[Medicinal Characteristics of Shao Jiu in Compendium of Materia Medica].

Modern Bai Jiu(liquor) was called Shao Jiu in ancient times.By consulting ancient books, it was found that there was a distillation and preparation process of Shao Jiu before the Ming Dynasty, but due to its high toxicity, the scope of application was limited, and there were few records of its medicinal use.However many records of its medicinal use was found in the Compendium of Materia Medica(«¼).By comparing the medical books that recorded Shao Jiu in previous dynasties, it is found that the Compendium of Materia Medica comprehensively records the relevant cognition and application of the medicinal use of Shao Jiu for the first time. The book lists in detail the causes of the toxicity of Shao Jiu and the methods to avoid it, comprehensively expounds its characteristics, efficacy and indications, lists a variety of ways to use it, skillfully uses Shao Jiu to treat syphilis sores, and proposes that high-concentration Shao Jiu can be used as a solvent for medical liquor.The record of Shao Jiu in the Compendium of Materia Medica had a profound impact on the medical liquor of later generations.The use of Shao Jiu in the Qing Dynasty continued to expand, and the types of medicinal liquor were also constantly enriched. The record of Shao Jiu in the Compendium of Materia Medica can also provide a reference for the medicinal use of modern liquor.

17ß-Estradiol improves osteoblastic cell function through the Sirt1/NF-κB/MMP-8 pathway.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the beneficial effects of 17ß-estradiol supplementation on the function of osteoblastic cells through the Sirtuin-1/nuclear transcription factor-κB/matrix metalloproteinase-8 (Sirt1/NF-κB/MMP-8) pathway.Methods: Mouse primary osteoblasts were obtained from neonatal mouse calvaria, and the cells were treated with or without 17ß-estradiol. We first detected the effect of 17ß-estradiol on the function of osteoblastic cells. Then, the changes in estrogen receptor-α (ERα), Sirt1, NF-κB, and MMP-8 were determined after the osteoblasts were treated with 17ß-estradiol. During supplementation with 17ß-estradiol, knockdown of Sirt1 in osteoblasts was used to further measure the changes of NF-κB and MMP-8 and observe the cell function.Results: In primary osteoblastic cells, exposure to 17ß-estradiol improved cell viability and increased the levels of bone formation biomarkers, including osteocalcin, osteoprotegerin (OPG), procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). In addition, 17ß-estradiol supplement activated ERα and Sirt1 expression and inhibited NF-κB and MMP-8 expression. Moreover, these effects induced by 17ß-estradiol were reversed by knockdown of Sirt1 in mouse primary osteoblasts.Conclusion: 17ß-Estradiol replacement therapy may treat postmenopausal osteoporosis by improving osteoblastic cell function via the Sirt1/NF-κB/MMP-8 pathway.

[The relation between cochlear distortion products and frequency tuning characteristics revealed by laser interferometery].

Objective:To explore the relation between distortion products and frequency tuning charateristics in cochlear basilar membrane.Method:Time variances curves of distortion products and frequency tuning curves of basilar membrane response were measured by laser interferometery in situ guinea pig cochlea.Result:Response sensitivity and tuning sharpness of basilar membrane response decreased with distortion product amplitude and become most low and flat when distortion products disappeared.Conclusion:Distortion products in cochlea are related with hearing sensitivity and frequency tuning. They are indicator whether function of cochlear hearing sensitivity enhancing and frequency tuning sharpening is still at work.

[Investigation on folic acid supplementation status among Chinese women in the first trimester of pregnancy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate folic acid (FA) supplementation status among Chinese rural reproductive women in their early pregnancy, and to provide evidence for the evaluation of FA supplementation project from national basic public health services. METHODS: The data on intake status of FA supplementation from "National Free Preconception Health Examination Project (NFPHEP)" database between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2012 was used and analyzed.A total of 902 270 women who achieved follow-up during early pregnancy from 220 pilot counties of 31 provinces were recruited. RESULTS: From 2010 to 2012, the rate of FA intake among women recuited were 73.58% (134 131/182 289), 75.88% (329 288/433 970) and 76.53% (218 896/286 011), respectively, which increased year by year (χtrend(2)=13 371.8, P<0.001). Among 682 315 women who took FA, 350 738(51.40%) women began to take FA 3 months before amenorrhea; 130 683 (19.15%) women began to take FA 1-2 months before amenorrhea, and 200 894 (29.44%) began to take FA after amenorrhea.Among 682 315 women who took FA, 645 310 (94.58%) women took it regularly, and 342 418 (50.18%) women took FA in a standardized way. CONCLUSIONS: The status of FA intake among Chinese rural women in the first trimester of pregnancy was good, and 75.62% (682 315/902 270) of them took FA.It is also important for basic public health services to improve the rate of FA intake and increase the rate of taking FA in a standardized way in Chinese rural pregnant women.

