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The present study investigated the effect of extract of Poria cocos polysaccharides(PCP) on cytochrome P450 2 E1(CYP2 E1) and nuclear factor κB(NF-κB) inflammatory signaling pathways in alcoholic liver disease(ALD) mice and explored its protective effect and mechanism. Sixty male C57 BL/6 N mice of SPF grade were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, a positive drug group(bifendate, 200 mg·kg~(-1)), and high-(200 mg·kg~(-1)) and low-dose(50 mg·kg~(-1)) PCP groups. Gao-binge mo-del was induced and the mice in each group were treated correspondingly. Liver morphological and pathological changes were observed and organ index was calculated. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) were detected. Malondialdehyde(MDA) and superoxide dismutase(SOD) in liver tissues were detected by assay kits. The levels of interleukin-6(IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) were detected by ELISA. The activation of macrophages was observed by immunofluorescence staining and protein expression of CYP2 E1, Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4), NF-κB p65, and phosphorylated NF-κB p65(p-NF-κB p65) were analyzed by Western blot. The ALD model was properly induced. Compared with the model group, the PCP groups significantly improved the pathological injury of liver tissues. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that compared with the model group, the groups with drug intervention showed decreased macrophages in liver tissues. Additionally, the PCP groups showed reduced ALT, AST, MDA, IL-6, and TNF-α(P<0.05), and potentiated activity of SOD(P<0.01). PCP extract has the protective effect against alcoholic liver injury in mice, and the underlying mechanism may be related to the regulation of the expression of CYP2 E1 and inhibition of TLR4/NF-κB inflammatory signaling pathway to reduce oxidative stress and inflammatory injury, thereby inhibiting the development of ALD.

To investigate the effect of the hyperforin (HF) on learning and memory function and Aβ₁₋₄₂, βAPP and BACE1 protein expressions in hippocampus of five-month-old APP/PS1 double transgenic mice, and discuss the underlying mechanism of HF. The five-month-old APP/PS1 double transgenic mice were randomly divided into the model group, rosiglitazone group (12 mg•kg⁻¹•d⁻¹) and HF high dose, middle dose and low dose groups (600, 300 and 150 mg•kg⁻¹•d⁻¹) in each group; in addition, 15C57BL/6J mice with the same months and background were selected as normal group. Drugs were diluted in the same volume before using, and then administrated by ig for 7 months, 1 time a day; the mice in normal group and model group received the same volume of distilled water. The learning and memory ability was tested by Morris water maze; Aβ₁₋₄₂, βAPP and BACE1proteinexpressionlevelswere tested by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The Morris water maze results showed that as compared with the normal group, the learning and memory ability was significantly impaired in mice of model group (P<0.01); as compared with the model group, the learning and memory ability was improved in mice of rosiglitazone group and HF high, middle and low dose groups(P<0.01 or P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry and western blot results showed thatas compared with the normal group, the Aβ₁₋₄₂, βAPP and BACE1 protein expression levels in hippocampus were significantly increased in mice of model group (P<0.01);as compared with the model group, Aβ₁₋₄₂, βAPP and BACE1 protein expression levels in hippocampus were decreased in mice of rosiglitazone group and HF high, middle and low dose groups (P<0.01 or P<0.05). HF may improve the learning and memory ability of AD model mice via inhibition of βAPP and BACE1 protein expressions, thus reduced the generation of Aβ₁₋₄₂ proteins and amyloid plaque deposits in the brain., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.)

Objective: To quantitatively evaluate the intervention effect of schistosomiasis health education on the knowledge, attitude and behavior (KAP) among the primary school students., Methods: A questionnaire was designed to collect baseline data. Questionnairing was conducted among students of grades 3 and 4 from the Central Primary School, Liyuzhou Primary School, and Meichi Primary School in Wuxing Farm of Nanchang City in June 2010. Eighty-four students from Central Primary School were selected as experiment group, and 62 students in the other two schools served as control group. Health education intervention (knowledge lectures, information dissemination, intensive education and so on) was conducted for the students in experiment group from September 2010 to October 2011. Final KAP questionnaire survey was carried out after intervention. A KAP hierarchical evaluation method was used to calculate the KAP scores in the two groups before and after intervention., Results: After health education, the total KAP score in experiment group increased from 8.40 before education to 9.36 (t = 2.994 4, P < 0.01), higher than that of the control (8.53, t = 5.335 5, P < 0.01). The scores of knowledge, attitude and behavior of schistosomiasis control increased from 6.16, 9.10, and 8.67 before education to 8.12, 9.86, and 9.45 after education in experiment group (t = 5.716 8, P < 0.01; t = 3.2764, P < 0.01; t = 3.276 4, P < 0.01), respectively. Compared to the experiment group, after health education the scores of knowledge (6.34, t = 3.517 5, P < 0.01) and attitude of schistosomiasis control (9.43, t = 2.311 9, P < 0.05) were lower in control group; but no significant difference was found on the score of behavior between the two groups. After health education, the scores of 26 indices in experiment group were higher than that of the control and before education., Conclusion: The health education intervention is effective for schistosomiasis control in the experiment school.

