Effect of staging treatment of / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the effect of @*METHODS@#A total of 74 patients with RIF of thin endometrium type undergoing freeze-thaw embryo transfer were randomly divided into an observation group (37 cases) and a control group (37 cases). The patients in the control group were treated with freeze-thaw embryo transfer in hormone replacement cycle, and the estradiol valerate tablets were taken orally from the fifth day of menstruation, 2 mg per day. On the basis of the control group, the observation group was additionally treated with @*RESULTS@#The clinical pregnancy rate was 37.8% (14/37) in the observation group, which was higher than 16.2% (6/37) in the control group (@*CONCLUSION@#On the basis of conventional medication,

[Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Phosphorus in Paddy Fields Under Cyclic Irrigation of Drainage Water].

Considering the potential of cyclic irrigation to increase rainfall use efficiency and reduce agricultural non-point pollution, the experiment of phosphorus transport in paddy fields under cyclic irrigation of drainage water was conducted to address the problem of phosphorus loss pollution and the mismatch between rainfall temporal distribution and crop requirement in the south of China. Lotus pond water and fishpond water were used to irrigate paddy fields for monitoring concentrations of total phosphorus (TP), dissolved phosphorus (DP), and dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) in surface water and leachate, and soil profile total phosphorus and Olsen-P concentrations. The results showed that the concentrations of TP, DP and DRP in surface water and leachate decreased along the field under cyclic irrigation of drainage water, especially the phosphorus concentrations of leachate dropped more obviously. As the phosphorus content of cyclic irrigation water sources varied within a certain range, phosphorus concentrations of surface water and leachate did not increased. The concentrations of TP, DP and DRP in surface water and leachate varied with cyclic irrigation time, and the least phosphorus concentrations were observed in August. Top soil Olsen-P concentration decreased along the field and increased with phosphorus content of cyclic irrigation water sources, and soil profile TP concentration was not influenced by cyclic irrigation. Phosphorus removal ratio of paddy field could be increased by extending field length or cyclic irrigation in August.

Van Wyk-Grumbach syndrome: A case report and literature review / 中南大学学报(医学版)

Van Wyk-Grumbach syndrome (VWGS) is a rare complication of prolonged untreated juvenile hypothyroidism characterized by precocious puberty and enlarged multicystic ovaries. A 13-year-old girl visited our outpatient clinic due to menstrual irregularities. She had precocious puberty, pituitary hyperplasia and multiple cystic ovaries in addition to clinical signs of severe congenital hypothyroidism. After the initiation of L-thyroxine therapy, the symptoms were alleviated in a short time. This rare syndrome is easy to be misdiagnosed as pituitary and ovarian tumor. High degree of suspicion and timely diagnosis can prevent unnecessary surgical procedures because the symptoms can be reversed with thyroid hormone supplementation.

Totoxicity fraction from Euphorbia pekinensis and composition change after vinegar processing / 中国中药杂志

To look for the toxicity fraction of Euphorbia pekinensis and discuss the vinegar processing mechanism. The level of intestinal edema, water content of intestine and stool, IC50 values of IEC-6 were applied to evaluate the toxicity of different fractions. RT-PCR was employed for detecting AQP1, AQP3 mRNA expression. The petroleum ether (PE) fraction and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction could significant cause intestinal edema in mice, increase the water content of duodenum, colon and stool, inhibited the mRNA expression of AQP1 and increased the mRNA level of AQP3 in colon, and the petroleum ether (PE) fraction was more poisonous. After the petroleum ether (PE) fraction was processed with vinegar, the level of intestinal edema, water content of duodenum, colon, stool and inhibition ratio of cells line were reduced. And we compared the composition change after vinegar processing, finding that the conpekinensis.

Research achievements on structures and activities of polysaccharides from Panax ginseng / 中国中药杂志

Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (P. ginseng) has been used as traditional medicine in Asian countries for more than 2,000 years. P. ginseng contains many active components such as ginsenosides, peptides, essential oil and polysaccharides, among which, P. ginseng polysaccharides were reported to have immunomodulating, anti-cancer, anti-adhesive and antioxidant activities. For better understanding of the structures and biological activities of all the ginseng polysaccharides, here the recent research achievements were reviewed. This review would be helpful for the relevant researchers to get useful information.

Regulation mechanism of triterpenoid components from Prunella asiatica on phase II detoxifying enzymes in vitro and in vivo / 中国中药杂志

To study the effects of triterpenoid components from Prunella asiatica on phase II detoxifying enzymes and protein expression in vitro and in vivo. Normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cell model was used in vitro, and the mouse model of Kunming (KM) mice was used in vivo. CDNB assay was used to measure the activity of GST. NADPH and DCIP was used to detect the activity of NQO1. DTNB colorimetric assay was used to detect GSH. Western blot was use to detect the protein expression of NQO1. We found that triterpenoid components from P. asiatica could increase the activity of GST, NQO1 and GSH in NHBE cells and KM mice. NQO1 protein expression can also be increased in vitro. The study suggests that triterpenoid components from P. asiatica can prevent the lung cancer by regulating the body phase II detoxification enzyme activity and protein expression.

