[Effects of medicinal extract for tonifying kidney to relieve asthma on glucocorticoid receptor expression in lung tissues of rats with bronchial asthma].

Objective: To observe the effects of medicinal extract for tonifying kidney to relieve asthma on glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression in rats with asthma, and to explore its mechanism in treating asthma.

Methods: Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, untreated group, dexamethasone group, and medicinal extract-prevented, medicinal extract-treated, and medicinal extract-prevented and -treated groups, with ten rats in each group. Asthma was induced by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin (OVA) and forced inhalation of atomized OVA.

[Effects of Kechuanluo oral liquid on eosinophil apoptosis and its regulation factors in lung tissues of asthmatic mice].

Objective: To explore the mechanism of Kechuanluo oral liquid, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, in inhibiting allergic airway inflammation by observing the effects of Kechuanluo on eosinophil (EOS) apoptosis and its regulation factors in asthmatic mice.

Methods: Fifty-six BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal control group (n=16), untreated group (n=16), Western medicine group (n=12) and Kechuanluo group (n=12). Except for the mice in normal control group, asthma was induced in BALB/c mice by using ovalbumin (OVA) and potassium aluminium sulfate.

[Function of MMP/TIMP on airway remodeling of bronchial asthma and treating effects of Zhichuan capsule].

Objective: To explore the mechanism of the bronchial asthma and to study the treating effects of Zhichuan Capsule on the airway remodeling of asthmatic model rats.

Methods: The rat model was established by being sensitized and activated with different density of ovalbumin through prolonged and repeated exposure for 8 weeks. The rats were randomly divided into model group, Zhichuan Capsule treated group, dexameson treated group, and Zhichuan Capsule and dexameson treated group.

[Morphological changes following airway remodeling in asthmatic rats].

Objective: To explore the establishment of an asthmatic model with airway remodeling in rats by observing the morphological changes of the airway in different stages.

Methods: Animals were divided into two groups: asthmatic group and control group. The subjects were observed at 5 phases: before activation and 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks after activation.

GM-CSF and IFN-gamma-induced expression of human leucocyte antigen class II molecules on basophils of umbilical cord blood.

Aim: To determine whether basophils expressed human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class II molecules.

Methods: Basophils in umbilical cord blood were separated and purified with methods of density gradient centrifugation and immunomagnetic microbeads. The isolated basophils were cultured in RPMI-1640 plus 10 % fetal calf serum at 37 in a humidified atmosphere with 5 % CO2 and stimulated with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or interferon (IFN)-gamma for 20-60 h.