Clinical study on effect of Shumu Peitu herb-partitioned moxibustion on diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and negative emotions / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective:To explore the intervention effect of Shumu Peitu herb-partitioned moxibustion on clinical signs and symptoms and negative emotions of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) patients with liver-stagnation and spleen-deficiency pattern.Methods:A total of 72 patients with IBS-D of liver-stagnation and spleen-deficiency pattern treated in the Department of Gastroenterology of Nanjing Vniversity of Chinese Medicine from September 2021 to June 2022 were selected for randomized controlled trial. The patients were randomly divided into the observation group (2 cases dropped off, 34 cases in total) and control group (1 case dropped off, 35 cases in total) by random number table method. The patients in control group were treated with Tongxieyaofang (TXYF). The patients in observation group were treated with oral administration of TXYF and Shumu Peitu herb-partitioned moxibustion, and both groups were treated for 4 weeks. The clinical efficacy, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome integral, IBS Quality of Life Questionnaire (IBS-QOL), IBS Symptom Severity Scale (IBS-SSS), Bristol Stool Form Scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were compared before and after treatment.Results:After treatment, the total effective rate of the observation group was 94.12%(32/34), which was higher than the 71.43%(25/35) in the control group, the difference was significant ( χ2 = 6.18, P<0.05). After treatment, the TCM syndrome integral in the observation group was (7.62 ± 4.08), which was lower than the (9.89 ± 4.71) in the control group, the difference was significant ( t = 2.14, P<0.05). After treatment of 3 days, the scores of quality of life in the five dimensions of dysthymia, behavior disorder, health worry, avoidance of eating and social function in the observation group were (82.44 ± 11.46), (80.25 ± 11.67), (76.23 ± 12.67), (59.80 ± 15.14) and (79.23 ± 11.59) points, which were different with the (73.57 ± 12.39), (72.35 ± 15.48), (69.76 ± 13.11), (50.00 ± 16.17) and (73.04 ± 13.11) points in the control group, the difference were significant ( t values were -3.09 - -2.08, all P<0.05). Three days after treatment, the score of IBS-SSS and Bristol fecal character in the observation group were (118.24 ± 40.64) and (5.09 ± 0.62) points, which were lower than the (146.86 ± 60.09) and (5.51 ± 0.66) points in the control group, the difference were significant ( t = 2.31 and 2.76, both P<0.05). After treatment, the score of HADS-A and HADS-D in the observation group were (6.26 ± 1.75) and (5.29 ± 1.47), which were different with the (7.26 ± 2.19) and (6.17 ± 2.11) in the control group, the difference were significant ( t = 2.08 and 2.00, both P<0.05). Conclusions:Shumu Peitu herb-partitioned moxibustion can effectively improve IBS-D patients with liver-stagnation and spleen-deficiency pattern, relieve clinical symptoms, reduce negative emotions, and improve quality of life.

Study on the mechanism of Kangmin Zhisou Granules in the treatment of bronchial asthma based on network pharmacology and animal experiments / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective:To deeply explore the potential mechanism of Kangmin Zhisou Granules in the treatment of bronchial asthma through network pharmacology method; To verify it with animal experiments.Methods:The active components and corresponding target information of Kangmin Zhisou Granules were screened with the help of BATMAN-TCM database, and the related disease targets of bronchial asthma were obtained through GeneCards and OMIM databases. The drug targets and bronchial asthma targets were intersected and imported String database was used to establish PPI network. Cytoscape 3.9.1 software was used to draw the network diagram of "Chinese materia medica-active components-intersection targets" and the core targets were screened. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis was performed on the core targets using DAVID database. A mouse model of asthma induced by ovalbumin was prepared. After the intervention of Kangmin Zhisou Granules, the pathological changes of mouse lung tissue were observed, and the contents of serum TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1 β were detected by ELISA.Results:Totally 240 active components and 1 364 potential targets were obtained from Kangmin Zhisou Granules. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), protein kinase B (AKT1), albumin (ALB), interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β) and other 11 core targets were obtained after screening. The results of GO enrichment analysis showed that the treatment of bronchial asthma by Kangmin Zhisou Granules mainly involved the positive regulation of protein phosphorylation, the regulation of inflammatory response, lipopolysaccharide response and other biological processes, as well as TNF, activated protein kinase (MAPK), interleukin-17 (IL-17) and other signaling pathways. Animal experiments confirmed that Kangmin Zhisou Granules could reduce the expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in serum ( P<0.05), and reduce the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the lung tissue of mice, thereby relieving asthma symptoms. Conclusion:Kangmin Zhisou Granules may exert anti-inflammatory effects by acting on TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and other targets to alleviate asthma symptoms.

