Effects of Buyang Huanwu Decoction on Intestinal Barrier, Intestinal Flora, and Trimethylamine Oxide in Rats with Heart Failure / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the mechanisms of Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BYHWD) modulating the gut microbiome and trimethylamine oxide (TAMO) to exert cardioprotective effects.@*METHODS@#Ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery was performed in rats to induce heart failure (HF). Except for the sham-operation group (n=10), 36 operation-induced models were randomized into 3 groups using a random number table (n=12 in each group): the model group, the BYHWD group (15.02 g/kg BYHWD), and the positive group (4.99 g/kg metoprolol succinate). After 4-week treatment (once daily by gavage), echocardiography was applied to evaluate the cardiac function and the Tei index (the ratio of ventricular isovolumic contraction time (IVCT) and isovolumic diastolic time (IVRT) to ejection time (ET)) was calculated; hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was observed to characterize the pathology of the myocardium and small intestinal villi. D-lactic acid was detected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Expressions of occludin, claudin-1, and zonula occludens (ZO-1) were detected by Western blot. 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (16S rRNA) sequencing was used to explore the changes in the intestinal flora. TMAO was detected via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).@*RESULTS@#In the echocardiography, the Tei index was considerably lower in the positive and BYHWD groups compared with the model group (P<0.05). Besides, BYHWD improved the pathology of myocardium and small intestine of HF rats and lowered the D-lactic acid content in the serum, when compared with the model group (P<0.05). BYHWD also improved the expression of occludin and claudin-1 (P<0.05); in the gut microbiota analysis, BYHWD slowed down modifications in the structure distribution of gut microbiota and regulated the diversity of intestinal flora in HF rats. The content of TMAO in the serum was significantly lowered by BYWHT compared with the model group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#BYHWD may delay progression of HF by enhancing the intestinal barrier structure, and regulating intestinal flora and TAMO.

Characteristics of the chloroplast genome of Glycyrrhiza eurycarpa P.C.Li from Xinjiang with comparison and phylogenetic analysis of the chloroplast genomes of the medicinal plants of Glycyrrhiza / 药学学报

italic>Glycyrrhiza eurycarpa P.C.Li is a medicinal plant resource and is often mixed with traditional licorice herbs. We sequenced the chloroplast genome of Glycyrrhiza eurycarpa P.C.Li using Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology, and physical mapping and genomic characterization was carried out. Comparative genomic analysis was performed with Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch, Glycyrrhiza inflata Bat and Glycyrrhiza glabra L. The Glycyrrhiza eurycarpa P.C.Li chloroplast genome was 127 864 bp long with 34.25% GC content, consisting of a large single copy and a small single copy. The genome was missing the inverted repeat (IR) region. A total of 110 genes were annotated, including 76 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes. The 301 SSRs, rich in A-T repeats, were detected by MISA. The Glycyrrhiza eurycarpa P.C.Li chloroplast genome showed weak codon preference, and the codons were biased to use A and T bases. Three specific gene fragments of Glycyrrhiza eurycarpa P.C.Li were characterized by homology comparison. Based on Pi analysis, six new high mutation regions (psbZ-psbC, trnC-GCA-rpoB, trnR-UCU-trnG-UCC, ycf2, trnN-GUU-ycf1, ndhA) of medicinal licorice species were determined. The results of phylogenetic analysis indicate that Glycyrrhiza eurycarpa P.C.Li from Xinjiang is an interspecific hybrid taxon closely related to the three medicinal licorice species, and Glycyrrhiza inflata Bat, which is distributed in the same domain, is its male parent. Based on this study, the taxonomic identification, herb-specific DNA fingerprint development, genetic diversity, and molecular plant breeding of medicinal plants of the genus Glycyrrhiza can be established.

