[Effect of intranasal acupuncture on neurogenic inflammation in allergic rhinitis rabbits].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of intranasal acupuncture on allergic rhinitis (AR), and expression of substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) proteins in the nasal mucosa and contents of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE), interleukin 4 (IL-4) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in AR rabbits, so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of AR. METHODS: New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into normal control, AR model, non-acupuoint acupuncture (NAA) and intranasal acupuncture (INA) groups, with 8 rabbits in each group. The AR model was established by intra-peritoneal injection of egg protein and nasal mucosal stimulation. In the INA group, bilateral "Neiyingxiang" (EX-HN9) within the nasal cavity (the anterior attachment area of the inferior turbinate, about 1 cm away from the nasal limen) were acupunctured by mani-pulating the filiform needles for a while with uniform reinforcing and reducing methods, followed by keeping the needles for 20 min. In the NAA group, shallow acupuncture was applied to the skin of the outer margin of the cheeks, followed by keeping the needle for 20 min. The acupuncture treatment was conducted once every other day for 7 days. The symptoms of sneezing frequency, nasal secretion amount and nasal itching were scored. The expression levels of SP, VIP and NPY in the nasal mucosa tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry, and the serum IgE, IL-4, and IFN-γ contents were detected by ELISA. RESULTS: After modelling, the symptom score, expression of SP and VIP, and serum IgE and IL-4 contents were significantly higher (P<0.01,P<0.05), NPY expression and serum IFN-γ content significantly lower (P<0.05, P<0.01) in the model group than in the normal control group. Following the intervention, the symptom scores, expressions of SP and VIP, and serum IgE and IL-4 contents were remarkably decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), while the NPY expression and serum IFN-γ content were significantly up-regulated (P<0.05, P<0.01) in the INA group than in the model group. The effects of INA group were significantly superior to those of NAA group in reducing symptom score, SP and VIP expression, and serum IgE and IL-4 contents and up-regulating NPY expression and IFN-γcontent (P<0.05, P<0.01). There were a positive correlation between the expressions of SP and VIP and contents of serum IgE and IL-4 (P<0.05), and a negative correlation between the expressions of SP and VIP and IFN-γ content (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: INA treatment can relieve symptoms of AR in AR rabbits, which may be associated with its effects in regulating the expression of SP, VIP and NPY of the nasal mucosa, and contents of serum IgE, IL-4 and IFN-γ to improve neurogenic inflammation.

[Screening active ingredients of Shenkangwan that regulate endothelial-mesenchymal transition of endothelial cells in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To screen the effective components of Shenkangwan that regulate endothelial-mesenchymal transition in endothelial cells for optimizing prescription of Shenkangwan. METHODS: ALK5 was identified as one of the target receptors that regulate endothelial-mesenchymal transition of endothelial cells using molecular docking technique. Nine molecules were screened as the candidate effective components in Shenkangwan, among which calycosin, ononin and stigmasterol were selected for testing. Glomerular epithelial cells were exposed to high glucose and treated with calycosin, ononin, or stigmasterol, and the cellular expressions of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and vimentin mRNA were detected with real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. The phosphorylation of SMAD2/3 in the cells was detected using Western blotting. RESULTS: Calycosin, ononin and stigmasterol did not produce significant cytotoxicity in glomerular epithelial cells (P>0.05). The cells exposed to high glucose and calycosin treatment showed significantly decreased mRNA levels of α-SMA and vimentin (P<0.05) and inhibited phosphorylation of SMAD2/3. Ononin and stigmasterol did not produce such effects in the cells. CONCLUSION: In endothelial cells with high glucose-induced injury, calycosin can inhibit the up-regulation of α-SMA and vimentin and inhibit phosphorylation of SMAD2/3 to regulate endothelial-mesenchymal transition and improve diabetic nephropathy.

[HPLC fingerprint for the Corydalis saxicola Bunting injection].

AIM: To establish the fingerprint of Corydalis saxicola Bunting injection. METHODS: It was performed by HPLC Kromasil column was used with acetonitrile and H2O as mobile phase. The flow rate was 0.5 mL x min(-1). The detection wavelength was 254 nm. The mass spectrometry detection was performed on a trap equipped with an ESI interface and operated in positive-ionization mode. RESULTS: Eleven components of Corydalis saxicola Bunting were identified by LC-MS and 7 of them were quantified. CONCLUSION: The fingerprint chromatogram could represent the characteristics of Corydalis saxicola Bunting injection. Evaluation of resemblances and results of precision were satisfactory. This method could be used as quality and quantity control.