Intervention of TLR4 signal pathway cytokines in severe liver injury with obstructive jaundice in rats.

Obstructive jaundice is a common surgical disease and a variety of end-stage severe liver injuries still lack effective treatments. Compared to traditional liver transplantation therapy, herbal treatment is noninvasive and has fewer side effects. Research results have shown that a modified major decoction of bupleurum can reduce the toxic reaction of obstructive jaundice, even though the mechanism is unclear. A period of chronic exercise training can significantly reduce TLR4 expression in mononuclear cells and the secretion of inflammatory cell factors. Our study administered a modified major decoction of bupleurum in combination with exercise in rats with obstructive jaundice and the results indicated that applying a major bupleurum decoction in combination with moderately intense aerobic exercise showed a beneficial effect on adjusting the expression of liver inflammatory cytokines, which thus improved immunity and finally reduced the liver injury of rats with obstructive jaundice.

[Peroxidase isoenzymes analysis on some plants under simulated microgravity].

The detection technology of peroxidase isoenzyme pattern were adopted in the study of the effect of simulated microgravity on some plants. Biochemical analysis indicated that the microgravity samples displayed an increased activity of peroxidase.

[The reactions in ginseng cells induced by elicitor derived from digesting ginseng cell walls by cellulase].

After treatment of the elicitor derived from digesting ginseng cell walls by cellulase, the starch grains were degraded, and a large number of spherosomes were produced in Ginseng cells. In the mean time, the activity of amylase in the cells was increased and the activities of esterases in the cells were reduced; in addition, the content of soluble sugar and the content of lipoid were increased. These indicate that the emergency reactions and the adjustment of metabolism of lipoid were taken placed in the cells elicited. Besides, after the treatment with certain concentrations of elicitor, the content of ginseng saponin and the activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) were increased in ginseng cells. On the contrary, the activities of peroxidase (POD) and polyphenoloxidase (PPO) were reduced.

Influence of simulated microgravity environmental factor on ginseng cell growth and ginseng saponin content.

When ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) cells were subjected horizontal rotation on a clinostat, their growth and ginseng saponin content differed from those cultured in normal gravitational environments (control). Both fresh and dry weights of ginseng cells rotating on clinostat were higher than those of the control, and the difference in dry weight was particularly obvious. After 3 weeks of cultivation, saponin content in ginseng was 10% higher under the horizontal rotation treatment on the clinostat than that of the control. When ginseng cells were cultured on Ca2(+)-deprived medium and clinostatted for 3 weeks, their ginseng saponin content was almost twice of that of the control. Besides, in our experiments, the higher the Ca2+ concentration in medium, the lower the ginseng saponin content in the ginseng cells cultured.

Chinese herb "destagnation" series I: Combination of radiation with destagnation in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC): a prospective randomized trial on 188 cases.

The results of a prospective randomized trial on 188 patients with NPC is reported to evaluate the validity of Chinese herbal medicine-Destagnation combined with radiotherapy. Ninety patients were allotted to the Destagnation group (radiation plus Destagnation) and 98, to the control group (radiation only). The 5-year success rate (number surviving minus number recurred but salvaged by re-treatment) of the Destagnation group is 53% (48/90) in comparison to 37% (36/98) of the control group (p less than 0.05). Minor complications of Destagnation included occasional anorexia and frequency of bowel movement. The reduced rate of local recurrence at the primary site in the Destagnation group (14%-13/90) as compared to that of the control group (29%-28/98) (p less than 0.05) suggests that Destagnation may be a radiosensitizer. The similar metastatic rates in both groups; 21% (19/90) in the Destagnation group and 21% (21/98) in the control group may refute the belief that Destagnation enhances hematogenous spread.