Effect of early acupuncture on cognitive function in patients with vascular dementia after cerebral infarction / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the clinical efficacy of early acupuncture for vascular dementia (VD) after cerebral infarction, and explore its possible mechanism.@*METHODS@#A total of 120 patients with VD after cerebral infarction were randomized into an acupuncture combined with medication group (60 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a western medication group (60 cases, 1 case dropped off). In the western medication group, oxiracetam capsules were given orally, 2 capsules each time, 3 times a day. On the basis of the treatment as the western medication group, @*RESULTS@#The total effective rate was 89.8% (53/59) in the acupuncture combined with medication group, which was superior to 76.3% (45/59) in the western medication group (@*CONCLUSION@#Early acupuncture could improve cognitive function and activities of daily living in patients with VD after cerebral infarction, its mechanism may be related to improving the blood flow velocity of MCA, promoting blood circulation, and improving cerebral perfusion.

Novel and potent inhibitors targeting DHODH are broad-spectrum antivirals against RNA viruses including newly-emerged coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

Emerging and re-emerging RNA viruses occasionally cause epidemics and pandemics worldwide, such as the on-going outbreak of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Herein, we identified two potent inhibitors of human DHODH, S312 and S416, with favorable drug-likeness and pharmacokinetic profiles, which all showed broad-spectrum antiviral effects against various RNA viruses, including influenza A virus, Zika virus, Ebola virus, and particularly against SARS-CoV-2. Notably, S416 is reported to be the most potent inhibitor so far with an EC of 17 nmol/L and an SI value of 10,505.88 in infected cells. Our results are the first to validate that DHODH is an attractive host target through high antiviral efficacy in vivo and low virus replication in DHODH knock-out cells. This work demonstrates that both S312/S416 and old drugs (Leflunomide/Teriflunomide) with dual actions of antiviral and immuno-regulation may have clinical potentials to cure SARS-CoV-2 or other RNA viruses circulating worldwide, no matter such viruses are mutated or not.

Textual Research on Gardeniae Fructus / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Gardenia has been widely used in clinical practice and with a long history. In order to make better use of gardenia resources，this study summarized historical literatures and modern researches，made textual research on the name，variety，origin，processing and efficacy of Gardenia jasminoides，and found that the name of G. jasminoides mainly reflects the characteristics of G. jasminoides based on form and color to a certain extent. In some cases, the name "Huangzhi" was mixed with water G. jasminoides. The earliest origin of G.jasminoides was Nanyang as recorded in ancient literatures, but with a low yield. Due to the influence of population migration and productivity development，the main origin of G. jasminoides moved to the south，and southern producers were preferred. G. jasminoides was recorded as G. jasminoides, and Gardeniae Fructus could not be used as medicine in literatures of Chinese materia medica，but there were records of "Fat G.jasminoides" and "Great G. jasminoides" as medicines in ancient books of treatment for febrile diseases. The reason for the difference with the literature records of this herb lay in different eras of "Leigong Bombardment Theory" and "Treatise on Febrile Diseases". There were gaps in the yield and harvesting capacity of G.jasminoides，and the herbaceous book was highly standardized， the highest-quality herbs were selected to be used as medicine，and the formularies focused on practicality. According to modern experimental studies，chemical composition and content of Gardeniae Fructus and Gardeniae Fructus were similar with the same choleretic effect. In addition，the processing history and efficacy application of G. jasminoides were also summarized，in order to provide reference for the further study and utilization of G. resources.

Factors influencing the short-term efficacy of CT-guided 125I seeds implantation in the treatment of recurrent and metastatic tumors of head and neck / 中华核医学与分子影像杂志

