[Quality evaluation of Gastrodiae Rhizoma standard decoction based on UPLC fingerprint and quantitative analysis multi-components method].

To establish the quantitative analysis multi-components with a single-marker(QAMS) method for six components and fingerprint of standard decoction of Gastrodiae Rhizoma, verify the accuracy and feasibility of the method, and evaluate the quality of standard decoction. Based on UPLC with gastrodin as the internal standard, relative correction factors of p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, parishin E, parishin B, parishin C, parishin A and gastrodin were determined by investigating the column temperature, flow rate, chromatographic columns and multi-point concentration correction. The total contents in 18 batches of standard decoction of Gastrodiae Rhizoma and the similarity were determined to calculate the similarity. The results of standard curve method, external standard one-point method and quantitative analysis multi-components with a single-marker(QAMS) were compared, and the results showed that there was no significant difference among these three methods. By analyzing the results of standard decoctions from different origins, it can be seen that the quality of Gastrodia standard decoctions derived from Anhui and Yunnan was better, followed by Shaanxi and Hubei, and relatively poor in Gansu, with similarities all above 0.90 in the fingerprints. Therefore, the QAMS method that can measure the contents of gastrodin, p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, parishin E, parishin B, parishin C and parishin A in standard decoction of Gastrodiae Rhizoma combined with fingerprint is accurate, feasible and fast, which can be used to evaluate the quality of standard decoction of Gastrodiae Rhizoma, and also provide a reference for the research on the quality standards of raw materials for Gastrodiae Rhizoma prepared slices and alike.

Physiologic and biochemical effects of electroacupuncture combined with intramuscular administration of dexmedetomidine to provide analgesia in goats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate physiologic and biochemical effects of electroacupuncture and dexmedetomidine administration to goats. ANIMALS: 30 healthy adult goats. PROCEDURES: Goats were allotted to 5 groups (6 goats/group) and received electroacupuncture, dexmedetomidine (5 or 20 µg/kg, IM), electroacupuncture plus dexmedetomidine (5 µg/kg, IM), or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (IM [control treatment]). Pain threshold, cardiorespiratory effects, rectal temperature, and hematologic and biochemical variables were assessed. RESULTS: Dexmedetomidine (20 µg/kg) increased pain threshold and decreased heart rate, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature. Pain threshold of goats receiving electroacupuncture plus dexmedetomidine (5 µg/kg) was higher than that of goats receiving electroacupuncture or of goats receiving dexmedetomidine at 5 µg/kg at 30 minutes, but did not differ from that of goats receiving dexmedetomidine at 20 µg/kg. Compared with goats administered dexmedetomidine at 20 µg/kg, goats receiving electroacupuncture plus dexmedetomidine at 5 µg/kg had a higher heart rate from 30 to 60 minutes and a higher respiratory rate from 5 to 60 minutes. Electroacupuncture plus dexmedetomidine (5 µg/kg) did not affect rectal temperature. Serum glucose concentrations of goats receiving electroacupuncture plus dexmedetomidine (5 µg/kg) were higher than for goats receiving dexmedetomidine at 5 µg/kg at 30 minutes but not for goats receiving dexmedetomidine at 20 µg/kg. Creatinine and BUN concentrations, alanine or aspartate aminotransferase activities, and hematologic variables of treated goats did not change. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Electroacupuncture in combination with a low dose of dexmedetomidine (5 µg/kg, IM) administered to goats provided antinociception.

Effect of Allium sativum (garlic) diallyl disulfide (DADS) on human non-small cell lung carcinoma H1299 cells.

This study was undertaken to elucidate the effect of diallyl disulfide from Allium sativum, an oil-soluble organosulfur compound found in garlic, in suppressing human non-small cell lung carcinoma H1299 cells. A potent increase in apoptotic cells has accompanied 1) a decrease in cell viability, 2) an increase of the fraction of G2/M-phase cells by up to 48.80 %, and 3) a transient increase of the phospho-p42/44 (phosphorylated p42/44 MAPK) in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. These results indicated that diallyl disulfide could induce apoptosis in human non-small cell lung carcinoma H1299 cells via, at least partly, G2/M-phase block of the cell cycle, related to a rise in MAPK phosphorylation.

