[Review on scientific connotation of leech processed under high temperature].

Animal medicines mainly contain protein which was organic molecule with quaternary structure and had the property of thermal denaturation. When suffering from heat for a consistent time, the native conformation of protein would be destroyed. After denaturation the biological activity of protein will lose and some physicochemical and biochemical properties will be changed. Leech was a classical animal medicine in the views of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) which had the functions of breaking stagnant and eliminating blood stasis. In the usage history, it was processed for a long time. No matter stir-frying leech with talc powder embodied in Chinese Pharmacopoeia or stir-baking with wine as a distinctive method in Beijing district, the process procedure was basically performed under high temperature. The purposes and intentions of process are mostly limited to technology conditions at specific historical period. In this article, based on existing processing procedure and its character of Leech, the changes of active components and pharmacological activities before and after processing under high temperature were summarized. The results demonstrate that the protein of leech would be denaturated; some active peptide such as hirudin were partly or totally destroyed; some toxic mineral elements, such as Pb, Hg, Cd, were decreased; at the same time, heating can promote some chemical components transforming into hypoxanthine which had the function of antihypertensive, antiasthmatic and antalgic. Consequently, after processed under high temperature, the purpose of decreasing toxicity and alleviating the strong property was achieved. Pharmacological changes of leech processed under high temperature were mainly manifested in the anticoagulant and antithrombotic activity, etc. Based on current processing research status about animal medicine leech, future research methods and directions on scientific connotation of leech processed under high temperature were put forward in this article.

[Contraindications of spirit (shen) in acupuncture and moxibustion].

ABSTRACT The taboos of man-spirit (RenShen) and bottom-spirit (KaoShen) are two kinds of time-related contraindications that are more commonly seen in the literature of acupuncture and moxibustion. The meaning of man-spirit is often extended to qi-blood or mind, or else directly equals to heaven-spirit (TianShen). It is highly possible that the bottom-spirit is subordinate to man-spirit, and both Taoist philosophy and the SanCai theory declare the importance of bottom in human body. The violation of contraindications could lead to diseases in the neighborhood where man-spirit travels. However, the results are generally recorded as ulcer, lingering disease and death in most medical texts. From Ming dynasty, more and more doctors have expressed disapproval of man-spirit and bottom-spirit.

[Clinical observation on common peroneal nerve palsy treated with comprehensive therapy].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the difference of the clinical efficacy on common peroneal palsy between the comprehensive therapy of electroacupuncture, moxibustion and moving cupping method and western medication. METHODS: Ninety cases of common peroneal nerve palsy were randomized into a comprehensive therapy group and a western medication group, 45 cases in each one. In the comprehensive therapy group, electroacupuncture was applied to Yanglingquan (GB 34), Zusanli (ST 36), Xuanzhong (GB 39), Jiexi (ST 41), Taichong (LR 3), Zulinqi (GB 41) and the others, combined with warm moxibustion and moving cupping on the lateral side of the affected leg. The comprehensive therapy was used once a day. In the western medication group, vitamin B1 , 10 mg each time, 3 times a day; and mecobalamine, 0. 5 mg each time, three times a day were prescribed for oral administration. In the two groups, 15 days made one session, and the efficacy was observed after 2 sessions treatment. RESULTS: The total effective rate of the improvement of sensory function and motor nerve function was 97. 8% (44/45) in the comprehensive therapy group and was 82. 2% (37/ 45) in the western medication. The efficacy in the comprehensive therapy group was better than that of the western medication (P<0. 01). The electrophysiological examination showed that the amplitude of motor conduction of deep peroneal nerve and that of sensory conduction of surficial peroneal nerve after treatment were improved remarkably as compared with those before treatment in the comprehensive therapy group (both P<0. 05). The amplitude of motor conduction of deep peroneal nerve was improved significantly in the comprehensive therapy group as compared with that in the western medication group (P<0. 05). CONCLUSION: The comprehensive therapy of electroacupuncture, moxibustion and moving cupping method achieves the significant efficacy on common peroneal nerve palsy as compared with western medication.