Objective To analyze the factors influencing the short-term efficacy of CT-guided 125I seeds implantation in the treatment of recurrent and metastatic tumors in head and neck.Methods A total of 73 patients (61 males,12 females;age:(59.1±11.5) years) with head and neck tumors recurrence and metastasis treated by 125I seeds implantation in Hebei General Hospital from January 2015 to April 2019 were retrospectively enrolled.The implanted seeds activity was 11.1-29.6 MBq,and the prescription dose was 80.0-145.0 Gy.CT examination was conducted 3 months after 125I seeds implantation.According to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1,short-term efficacy was classified as effective (complete remission (CR),partial remission (PR)) and ineffective (stable disease (SD),progressive disease (PD)).Univariate analysis of factors affecting short-term effect (gender,age,history of radiation therapy,Karnofsky performance status (KPS) scores,pathological type,the longest diameter of tumor,implantation patterns,seeds activity,immediate postoperative dose delivered to 90％ gross tumor volume (D90),and with adjuvant chemotherapy post-surgery or not) were conducted.Variables with P＜ 0.2 were enrolled in logistic multivariate regression analysis.In addition,artificial neural network (ANN) was constructed with all influencing factors as independent variables and short-term efficacy as dependent variables.Finally,receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed for the common influencing factors in logistic regression analysis and ANN analysis.Results There were 34 with effective results and 39 with ineffective results.Logistic regression analysis indicated that the longest diameter of tumor,immediate postoperative D90,with adjuvant chemotherapy post-surgery or not had significant impacts on the shortterm efficacy (Wald values:6.950,4.804,4.790,all P＜0.05);According to results of ANN analysis,the top 5 in order of importance for short-term efficacy prediction were immediate postoperative D90,the longest diameter of tumor,age,seeds activity and gender.ROC curve analysis indicated that the longest diameter of tumor and immediate postoperative D90 were the best predictors for short-term efficacy,with the threshold of 5.25 cm and 110.05 Gy respectively,and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.843 and 0.847 respectively (both P＜0.001).Conclusions The short-term efficacy of 125I seeds implantation in the recurrence and metastasis of head and neck tumors is mainly related to the longest diameter of tumor and immediate postoperative D90.Patients with the longest diameter of tumor ＜5.25 cm and with D90＞110.05 Gy can achieve better efficacy.

Factors influencing the short-term efficacy of CT-guided 125I seeds implantation in the treatment of recurrent and metastatic tumors of head and neck / 中华核医学与分子影像杂志

Objective@#To analyze the factors influencing the short-term efficacy of CT-guided 125I seeds implantation in the treatment of recurrent and metastatic tumors in head and neck.@*Methods@#A total of 73 patients (61 males, 12 females; age: (59.1±11.5) years) with head and neck tumors recurrence and metastasis treated by 125I seeds implantation in Hebei General Hospital from January 2015 to April 2019 were retrospectively enrolled. The implanted seeds activity was 11.1-29.6 MBq, and the prescription dose was 80.0-145.0 Gy. CT examination was conducted 3 months after 125I seeds implantation. According to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1, short-term efficacy was classified as effective (complete remission (CR), partial remission (PR)) and ineffective (stable disease (SD), progressive disease (PD)). Univariate analysis of factors affecting short-term effect (gender, age, history of radiation therapy, Karnofsky performance status (KPS) scores, pathological type, the longest diameter of tumor, implantation patterns, seeds activity, immediate postoperative dose delivered to 90% gross tumor volume (D90), and with adjuvant chemotherapy post-surgery or not) were conducted. Variables with P<0.2 were enrolled in logistic multivariate regression analysis. In addition, artificial neural network (ANN) was constructed with all influencing factors as independent variables and short-term efficacy as dependent variables. Finally, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed for the common influencing factors in logistic regression analysis and ANN analysis.@*Results@#There were 34 with effective results and 39 with ineffective results. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the longest diameter of tumor, immediate postoperative D90, with adjuvant chemotherapy post-surgery or not had significant impacts on the short-term efficacy (Wald values: 6.950, 4.804, 4.790, all P<0.05); According to results of ANN analysis, the top 5 in order of importance for short-term efficacy prediction were immediate postoperative D90, the longest diameter of tumor, age, seeds activity and gender. ROC curve analysis indicated that the longest diameter of tumor and immediate postoperative D90 were the best predictors for short-term efficacy, with the threshold of 5.25 cm and 110.05 Gy respectively, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.843 and 0.847 respectively (both P<0.001).@*Conclusions@#The short-term efficacy of 125I seeds implantation in the recurrence and metastasis of head and neck tumors is mainly related to the longest diameter of tumor and immediate postoperative D90. Patients with the longest diameter of tumor <5.25 cm and with D90>110.05 Gy can achieve better efficacy.

