The application of demographic characteristics of Ectropis grisescens (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) in pest risk assessment of IPM.

Ectropis grisescens Warren is one of the most important pests of tea plants. In this study, data on the development, survival, and fecundity of E. grisescens were collected at 15, 22, and 32 °C and analyzed by using the age-stage, two-sex life table. At 15 °C, the duration of the preadult period of E. grisescens was significantly prolonged (81.06 days), with high mortality (69.0%), and the proportion of emerged female adults was extremely low (7.0%). At 32 °C, the preadult period was significantly shortened (29.12 days), with high preadult mortality (74.0%), and a low proportion of emerged female adults (15.0%). At 22 °C, with low preadult mortality (24.0%), and a high proportion of emerged female adults (26.0%). The overall effects of the shorter preadult duration, higher preadult survival rate, higher proportion of emerged female adults, higher fecundity (F = 350.88 eggs/♀), and higher net reproductive rate (R0 = 91.23 offspring/individual) at 22 °C resulted in the highest values of the intrinsic rate of increase (r = 0.1054 days-1) and finite rate of increase (λ = 1.1112 days-1). Computer simulation showed that E. grisescens populations can increase much faster at 22 °C than at 15 and 32 °C. The weighted population size and cumulative weighted insect-days provided the dynamics necessary for estimating the damage potential of E. grisescens in devising economical pest management programs. Our results demonstrate that populations of E. grisescens were able to develop at a broad range of temperatures and adapt to the high temperatures. These finding can be utilized to improve the management of E. grisescens.

Efficacy of mind-body therapies for sleep disturbance in patients with early-stage cancer: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the efficacy of different mind-body therapies (MBTs) for sleep disturbance in patients with early-stage cancer. METHODS: Randomised controlled trials that included patients (aged ≥18 years) with early stage cancer who underwent MBTs (mindfulness, hypnosis, relaxation, yoga, and qigong) were searched in the CINAHL via the EBSCO Host, Cochrane Library, Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Scopus databases, from the date of database inception to October 2022. The outcomes were subjective sleep disturbance and objective sleep efficiency. Network meta-analysis (NMA) and comparative effects ranking were performed using STATA (v14.0; STATACorp, College Station, TX, USA). RESULTS: Forty-seven studies investigating five MBTs were included in the NMA. For cancer patients receiving active treatment, mindfulness demonstrated the largest effect size in reducing subjective sleep disturbance (standardised mean difference [SMD]: 0.85; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.20-1.50; Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation assessment: moderate), and had the highest cumulative probability compared to usual care or waitlist. For cancer patients who had completed active treatment, qigong demonstrated the largest effect size in reducing subjective sleep disturbance (SMD: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.35-1.63; GRADE: low), followed by hypnosis (SMD: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.32-1.42; GRADE: moderate), and mindfulness (SMD: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.24-0.59; GRADE: moderate). Qigong also demonstrated the largest effect size in improving objective sleep efficiency (weighted mean differences: 10.76; 95% CI: 2.01-19.50; GRADE: low); however, the effect of qigong was tested in only one study in this NMA. Among the eight different treatment conditions, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) showed the highest cumulative probability (surface under the cumulative ranking curve: 96.3%) in reducing subjective sleep disturbance and the second highest cumulative probability (SUCRA: 83.3%) in improving objective sleep efficiency. CONCLUSION: There is no evidence supporting the use of MBTs to replace or be comparable to CBT. Mindfulness can be recommended as an optional treatment for reducing sleep disturbance in patients with early-stage cancer. Some support was observed for qigong and hypnosis in reducing sleep disturbances in patients with early-stage cancer who had completed active treatment. More rigorous trials are warranted to confirm whether different forms of MBTs have different effects on sleep in patients with cancer.

