[Comparison study of effects of rhizoma drynariae and estrogen on osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the therapeutic effects of Rhizoma Drynariae and estrogen on osteoporosis in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. METHODS: Fifty-five female rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, the normal control (normal),the sham operated (sham), the model, the estrogen, and the Rhizoma drynariae (RD) groups; ovariectomized rats were used as postmenopausal osteoporosis model. The changes of morphology and dynamic parameters in different groups were determined by bone histomorphometry. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, the trabecular volume (TBV/TTV) , trabecular thickness (MTPT) and density (MTPD) in the other four groups were significantly increased, while the trabecular template spacing (MTPS) and the ratio of trabecular surface to trabecular volume (TBS/TBV) significantly decreased (P <0. 05); and the osteoid surface (TOS), single label surface [Sfract (s) ] ,double label surface [Sfract (d) ] and bone formation rate (Svf) also decreased,while osteoid maturation period (OMP) increased in the latter four groups. No significant difference of cortical width (MCW) was found between these 5 groups. Compared with the normal and sham groups, TOS, Sfract ( s) , Sfract ( d) , Svf in the estrogen and RD groups increased significantly, while OMP decreased; no significant difference was found in other parameters. CONCLUSION: Rhizoma Drynariae has the similar effect with estrogen in maintaining normal trabecular structure and connection by inhibiting the increased bone turnover of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

[Comparative study on effect of Tripterygium polyglycosides on mucous immune function of rat models of arthritis induced by collagen II and by adjuvant].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Tripterygium polyglycosides (TWP) on mucous immune function in rat models of arthritis induced respectively with collagen-II induced arthritis (CIA) & adjuvant arthritis (AA). METHODS: CIA and AA model rats were induced by immunization with collagen II emulsified with complete Freund's adjuvant and complete Freund's adjuvant respectively and treated with TWP. Rats' mucus, systemic immunological indexes (peripheral subsets of T cells), local inflammatory factors (IL-6, TNF-alpha, COX-2,and NF-kappaB, etc. ) were observed. RESULTS: In CIA model group, CD4+ in Peyer's Patch (PP), peripheral CD4+ and CD8+ positive T cells all raised, while in the AA model group, CD4+ lowered and CD8+ raised on PP, with both subsets increased. Effects of TWP on T lymphocyte subsets in PP and blood of the two models were different. High leveled IL-6, TNF-alpha, COX-2 and NF-kappaB expression could be seen in both model groups, and these inflammatory media could be inhibited by TWP. CONCLUSION: There exist similarities and differences between the two models in aspects of mucus immune response and effect of TWP on them.

Effect of Gui Zhi decoction on enteric mucosal immune in mice with collagen-induced arthritis.

AIM: To explore the effect of Gui Zhi decoction on enteric mucosal immune in type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in DBA mice. METHODS: Eighty DBA/1, weighing 18-22 g, were randomly divided into four groups with 20 in each group: control group, CIA group, treatment groups at high dosage and low dosage (GZH and GZL). CIA was induced by immunization with type II collagen (CII) emulsified with equal complete adjuvant at 0.1 mg CII each mouse. Blood lymphocyte suspension was screened for CD4 and CD8 expression using a flow cytometry, the CD4 and CD8 and secretory IgA (sIgA)-positive cells in enteric lamina propria tested with immunohistochemical staining. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 (IL-1)-beta, and IL-6 concentrations in serum were assayed with RIA. RESULTS: Gui Zhi decoction can lower the arthritic scores and decrease the occurrence of arthritis. The CD4, CD8, and sIgA-positive cells in CIA mice are less than in control mice, and in Gui Zhi decoction at high dosage could restore the lowered CD4- and CD8-positive cells in lamina propria, and at both high and low dosages could increase the lowered sIgA-positive cells in lamina propria, even still lower than in normal mice. In periphery, the CD4 cells in periphery are higher in CIA mice than in control mice, and Gui Zhi decoction at high and low dosages could decrease the CD4 and CD8 cells. Also, Gui Zhi decoction at high dosage could decrease the IL-6 and TNF-alpha concentration in serum. CONCLUSION: Gui Zhi decoction can lower the arthritic scores and decrease the incidence of CIA in mice, and the mechanism is in part regulating enteric mucosal immune.

[Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of cyanidin from cherries on rat adjuvant-induced arthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the possible antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of cyanidin from cherries on adjuvant induced arthritis (AA) in SD rats. METHOD: Arthritis was induced by the complete Freud's adjuvant in male Sprague Dauley rats and assessed based on paw swelling. Rats were randomly divided into normal group (NM), adjuvant arthritis group (AA) and three cyanidin-treated groups in high dosage (HA), middle dosage (MA), and low dosage (LA). The morphological changes in the hind limbs were conducted under a light microscope. We detected glutathione (GSH) in whole blood and malonaldehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC) activity in serum by special kits to assess the antioxidant effects of cyanidin on AA. Moreover, the prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels in paw tissues were determined by radioimmunoassay and TNF-alpha levels in serum were determined using ELISA kits specific for rat. RESULT: The cyanidin could protect against the paws swelling in AA rats. From the day 14 after AA induction, the swellings of the cyanidin treated groups at high dosage and low dosage were significantly reduced compared with the model group (P < 0.05, 0.01). Histological examination of sections through the hind limbs revealed alleviation of inflammatory reaction in the joint after the treatment. The cyanidin at high and low dosage could increase the GSH, SOD activity and T-AOC levels in whole blood or serums and decrease MDA in AA rats (P < 0.01). The cyanidin could decrease the PGE2 levels in paw tissues and the TNF-alpha levels in serum at high and low dosages (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The cyanidin could protect against the paws swelling in AA rats, and alleviate the inflammatory reaction in the joint, and the mechanism might be via the increase activity of GSH, SOD and T-AOC that improve the total antioxidative capacity and scavenge the free radicals, perhaps as a result of that the levels of the PGE2 in paw tissues and TNF-alpha contents in serum were decreased. The results suggest that the cyanidin from cherries could be one of the potential candidates for the alleviation of arthritis.

Theory of traditional Chinese medicine and therapeutic method of diseases.

Traditional Chinese medicine, including herbal medicine and acupuncture, as one of the most important parts in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), plays the key role in the formation of integrative medicine. Why do not the modern drugs targeting the specificity of diseases produce theoretical effects in clinical observation? Why does not the traditional Chinese medicine targeting the Zheng (syndrome) produce theoretical effects in clinic? There should have some reasons to combine Western medicine with Chinese herbal medicine so as to form the integrative medicine. During the integration, how to clarify the impact of CAM theory on Western medicine has become an emergent topic. This paper focuses on the exploration of the impact of theory of traditional Chinese medicine on the therapy of diseases in Western medicine.