Increased Abnormal Erythrocytes Caused by Spleen Filtration Deficiency Provide a Hypoxic Environment for the Occurrence of Psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease with a long disease course and frequent relapse characteristics. It is now recognised to be associated with epidermal environments of inflammatory cytokines. However, its pathogenesis is still not completely clear.

Platycodon grandiflorus enhances the effect of DDP against lung cancer by down regulating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Cisplatin (DDP) is a first-line drug for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but its efficacy and applications are constrained by intolerance and serious side effects. Platycodon grandiflorus (PG) is usually used as lung medicinal drug to enhance other drug's effect on lung diseases. Therefore, present study aim to investigate anti-NSCLC effect of PG with DDP and mechanism involved in the combination for the first time.

Smilax glabra Rhizoma affects the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of methotrexate by increasing the P‑glycoprotein mRNA expression in rats after oral administration.

Methotrexate (MTX) is a widely used immunosuppressant and anticancer agent with high toxicity. Smilax glabra Rhizoma (SGR) has the effect of detoxification and immunoregulation, and has been used as both food and folk medicine in many countries. Co‑administration of MTX and SGR occurs in several diseases.

Targeting AMPK Signaling Pathway to Overcome Drug Resistance for Cancer Therapy.

Mulitdrug resistance (MDR) is one of critical factorslimiting the efficacy of cancer chemoor radiotherapy. Emerging evidence has indicated that MDR is a complex process regulated by multiple factors, among which stress response molecules are considered as central players. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a major regulator balancing energy supply and ultimately protects cells from harmful stresses via coordinating multiple metabolic pathways Notably, AMPK activation was recently shown to mediate the metabolism reprogramming in drug resistant cancer cells including promoting Warburg effects and mitochondrial biogenesis.

Effect of Sanqi Oral Liquid on the expressions of CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD68⁺ cells in 5/6 nephrectomized rats with chronic renal failure.

Objective: To explore the mechanisms of Chinese herbal medicine Sanqi Oral Liquid, composed of Astragalus membranaceus and Panpax notoginseng, in alleviating renal injury by observing its effect on the expressions of CD4(+), CD8(+) and CD68(+) cells in 5/6 nephrectomized rats with chronic renal failure.

Methods: A total of 102 SD rats were randomly divided into six groups: three treatment groups were administrated with high, medium and low dosage of Sanqi Oral Liquid respectively by gavage; a normal group, a 5/6 nephrectomized model group, and a group treated with coated aldehyde oxygenstarch were used as controls. Following oral administration of Sanqi Oral Liquid for 12 weeks, the general condition and renal pathological changes were observed, and the renal function, platelet count (PLT) and the expressions of CD4(+), CD8(+) and CD68(+) cells were determined for each group.

Preparation and evaluation of N-caproyl chitosan nanoparticles surface modified with glycyrrhizin for hepatocyte targeting.

Background: The development of an efficient targeted drug delivery system into cells is an important subject for the advancement of drug carriers. In this study, a novel hepatocyte-targeted delivery system with glycyrrhizin (GL) surface modification based on N-caproyl chitosan (CCS) has been developed.

Method: CCS was synthesized by acylation of amino group of chitosan, and GL was oxidized to be conjugated to the surface of N-caproyl chitosan nanoparticles (CCS-NPs-GL).

[Determination of ginsenoside Rd and its metabolites in rat urine by LC-MS].

Aim: To study the metabolic pathways of ginsenoside Rd in rats.

Methods: Urine samples were collected before and after 24 h of single oral administration of 150 mg and intravenous administration of 60 mg of ginsenoside Rd to six rats, separately. The samples were purified by SPE column and then were analyzed by liquid chromatography-ESI-mass spectrometry for putative metabolites.

Safety of Curcuma aromatica oil gelatin microspheres administered via hepatic artery.

Aim: To evaluate the safety of Curcuma aromatica oil gelatin microspheres (CAO-GMS) infused via hepatic artery against primary liver cancer.

Methods: The safety of CAO-GMS was evaluated in view of its acute toxicity in rats, long-term toxicity in Beagle dogs and general pharmacology in rats and mongrel dogs.

Results: The 50% lethal dose (LD50) of CAO-GMS infused via the hepatic artery was 17.