Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy as a powerful method for the analysis of Chinese herbal medicines.

Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) derived from nature have received increasing attention and become more popular. Due to their diverse production processes, complex ingredients, and different storage conditions, it is highly desirable to develop simple, rapid, efficient and trace detection methods to ensure the drug quality. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy has the advantages of being time-saving, non-destructive, usable in aqueous environments, and highly compatible with various biomolecular samples, providing a promising analytical method for CHM. In this review, we outline the major advances in the application of SERS to the identification of raw materials, detection of bioactive constituents, characterization of adulterants, and detection of contaminants. This clearly shows that SERS has strong potential in the quality control of CHM, which greatly promotes the modernization of CHM.

Efficacy of Chinese Herbal Medicines on Pregnancy Outcomes in Patients with Endometriosis in Long-Term Management: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the factors related to pregnancy of endometriosis and whether Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) can improve pregnancy outcomes in patients with endometriosis in long-term management. METHODS: This multicenter cohort study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of endometriosis patients with fertility needs from January 2019 to November 2019. A total of 252 patients with endometriosis from 5 level-III Grade A hospitals in Beijing were included in this study. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed for the relevant factors. The propensity score matching (PSM) function of SPSS software was used to match the CHMs group with the non-CHMs group. The pregnancy rate and live birth rate were analyzed. RESULTS: The results of univariate analysis showed that age, disease course, presence of infertility, presence of adenomyosis, time after surgery or use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a), use of CHMs and follow-up time were influencing factors of pregnancy in endometriosis patients (P<0.05). The results of multivariate analysis showed that age, presence of adenomyosis, time after surgery or use of GnRH-a, use of CHMs and follow-up time were independent factors affecting pregnancy in endometriosis patients, among which, age ⩾35 years old, presence of adenomyosis and follow-up time >6 months were independent risk factors (OR=0.445, 0.348, 0.140, respectively, P<0.05), time after surgery or use of GnRH-a ⩽6 months and use of CHMs were independent protective factors (OR=3.839, 3.842, respectively, P<0.05). After PSM, 99 pairs of two groups were matched successfully. The pregnancy rate of the CHMs group was higher than that of the non-CHMs group [55.56% (55/99) vs. 36.36% (36/99), P<0.05]. The live birth rate of the CHMs group was higher than that of the non-CHMs group [49.49% (49/99) vs. 35.35% (35/99), P<0.05]. CONCLUSION: CHMs can effectively improve clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate of patients with endometriosis in the chronic disease management.

Response to roxadustat in a patient undergoing long-term dialysis and allergic to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor is a new class of drugs for treating renal anemia. It is a second-generation hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase-2 (PHD2) inhibitor. Roxadustat can effectively increase hemoglobin in patients with dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease, with an adverse events profile comparable to that of epoetin alfa. We administered roxadustat to a maintenance hemodialysis patient who was allergic to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and depended on blood transfusion for five years. After applying Roxadustat, the patient's anemia improved significantly. CASE SUMMARY: A 77-year-old Chinese man had type 2 diabetes for 16 years, underwent maintenance hemodialysis for five years, and had fatigue for five years. Laboratory tests showed severe anemia (hemoglobin concentration of 42 g/L). The patient was administered a subcutaneous injection of ESAs before dialysis. He suffered an allergic shock immediately and fainted. His blood pressure dropped to undetectable levels. He was not administered ESAs henceforth. The patient was prescribed iron supplements and received blood transfusions occasionally for five years. His hemoglobin concentration ranged from 42-68 g/L. After taking six weeks of oral roxadustat three times weekly (100 mg TIW), the patient's hemoglobin concentration increased significantly, and his symptoms decreased. We adjusted the doses of roxadustat, and the hemoglobin concentration was maintained between 97 and 126 g/L. CONCLUSION: Oral roxadustat is effective in treating anemia in maintenance hemodialysis patients who cannot be administered ESAs.

