AKAP1 Regulates Mitochondrial Dynamics during the Fatty-Acid-Promoted Maturation of Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes as Indicated by Proteomics Sequencing.

Human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) are cells with promising applications. However, their immaturity has restricted their use in cell therapy, disease modeling, and other studies. Therefore, the current study focused on inducing the maturation of CMs. We supplemented hiPSC-CMs with fatty acids (FAs) to promote their phenotypic maturity. Proteomic sequencing was performed to identify regulators critical for promoting the maturation of hiPSC-CMs. AKAP1 was found to be significantly increased in FA-treated hiPSC-CMs, and the results were verified. Therefore, we inhibited AKAP1 expression in the FA-treated cells and analyzed the outcomes. FA supplementation promoted the morphological and functional maturation of the hiPSC-CMs, which was accompanied by the development of a mitochondrial network. Proteomic analysis results revealed that AKAP1 expression was significantly higher in FA-treated hiPSC-CMs than in control cells. In addition, increased phosphorylation of the mitochondrial dynamin Drp1 and an increased mitochondrial fusion rate were found in FA-treated hiPSC-CMs. After AKAP1 was knocked down, the level of DRP1 phosphorylation in the cell was decreased, and the mitochondrial fusion rate was reduced. FA supplementation effectively promoted the maturation of hiPSC-CMs, and in these cells, AKAP1 regulated mitochondrial dynamics, possibly playing a significant role.

Characterization, antioxidant, antineoplastic and immune activities of selenium modified Sagittaria sagittifolia L. polysaccharides.

This study proposed an optimal way to supplement organic selenium, boost polysaccharides solubility, antioxidant, anticancer, immune responses. A purified polysaccharide fraction of Sagittaria sagittifolia L. (PSSP) was successfully modified with selenium (Se-PSSP), and its characteristics, antioxidant, antineoplastic and immune activities were studied. The structure and the monosaccharide composition were determined by means of UV-visible spectrometry, FT-IR spectra, NMR spectra, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM). The results showed that both PSSP and Se-PSSP contained a pyranoid polysaccharide linked by α-glycosidic bonds in the main chain. In addition, PSSP and Se-PSSP were amorphous morphology without three-helix conformation. PSSP (47.12 kDa) was mainly composed of glucose, mannose and xylose with molar percentages of 55.82%, 14.86% and 14.35%, respectively. Se-PSSP (16.82 kDa) is mainly composed of glucose, xylose and galactose with molar percentages of 26.49%, 18.76% and 18.14%, respectively. Compared with PSSP, Se-PSSP showed stronger water-solubility, antioxidant activity, cytotoxicity and immunomodulatory activity than that of PSSP. These results suggested that Se-PSSP is a promising novel Se-supplement and may be served as an excellent potential antioxidant, antineoplastic, and immunomodulatory agents in the field of functional foods and medicine industry.

Effect of Mashao Pingchuan Decoction on Traditional Chinese Medicine Symptoms and Quality of Life in Patients with Cold Asthma of Bronchial Asthma / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To evaluate the effect of Mashao Pingchuan decoction on traditional Chinese medicine <bold>（</bold>TCM<bold>）</bold> symptoms， quality of life， peripheral blood eosinophils （Eos） and serum inflammatory factors interleukin-6 （IL-6） and interleukin-8 （IL-8） in patients with cold asthma syndrome of bronchial asthma. Method:A total of 67 patients with cold asthma who attended the Respiratory Clinic of Anhui Provincial Hospital of TCM from January 2018 to December 2019 were selected and randomly divided into a control group and an observation group. The control group was given basic treatments such as budesonide formoterol powder inhalation， and the observation group was given Mashao Pingchuan decoction on the basis of the control group. Both groups intervened for 7 consecutive days. Observe and record the general condition， TCM symptom score， asthma control questionnaire （ACQ）-7 score， Marks-asthma quality of life questionnaire （Marks-AQLQ） score of the two groups of asthma patients， the peripheral blood Eos count was measured by hematology analyzer， and the serum IL-6 and IL-8 levels of the subjects were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Result:The total effective rate of TCM symptoms in the two groups was 100%（30/30）， and the effect in the observation group was more obvious （<italic>Z</italic>=-2.169，<italic>P</italic><0.05<italic>）</italic>. After treatment， the scores of TCM symptoms in the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. The scores of phlegm in the throat， expectoration， cough， and chills in the observation group were lower than those in the control group （<italic>P</italic><0.05）. After treatment， the ACQ-7 scores and Marks-AQLQ scores of the two groups were significantly lower than before treatment （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. There was no statistically significant difference between the observation group and the ACQ-7 scores and Marks-AQLQ scores. After treatment， the peripheral blood Eos counts and serum IL-6 and IL-8 levels in the two groups were significantly lower than before treatment （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Peripheral blood Eos count and serum IL-6 and IL-8 contents in observation group were lower than those in control group （<italic>P</italic><0.05）. Conclusion:Mashao Pingchuan decoction combined with budesonide formoterol powder inhalation can effectively improve the clinical effectiveness of asthma （cold asthma）， improve the symptoms of asthma in TCM， ACQ-7 score， Marks-AQLQ score， peripheral blood Eos count， serum inflammatory factor content.