Analysis of the genetic diversity of beach plums by simple sequence repeat markers.

The purpose of this study was to measure the genetic diversity of wild beach plum and cultivated species, and to determine the species relationships using SSRs markers. An analysis of genetic diversity from ten beach plum germplasms was carried out using 11 simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers selected from 35 primers to generate distinct PCR products. From this plant material, 44 allele variations were detected, with 3-5 alleles identified from each primer. The analysis showed that the genetic similarity coefficient varied from 0.721 ± 0.155 to 0.848 ± 0.136 within each of the ten beach plum germplasms and changed within the range of 0.551 ± 0.084 to 0.695 ± 0.073 between any two pairs of germplasms. According to the genetic dissimilarity coefficient matrix, a cluster analysis of SSRs using the unweighted pair group mean average method in the NTSYSpc 2.10 software revealed that the ten germplasms could be divided into two groups at the dissimilarity coefficient of 0.606. Class I included 77.8, 12.5, 30, and 33.3% of MM, MI, NY, and CM, respectively. Class II contains the remaining 9 beach plum germplasms. The markers generated by 11 SSR primers proved very effective in distinguishing the beach plum germplasm resources. It was clear that the geographical distribution did not correspond with the genetic relationships among the different beach plum strains. This result will be of value to beach plum breeding programs.

Molecular cloning, characterization, and expression analysis of a Broad-Complex homolog during development in the oriental river prawn Macrobrachium nipponense.

Broad-Complex (BR-C) is an early ecdysone-responsive gene encoding a family of zinc-finger transcription factors. In this study, we isolated the full-length cDNA of a BR-C homolog from the testes of the oriental river prawn (Macrobrachium nipponense), according to established expressed sequence tag information, using the rapid amplification of cDNA ends technique. The homolog was designated as MnBR-C. The full-length cDNA of MnBR-C contained a 1095-bp open reading frame encoding a precursor protein of 365 amino acid residues. Comparative and bioinformatic analyses revealed that MnBR-C exhibited a high degree of homology with BR-C proteins, and contained the BTB and Zf-H2C2-2 domains. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis revealed that the MnBR-C expression level varied significantly in the developing embryo, postembryonic larva, and adult tissue. Real-time qPCR showed that the MnBR-C gene was expressed in all of the tissues investigated, with the highest level of expression in the brain. In addition, MnBR-C was more abundantly expressed in the testes than in the ovaries.

Systematic review with meta-analysis: coffee consumption and the risk of gallstone disease.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic evidence on coffee consumption reducing the risk of gallstone disease has been contradictory. AIM: To perform a meta-analysis of observational studies, to investigate an association and dose-response of coffee consumption with gallstone disease. METHODS: We used PubMed and EMBASE databases to identify all published studies before June 2015. A random-effects model was used to compute a pooled relative risk (RR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: One case-control study and five prospective cohort studies (with seven cohorts) involving 227,749 participants and 11,477 gallstone disease cases were included. Coffee consumption was significantly associated with a reduced risk of gallstone disease (RR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.76 to 0.89; I(2) = 35.9%), based on prospective studies; specifically, we observed an inverse relation in females, but not in males. The case-control study did not reveal any association between coffee and gallstone disease (OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.64 to 1.53). In a dose-response analysis, the RR of gallstone disease was 0.95 (95% CI, 0.91 to 1.00; P = 0.049) per 1 cup/day of coffee consumption. A significant nonlinear dose-response association was also identified (P for nonlinearity = 0.0106). For people who drank 2, 4 and 6 cups of coffee per day, the estimated RRs of gallstone disease were 0.89 (95% CI, 0.79 to 0.99), 0.81 (95% CI, 0.72 to 0.92) and 0.75 (95% CI, 0.64 to 0.88), respectively, compared with the lowest level drinkers. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that coffee consumption is related to a significantly decreased risk of gallstone disease.

Celecoxib and acetylbritannilactone interact synergistically to suppress breast cancer cell growth via COX-2-dependent and -independent mechanisms.

