[Moxibustion with seed-size moxa cone enhances anti-tumor effect of cyclophosphamide on Hepa1-6 hepatoma-bearing mice by regulating apoptosis factor cysteine family].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the anti-tumor effect of moxibustion with seed-sized moxa cones on Hepa1-6 liver cancer bearing (HLCB) mice and its regulatory mechanism on cell apoptosis. METHODS: A total of 40 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control, moxibustion, cyclophosphamide (CTX) and moxibustion+CTX groups, with 10 mice in each group. The HLCB model was established by subcutaneous inoculation of Hepa1-6 cancer cells into the right armpit. Mice of the CTX and moxibustion+CTX groups were given intraperitoneal injection of CTX (30 mg/kg), once daily for 3 days. Moxibustion with seed-sized moxa cones were applied to "Dazhui" (GV14), bilateral"Zusanli" (ST36) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP6), with 5 moxa cones for each acupoint, once daily for 10 consecutive days. The survival status scores and body weight of HLCB mice were observed, and the tumor weight and tumor inhibition rate were detected. HE staining was used to observe the morphological changes of tumor tissue. ELISA was used to detect the levels of serum interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Western blot and fluorescent quantitative real-time PCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA expressions of cysteine aspartate protease (Caspase) -3 and Caspase-9 in tumor tissues, separately. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the survival status scores, body weight, serum IL-2 and TNF-α levels were significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01), the tumor weight and serum IL-4 levels were significantly decreased (P<0.05) in the moxibustion group；while the survival status, body weight, tumor weight, serum IL-2 and IL-4 levels were significantly decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05), the content of TNF-α was significantly increased (P<0.01) in the CTX group. The protein and mRNA expressions of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 in the 3 trentment groups were significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). In comparison with the moxibustion group, the survival status scores, body weight and tumor weight, serum content of IL-2 were significantly decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05). In contrast to the CTX group, the survival status scores, body weight, serum IL-2 and TNF-α content, and the expressions of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 in tumor tissue were significantly increased (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the tumor weight and serum IL-4 content were significantly decreased (P<0.05) in the moxibustion+CTX group. Results of HE staining showed that the tumor cells in the control group had clear nuclear membranes and nucleoli, with more dividing cells； while less nuclear division and an increase in tumor necrosis areas were found in the 3 treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Moxibustion with seed-size moxa cone can enhance the anti-tumor effect of CTX and improve the quality of life of HLCB mice, which may be related with its effect in activating the expressions of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 in tumor tissue.

[Academic origin of round magnetic needle and standardization operation].

The origin and development of round magnetic needle was explored, and the structure of round magnetic needle was introduced in detail, including the handle, the body and the tip of the needle. The clinical opera tion of round magnetic needle were standardized from the aspects of the methods of holding needle, manipulation skill, tapping position, strength of manipulation, application scope and matters needing attention, which laid foundation for the popularization and application of round magnetic needle.

Effects of Huanshuai Recipe Oral Liquid on restructuring glomerular microvasculature and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in subtotal nephrectomized rats.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the effects and significance of Huanshuai Recipe Oral Liquid (, HSR), a formula with supplementing qi, nourishing blood and activating blood on restructuring glomerular microvasculature and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in subtotal nephrectomized (SNX) rats. METHODS: A total of 76 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: 16 in the sham-operated group and fed with tap water 10 mL/kg per day; 20 in the model group were operated with 5/6 SNX and fed with tap water 10 mL/ kg per day; 20 SNX rats in the HSR group were treated with HSR 10 mL/kg per day; 20 SNX rats in the losartan group were treated with losartan 40 mg/kg per day. Serum creatinine (SCr) and urinary protein excretion (Upro) were examined at the 2nd, 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks of the treatment, and the remnant kidneys were harvested. Changes in histological microstructure were evaluated using light microscopy, and the expression of VEGF was detected by using ELISA. RESULTS: Upro, microvasculature injury and glomerulosclerosis were found to be alleviated in HSR and Losartan groups, respectively. The change of VEGF expression showed positive correlation with glomerular capillary area and peritubular capillary number (r=0.448, r=0.422, P<0.01), but negative correlation with that of SCr and Upro (r=-0.592, r=-0.481, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: HSR could regulate the VEGF expression, reduce the loss of microvasculature, which demonstrated similar renal protective effects to losartan in SNX rats. Examination of Chinese herbal medicine influence on VEGF signaling and restructuring renal microvasculature may elucidate the molecular mechanism of renal protection to a certain degree.