Investigation and Analysis of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndromes with 144 Cases of COVID-19 Patients in Anhui Province / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To analyze the general situation and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome characteristics in patients with coronavirus disease-2019（COVID-19） in Anhui province, and to provide a basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Method:The 144 cases of COVID-19 patients in Anhui province were collected from designated hospitals by means of multi-center cross-sectional epidemiological survey. The TCM syndrome information collection table of patients with novel coronavirus pneumonia was created to collect the general data, etiology and pathogenesis, pulse and signs, syndrome type and frequency statistics of the patients, and then summarize and analyze the main symptoms and syndrome distribution characteristics of patients with novel coronavirus pneumonia. Result:The mean age of 144 patients with COVID-19 infection was （43.54±15.91） years old, and the number of males was larger than the number of females (9/7). The age distribution and gender difference of the patients were statistically significant (P<0.05). 36.11%（52/144） of the patients had a history of travel/residence in Wuhan/Hubei province, and 63.89% (92/144) of the patients had a history of close contact with the confirmed patients. The main clinical manifestations included fever, cough, diarrhea, fatigue and poor tolerance. Light red tongue and red tongue were dominant in tongue quality, with mainly greasy coating, slippery pulse, rapid pulse and soft pulse were the main types of pulse. The main types of syndrome differentiation were the common type (76.38%, 110/144), most of which were demonstrated as dampness obstructing the lung and spleen (56.25%, 81/144). There was no significant difference in gender composition and age distribution between two groups. Conclusion:The pathogenesis of COVID-19 patients in Anhui province is closely related to the lung and spleen, and the dampness caused by pathogen of the epidemic virus is the main pathological factor of disease, which is in line with characteristics of dampness epidemic in TCM, also can see concurrently "heat, poison, stasis" for a characteristic.

Effect of Dazhu Hongjingtian Capsule on Unstable Carotid Plaque with Qi Deficiency and Blood Stasis Syndrome / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To discuss the effect of Dazhu Hongjingtian capsule to unstable carotid plaque (Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome), and its mechanisms in resisting oxidation, inflammation and thrombosis. Method: One hundred and twenty-three patients were randomly divided into control group (61 cases) and observation group (62 cases) by random number table. Patients in control group got aspirin enteric-coated tablets, 0.1 g/time, 1 time/day, and rosuvastatin calcium capsules, 10 mg/time, 1 time/day. In addition to the therapy of control group, patients in observation group were also given Dazhu Hongjingtian capsule, 4 grains/days, 3 times/days. And the outpatient follow-up was made once every 2 weeks for continued 16 weeks. Intima-media wall thickness (IMT), and number and size of plaque were detected by color Doppler ultrasound. And levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), hypersensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP), homocysteine (Hcy), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2), platelet alpha granular membrane protein (GMP-140), P-selectin on surface of platelets (CD62 p), lysosome glycoprotein (CD63), and vascular pseudotumor factor (VWF) were detected. Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome were graded. Result: After treatment, IMT in observation group was thinner than that in control group, number of plaque was less than that in control group, and size of plaque was smaller than those in control group (PPPPConclusion: In addition to the treatment for resisting platelet and regulating blood lipid, Dazhu Hongjingtian capsule can lessen and reduce arterial speckle regulate lipid metabolism, ameliorate symptoms of traditional Chinese medical (TCM) syndrome, with effects in resisting oxidation, inflammation and thrombotic formation.

