[Combined anluohuaxianwan and entecavir treatment significantly improve the improvement rate of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection].

Objective: To explore the improvement rate of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection who received entecavir alone or in combination with anluohuaxianwan for 78 weeks. Methods: Patients with chronic HBV infection were randomly treated with entecavir alone or in combination with anluohuaxian for 78 weeks. Ishak fibrosis score was used for blind interpretation of liver biopsy specimens. The improvement in liver fibrosis condition before and after the treatment was compared. Student's t test and non-parametric test (Mann-Whitney U-Test and Kruskal-Wallis test) were used to analyze the measurement data. The categorical variables were analyzed by Chi-square test method and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to test bivariate associations. Results: Liver fibrosis improvement rate after 78 weeks of treatment was 36.53% (80/219) and the progression rate was 23.29% (51/219). The improvement of liver fibrosis was associated to the degree of baseline fibrosis and treatment methods (P < 0.05). The improvement rate of hepatic fibrosis in patients treated with anluohuaxianwan combined with entecavir at baseline F < 3 (54.74%, 52/95) was significantly higher than that in patients treated only with entecavir (33.33%, 16/48), P = 0.016 and the progression rate of hepatic fibrosis (13.68%, 13/95) was lower than that in patients treated alone (18.75%, 9/48), P = 0.466. In patients with baseline F < 3, the proportion of patients with improved and stable liver fibrosis in the combined treatment group (68.1%, 32/47) was higher than that in the treatment group alone (51.7%, 15/29). Conclusion: Combined anluohuaxianwan and entecavir treatment can significantly improve the improvement rate of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Furthermore, it has the tendency to improve the stability rate and reduce the rate of progression of liver fibrosis.

Serenoa repens extracts promote hair regeneration and repair of hair loss mouse models by activating TGF-ß and mitochondrial signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Plenty of plant extracts have been used for treating hair loss. This study aims to investigate the effects of liposterolic extracts of Serenoa repens (LSESr) on hair cell growth and regeneration of hair, and clarify the associated mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human keratinocyte cells (HACAT) were cultured, incubated with dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and treated with LSESr. Cell viability was examined by using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H- tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Hair loss C57BL/6 mouse model was established by inducing with DHT. Hair growth, density, and thickness were evaluated. Back skin samples were collected and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) assay. B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated protein X (Bax), cleaved caspase 3 and transforming growth factor ß2 (TGF-ß2) were examined using Western blot assay. RESULTS: LSESr treatment significantly increased HACAT cell viabilities compared to DHT-only treated cells (p<0.05). LSESr treatment post injection of DHT significantly converted skin color from pink to gray and increased hair density, weight and thickness compared to DHT-only treated mice (p<0.05). LSESr treatment significantly triggered follicle growth and decreased inflammatory response. LSESr treatment significantly decreased TGF-ß2 and cleaved caspase 3 expression of hair loss mouse models compared to that of DHT treated mice (p<0.05). LSESr treatment significantly enhanced Bcl-2 expression and reduced Bax expression compared to that of DHT treated mice (p<0.05). Meanwhile, effects of LSESr were substantial even achieving to the potential of finasteride. CONCLUSIONS: LSESr promoted the hair regeneration and repair of hair loss mouse models by activating TGF-ß signaling and mitochondrial signaling pathway.

[Historical textual research on Shan biandou with discussion on the misnaming of plant title].

The original plants of Shan biandou, first seen in Jiu huang ben cao (Materia Medica for Relief of Famines), include the plants of Astragalusgenus, such as A. scaberrimus and/or A. complanatus in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. But Cassia mimosoides was named as Shan biandou by Japanese scholars in the 19th century. This mistaken identification and misnaming, still in use today in Chinese and Japanese circles of botany and materia medica, did cause some confusion. The merits and demerits of using the plant names in Chinese characters from the Japanese language by Chinese botanists were analyzed, the disadvantages of which should be well avoided. Because of the vicissitude in the names of plants and Chinese herbs, it is necessary to strengthen the study and develop the significant value of A. complanatus and C. mimosoides in health care so as to promote its contributions to the cause of TCM.