[Renoprotective effects of Astragalus and Angelica mixture in rats with 5/6 nephrectomy].

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether Chinese herbs Astragalus and Angelica mixture (A&A) have renoprotective effects on chronic renal failure in rats. METHODS: 5/6 nephrectomized kidney in rats was used as chronic renal failure model. Rats were randomly divided into four groups which included sham, Model, A&A and enalapril (Ena) groups. The remnant kidney was harvested after 2, 4, 8, 12 weeks, and levels of serum creatinine (scr), urea and urinary protein excretion were measured using routine biochemical methods. The pathological lesions were observed by light microscope. The expressions of fibronectin (FN) and collagen IV (Col-IV) in glomeruli and interstitium were detected by immnuohistochemistry. RESULTS: 5/6 nephrectomized rats were presented with the characteristics of increasing scr and urea, persistent proteinuria at the end of the 2nd, 4th, 8th, 12th weeks, respectively. They had increasing size of glomeruli with progressive proliferation of mesangial cells and mesangial matrix followed by glomerulosclerosis and progressive elevated expressions of FN and Col-IV. Compared with Model group, the administration of A&A could decrease urinary protein excretion for 34%, 44%, 25%, 45% at the end of the 2nd, 4th, 8th and 12th weeks, respectively (P<0.05). At the end of the 8 th week of A&A administration, mesangial proliferation was much lower than that in the untreated rats, the expressions of FN and Col-IV were decreased for 18% and 29%(P<0.05), respectively. At the end of the 12th week, the number of sclerotic glomeruli was decreased and renal interstitial fibrosis almost disappeared, accompanied with the decreased expressions of FN and Col-IV for 17% and 14% (P<0.05), respectively. The beneficial effects of A&A were similar to the effects of enalapril in the study. CONCLUSION: A&A reduced extracellular matrix deposition and down-regulated the lesions of glomerulosclerosis and renal interstitial fibrosis in rats with chronic renal failure, which may be due to its effect on the earlier and persistent reduction of proteinuria.

[Therapeutic application and prospect of Astragalus membranaceus and Angelica sinensis in treating renal microvascular lesions].

It has been known that the renal microvasular lesions could aggravate the progress of glomerular sclerosis and tubulo-interstitial fibrosis in chronic kidney diseases. Modern pharmacological studies indicated that the two traditional Chinese herbs, Astragalus membranaceus and Angelica sinensis, could improve micorvascular lesions through multiple mechanisms, including increasing local renal blood flow to lessen the hypoxic renal injury, promoting the recovery of renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate after ischemia-reperfusion, modulating the imbalance of vaso-activators such as nitric oxide and angiotensin, increasing the expression of vascular epithelial growth factor and inhibiting the release of the intracellular calcium ion and promoting DNA synthesis in endothelial cells to improve the function of endothelial cells. These evidences suggest that Astragalus membranaceus and Angelica sinensis may retard the progress of renal diseases through the above-mentioned mechanisms.

[Analysis of principal composition of ethyl acetate part in Huangqi Danggui decoction by HPLC-ESI-TOF-MS].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze and identify the principal composition of ethyl acetate part of Huangqi Danggui decoction by high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS). METHOD: The analysis conditions are as follows: Zorbax SB C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) column; mobile phase (A) water mobile phase (B) acetonitrile, gradient elution; UV detection wavelength 254 nm; ESI source and data acquisition in positive and negative mode. RESULT: The accurate molecular weights of 20 compounds were measured and identified in ethyl acetate part of Huangqi Danggui decoction. Furthermore, the types of them are as below: flavonoids and flavonoid glycosides, saponins, oligosaccharides, amino acids and phthalides. CONCLUSION: It is a rapid and accurate method that the compositions of compound prescription of traditional Chinese medicine can be identified in terms of the separation of high performance liquid chromatography, the accurate molecular weights measured by MS and other information, which can clarify the potential effective compounds of Huangqi Danggui decoction.