Protective effect and mechanism of Ecliptae Herba on cigarette smoke extract-induced cytotoxicity of NHBE cells / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Ecliptae Herba extract on cigarette smoke extract-induced cytotoxicity.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The effect of Ecliptae Herba extract on CSE-induced NHBE cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay. GSH content was determined by DTNB colorimetry. GST activity was measured by CDNB colorimetric assay. NQO1 activity was detected by NADPH and DCIP. The protein expression was determined by Western blot assay.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Ecliptae Herba extract reduced CSE's inhibitory effect on NHBE cells, recover the decrease in intracellular GSH caused by CSE and reduce the CSE-induced activity of GST and NQO1 and NQO1 protein expression.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ecliptae Herba extract can reduce CSE-induced injury on NHBE cells, which may be related to phase II detoxification enzymes.</p>

Correlation between level of metallic elements in urine and childhood acute leukemia / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relation between the level of metallic elements in urine and childhood acute leukemia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 71 patients under 15 years old who were newly diagnosed with acute leukemia between September 2007 and August 2008 without Downs' syndrome or other tumors, and 113 gender- and age-matched controls without tumors or congenital diseases were enrolled for the case-control study. The general data and potential risk factors were obtained by questionnaires. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to determine the metal concentrations in urine, which was collected randomly before chemotherapy. Logistic regression model was performed for univariate and multivariate analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The questionnaire showed that there was significant difference in the proportion of children whose mothers had taken iron supplements during or 3 months before pregnancy between case group and control group, which was 28.2% (20/71) and 14.2% (16/113) respectively (Wald χ(2) = 5.438, P = 0.02). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that levels of vanadium, manganese, iron, cobalt, copper, arsenic, and barium in urine from case group were all higher than those of control group with significant difference. The median values for vanadium in urine from case and control groups were 5.39 and 3.04 ng/mg creatinine (Wald χ(2) = 9.03, P < 0.05); the median values for manganese were respectively 4.46 and 2.44 ng/mg creatinine (Wald χ(2) = 10.57, P < 0.05); the median values for iron were separately 58.69 and 14.09 ng/mg creatinine (Wald χ(2) = 13.41, P < 0.05); the median values for cobalt were respectively 0.98 and 0.77 ng/mg creatinine (Wald χ(2) = 4.46, P < 0.05); the median values for copper were 61.17 and 10.90 ng/mg creatinine (Wald χ(2) = 8.15, P < 0.05); the median values for arsenic were respectively 55.93 and 36.11 ng/mg creatinine (Wald χ(2) = 4.57, P < 0.05); and the median values for barium were 8.55 and 2.87 ng/mg creatinine (Wald χ(2) = 4.82, P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the level of iron in urine had a significantly positive relation with the incidence of childhood acute leukemia (OR = 1.009, 95%CI = 1.002 - 1.016).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The level of iron in urine might be related to the occurrence of childhood acute leukemia, but its specific role needs further investigation.</p>

Changes in the composition of the thoracic aortic wall in spontaneously hypertensive rats treated with losartan or spironolactone.

1. In the present study, we compared the elastin and collagen content of thoracic aortic medial and adventitial layers from Wistar-kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). In addition, the effects of losartan, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, and spironolactone, a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, on collagen and elastin content were determined. 2. Prehypertensive (4-week-old) and hypertensive (16-week-old) SHR were randomly divided into three groups treated with either 0.9% NaCl, losartan (20 mg/kg per day) or spironolactone (200 mg/kg per day). Prehypertensive and hypertensive SHR were treated for 12 and 16 weeks, respectively. Age-matched WKY rats were not treated with NaCl, losartan or spironolactone and served as the control group. 3. The medial and adventitial layers of the thoracic aorta were composed mainly of elastin and collagen, respectively, in both SHR and WKY rats. Compared with WKY rats, SHR exhibited greater collagen and elastin content in the media, but decreased collagen and elastin content in the adventitial layer. Both medial and adventitial collagen and elastin content increased significantly with age in both strains and was greater in 32-week-old rats compared with 16-week-old rats. Spironolactone treatment decreased collagen content in the media of thoracic aortas from prehypertensive SHR, whereas losartan decreased collagen content in the media of aortas from hypertensive SHR. In contrast, neither spironolactone nor losartan had any effect on adventitial collagen content in prehypertensive and hypertensive SHR. Medial collagen and elastin were positively related to pulse pressure (PP), but there was no correlation between adventitial mass or collagen content and PP or mean arterial pressure in untreated and treated SHR and WKY rats. 4. In conclusion, the composition of the medial and adventitial layers of the thoracic aorta differs and treatment of SHR with losartan and spironolactone decreases collagen content when delivered at the hypertensive or prehypertensive stage, respectively. However, neither drug has any effect on adventitial collagen content in SHR.