A GIS-based modeling system for petroleum waste management. Geographical information system.

With an urgent need for effective management of petroleum-contaminated sites, a GIS-aided simulation (GISSIM) system is presented in this study. The GISSIM contains two components: an advanced 3D numerical model and a geographical information system (GIS), which are integrated within a general framework. The modeling component undertakes simulation for the fate of contaminants in subsurface unsaturated and saturated zones. The GIS component is used in three areas throughout the system development and implementation process: (i) managing spatial and non-spatial databases; (ii) linking inputs, model, and outputs; and (iii) providing an interface between the GISSIM and its users. The developed system is applied to a North American case study. Concentrations of benzene, toluene, and xylenes in groundwater under a petroleum-contaminated site are dynamically simulated. Reasonable outputs have been obtained and presented graphically. They provide quantitative and scientific bases for further assessment of site-contamination impacts and risks, as well as decisions on practical remediation actions.

Dietary methionine requirement of the Chinese egg-laying duck.

1. The dietary methionine requirement of egg-laying ducks was assessed by feeding diets supplemented with graded levels of DL-methionine (0, 4, 8, 12, 16 g/kg dietary protein) for 8 weeks. The basal diet contained 175 g protein and 2.6 g methionine per kg feed (or 14.9 g/kg protein) and an estimated ME of 11.5 MJ/kg. 2. A total of 800 Shaoxin laying ducks (420 d old) were randomly divided into 5 groups of 160 each and fed in 4 separate pens. 3. Dietary supplementation of methionine significantly increased egg production and feed conversion efficiency. 4. Dietary methionine requirement for optimum egg production was estimated to be 25.7 g/kg of dietary protein or 4.5 g/kg of the diet or 380 mg/bird-d. 5. Methionine supplementation increased the methionine level in plasma, and the free glutamic acid and aspartic acid concentrations in plasma were quadratically related to dietary methionine levels. Increasing dietary methionine had little effect on egg quality characteristics.

An integrated decision support system for the management of petroleum-contaminated sites.

In this study, a decision-support system was developed for providing environmental managers with an integrated way for concisely analyzing and visualizing the subsurface contamination problem as well as a means for evaluating alternative remediation technologies. It integrated contaminant-transport modeling, risk assessment, and remediation-system design within a general framework. The developed system was applied to a site in western Canada that is contaminated by petroleum products. A three-dimensional multiphase multicomponent model was established, which provided a basis for further risk assessment. Several approaches based on different environmental guidelines were used to analyze risks due to the site contamination. The results suggested the urgency of taking remediation actions. Six remedial alternatives for cleaning up the site were recommended. Decisions could then be made based on a series of analyses and comparisons among the given alternatives.

[Studies on chemical constituents from Dracocephalum moldavica L].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents from the whole plant of Dracocephalum moldavica. METHOD: The compounds were isolated using RA polystyrene resin and silica gel column chromatography, and the structures were elucidated by means of spectral method. RESULT: Four compounds were identified as tilianin, agastachoside, acacetin and oleanolic acid. CONCLUSION: All the compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time.

[Studies on the chemical constituents from Myristica yunnanensis Y. H. Li].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of Myristica yunnanensis. METHOD: Compounds were isolated using silica gel and reversed-phase C18 column chromatography, their structure were identified by means of spectral method. RESULT: Five known compounds were identified as otobain(I), beta-sitosterol(II), ergosterol(III), afzelin(IV) and quercetrin(V). CONCLUSION: Compounds IV and V were isolated first from Myristica.

[A further research on physiopathological basis of "Liver Yang Forming Wind Syndrome"].

