Effect of Combined Therapy of Lung and Intestine on VIP and p38 MAPK Signaling Pathways in Bronchial Asthma Mice / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the therapeutic effects of the combined therapy of lung and intestine， a common treatment for pulmonary diseases in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， on bronchial asthma mice， and further detect the changes of vasoactive intestinal peptide （VIP） and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （p38 MAPK） signaling pathway-related proteins which are closely related to the pathogenesis of asthma， in order to elucidate the mechanism of the combined therapy of lung and intestine in the treatment of bronchial asthma. MethodA total of 60 Kunming mice were randomly divided into normal group， model group， dexamethasone group （0.5 mg·kg-1·d-1）， TCM group （2.73 g·kg-1·d-1）， and lung-intestine treatment group （6.825 g·kg-1·d-1）， 12 mice in each group. All mice except the normal group were sensitized by ovalbumin to induce bronchial asthma. After 30 days of intragastric administration， serum and lung tissue samples were obtained. The content of VIP， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in the serum of mice in each group was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The mRNA levels of TNF-α， IL-6， and p38 MAPK in lung tissues of mice were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）， and the protein levels of TNF-α， IL-6， p38 MAPK， and phosphorylated p38 MAPK （p-p38 MAPK） in lung tissues of mice were assayed by Western blot （WB）. ResultCompared with the normal group， the model group showed decreased content of serum VIP （P<0.05）， increased content of TNF-α and IL-6 （P<0.05）， up-regulated mRNA levels of TNF-α， IL-6， and p38 MAPK， and elevated protein levels of TNF-α， IL-6， and p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK in lung tissues （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the treatment groups exhibited increased content of serum VIP， TNF-α， and IL-6 （P<0.05）， down-regulated mRNA levels of TNF-α， IL-6， and p38 MAPK， and lower protein levels of TNF-α， IL-6， and p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK in lung tissues （P<0.05）. As compared with the lung-intestine treatment group， the serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels in the dexamethasone group were increased （P<0.05）， and the mRNA and protein levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in lung tissues were down-regulated （P<0.05）， while the levels of p38 MAPK， VIP mRNA， and p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK protein in lung tissues were up-regulated （P<0.05）. The serum VIP， TNF-α， and IL-6 levels in the TCM group were decreased （P<0.05）， and the mRNA levels of TNF-α， IL-6， p38 MAPK and protein levels of TNF-α， IL-6， p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK in lung tissues were up-regulated （P<0.05）， while the level of VIP mRNA in lung tissues was down-regulated （P<0.05）. ConclusionThrough increasing endogenous VIP and inhibiting the excessive activation of p38 MAPK signaling pathway， the combined therapy of lung and intestine can reduce the release of inflammatory factors， inhibit pulmonary inflammation response， and treat bronchial asthma.

Mechanism of lung and intestine combination therapy in treatment of acute lung injury by inhibiting inflammatory response based on NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway and alveolar macrophage activation / 中国中药杂志

Lung and intestine combination therapy(LICT) is effective in the treatment of acute lung injury(ALI). In this study, the combination of Mahuang Decoction and Dachengqi Decoction(hereinafter referred to as the combination), a manifestation of LICT, was employed to explore the effect of nuclear factor kappaB(NF-κB)/nucleotide binding oligomerization domain-like receptors-3(NLRP3) pathway and alveolar macrophage activation on the lung inflammation in rats with ALI, for the purpose of elucidating the mechanism of LICT in treating ALI. After the modeling of ALI with limpolysaccharide(LPS, ip), rats were respectively given(ig) the combination at 10, 7.5, and 5 g·kg~(-1)(high-dose, medium-dose, and low-dose LICT groups, separately), once every 8 h for 3 times. Haematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe the histopathological changes of lung tissue, followed by the scoring of inflammation. Immunohistochemistry was applied to detect alveolar macrophage activation, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was applied to detect the serum content of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-18(IL-18), Western blot was applied to detect the protein expression of phosphorylated-nuclear factor kappaB p65(p-NF-κB p65), nuclear factor kappaB p65(NF-κB p65), phosphorylated-inhibitor kappaB alpha(p-IκBα), inhibitor kappaB alpha(IκBα), and NLRP3 in lung tissue, and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR(qRT-PCR) was applied to detect the mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-18, NLRP3, and NF-κB p65 in lung tissue. The results showed that LICT groups demonstrated lung injury relief, decrease in inflammation score, alleviation of alveolar macrophage activation, significant decline in serum content of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-18, and decrease of the protein expression of p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65, p-IκBα/IκBα, and NLRP3, and mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-18, NLRP3, and NF-κB p65 in lung tissue. In summary, LICT has definite therapeutic effect on ALI. The mechanism is that it inhibits alveolar macrophage activation by suppressing NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway, thereby reducing the activation and release of inflammatory factors and finally inhibiting inflammation.

