Ganoderma Lucidum Pharmacopuncture for Teating Ethanol-induced Chronic Gastric Ulcers in Rats.

OBJECTIVES: The stomach is a sensitive digestive organ that is susceptible to exogenous pathogens from the diet. In response to such pathogens, the stomach induces oxidative stress, which might be related to the development of both gastric organic disorders such as gastritis, gastric ulcers, and gastric cancer, and functional disorders such as functional dyspepsia. This study was accomplished to investigate the effect of Ganoderma lucidum pharmacopuncture (GLP) on chronic gastric ulcers in rats. METHODS: The rats were divided into 4 groups of 8 animals each: the normal, the control, the normal saline (NP) and the GLP groups. In this study, the modified ethanol gastritis model was used. The rats were administrated 56% ethanol orally every other day. The dose of ethanol was 8 g/kg body weight. The normal group received the same amount of normal saline instead of ethanol. The NP and the GLP groups were treated with injection of saline and GLP respectively. The control group received no treatment. Two local acupoints CV12 () and ST36 () were used. All laboratory rats underwent treatment for 15 days. On last day, the rats were sacrificed and their stomachs were immediately excised. RESULTS: Ulcers of the gastric mucosa appeared as elongated bands of hemorrhagic lesions parallel to the long axis of the stomach. In the NP and GLP groups, the injuries to the gastric mucosal injuries were not as severe as they were in the control group. Wound healings of the chronic gastric ulcers was promoted by using GLP and significant alterations of the indices in the gastric mucosa were observed. Such protection was demonstrated by gross appearance, histology and immunehistochemistry staining for Bcl-2-associated X (BAX), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-ß1). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that GLP at CV12 and ST36 can provide significant protection to the gastric mucosa against an ethanol induced chronic gastric ulcer.

Eupatilin ameliorates collagen induced arthritis.

Eupatilin is the main active component of DA-9601, an extract from Artemisia. Recently, eupatilin was reported to have anti-inflammatory properties. We investigated the anti-arthritic effect of eupatilin in a murine arthritis model and human rheumatoid synoviocytes. DA-9601 was injected into collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice. Arthritis score was regularly evaluated. Mouse monocytes were differentiated into osteoclasts when eupatilin was added simultaneously. Osteoclasts were stained with tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase and then manually counted. Rheumatoid synoviocytes were stimulated with TNF-α and then treated with eupatilin, and the levels of IL-6 and IL-1ß mRNA expression in synoviocytes were measured by RT-PCR. Intraperitoneal injection of DA-9601 reduced arthritis scores in CIA mice. TNF-α treatment of synoviocytes increased the expression of IL-6 and IL-1ß mRNAs, which was inhibited by eupatilin. Eupatilin decreased the number of osteoclasts in a concentration dependent manner. These findings, showing that eupatilin and DA-9601 inhibited the expression of inflammatory cytokines and the differentiation of osteoclasts, suggest that eupatilin and DA-9601 is a candidate anti-inflammatory agent.

Effects of swimming exercise and soybean supplementation on the immune functions of rats fed a high-fat diet.

1. In the present study, the effects of swimming exercise and soybean supplementation on the immune functions of rats fed a high-fat diet were examined. 2. Thirty-four male rats were randomly divided into four groups: (i) HS, a high-fat diet sedentary group (n = 8); (ii) HE, a high-fat diet exercised group (n = 9); (iii) SS, a soybean diet sedentary group (n = 8); and (iv) SE, a soybean diet exercised group (n = 9). The high-fat diet was composed of 35% carbohydrate, 20% protein and 35% fat. For the soybean diet, 3% crude soybean extract was substituted for the protein, carbohydrate and fat according to the energy content of the diet. In the exercise groups, rats swam for 60 min/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks. 3. The subpopulation of CD4(+) cells and the CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio did not differ significantly between the high-fat diet and soybean diet groups. However, the subpopulation of CD8(+) cells in the spleens of SS rats was significantly higher than that in the spleens of HS rats (P < 0.05). In addition, splenic interferon-gamma secretion in the SE group, with or without conconavalin A stimulation, was significantly increased compared with the SS group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). 4. These results show that regular endurance exercise training with soybean supplementation ameliorates splenic T cell-mediated immunity.

Use of particulate dentin-plaster of Paris combination with/without platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of bone defects around implants.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of particulate dentin-plaster of Paris with and without platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on bone healing and new bone formation around titanium dental implants in a canine model. Histologic sections and histomorphometric analysis of the defects were obtained at 6 and 12 weeks after surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three circular bone defects were surgically prepared in iliac crest sites in each of 10 animals. A total of 30 Avana dental implants were placed in the animals. They were self-tapping, screw-type implants, 10 mm in length and 4 mm in diameter, all made of commercially pure titanium. A titanium implant was placed centrally in each defect. In each dog, the defects were treated with 1 of the following 3 treatment modalities: (1) no treatment (control); (2) grafting with particulate dentin-plaster of Paris; (3) grafting with particulate dentin-plaster of Paris and PRP. RESULTS: Histologic analysis showed that all of the bone defects surrounding the implants that were treated with particulate dentin-plaster of Paris, with and without PRP, were filled with new bone. The defects that were not treated (control) demonstrated new bone formation only in the inferior threaded portion of the implants. DISCUSSION: Histomorphometric results revealed a higher percentage of bone contact with particulate dentin-plaster of Paris and PRP compared to the control and particulate dentin-plaster of Paris. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that bone defects around titanium implants can be treated successfully with particulate dentin-plaster of Paris, and that the outcome can be improved if PRP is also used.