Novel and potent inhibitors targeting DHODH are broad-spectrum antivirals against RNA viruses including newly-emerged coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

Emerging and re-emerging RNA viruses occasionally cause epidemics and pandemics worldwide, such as the on-going outbreak of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Herein, we identified two potent inhibitors of human DHODH, S312 and S416, with favorable drug-likeness and pharmacokinetic profiles, which all showed broad-spectrum antiviral effects against various RNA viruses, including influenza A virus, Zika virus, Ebola virus, and particularly against SARS-CoV-2. Notably, S416 is reported to be the most potent inhibitor so far with an EC of 17 nmol/L and an SI value of 10,505.88 in infected cells. Our results are the first to validate that DHODH is an attractive host target through high antiviral efficacy in vivo and low virus replication in DHODH knock-out cells. This work demonstrates that both S312/S416 and old drugs (Leflunomide/Teriflunomide) with dual actions of antiviral and immuno-regulation may have clinical potentials to cure SARS-CoV-2 or other RNA viruses circulating worldwide, no matter such viruses are mutated or not.

Novel and potent inhibitors targeting DHODH are broad-spectrum antivirals against RNA viruses including newly-emerged coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

Emerging and re-emerging RNA viruses occasionally cause epidemics and pandemics worldwide, such as the on-going outbreak of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Herein, we identified two potent inhibitors of human DHODH, S312 and S416, with favorable drug-likeness and pharmacokinetic profiles, which all showed broad-spectrum antiviral effects against various RNA viruses, including influenza A virus, Zika virus, Ebola virus, and particularly against SARS-CoV-2. Notably, S416 is reported to be the most potent inhibitor so far with an EC of 17 nmol/L and an SI value of 10,505.88 in infected cells. Our results are the first to validate that DHODH is an attractive host target through high antiviral efficacy in vivo and low virus replication in DHODH knock-out cells. This work demonstrates that both S312/S416 and old drugs (Leflunomide/Teriflunomide) with dual actions of antiviral and immuno-regulation may have clinical potentials to cure SARS-CoV-2 or other RNA viruses circulating worldwide, no matter such viruses are mutated or not.

Progressive necrosis of lipid: A case report / 北京大学学报(医学版)

A 61-year-old woman was referred to our department with a 11-year-erythra. In the anterior tibia of both lower extremities, we could see large dark red infiltrating erythema, waxy luster, clear boundary, slight central atrophy, depression and capillary dilatation. He was diagnosed with "dermatitis contusiformis" in local hospitals, but the treatment of traditional Chinese medicine and external drugs was not effective. She had normal laboratory findings for blood routine test, biochemical indexes, C reactive protein(CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR)．Furthermore, autoimmune antibodies were all negative. The skin pathology showed degeneration and necrosis of collagen fibers, chronic granulomatous inflammation in the dermis, and there were more acute and chronic inflammatory cell infiltration around the small vessels and in the wall of the tube. We eventually diagnosed it as necrobiosis lipoidica (NL) according to the history, erythra morphology and skin pathology. After treatment of low dose hormone and thalidomide for 1 year, the color and range of skin lesions gradually alleviated. NL was a rare chronic granulomatous inflammatory disease. There appeared to be a predominance in females. The incidence of NL was higher in patients with diabetes mellitus, although this asscoiation was currently questioned. NL might also be connected with autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The pathological changes of the tissue were mainly in the dermis, including necrotic type, granulomatous type or mixed type. NL typically presented on the pretibial surface of lower extremities. Less typical locations included the face, scalp, vulva and upper limbs. Leisions usually began with small papules and nodules that gradually infiltrated into brownyellow patches and developed central wax-like atrophy. The diagnosis is often based on clinical examination and skin biopsy. NL is rare and easy to be misdiagnosed. For rheumatologists, we should carefully compare with the nodular erythema, the microscopic polyangitis and allergic purpura. It is significant for differential diagnosis to perform skin biopsy. Lacking of randomized controlled trials, no specific treatment has proven to be the gold standard. First-line therapy mainly consists of intralesional and systemic corticosteriods. Additionally, other reported treatment options include immunomodulator, biological agent, antiplatelet aggregation drug and plateletrich plasma. These patients need long term follow up continuously for progression of the disease, ulcerations, and possibility of malignant tranformation.