[Acupuncture-moxibustion treatment by stages based on the theory of "transformation of yin and yang" for premature ovarian insufficiency].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy between acupuncture-moxibustion treatment by stages and femoston for premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). METHODS: A total of 66 patients with POI were randomly divided into an observation group (33 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a control group (33 cases, 2 cases dropped off). The patients in the observation group, based on the theory of "transformation of yin and yang", were treated with acupuncture-moxibustion by stages in the postmenstrual period, ovulatory period, premenstrual period and menstrual period, once every other day, 3 times a week. The patients in the control group were treated with oral administration of femoston (estradiol tablets/estradiol and dydrogesterone tablets, 1 tablet per day). Both groups were treated for 3 menstrual cycles. The ovarian function (serum follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH], luteinizing hormone [LH], estradiol [E2], anti-mullerian hormone [AMH] and antral follicle count [AFC]) and perimenopausal symptoms [modified Kupperman index (KI) scale score] were observed before and after treatment, and the menstrual improvement of the two groups was compared. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the serum levels of FSH and LH were decreased (P<0.01), the levels of E2 were increased (P<0.01) in the two groups after treatment; the serum level of AMH and AFC in the observation group were increased after treatment (P<0.01). After treatment, the serum level of AMH and AFC in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, there was no significant difference in the menstrual return rate and menstrual regularity rate between the amenorrhea patients of the two groups (P>0.05). After treatment, the modified KI scale scores in the two groups were reduced (P<0.01), and the modified KI scale score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture- moxibustion treatment by stages based on the theory of "transformation of yin and yang" has similar efficacy with femoston in improving serum sex hormone level and menstrual symptoms in patients with POI, and has advantages in improving serum AMH level, AFC and perimenopausal symptoms.

Astragaloside IV inhibits protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B and improves insulin resistance in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells and triglyceride accumulation in oleic acid (OA)-treated HepG2 cells.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Astragaloside IV (AST IV) is the active component of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge, which regulates lipid and carbohydrate metabolism and improves insulin resistance. In this study, we investigated the effects of AST IV on insulin resistant cells and a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) model induced by high-concentration insulin or oleic acid (OA) in HepG2 cells, as well as the associated regulatory markers. METHODS: First, the target of AST IV was predicted via pharmacophore model matching and molecular docking. Then, enzyme kinetics experiments were conducted in vitro to determine the effect of AST IV on the target protein. Next, AST IV's toxicity was tested on HepG2 cells in vitro, through an insulin resistance model and an NAFLD model, by high-concentration insulin or OA, respectively. To explore the effects of AST IV on insulin resistance and lipid metabolism, we detected the related indexes of glucose and lipid metabolism through commercially available kits. Relevant proteins were also detected by Western blot to provide future direction for study. RESULTS: Our preliminary results of pharmacophore model matching and molecular docking suggested that AST IV and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) can be well-combined through hydrogen bonding. Further, the enzyme kinetics experiment showed that AST IV was an effective and specific inhibitor to PTP1B. We found that the protein level of PTP1B in HepG2 cells was significantly increased after treating with high-concentration insulin or OA. Additionally, the intervention of AST IV significantly increased glucose consumption in an insulin resistance model and reduced the content of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and free fatty acid (FFA) in the NAFLD model. Moreover, the 2-N-(7-nitrobenze-2-oxa-1, 3 diazol-4-yl) (2-NBDG) uptake rate in the NAFLD model was also greatly improved. These results validated the effects of AST IV on improving insulin resistance and lipid accumulation. Furthermore, Western blot results illustrated that AST IV suppressed PTP1B and increased levels of phosphorylated insulin receptor (p-IR) and phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate-1 (p-IRS-1) in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells, while also decreasing protein levels of PTP1B and sterol element regulatory binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) in the NAFLD model. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that AST IV inhibited PTP1B and effectively improved insulin resistance in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells and triglyceride accumulation in OA-treated HepG2 cells.

Advances in the Study of the Potential Hepatotoxic Components and Mechanism of Polygonum multiflorum.

The roots of Polygonum multiflorum (PM) (He Shou Wu in Chinese) are one of the most commonly used tonic traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) in China. PM is traditionally valued for its antiaging, liver- and kidney-tonifying, and hair-blackening effects. However, an increasing number of hepatotoxicity cases induced by PM attract the attention of scholars worldwide. Thus far, the potential liver injury compounds and the mechanism are still uncertain. The aim of this review is to provide comprehensive information on the potential hepatotoxic components and mechanism of PM based on the scientific literature. Moreover, perspectives for future investigations of hepatotoxic components are discussed. This study will build a new foundation for further study on the hepatotoxic components and mechanism of PM.