Factors associated with the depression status of Chinese parents who have lost their only child.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the risk factors for depression among parents who have lost their only child (PLOCs). Methods: We used a cross-sectional survey to reveal the risk factors of depression among PLOCs. Multi-stage, stratified, cluster sampling was used to recruit the participants. The cluster sampling method was used to select PLOCs in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, and Wuhu, Anhui Province, while the stratified cluster sampling method was used in Anshun, Guizhou Province. A total of 651 PLOCs were recruited in this study. Participants completed the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) and the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15). Socio-demographics were also collected, including age, sex, monthly income, education level, marital status, self-reported health, and a number of diseases were collected as well. Chi-square tests and binary logistic regression were conducted to analyze the influence of these factors on PLOCs' mental status. Results: Two hundred and fifty-eight PLOCs (39.56%) reported depression. Compared to PLOCs living in Wuhu, those living in Hangzhou (OR = 3.374, CI = 2.337-4.870) had a higher risk of depression. Being single (OR = 1.449, CI = 1.019-2.061) and the presence/absence of grandchildren (OR = 0.430, CI = 0.274-0.676)were significantly associated with the depression status of PLOCs. Conclusion: The sampled Chinese PLOCs reported a high prevalence of depression that was influenced by their place of residence, marital status, and presence/absence of grandchildren. This may highlight the need for routine assessment and help of this group by the relevant stakeholders (including government, non-profit social organizations, and professional psychologists) with more attention paid to single and low-income PLOCs that have no grandchildren. It is imperative to build a comprehensive care system of "extended family-community-society-government" for this vulnerable group.

Chondroprotective Effects of Gubitong Recipe via Inhibiting Excessive Mitophagy of Chondrocytes.

Objective: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disorder and a leading cause of disability. A previous randomized controlled trial has shown that Gubitong (GBT) recipe can improve OA-related symptoms and articular function without noticeable side effects. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to explore the therapeutic mechanisms of the GBT recipe for OA through in vivo and in vitro experiments. Methods: Rats of the OA model were established by Hulth surgery and intervened with the GBT recipe and then were subjected to pathological assessment of the cartilage. Matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13) expression in cartilage tissues was assessed by immunohistochemical staining. Chondrocytes were isolated from sucking rats and stimulated with LPS to establish an in vitro model. After intervened by water extraction of the GBT recipe, the fluorescent signal of Mtphagy Dye and mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) were detected to determine the states of mitophagy and mitochondrial dynamics of chondrocytes in vitro, respectively. Western blot test was used to detect levels of proteins related to catabolism of the cartilage matrix, mitophagy, and PI3K/AKT pathway. Results: In in vivo experiments, the GBT recipe can effectively inhibit the cartilage degeneration of chondrocytes in OA rats, as well as markedly suppress the expression of MMP-13. In vitro experiments on LPS-induced chondrocytes exhibited increase in mitochondrial depolarization and excessive mitophagy, and the GBT recipe can alleviate these changes. LPS-stimulated chondrocytes showed increases in MMP-13, PINK1, and Parkin in cell lysates and LC3II/LC3I ratio in the mitochondrial fraction, and the GBT recipe can inhibit these increases in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, the GBT recipe can attenuate the abnormal activation of PI3K/AKT pathway induced by LPS. Conclusion: The GBT recipe exhibits chondroprotective effects through inhibiting excessive mitophagy of chondrocytes, which may be associated with its inhibitory effect on the abnormal activation of PI3K/AKT pathway.

Vagus nerve stimulated by microbiota-derived hydrogen sulfide mediates the regulation of berberine on microglia in transient middle cerebral artery occlusion rats.

Amelioration of neuroinflammation via modulating microglia is a promising approach for cerebral ischemia therapy. The aim of the present study was to explore gut-brain axis signals in berberine-modulating microglia polarization following cerebral ischemia. The potential pathway was determined through analyzing the activation of the vagus nerve, hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) metabolism, and cysteine persulfides of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptor. The cerebral microenvironment feature was explored with a metabolomics assay. The data indicated that berberine ameliorated behavioral deficiency in transient middle cerebral artery occlusion rats through modulating microglia polarization and neuroinflammation depending on microbiota. Enhanced vagus nerve activity following berberine treatment was blocked by antibiotic cocktails, capsazepine, or sodium molybdate, respectively. Berberine-induced H2 S production was responsible for vagus nerve stimulation achieved through assimilatory and dissimilatory sulfate reduction with increased synthetic enzymes. Sulfation of the TRPV1 receptor resulted in vagus nerve activation and promoted the c-fos and ChAT in the nucleus tractus solitaries with berberine. Sphingolipid metabolism is the primary metabolic characteristic with berberine in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebral spinal fluid disrupted by antibiotics. Berberine, in conclusion, modulates microglia polarization in a microbiota-dependent manner. H2 S stimulates the vagus nerve through TRPV1 is responsible for the berberine-induced gut-brain axis signal transmission. Sphingolipid metabolism might mediate the neuroinflammation amelioration following vagus afferent fiber activation.

