR T-PCR and Western blot, respectively. The microvessels density of myocardium was evaluated by CD31 immunostaining. Results： Compared with the sham group, ejection fraction（EF） and fractional shortening（FS） values were decreased significantly in the AMI group（P〈0.01）, while the infarction area and the interstitial collagen deposition were increased obviously. As for the AMI＋HAR group, EF and FS values were increased significantly（P〈0.05 vs. AMI group）, and the infarction area was reduced and the interstitial collagen deposition were alleviated significantly. Total of 23 miR NAs in the AMI group expressed differently by at least 1.5 folds compared with those in the sham group; 5 miR NAs in the AMI＋HAR group expressed differently by at least 1.5 folds compared with those in the AMI group. Among them, miR-210 was low in the AMI group and high in the AMI＋HAR group. The relative mR NA and protein expressions of VEGF were decreased significantly in the AMI group（P〈0.05 vs. sham group）, and increased significantly in the AMI＋HAR group（P〈0.01 vs. AMI group）. CD31 expression area and optical intensity were decreased significantly in the AMI group（P〈0.05 vs. sham group）, and increased significantly in the AMI＋HAR group（P〈0.01 vs. AMI group）. Conclusions： HAR could reduce the infarction area, alleviate the interstitial fibrosis and improve the cardiac function of AMI rats. Those effects could be related to promoting myocardium angiogenesis of HAR by up-regulating miR-210 and VEGF.

Shenfu Injection(参附注射液) Inhibits Inflammation in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Cardiac Shock

Objectives： To investigate the effect of Shenfu Injection（参附注射液, SFI） on inflammatory factors in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock（CS） treated with and intra-aortic balloon pump（IABP）. Methods： This study enrolled 60 patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction（STEMI） complicated by CS. Patients underwent IABP and emergency percutaneous coronary intervention（PCI） were randomly divided into two groups by random number table with 30 cases in each group, one given SFI treatment（100 m L/24 h）, one not. The two groups were then compared in a clinical setting for left ventricular function, biochemical indicators and Inflammatory factors, including C-reactive proteins（CRP）, interleukin-1（IL-1） and tumor necrosis factor alpha（TNF-α）. Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events（MACCE） events were compared between patients of the two groups both in-hospital and in follow-ups. Results： The IABP support treatment times of patients in the IABP＋SFI group were significantly shorter than the IABP group（52.87±28.84 vs. 87.45±87.31, P=0.047）. In the patients of the IABP＋SFI group, the CRP peak appeared in 24 h after PCI operation. The CRP peak in the patients of the IABP＋SFI group was significantly lower than that in the IABP group（31.27±3.93 vs. 34.62±3.47, P=0.001）. The increases in range of TNF-α in the patients of the IABP＋SFI group were significantly lower than those of the IABP group（182.29±22.79 vs. 195.54±12.02, P=0.007）. The increases in range of IL-1 in the patients of the IABP＋SFI group were significantly lower than those of the IABP group（214.98±29.22 vs. 228.60±7.03, P=0.019）. The amplitude elevated TNF-α 72 h after admission was an independent risk factor of in-hospital MACCE events（OR 0.973, 95% CI 0.890–0.987, P=0.014） in patients with STEMI and CS. Conclusion： Patients with STEMI complicated by CS treated by IABP and SFI had a reduced inflammatory reaction, a reduced dependence of CS on IABP and shortened the course of disease.

Mortality and recurrence of vascular disease among stroke patients treated with combined TCM therapy

OBJECTIVE:To confirm the long-term outcomes of stroke patients and determine predicting factors for death,recurrence of vascular events and poor outcome(either recurrence or death) after the use of combined TCM therapy.METHODS:This was a retrospective hospital-based cohort study and was performed in the First Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Tianjin.All subjects with stroke consecutively admitted to an inpatient ward of the Acupuncture Department from January 1,2008,to December 31,2008 were retrospectively followed through one year.The main outcomes were either a recurrence of vascular events,,mortality or both.Risk factors were recorded from medical records.Multivariate regression models were used to analyze predictors.The following independent variables were used:age,gender,hypertension,ischemic heart disease,atrial fibrillation,diabetes mellitus,carotid arterial lesions and history of stroke.RESULTS:Four-hundred and five patients were included.The 1-year mortality rate was 11.11%.23.70% of the patients had a recurrent vascular event,and 30.86% suffered a poor outcome.Multiple logistic regression analysis found that previous stroke,and advanced age were predictors of death within one year,Recurrence of vascular events was associated with carotid arterial lesions,history of diabetes and previous stroke.Long-term poor outcome was predicted by advanced age,history of diabetes,and previous stroke.CONCLUSION:Age,previous stroke,carotid arterial lesions and diabetes history seem to have different impacts on the three outcomes within one year.Our findings provide important data for planning future hospital register studies of stroke patients in TCM hospitals.

