'Psoriasis 1' reduces psoriasis­like skin inflammation by inhibiting the VDR­mediated nuclear NF­κB and STAT signaling pathways.

'Psoriasis 1', a Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) formulation, is extensively used to treat psoriasis in China. Although this CHM formulation yields good therapeutic effect, the underlying mechanism of how this works remains unknown. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that the CHM formulation 'psoriasis 1' inhibits vitamin D receptor (VDR)­mediated inflammation in psoriasis. To test this, a model of psoriasis was established by stimulating keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)­α; these cells were subsequently transfected with a lentiviral VDR RNA interference expression vector. The expression levels of 25­hydroxyvitamin D3 (25HVD3), TNF­α, interleukin (IL)­4, IL­1, IL­17C, IL­23 and IL­6 were measured using ELISA, and the expression levels of VDR, inhibitor of nuclear factor (NF)­κB (IKK), NF­κB, signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 and STAT4 were measured using reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis and western blotting. It was observed that 'psoriasis 1' downregulated the concentrations of TNF­α, IFN­Î³, IL­22, IL­17C, IL­1ß and IL­4, and upregulated the concentration of 25HVD3; furthermore, 'psoriasis 1' downregulated the expression levels of NF­κB, phosphorylated (p)­NF­κB, IKK, p­IKK, STAT3, p­STAT3, STAT4 and p­STAT4, and upregulated the expression level of VDR in TNF­α­induced HaCaT cells. These results suggested that 'psoriasis 1' suppressed the inflammatory response and the activation of the NF­κB and STAT signaling pathways. In addition, it was identified that silencing VDR expression decreased the levels of TNF­α, IFN­Î³, IL­22, IL­17C, IL­1ß and IL­4, and increased the level of 25HVD3; silencing VDR expression additionally downregulated the expression levels of NF­ÐºB, p­NF­ÐºB, IKK, p­IKK, STAT3, p­STAT3, STAT4 and p­STAT4, and upregulated the level of VDR in TNF­α­induced HaCaT cells. It was concluded that 'psoriasis 1' exerts inflammation­suppressive effects in psoriasis by suppressing the NF­ÐºB and STAT signaling pathways.

[Effect of dachaihu decoction in treating acute mild pancreatitis of Gan-qi stagnant type].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of Dachaihu Decoction (DCHD) on acute mild pancreatitis of Gan-qi stagnant syndrome type. METHODS: Thirty-six acute pancreatitis patients were randomized into three groups (Group A, B and C) equally, and they were treated with conventional Western medicine (WM), WM plus placebo and WM plus DCHD, respectively for 7 days. The time for pain relieving, fasting and total hospitalization were observed, and serum amylopsin and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured before treatment and at various time points after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, amylopsin and CRP level significantly decreased in the 3 groups, comparing with those before treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). In Group C, amylopsin level was obviously higher on dl, d3 and d5, CRP level was higher on dl, d3, d5 and d7, and the remission time of abdominal pain, the fasting time, as well as the hospitalization time were all significantly shorter than those in Group A and B (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The accessory use of DCHD upon conventional Western medical treatment can strikingly shorten the course of disease and enhance the therapeutic effect on mild acute pancreatitis patients.

[Clinical observation on effect of tongfu xiere recipe in treating surgical abdominal diseases accompanied with systemic inflammatory response syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Tongfu Xiere Recipe (TXR) on surgical abdominal diseases accompanied with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). METHODS: Forty-six patients in the post-operational stage were treated by basic therapy, including conventional treatment and antibiotics applying, and combined use of TXR, and compared with the 43 patients treated by basic therapy alone as the control group. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the incidence of complications in the treatment group was significantly lower (P<0.01). The incidence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and the mortality in the treatment group showed an decreasing tendency. Moreover, levels of plasma endotoxin, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-8 in the treatment group after treatment decreased significantly, while IL-2 level increased (P < 0.01), and showed a significant difference (P < 0.01) as compared with those in the control group. CONCLUSION: The combined therapy can decrease the levels of blood endotoxin and inflammation promoting cytokine and increase the level of cytokine that directly related with immune function to regulate immunity and inhibit the inflammatory reaction, and furthermore, to prevent MODS and decrease the mortality of patients with surgical abdominal diseases accompanied SIRS.