sp. nov., isolated from coastal sediment.

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, facultative anaerobic bacterium, designated strain 3539, was isolated from coastal sediment of Weihai, PR China. Optimal growth occurred at 28 °C, pH 7.5-8.

[Immunopharmacological action of sinomenine, an alkaloid isolated from Sinomenium acutum, and its mechanism of action in treating rheumatoid arthritis].

Aim: To observe the effects of sinomenine on the immune functions and apoptosis of murine lymphocyte as well as on human synovial fibroblast proliferation.

Methods: Both in vivo and in vitro tests were adopted. The lymphocyte proliferation induced by mitogens was assayed by MTT method.

Hepatoprotective role of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide against BCG-induced immune liver injury in mice.

Aim: To examine the effect of ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide (GLP) on the immune liver injury induced by BCG infection, and investigate the relationship between degrees of hepatic damage and NO production in mice.

Methods: Immune hepatic injury was markedly induced by BCG-pretreatment (125 mg.kg(-1), 2-week, iv) or by BCG-pretreatment plus lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 125 microg.

Dynamic effects of leflunomide on IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-alpha activity produced from peritoneal macrophages in adjuvant arthritis rats.

Aim: To investigate the effects of leflunomide (LEF) on modulating interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor- alpha (TNF-alpha) production induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in peritoneal macrophages (PMphi) in adjuvant arthritis rats and elucidate the possible mechanisms of antiinflammatory and antirheumatoid effects of LEF.

Methods: Freund's complete adjuvant was injected in the hind footpad of rats to induce adjuvant arthritis (AA) rat model. The PMphi samples were taken at different time after medication.