Analysis of iodine nutrition monitoring results of residents in Tongchuan City, Shaanxi Province in 2019 / 中华地方病学杂志

Objective:To master the current status of iodine nutrition of residents in Tongchuan City and provide basis for policy adjustment of relevant department.Methods:In 2019, the cross-sectional survey method was used to divide 5 sampling areas in the 4 districts (counties) of Tongchuan City according to the east, west, south, north, and middle, and each area sampled 1 township (street, including at least 1 street), each township (street) selected one elementary school, each elementary school selected 42 non-boarding students aged 8 - 10, and each township (street) selected 21 pregnant women as the survey subjects. Home salt samples and urine samples were collected, salt iodine and urinary iodine were monitored, and thyroid examinations were performed on students.Results:A total of 1 260 salt samples were collected, including 2 non-iodized salt and 1 240 qualified iodized salt; the median salt iodine was 24.32 mg/kg; the coverage rate of iodized salt, the qualified rate of iodized salt, and the edible rate of qualified iodized salt were 99.84% (1 258/1 260), 98.57% (1 240/1 258) and 98.41% (1 240/1 260), respectively. A total of 840 urine samples were collected from students, the median urinary iodine was 196.19 μg/L. The medians urinary iodine of students aged 8, 9, and 10 were 182.59, 222.16, and 190.36 μg/L, respectively. The median urinary iodine of male and female students were 211.27 and 186.76 μg/L. A total of 840 students were tested for thyroid, thyroid rate was 1.79% (15/840) by B-ultrasound. A total of 420 urine samples were tested of pregnant women. The median urinary iodine was 155.05 μg/L. The medians urinary iodine of pregnant women in the first, second and third trimester of pregnancy were 166.79, 176.11 and 129.82 μg/L, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in urine iodine content of pregnant women in different pregnancy periods ( H = 9.317, P < 0.05). Conclusions:The iodine nutrition level of residents in Tongchuan City is generally suitable. Pregnant women's urinary iodine shows iodine deficiency in the third trimester. Monitoring of iodine nutrition of pregnant women should be strengthened, classified guidance and scientific iodine supplementation should be adhered, to ensure the appropriate level of iodine nutrition for pregnant women.

Intradermal needling combined with heat-sensitive moxibustion for moderate to severe cancer pain / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of intradermal needling combined with heat-sensitive moxibustion for moderate to severe cancer pain.@*METHODS@#A total of 60 patients with moderate to severe cancer pain were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group，30 cases in each one. In the control group，opioids were taken to relief pain according to the three-step analgesic method of World Health Organization. On the base of the treatment as the control group, intradermal needling combined with heat-sensitive moxibustion were applied at Neiguan (PC 6), Hegu (LI 4), Zusanli (ST 36), Taichong (LR 3), etc. in the observation group, 14 days of treatment were required. The equivalent morphine consumption at the first day and whole course, the scores of cancer quality of life questionnaire-C30 (QLQ-C30) and Hamilton anxiety scale before and after treatment, and the adverse reaction rate were compared in the two groups. The total analgesic effective rate was evaluated.@*RESULTS@#The total analgesic effective rate was 93.3% (28/30) in the observation group, higher than 73.3% (22/30) in the control group (@*CONCLUSION@#Intradermal needling combined with heat-sensitive moxibustion can reduce the dose of opioids, improve the quality of life, relief the anxiety in patients with moderate to severe cancer pain, and reduce the incidence of common adverse reaction of opioids.

