[Characteristic chromatogram and index components content of substance benchmark of Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction].

The methods for determining the characteristic chromatogram and index components content of Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction were established to provide a scientific basis for the quality evaluation of substance benchmarks and preparations. Eighteen batches of Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction were prepared with the decoction pieces of different batches and of the same batch were prepared respectively, and the HPLC characteristic chromatograms of these samples were established. The similarities of the chromatographic fingerprints were analyzed. With liquiritin, glycyrrhizic acid, 6-gingerol, ginsenoside Rg_1, and ginsenoside Re as index components, the high performance liquid chromatography was established for content determination with no more than 70%-130% of the mass average as the limit. The results showed that there were 19 characteristic peaks corresponding to the characteristic chromatograms of 18 batches of Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction, including 8 peaks representing liquiritin, 1,5-O-dicaffeoylqunic acid, ginsenoside Rg_1, ginsenoside Re, 1-O-acetyl britannilactone, ginsenoside Rb_1, glycyrrhizic acid, and 6-gingerol, and the fingerprint similarity was greater than 0.97. The contents of liquiritin, glycyrrhizic acid, 6-gingerol, and ginsenosides Rg_1 + Re in the prepared Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction samples were 0.53%-0.86%, 0.61%-1.2%, 0.023%-0.068%, and 0.33%-0.66%, respectively. Except for several batches, most batches of Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction showed stable contents of index components, with no discrete values. The characteristic chromatograms and index components content characterized the information of Inulae Flos, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, and Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens in Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction. This study provides a scientific basis for the further research on the key chemical properties of substance benchmark and preparations of Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction.

The Ability to Dissipate Heat Is Likely to Be a More Important Limitation on Lactation in Striped Hamsters with Greater Reproductive Efforts under Warmer Conditions.

The limitations on energy availability and outputs have been implied to have a profound effect on the evolution of many morphological and behavioral traits. It has been suggested that the reproductive performance of mammals is frequently constrained by intrinsic physiological factors, such as the capacity of the mammary glands to produce milk (the peripheral limitation [PL] hypothesis) or that of the body to dissipate heat (the heat dissipation limitation [HDL] hypothesis). Research on a variety of small mammals, however, has so far failed to provide unequivocal support for one hypothesis over the other. We tested the PL and HDL hypotheses in female striped hamsters (Cricetulus barabensis) with artificially manipulated litter sizes of two (three or four pups removed from natural litter size), five, eight (two or three pups added to natural litter size), and 12 (five to seven pups added to natural litter size) pups at ambient temperatures of 21° and 30°C. Energy intake and milk output of mothers, litter size, and litter mass were measured throughout lactation. Several markers indicating digestive enzyme activity and the gene expression of hypothalamic neuropeptides related to food intake were also measured. Food consumption and milk output increased with increasing litter size but reached a ceiling at 12 pups, causing 12-pup litters to have significantly lower litter mass and pup body mass than litters composed of fewer pups. Litter mass and maternal metabolic rate, milk output, maltase, sucrase, and aminopeptidase activity in the small intestine, and gene expression of hypothalamic orexigenic peptides were significantly lower at 30°C than at 21°C, and these differences were considerably more pronounced in 12-pup litters. These results suggest that PL and HDL can operate simultaneously but that the HDL hypothesis is probably more valid at warmer temperatures. Our results suggest that increased environmental temperatures in future climates may limit reproductive output through heat dissipation limits.

Lexicon development and quantitative descriptive analysis of Hunan fuzhuan brick tea infusion.