The use of celecoxib is associated with a significant decrease in breast cancer risk. However, the long-term use of high-dose celecoxib might be limited owing to cardiovascular side effects. In this study, we found that acetylbritannilactone (ABL), extract from a Chinese medicinal herb, could reduce celecoxib dose and potentiate the growth-inhibitory effect in breast cancer cells. ABL enhanced the apoptotic effect of celecoxib in COX-2-expressing cells, but had little effect in COX-2-negative cells. The apoptosis induced by the combination treatment disappeared when COX-2 was knocked down, whereas the lack of apoptotic effects in COX-2-negative cells was reversed after COX-2 transfection. However, the combination treatment induced a G(0)/G(1) phase arrest independent of whether or not the cells expressed COX-2. The G(0)/G(1) arrest was attributed to a decreased expression of cyclinD1, cyclinE, CDK2 and CDK6, especially the upregulation of p21. In addition, inhibition of Akt and p38 signaling pathways was required by the synergism, as the constitutively active Akt and p38 protected cells against apoptosis and cell cycle arrest induced by the combination treatment. In vivo, administration of celecoxib and ABL were more effective than the individual agents against xenograft tumor growth. Thus, our data suggested that the combinatorial approach of celecoxib and ABL might be helpful for breast cancer treatment.

The enhanced anticaries efficacy of a sodium fluoride and dicalcium phosphate dihydrate dentifrice in a dual-chambered tube. A 2-year caries clinical study on children in the United States of America.

PURPOSE: To clinically evaluate and compare a dentifrice system in a dual-chambered tube, wherein one chamber contained sodium fluoride in a silica base and the other chamber contained dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (Test Dentifrice delivering 0.243% sodium fluoride), to a dentifrice containing 0.243% sodium fluoride in a silica base (Positive Control Dentifrice). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted in harmony with the published 1988 American Dental Association guidelines for studies geared toward the comparison of fluoride dentifrices. This 2-yr caries clinical study employed a double-blind, parallel-group design, and involved 5-17 yr-old children from the Central and South areas of Florida and from the Lares area of Puerto Rico. Qualifying subjects were stratified according to age and sex, and were randomly assigned to the two treatment groups, with multiple subjects in the same household all assigned to the dentifrice randomly allocated to the first among them. Caries examinations were conducted in accordance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines for the clinical evaluation of drugs to prevent dental caries. Two calibrated examiners performed all the measurements. After treatment assignment, study participants were instructed to brush their teeth at home with their assigned dentifrice at least twice daily. Brushing instructions were reinforced by indoctrination in proper oral hygiene techniques by dental professionals, supplemented by pamphlets supplied by the sponsor and yearly mailings to participants, emphasizing good oral hygiene and the need to enforce compliance with the study. Post-baseline examinations were performed after 1 yr of product use, and again after 2 yrs of product use. RESULTS: Two thousand five hundred six (2,506) subjects completed this 2-yr study. For these subjects, the mean caries scores (DMFS, decayed, missing and filled tooth surfaces) at baseline were 2.29 for the Test Dentifrice group, and 2.47 for the Positive Control Dentifrice group. For caries increments after 1 yr, the respective means were 0.69 for the Test Dentifrice group and 0.81 for the Positive Control Dentifrice group. Finally, after 2 yrs, the mean caries increments were 1.25 for the Test Dentifrice group, and 1.46 for the Positive Control Dentifrice group. No statistically significant difference was indicated between the treatment groups at baseline or between the 1-yr caries increment scores. However, there was a statistically significant difference in the 2-yr caries increment scores between the treatment groups. Relative to the Positive Control Dentifrice group, the Test Dentifrice group presented a 14.38% reduction in caries increment scores at 2 yrs. In accordance with the procedures and standards provided by the published guidelines of the American Dental Association for the comparison of the anticaries efficacy of fluoride dentifrices, the results of this study support the conclusion that the dentifrice system in a dual-chambered tube, wherein one chamber contained sodium fluoride in a silica base and the other chamber contained dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, delivering 0.243% sodium fluoride, provided a superior level of anticaries efficacy than did the dentifrice containing 0.243% sodium fluoride in a silica base.

Function and regulation of cholecystokinin octapeptide, beta-endorphin and gastrin in anorexic infantile rats treated with ErBao Granules.