Analysis of Acanthopanax giraldii Harms Polysaccharide II Composition and Its Immune-Protective Role in a Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunosuppressive Mice Model.

Acanthopanax giraldii Harms is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat rheumatism, improve joints, and strengthen muscles and bones. The polysaccharides present in A. giraldii Harms contain major bioactive substances, which have antioxidant, anticancer, and antiviral activities. In this study, the structural characterization of the homogeneous polysaccharide isolated from A. giraldii Harms, known as AHP-II, and its immunomodulatory effects in vivo will be studied. High-performance ion chromatography (HPIC) and high-performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC) based analyses revealed that AHP-II was composed of various monosaccharides, which included rhamnose, arabinose, galactose, glucose, mannose, galacturonic acid, and glucuronic acid in molar ratios of 29.5 : 24.6 : 23.8 : 4.4 : 5.7 : 8.8 : 3.1, respectively, and had a collective molecular weight of 80.21 × 103 Da. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy indicated the presence of a pyranose ring and ß-type glycosidic linkages in AHP-II. In addition, immunomodulatory effect analyses of AHP-II that used a cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressive mouse model demonstrated that its treatment could significantly restore spleen and thymus indices, promote the proliferation of splenic lymphocytes, elevate CD4+ T lymphocyte percentage and CD4+ : CD8+ ratio in the spleen, promote macrophage phagocytosis, and restore cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, IgM, and IgG) levels. These results suggested that AHP-II could potentially be used as natural immunomodulator and as an alternative treatment to reduce chemotherapy-induced immunosuppression.

Qingyi decoction protects against myocardial injuries induced by severe acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: We studied the protective effects of Qingyi decoction (QYD) (a Traditional Chinese Medicine) against severe acute pancreatitis (SAP)-induced myocardial infarction (MI). AIM: To study the function and mechanism of QYD in the treatment of myocardial injuries induced by SAP. METHODS: Ultrasonic cardiography, hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, western blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and apoptosis staining techniques were used to determine the effects of QYD following SAP-induced MI in Sprague-Dawley rats. RESULTS: Our SAP model showed severe myocardial histological abnormalities and marked differences in the symptoms, mortality rate, and ultrasonic cardiography outputs among the different groups compared to the control. The expression of serum cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, amyloid ß, and tumor necrosis factor-α] were significantly higher in the SAP versus QYD treated group (P < 0.05 for all). STIM1 and Orai1 expression in myocardial tissue extracts were significantly decreased post QYD gavage (P < 0.001). There was no significant histological difference between the 2-aminoethyl diphenylborinate inhibitor and QYD groups. The SAP group had a significantly higher apoptosis index score compared to the QYD group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: QYD conferred cardio-protection against SAP-induced MI by regulating myocardial-associated protein expression (STIM1 and Orai1).

Effects of Gui Zhu Yi Kun formula on the P53/AMPK pathway of autophagy in granulosa cells of rats with polycystic ovary syndrome.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the molecular mechanism associated with the traditional Chinese medicine formula Gui Zhu Yi Kun formula (GZYKF), in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In this study, granulosa cells (GCs) of rats with PCOS were cultured and treated with testosterone propionate (TP) alone or with serum from rats treated with different doses of GZYKF. The effect of TP on cell growth was assayed using the MTT method. Expression levels of Beclin-1, light chain (LC)3, mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), tumor suppressor p53 (p53), adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), sestrin2 and tuberous sclerosis protein 1/2 were evaluated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. It was demonstrated that TP increased the expression of Beclin-1 and LC3, whereas GZYKF significantly decreased the TP-induced expression of Beclin-1 (P<0.01). Additionally, GCs treated with GZYKF exhibited significant increases in mTOR, phosphorylated mTOR and AMPKα expression levels, and significant reductions in p53 and sestrin2 expression levels were observed. In conclusion, the findings of the present study suggest that a reduction in ovarian GCs in rats with PCOS may be associated with GC autophagy. Furthermore, the effects of GZYKF in mediating the p53/AMPK pathway may inhibit GC autophagy, which suggests a possible novel mechanism underlying the treatment of PCOS with GZYKF.

Anti-tumor and immunomodulatory activity of selenium (Se)-polysaccharide from Se-enriched Grifola frondosa.