Professor / 中国针灸

To summarize professor

Genetic diversity and genetic differentiation of invasive weed Xanthium italicum in China.

Xanthium italicum is an aggressive weed found worldwide. Despite several ecological, morphological, and physiological research on its invasion mechanism, the mechanism of its successful invasion has not been revealed from the viewpoint of population genetics. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the genetic variation within and among populations of the alien invasive weed X. italicum in China, and to provide a theoretical basis for its invasion mechanism. For that, we employed inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers to explore the genetic diversity and genetic differentiation of 185 individuals sampled from 10 populations. Eight selected primers yielded a total of 76 bright and discernible bands. X. italicum showed an intermediate genetic diversity at the population level (percentage of polymorphic loci (PPL) = 60.26%, Nei's genetic diversity (H) = 0.2098, Shannon's information index (I) = 0.3129). However, the genetic diversity at the species level was significantly high (PPL = 100%; H = 0.3673; I = 0.5425). The coefficient of gene differentiation (GST, 41.4%) and analysis of molecular variance showed that genetic differentiation mainly occurred within populations. The estimated gene flow (Nm, 0.7085) and Mantel test indicated that genetic differentiation in the populations may primarily come from genetic drift and anthropogenic activities. Our results revealed the high genetic diversity of X. italicum, which may help explain its invasion success in China. This knowledge may contribute to the efforts for decreasing and eventually stopping X. italicum invasion in China.

Xanthium italicum est une plante envahissante trouvée dans le monde entier. En dépit de quelques recherches écologiques, morphologiques et physiologiques à propos de son mécanisme d'invasion, le mécanisme de son invasion réussie n'a pas encore été révélé du point de vue de la génétique démographique. Donc, nous avons visé à évaluer la variation génétique au sein de et parmi les populations de plante exotique envahissante X. italicum en Chine, et à offrir une base théorique à son mécanisme d'invasion. À cet effet, nous avons employé des marqueurs des répétitions de séquences inter-simples (ISSR) afin d'explorer la diversité génétique et la différenciation génétique de 185 individus échantillonnés à partir de 10 populations. Huit amorces sélectionnées ont donné un total de 76 bandes brillantes et perceptibles. X. italicum a montré une diversité génétique intermédiaire au niveau de la population (pourcentage de loci polymorphe (PPL) = 60.26%, la diversité génétique de Nei (H) = 0.2098, l'indice d'information de Shannon (I) = 0.3129). Toutefois, la diversité génétique était considérablement élevée au niveau des espèces (PPL = 100% ; H = 0.3673 ; I = 0.5425). Tant le coefficient de différenciation génétique (GST, 41.4%) que l'analyse de la variance moléculaire ont reflété que la différenciation génétique se produisait principalement au sein des populations. En fonction du flux génétique estimé (Nm, 0.7085) et du test Mantel, la différenciation génétique au sein des populations pourrait provenir principalement de la dérive génétique et des activités anthropiques. Nos résultats ont révélé la haute diversité génétique de X. italicum, cela peut aider à expliquer son succès d'invasion en Chine. Ces connaissances pourraient contribuer à la réduction et à l'arrêt éventuel de l'invasion de X. italicum en Chine.

Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Inoculation on Physical and Chemical Properties of Rhizosphere Soil of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To investigate the infection rate of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis at different periods，the changes of mineral nutrients in rhizosphere soil and the correlation among the factors under different arbuscular mycorrhizal （AM） fungi conditions. Method:28 kinds of AM fungi were inoculated into the seedlings of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis by single factor pot experiment. The samples were collected in August （fruit ripening period） and November （senescence period） to analyze the infection rate and the physical and chemical properties of rhizosphere soil. Result:The mycorrhizal infection rate of each treatment group was 75%-100% in the fruit ripening period and senescence period. The contents of easily extracted glomalin and total glomalin in rhizosphere soil increased to different degrees in these two periods as compared with CK group， the pH of rhizosphere soil in the two treatment groups showed an increasing trend， the content of organic matter in rhizosphere soil decreased significantly in the fruit ripening period in all the treatment groups，and the organic matter in rhizosphere soil in the senescence period showed no significant differences. The total N and K contents in rhizosphere soil decreased in both periods， and the other physical and chemical properties of rhizosphere soil increased or decreased without significant change regularity. Correlation analysis showed that the infection rate was correlated with the physical and chemical properties of rhizosphere soil to a certain degree. Conclusion:Inoculation of AM fungi can affect the physical and chemical properties of rhizosphere soil of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis to some extent，and provide reference value for the application of AM fungi in the cultivation of traditional Chinese medicine.

Postoperative acute urinary retention in anorectal diseases treated with acupuncture combined with grain-moxibustion: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the efficacy differences between acupuncture combined with grain-moxibustion and acupuncture on acute urinary retention after epidural anaesthesia for anorectal diseases.@*METHODS@#A total of 60 patients were randomized into an acupuncture combined with grain-moxibustion group and an acupuncture group, 31 cases in each one. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied at Zhongji (CV 3), Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6), Shuidao (ST 28), Pangguangshu (BL 28), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Yinlingquan (SP 9). In the acupuncture combined with grain-moxibustion group, grain-moxibustion was given at Zhongji (CV 3), Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6) and Shuidao (ST 28) on the basis of acupuncture. Those who failed to urinate 60 min after the first treatment received the second treatment. 30 min after the second treatment, the lower abdominal symptom scores before and after treatment as well as the bladder residual urine volume after the first urination after treatment were compared between the two groups. In addition, the clinical efficacy and security were evaluated.@*RESULTS@#Compared before treatment, the symptom scores after treatment were reduced in the two groups (<0.05), and the score in the acupuncture combined with grain-moxibustion group was lower than that in the acupuncture group after treatment (<0.05). The bladder residual urine volume in the acupuncture combined with grain-moxibustion group was (26.71±17.01) mL, which was lower than (35.32±20.76) mL in the acupuncture group (<0.05). The total effective rate was 93.5% (29/31) in the acupuncture combined with grain-moxibustion group, which was superior to 71.0% (22/31) in the acupuncture group (<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The efficacy of acupuncture combined with grain-moxibustion is superior to simple acupuncture on acute urinary retention after epidural anaesthesia for anorectal diseases, which is safe and reliable.

Whether Syndrome Differentiation Affects Treatment Result: Study Protocol of MaZiRenWan () for Functional Constipation in A Randomized Controlled Trial / 中国结合医学杂志

BACKGROUND@#Syndrome is one of the most important concepts in Chinese medicine (CM) theory. However, it was not well accounted in most of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).@*OBJECTIVES@#To determine whether CM syndrome differentiation affects the treatment results, functional constipation (FC) was selected as a target disease, and MaZiRenWan (, MZRW), a classic CM formula commonly used for constipation with excessive heat syndrome, was selected for study.@*METHODS@#It is an 18-week prospective double-blinded, doubledummy RCT, including 2-week run-in, 8-week treatment and 8-week post treatment follow-up. A total of 120 FC patients diagnosed as excessive heat syndrome will be recruited from the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Baokang Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Patients will be randomly allocated into fixed MZRW (f_MZRW) granule group, modified MZRW (m_MZRW) granule group or bisacodyl group. For m_MZRW group, no more than two herbal granules can be added according to the syndrome differentiation for individual participants. The primary end point is the mean of complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBMs) per week during the treatment period. Secondary end points include mean of CSBMs per week during follow-up, stool form, global symptom improvement, constipation and constipation-related symptoms assessment, CM syndrome change, and reported adverse events.@*DISCUSSION@#This trial is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of these three interventions for FC patients with the CM syndrome of excessive heat, and to determine the change of CM syndrome and the progress of disease during the treatment course. The results are important to explore whether syndrome differentiation is important for the therapeutic effect of a formula on a disease. [Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Reg No. ChiCTR-TRC-13003742); protocol version: MZRW/NSFC-81173363 (2015.05.04)].

