Analgesic and anti-arthritic effects of Lingzhi and San Miao San supplementation in a rat model of arthritis induced by Freund's complete adjuvant

Aim of study

In this study, we have investigated the analgesic and anti-arthritic effects of a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) combination of Lingzhi and San Miao San (SMS) in a rat model of arthritis induced by Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA).

Materials and methods

Sprague–Dawley rats were induced with monoarthritis by single unilateral injection of FCA into the knee joint. The TCM combination was administered to the rats daily by intraperitoneal injection (50 mg/(kg day)) or via oral administration (500 mg/(kg day)) for 7 days before induction of arthritis and 7 days after. Extension angle that provoked struggling behavior, and size and blood flow of the rat knees were measured to give indexes of allodynia, edema, and hyperemia, respectively. The extent of cell infiltration, tissue proliferation, and erosions of joint cartilage provided additional indexes of the arthritis condition.

Results

FCA injection produced significant allodynia, edema, hyperemia, immune cell infiltration, synovial tissue proliferation, and erosions of joint cartilage in the ipsilateral knees compared with the contralateral saline-injected knees. Intraperitoneal injection of the TCM combination (50 mg/(kg day)) suppressed allodynia, edema, and hyperemia in the inflamed knees, and oral administration (500 mg/(kg day)) suppressed edema and hyperemia. Histological examination showed that the TCM administered by either route reduced immune cell infiltration and erosion of joint cartilage.

Conclusions

These findings suggest the Lingzhi and SMS formulation has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in arthritic rat knees, and concur to previous clinical studies that showed the TCM combination reduced pain in rheumatoid arthritis patients, and extends its possible benefit to suppression of inflammatory symptoms in these patients.     

Typhonium flagelliforme inhibits cancer cell growth in vitro and induces apoptosis: an evaluation by the bioactivity guided approach

AIM OF THE STUDY: Typhonium flagelliforme (Lodd.) Blume (Araceae) is a Malaysian plant used locally to combat cancer. In order to evaluate its antiproliferative activity in vitro and to possibly identify the active chemical constituents, a bioactivity guided study was conducted on the extracts of this plant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The active extracts of Typhonium flagelliforme were fractionated by flash column chromatography and each fraction was evaluated for antiproliferative activity using MTT assay. The apoptotic effect of the active fraction was determined microscopically and by using TUNEL colorimetric assay. GC-MS and NMR were used to determine the chemical constituents of this active fraction. RESULTS: Several fractions of the hexane and dichloromethane extracts were found to inhibit the growth of NCI-H23 non-small cell lung carcinoma cell line significantly, with IC(50)<15 microg/ml. However, most of these active fractions were also found to inhibit the growth of non-tumorigenic BALB/c 3T3 mouse fibroblast cell line except for fraction 21 of the dichloromethane extract (D/F21). This particular fraction was not only less cytotoxic to the non-tumorigenic cells, where the IC(50) was 48.6 microg/ml compared to IC(50) 7.5 microg/ml for NCI-H23, but it was also found to induce apoptosis in the cancer cell line. GC-MS analysis revealed that D/F21 contains hexadecanoic acid, 1-hexadecene, phytol and a derivative of phytol. The presence of non-saturated fatty acids in this fraction was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. CONCLUSIONS: D/F21 was found to be the active and cancer cell line specific fraction of Typhonium flagelliforme. Its major chemical constituents had been determined spectroscopically.     

Antioxidant activity of Antrodia camphorata on free radical-induced endothelial cell damage

AIM OF THE STUDY: Antrodia camphorata (A. camphorata) is well known in Taiwan as a traditional Chinese medicine. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the antioxidant activity of Antrodia camphorata on free radical-induced endothelial cell damage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, a human umbilical vein endothelial cell (EC) culture system was used to evaluate the effects of the fermented culture broth of A. camphorata (FCBA) and aqueous extracts of mycelia from A. camphorata (AEMA) against the oxidative cell damage induced by the free-radical generator AAPH. RESULTS: The present investigations show that FCBA (25-100 microg/mL) and AEMA (50-200 microg/mL) effectively protect the ECs from damage after exposure to 15 mM AAPH for 16h. However, cell viability was not affected in ECs under controlled conditions after FCBA or AEMA treatment. An increase in EC prostacyclin (PGI(2)) production in response to AAPH exposure was positively and negatively correlated with cell damage and FCBA/AEMA concentration, respectively. Both FCBA and AEMA treatment significantly inhibited AAPH-apoptotic cell death in the ECs, as evidence by reduced DNA fragmentation, cytochrome c release, caspase-3 activation, and dysregulation of Bcl-2 and Bax. Moreover, the AAPH-induced reductions in EC SOD activity and protein levels are prevented by FCBA and AEMA. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that A. camphorata possesses antioxidant properties and improves endothelial function, further offering effective protection from atherosclerosis.     