[Observation on therapeutic effect of electroacpuncture combined with penetrating moxibustion for postpartum pelvic organ prolapse].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with penetrating moxibustion and biofeedback electrical stimulation on postpartum pelvic organ prolapsed (POP). METHODS: A total of 60 patients with POP who had delivery 6 weeks ago were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. In the observation group, EA was applied at Zigong (EX-CA 1), Ciliao (BL 32), Huiyang (BL 35), etc. while penetrating moxibustion was performed at acupoints of abdomen and lumbosacral region alternately every other day. In the control group, biofeedback electrical stimulation was provided. The treatment for 6 weeks was given once every other day, 3 times a week in both groups. Before treatment, after treatment and 6 months after delivery, pelvic floor muscle strength, pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q) evaluation and pelvic floor impact questionnaire short form-7 (PFIQ-7) were observed to assess the therapeutic effect. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the sustained contraction and rapid contraction force of pelvic floor muscle after treatment and 6 months after delivery were increased in both of the two groups (P<0.05), and the changes in the observation group were larger than those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment and 6 months after delivery, the POP degree in the observation group was alleviated to the control group (P<0.05). Compared before treatment, the scores of PFIQ-7 after treatment and 6 months after delivery were reduced in the two groups (P<0.05), and the changes in the observation group were larger than those in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture combined with penetrating moxibustion can strengthen the pelvic floor muscle contractility of patients with postpartum pelvic organ prolapse, and are superior to biofeedback electrical stimulation in improving the pelvic organ prolapse status and life quality.

[Efficacy of electroacupuncture combined with penetrating moxibustion for postpartum stress urinary incontinence].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effect differences between electroacupuncture (EA) combined with penetrating moxibustion and the biological feedback training of pelvic floor muscle for postpartum stress urinary incontinence (SUI). METHODS: Sixty patients of SUI who had delivery 42 days ago were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. The observation group was treated with EA and penetrating moxibustion. EA was applied at Ciliao (BL 32) and Huiyang (BL 35), combined with acupuncture at Qihai (CV 6), Zhongji (CV 3), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6); penetrating moxibustion was performed on abdomen and lumbosacral area. The control group was treated with biological feedback training of pelvic floor muscle. Both the groups were treated once every other day, 3 times per week for continuous 6 weeks. The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICI-Q-SF), 1 h urinal pad test and pelvic floor muscle strength were tested before and after treatment; the efficacy was evaluated after treatment and at 6-month follow-up visit. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the ICI-Q-SF score and 1 h urine leakage were significantly reduced after treatment in the two groups (P<0.01), and the reduction in the observation group was superior to that in the control group (P<0.05). Compared before treatment, the pelvic muscle strength of muscle fibers Ⅰand Ⅱ were significantly increased after treatment in the two groups (P<0.01), and the differences between the two groups had no statistical significance (P>0.05). After treatment, the cured rate and total effective rate were 70.0% (21/30) and 96.7% (29/30) in the observation group, which were superior to 33.3% (10/30) and 70.0% (21/30) in the control group (P<0.01); in the 6-month postpartum period, the cured rate and total effective rate were 63.3% (19/30) and 93.3% (28/30) in the observation group, which were superior to 30.0% (9/30) and 66.7% (20/30) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: EA combined with penetrating moxibustion could improve the urinary control ability, relieve the symptoms of urinary incontinence and have a better long-term effect in patients with postpartum SUI, which is superior to biological feedback training of pelvic floor muscle.

Relationship between Tissue Distributions of Modified Wuzi Yanzong Prescription () in Rats and Meridian Tropism Theory.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between tissue distributions of modified Wuzi Yanzong prescription (, MWP) in rats and meridian tropism theory. METHODS: A high-performance liquid chromatography with Fourier transform-mass spectrometry (HPLC-FT) method was used to identify the metabolites of MWP in different tissues of rats after continued oral administration of MWP for 7 days. The relationship between MWP and meridian tropism theory was studied according to the tissue distributions of the metabolites of MWP in rats and the relevant literature. RESULTS: Nineteen metabolites, mainly flavanoid compounds, were detected in the different rat tissues and classified to each herb in MWP. Further, it was able to establish that the tissue distributions of the metabolites of MWP were consistent with the descriptions of meridian tropism of MWP available in literature, this result might be useful in clarifying the mechanism of MWP on meridian tropism. In the long run, these data might provide scientific evidence of the meridian tropism theory to further promote the reasonable, effective utilization, and modernization of Chinese medicine. CONCLUSION: The tissue distributions of MWP in vivo were consistent with the descriptions of meridian tropism of MWP.