Research on Treatment of Chronic Cough Based on Cluster Analysis and Factor Analysis / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To summarize medication law of prescription and clinical experience on the treatment of chronic cough through data mining technology. Method:The formula information of 650 cases of chronic cough cases diagnosed and treated by professor HAN Ming-xiang was processed with data mining technology, and system cluster analysis and factor analysis were conducted by SPSS Statistics 22.0. Result:High-frequency medicines of professor HAN Ming-xiang for treating chronic cough were Stemonae Radix, Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, Asteris Radix et Rhizoma and other 37 herbs, their frequency of occurrence accounted for 80.52%. According to the efficacy, the medicines could be classified into 10 categories, such as expectorant cough antiasthmatic drugs, tonifying deficiency drugs, and diaphoretic drugs. Cluster analysis showed 5 combinations of drugs. Factor analysis yielded 13 common factors, such as Stemonae Radix-Asteris Radix et Rhizoma-Farfarae Flos-Cynanchi Stauntonii Rhizoma et Radix, Asari Radix et Rhizoma-Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus-Zingiberis Rhizoma-Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus. Conclusion:Combined with clinical experience, it can be concluded that clinical treatment of professor HAN Ming-xiang for chronic cough attaches great importance to the pathogenesis of wind-evil, Yang deficiency and cold phlegm underlying lung, phlegm and blood stasis and Qi stagnation. The treatment mainly starts from the lung and spleen, with the method of warm and moist, or with some traditional Chinese medicines with the function of removing phlegm by warming the lung, dispersing cold by thinning the surface, strengthening the spleen and resolving phlegm, strengthening the lung and fixing the surface, and relieving spasmolysis by wind.

Effect of warm joint needling plus rehabilitation on the balance function and quality of life of patients with spastic hemiplegia after ischemic cerebral stroke / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective:To observe the effect of warm joint needling plus rehabilitation techniques on the balance function and quality of life (QOL) of patients with spastic hemiplegia after ischemic cerebral stroke.Methods:Ninety patients with spastic hemiplegia after ischemic cerebral stroke were randomized into a rehabilitation group,a warm joint needling group and an observation group,with 30 cases in each group.The rehabilitation group was intervened by Bobath therapy,the warm joint needling group was treated with joint needling on the affected side plus warm needling,and the observation group was given the same rehabilitation treatment as the rehabilitation group together with the same warm joint needling as the warm joint needling group.The three groups were treated once another day,1 month as a treatment course for 6 months.Before the treatment,and respectively after 2-week,1-month,3-month,and 6-month treatment,the modified Ashworth scale (MAS) was used to measure the anti-spasm ability of the lower limb,the Berg balance scale (BBS) was adopted to evaluate the balance function,and the stroke-specific quality of life scale (SS-QOL)was employed to estimate the QOL.Results:After 3-month and 6-month treatment,the lower-limb MAS scores in the observation group were significantly better than those in the rehabilitation group and the warm joint needling group (all P＜0.05).After 1-month,3-month and 6-month treatment,the BBS scores in the observation group were significantly better than those in the rehabilitation group and the warm joint needling group (all P＜0.05).After 2-week,1-month,3-month and 6-month treatment,the SS-QOL scores in the observation group were markedly better than those in the rehabilitation group and the warm joint needling group (all P＜0.05).Conclusion:Warm joint needling plus rehabilitation can effectively improve the lower-limb spasticity state,balance function and QOL in patients with spastic hemiplegia after ischemic cerebral stroke.

