Danhong Huayu Koufuye Prevents Diabetic Retinopathy in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats via Antioxidation and Anti-Inflammation.

Danhong Huayu Koufuye (DHK), a traditional Chinese prescription, is used to treat central retinal vein occlusion clinically. We previously reported that DHK prevented diabetic retinopathy (DR) in rats. Moreover, we found that it protected endothelial cells from hyperglycemia-induced apoptosis through antioxidation and anti-inflammation. Here, we investigated whether antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of DHK contributed to its therapeutic effect on DR in streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetic rats. DHK significantly blocked the breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) and increased the thickness of the inner nuclear layer (INL), as well as suppressed the swelling of the ganglion cell layer (GCL) in diabetic retinas. DHK remarkably increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in plasma, and decreased serum level of nitric oxide (NO). Moreover, DHK markedly reduced the serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Furthermore, DHK significantly downregulated protein expressions of VEGF and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and mRNA expression of ICAM-1 in retinas. These results suggest that the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of DHK may be important mechanisms involved in the protective effect of DHK on DR in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

Danhong huayu koufuye prevents deep vein thrombosis through anti-inflammation in rats.

BACKGROUND: Danhong huayu koufuye (DHK) has traditionally been used clinically for a long time in China. This study was to evaluate the effect of DHK in treating deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in rats and explore its possible mechanism. METHODS: Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups, performed with incomplete inferior vena cava ligation to induce DVT, and orally administered with DHK (3.20 mg/kg/d), warfarin (2.00 mg/kg/d), or vehicle for 7 days. The involved inferior vena cava and thrombi were collected and measured in size. The tissue specimens were performed for routine histopathologic evaluation and immunohistochemical staining with tissue factor and matrix metalloproteinases-9. Blood samples were collected for detecting coagulation function, blood cell count, and the levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α. RESULTS: The treatment of DHK markedly reduced the size of thrombi by 49.26%, and the vein wall thickness by 47.86%. The recanalization rate was significant higher in the DHK-treated group than the vehicle-treated group (26.34 ± 6.53% versus 15.91 ± 3.93%, P < 0.01). Comparing to vehicle control, DHK significantly reduced neutrophils (P < 0.05) and lymphocytes (P < 0.05), serum tumor necrosis factor-α level (4.90 ± 1.14 pg/mL versus 6.60 ± 1.62 pg/mL, P < 0.01), and the expression of matrix metalloproteinases-9 and tissue factor (P < 0.05) in thrombi. CONCLUSIONS: DHK effectively prevented DVT through anti-inflammatory action in rats.

[Effects of understory removal and nitrogen addition on the soil chemical and biological properties of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica plantation in Keerqin Sandy Land].

A full factorial experiment was conducted to study the effects of understory removal and nitrogen addition (8 g x m(-2)) on the soil NO(3-)-N and NH(4+)-N concentrations, potential net nitrogen mineralization rate (PNM) and nitrification rate (PNN), microbial biomass C (MBC) and N (MBN), MBC/MBN, urease and acid phosphomonoesterase activities, and Olsen-P concentration in a Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica plantation in Keerqin Sandy Land during a growth season. Understory removal decreased the soil NH(4+)-N concentration, PNM, MBC, and MBN/MBN significantly, increased the soil Olsen-P concentration, but had little effects on the soil NO(3-)-N concentration, PNN, and urease and acid phosphomonoesterase activities. Nitrogen addition increased the soil NO(3-)-N concentration, PNM and PNN significantly, but had little effects on the other test properties. The interaction between understory removal and nitrogen addition had significant effects on the soil NH(4+)-N concentration, but little effects on the soil NO(3-)-N concentration. However, the soil NO(3-)-N concentration in the plots of understory removal with nitrogen addition was increased by 27%, compared with the plots of nitrogen addition alone, which might lead to the leaching of NO3-. It was suggested that understory vegetation could play an important role in affecting the soil chemical and biological properties in Mongolian pine plantations, and hence, the importance of understory vegetation should not be neglected when the forest management and restoration were implemented.

[Study protocol for a self-controlled case study to evaluate the safety and standardization for external application of Chinese medicine Jiuyi Powder].