Chemical constituents from ethyl acetate-soluble extraction of Valeriana jatamansi / 中国中药杂志

Application of a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, macroporous adsorbent resin, and reversed-phase HPLC, led to the isolation of 173 compounds including irdidoids, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, lignans, flavonoids, and simple aromatic derivatives from the ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of the whole plants of Valeriana jatamansi(Valerianaceae), and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1D, 2D NMR UV, IR, and MS techniques. Among them, 77 compounds were new. In previous reports, we have described the isolation, structure elucidation, and bioactivities of 68 new and 25 known compounds. As a consequence, we herein reported the isolation and structure elucidation of the remaining 9 new and 71 known compounds, the structure revision of valeriotriate A(8a), as well as cytotoxicity of some compounds.

A study of the substance dependence effect of the ethanolic extract and iridoid-rich fraction from Valeriana jatamansi Jones in mice.

BACKGROUND: Recently we found the ethanolic extract and iridoid-rich fraction from Valeriana jatamansi Jones, which is a traditional Chinese medicine exhibited anxiolytic properties. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to the substance dependence effect of the ethanolic extract and iridoid-rich fraction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included two experiments: Mice were given orally with ethanolic extract for 12 weeks or iridoid-rich fraction for 16 weeks in experiment I and experiment II, respectively. Diazepam was used as a control drug and the normal mice groups were administered with 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose Na in both experiments. All groups were administered twice daily. Natural withdrawal symptoms, withdrawal-induced body weight change, audiogenic tail-erection test (in experiment I), and pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced convulsion test (in experiment II) were measured. RESULTS: (1) Compared to normal group in both experiments, the diazepam-treated group exhibited obvious withdrawal symptoms of tail-erection, irritability, teeth chattering, etc; the body weight of them after withdrawal had a period of significant loss (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); and the ratios of tail-erection and seizure in two experiments were improved significantly when mice were induced by mixer noise ringtone (experiment I) or PTZ (experiment II) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).(2) In experiment I and II, there were no significant differences between mice that received ethanolic extract or iridoid-rich fraction and normal group in terms of natural withdrawal symptoms and withdrawal-induced body weight change (P > 0.05); in audiogenic tail-erection test, it found that the significant difference compared with normal group was just in ethanolic extract 900 mg/kg dose group on week 8 (P < 0.05); in PTZ-induced convulsion test, mice in iridoid-rich fraction groups had a slightly tail-erection and seizure, all results of them were with no significant difference compare to normal mice (P > 0.05), while significant lower than diazepam group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: (1) The two experiments successfully established the physical dependence of diazepam by gradually increasing the dose.(2)There were just a few mice received with ethanolic extract for 12 weeks or iridoid-rich fraction for 16 weeks appearing some slight withdrawal symptoms after precipitated withdrawal, but it didn't show significant difference compared to normal mice. Therefore, these indicated that the risks of potential drug dependence about ethanolic extract and iridoid-rich fraction were far lower than that of diazepam.