Green tea and the risk of prostate cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Prostate cancer (PCa) now remains the 2nd most frequently diagnosed cancer. In recent years, chemoprevention for PCa becomes a possible concept. Especially, many phytochemicals rich foods are suggested to lower the risk of cancer. Among these foods, green tea is considered as effective prevention for various cancers. However, clinical trials and previous meta-analyses on the relationship between green tea consumption and the risk of PCa have produced inconsistent outcomes. This study aims to determine the dose-response association of green tea intake with PCa risk and the preventive effect of green tea catechins on PCa risk. Seven observational studies and 3 randomized controlled trials were retrieved from Cochrane Library, PubMed, Sciencedirect Online, and hand searching. The STATA (version 12.0) was applied to analyze the data. The relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals were pooled by fixed or random effect modeling. Dose-response relations were evaluated with categories of green tea intake. Although there was no statistical significance in the comparison of the highest versus lowest category, there was a trend of reduced incidence of PCa with each 1 cup/day increase of green tea (P = 0.08). Our dose-response meta-analysis further demonstrated that higher green tea consumption was linearly associated with a reduced risk of PCa with more than 7 cups/day. In addition, green tea catechins were effective for preventing PCa with an RR of 0.38 (P = 0.02). In conclusion, our dose-response meta-analysis evaluated the association of green tea intake with PCa risk systematically and quantitatively. And this is the first meta-analysis of green tea catechins consumption and PCa incidence. Our novel data demonstrated that higher green tea consumption was linearly reduced PCa risk with more than 7 cups/day and green tea catechins were effective for preventing PCa. However, further studies are required to substantiate these conclusions.

The impact of surgical treatments for lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic hyperplasia on male erectile function: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)/benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is common in adult men and can impair erectile function (EF). It was believed surgical treatments for this illness can improve EF due to the relief of LUTS while they were also reported harmed EF as heating or injury effect. Current network meta-analysis aimed to elucidate this discrepancy.Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified. Direct comparisons were conducted by STATA and network meta-analysis was conducted by Generate Mixed Treatment Comparison. Random-effects models were used to calculate pooled standard mean difference and 95% confidence intervals and to incorporate variation between studies.Eighteen RCTs with 2433 participants were analyzed. Nine approaches were studied as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), plasmakinetic resection of the prostate (PKRP), plasmakinetic enucleation of the prostate (PKEP), Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), Holmium laser resection of the prostate (HoLRP), photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP), Thulium laser, open prostatectomy (OP), and laparoscopic simple prostatectomy (LSP). In direct comparisons, all surgical treatments did not decrease postoperative International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-5 score except PVP. Moreover, patients who underwent HoLEP, PKEP, Thulium laser, and TURP had their postoperative EF significantly increased. Network analysis including direct and indirect comparisons ranked LSP at the highest position on the variation of postoperative IIEF-5 score, followed by PKRP, HoLEP, TURP, Thulium laser, PKEP, PVP, HoLRP, and OP. In subgroup analysis, only PVP was found lower postoperative EF in the short term and decreased baseline group, whereas TURP increased postoperative IIEF-5 score only for patients with normal baseline EF. However, HoLEP and PKEP showed pro-erectile effect even for patients with decreased baseline EF and short-term follow-up. Our novel data demonstrating surgical treatments for LUTS/BPH showed no negative impact on postoperative EF except PVP. Moreover, HoLEP and PKEP were found pro-erectile effect for all subgroups. New technologies, such as LSP, PKRP, and Thulium laser, were ranked at top positions in the network analysis, although they had no pro-erectile effect in direct comparison due to limited original studies or poor baseline EF. Therefore, further studies and longer follow-up are required to substantiate our findings.

Review and analysis on the meridian research of China over the past sixty years / 中国结合医学杂志

The meridian research situation and various meridian hypotheses of China in the past sixty years between 1950 and 2013 are summarized in the paper; possible existed problems in the process of current meridian research are analyzed. Based on previous research results, we proposed that the essence of meridian can not be explained by the reductive analysis method, meridian research should be carried out under the guidance of overall concept of Chinese medicine theory. In this paper, combined with coherence theory of biophoton, we put forward the quantum interference hypothesis of meridian, which provides a possible research idea for meridian study.