AIM: To study the role of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8),beta endorphin (beta EP), and gastrin in an anorexic infantile rat model and no subsequent regulation of nose peptides by the Yunpi complex prescription ErBao Granule. METHODS: We fed infantile rats with special prepared forage. A liquid extract of ErBao Granule was administered to the rats daily for 3 weeks, CCK-8, beta-EP, and gastrin concentrations in hypothalamus, gastric antrum, and plasma of the rats were measured by radioimmunoassay, and were compared with controls. RESULTS: Treatment of rats with ErBao Granule inhibited CCK-8 secretion and increased beta-EP and gastrin secretion. CCK-8 concentration in hypothalamus and plasma of model control group increased significantly and correlated negatively with food intake of models, respectively. beta-EP concentration in gastric antrum and plasma of model control group decreased significantly and showed a positive correlation with food intake of models, respectively. Hypothalamus concentration of beta-EP was similar in models and controls. Gastrin concentration in gastric antrum of models was lower than in the blank control group, and correlated positively to food intake of models. Finally, CCK-8 concentrations in plasma of rats showed a positive correlation with plasma beta-EP (r=-0.68, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The increased plasma and hypothalamus concentration of CCK-8, decreased gastric antrum and plasma level of beta-EP, and decreased gastric antrum concentration of gastrin are associated significantly with the anorexia of infantile anorexic rat models produced by special for-age. ErBao Granule can reverse these changes, which may be the major mechanisms of ErBao Granule simulating feeding.

Constituents of Eremurus chinensis.

A novel bianthraquinone glycoside, 8-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-1,1', 8'-trihydroxy-3,3'-dimethyl-2,7'-bianthraquinone (1); two naphthalene derivatives, 2-acetyl-1-hydroxy-8-methoxy-3-methylnaphthalene (2) and 2-acetyl-1, 8-dimethoxy-3-methylnaphthalene (3); and a novel pre-anthraquinone, 1-oxo-4(S),9-dihydroxy-8-methoxy-6-hydroxymethyl-1,2,3, 4-tetrahydroanthracene (4), were isolated from Eremurus chinensis. Their structures were established by spectroscopic and chemical methods. In addition, the known compounds chrysophanol, chrysophanol 8-methyl ether, aloesaponol III 8-methyl ether (5), and 10-(chrysophanol-7'-yl)-10-hydroxychrysophanol-9-anthrone were also isolated and identified from this plant.

[Chemical constituents from Eremurus chinensis Fedtsch].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the chemical constituents from the herb Eremurus chinensis. METHOD: The chemical constituents were extracted with solvent and separated with column chromatography. RESULT: The structures were identified as chrysophanol 8-Me ether, aloesaponol III, daucosterol and beta-sitosterol. CONCLUSION: These compounds were separated from genus Eremurus first time.

Human developmental toxicity and mutagenesis.

A previously described SAR model of human developmental toxicity was analyzed further. The model shows a number of mechanistic similarities with SAR models of other toxicological phenomena (systemic toxicity, chromosomal and genomic effects). This implies that there are many targets associated with developmental effects. Surprisingly the analyses revealed no significant mechanistic overlap between developmental toxicity in humans and mutagenicity in Salmonella, a surrogate for the occurrence of point mutations. Our study indicates that this lack of similarity is likely the result of the pre-screening strategies which largely eliminate Salmonella mutagens from among the therapeutics introduced into human medicine.

[Effects of injectio reduqing on plasma IL-8 and nitric oxide levels in rabbits with endotoxin induced disseminated intravascular coagulation].

Experiments were performed for investigating the effects of Injectio Reduqing (RDQ) on plasma interleukin-8 (IL-8), NO2-/NO3-, complement 5a(C5a) and polymorphonuclear neutrophilic leukocyte (PMN) Chemotaxis Index (CI) in rabbits with endotoxin-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The results showed that plasma IL-8, NO2-/NO3-, C5a and CI levels of PMN increased markedly in model group, which were confirmed pathologically with obvious damage of tissues or organs. While in RDQ group the abov-mentioned parameters and damage of tissues or organs were reduced significantly (P < 0.01). The results suggested that the IL-8 and NO might be involved in pathogenesis of endotoxin-induced DIC, and RDQ could be used in preventing or treating DIC through mechanism of regulation of cytokines network.

[Effects of reducing injection on plasma TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels in rabbits with endotoxin-induced DIC].

Plasma TNF-a and IL-6 levels of endotoxin-induced DIC in rabbits were measured by ELISA methods. Simultaneously, the effects of Reduqing (RDQ) on TNF-alpha and IL-6 were also studied. The results showed that TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels increased markedly in model group, which were confirmed with obvious damage of tissue or organ. Co-administration of RDQ could reduce plasma TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels, together with mild tissue or organ damage. These results indicated TNF-alpha and IL-6 might be involved in pathogenesis of endotoxin-induced DIC, RDQ might be used in preventing or treating DIC through mechanism of reducing TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels.