Total flavonoid extract from Dracoephalum moldavica L. attenuates ß-amyloid-induced toxicity through anti-amyloidogenesic and neurotrophic pathways.

AIMS: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an incurable neurodegenerative disorder characterized by global cognitive impairment that involves accumulation of amyloid-beta peptides (Aß) in the brain. Herbal approaches can be used as alternative medicines to slow the progression of AD. This study aimed to determine the beneficial effects and potential underlying mechanisms of total flavonoid extract from Dracoephalum moldavica L. (TFDM) for attenuating Alzheimer-related deficits induced by Aß. MAIN METHODS: We used amyloid precursor protein (APP) and presenilin 1 (PS1) double transgenic mice and copper-injured APP Swedish mutation overexpressing SH-SY5Y cells to evaluate the beneficial effects of TFDM. Further, identifying the mechanisms of action was conducted on anti-amyloidogenic and neurotrophic transductions. KEY FINDINGS: Our results indicated that TFDM treatment ameliorated cognitive impairments and neurodegeneration and improved the antioxidant defense system in APP/PS1 mice. TFDM also reduced Aß burden by relieving Aß deposition, decreasing insoluble Aß levels, and inhibiting ß-amyloidogenic processing pathway involving downregulation of ß-secretase and ß-C-terminal fragment in the brain. In the in vitro model of AD, TFDM treatment protected injured cells, and combined with the beneficial effects of decreasing APP levels, lowered Aß1-42 and regulated the redox imbalance. Moreover, TFDM preserved the extracellular signal-regulated kinase/cAMP response element-binding protein/brain-derived neurotrophic factor pathway both in vitro and in vivo. SIGNIFICANCE: In conclusion, TFDM clearly demonstrated neuroprotective effects by restoring the anti-amyloidogenic and neurotrophic transductions in the context of AD-associated deficits. These findings indicate the potential use of herb-based substances as supplements or potential alternative supplements for attenuating the progression of AD.

Jiangtang decoction ameliorate diabetic nephropathy through the regulation of PI3K/Akt-mediated NF-κB pathways in KK-Ay mice.

BACKGROUND: Jiangtang decoction (JTD) is a China patented drug which contains Euphorbia humifusa Willd, Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, Astragalus mongholicus Bunge, Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge, and Coptis chinensis Franch. For decades, it has also been used clinically to treat diabetic nephropathy (DN) effectively; however, the associated mechanisms remain unknown. Thus, the present study aimed to examine the protective efficacy of JTD in DN and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. METHODS: A diabetic model using KK-Ay mice received a daily administration of JTD for 12 weeks. Body weight, blood glucose, triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol (TC), urea nitrogen (UN), creatinine (Cr), and microalbumin/urine creatinine (MA/UCREA) was measured every 4 weeks. Furthermore, on the day of the sacrifice, blood, urine, and kidneys were collected to assess renal function according to general parameters. Pathological staining was performed to evaluate the protective renal effect of JTD. In addition, the levels of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α], interleukin [IL]-6 and intercellular adhesion molecule [ICAM]-1), insulin receptor substrate [IRS]-1, advanced glycation end products [AGEs], and receptor of glycation end products [RAGE] were assessed. Finally, the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway and involvement of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) was further analyzed. RESULTS: After 12 weeks of metformin and JTD administration, the mice exhibited a significant amelioration in glucose and lipid metabolism dysfunction, reduced morphological changes in the renal tissue, decreased urinary albumin excretion, and normalized creatinine clearance. JTD treatment also reduced the accumulation of AGEs and RAGE, up-regulated IRS-1, and increased the phosphorylation of both PI3K (p85) and Akt, indicating that the activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway was involved. Additionally, JTD administration reduced the elevated levels of renal inflammatory mediators and decreased the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that JTD might reduce inflammation in DN through the PI3K/Akt and NF-κB signaling pathways.

Analysis of the Constituents in "Zhu She Yong Xue Shuan Tong" by Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry Combined with Preparative High Performance Liquid Chromatography.