A polysaccharide termed Se-GP11 was extracted and purified from Se-enriched Grifola frondosa in our previous study. This study investigated the characterization, anti-tumor and immunomodulatory activity of Se-GP11. The results showed that Se-GP11 was composed of mannose, glucose and galactose with a molar ratio of 1:4.91:2.41. The weight-average molecular weight (Mw) and weight-average mean square radius (Rw) of Se-GP11 in 0.1M sodium chloride solution were 3.3×10(4)Da and 32.8 nm. Se-GP11 existed as a globular conformation with random coil structure. Se-GP11 had no anti-tumor activity against HepG-2 cells in vitro, and it significantly inhibited the growth of Heps tumor in vivo. Se-GP11 increased the relatively thymus and spleen weights as well as serum necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) levels. In addition, Se-GP11 promoted the phagocytosis and NO production of RAW264.7 as compared with that of the normal control group. The results revealed that the Se-GP11 may exhibit the anti-tumor through improving immunologic function of the tumor bearing mice.

Therapeutic effect of Qingyi decoction in severe acute pancreatitis-induced intestinal barrier injury.

AIM: To investigate the effect of Qingyi decoction on the expression of secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) in intestinal barrier injury. METHODS: Fifty healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control, severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), Qingyi decoction-treated (QYT), dexamethasone-treated (DEX), and verapamil-treated (VER) groups. The SAP model was induced by retrograde infusion of 1.5% sodium deoxycholate into the biliopancreatic duct of the rats. All rats were sacrificed 24 h post-SAP induction. Arterial blood, intestine, and pancreas from each rat were harvested for investigations. The levels of serum amylase (AMY) and diamine oxidase (DAO) were determined using biochemical methods, and serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α level was measured by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Pathologic changes in the harvested tissues were investigated by microscopic examination of hematoxylin and eosin-stained tissue sections. The expressions of sPLA2 at mRNA and protein levels were detected by reverse transcriptase PCR and Western blot, respectively. A terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling assay was used to investigate apoptosis of epithelial cells in the intestinal tissues. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, the expression of sPLA2 at both the mRNA and protein levels increased significantly in the SAP group (0.36 ± 0.13 vs 0.90 ± 0.38, and 0.16 ± 0.05 vs 0.64 ± 0.05, respectively; Ps < 0.01). The levels of AMY, TNF-α and DAO in serum were also significantly increased (917 ± 62 U/L vs 6870 ± 810 U/L, 59.7 ± 14.3 ng/L vs 180.5 ± 20.1 ng/L, and 10.37 ± 2.44 U/L vs 37.89 ± 5.86 U/L, respectively; Ps < 0.01). The apoptosis index of intestinal epithelial cells also differed significantly between the SAP and control rats (0.05 ± 0.02 vs 0.26 ± 0.06; P < 0.01). The serum levels of DAO and TNF-α, and the intestinal apoptosis index significantly correlated with sPLA2 expression in the intestine (r = 0.895, 0.893 and 0.926, respectively; Ps < 0.05). The levels of sPLA2, AMY, TNF-α, and DAO in the QYT, VER, and DEX groups were all decreased compared with the SAP group, but not the control group. Qingyi decoction intervention, however, gave the most therapeutic effect against intestinal barrier damage, although the onset of its therapeutic effect was slower. CONCLUSION: Qingyi decoction ameliorates acute pancreatitis-induced intestinal barrier injury by inhibiting the overexpression of intestinal sPLA2. This mechanism may be similar to that of verapamil.

Microvascular density and vascular endothelial growth factor and osteopontin expression during the implantation window in a controlled ovarian hyperstimulation rat model.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and osteopontin (OPN) are suggested to facilitate angiogenesis and vascular remodeling in endometrial receptivity. Determination of the endometrial microvascular density (MVD) is the commonest method used to indirectly assess the levels of vasculogenesis and angiogenesis; however, the associations among VEGF, OPN and MVD remain unclear. Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) with the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist-long protocol may impair endometrial receptivity, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) may exert therapeutic effects to relieve this impairment. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of COH on implantation biology and pregnancy outcome, and to explore the potential therapeutic role of the TCM Zi Dan Yin (ZDY). Female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups: Control, COH, ZDY and COH + ZDY. On days 3, 4 and 5 of pregnancy (D3, D4 and D5, respectively), endometrial MVD was measured with cluster of differentiation 34 immunohistochemical detection, and VEGF and OPN protein and mRNA expression was detected through western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis. On D10, the average number of implantation sites was observed. Subsequent to conceiving and bearing newborn rats, the number of live births from each group was recorded. COH was shown to have adverse effects on implantation and pregnancy outcome. The MVD was found to be significantly increased in the COH group compared with that in the control, ZDY and COH+ZDY groups. The results of the protein and RT-qPCR analysis of VEGF and OPN revealed the same trend. Conversely, ZDY reversed the changes in endometrial MVD, VEGF and OPN, and was indicated to improve uterine receptivity and pregnancy outcome. No significant difference was observed among the control, ZDY and COH + ZDY groups. In conclusion, since the results for MVD and VEGF and OPN expression were consistent, MVD could be used as an alternative approach to identify the period of receptivity in rats.