BACKGROUND: As the main medicinal powder for drawing out pus and removing necrotic tissue in external therapies of traditional Chinese surgery, Sheng Powder has made great contributions to the treatment of inflammatory wounds and has the unique bactericidal and decay-discharging function that can not be replaced by antibiotics. However, Sheng Powder has toxicity because it contains mercury. So far, there is no clinical research on the standards of dose and usage of Sheng Powder and there is a lack of objective and quantitative criteria for operating standards and monitoring of toxicity and side effects. Therefore, the authors choose Jiuyi Powder, one of the most commonly used Sheng Powder, to evaluate the safety of its external use, and form a standardization program for clinical implementation. METHODS AND DESIGN: This study is a nonrandomized, nonblinded, self-controlled case study. There will be two key stages in the study. In stage one, 10 patients with plasma cell mastitis will be enrolled. The patients will receive continuous external application of Jiuyi Powder with a fixed dose (160 mg/d). Blood mercury and urine mercury levels will be dynamically tested at different time intervals, and the observation of pharmacokinetic parameters will be conducted after Jiuyi Powder has been absorbed by the surface of the wound. In stage two, 30 patients with each of the four conditions including postoperative wounds of head or facial surgeries, plasma cell mastitis, anal fistula and chronic absorption ulcer of the shank will be enrolled, respectively. According to the dose of 1.5 mg/cm(2), Jiuyi Powder will be externally applied to the wound surface for 14 d. On the basis of the first-phase study, the test time will be chosen and the toxicity outcome will be detected to evaluate the safety of external application of Jiuyi Powder and to establish recommendations for standardized clinical use. DISCUSSION: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety of the external application of Jiuyi Powder through a two-stage study. The pharmacokinetic parameters of external application of Jiuyi Powder at the clinical dose range, the changes in blood and urinary mercury levels and related safety indexes will be observed on different wounds located in different positions externally. The evaluation of whether Jiuyi Powder could be a routine medication for drawing out pus and removing necrotic tissue in inflammatory and refractory wounds will be stated. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR-TNC-11001366.

[Analysis on indications and dominant diseases of acupotomology].

To analyze the indications and dominant diseases of acupotomology by literature research. The findings reveal that the 64.4% of all literature focused on eight categories of diseases, including the third lumbar vertebrae transverse process syndrome, tendinitis stenosans, cervical spondylosis, heel pain, scapulohumeral periarthritis, external humeral epicondylitis, lumbar disc herniation and osteoarthritis. The 87.5% of all literature focus on diseases of chronic strain of movement system, cervical spondylosis, cervicogenic disease, lumbar disc herniation and osteoarthritis. The indications of acupotomology are various, but not evenly distributed; the dominant diseases are comparatively concentrated. The acupotomology has great potential to treat the indications and dominant diseases. Therefore, acupotomology should be promoted scientifically in the future.

Analysis on indications and dominant diseases of acupotomology / 中国针灸

To analyze the indications and dominant diseases of acupotomology by literature research. The findings reveal that the 64.4% of all literature focused on eight categories of diseases, including the third lumbar vertebrae transverse process syndrome, tendinitis stenosans, cervical spondylosis, heel pain, scapulohumeral periarthritis, external humeral epicondylitis, lumbar disc herniation and osteoarthritis. The 87.5% of all literature focus on diseases of chronic strain of movement system, cervical spondylosis, cervicogenic disease, lumbar disc herniation and osteoarthritis. The indications of acupotomology are various, but not evenly distributed; the dominant diseases are comparatively concentrated. The acupotomology has great potential to treat the indications and dominant diseases. Therefore, acupotomology should be promoted scientifically in the future.

[Effect of acupotomy lysis on serum matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3 and MMP-13 contents in osteoarthritis rabbits].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupotomy lysis on serum matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3 and MMP-13 contents in osteoarthritis (OA) rabbits. METHODS: A total of 34 New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into normal group (n = 7), model group (n = 7), acupotomy group (n = 10) and electroacupuncture (EA) group (n = 10). OA model was established by left-hindlimb-joint-immobilization method. Acupotomy lysis was applied to the affected joint, once a week for 3 weeks. EA (2/100 Hz, 2 mA) was applied to "Yinlingquan" (SP 9), "Yanglingquan" (GB 34) and "Liangqiu" (ST 34) on the left hindlimb for 10 min, 3 times a week for 3 weeks. Serum MMP-3 and MMP-13 contents were detected with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. RESULTS: In comparison with model group (grade III: 1 case; grade: 4 cases), the left knee-joint-motion range of rabbits in acupotomy and EA groups (grade I: 1 and 1 case; grade II: 4 and 3 cases; grade III: 2 and 2 cases; grade IV: 1 and 2 cases separately) increased significantly (P < 0.05). Compared with normal group, serum MMP-3 and MMP-13 contents in model group increased significantly (P < 0.05); while compared with model group, both MMP-3 and MMP-13 levels of acupotomy and EA groups reduced considerably (P < 0.05). No obvious difference was found between acupotomy and EA groups in the left knee-joint motion range, and serum MMP-3 and MMP-13 levels (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupotomy is effective in lowering serum MMP-3 and MMP-13 levels, and in improving OA rabbits' knee-joint motion range.