"Zhu She Yong Xue Shuan Tong" lyophilized powder (ZSYXST), consists of a series of saponins extracted from Panax notoginseng, which has been widely used in China for the treatment of strokes. In this study, an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS) combined with preparative high performance liquid chromatography (PHPLC) method was developed to rapidly identify both major and minor saponins in ZSYXST. Some high content components were removed through PHPLC in order to increase the sensitivity of the trace saponins. Then, specific characteristic fragment ions in both positive and negative mode were utilized to determine the types of aglycone, saccharide, as well as the saccharide chain linkages. As a result, 94 saponins, including 20 pairs of isomers and ten new compounds, which could represent higher than 98% components in ZSYXST, were identified or tentatively identified in commercial ZSYXST samples.

[Study of effect of Humifuse Euphorbia Herb on alleviating insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic model KK-Ay mice].

[To explore the effect of Humifuse Euphorbia Herb ( HEH) on alleviating insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic KK-Ay mice. Totally 40 KK-Ay mice fed with high-fat diet were divided into four groups: the metformin group, the model group, the HEH low-dose group and the HEH high-dose group, and orally administrated with metformin hydrochloride (250 mg x kg(-1)), distilled water, humifuse euphorbia herb 1 g x kg(-1) and 2 g x kg(-1). Besides, C57BL/6J mice with ordinary feed were taken as the normal control group and orally administrated with equal distilled water. The oral administration for the five groups lasted for eight weeks. Before and after the experiment, weight, fasting glucose and insulin tolerance were determined. The morphological changes in pancreas were observed through hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining on pancreatic tissue sections. The serum insulin, TNF-α, IL-6, adiponectin (ADPN) and leptin (LEP) were detected by ELISA. The results showed that HEH could reduce weight and fasting glucose in KK-Ay mice, alleviate hyperinsulinemia, reduce blood glucose-time AUC, increase 30-min blood glucose decline rate, relieve insulin resistance, significantly ameliorate the pathomorphological changes in pancreas in each group, decrease serum TNF-α, IL-6 and leptin levels in KK-Ay mice and rise serum ADPN level. This study proved that humifuse euphorbia herb can ameliorate the insulin resistance in KK-Ay mice, and its mechanism may be related to the effect on inflammatory factors and adipocytokines.

Flower evolution of alpine forbs in the open top chambers (OTCs) from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Effects of global changes on biodiversity have been paid more and more attention world widely, and the open top chambers (OTCs) are the most common tools to study the effects of climatic warming on plant diversity. However, it remains unclear how flowers evolve under environmental changes, which could help us to understand the changes of plant diversity in the OTCs. We compared the insect diversity and pollen:ovule (P/O) ratio of eight outcrossing species with different life histories inside and outside the OTCs on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, to examine the effects induced by OTCs on the evolution of floral traits. In the OTCs, P/O ratio decreased in annuals, but increased in perennials, indicating an overall trend toward selfing in annuals. We found that the insect diversity differed significantly inside and outside the OTCS, with decreases of dipteran insects and bees. We concluded that changes of P/O ratio in the studied plant species might result from pollination failure, which might be the results of mismatch between flowering time and pollinator activities. We also suggested annuals might be in a more extinction risk than perennials in OTCs, if strong inbreeding depression occurs in these annual outcrossing plants.

Improved myocardial function with supplement of levosimendan to Celsior solution.

Levosimendan is a calcium-sensitizing agent shown to prevent myocardical contractile depression in various heart diseases. In this study, we investigated the effect of levosimendan on cardiac dysfunction and apoptosis in hypothermic preservation rat hearts. Isolated rat hearts were preserved in Celsior solution with or without levosimendan. The left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) recovery rate of isolated rat heart significantly decreased, and the apoptosis index increased after 9 hours of hypothermic preservation. Supplement Celsior solution with levosimendan (10 and 10 mole/L) enhanced the LVDP recovery rate and reduced apoptosis. Levosimendan inhibited the hypothermic preservation-induced calpain activation and cleavage of Bid. Levosimendam induced increased myocardial inducible nitric oxide synthase but not endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression. A selective inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor 1400W, and a mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel blocker 5-hydroxydecanoate but not a sarcolemmal KATP channel blocker HMR-1098 prevented improvement effect of levosimendam on LVDP recovery rate, abolished the inhibitory effect of levosimendan on hypothermic preservation-induced activation of calpain, cleavage of Bid, and apoptosis. These data suggested that Celsior solution supplement with levosimendan improved cardiac function recovery and reduced myocyte apoptosis in hypothermic preservation rat hearts.