Chinese medicine improves postoperative quality of life in endometriosis patients: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Chinese medicine (CM) and Western medicine (WM) on quality of life (QOL) after conservative surgery for endometriosis. METHODS: A total of 320 patients with endometriosis were randomized into two groups by using random block design, CM group (160 cases, activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis treatment based on syndrome differentiation) and WM group (160 cases, gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist or gestrinone treatment) after conservative surgery. Treatment was given for 3-6 months (according to the revised American Fertility Society scoring system stage), and the World Health Organization QOL-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) was applied to patients before and after treatment to assess QOL. RESULTS: There were 136 cases in the CM group and 141 cases in the WM group completing therapy. In the CM group, the use of the WHOQOL-BREF showed that the physical, psychological and environmental scores posttreatment were significantly higher than those at pre-treatment (P < 0.05), and for 12 items (pain and discomfort, energy and fatigue, sleep and rest, mobility, activities of daily living, work capacity, negative feelings, health and social care: accessibility and quality, participation in and opportunities for recreation/leisure activities, appetite, QOL score, overall health status and QOL), the difference in scores was significant (P < 0.05). In the WM group, 4 items (pain and discomfort, opportunities for acquiring new information and skills, QOL score, overall health status and QOL) had significantly different scores post-treatment compared with those at pre-treatment (P < 0.05). Before treatment, the QOL in the two groups of patients showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). After treatment, the scores for physical health in the CM group were significantly higher than those of the WM group (P < 0.05) and the scores of 4 items (mobility, activities of daily living, sexual activity, QOL score) in the CM group were significantly higher than those in the WM group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: CM and WM treatment could improve the QOL of patients with endometriosis after conservative surgery. CM treatment is more effective than WM.

Effect of Danshensu on fibronectin and collagen-1 secretion induced by high glucose in human peritoneal mesothelial cells / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the possible role of Danshensu on fibronectin (FN) and collagen-I (Col-I) secretion induced by high glucose in human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs).@*METHODS@#HPMCs were treated with high glucose and Danshensu at different concentrations. The mRNA expression of FN, Col-I, endothelin-1 (ET-1), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The protein expression of FN, Col-I HO-1 and ET-1 were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or immunofluorescence method.@*RESULTS@#The expression of protein and mRNA of FN and Col-I were attenuated by Danshensu in both dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. The mRNA and protein levels of ET-1 were decreased, and the mRNA and protein levels of HO-1 increased in the Danshensu groups in a dose-dependent manner compared with the high glucose group. The expression of ET-1 and HO-1 showed little difference in a time gradient of danshensu(P>0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Danshensu can protect HPMCs through inhibiting the expression of FN and Col-I induced by high glucose, which is related to the suppression of oxidative stress.

[Review of the development of the concept of Holistic nursing].

In 1926, Smuts put forward the concept of "holistic". Then, this concept was introduced into the field of nursing. The presentation of system theory, levels and models of people's needs, theory of solving-problem provided the theoretical base for "holistic nursing". Beginning from the definition of health provided by WHO in 1948, many scholars put forward a set of nursing concepts, such as nursing process, theory of goal attainment, holistic human body, etc. In these concepts, the concept of holistic nursing was improved gradually, and finally formed the thought and method which were focused on patients, guided by concept of modern nursing, based on the nursing process, and it applied the systematic nursing process into the clinical nursing and its administration. At present, holistic nursing has been applied widely in the world. Reviewing its history will benefit the understanding of its connotation, and its application in the clinic for further improvement.