[Effect of electroacupuncture intervention on expression of pain sensory and affection processing related corticotropin-releasing factor receptor mRNA, etc. in the amygdala in neuropathic pain and negative affection rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture .(EA) stimulation of "Zusanli" (ST 36)-"Yang- lingquan" (GB 34) on expression of pain sensory and affection processing-related corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptor, glutamatergic NMDA receptor and GABA receptor subtype genes in the amygdala in chronic constrictive injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve rats, so as to reveal its mechanism underlying pain relief. METHODS: Experiments were separately performed in 36 male Wistar rats which were randomized into normal control, CCI model and EA + CCI; normal control, CCI + negative affection (NA) model and CCl+ NA+ EA groups (n =6 in each group). Neuropathic pain model was established by ligature of the left sciatic nerve, and NA model established by ligation of the left sciatic nerve and repeated skin stimulation (acupuncture needle pricking + direct current stimulation) of the paw-bottom, once daily for 3 days. EA (2 Hz/15 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to bilateral ST 36-GB 34 for 30 min, once daily for 7 days. Thermal pain threshold (paw withdrawal latency, PWL) of the bilateral paws was measured by using a Tail-Flick Unit 37360. Expression levels of CRF-1 R, CRF-2 R, NR 2 A,NR 2 B,GABAaR and GABAcR genes in the amygdala were determined using quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS: In comparison with the normal control groups, PWL difference (PWLD) values of the bilateral paws of CCIl model and CCI+NA model groups were significantly increased (P<0. 05). In comparison with the model group, following 7 days' EA stimulation, PWLD were considerably decreased (P<0. 05), showing a pain relief. RT-PCR results indicated that compared to the normal control group, the expression levels of CRF-1 R, CRF-2 R, NR 2 A and NR 2 B genes were apparently increased in the CCI model group (P<0. 01, P<0. 001), and those of CRF-1 R, CRF-2 R, NR 2 A, NR 2 B, GABAaR and GABAcR genes were remarkably down-regulated in the CCI + NA model group (P<0. 05, P<0. 01, P<0. 001). After EA intervention for 7 days, CRF-2 R, NR 2 A and NR 2 B were significantly down-regulated in the CCI + EA group, and CRF-1 R, CRF-2 R, NR 2 B,GABAaR and GABAcR genes were obviously up-regulated in the CCI + NA + EA group (P<0. 01, P<0. 001). CONCLUSION: Repeated EA stimulation of ST 36-GB 34 has a definite analgesic effect in neuropathic pain and negative affection rats, which may be respectively related to its effects in down-regulating expression of CRF-2 R, NR 2 A and NR 2 B genes, and up-regulating expression of CRF-1 R, CRF-2 R, NR 2 B,GABAaR and GABAcR genes in the amyg- dala.

Three new monoterpene glycosides from the roots of Paeonia lactiflora.

Three new monoterpene glycosides, 2'-O-benzoylpaeoniflorin, albiflorin R2, and albiflorin R3 (1-3) were isolated from the roots of Paeonia lactiflora. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic means including one- and two-dimensional NMR experiments.