Ginseng-Derived Panaxadiol Saponins Promote Hematopoiesis Recovery in Cyclophosphamide-Induced Myelosuppressive Mice:Potential Novel Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Cytopenias

Objective：To investigate the potential efficacy of panaxadiol saponins component（PDS-C）,a biologically active fraction isolated from total ginsenosides,to reverse chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression and pancytopenia caused by cyclophamide（CTX）.Methods：Mice with myelosuppression induced by CTX were treated with PDS-C at a low-（20 mg/kg）,moderate-（40 mg/kg）,or high-dose（80 mg/kg） for 7 consecutive days.The level of peripheral white blood cell（WBC）,neutrophil（NEU） and platelet（PLT） were measured,the histopathology and colony formation were observed,the protein kinase and transcription factors in hematopoietic cells were determined by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot.Results：In response to PDS-C therapy,the peripheral WBC,NEU and PLT counts of CTX-induced myelosuppressed mice were significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner.Similarly,bone marrow histopathology examination showed reversal of CTX-induced myelosuppression with increase in overall bone marrow cellularity and the number of hematopoietic cells（P〈0.01）.PDS-C also promoted proliferation of granulocytic and megakaryocyte progenitor cells in CTX-treated mice,as evidenced by significantly increase in colony formation units-granulocytes/monocytes and-megakaryocytes（P〈0.01）.The enhancement of hematopoiesis by PDS-C appears to be mediated by an intracellular signaling pathway,this was evidenced by the up-regulation of phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinase（p-MEK） and extracellular signal-regulated kinases（p-ERK）,and receptor tyrosine kinase（C-kit） and globin transcription factor 1（GATA-1） in hematopoietic cells of CTX-treated mice（P〈0.05）.Conclusions：PDS-C possesses hematopoietic growth factor-like activities that promote proliferation and also possibly differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells in myelosuppressed mice,probably mediated by a mechanism involving MEK and ERK protein kinases,and C-kit and GATA-1 transcription factors.PDS-C may potentially be a novel treatment of myelosuppression and pancytopenia caused by chemotherapy.

Panax notoginseng Saponins Protect Kidney from Diabetes by Up-regulating Silent Information Regulator 1 and Activating Antioxidant Proteins in Rats

Objective： To explore the mechanism of the protective effects of Panax notoginseng saponins（PNS） on kidney in diabetic rats. Methods： Diabetic rat model was obtained by intravenous injection of alloxan, and the rats were divided into model, PNS-100 mg/（kg·day） and PNS-200 mg/（kg·day） groups, 10 each. Another 10 rats injected with saline were served as control. Periodic acid-Schiff staining and immunological histological chemistry were used to observe histomorphology and tissue expression of bone morphogenetic protein-7（BMP-7）. Silent information regulator 1（SIRT1） was silenced in rat mesangial cells by RNA interference. The mR NA expressions of SIRT-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1（MCP-1）, transforming growth factor β1（TGF-β1） and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1（PAI-1） were analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The protein expressions of SIRT1 and the acetylation of nuclear factor κB（NF-κB） P65 were determined by western blotting. The concentration of MCP-1, TGF-β1 and malondialdehyde（MDA） in culture supernatant were detected by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay. The activity of superoxide dismutase（SOD） was detected by the classical method of nitrogen and blue four. Results： In diabetic model rats, PNS could not only reduce blood glucose and lipid（P〈0.01）, but also increase protein level of BMP-7 and inhibit PAI-1 expression for suppressing fibrosis of the kidney. In rat mesangial cells, PNS could up-regulate the expression of SIRT1（P〈0.01） and in turn suppress the transcription of TGF-β1（P〈0.05） and MCP-1（P〈0.05）. PNS could also reverse the increased acetylation of NF-κB p65 by high glucose. In addition, redox regulation factor MDA was down-regulated（P〈0.05） and SOD was up-regulated（P〈0.01）, which were both induced by SIRT1 up-regulation. Conclusions： PNS could protect kidney from diabetes with the possible mechanism of up-regulating SIRT1, therefore inhibiting inflammation through decreasing the induction of inflammatory cytokines and TGF-β1, as well as activating antioxidant proteins.