Mechanism of Tanreqing Injection in treatment of acute lung injury based on network pharmacology and molecular docking / 中国中药杂志

This study aimed to explore the mechanism of Tanreqing Injection in the treatment of acute lung injury(ALI) based on network pharmacology and molecular docking. The active components and action targets of Tanreqing Injection were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP), PubChem, and SwissTargetPrediction databases, as well as available literature reports. The ALI-related targets were obtained from the GeneCards database and then mapped with Tanreqing Injection targets. Following the construction of "drug-component-potential target" network with Cytoscape 3.6.1, the potential targets were input into STRING to yield the protein-protein interaction(PPI) network, which was plotted using Cytoscape 3.6.1. Then the screened key targets were subjected to gene ontology(GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG) enrichment analysis based on DAVID database. The top three key targets RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase(AKT1), albumin(ALB) and interleukin-6(IL6) were docked to the top three key compounds by PyMOL and AutoDock vina. A total of 58 active components of Tanreqing Injection, 597 corresponding targets and 503 common targets shared by Tanreqing Injection and ALI were fi-gured out, with the key targets AKT1, ALB and IL6 involved. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis yielded 1 445 biological processes and 148 signaling pathways, respectively. Molecular docking verified a good binding ability of the top three key targets to the top three key compounds. The analysis based on network pharmacology and molecular docking uncovered that Tanreqing Injection directly or indirectly regulated the pulmonary capillary endothelial cells and alveolar epithelial cells via anti-inflammation, thus alleviating ALI.

Study on regularity of Tibetan medicine in treatment of gZav-Grib disease (apoplexy sequelae) based on HIS clinical medical records / 中国中药杂志

This research is launched to look for the medication rules and characteristics of Tibetan medicine in the treatment of gZav-Grib( apoplexy sequelae). HIS records of gZav-Grib patients were selected from the Tibetan Hospital of Tibet Autonomous Region and Tibetan Hospital of the city of Naqu. SPSS Modeler,Gephi and other data mining and visualization software were used to study the actual law of drug use in the treatment of gZav-Grib in Tibetan medicine. Finally,479 cases of gZav-Grib patients in Tibetan medicine were included. Their average age is 63 and average hospital stay was 32 days. In total,82 Tibetan medicine prescriptions were used for treating gZav-Grib. The frequency in the front is Twenty-flavor Chenxiang Pills( 338 times),Ruyi Zhenbao Pills( 322 times),and Seventy-flavor Zhenzhu Pills( 315 times). According to the regularity of Tebitan medicine,they were applied in different time periods including the early morning,morning,noon,and evening,for example,in the early morning: Seventy-flavor Zhenzhu Pills,morning: Ruyi Zhenbao Pills,noon: Eighteen-flavor Dujuan Pills,evening: Twenty-flavor Chenxiang Pills. In the clinical joint,18 groups were found in the 10% support and 70% confidence. There are two prescriptions confidence more than 80% which nature focus on Gan,Ruan,Xi,Liang,Dun,Han,Wen. gZav-Grib of Tibetan medicine can be divided into two types: r Lung-Grib type and k Hrag-Grib type,in which the medicine of r Lung-Grib type takes Seventy-flavor Zhenzhu Pills as the core prescription,while the medicine of k Hrag-Grib type takes Ruyi Zhenbao Pills as the core prescription. It is found that the treatment of gZav-Grib by Tibetan medicine is mainly dominated by the treatment idea about " Therapeutic r Lung and blood,Consideration of venous diseases". Treatment functions is promoting the circulation of Qi,clearing blood heat and getting rid of bad blood,achieving the purpose of treating both principal secondary aspect of gZav-Grib. The research methods based on the HIS can't only optimize the Tibetan treating gZav-Grib sequela treatment plan and rule of medication,but also provide the scientific basis for Tibetan medicine treat gZav-Grib.