[Advances of studies on acupuncture reinforcing-reducing of twirling-rotating the needle].

The theories and clinical and experimental studies about reinforcing-reducing manipulation of twirling rotating the needle in recent 15 years are reviewed and a brief account of manipulation methods, mechanisms and effects of reinforcing-reducing manipulation of twirling-rotating the needle is given, and it is indicated that the following several aspects in the studies at present need to be completed. Standardization and establishment of national standard of acupuncture manipulation must be enforced; quantitative parameters of acupuncture manipulation and mechanisms of acupuncture reinforcing-reducing of twirling-rotating the needle need to be further studied.

[Effects of needle knife relaxing therapy on tension of local soft tissue and pain of osteoarthritis of knee].

OBJECTIVE: To probe into the mechanism and methods of needle knife relaxing therapy for treatment of osteoarthritis of knee from biomechanical view. METHODS: Needle knife relaxing therapy was given to 92 pain points around the knee joint in 14 cases of osteoarthritis of knee, and the displacement of the local pain point under the stress of 500 g (L500 g) was measured and the VAS scores were recorded before and after treatment. RESULTS: L500 g of the pain point was (4.72+/-1.03) mm before treatment and (5.39+/-1.01) mm after treatment with a very significant difference before and after treatment (P<0.01), and VAS score was (7.10+/-1.49) points before treatment and (1.49+/-1.24) points after treatment with a very significant difference before and after treatment (P<0.01), and there was a linear correlation between the changes of L500 g and VAS scores. CONCLUSION: There was close connection between the local pain and tension of local soft tissue in knee osteoarthritis. The needle knife relaxing therapy can relieve the neurovascular compression or traction syndrome by relaxing the local contracted, adhesive soft tissue, so as to relieve tension pain and finally recover internal force equilibrium of the knee joint.

Effects of needle knife relaxing therapy on tension of local soft tissue and pain of osteoarthritis of knee / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To probe into the mechanism and methods of needle knife relaxing therapy for treatment of osteoarthritis of knee from biomechanical view.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Needle knife relaxing therapy was given to 92 pain points around the knee joint in 14 cases of osteoarthritis of knee, and the displacement of the local pain point under the stress of 500 g (L500 g) was measured and the VAS scores were recorded before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>L500 g of the pain point was (4.72+/-1.03) mm before treatment and (5.39+/-1.01) mm after treatment with a very significant difference before and after treatment (P<0.01), and VAS score was (7.10+/-1.49) points before treatment and (1.49+/-1.24) points after treatment with a very significant difference before and after treatment (P<0.01), and there was a linear correlation between the changes of L500 g and VAS scores.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There was close connection between the local pain and tension of local soft tissue in knee osteoarthritis. The needle knife relaxing therapy can relieve the neurovascular compression or traction syndrome by relaxing the local contracted, adhesive soft tissue, so as to relieve tension pain and finally recover internal force equilibrium of the knee joint.</p>

Advances of studies on acupuncture reinforcing-reducing of twirling-rotating the needle / 中国针灸

The theories and clinical and experimental studies about reinforcing-reducing manipulation of twirling rotating the needle in recent 15 years are reviewed and a brief account of manipulation methods, mechanisms and effects of reinforcing-reducing manipulation of twirling-rotating the needle is given, and it is indicated that the following several aspects in the studies at present need to be completed. Standardization and establishment of national standard of acupuncture manipulation must be enforced; quantitative parameters of acupuncture manipulation and mechanisms of acupuncture reinforcing-reducing of twirling-rotating the needle need to be further studied.