[Esophageal cancer treated by intracavity radiotherapy with 131I combined with Chinese herbs].

106 patients with esophageal cancer were treated by intracavity radiotherapy with 131I combined with Chinese herbs. The ages ranged from 34-84 years with an average of 59.8 years. All cases were confirmed by cytology and/or pathology. According to the length of lesions the patients were divided into 4 groups: < 3 cm: 1 case; 3-5 cm: 30 cases; 5-7 cm: 37 cases and 7-9 cm: 38 cases. A special three-channel rubber tube were designed. The central tube linked up with a rubber balloon which contained Na131I solution (50 mCi/20 ml) for intracavity radiation. The radiation doses (19653 rads) were delivered continuously to esophageal lesions within 10 days. The Chinese herbs "203" powder and nutrient liquid meal were given separately through the feeding tube and herbs treatment tube. The results showed that 33 cases had complete response, 73 had partial response. The 1 year survival rate was 26/47 (55.3%). 131I combined with Chinese herbs therapy is a promising method for treatment of advanced esophageal cancer.

[Analysis of clinical effect and experimental study of 13 herbs anti-cough-dyspnea decoction in the treatment of chronic bronchitis].

In treating chronic bronchitis, the effect of 13 Herbs Anti-Cough-Dyspnea decoction was better than that of other traditional prescriptions such as Ephedria-almond decoction etc. The effective rate of this decoction in relieving cough, sputum, bronchial spasm and eliminating wheezing sound were 98.6%, 98.32%, 91.52% and 85.35% respectively. The total effective rate was 98%. The animal experiment revealed that the decoction was given to isolated trachea after medication for 30 min, the effective rate in easing bronchial spasm was 99.1 +/- 30.2%, which was two times than that of other prescriptions.

Delayed-nonmatching-to-sample performance is impaired by extensive, but not by limited, lesions of the thalamus in the rat.

Two experiments were conducted to determine whether lesions affecting limited areas of the thalamus can impair the performance of rats on a spatial delayed-nonmatching-to-sample (DNMTS) task trained before surgery. In Experiment 1, DNMTS was not affected by lesions produced by injecting 5 microliters of 1 mM N-methyl-D-aspartate into either the midline thalamus (n = 16) or bilaterally 1.0 mm from the midline (n = 16). In experiment 2, radio-frequency lesions were made 1.0 mm lateral to the midline at 3 anterior-posterior locations that destroyed the full rostral-caudal extent of the lateral internal medullary lamina (L-IML; n = 8), or at single anterior-posterior locations that destroyed either the anterior (n = 8) or posterior (n = 8) portions of the L-IML site. Although complete L-IML lesions disrupted DNMTS performance to an extent comparable to that of another study (Mair & Lacourse, 1992), lesions that were restricted to either the anterior or posterior portion of the L-IML site had no significant effect on this task.

[Amphetamine--induced rage reaction in mice and its mechanism].

Rage reaction was induced in mice by ip amphetamine sulfate (APT) 15 mg/kg. Mice appeared hyperreactive after 6 min and then squeaked and fought each other. These manifestations were most distinct in 15-30 min and subsided after 40-70 min. At 20 degrees C and 25 degrees C, the occurrence of rage reaction was 85.0% and 90.0% respectively. The ED50 of APT for eliciting rage reaction was 11.8 +/- 2.1 mg/kg ip. No significant difference in the induction of rage reaction was observed between male and female mice but ambient temperature affected the occurrence of this reaction. Neuroleptic drugs (chlorpromazine, haloperidol, tardan and clozapine), anxiolytic drugs (diazepam and meprobamate) and reserpine suppressed the rage reaction induced by APT in mice. Phenobarbital and pentobarbital (at sedative doses), atropine, scopolamine, phentolamine and propranolol exerted no influence on APT--induced rage reaction. Amantadine, levodopa and apomorphine at lower doses potentiated the rage inducing effect of APT. Moreover, at higher doses amantadine or levodopa alone also evoked rage reaction similar to that induced by APT. Therefore, it may be deduced that the APT-induced rage reaction results from increased release of dopamine in limbic system and has nothing to do with the simultaneous epinephrine release. The available data indicate that the APT--induced rage reaction in mice deserves to be recommended as an animal model for screening potential neuroleptic drugs. The merits and shortcomings of this new model are discussed.