Integration of traditional Chinese medicines and Western medicines for treating diabetes mellitus with coronary heart disease: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: Diabetes mellitus with coronary heart disease (DM with CHD) poses a health challenge to people in China and elsewhere in the world. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), DM with CHD is classified as a type of disease called Xiaoke and Xiongbi. In Asia, TCM has been used to treat Xiaoke and Xiongbi conditions for centuries, especially in China. In this study, it was evaluated whether integrated strategies incorporating both TCM and Western medicines (iTCWM) could improve the curative efficacy of DM with CHD. METHODS: An extensive search for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) published up to November 2011 in either English or Chinese about iTCWM for DM with CHD was conducted. All listings in PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI, VIP, and the Wanfang database were included in the literature search. The quality of each trial was assessed using the Cochrane Reviewers' Handbook 5.0. Data analysis was performed by the RevMan 5.0 provided by the Cochrane Collaboration. RESULTS: After an initial selection of 207 articles, 21 RCTs and quasi-RCTs were ultimately included in the analysis for this study. All of these trials were conducted in China and published in Chinese journals. The methodological quality of the trials was low in most studies. Selection bias and measurement bias were common in all of the studies. A meta-analysis was not conducted, due to the poor quality of the available studies. CONCLUSIONS: The current state of the literature regarding the utility of iTCWM for the treatment of DM with CHD is inadequate. The poor quality of the available trials makes it difficult to draw any conclusions regarding the efficacy of iTCWM for the treatment of DM with CHD. This study highlights the paucity of reliable clinical evidence for iTCWM and the need for higher quality RCTs to be conducted in the future.

[Clinical experiences of professor WU Bing-Huang on emergency treatment with acupressure].

The key points of acupoint selection and manipulations of Professor WU Bing-huang's experiences on emergency treatment with acupressure are introduced. It includes emergency treatment on coma (collapse, faint, faint at the sight of blood, faint during acupuncture, faint during moxibustion, shock, etc.), and pain, cough as well as asthma relieving with acupressure (include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, toothache, dysmenorrhea, lumbago, neck stiffness after sleep, cough, asthma, etc.). At the same time, typical cases are given as examples.

Effects of Chinese herbal medicine Shenlong Decoction on mRNA expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 in lung tissue of rats with pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in rats with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) induced by bleomycin, and to explore the mechanisms of Shenlong Decoction in preventing and treating PF. METHODS: A total of 230 Wistar rats were divided into normal control group, untreated group, prednisone group, and low-, medium- and high-dose Shenlong Decoction groups. Wistar rats were intratracheally injected with bleomycin to induce PF. From the 2nd day, rats in the normal control and untreated groups were lavaged with normal saline (NS), and rats in the other groups were lavaged with prepared Shenlong Decoction by the same amount. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Masson staining were used to observe pathological changes in lung tissue at different time points, and to evaluate whether the model was successfully induced. Expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 mRNAs in rats' lung tissue were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 mRNAs in lung tissue of rats were observed from all groups at each time point. In comparison with the normal control group, on the 7th day, the transcription levels of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 mRNAs, especially the former, of the untreated group increased significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01). On the 14th day, the transcription levels of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 mRNAs kept rising, especially the latter (P<0.05 or P<0.01). On the 28th day, the transcription level of MMP-2 decreased a little, while the transcription level of TIMP-1 mRNA did not stop increasing (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with the untreated group, decrease of the transcription levels of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 mRNAs were observed in the treatment groups, especially the former, and this effect continued to the 28th day with the medium-dose Shenlong Decoction group decreasing most obviously (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Shenlong Decoction may inhibit the expression of MMP-2 mRNA by up-regulating the expression of TIMP-1 mRNA so as to slow the progression of PF.

Tongxinluo reduces myocardial no-reflow and ischemia-reperfusion injury by stimulating the phosphorylation of eNOS via the PKA pathway.

