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A stable mouse model of hyperuricemia was established by intraperitoneal injection of xanthine and oxonate, comparing the water extracts (containing crude drug 360 mg · mL(-1)) of Ermiao pill categorized formula (The ratio of atractylodes lancea to cortex phellodendri was 1:1, 1:2 and 2:1, respectively) and Ermiao pill (360 mg · mL(-1)) administered to different groups of animals continuously for two weeks and assessing the protection or treatment of drug on hyperuricemia. The xanthine oxidase (XOD) activities in serum and liver were detected by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy at 570 nm wavelength, The results showed that as compared with each group, the XOD activity of the model group was significantly increased in serum (p < 0.01), XOD activity showed no significant difference in liver (p > 0.05), but compared with the model group, the XOD activity of each treatment group was significantly lower in serum and liver (p < 0.01), especially for the group treated with Ermiao pill categorized formula with the ratio of Atractylodes lancea to Cortex Phellodendri being 1:2. The morphological changes of glomerular and tubular interstitial fibrosis were measured by Hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE staining) and Masson trichrome staining (Masson staining)for kidney paraffin sections. The results showed that the glomerular atrophy, vascular loops confusion, a certain degree of inflammatory cell infiltration, interstitial fibrosis and other phenomena appeared in the model group. Compared to model group, these pathological phenomena of the treatment groups were significantly improved. The area showed that compared with each group, the fibrosis of the model group was significantly increased (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05), but compared with Ermiao pill categorized formula, the differences for the group of Ermiao pill was lower (p < 0.01), especially for the group treated with Ermiao pill categorized formula with the ratio of Atractylodes lancea to Cortex Phellodendri being 1 : 2. In this experiment, the damage of kidney and XOD activity serve as the index to evaluate the protection or treatment of drug on hyperuricemia, providing a scientific basis for the development of Ermiao pill categorized formula.

Tolerance after clinical transplantation (Tx) is still extremely rare. However, Kyoto elective protocol enabled a substantial number of patients to weaned off immunosuppression after liver Tx. This is referred to as an immunoprivilege. Nevertheless, the operating mechanisms for liver Tx tolerance remain elusive. The authors demonstrated that regulatory T cells (Tregs) are likely to play an important role in liver Tx tolerance. In addition, we found that precursor like Tregs exist in the human peripheral blood. This can propagate upon stimulation with allo-antigen, in contrast to anergic property of Tregs. Thus, the exploitation of precursor like Tregs as a cellular source of ex vivo and in vivo expansion may lead to the widespread clinical use of Tregs for Tx.

Many arachidonic metabolites have been shown to have marked potent biological effects in animals. The cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase products of arachidonate metabolism are known to play a key role in the development of inflammatory symptoms and signs. Reports published during past decades indicate that cyclooxygenase products of arachidonic acid metabolism are present in much higher concentrations in inflamed than in healthy periodontal tissues. Since information about the role of lipoxygenase products of arachidonic acid metabolism in human periodontal disease is lacking, the objective of this study was to determine the ability of diseased and non-diseased gingival tissue to synthesize lipoxygenase products from the precursor arachidonic acid. Twenty-six samples of diseased tissue and nine samples of non-diseased tissue were included in our data analysis. After incubation of the tissue with 100,000 cpm [3H]-arachidonic acid, lipoxygenase products were separated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and identified by comparison with cochromatographed standards. Our results showed that inflamed gingival tissue synthesized significantly larger amounts, of LTB4(p < 0.01), LTC4(p < 0.01), LTD4(p < 0.01), LTE4(p < 0.01), 5-HETE(p < 0.05), 12-HETE(p < 0.01), and 15-HETE(p < 0.01), compared to non-diseased tissue. The lipoxygenases are more active in inflamed gingival tissue than in non-diseased gingival tissue. 12-HETE and 15-HETE were the the major metabolites formed by lipoxygenases in diseased and non-diseased human gingiva. Since we did not functionally determine the fractions separated by HPLC, our present data may only provided indirect evidence for the existence of lipoxygenase products in periodontal tissue. However, our study did establish a research model for the investigation of arachidonic acid metabolism in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease.

In order to evaluate 201Tl SPECT for the assessment of tumor viability after radiation therapy. Twenty rabbits were implanted with VX-2 tumor in the left femoral muscles and were classified into four groups as follows: normal control group (N), 20 Gy irradiated response group (A), 20 Gy irradiated non-response group (B), and 40 Gy irradiated group (C). Eight days after implantation, 201Tl SPECT and CT studies were performed to assess the changes in 201Tl uptake and tumor volume at 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after single irradiation. Histologic specimens were also taken. In group N tumors continued to increase in volume, but 201Tl uptake showed a steady decrease after 2 weeks. In group A tumors continued to increase in volume, but 201Tl uptake showed a transient decrease at 2 weeks, then a steady increase. In group B tumors showed a transient increase in volume at 2 weeks, then a continuous decrease, but 201Tl uptake showed a continuous decrease throughout the study. In group C there was a continuous decrease both in volume and 201Tl uptake with the later more prominent. 201Tl uptake was decreased earlier than tumor volume both in group B and C, at one week that was significant (p < 0.01). 201Tl uptake by tumor reflects the burden of viable tumor on histology; therefore 201Tl SPECT is of great use in assessing the therapeutic effects on tumors.

Specimens obtained by open prostatectomy from patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia were used for primary stromal cell culture. Cell were treated with norepinephrine and alpha-1 blocker, prazosin. The cell proliferation was measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation and cell number. The cellular hypertrophy was assessed by flow cytometric analysis. Norepinephrine did not stimulate cell proliferation and prazosin did not induce to inhibit cell growth. Prazosin also did not have any effect on the hypertrophic stromal cell stimulated by serum. Our results suggested that alpha-1 adrenoceptors had no relation to the cellular hypertrophy or hyperplasia in the prostate.