Astragaloside IV protects cardiomyocytes from hypoxic injury by regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress via eIF2α/CHOP signaling pathway.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) is suggested to promote cardiomyocyte apoptosis and ultimately lead to ischemic injury. Inhibition of ER stress-induced apoptosis may be a therapeutic strategy for MI injury. Astragaloside-IV (AST) from Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch) Bge, was reported to have cardioprotective properties. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of AST on cardiomyocytes against hypoxia injury by regulating ER stress and inhibiting apoptosis. H9c2 cardiomyocytes were divided into three groups, normal group, hypoxia group and AST group. Cell viability was determined by CCK-8 assay. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was detected by DCFH-DA (2,7- dichloro-dihydrofluorescein diacetate) florescent staining. The study showed that AST treatment could significantly increase the cell viability of H9c2 cells exposed to hypoxia. Furthermore, AST could restrain cell apoptosis and decrease the production of ROS. Compared with normal group, the protein levels of Bax, caspase-3, caspase-9, GRP78, p-eIF2α, and CHOP were enhanced in the hypoxia group, whereas the protein level of Bcl-2 was dramatically reduced. Compared with hypoxia group, AST markedly inhibited the phosphorylation of eIF2α and the expression of caspase-3, caspase-9 and CHOP, and promoted the protein expression of Bcl-2. Thus, AST can inhibit the ER stress-mediated apoptosis, partly through the eIF2α/CHOP pathway suppression to inhibit ER stress.

Analysis of aerobic exercise influence on intraocular pressure and ocular perfusion pressure in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma: A randomized clinical trial.

Purpose: To investigate the change pattern of ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) and intra-ocular pressure (IOP) after short-term and long-term aerobic exercise. Methods: In this prospective, single-masked, randomized clinical trial, 123 patients with a primary open angle glaucoma that locally used prostaglandin analog alone were randomly divided into the exercise and control groups. In the short-term study, all individuals underwent a cycling exercise at moderate intensity (20% Wmax for 10 minutes) and high intensity (60% Wmax for 5 minutes). During the long-term study, the exercise group is characterized by regular jogging exercise lasting for 30 minutes during 6: 00-10: 00 in the morning for 3 months, with the exercise frequency of at least 20 times per month, and with the intensity reflected by the target heart rate. The control group is designed as a group with irregular exercise. Results: After short-term aerobic exercise, IOP significantly decreased, whereas the ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) significantly increased. The decreasing amplitude of IOP is related to the baseline of IOP, the intensity of exercise, gender, and so on. After 3 months of long-term exercise, the changes in the IOP level of the exercise group indicated a decreasing trend. Conclusion: The significant decrement of IOP and the increment of OPP suggest that aerobic exercise is beneficial for patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and appropriate aerobic exercise is appropriate in treating glaucoma patients. Trial registration: ChiCTR, ChiCTR-TRC-10001055. Registered one October 2010-Retrospectively registered, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj = 8483.

[Clinical study on electrical plum-blossom needle for treatment of amblyopia in children].

OBJECTIVE: To comparatively study the clinical effect of electrical plum-blossom needle on ametropic amblyopia and anisometropic amblyopia. METHODS: Sixty children (107 eyes) with ametropic amblyopia or anisometropic amblyopia were randomly assigned to two groups at their first visit on the basis of optometry. They had never received any treatment before. Patients in one group were treated with electrical plum-blossom needle (as the treatment group) and those in the other group were treated with physical comprehensive therapy (as the control group). The 1-month clinical effect was observed. RESULTS: The 1-month total effective rate was 79.6% (43/54) in the treatment group and 58.5% (31/53) in the control group. Statistical significance was shown in clinical effect after statistical management. The electrical plum-blossom needle showed better effect than the comprehensive therapy. CONCLUSION: The electrical plum-blossom needle for treatment of amblyopia in children could initiate faster with good compliance. Its short-term effect was definite with no side effect.

Clinical observation of Dan-Hong Hua-Yu oral solution in treating retinal vein occlusion.

INTRODUCTION: Retinal vein occlusion refers to diseases with decreased vision, dilated tortuous retinal veins visible on the fundus, and retinal hemorrhage, edema, and osmosis distributed along the vein. There is still no ideal intervention to treat central retinal vein occlusion. This study plan to observe the efficacy of Dan-Hong Hua-Yu oral solution in treating non-ischemic retinal vein occlusion, in order to provide new treatment ideas. METHODS/DESIGN: We plan to use random number table method, 64 cases of non-ischemic central retinal vein occlusion that meet the inclusion criteria will be randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group. The intervention group will be treated with Dan-Hong Hua-Yu oral solution according to the syndrome differentiation of Traditional Chinese medicine and the patient's fundus condition. Each group will take 4 weeks as a course of treatment and three consecutive courses of treatment without any interval during the course of treatment. Changes of visual acuity, fundus performance, and total clinical symptoms of patients before and after treatment will be observed. DISCUSSION: This study will observe the efficacy of Dan-Hong Hua-Yu oral solution in the treatment of non-ischemic central retinal vein occlusion, with a view to providing new treatment ideas. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, ChiCTR2000030625, Registered on March 08, 2020.

Observation on the clinical effect of thunder-fire moxibustion combined with acupressure on ocular muscle spasm: A clinical randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: With the rapid development of social economy, peoples dependence on computers and mobile phones is increasing day by day. This causes people to often overuse. Therefore, the incidence of Ocular muscle spasm has been increasing year by year in recent years. The disease usually starts and hides, which seriously affects the patients social image, daily life, and work. METHODS/DESIGN: We will compare the clinical efficacy of thunder-fire moxibustion combined with acupressure with pure thunder-fire moxibustion on Ocular muscle spasm using random control method. DISCUSSION: We aim to find a simple, safe, simple and effective Chinese medicine nursing technology that relieves Ocular muscle spasm. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov,ChiCTR2000034187, Registered on 27 June 2020.