Effects of repeated electroacupuncture on beta-endorphin and adrencorticotropic hormone levels in the hypothalamus and pituitary in rats with chronic pain and ovariectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA)-induced cumulative analgesic effects on chronic pain in rats with or without ovariectomy (OVX). METHODS: A total of 110 female Wistar rats were randomized into normal control (n=10), chronic constrictive injury (CCI, n=10), CCI+EA (n=30), OVX+CCI (n=30), and OVX+CCI+EA (n=30) groups. Each of the latter 3 groups was further divided into 2 days (2 d), 2 weeks (2 W) and 3 weeks (3 W) subgroups, respectively (n=10 in each subgroup). The CCI pain model was established by ligature of the right sciatic nerve, and the memory impairment model duplicated by OVX. The paw withdrawal latency (PWL, pain threshold) of the bilateral footplates was detected by radiant heat irradiation, and the bilateral difference in PWL (PWLD) was used to evaluate changes in the pain reaction. Morris water maze test was conducted for evaluating the rats' learning-memory ability. EA was applied to bilateral Zusanli (ST36) and Yanglingquan (GB34) for 2 d, 2 W and 3 W, respectively. Pituitary and hypothalamic beta-endorphin (EP) and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) contents were detected by immunoradioassay. RESULTS: Compared with the CCI group, PWLD of the CCI+EA-3 W group decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the OVX+CCI group, PWLD of the OVX+CCI+EA-3 W group was lowered considerably (P<0.05), but the value was markedly higher than its basal value and those of the normal control and CCI+EA groups (P<0.05). In comparison with the sham-OVX group, the escape latency, swimming distance (SD) in the target quadrant and total SD were increased remarkably in the OVX group (P<0.05), while the number of target platform crossings was decreased significantly (P<0.05), suggesting an impairment of the OVX rats' learning-memory ability. In simple CCI rats, both beta-EP and ACTH contents of the pituitary increased markedly (P<0.05), and those of the hypothalamus decreased obviously compared to the normal control group (P<0.05). After EA, pituitary and hypothalamic ACTH levels were significantly lowered at 2 d and hypothalamic ACTH and beta-EP contents increased obviously at 3 W in comparison with the CCI group (P<0.05). In OVX+CCI rats, following EA, pituitary beta-EP contents at 2 d, 2 W and 3 W, and hypothalamic beta-EP and ACTH contents at 2 W and hypothalamic ACTH levels at 3 W increased significantly (P<0.05), but hypothalamic beta-EP level at 3W decreased markedly (P<0.05). The effects of repeated EA in lowering pituitary ACTH and raising hypothalamic beta-EP and ACTH levels disappeared after OVX+CCI. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated EA has a cumulative analgesic effect, which is closely associated with its effects in regulating pituitary and hypothalamic beta-EP and ACTH levels. OVX may weaken the analgesic effect of EA by affecting hypothalamic-pituitary axis activity.

Effects of electroacupuncture on cardiac and gastric activities in acute myocardial ischemia rats.

AIM: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Neiguan" (PC6) and "Gongsun" (SP4) on pathological changes of the heart and stomach in rats with acute myocardial ischemia (AMI), and to explore its underlying mechanism. METHODS: Fifty Wistar rats were randomized into control, model, PC6, SP4 and PC6 + SP4 groups (n = 8 each group). An AMI model was established by occlusion of the descending anterior branch (DAB) of the left coronary artery. ECG-ST of cervico-thoracic lead and electrogastrogram (EGG) were recorded. EA was applied to PC6, SP4 and PC6 + SP4 groups, respectively. At the end of experiments, the rats were transcardically perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde, and the heart base myocardium, gastric antrum and duodenum tissues were sampled, sectioned and stained with a reduced form of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-diaphorase histochemical method for displaying nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity. RESULTS: After AMI, ECG-ST values elevated. After EA, the elevated ECG-ST values at 20 min in PC6 group, at 30 min in PC6 + SP4 and SP4 groups had no significant differences in comparison with their respective basal values before AMI. Following AMI, the amplitude and frequency of slow waves of EGG decreased remarkably (P < 0.05). At 30 min after EA, the mean amplitude and frequency of slow waves of EGG in the three EA groups had no marked differences compared with their individual basal levels and those in the control group. After AMI, the mean integral grey values of NOS-positive product in myocardium, gastric antrum and duodenum tissues in the model group increased remarkably in comparison with the control group, while those in three EA groups were lower than those in the model group. No significant differences were found in ECG-ST and EGG improvement among the three EA groups. However, EA of PC6 had a better effect on ECG-ST and EA of PC4 had a better effect on EGG, respectively. CONCLUSION: EA of PC6, SP4 and PC6 + SP4 can significantly promote the recovery of cardiac and gastric electrical activities after AMI, and up-regulate NOS expression in myocardium, gastric antrum and duodenum tissues.