Program optimization in the stage treatment of periarthritis of shoulder with acupuncture, moxibustion and positive functional exercise / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To optimize the therapeutic programs for periarthritis of shoulder treated with acupuncture, moxibustion and kinetohterapy with orthogonal design method adopted.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The orthogonal design table of L8 (2(7)) hierarchical principle was used to randomly divide 192 patients of periarthritis of shoulder into 8 groups, 24 cases in each one. Separately, 4 factors and each different 2 levels were adopted in treatment, named acupuncture timing (factor A: A, acute stage, A2 adhesion stage), acupoint combination (factor B: B, local acupoints, B2 local acupoints and distal acupoints along meridians), filiform needling and warm needling therapy (factor C: C1 acupuncture with filiform needle, CZ acupuncture with filiform needle and warm needling therapy) and positive functional exercise (factor D: D1 without positive functional exercise, D2 with positive functional exercise). The treatment was given once a day, 10 treatments made one session and 2 sessions were required totally. The time points of observation were the point after 1 session of treatment and after 2 sessions of treatment. The short-form McGill pain questionnaire (MPQ) and shoulder joint motor disturbance score were adopted for evaluation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the orthogonal design analysis, taking the hierarchical factors into consideration, the age was considered as the main factor in the evaluation of shoulder pain and shoulder motor disturbance (P<0.01), and the shoulder function grade apparently impacted pain evaluation and the efficacy on shoulder motor disturbance (P<0.01). The best combination of 4 factors and 2 levels were A1B1CzD2 and A2BC2D2. SAS statistical analysis showed that at acute stage and adhesion stage, CZ Dz , meaning acupuncture with fifiform needling and warm needling therapy combined with positive functional exercise, is the main factor of the improvements of shoulder motor function (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>For periarthritis of shoulder at acute stage, the combined therapy of acupuncture at local acupoints, warm needling and positive functional exercise is adopted. At chronic stage, the combined therapy of acupuncture at local acupoints and distal acupoints, acupuncture with filiform needle and warm needling and positive functional exercise is the best program. Additionally, in clinical treatment, the patients' age, sex, shoulder joint function and duration of treatment should be considered comprehensively for the impacts on the efficacy.</p>

Effects of ginseng and ligusticum drug containing serum on the ERK pathway, proliferation, and vitality of neural stem cells undergoing oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation culture / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of ginseng and Ligustrazine drug containing serum on the proliferation, vitality, and extracellular-signal-responsive kinase (ERK) pathway in neural stem cells undergoing in vitro oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation culture.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The cultured neural stem cells were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e., the normal control group (Group A), the oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation group (Group B), the oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation +ginseng serum group (Group C), the oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation + Ligustrazine serum group (Group D), and oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation +ginseng and Ligustrazine drug serum group (Group E).The protein expression levels of ERK and phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK) were observed using immunoblotting. The proliferation of neural stem cells was observed using 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assay. The vitality of neural stem cells was detected using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) colorimetry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The p-ERK level increased transiently at 10 min and 30 min after reoxygenation, but it decreased to the normal level at 4 h, 6 h, and 1 day, respectively. Compared with Group B, the p-ERK level at 6 h after reoxygenation could be elevated in Group C, D, and E. The proliferation and the vitality of neural stem cells at 1 day after reoxygenation could be enhanced. Furthermore, the effects of combination of ginseng and Ligusticum were better than those of using ginseng or Ligusticum alone.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Combination of ginseng and Ligusticum could promote the proliferation and vitality of rats' neural stem cells undergoing oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation culture through ERK signal pathway. Its effects was better than that of using ginseng or Ligusticum alone.</p>