Analysis on medication regularity and action mechanism of Tibetan medicine in treatment of spleen and stomach diseases based on data mining and integrated pharmacology / 中国中药杂志

To explore the medication regularity of Tibetan medicine in the treatment of spleen and stomach diseases, analyze the potential drug targets and interactions of the prescriptions, and reveal the mechanism of Tibetan medicine in the treatment of spleen and stomach diseases. The prescriptions in Tibetan medicine for treatment of spleen and stomach diseases were collected, and Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Support System (TCMISS) was used to analyze the association rules between the herbs and discover the core herbs and new prescriptions. The integrated pharmacology platform V1.0 software was used to construct "herb-compound-target" network and investigate the interactions between various herbs and related pathways of Tibetan medicine Wuwei Shiliu powder in the treatment of spleen and stomach diseases. Among the 216 prescriptions of Tibetan medicine in the treatment of spleen and stomach diseases, pomegranate seed was used at a highest frequency (118 times), followed by white cardamom (107 times) and comatose (107 times). 12 new prescriptions were evolved by using the association rules (support>=34%, confidence>=0.85). 5 242 related drug targets and 20 related pathways were obtained from classic formula Wuwei Shiliu Powder (FDR<0.01). It was proposed that Tibetan medicine treatment for spleen and stomach diseases was mainly based on proliferation of "stomach fire" and the main drugs were for regulating Qi-flowing for strengthening spleen. The mechanism may be associated with regulation of digestive juice secretion, proton pump, mitochondria, regulation of intestinal digestion and immunity, the body's immunity to microorganisms function and other multiple targets and pathways to achieve the joint intervention.

[Intermittent convulsions for 1.5 years and psychomotor retardation in a girl].

The study reports a girl with pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy. The girl was admitted at the age of 2 years because of intermittent convulsions for 1.5 years and psychomotor retardation. She had a history of "hypoxia" in the neonatal period. At the age of 5 months recurrent epileptic seizures occurred. The child was resistant to antiepileptic drugs, and had many more seizures when she got cold or fever. She also had a lot of convulsive status epilepticus. No discharges were found during several video-EEG monitorings. Cerebral MRI examinations showed normal results. So Dravet syndrome was clinically suspected. ALDH7N1 gene mutation analysis revealed two heterozygote mutations, and pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy was thus confirmed. Seizures were generally controlled after pyridoxine supplementation.

Intermittent convulsions for 1.5 years and psychomotor retardation in a girl / 中国当代儿科杂志

The study reports a girl with pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy. The girl was admitted at the age of 2 years because of intermittent convulsions for 1.5 years and psychomotor retardation. She had a history of "hypoxia" in the neonatal period. At the age of 5 months recurrent epileptic seizures occurred. The child was resistant to antiepileptic drugs, and had many more seizures when she got cold or fever. She also had a lot of convulsive status epilepticus. No discharges were found during several video-EEG monitorings. Cerebral MRI examinations showed normal results. So Dravet syndrome was clinically suspected. ALDH7N1 gene mutation analysis revealed two heterozygote mutations, and pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy was thus confirmed. Seizures were generally controlled after pyridoxine supplementation.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can improve the learning capacity and memory in vascular dementia / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To explore the influence of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on the learning and memory ability using a rat model of vascular dementia (VD).Methods Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were selected and divided into a normal group,a sham operation group,a VD group and an HBOT group,each of 15 rats using a random number table.The improved four-vessel method was used to establish a VD model in all except the rats in the normal group,but for the sham operation group,the vertebral artery was not subjected to firing and the arteria carotis communis was not clipped.The HBOT group was then given HBOT for 7 days.The Morris water maze test was used to evaluate their learning and memory ability of all 4 groups.Results Compared to the normal group,the mean escape latency of the sham operation group,the VD group and the HBOT group was significantly longer in each case (P＜0.05).Their platform quadrant crossing times were also significantly less,and their quadrant swimming distance as a proportion of their total swimming distance was significantly smaller (P＜0.05).Compared with the sham operation group,the mean escape latency of the VD and HBOT groups was significantly longer (P＜0.05),the times of crossing platform quadrant were less and their quadrant swimming distance was a smaller proportion of their total swimming distance.As compared with the VD group,the mean escape latency of the HBOT group was significantly shorter [(25.73±6.20) s],the average platform quadrant crossing times were significantly more [(9.51±2.25) times] and the platform quadrant swimming distance of the HBOT group was significantly longer [(494.72±208.26)],representing a significantly larger proportion of the total swimming distance [(28.71 ± 5.32) ％] (P＜0.05).Conclusion HBOT can effectively improve learning and memory in vascular dementia,at least in rats.