The objective of the present study was to investigate whether pretreatment with single low loading dose of tongxinluo (TXL), a traditional Chinese medicine, 1 h before myocardial ischemia could attenuate no-reflow and ischemia-reperfusion injury by regulating endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) via the PKA pathway. In a 90-min ischemia and 3-h reperfusion model, minipigs were randomly assigned to the following groups: sham, control, TXL (0.05 g/kg, gavaged 1 h before ischemia), TXL + H-89 (a PKA inhibitor, intravenously infused at a dose of 1.0 µg·kg(-1)·min(-1) 30 min before ischemia), and TXL + N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA; an eNOS inhibitor, intravenously administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg 30 min before ischemia). TXL decreased creatine kinase (CK) activity (P < 0.05) and reduced the no-reflow area from 48.6% to 9.5% and infarct size from 78.5% to 59.2% (P < 0.05), whereas these effects of TXL were partially abolished by H-89 and completely reversed by L-NNA. TXL elevated PKA activity and the expression of PKA, Thr(198) phosphorylated PKA, Ser(1179) phosphorylated eNOS, and Ser(635) phosphorylated eNOS in the ischemic myocardium. H-89 repressed the TXL-induced enhancement of PKA activity and phosphorylation of eNOS at Ser(635), and L-NNA counteracted the phosphorylation of eNOS at Ser(1179) and Ser(635) without an apparent influence on PKA activity. In conclusion, pretreatment with a single low loading dose of TXL 1 h before ischemia reduces myocardial no-reflow and ischemia-reperfusion injury by upregulating the phosphorylation of eNOS at Ser(1179) and Ser(635), and this effect is partially mediated by the PKA pathway.

ExcisaninA, a diterpenoid compound purified from Isodon MacrocalyxinD, induces tumor cells apoptosis and suppresses tumor growth through inhibition of PKB/AKT kinase activity and blockade of its signal pathway.

Isodon diterpenoids have received considerable phytochemical and biological attention for their strong antitumor activity with low toxicity. In this study, ExcisaninA, a diterpenoid compound purified from Isodon MacrocalyxinD, was tested on human Hep3B and MDA-MB-453 cell lines and Hep3B xenograft models. The results showed ExcisaninA could inhibit the proliferation of Hep3B and MDA-MB-453 cells via induction of apoptosis, with the evidence of increasing AnnexinV-positive cells and characteristic morphologic changes of apoptosis in the nucleus. Also, ExcisaninA sensitized Hep3B cells to 5-fluorouracil treatment or MDA-MB-453 cells to ADM treatment in vitro. In Hep3B xenograft models, ExcisaninA at 20 mg/kg/d remarkably decreased the xenograft tumor size and induced tumor cells apoptosis using transferase-mediated FITC-12-dUTP nick-end labeling assay. More importantly, we found that ExcisaninA could inhibit AKT activity and block its signal pathway in vitro and in vivo. And treatment with ExcisaninA significantly reduced the number of viable cells in Hep3B/myr-AKT1 cells more than that in control cells. Together, ExcisaninA might be a potent inhibitor of AKT signaling pathway in tumor cells. These data provide validation for the development of ExcisaninA to treat cancers displaying elevated levels of AKT.

Puerarin protects against high glucose-induced acute vascular dysfunction: role of heme oxygenase-1 in rat thoracic aorta.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antioxidant and vascular protective effect of puerarin, an isoflavone glycoside known in traditional Chinese medicine on vascular reactivity subsequent to high glucose stress. METHODS: The thoracic aortic rings with or without endothelium from male SD rats were mounted in an organ bath. Isometric contraction of aortic rings was measured. HO-1 protein expression and HO activity were also evaluated. RESULTS: (1) After incubation with 44 mmol/L of high glucose for 2 or 4 h, the vascular contraction responses to phenylephrine (PE) and relaxation response to acetylcholine (Ach) decreased in an endothelium-dependent manner; (2) Coincubation with puerarin (10(-10)-10(-8) mol/L) and high glucose, the high glucose-induced vasoconstriction and vasodilation dysfunction was partly inhibited in a dose-dependent manner; (3) Puerarin increased the HO-1 protein expression and HO activity of thoracic aorta. ZnPP (an inhibitor of heme oxygenase-1) offset the protective effect of puerarin. CONCLUSION: Puerarin could alleviate the high glucose-induced acute endothelium-dependent vascular dysfunction in rat aortic rings. HO-1 activity was proposed as a mechanism to account for the protection of vascular responses by puerarin.