Effect of traditional and integrative regimens on quality of life and early renal impairment in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Chinese medical regimen and integrative medical regimen on quality of life and early renal impairment in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension (EISH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A multi-center, randomized, double-blinded controlled trail was adopted. A total of 270 cases of EISH were randomly divided into 3 groups: Chinese medicine group (CM), combination group and Western medicine group (WM). The course of treatment was 4 weeks. The clinical blood pressure, integral of quality of life (SF-36 scale), immunoglubin G (IgG), microalbumin (mALB), beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)-MG), transferrin (TRF) and N-acetyl-beta'-D-glucosa-minidase (NAG) in urine were determined before and after the treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, systolic blood pressure depressed significantly in each group (P<0.05), and the combination group was superior to CM or WM group in depressing SBP (P<0.05); in each group, integral of quality of life improved in different degree, and combination group was superior to WM group in all 8 dimensions (P<0.05). The level of mALB and beta(2)-MG in urine decreased in all groups (P<0.05), and the combination group was superior to CM group or WM group in decreasing mALB (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Chinese medical regimen has affirmative effect in treating EISH patients, and could lower the systolic blood pressure, improve quality of life and early renal impairment of the patients, and integrative medical regimen has superiority on account of cooperation, and deserves further study.</p>

Effect of an integrative medical regimen on levels of vascular endothelial function and hypersensitive C-reactive protein in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of a integrative medical regimen (IMR), i.e. combined use of Jiangya Capsule (JYC) and Nimodipine (ND), on blood pressure, TCM clinical symptoms, and blood levels of vascular endothelial function and hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension (EISH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Adopting randomized, double-blinded and controlled principle, a trial was conducted on 135 patients with EISH by randomized them into three groups, they were administered IMR (Group A), JYC plus ND simulator (Group B) and ND plus JYC simulator (Group C) respectively, for 4 weeks. Changes of blood pressure and TCM symptoms, as well as the levels of serum nitric oxide (NO), plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1), 6-keto-prostaglandin 1alpha (6-keto-PGF(1alpha)), thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and hs-CRP were observed before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment the systolic blood pressure reduced and clinical symptoms improved, with serum NO and 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) lelels elevated, plasma ET-1, TXB2 and serum hs-CRP decreased in all the three groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01). But the inter-group comparisons showed that the effect in Group A was superior to the other two groups in decreasing systolic pressure, and superior to Group C in improving clinical symptoms, elevating serum NO and decreasing plasma TXB2 (P <0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The integrative medical regimen of combined use JYC and ND has markedly effect in lowering blood pressure, it could obviously improve the symptoms and vascular endothelial function, and inhibit the level of inflammatory factor in patients with EISH.</p>

Effects of heavenly stem-prescription of point selection of needling methods of Ziwu Liuzhu on ischemic cerebrovascular diseases / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe effects of heavenly stem-prescription of point selection of the needling methods of midnight-noon ebb-flow on motorial and neurological functional deficit of ischemic cerebrovascular diseases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The patients were randomly divided into a Ziwu Liuzhu group and a channel acupoint selection group. In the channel acupoint selection group, Jianyu (LI 15), Quchi (LI 11), Waiguan (TE 5), Zusanli (ST 36) were selected, combined with selected acupoints by syndrome differentiation. In the Ziwu Liuzhu group, on the basis of the channel acupoint selection group, according to the principle "the acupoints of the yang-channel were opened at yang-day-yang-hour and the acupoints of the yin-channel were opened at yin-day-yin-hour", and acupoints were selected by the day-hour acupoint-opening method of the Ziwu Liuzhu Najia method in Zhenjiu Daquan. The patients in the both groups began to be treated at the Chen hour (7:00-9:00) or Si hour (9:00-11:00) in the morning, 10 times constituting one course. They were treated for 3 courses. Improvement of the motor function symptom cumulative score, Fugl-Meyer (FMA) and improvement of neurological functional deficit were investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The FMA score (36.13 +/- 21.80) after treatment was significantly lower than (73.50 +/- 21.53) before treatment (P<0.01) in the Ziwu Liuzhu group, and (54.43 +/- 20.89) after treatment was significantly lower than (62.27 +/- 22.91) before treatment (P<0.05) in the channel acupoint selection group; the neurological functional deficit score (15.40 +/- 9.34) after treatment was significantly lower than (27.17 +/- 10.81) before treatment in the Ziwu Liuzhu group, and (23.97 +/- 1.30) was lower than (27.97 +/- 7.72) before treatment in the channel acupoint selection group. After treatment, FMA and the neurological functional scores significantly improved in the Ziwu Liuzhu group as compared with those in the channel acupoint selection group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ziwu Liuzhu Najia point-selection method can effectively improve both nervous function and motor function in the patient of ischemic cerebrovascular disease.</p>