Blueberry metabolites restore cell surface glycosaminoglycans and attenuate endothelial inflammation in diabetic human aortic endothelial cells.

BACKGROUND: Glycosaminoglycan (GAG), a major component of the endothelial glycocalyx, is severely perturbed in diabetic vasculature leading to endothelial inflammation and vascular disease in diabetes. We tested the hypothesis that blueberry metabolites (BBM) ameliorate endothelial inflammation in diabetic endothelial cells (ECs) by restoring cell surface GAGs. METHODS: ECs isolated from healthy individuals [human aortic ECs (HAECs)] and diabetic patients (diabetic HAECs) were treated with ±BBM (benzoic acid-4-sulfate, hippuric acid, hydroxyhippuric acid, isovanillic acid-3-sulfate, and vanillic acid-4-sulfate at concentrations known to circulate in human plasma following blueberry consumption) for 3 days, and indices for endothelial inflammation were measured. To analyze GAGs, ECs were incubated with sulfate-free medium supplemented with [35S] Na2SO4 ±â€¯BBM. Total GAGs in ECs and medium were purified using DEAE-Sepharose column and were analyzed with high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled to an inline flow scintillation analyzer. Heparan sulfate/chondroitin sulfate ratio and disaccharide composition of GAGs from the medium were analyzed using DEAE-3SW column and Dionex CarboPac PA1 column, respectively. RESULTS: BBM suppressed diabetes-induced monocyte binding to ECs, and reduced the expression of inflammatory markers in diabetic HAECs. Diabetic HAECs displayed a decrease in [35S] sulfate incorporation into the cell surface GAGs indicating the dysregulation of sulfated GAGs. However, treatment with BBM restored the levels of GAGs in diabetic HAECs. The composition, heparan sulfate/chondroitin sulfate ratio, and disaccharide composition of GAGs from medium were similar among groups. CONCLUSIONS: BBM restored cell surface GAGs and attenuated endothelial inflammation in diabetic HAECs. Blueberry might complement conventional therapies to improve vascular complications in diabetes.

Two new compounds from Trollius chinensis Bunge.

Two new compounds, 2″-O-feruloylisoswertiajaponin (1) and (2E)-2-methyl-1-O-vaniloyl-4-ß-D-glucopyranoside-2-butene (2), along with one indole alkaloid and five known flavonoids, were isolated from the flowers of Trollius chinensis Bunge. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence (UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS, NMR).

Protective effect of total flavonoids of herba epimedii on testis degeneration in diabetic mice / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the protective effects and investigate the possible mechanism of total flavonoids of herba epimedii (TFE) on diabetic testopathy in mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Diabetic animal model was produced by a single injection of alloxan ( 70 mg/kg, i.v.) in mice. The mice were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 10): control group, model group and TFE group (100 mg/kg, p.o.), administrated for 8 weeks continuously. The level of serum testosterone and blood glucose were measured after 24 hours in the last administration. Detect the specific biochemical indicators of testis: superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA). Meanwhile, the morphology of testis was observed under light microscope by HE and MASSION dyeing. Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the level of matrix metalloprotein (MMP)9.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with control group, glucose and the content of MDA in testicular tissues increased while the levels of serum testosterone and SOD decreased remarkably in model group. Detection of pathology showed that the diameters of seminiferous tubules, various grades of spermatogenic cell decreased and collagen fibrosis hyperplasia in testicular tissues, the expression of (MMP9) were decreased in model group. These alterations were significantly improved in TFE group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TFE ameliorated the alterations of testis inalloxan-induced mice through promoting the testosterone release, anti-oxidation and improving the expression of MMP9.</p>