Effects of Shenlian Extracts (参莲提取物) on Atherosclerosis by Inhibition of the Inflammatory Response

Objective: Inflammation plays a critical role in atherosclerosis, and this inflammatory reaction is being intensively studied. Shenlian Extracts (参莲提取物), an active ingredient of Chinese medicinal herbs, is believed to have multiple therapeutic and preventive effects against human vascular diseases, including atherosclerosis. Our work investigated whether Shenlian Extracts serves as an anti-inflammatory agent during atherogenesis. Methods: We established a model of atherosclerosis in rabbits using balloon angioplasty and a high cholesterol diet. The effects of Shenlian Extracts on vessel structure and inflammation were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin staining of the femoral artery, measurement of inflammation-related factors in serum or vascular tissue, and radioimmunoassay. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), flow cytometry and western blots were also performed. Results: We show that oral pre-treatment with Shenlian Extracts suppressed the pathological changes associated with atherosclerosis and that graded doses of Shenlian Extracts reduced total serum levels of cholesterol (90, 180 and 360 mg/kg), triglyceride (180 and 360 mg/kg), and LDL-c (90, 180 mg/kg). Various doses of Shenlian Extracts reduced serum content of TNF-α (180 and 360 mg/kg), CRP (90, 180 and 360 mg/kg) and IL-8 (360 mg/kg) (P<0.05), but led to no significant changes in IL-1β levels. Treatment with Shenlian Extracts also significantly reduced VCAM-1 levels (90 and 360 mg/kg) and IGF-1 levels (90 and 180 mg/kg) in vascular tissue but had no significant effect on ICAM-1 and MCP-1 levels. Finally, Shenlian Extracts significantly reduced the abnormal expression of CD18 in monocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: These results suggest that Shenlian Extracts may play a direct role in preventing and treating atherogenesis by inhibiting the inflammatory reaction, providing insights into the possible mechanism underlying the anti-atherosclerotic actions of Shenlian Extracts.

Inhibition Mechanism of Qingluo Tongbi Granule(清络通痹颗粒)on Osteoclast Differentiation Induced by Synovial Fibroblast and Monocytes Co-Culture in Adjuvant-Induced Arthritic Rats

Objective： To study the mechanism underlying the inhibitory effect of Qingluo Tongbi Granule （清络通痹颗粒, QTG） on osteoclast differentiation in rheumatoid arthritis in rats. Methods： Fibroblast and monocyte co-culture were used to induce osteoclast differentiation in adjuvant-induced arthritic （AIA） rats. Serum containing QTG was prepared and added to the osteoclasts, and activation of the tumor necrosis factor receptorassociated factor 6/mitogen-activated protein kinase/nuclear factor of activated T cells, cytoplasmic1 （TRAF6/ MAPK/NFATcl） pathways was examined. Results： The induced osteoclasts were multinucleated and stained positive for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase （TRAP） staining. Serum containing QTG at 14.4, 7.2 or 3.6 g/kg inhibited the activation of TRAF6, extracellular regulated protein kinase （ERK）1/2, c-Jun N-terminal kinase （JNK） and p38 and decreased the percentage of cells with nuclear NFATcl in a dose-dependent manner, the high and middle doses exhibited clear inhibitory activity （P〈0.01 and P〈0.05, respectively）. After the addition of MAPK inhibitors, the NFATcl expression showed no significant difference compared with the control group （P〉0.05）. Conclusions： Serum containing QTG could generally inhibit the TRAF6/MAPK pathways and possibly inhibit the NFATcl pathway. In addition, QTG may regulate other signaling pathways that are related to osteoclast differentiation and maturation.