Comparative study on effects of three traditional Chinese medicinal compounds on energy metabolism related enzymes in cerebral tissue of rats after focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the effects of three traditional Chinese medicinal compounds on energy metabolism related enzymes in cerebral tissue of rats after focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (I/R).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The local cerebral I/R model was established by ligation of the middle cerebral arteries (MCA). The animals were divided into the sham-operative group, the model group, the Yiqi Huoxue Recipe (YHR) group, the Zhengan Xifeng Decoction (ZXD) group and the Xinglou Chengqi Decoction (XCD) group. The mitochondria in brain tissue was obtained by density-centrifugation and differential centrifugation, then the activities of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), Na+ -K+ -ATPase, creatine kinase-BB (CK-BB) in homogenate of brain tissue were measured by chemical chromometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Activities of SDH and Na+-K+ -ATPase were lower and that of CK-BB was higher in the model group than those in the sham -operative group at all time points after I/R (P< 0.01). Compared with those in the model group, activity of Na+ -K+ -ATPase was higher only in the ZXD group at 24 h after I/R, while at 48 h and 72 h after I/R, activities of both SDH and Na+ -K+ -ATPase were higher in all the treatment groups. As for the activity of CK-BB, it was lower in all the treatment groups (P < 0.05). The optimal effect was shown in the ZXD group at 24 h, in the XCD group at 48 h, and in the YHR group at 72 h after I/R.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The three traditional Chinese medicinal compounds could reduce pathologic injury after focal cerebral I/R in rats by promoting activity of SDH and Na+ -K+ -ATPase and inhibiting that of CK-BB, the optimal effect of ZXD was shown at 24 h after I/R, that of XCD at 48 h after I/R and of YHR at 72 h after I/R.</p>

Study on establishment of Alzheimer's disease animal model and intervening effect of zhinao capsule on it / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish an experimental animal model of Alzheimer's disease (AD) with clinical and pathological specificity conformed to AD in human, and to observe the effect of Zhinao Capsule (ZNC) on learning, memory and patho-morphological parameters in the model.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The experimental AD model of rats was improved and established by combined injection of beta-amyloid protein (beta-AP) to lateral ventricle and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) to brain. The learning and memory function of the model rats were tested by step-through test and water-maze test, and the number and cross area of beta-AP deposited macula in cerebral cortex and CA1 region of hippocampus were estimated quantitatively using immunohistochemical method and image pattern analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The improved AD animal model showed both the specificity of behavior (learning and memory impairments) and the typical pathological specificity (beta-AP deposited macula). ZNC could effectively improve the impairment of learning and memory and reduce the number and cross area of beta-AP deposited macula in cerebral cortex and hippocampus CA1 region in the AD model rats.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The AD rat model induced by the combined injection of beta-AP and TGF beta 1 is a good animal model simulated to the clinical reality, which could be used to screen and evaluate the anti-dementia agents. ZNC could display anti-dementia effect of the AD model rats.</p>

Effect of si' an capsule combined enalapril on hypertensive trough/peak ratio and circadian rhythm of blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Si' an Capsule combined Enalapril on hypertensive trough/peak ratio (T/P) and circadian rhythm of blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension (EH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty patients with EH of stage II, III were randomly divided into two groups, the 30 patients in the treated group were treated with Si' an capsule combined Enalapril, and the 30 patients in the control group were treated with Enalapril alone. All patients were given 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring before and after 4 weeks treatment. T/P of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP & DBP) of each group were calculated. Circadian rhythm of blood pressure was observed at the same time.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>T/P of SBP and DBP in the treated group was 62.4 +/- 7.0% and 66.3 +/- 8.1% respectively, which was obviously higher than that in the control group, 53.3 +/- 6.7% and 60.1 +/- 7.2%, respectively (P < 0.05). The blood pressure circadian rhythm recovering rate in the treated group was 73.3% and in the control group 50%, the difference was insignificant.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The combination therapy of Si' an capsule and Enalapril could lower the blood pressure smoothly and restore the circadian rhythm of blood pressure in EH patients.</p>