Preliminary study on metabonomics of hypertension hyperactivity of liver yang syndrome / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective In the present study,we use GC/MS-based metabolomics approaches to make analysis of serum metabolic profiles of healthy people and the hyperactivity of liver yang type of constitution in patients with essential hypertension.Try to establish the discriminant model,to discover biomarkers (group) of the hyperactivity of liver yang type of essential hypertension,and to explore the essential material basis of Traditional Chinese medicine syndrome theory.Methods Classified according to the guiding principles of Chinese medicine research,the hyperactivity of liver yang type of constitution in male patients with essential hypertension (n=18),as well as health volunteers (n=15) were randomly selected from Guang An Men Hospital clinic,wards and medical center in the first half of 2010,selected patients with essential hypertension requirements are not taking any drugs or Chinese herbs,or stop taking the various drugs more than one week.Extracted Venous Blood of subjects fasting for 12 hours,and serum was separated through centrifugation.Serum samples are stored and at-86℃ refrigerator.Survey and evaluate endogenous metabolism in serum samples of health control group and types of syndrome mentioned above by gas chromatograph mass spectrometry (GCMS)analysis.Then,analyze the metabolites with Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis.Further use PCA to analyze the principal component factor loadings matrix analysis,and for variable scatter plot (Loading plot),significant increase or decrease the variables can be found from the figure.The combination of these variables is the lesion biomarkers group.Results Compared with the health control group,13 differentially expressed metabolites in the essential hypertension hyperactivity of liver yang type group can be identified (P＜0.05).8 metabolites were up-regulated expression:Uric acid,citrate,Octadecanoic acid,Hexadecanoic acid,Octadecadienoic acid,Leucine,Cholesterol,Norvaline,and 5 metabolites were down-regulated expression:arachidonate,Oleate,Alanine,Aspartic acid,glycine.Conclusion We are incline to regard that the 13 of EH patient serum differentially expressed metabolites are EH hyperactivity of liver yang syndrome metabolic biomarkers:Uric acid,citrate,Octadecanoic acid,Hexadecanoic acid,Octadecadienoic acid,Leucine,Cholesterol,Norvaline,Arachidonate,Oleate,Alanine,Aspartic acid,glycine.

Serum proteomic study on hypertension patients with Gan-Dan damp-heat syndrome / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the serum proteomics in hypertension patients with Gan-Dan damp-heat syndrome (GDDH) for tentatively find special proteins associated with the syndrome.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Study was performed in 60 hypertensive patients and 39 healthy persons as control. In the patients enrolled, 40 were differentiated as GDDH syndrome and the other 20 as non-GDDH syndrome. Their serum proteins were captured by weak cation nano-magnetic beads, and proteomic fingerprint was made by matrix assistant laser demodulation ionizing time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) through mapping with protein chip reader type PBS II-C. After all the proteomic fingerprints being analyzed by Biomarker Wizard 3.1, the special expressed proteins for GDDH syndrome were identified by Biomarker Patterns Software 5.0 to create the syndrome decision model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Totally, 182 difference protein peaks between patients of GDDH and healthy persons (P<0.05); and 132 difference protein peaks between patients of GDDH and non-GDDH were detected (P<0.05). A decision model consisted 5 screened out protein peaks with mass-to-charge ratio of 2761.555, 6624.362, 2487.192, 2461.610 and 2744.318 was created, which could well differentiate the GDDH syndrome, with the sensitivity of 96.55%, specificity of 90%, false positive rate of 10% and false negative rate of 3.45%. Further blind test for prospective check showed its sensitivity being 81.82%, specificity 89.66%, false positive rate 10.34% and false negative rate 18.18%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The differently expressed protein is the material foundation of GDDH syndrome; molecular biological decision model established on the basis of this foundation can offer a tool for making Chinese medicine syndrome differentiation more objectively and accurately.</p>