[Inhibiting effects of recipe for dispersing stagnated liver qi to promote bile flow on cholesterol gallstone formation in guinea pigs].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of the inhibiting effects of recipe for dispersing stagnated liver qi to promote bile flow (Danshijing Tablets) on cholesterol gallstone formation and provide experimental evidence for its clinical application. METHODS: Eighty guinea pigs were randomly divided into 4 groups, which were normal control group, untreated group, ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA)-treated group and Danshijing Tablets-treated group. The gallstones in guinea pigs were induced by high-cholesterol diet. UDCA and Danshijing Tablets were given orally to guinea pigs in the corresponding group respectively for seven weeks. Then the physical signs of the guinea pigs, the rates of gallstone formation and the histomorphological changes of the gallbladder were examined. RESULTS: The behavior of guinea pigs in the Danshijing Tablets-treated group was obviously improved and the rate of gallstone formation was significantly decreased as compared with those in both untreated and UDCA-treated groups (P<0.05). The inflammation reaction of mucous membrane in gallbladder was evidently reduced in the Danshijing Tablets-treated group and its morphological appearance turned to be approximately normal. CONCLUSION: Recipe for dispersing stagnated liver qi to promote bile flow may decrease gallstone formation. Its mechanism may be related to reducing pathologic changes in gallbladder tissues, which will reduce the damages of cholesterol to the smooth muscle in gallbladder and enhance the contractility of gallbladder.

Effect of high myopia on 24-hour intraocular pressure in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.

BACKGROUND: As intraocular pressure (IOP) and IOP fluctuation are known risk factors for glaucoma, it is important to understand the effects of high myopia on these ocular parameters. The aim of this study was to investigate if primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients with high myopia exhibit higher IOP and greater IOP fluctuations at resting conditions over 24 hours. METHODS: We designed a prospective control clinical study. Eighty-two eyes of 82 high-tension Chinese POAG patients only on prostaglandin analogue locally were divided into 3 groups according to various myopic grades (< -6.0 D, n = 27 and between -0.76 and -5.99 D, n = 33) or without myopia (-0.75 to 0.75 D, n = 22). Single time IOP at 10 am, mean corrected 24-hour IOP, mean corrected night IOP, 24-hour IOP fluctuation and IOPs of 10 am, 2 pm, 6 pm, 10 pm, 2 am, 6 am and 8 am were measured. RESULTS: The IOP was higher in POAG patients with high myopia over those POAG alone in three ways: the elevated IOP value was 0.65 mmHg measured in single time IOP at 10 am, 0.84 mmHg in mean corrected 24-hour IOP, 0.97 mmHg in mean corrected night IOP. The 24-hour IOP fluctuation was lower in the two myopia groups than in non-myopia group. Further, using repeated measurement analysis of variance, there was no statistical significance among groups regarding the IOPs at the seven time points (P = 0.77) and there was no interaction between groups and time points (P = 0.71), but the difference of IOPs at the seven time points in same group was statistically significant (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: High-tension POAG patients with high myopia, even on pharmacological glaucoma therapy, still have higher IOP, but 24-hour IOP fluctuation at resting conditions was lower in these patients.

Long-term outcomes following en bloc resection for sacral tumor: a retrospective analysis of 93 cases.

Sacral tumors are rare. Appropriate surgical resection is crucial to treat the disease while minimizing disease recurrence. We present the results of 93 patients with sacral tumors to analyze the long-term functional and oncological results of patients undergoing en bloc resection. The medical data between January 2003 and July 2010 was retrospectively reviewed. None of the 93 patients died intra- or postoperatively. Patients undergoing intralesional curettage (range, 6500-25,000 mL; mean, 13,500 mL) lost more blood than those patients with wide excision (range, 1000-8100 mL; mean, 3590 mL). Mean follow-up duration from the time of surgery until most recent clinic visit or death was 44.5 months (range, 6-105 months). This study is an educational tool regarding primary sacral tumors and provides evidence on the treatment. It presents results from a large group of patients with sacral tumor. After follow-up, we did not find that sacrificed nerve roots and surgical margins have an impact on the recurrence of the tumor. Patients undergoing intralesional curettage lost more blood than those patients with wide excision. Postoperative bladder/bowel dysfunction was more severe for patients with removal of S1 and S2.

[Manipulative reduction for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation: a controlled clinical trial].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of manipulative reduction on pain and clinical curative effect in patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation. METHODS: Eleven thousands one hundred and twenty-eight patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation from our hospital were enrolled from November 1986 to June 2007. They were randomly divided into control group and treatment group. Patients of the control group received lumbar traction and various physiotherapies. Patients of the treatment group received manipulative reduction, besides the treatment in the control group. The treatment was performed once a day,ten times as a course. Curative effects were assessed three courses later. Pain was evaluated by visual analogue scale before and after the treatment. RESULTS: No significant difference in the score of visual analogue scale was found before the treatment in the two groups (P > 0.05). As compared with the score before treatment,it was decreased by 4.73 points after treatment in the control group, and decreased by 6.37 points in the treatment group. The decrease was more significant in the treatment group than the control group (P < 0.01). The healing rate was 47.28% and total effective rate was 96.37% in the control group; The healing rate was 73.44% and total effective rate was 98.61% in the treatment group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Manipulative reduction for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation can remarkably relieve lumbar pain and improve clinical curative effect.