Clinical study on addition treatment of liver -kidney yin deficiency and postmenopausal osteoporosis with Liuwei Dihuang pill / 中国基层医药

Objective To study the clinical effects of addition treatment of liver-kidney yin deficiency and postmenopausal osteoporosis with Liuwei Dihuang pill.Methods 120 patients suffering from postmenopausal osteopo-rosis who were determined to be subject to liver -kidney Yin deficiency by doctors of traditional Chinese medicine when they received treatment at the outpatient clinic of traditional Chinese medicine department of our hospital in the period from February 2010 to june 2013 were divided into three groups:group A,B and C,with the random number table.For group A:provided the honeyed pills made up by supplemented six -ingredient rehmannia pill,and taken two pills per day continuously for six months;For group B:provided 5mg of zoledronic acid injection for intravenous drip infusion;For group C:provided traditional Chinese medicine honeyed pills and zoledronic acid for treatment at the same time;all of the three groups take Calcium carbonate D3 at the same time;The three groups of cases until the 12th month were observed and followed -up.The clinical efficacy of three groups were compared.Results A,C group 3 months after treatment with estradiol levels compared with before treatment,the difference was statistically significant (t =2.54,P =0.05,t =2.07,P =0.06).A group 3 months after treatment,the VAS scores at 6 months respectively (3.75 ±1.32),(2.06 ±1.53)points before treatment,and the differences were statistically significant(t =10.18, P =0.00,t =9.26,P =0.00).A group 3 months after treatment,the SF -36 scores at 6 months were (90.82 ± 12.38),(105.82 ±9.06)% respectively,compared with that before treatment,the differences were statistically significant(t =8.40,P =0.00,t =5.21,P =0.00).A group 6 months after treatment of lumbar 1 -4 bone density-were (0.85 ±0.07)g/m2 ,and before treatment[(0.76 ±0.07)g/m2 ]comparison,the difference was statistically significant(t =7.56,P =0.00);A group 6 months after treatment of Wards bone density compared with before treatment,the difference was statistically significant(t =8.07,P =0.00).C group 6 months after treatment of lumbar 1 -4 bone density(0.91 ±0.07)g/m2 ,and B Group[(0.88 ±0.05)g/m2 ]comparison,the difference was statistical-ly significant(t =27.19,P =0.00);C group after treatment,the bone mineral density of Wards area for 6 months were (0.62 ±0.04)g/m2 .The difference was statistically significant (t =26.22,P =0.00),compared with the B group. The TCMsyndromes of TCMin the 6 months after treatment in A group were (5.42 ±2.13),and the difference was statistically significant (t =13.29,P =0.00),compared with the B Group (10.75 ±4.08).(t =13.29,P =0.00). Compared with B group,the difference was statistically significant(t =26.22,P =0.00).A group after the treatment of TCMsyndrome score was 6 months(5.42 ±2.13),and B Group[(10.75 ±4.08)],the difference was statistically significant(t =13.29,P =0.00).Conclusion The addition of Liuwei Dihuang pill can improve BMD,alleviate the ostealgia and improve life quality of patients suffering from postmenopausal osteoporosis,and has no obvious adverse effects.It can enhance curative effects through using with diphosphonate.