[Regulative effect of electroacupuncture on aquaporin-4 in rats with focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on changes of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) expression in rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion(CI/R). METHODS: One hundred and seventy male Sprauge-Dawley rats were randomized into control (n = 50), CI/R model (n = 60) and EA (n = 60) groups, and the later 2 groups were further divided into 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h subgroups, with 12 cases in each. CI/R model was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAO). EA (3.85/6.25 Hz, 0.8 - 1.0 mA) was applied to "Shuigou" (GV 26) and "Baihui" (GV 20) for 30 min. Transcardial perfusion was conducted with normal saline + paraformaldehyde in rats of different groups for taking brain tissue samples. The degree of brain edema was detected by cresyl violet stain method, permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) reflected with IgG value in brain tissue was displayed by immunohistochemistry, and AQP4 protein and mRNA expression of corpora striata (CS) were detected by using immunohistochemistry (ABC) and RT-PCR techniques respectively. RESULTS: Twelve hours after CI/R, the hemisphere of brain began to get swelling significantly and the exosmose state of IgG became evidently; compared with the corresponding phases of model group, the swell rates in 24 h, 48 h and 72 h subgroups of EA group were significantly lower (P < 0.05, 0.01), and nearly no IgG immunoreaction positive products were found in different phases of EA group. The expression of AQP4 protein and mRNA increased significantly from 12 h and 24 h on separately in model group, while the expression in EA group was markedly weaker. The ratios of AQP4 mRNA and beta-actin mRNA of CS on the affected side of the brain from 24 h to 72 h of EA group were significantly lower than those of model group (P < 0.05, 0.01). CONCLUSION: EA can reduce the degree of brain edema induced by CI/R and improve the degree of BBB injury, which may be related to its effect in down-regulating AQP4 expression.

Effects of traditional Chinese medicine Panax notoginoside(血塞通) and Tetramethylpyrazine(川芎嗪)on cytochrome P450 subtype enzymes / 中国中西医结合急救杂志

Objective To study the effects of traditional Chinese medicine Panax notoginoside(PNS,血塞通) and Tetramethylpyrazine(TMPz,川芎嗪) on different subtypes of cytochrome P450(CYP450),based on that,to forecast the inter-reaction between these two drugs and between each one of them and another drug,and also to estimate the safety assessment of them.Methods The metabolic changes of caffeine and dapsone which are the specific probe drugs for subtypes of CYP450,CYP1A2 and CYP3A4,were studied in vitro to estimate the inhibition or induction effects of PNS and TMPz.Results The concentrations of caffeine and dapsone,the probe drugs in liver cytochrome P450,in control group,PNS group and TMPz group were all declined with time prolongation,and there were no significant differences among the three groups.The half life time(t1/2) of caffeine in PNS group was obviously shorter than that in control group((19.24?2.37) minutes vs.(25.15?2.02) minutes, P0.05).It was suggested that TMPz have no effect on both CYP1A2 and CYP3A4.Conclusion Different drugs have different effects on different CYP450 subtype enzymes.When PNS is used in combination with other drugs which are related to the metabolism of CYP1A2 enzyme,its induction effect on CYP1A2 should be considered fully to avoid toxic effect or the potential adverse reactions.

Involvement of taurine in penicillin-induced epilepsy and anti-convulsion of acupuncture: a preliminary report.