Twenty-seven representative Hunan fuzhuan brick teas were collected to develop a terminology lexicon and a quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA) method suitable for the sensory evaluation of Hunan fuzhuan brick tea infusion. Ten trained panelists developed a terminology lexicon comprised of eleven aroma and six taste attributes and evaluated the intensities of sensory attributes of each sample by conducting the QDA method. The QDA results showed that seventeen attributes listed in the final lexicon can be used to evaluate the quality of Hunan fuzhuan brick tea infusion properly, among which five aroma attributes, overall aroma, smoky, floral, fermented, and sweet (fruit), and one taste attribute, bitter, were the characteristic attributes to distinguish the differences in the sample qualities. Another panel made up of four professional cuppers evaluated samples by the cupping method to analyze the applicability and accuracy of the lexicon and the QDA method. The results showed that both the cupping method and QDA can be effectively used to evaluate Hunan fuzhuan brick tea quality, and their evaluation results showed high consistency and mutual complementation. This information will be beneficial for developing a sensory evaluation method and quality control for Hunan fuzhuan brick tea.

Electroacupuncture promotes peripheral nerve regeneration after facial nerve crush injury and upregulates the expression of glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor.

The efficacy of electroacupuncture in the treatment of peripheral facial paralysis is known, but the specific mechanism has not been clarified. Glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has been shown to protect neurons by binding to N-cadherin. Our previous results have shown that electroacupuncture could increase the expression of N-cadherin mRNA in facial neurons and promote facial nerve regeneration. In this study, the potential mechanisms by which electroacupuncture promotes nerve regeneration were elucidated through assessing the effects of electroacupuncture on GDNF and N-cadherin expression in facial motoneurons of rabbits with peripheral facial nerve crush injury. New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into a normal group (normal control, n = 21), injury group (n = 45) and electroacupuncture group (n = 45). Model rabbits underwent facial nerve crush injury only. Rabbits in the electroacupuncture group received facial nerve injury, and then underwent electroacupuncture at Yifeng (TE17), Jiache (ST6), Sibai (ST2), Dicang (ST4), Yangbai (GB14), Quanliao (SI18), and Hegu (LI4; only acupuncture, no electrical stimulation). The results showed that in behavioral assessments, the total scores of blink reflex, vibrissae movement, and position of apex nasi, were markedly lower in the EA group than those in the injury group. Hematoxylin-eosin staining of the right buccinator muscle of each group showed that the cross-sectional area of buccinator was larger in the electroacupuncture group than in the injury group on days 1, 14 and 21 post-surgery. Toluidine blue staining of the right facial nerve tissue of each group revealed that on day 14 post-surgery, there was less axonal demyelination and fewer inflammatory cells in the electroacupuncture group compared with the injury group. Quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction showed that compared with the injury group, N-cadherin mRNA levels on days 4, 7, 14 and 21 and GDNF mRNA levels on days 4, 7 and 14 were significantly higher in the electroacupuncture group. Western blot assay displayed that compared with the injury group, the expression of GDNF protein levels on days 7, 14 and 21 were significantly upregulated in the electroacupuncture group. The histology with hematoxylin-eosin staining and Nissl staining of brainstem tissues containing facial neurons in the middle and lower part of the pons exhibited that on day 7 post-surgery, there were significantly fewer apoptotic neurons in the electroacupuncture group than in the injury group. By day 21, there was no significantly difference in the number of neurons between the electroacupuncture and normal groups. Taken together, these results have confirmed that electroacupuncture promotes regeneration of peripheral facial nerve injury in rabbits, inhibits neuronal apoptosis, and reduces peripheral inflammatory response, resulting in the recovery of facial muscle function. This is achieved by up-regulating the expression of GDNF and N-cadherin in central facial neurons.

Effects of Portulaca oleracea L. extract on lipid oxidation and color of pork meat during refrigerated storage.

The study explored the preservation effect of Portulaca oleracea L. extract (POE) on pork meat under refrigerated conditions for 9 days. POE was tested for antioxidant activity and antibacterial activity in vitro and the results showed that POE has strong antioxidant activity and has antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus to some extent. Effect of POE in different levels (0.25%, 0.50% and 1.0%) on quality and shelflife of pork meat storage were evaluated. Results showed that the treatments of POE significantly inhibited microbial growth,delayed lipids oxidation, reduced values of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and total volatile base­nitrogen (TVB-N), increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities and in a dose-dependent manner (P < .05). Concomitantly, 1.0%POE and 0.50%POE treatments had better appearance compared with control after 9 days storage. All results confirmed that POE could effectively maintain the quality of chilled pork compared to control.