NF-κB、Notch-1和Ki-67在结肠癌中的表达及其意义

目的 探索核因子κB(NF-κB)、Notch-1和Ki-67在结肠癌组织中的表达及其临床意义.方法 收集泸州医学院附属医院病理科2008年12月至2010年1月存档结肠蜡块120例,其中结肠腺瘤20例;结肠癌90例,包括高分化腺癌45例,中分化腺癌33例,低分化腺癌12例;结肠正常黏膜组织10例.采用免疫组织化学的方...     

Radical treatment strategies improve the long-term outcome of recurrent atypical meningiomas

Background  Atypical meningioma is one of the rare subtypes of meningioma, which is lacking of optimal consensus on treatment strategies. This study aimed to investigate the radical treatment strategies to improve the long-term outcome of recurrent atypical meningiomas.

Methods  The prognostic factors including the age and gender of patients; the location, histology, recurrence pattern and mitotic cell rate of the tumors; and the resection extents, surgical strategies and adjuvant therapies of 15 cases of recurrent atypical meningiomas were analyzed retrospectively.

Results  The age and gender of patients were not associated with tumor recurrence. However, high recurrence rates and poor prognosis for atypical meningiomas were associated with the high mitotic cell rate, failure to achieve Simpson grade I-II resection, and without the dura and bone flap replacement intraoperatively. Post-operative radiotherapy improved the outcomes of tumors in patients after the second surgery.

Conclusion  Radical treatment strategies such as dura and bone flap replacements and radiotherapy should be considered in patients diagnosed with atypical meningiomas.

     

胆红素、尿酸及血脂联合检测对冠心病的诊断价值

目的探讨胆红素、尿酸及血脂联合检测对冠心病的诊断价值。方法采用Olympus AU1000全自动生化分析仪检测126例冠心病患者及106例健康者（对照组）血清胆红素、尿酸及血脂的含量。结果冠心病组与对照组比较血清甘油三酯（TG）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL—C）、尿酸（UA）含量明显升高。高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL—C）、血总胆红素（TBIL）、间接胆红素（IBIL）含量则明显下降,而总胆固醇（TC）、直接胆红素（DBIL）含量变化不明显。结论联合检测胆红素、尿酸、血脂对冠心病的诊断及病情变化监测具有一定价值。     

高分子聚合物微流控细胞芯片的改性研究

目的 探讨2种不同硅烷化试剂对高分子聚合物材料PDMS芯片的改性效果和改性后芯片在细胞捕获/筛选的初步应用.方法 接触角实验考察不同硅烷化试剂处理的PDMS样本亲水性,筛选硅烷化试剂及其浓度,以芯片上的非特异性细胞捕获实验验证筛选结果,并连接抗体构建功能化芯片,进行细胞捕获实验的初步研究.结果 2种硅烷化试剂均对...     

地黄多糖对 SD大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞骨向诱导的实验研究

目的：观察地黄多糖对 SD 大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞（ bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, BMSCs）增殖及骨向分化的影响。方法：采用全骨髓贴壁法分离培养SD 大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞;MTT 法检测不同浓度地黄多糖在不同时间点（1、3、5、7、9,、11 d）对大鼠 BMSCs 增殖情况的影响;对硝基苯磷酸盐（pNPP）法检测不同浓度地黄多糖在不同时间点（3、7、14 d）对细胞上清中 ALP 活性的影响;茜素红染色法检测不同浓度地黄多糖对 BMSCs 矿化能力的影响。结果：地黄多糖可以促进BMSCs 增殖,其最佳浓度为50μg/mL, P＜0.05;同时可以促进 BMSCs向成骨分化,其最佳浓度也为50μg/mL,P＜0.05。结论：地黄多糖具有促 BMSCs 增殖及骨向分化的作用。