Enhancement of nitrogen and phosphorus removal from eutrophic water by economic plant annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) with ion implantation.

Severe eutrophication of surface water has been a major problem of increasing environmental concern worldwide. In the present study, economic plant annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) was grown in floating mats as an economic plant-based treatment system to evaluate its potential after ion implantation for removing nutrients in simulated eutrophic water. The specific weight growth rate of L. multiflorum with ion implantation was significantly greater than that of the control, and the peroxidase, nitrate reductase, and acid phosphatase activities of the irradiated L. multiflorum were found to be greater than those plants without ion implantation. Higher total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) removal efficiencies were obtained for the L. multiflorum irradiated with 25 keV 5.2 × 10(16) N(+) ions/cm(2) and 30 keV 4.16 × 10(16) N(+) ions/cm(2), respectively (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the nitrogen and phosphorus contents in the plant biomass with ion implantation were also greater than those in the control and were positively correlated with TN and TP supplied. L. multiflorum itself was directly responsible for 39-49 and 47-58 % of the overall N and P removal in the experiment, respectively. The research results suggested that ion implantation could become a promising approach for increasing phytoremediation efficiency of nutrients from eutrophic water by L. multiflorum.

Ethanol extract of Dendrobium chrysotoxum Lindl ameliorates diabetic retinopathy and its mechanism.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common and serious complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). The present study investigates the amelioration of ethanol extract of Dendrobium chrysotoxum Lindl (DC) on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DR and its engaged mechanism. Retinal immunofluorescence staining with cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31) demonstrated that DC (30-300 mg/kg) decreased the increased retinal vessels in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Retinal histopathological observation also showed that retinal vessels were decreased in DC-treated diabetic rats. DC decreased the increased retinal mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) in diabetic rats, and DC also decreased the elevated serum VEGF level. Immunohistochemical staining further evidenced that DC decreased VEGF and VEGFR2 expression in retinas. Retinal mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2/9 was decreased in DC (300 mg/kg)-treated diabetic rats. Serum levels of MMP 2/9, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) A/B, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß), and IL-6 were all decreased in DC-treated diabetic rats. In addition, DC decreased the increased phosphorylation of p65 and the increased expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). In conclusion, DC can alleviate retinal angiogenesis during the process of DR via inhibiting the expression of VEGF/VEGFR2, and some other pro-angiogenic factors such as MMP 2/9, PDGF A/B, bFGF, IGF-1. In addition, DC can also ameliorate retinal inflammation via inhibiting NFκB signaling pathway.

Efficacy observation on fire needling therapy for moderate to severe acne vulgaris / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the efficacy differences between fire needling therapy and oxycycline tablets for the treatment of moderate to severe acne vulgaris.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty cases of moderate to severe acne vulgaris were randomly divided into a fire needling group and a medication group, 30 cases in each one. The pricking method of fire needling at Ashi points around damaged skin was applied in the fire needling group, once every five days for totally 4 times. The oral administration of oxycycline tablets, 100 mg, was applied in the medication group, twice daily for 20 days, also external application of adapalene gel before sleep was adopted. The fading time of skin damage, including papule, pustule, nodule and cyst in the two groups was recorded and clinical efficacy was compared. After the treatment, two-month follow-up was performed to observe the recurrence rate in the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The curative rate was 69.0% (20/29) in the fire needling group, which was statistically different from 40.0% (12/30) in the medication group (P < 0.05). The fading time of each type of skin damage in the fire needling group was shorter than that in the medication group [papule: (2.67 +/- 0.66) d vs (4.36 +/- 0.61) d; pustule: (2.47 +/- 0.57) d vs (4.27 +/- 0.55) d; nodule: (7.76 +/- 1.06) d vs (9.88-1.30) d; cyst: (11.81 +/- 1.54) d vs (14.79 +/- 0.89) d, all P < 0.05]. The recurrence rate was 46.4% (13/28) in the fire needling group, which was not significantly different from 44.0% (11/24) in the medication group (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The acne vulgaris could be fast and effectively treated by fire needling therapy, which has shorter fading time than oxycycline tablets. However, the preventive effect is not different between the two theraies.</p>