Objective: To investigate the role of vascular mimicry in the development of the pterygium., Methods: Two hundred and eighteen pterygium specimens were collected from pterygium operations, 97 of them were studied under the light microscope by immunohistochemistry and immunohistochemistry combined with PAS stain (primary antibodies included CD34, laminin and VEGF). Specimens were incubated with primary antibodies at 37 degrees C for 60 mins, followed by incubation with secondary antibodies at 37 degrees C for 30 mins, stained by DAB, oxidized by 0.5% periodic acid for 10 mins, stained by Schiff staining for 20 mins, counterstained by Mayer-Hematoxylin staining for 3 mins, washed with water and then mounted., Results: Vascular mimicry was identified in 97 of 218 pterygium specimens, which appeared as tubular type and network matrix type. The septa of meshwork stained positively with PAS stain. CD34 immunohistochemical staining combined with PAS staining showed that the arcs and cells in the meshwork were stained positively with CD34 and were encircled by PAS positive extracellular matrix. Laminin immunohistochemical staining combined with PAS staining showed that part of endothelial cells and blood vessel walls were stained positively by laminin, but most cells in the tubular-like region were stained negatively. VEGF immunohistochemical staining combined with PAS staining showed that fibroblast-like cells in the network matrix were stained positively by VEGF and the septa of meshwork and extracellular matrices were stained positively by PAS., Conclusion: Vascular mimicry exists in the pterygium and is one of the blood supply pathways of the pterygium.

Objective: To develop a novel immunotherapy model of retinoblastoma (RB) in human PBL non-obese diabetic-severe combined immunodeficient (NOD-SCID) mice, and to investigate its biological features., Methods: Twenty NOD-SCID mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: group A, subcutaneous injection of phosphate buffered saline; group B, intraperitoneal injection of human peripheral blood lymphocyte (hu-PBL) for immune reconstruction; group C, subcutaneous injection of SO-RB50 cells and group D, intraperitoneal injection of hu-PBL with subcutaneous injection of SO-RB50 cells. The physical status of NOD-SCID mice and the tumor growth were observed. Human IgG in mouse serum was assayed by ELISA. Human T lymphocytes in murine spleen and peripheral blood were evaluated by flow cytometry. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemical studies were also performed., Results: In groups C and D, the latent period of tumor growth was 12 - 19 days, and the taken rates of RB were 100%. Histological and immunohistochemical results showed that the tumor cells of the two groups retained the characteristics of human low differentiation RB. More interesting, some human lymphocytes stained by human LCA presented in transplanted tumors and murine spleens. Human IgG and T lymphocytes were detected in humanized groups (groups B and D)., Conclusions: The RB model in the human PBL NOD-SCID mice has been successfully established, which simulates the biological behavior of human spontaneous RB. This model may be useful for the studying of immune regression and immunotherapy of human RB.

Objective: To evaluate the curative effect of KGF-2 on the alkali-injured rabbit eye and to investigate the mechanism of KGF-2 accelerating corneal epithelial wound healing., Methods: Alkali burn was produced in 24 corneas from 24 New Zealand rabbits. Four groups were randomly divided. Three groups (A, B, and C groups) were treated with KGF-2 solution (1, 50, 100 microg/ml, respectively), and one group (D group) was treated with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution. The injured eyes were photographed after the fluorescence staining with a slit lamp and the pictures were analyzed with computer-aided picture analysis system to calculate the rate of corneal epithelial healing. Morphologic and immunohistological examinations (using P63, AE5 and EGFR antibodies) of the cornea were performed., Results: KGF-2 at dosages ranging from 1 microg/ml to 100 microg/ml could enhance the cornea wound healing process. After 24 hours, epithelial healing rate of the 100 microg/ml KGF-2 group and the PBS treated group was 74% and 40%, respectively (P < 0.05). The corneal epithelial healing rate of each group was variable after four days and achieved complete healing after ten days. The P63 positive cells in KGF-2 groups appeared not only in the limbal area but also in the central area. For example, on the seventh day, in the limbal area, the P63 positive cells in the 100 microg/ml KGF-2 group, the PBS treated group and the normal group were 53.8 +/- 2.6, 29.5 +/- 2.2 and 17.0 +/- 2.1, respectively (P = 0.000). At the same time, the P63 positive cells in the non-limbal area in the 100 microg/ml KGF-2 group, the PBS treated group and the normal group were 69.5 +/- 2.8, 19.5 +/- 2.8 and 0, respectively (P = 0.000)., Conclusions: These results suggested KGF-2 can stimulate the limbal epithelial stem cells to migrate to the central cornea. KGF-2 can accelerate the healing of alkali burned cornea.

Objective: To observe morphological changes of oil-associated complications in silicone oil-filled human eyes, and to further explore their pathogenesis., Methods: The morphology analysis and immunohistochemistrical study were performed in 25 specimens including 8 eyeballs, 1 ocular content, 4 preretinal membranes, 4 corneal buttons and 8 lens from human eyes with silicone oil tamponade. Two of preretinal membranes acquired freshly were also evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM)., Results: Endothelium cell loss (90%) and band keratopathy (83%) were the most typical changes in silicone oil-associated keratopathy;while epithelial cell fibrosis was the most frequent histopathological features in silicone oil-associated cataract. In 8 eyeballs and 1 ocular content, it was found that damages to normal retinal layers and formation of preretinal or subretinal membrane with extensive silicone bubbles were obvious in the cases of silicone oil-associated retinopathy, which included loss and degeneration of neuron cells. Moreover, in 3 eyeballs with silicone oil for more than 60 months, retinas were completely replaced by fibril membranes, and the oil vacuoles were also found in sclerocorneal scar, trabecula, iris, ciliary body, choroid, optic nerve and its tunica vaginalis. These finding demonstrated that the longer the silicone oil was retained in eyeballs, the more severe its complications were. Different sizes of silicone bubbles in 2 preretinal membranes were noted easier by TEM than light microscopy. There were some macrophages marker (CD68) positive staining cells in the tissues filled with silicone bubbles, such as preretinal or subretinal membrane and optic nerve. Partial of the membranes surrounding the oil bubbles was positive for GFAP staining, and other part was positive stained for Vimentin., Conclusions: Intraocular silicone oil can damage the normal tissue structures and function if it is retained in eyeballs too long. This results suggest that silicone oil should be removed timely after the retinal reattachment stabilized and can not be used as a kind of long term intraocular tamponade.