Effect of electroacupuncture on therapeutic effects and onset time of paroxetine for mild or moderate depression patients / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture on onset time and effectiveness of Paroxetine for mild or moderate depression patients and on the scores of Hamilton depression rating scale for depression(HAMD) and self-rating depression scale(SDS). Methods Fifty-five patients with mild or moderate depression were randomly divided into A group( Paroxetine group,29 patients) and B group (Electroacupuncture combining with Paroxetine group,26 patients). Therapeutic periods for the two groups were 6 weeks. HAMD and SDS were used to evaluate the efficacy before the research and after treatment on 1 week,2 weeks,4 weeks,6 weeks.Results HAMD scores and SDS scores for A group were significant difference after 2 weeks treatment compared with the beginning of the research (P＜ 0.05 ) ;HAMD scores and SDS scores for B group were significant difference after 1 week treatment compared with the beginning of the research(P＜0. 05 ). Total effective rate of HAMD for A group was 71.4% ,total effective rate of SDS for A group was 75% ,total effective rate of HAMD for B group was 88% ,total effective rate of SDS for B group was 84%. The total effective rate between the two groups ordered by the individual chi-square test was significant difference( X2 = 4. 1790, P= 0. 0408). Conclusion Electroacupuncture can shorten the onset time and increase the effectiveness of paroxetine for mild or moderate depression patients.

Experimental study of eliminat dampness resolv phlegm method in treating cervical spondylopathy of the vertebral artery type / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the velocity and viscosity of blood flow of the vertebral arteries, the apoptotic cell and apoptotic related protein in the brain in order to offer theoretical foundation for the treatment of cervical spondylopathy of the vertebral artery type with the eliminat dampness resolv phlegm method.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty male Japanese big ear rabbits were divided randomly into normal sodium group (A), Flunarizine group (B), low dosage Wendantang group (C), large dosage Wendantang group (D), Flunarizine group combined with large dosage Wendantang group (E), normal group (F). Each group had 10 rabbits. Xiaozhiling injection was injected around the vertebral arteries of rabbits in group A, B C, D, E to make the model of the cervical spondylopathy of the vertebral artery type. Normal sodium (20 ml x kg(-1)d(-1)) was apply through intragastric administration in group A, F; Flunarizine (0.8 mg x kg(-1)d(-1)), low dosage Wendantang (1 g x ml(-1)d(-1)), large dosage Wendantang (2 g x ml(-1)d(-1)), Flunarizine combined with large dosage Wendantang were respectively apply through intragastric administration in group B, C, D, E. The velocity and viscosity of blood flow of the vertebral arteries, the apoptotic cell and apoptotic protein in the brain were detected before and after the treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Satisfactory animal model were obtained in group A, B, C, D, E. The rabbits of group E had the most improvement of the velocity and viscosity of blood flow of the vertebral arteries while at meantime, which had the lowest apoptotic index and apoptotic related protein expression in the brain.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The routine treatment for the cervical spondylopathy of the vertebral artery combined with eliminat dampness resolv phlegm method could improve velocity and viscosity of blood flow of the vertebral arteries, which maybe relate with reduction of apoptosis in the brain.</p>

Analysis of severe complications after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for primary hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the cause and treatment as well as prevention measures of rarely occurring severe complications after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for primary hepatic carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>573 consecutive patients with primary hepatic carcinoma underwent a total of 1252 TACE procedures from January 2005 to July 2007. All the patients who developed complications after TACE received imaging and biochemical examinations. The cause, treatment and preventive measures of the complications in the 573 cases were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in 3 cases, hepatic failure in 4, pulmonary embolism in 1, cholecystitis in 4, hepatic encephalopathy in 2, gastric perforation in 1, and intrahepatic biloma in 2 cases. Two patients died of the complications: 1 of hepatic failure and 1 of gastric perforation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The rarely occurring severe complications after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for primary hepatic carcinoma is correlated with poor hepatic function and portal hypertension before therapy, overdose and reflux of chemotherapeutic agents or allotopic chemoembolism, etc. It can be reduced or prevented through careful selection of proper cases before the treatment, close observation, and protection of hepatic function and gastric mucosa after treatment.</p>

[Observation on therapeutic effect of acupuncture at point "Xiajiquan" on muscular strength of finger after apoplexy].

OBJECTIVE: To approach to the best therapy for recovery of fingers function after apoplexy. METHODS; One hundred and twenty-three cases were randomly divided into an observation group of 63 cases and a control group of 60 cases. The control group were treated by acupuncture at Quchi (LI 11), Shousanli ( LI 10), Waiguan (TE 5), etc., and the observation group by acupuncture at point "Xiajiquan" besides the acupoints for the control group. After treatment of 10 sessions, the therapeutic effects were assessed. RESULTS: The cured and markedly effective rate was 74.6% in the observation group and 40.0% in the control group, the observation group being significantly better than the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Point "Xiajiquan" has a better therapeutic effect on derivation of finger muscular strength.