Efficacy of Yiqiyangxin Chinese medicine compound combined with cognitive therapy in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorders

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the clinical efficacy of Yiqiyangxin Chinese medicine compound combined with cognitive therapy on generalized anxiety disorders.@*METHODS@#A total of 202 generalized anxiety disorders patients were randomly allocated to a control condition (Paroxetine combined with cognitive therapy) or a treatment condition (Yiqiyangxin Chinese medicine compound combined with cognitive therapy). Subsequently, scores of Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and blood routine, urine routine, liver function, renal function, electrocardiogram were detected before treatment, 3 months, 6 months after treatment and 6 months after medicine withdrawal, respectively.@*RESULTS@#HAMA and SAS scores were significantly reduced in two groups (P0.05). HAMA and SAS scores were significantly increased in two groups (P<0.05) after medicine withdrawal, and there were significant differences in HAMA and SAS scores, recurrent disease and adverse reaction (P<0.001). The incidence of recurrent disease and adverse reaction in treatment group was low. Both two groups showed no apparent abnormality in blood routine, urine routine, liver and renal function, and electrocardiogram.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Yiqiyangxin Chinese medicine compound combined with cognitive therapy can significantly reduce the recurrence after medicine withdrawal and is effective on generalized anxiety disorders. Furthermore, the incidence of adverse reactions is low. The treatment program is worthy clinic application in the further.

Effect of fluoride exposure on bone metabolism indicators ALP, BALP, and BGP.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the changes in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) activity and changes in osteocalcin (BGP) content following fluoride exposure and, thereby, determine the reference indications of fluoride-induced changes in bone metabolism. METHODS: In the animal study, rats were allowed free access to drinking water containing different concentrations (10, 150, or 400 mg/L) of sodium fluoride. Serum ALP and BALP activity and serum BGP content were assessed at three exposure time-points. In the spot study, serum ALP and BALP activity and serum BGP content were assessed in workers exposed to fluoride in their working environment for different periods of time. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, on days 15 and 30, the activity of serum ALP in the low- and medium-dose group was significantly higher (p < 0.05), while in the high-dose group it was significantly lower (p < 0.05). Only on day 30 was the activity of serum BALP in the medium-dose group significantly higher than that of the control group (p < 0.05). BGP content was lower in the high-dose group than in the control group (p < 0.05) on days 30 and 90, but it was higher in the medium-dose group on day 90. Compared with the control group, BGP content in the fluoride-exposed group was higher (p < 0.05). In the spot study, serum ALP activity and serum BGP content in the medium working-age group were higher than that in the short working-age group (p < 0.05). However, serum ALP activity and serum BGP content were lower in the long working-age group than in the medium working-age group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that serum fluoride and urinary fluoride can be used as reference indications to provide an overall reflection of the body's fluoride-load and fluoride exposure level. Serum ALP activity and serum BGP content can be used as important reference indications for diagnosing bone metabolism changes resulting from fluoride exposure.

Characteristics of acupuncture in Shanghan Lun (Treatise on Febrile Diseases) / 中国针灸

Through summarization and analysis on etiology, pathology and acupoint selection in chapters about acupuncture in Shanghan Lun (Treatise on Febrile Diseases), written by ZHANG Zhong-jing, famous physician of the Eastern Han Dynasty, five features of acupuncture in the book are concluded: to cut off the pathway of pathogenic factors to prevent progress of diseases; to adopt both acupuncture and herbal medicine to give full play to their respective advantages in treatment; to distinguish pathogenesis carefully and select the proper acupoints; to observe the progressing tendency of diseases to give treatment accordingly; and to understand that yang channels are appropriate for acupuncture, while yin channels can also be selected in treatment. In this way, the law of acupuncture of ZHANG Zhong-jing is expected to be better understood.

Enhanced nitrogen and phosphorus removal from eutrophic lake water by Ipomoea aquatica with low-energy ion implantation.