[Effect of penetrative needling of scalp-acupoints on cerebral N-acetyl-aspartate and choline levels in intracerebral hemorrhage rabbits].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of scalp-acupuncture on N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) and choline (Cho) leveIs in the brain tissue in rabbits with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) so as to explore its underlying mechanisms in resisting neural lesion. METHODS: A total of 30 Newzealand rabbits were randomly divided into normal, model and acupuncture groups (n=10). ICH model was duplicated by injection of the rabbit-own blood (200 microL) into the bilateral Basal Nuclei (A: 2 mm; R, L; 5 mm; H: 10 mm). A filiform needle was inserted into "Baihui" (GV 20) to "Taiyang" (EX-HN 5) on the hemorrhage side, manipulated for 1 min, and then retained for 30 min (manipulated once again every 10 min). The treatment was conducted once daily for 7 days. Contents of NAA, Cho and creatine (Cr) in the intracerebral peri-hematoma tissues were detected by using 1H-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS). RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, NAA/Cr ratios at the time points of 2 h, 3 d and 7 d after ICH in the model group were decreased markedly (P < 0.05), while Cho/Cr ratios at the same 3 time-points after ICH in the model group were increased markedly (P < 0.05). In comparison with the model group, NAA/Cr ratio on day 3 after ICH in the acupuncture group was obviously higher (P < 0.05), while Cho/Cr ratios on day 3 and 7 were significantly down-regulated in the acupuncture group (P < 0.05). No significant changes were found in NAA/Cr ratios at 2 h and on day 7 and in Cho/Cr ratio at 2 h after ICH between the acupuncture group and the model group. CONCLUSION: Penetrative acupuncture of GV 20-EX-HN 5 is effective in suppressing ICH-induced increase of Cho/Cr ratio in ICH rabbits, which may contribute to its function in accelerating neural repair process.

The effects of Chinese calligraphy handwriting and relaxation training in Chinese Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma patients: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Chinese calligraphy handwriting is the practice of traditional Chinese brush writing, researches found calligraphy had therapeutic effects on certain diseases, some authors argued that calligraphy might have relaxation effect. OBJECTIVES: This study was to compare the effects of calligraphy handwriting with those of progressive muscle relaxation and imagery training in Chinese Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma patients. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: This study was a randomized controlled trial. Two hundred and eighty-seven Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma patients were approached, ninety (31%) patients were recruited and randomized to one of the three treatment groups: progressive muscle relaxation and guided imagery training group, Calligraphy handwriting group, or a Control group. Seventy-nine (87.8%) completed all of the outcome measures. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary treatment outcome was the changes of physiological arousal parameters measured by pre- and post-treatment differences of heart rate, blood pressure and respiration rate. The secondary outcomes included: modified Chinese version of Symptom Distress Scale, Profile of Mood State-Short Form, and Karnofsky Performance Status measured at baseline, during treatment (after the 2-week intervention), post-treatment (after the 4-week intervention) and after a 2-week follow-up. Effectiveness was tested by repeated measure ANOVA analyses. SETTING: Cancer centre of a major university hospital in Guangdong, China. RESULTS: Results showed that both of calligraphy and relaxation training demonstrated slow-down effects on physiological arousal parameters. Moreover, calligraphy practice gradually lowered participants' systolic blood pressure (simple main effect of time at pre-treatment measure, p=.007) and respiration rate (p=.000) at pre- and post-treatment measures as the intervention proceeded, though with a smaller effect size as compared to relaxation. Both of calligraphy and relaxation training had certain symptom relief and mood improvement effects in NPC patients. Relaxation was effective in relieving symptom of insomnia (p=.042) and improving mood disturbance, calligraphy elevated level of concentration (p=.032) and improved mood disturbance. CONCLUSIONS: Similar to the effects of relaxation training, calligraphy demonstrated a gradually build-up physiological slow-down, and associated with heightened concentration and improved mood disturbance. Calligraphy offered a promising approach to improved health in cancer patients.