Immunoregulatory effects of ethyl-acetate fraction of extracts from Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et. Gilg on immune functions of ICR mice.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of ethyl-acetate fraction (EAF) of extracts from Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et. Gilg (TDG) on immune functions of ICR mice. METHODS: ICR mice were exposed to different doses of EAF for 15 or 30 days and then their immune functions were analyzed, including ConA-induced splenic lymphocyte transformation, SRBC-induced delayed type hypersensitivity response, serum hemolysin analysis, antibody-producing cells, peritoneal macrophage phagocytized chicken red blood cells, natural killer cell activity, and serum level of cytokines. RESULTS: EAF of extracts from TDG at different doses had various effects on immune functions of ICR mice. As compared with the controls, it increased the mouse spleen lymphocyte transformation induced by ConA, the left-hind voix pedis thickness and the number of plague forming cells (PFCs) at the dose of 1.82 mg/mL, 5.48 mg/mL, and 9.12 mg/mL, respectively; increased the ink clearance ability at the dose of 0.91 mg/mL, 1.82 mg/mL, 5.48 mg/mL, and 9.12 mg/mL, respectively; increased the phagocytosis index of mononuclear-macrophages and production of serum interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) at the dose of 5.48 mg/mL; and could promote the production of serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) at the dose of 9.12 mg/mL. CONCLUSION: EAF of extracts from TDG can regulate mouse immune functions in vivo.

Renal protective activity of Hsian-tsao extracts in diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the renal protective activity of Hsian-tsao Mesona procumbens Hemsl. water extracts in diabetic rats. METHODS: Thirty Sprague-dawley female rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 10 each), "control group" with intraperitoneal saline injection, "diabetic group" with 60 mg of intraperitoneal streptozotocin injection per kg of body weight and "Hsian-tsao group" with intragastric administration of Hsian-tsao extraction everyday for 4 weeks after intraperitoneal streptozotocin injection. The body weight and blood sugar were measured before and after model induction in the three groups. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) expressions in the kidney were monitored by immunohistochemistry. Kidney ultrastructural changes were also analyzed by using transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: Before diabetic model induction, there were no significant differences among the three groups in body weight and blood sugar. Four weeks after the induction of diabetes, the differences became statistically significant. Electron microscopy also revealed disruption of the foot processes of the podocytes and other damages in diabetic group. These damages were significantly less severe in Hsian-tsao group when compared with the diabetic group. TSP-1 expressions in the kidney were significantly increased in both the diabetic group and Hsian-tsao group, but it was relatively lower in Hsian-tsao group than in diabetic group. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that Hsian-tsao treatment in the diabetic rats effectively prevented the pathological alterations in the kidney and decreased the TSP-1 expression. It was suggested that Hsian-tsao had protective effect on the kidneys of the diabetic rats.

[Biological characters of rice on P-deficient soils with different pH value].

With pot culture, this paper studied the biological characters of four low-P tolerant rice genotypes 99011, 580, 508 and 99112 and two low-P sensitive rice genotypes 99012 and 99056 on three P-deficient soils with different pH. The results indicated that on test soils, 580, 508 and 99112 had similar low-P tolerant ability. 99011 had poor low-P tolerant ability on alkaline soil, with its relative grain yield being 11.9% and 10.4% less than that on acid and neutral soil, respectively. 99012 showed a relatively stronger low-P tolerant ability on alkaline soil, and its relative grain yield was 19.6% higher than that on acid soil and 22.2% higher than that on neutral soil. 99056 showed a stronger low-P tolerant ability on acid soil, and its relative grain yield was 25.0% and 19.6% higher than that on alkaline and neutral soil, respectively. The effects of soil P level and soil type on rice grain yield mainly manifestied on the number of available spike. The P concentration and its relative value in flag leaves of 99011, 580, 508 and 99112 were significantly higher than those of 99012 and 99056, which might be another factor resulting in the stronger low-P tolerant ability of 99011, 580, 508 and 99112 than 99012 and 99056.

Genetic analysis of agricultural traits in rice related to phosphorus efficiency.

Relative tillering ability, available spike, biomass, and grain yield of P1, P2, F1, and F(2,3) were used to study the genetic development of rice related to phosphorus efficiency with a quantitative genetic model. The results indicated that under a low-P condition, the relative tillering ability and the relative available spike were apt to the additivity-dominance-epistasis model with two couples of major genes, between which additive, dominant and epistatic effects existed, and with multi-gene modifications. Their maximum major gene effect mostly indicated additivity, but sub-maximum major gene effect mostly indicated dominance. Relative biomass and grain yield were apt to the additivity-dominance-epistasis and multi-genes model. The heritabilities of the major genes were 60.08% and 37.70%, and those of the multi-genes were 32.15% and 58.9%, respectively. This meant that the heritabilities of the relative tillering ability, the relative available spike, and the relative biomass were high, so they were ideal indexes for rice breeding tolerating to low-P stress; whereas, the heritability of the relative grain yield was low, which meant that the grain yield was easily affected by the environment.