Ipomoea aquatica with low-energy N+ ion implantation was used for the removal of both nitrogen and phosphorus from the eutrophic Chaohu Lake, China. The biomass growth, nitrate reductase and peroxidase activities of the implanted I. aquatica were found to be higher than those of I. aquatica without ion implantation. Higher NO3-N and PO4-P removal efficiencies were obtained for the I. aquatica irradiation at 25 keV, 3.9 x 10(16) N+ ions/cm(2) and 20 keV 5.2 x 10(16) N+ ions/cm(2), respectively (p < 0.05). Moreover, the nitrogen and phosphorus contents in the plant biomass with ion implantation were also greater than those of the controls. I. aquatica with ion implantation was directly responsible for 51-68% N removal and 54-71% P removal in the three experiments. The results further confirm that the ion implantation could enhance the growth potential of I. aquatica in real eutrophic water and increase its nutrient removal efficiency. Thus, the low-energy ion implantation for aquatic plants could be considered as an approach for in situ phytoremediation and bioremediation of eutrophic waters.

[Effect of pueraria crude extreact and puerarin on ethanol-induced expression of heat shock protein 70 in embryonic mouse hippocampal cultures].

OBJECTIVE: To study if the Pueraria crude extreact (CP) and standard preparation of pure puerarin (SP) possess the same neuroprotective effects on the expression of heat shock protein (HSP) 70 in the embryonic mouse hippocampal cells. METHODS: The hippocampus of 18-days-old mouse embryo was taken out and suspension of single cells was cultured. Ethanol was added to cause HSP70 mRNA expression. Solvent, ethanol of different concentrations (50, 200, and 300 mmol/L), SP + ethanol, and SP + ethanol were added respectively. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of the expression of HSP70 mRNA. RESULTS: Ethanol of different concentrations increased the expression of HSP70 mRNA and the protein in comparison with the solvent control group. SP and CP inhibited the expression of HSP70 mRNA and protein. CONCLUSION: With identical effect of anti-oxidative stress, both SP and CP inhibit the increase of expression of HSP70 mRNA and protein, thus demonstrating I vitro anti-oxidative neuroprotection.

[Effects of genistein on proliferation and apoptosis in HT-29 cells].

OBJECTIVE: The study is to explore the effects of genistein on proliferation and apoptosis in human colon cancer HT-29 cells and the likely underlying molecular mechanisms. METHODS: HT-29 cultures were maintained in DMEM containing 10% fetal bovine serum. Cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay and cell cycle distribution by cytometry. Apoptosis was detected by the Cell Death Detection ELISA and cytometry. The expressions of bax, bcl-2, and PCNA were examined using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western-blot both at mRNA and protein levels, respectively. RESULTS: Genistein inhibited proliferation and induced G2/M phase arrest and apoptotic death in colon cancer HT-29 cells. We investigated the effects of genistein on molecules that regulate apoptosis and cell cycle progress. Genistein increased expression of bax and significantly reduced PCNA with a slightly decrease in bcl-2 expression both at mRNA and protein level. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that genistein inhibited the viability of human colon cancer HT-29 cell via induction of apoptosis mainly through regulation of PCNA and Bax/Bcl-2 expression. These data suggested a role of genistein in prevention of colon tumor and might reduce colon tumor growth.

[Potential antiviral drug Pueraria crude extract and puerarin protect against ethanol-induced cytotoxicity in embryonic mouse hippocampal cultures].

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether Chinese medical herb Pueraria crude extract (CP) and standard of pure puerarin (SP) possess the same neuroprotective effects during concomitant ethanol (EtOH) treatment. METHODS: Hippocampus cultures were prepared from mice at gestational age of 18 day. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. RT-PCR was employed to determine mRNA expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD). RESULTS: As measured by MTT assay, supplementation with 15 mg/L CP or 10 mg/L SP afforded neuroprotection against all EtOH concentrations (50, 200 and 350 mmol/L, respectively) in embryonic hippocampal culture system. In addition, both 15 mg/L CP and 10 mg/L SP could decrease expression of SOD at mRNA level. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that CP and SP could decrease oxidative stress induced by ethanol treatment by the decreased expression of SOD at mRNA level, and demonstrates antioxidative neuroprotective effect of CP and SP against developmental ethanol exposure in vitro.