Increased excretion of a lipid peroxidation biomarker in autism.

It is thought that autism could result from an interaction between genetic and environmental factors with oxidative stress as a potential mechanism linking the two. One genetic factor may be altered oxidative-reductive capacity. This study tested the hypothesis that children with autism have increased oxidative stress. We evaluated children with autism for the presence of two oxidative stress biomarkers. Urinary excretion of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and 8-isoprostane-F2alpha (8-iso-PGF2alpha) were determined in 33 children with autism and 29 healthy controls. 8-iso-PGF2alpha levels were significantly higher in children with autism. The isoprostane levels in autistic subjects were variable with a bimodal distribution. The majority of autistic subjects showed a moderate increase in isoprostane levels while a smaller group of autistic children showed dramatic increases in their isoprostane levels. There was a trend of an increase in 8-OHdG levels in children with autism but it did not reach statistical significance. There was no significant correlation between the levels of the biomarkers and vitamin intake, dietary supplements, medicine, medical disorders, or history of regression. These results suggest that the lipid peroxidation biomarker is increased in this cohort of autistic children, especially in the subgroup of autistic children.

Parkinsonian signs in older people: prevalence and associations with smoking and coffee.

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking and coffee consumption may reduce the risk of PD. Parkinsonian signs (tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia) occur in 30 to 40% of the elderly. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there was an association between cigarette smoking, coffee consumption, and parkinsonian signs in a community population of older people. METHODS: Data on smoking were collected and a neurologic examination performed on 1,339 residents > or = 65 years of age in the Washington Heights-Inwood community in northern Manhattan, NY. Parkinsonian signs were rated with an abbreviated Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, resulting in a parkinsonian sign score. Coffee consumption was assessed with a semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire, and caffeine consumption was determined. Analyses were cross-sectional. RESULTS: Mean age was 76.6 years. Parkinsonian signs were present in 537 (40.1%). The odds for presence of parkinsonian signs was lower in smokers than nonsmokers (odds ratio [OR] = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.47 to 0.73). Smokers had a lower mean parkinsonian sign score than nonsmokers (p < 0.001). Coffee drinking and caffeine consumption were not associated with the presence of parkinsonian signs. The odds for presence of parkinsonian signs remained lower in smokers (OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.57 to 0.99) after adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, years of education, adjusted daily caffeine consumption, and dementia. CONCLUSION: The reduced risk of parkinsonian signs in cigarette smokers could reflect a protective effect of smoking on age-related parkinsonian signs in the elderly or an aversion to smoking in elderly persons with mild parkinsonism.

[Effect of dietary selenium and germanium on the precancerous lesion in rat glandular stomach induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine].

N-Methyl-N'-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) was administered (100 mg/L) in drinking water in 100 Wistar rats for 24 weeks to induce the precancerous lesion in glandular stomach. 77 rats with the precancerous lesion in glandular stomach were divided into 3 groups randomly at the 25 thweek. Yeast selenium (Yse, 4 mg/L) and carboxyethyl germanium sesquioxide (Ge-132, 600 mg/L) in drinking water were administered respectively in the corresponding treatment groups: 100 ml/MNNG in drinking water was administered in the treatment group, and 100 ml/MNN in drinking water was administered in the treatment group and control group for another 5 weeks. The experiment ended at the end of the 37th week. The results showed that the incidence of glandular stomach cancer in the Yse group was significantly lower than that in the control group; the infiltrating depth of glandular stomach cancer in the Yse group and the Ge-132 group was remarkably shallower than that in the control group. These findings suggest that Yse and Ge-132 have some preventive effect on the precancerous lesion in rat glandular stomach induced by MNNG.

Experimental meridian line of stomach and its low impedance nature.

Applying electrical impulse stimuli at the Jing point (St. 45) and then tapping on the skin surface along the vertical lines crossing the channel of the stomach, the line of latent propagated sensation along channel (LPSC) was determined in 51 patients at the acupuncture clinic. Of the cases examined, 98 percent were found to have positive LPSC lines which were basically coincident with the classical stomach channel. Using a low frequency skin impedance detector, the skin impedance of the entire lines of LPSC was found to be lower than its adjacent areas.