The potential role of taurine on epilepsy and acupuncture anti-convulsion was addressed in the present study. Epilepsy was induced by micro-injection of penicillin into hippocampus of Wistar rats. Taurine was applied by intraperitioneal (i.p.) injection. Electro-acupuncture (EA) was performed on acupoints of DU 20 "Bai Hui" and DU 16 "Feng Fu" along DU channel. Epileptic grades were evaluated by electro-encephalography (EEG) and behavior score. We featured the dose-response relationship between taurine-treated epilepsy and epilepsy-only subjects, detected the effect of exogenous taurine on epilepsy and acupuncture treatment, and investigated taurine transporter immuno-activity in hippocampus using immunohistochemistry. It was found that: 1), taurine had a significant antiepileptic effect as applied at i.p. 20 mg/kg, 40mg/kg, 80mg/kg, especially at 40mg/kg in the rat model of penicillin-induced seizure. Animals were improved by one to three Racine grades in behavior and in frequency and amplitude of EEG. 2), Exogenous taurine enhanced the anti-convulsive effect of EA. Both behavior and EEG were improved in taurine-treated rats. EA inhibited epilepsy. Exogenous taurine improved epilepsy in a synergistic manner to EA. 3), EA increased the concentration of taurine transporter in hippocampus by comparing EA-treated epilepsy with normal control and penicillin only, or EA-treated plus taurine-treated epilepsy with taurine-treated only epilepsy and penicillin only. The resulting data suggested that taurine may play an inhibitory role against epilepsy as an inhibitory amino acid in the central nervous system and EA may inhibit epilepsy via upregulating the concentration of taurine transporter to increase the release of taurine.

Role of GABA in electro-acupuncture therapy on cerebral ischemia induced by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery in rats.

This study investigated the possible involvement of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the therapeutic effect of cerebral ischemia by electro-acupuncture (EA) using the rat model with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). By immunohistochemistry, the changes of GABA expression level in the primary infarct area and its penumbral regions were examined. The changes in infarct area and survival neuron percentages were also assessed using haematoxylin and eosin stained sections after picrotoxin (PTX) injection, a GABA receptor's antagonist. Our results showed that EA markedly decreased the ischemic damaged areas in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Concomitant to this was an up-regulation of GABA immunoexpression in MCAO rats with EA treatment (P < 0.05). Furthermore, injection of PTX in rats subjected to MCAO or MCAO followed by EA treatment increased the infarct area and decreased survival cell percentage significantly when compared with those without PTX injection. In the light of these findings, it is suggested that EA on specific and established acupoints that are commonly used in clinical management of cerebral ischemia may have elicited an up-regulated expression of GABA that would have a neuroprotective effect.

Electro-acupuncture improves epileptic seizures induced by kainic acid in taurine-depletion rats.

Electro-acupuncture (EA) partially inhibited epilepsy with great success. The biological basis underlying EA anti-convulsion remained uncertain, which resulted in limited application and slow improvement of acupuncture. Our previous study indicated that taurine may play an inhibitory role against epilepsy as an inhibitory amino acid in the central nervous system and EA may inhibit epilepsy via up-regulating the expression of taurine transporter to increase the release of taurine. Involvement of taurine in kainic acid (KA)-induced epilepsy and anti-convulsion of EA was further addressed on taurine deficiency animal in the present work. We instituted endogenous taurine-deficiency model by supplementation of beta-alanine (3%) in drinking water for continuous 10 days initially, injected KA into lateral cerebral ventricle to induce epileptic seizure, and performed EA treatment on DU26 "RenZhong" and K "YongQuan" acupoints by an EA apparatus (Model G6805-2) using successive waves with the frequency 64Hz and the current intensity 0.8-1.0 mA for 30 minutes in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Taurine levels markedly decreased in cortex, hippocampus, striatum and cerebellum of rats after beta-alanine administration by fluore-HPLC measurement. EA alleviated epileptic activity in rats at 3.5 h time point after KA injection, whereas beta-alanine-induced taurine depletion rendered rats more susceptible to KA-induced epilepsy. Taurine transporter level increased after EA treatment. These results suggested that taurine participated in epileptogenesis and EA may be related to taurine in controlling epileptic seizure.