Comparison between therapeutic effects of acupuncture and intravenous injection of amiodarone in the treatment of paroxymal atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To probe the feasibility of acupuncture in conversion of paroxymal atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty cases of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter were randomly divided into 2 groups, a treatment group and a control group, 40 cases in each group. The treatment group were treated with acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6), Shenmen (HT 7), Danzhong (CV 17) and others, and the control group with intravenous injection of amiodarone. The cardiac rhythms and side effects were observed in the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate of 85.0% in the treatment group was better than 67.5% in the control group (P < 0.01). The average conversion time was (39.6 +/- 13.7) min in the treatment group and (50.1 +/- 14.8) min in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). No adverse effect was found in the treatment group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture is a safe and effective therapy for conversion of paroxymal atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.</p>

Observation on therapeutic effect of acupuncture at point "Xiajiquan" on muscular strength of finger after apoplexy / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To approach to the best therapy for recovery of fingers function after apoplexy. METHODS; One hundred and twenty-three cases were randomly divided into an observation group of 63 cases and a control group of 60 cases. The control group were treated by acupuncture at Quchi (LI 11), Shousanli ( LI 10), Waiguan (TE 5), etc., and the observation group by acupuncture at point "Xiajiquan" besides the acupoints for the control group. After treatment of 10 sessions, the therapeutic effects were assessed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cured and markedly effective rate was 74.6% in the observation group and 40.0% in the control group, the observation group being significantly better than the control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Point "Xiajiquan" has a better therapeutic effect on derivation of finger muscular strength.</p>

Chemical constituents in root of Zanthoxylum nitidum / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the chemical constituents of Zanthoxylum nitidum.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Column chromatography on Silica gel and Sephadex LH - 20, and recrystallization were applied for the isolation and purification of the constituents. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis, chemical evidences and by comparison with the data reported in literature.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>From the CHCl3 fraction and n-butanol fraction of the EtOH extract of the roots of Z. nitidum, 10 compounds were isolated and identified as 2, 4-dihydroxypyrimidine (1), syringic acid (2) , 2, 6-dimethoxy-1, 4-benzoquinone (3) , 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4), ethylparaben (5), (Z)-3-(2, 3, 4-trimethoxyphenyl) acrylic acid (6), 5, 6, 7-trimethoxycoumarin (7), stigmast-9 (11) -en-3-ol (8), daucosterol (9), beta-sitosterol (10).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compounds 1-9 were isolated and identified from the roots of Z. nitidum for the first time. Furthermore, we note here the first isolation of compound 6 as a natural product.</p>

Clinical observation on effect of danzhi xiaoyao powder in treating depression / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect and side effect of Danzhi Xiaoyao powder (DXP) in treating depression.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A randomized controlled and double-blinded study was conducted in 63 cases of depression by divided them into the western medicine group (WMG, 31 cases) treated with maprotiline, and the Chinese medicine group (CMG, 32 cases) treated with DXP. The effect of therapy was evaluated before and at the 2nd, 4th and 6th week of the treatment with Hamilton's depressive scale (HAMD), self-rating depression scale (SDS), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and the scale for TCM syndrome and symptom differentiation (TCM-SSD), and the side-effect of therapy was assessed with Asberg side-effect scale as well.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no significant difference between the two groups in scores of HAMD, SDS, SAS, and TCM-SSD. The markedly effective rate in CMG was 84% and in WMG 87%, showed no significance between them (P > 0.05). The scores of HAMD, SDS and SAS of both groups were remarkably lowered after therapy (P < 0.05). However, the score of Asberg in CMG was lower than that in WMG (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>DXP shows the effect equivalent to that of maprotiline, but with obviously less side-effect.</p>