Pravastatin attenuates interferon-gamma action via modulation of STAT1 to prevent aortic atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-knockout mice.

1. The beneficial effects of pravastatin, beyond that of lowering cholesterol in atherosclerosis, include reducing the action of interferon (IFN)-gamma. Interferon-gamma activates the signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), but it is unclear whether the inhibitory effect of pravastatin in atherosclerosis is via modulation of the IFN-gamma/STAT1 pathway. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine whether the action of pravastatin in preventing aortic atherosclerosis by attenuation of IFN-gamma action is dependent on STAT1. 2. Male apolipoprotein E-knockout (apoE(-/-)) mice were fed a diet containing 1.25% cholesterol (w/w). Mice were divided into two groups, one of which was supplemented with pravastatin (80 mg/kg per day). Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal diet and served as the control group (n = 12 per group). 3. Atherosclerotic lesions in the aortic root were assessed by staining sections haematoxylin and eosin. Serum concentrations of IFN-gamma and IFN-gamma mRNA expression in the thoracoabdominal aorta were determined by ELISA and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction methods, respectively. Expression of phosphorylated STAT1 (pSTAT1), interferon regulating factor (IRF)-1 and suppressors of cytokine signalling 1 (SOCS1) was determined in the thoracoabdominal aorta using Western blot analysis. 4. After 8 weeks, pravastatin treatment significantly prevented the formation of atherosclerotic lesions (P < 0.05) and reduced serum IFN-gamma concentrations (P < 0.05) and levels of IFN-gamma mRNA within the aorta (P < 0.01). Pravastatin significantly decreased the expressions of pSTAT1 and IRF-1 within the aorta and significantly increased expression of SOCS1. 5. These results suggest that the actions of pravastatin in attenuating the action of IFN-gamma and subsequently preventing aortic atherosclerosis may depend, at least in part, on modulation of STAT1 activity. This providing us with a new therapeutic approach and a clearer insight into the clinical benefits of pravastatin.

Study on insulin resistance and genetic polymorphisms in essential hypertension patients of two different kinds of TCM constitution.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of insulin resistance and the polymorphisms of insulin receptor-related genes in essential hypertension patients of two different kinds of TCM constitution. METHODS: Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and insulin release test (InRT) were conducted in 217 essential hypertensive patients of either sluggish meticulous (SM) constitution (139 cases) or prosperous impetuous (PI) constitution (78 cases), and the polymorphism of three genes, including insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R), insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and 2 (IRS-2) genes were detected. RESULTS: (1) OGTT, InRT and insulin resistance index (Homa-IR) were higher and insulin sensitive index (ISI) was lower in the patients of SM constitution than those in patients of PI constitution. (2) Significant difference of ISI and Homa-IR was shown in patients of both constitutions with genotype G of the 3 genes. CONCLUSION: Decrease of insulin sensitivity and increase of insulin resistance are more obvious in hypertensive patients with genotype G of the 3 genes of SM constitution than in those of PI constitution. Therefore, the difference in constitution might be one of the genetic characteristics for insulin resistance in hypertensive patients.

Astragaloside IV dilates aortic vessels from normal and spontaneously hypertensive rats through endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent ways.

The major active constituent of Astragalus membranaceus, astragaloside IV, has been found to have properties of increasing coronary flow and cardioprotection. In this study, we examined the direct effects of astragaloside IV on vessel dilatation and contraction in isolated aortic rings from both normal and stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP) in vitro. The results demonstrated that astragaloside IV could antagonize vessel contractions induced by phenylephrine and potassium chloride in a concentration-dependent way. Astragaloside IV reduced CaCl2-induced contractions in Ca2+-free solution. Astragaloside IV also dilated aortic vessels in a dose-dependent manner, which was partially endothelium-dependent through the nitric oxide (NO) and cGMP pathways. The aorta from 6-month-old SHR-SP rats showed impaired endothelium function, and astragaloside IV dilated the vessels from the hypertensive rats to a lesser extent as compared with normal control rats. In the presence of perivascular fat tissue, the contractile responses induced by angiotensin II and phenylephrine were also attenuated by astragaloside IV. Collectively, this study provides functional evidence that astragaloside IV exerts vessel dilatation properties through the endothelium-dependent NO-cGMP pathway in normal and hypertensive rats. It blocks extracellular calcium influx and participates in vessel relaxation partly through phenylephrine and angiotensin II inhibition when perivascular fat is present.