The multiple experimental parameters of different aspects in this study were determined in the patients with "Liver Yang Forming Wind Syndrome (LYFWS)", "Qi Deficiency Blood Stagnation Syndrome (QDBSS)" and "Yin Deficiency Forming Wind Syndrome (YDFWS)". The results showed that cerebral hemorrhage was similar to cerebral infarction in almost all parameters and the two diseases were with LYFWS. It was found that there were several characteristics in LYFWS, i.e. 1. Hyperfunction of sympathetic adrenal medullary system. 2. Hypotriiodothyroidoglobulin syndrome. 3. The marked changes of the active substance regulating vessel smooth muscle function. 4. The increased inflammatory medicators. The pathophysiological parameters in patients with QDBSS were the same as those with YDFWS, but the changes of QDBSS and YDFWS weRe milder than those of LYFWS.

[Changes in hemorheology of traumatic optic nerve atrophy].

Whole blood viscosity (WBV), plasma viscosity (PV), hematocrit, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and fibrinogen were assayed in 20 patients with traumatic optic nerve atrophy. The results of each item in the above examinations has been compared with that of the control group. It has been demonstrated that WBV, PV, ESR and fibrinogen in the patient group were significantly higher than that in the control group (P less than 0.01). But the ESR and fibrinogen of the treatment group were significantly lower than that in the pretreatment group (P less than 0.01). The authors suggest that the result of changes in hemorheology of traumatic optic nerve atrophy is a kind of reverse phenomenon.

[Treatment of peptic ulcer with jian-wei yu-wang tablets].

This article reports the results of second stage clinical trial on the treatment of peptic ulcer with jian-wei yu-yang (JWYY) tablets in comparison with a control group treated with ranitidine. The results showed that the cure rate for JWYY tablet group was 62.4% and its effective rate was 93. 8% in 354 cases, whereas the cure rate of the control group was 50.7% and its effective rate was 86. 4% in 140 cases. The differences between these two groups were highly significant (P less than 0.01). Based on syndrome differentiation, optimal effect was reached in treating liver stagnation and spleen deficiency syndrome and disharmony of liver and stomach syndrome. After one year follow up studies of the therapeutic effect, the recurrence rate of the JWYY tablet group was 17.7%, while that of the ranitidine group was 54.1%. In addition, JWYY tablet had no side-effects. These data indicated that JWYY tablets were a more effective therapeutic remedy for peptic ulcer.

[Studies on the structure of gnetifolin A of Gnetum parvifolium (Warb.) C.Y. Cheng].

A new component, gnetifolin A, was isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of the stem of Gnetum parvifolium (Warb.) C.Y. Cheng together with three known components isorhapontigenin, resveratrol and beta-sitosterol. The structure of gnetifolin A has been established as 2-(3',5'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxyphenyl)-3-methoxy-5-hydroxybenzofuran by spectroscopic methods (UV, IR, MS, 1HNMR, 13CNMR, 2D-NMR).

Vitamin D Deficiency, hypocalcemia, and increased skeletal muscle degradation in rats.

The myopathy associated with vitamin D deficiency was examined in vitamin D-deficient and vitamin D-supplemented rats. When compared with either vitamin D-supplemented ad lib. or pair-fed rats, weight gain and muscle mass were decreased in vitamin D-deficient hypocalcemic animals. With the exception of a modest decrease in muscle creatine phosphate levels, muscle composition was unchanged by vitamin D deficiency. Muscle protein turnover rates were determined in both in vivo and in vitro studies and demonstrated that myofibrillar protein degradation was increased in vitamin D deficiency. Normal growth rates could be maintained be feeding the rats vitamin D-deficient diets containing 1.6% calcium, which maintained plasma calcium within the normal range. In addition to its role in maintaining plasma calcium, vitamin D-supplemented rats had significantly higher levels of the anabolic hormone insulin. Vitamin D supplementation may affect muscle protein turnover by preventing hypocalcemia, as well as directly stimulating insulin secretion, rather than by a direct effect within skeletal muscle.