Relationship between nutrient-related dietary pattern and mild cognitive impairment in middle-aged and elderly people in 15 provinces of China / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To explore the relationship between nutrient-related dietary pattern and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in middle-aged and elderly people. Methods: A total of 6 444 middle-aged and elderly people aged ≥55 years were selected in 2018 China Health and Nutrition Survey. MCI was evaluated by Mini-Mental State Examination, and the intakes of various foods were obtained by consecutive 3-day 24-hour dietary survey and weighing method. The intakes of various nutrients and total dietary energy were calculated based on the food composition table. Demographic and social information, lifestyle and health status of the respondents were obtained through questionnaire survey and physical measurements. In this study, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, iron, copper and selenium were selected as dependent variables. Nutrient-related dietary patterns were extracted by reduced rank regression method, and the relationship between dietary patterns and MCI was analyzed by multivariate logistic regression model. Results: Six dietary patterns were extracted in this study, and dietary pattern 1 with the highest explanatory degree was selected for subsequent analysis. Dietary pattern 1 was characterized by higher intakes of legume products, vegetables, fruits, nuts, pork, aquatic products and plant oil. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of MCI was lower in Q4 dietary score group than in Q1 dietary score group (OR=0.69, 95%CI: 0.49-0.98) in the 55-64 age group. In people with sleep duration of 8 hours per day, the risk of MCI was reduced in Q2, Q3 and Q4 dietary score groups compared with the Q1 dietary score group, with OR values of 0.68 (95%CI: 0.51-0.92), 0.67 (95%CI: 0.49-0.92) and 0.65 (95%CI: 0.45-0.92), respectively. Interaction analysis showed that the risk for MCI increased in those aged 65-74 years and ≥75 years compared with those aged 55-64 years in Q1 dietary score group. However, the risk for MCI decreased in both age groups as dietary pattern scores increased. Compared with those with sleep duration less or more than 8 hours per day in Q1 dietary score group, those with sleep duration of 8 hours per day in Q2 and Q3 dietary score groups had a reduced risk for MCI. Conclusion: Dietary patterns with higher intakes of legume products, vegetables, fruits, nuts, pork, aquatic products, and plant oil are negatively associated with MCI in people aged 55-64 years and those who slept 8 hours per day, and may reduce the risk of MCI with aging.

Combined use of Shenmen (HT 7) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) to improve the anxiety and depression in patients with insomnia: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at Shenmen (HT 7) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) on anxiety and depression in patients with insomnia, and to explore the mechanism of its compatibility effect.@*METHODS@#Ninety patients of insomnia were randomly divided into a combination group, a Shenmen group and a Sanyinjiao group, 30 cases in each group. In addition, 37 cases with anxiety (12 cases in the combination group, 13 cases in the Shenmen group and 12 cases in the Sanyinjiao group) and 42 cases with depression (14 cases in the combination group, 14 cases in the Shenmen group and 14 cases in the Sanyinjiao group) were identified. The patients in the combination group, Shenmen group and Sanyinjiao group were treated with EA (dilatational wave, frequency of 5 Hz/25 Hz) at Shenmen (HT 7)-Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Shenmen (HT 7) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6), respectively, 30 min each treatment, once a day. The consecutive 5 days of treatments were taken as a course of treatment, and 2 courses of treatment were given. The insomnia severity index (ISI), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) scores were evaluated before and after treatment, and the serum contents of dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) were measured.@*RESULTS@#Compared before treatment, the ISI, SAS and SDS scores in the three groups were all decreased after treatment (P<0.05), and the ISI score in the combination group was lower than that in the Shenmen group (P<0.05). Among the patients with anxiety, compared before treatment, the ISI, SAS scores and serum contents of DA were all decreased after treatment in the three groups (P<0.05), and the serum contents of NE in the combination group and Shenmen group were decreased after treatment (P<0.05); the SAS score and serum contents of NE in the combination group and Shenmen group as well as the ISI score in the combination group were lower than those in the Sanyinjiao group (P<0.05). Among the patients with depression, compared before treatment, the ISI, SDS scores and serum contents of DA were all decreased after treatment in the three groups (P<0.05), and the serum contents of NE in the combination group and Shenmen group were decreased after treatment (P<0.05); the ISI, SDS scores and serum contents of NE in the combination group as well as SDS score in the Shenmen group were lower than those in the Sanyinjiao group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#EA at Shenmen (HT 7) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) has advantages over EA at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) on improving insomnia, anxiety and depression. Shenmen (HT 7) plays a major role in improving anxiety and depression. Shenmen (HT 7) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) may play a compatibility effect of regulating consciousness and sleeping by reducing the level of serum NE.

Dahuang Zhechong pills inhibit liver cancer growth in a mouse model by reversing Treg/Th1 balance / 中国天然药物

The infiltration of immune cells into the hepatocellular carcinoma microenvironment is the main reason why hepatocellular carcinoma patients are prone to carcinoma recurrence and the disease are incurable. Notably, the infiltration of Treg cells is the main trigger. Dahuang Zhechong pill (DHZCP) is a traditional Chinese herbal compound successful in the treatment of hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma. DHZCP can heal and nourish while slowing the onset of the disease, thereby strengthening the body's immune function. It can localize tumors and ultimately achieve the goal of eliminating tumors. In this study, an orthotopic liver cancer model of mice was used to explore the mechanism of DHZCP enhancing anti-tumor immunity, which showed more Th1 cells in the peripheral blood and spleen after DHZCP treatment, while more IFN-γ was secreted to activate CD8+ T cells and Treg cell production was inhibited, thereby suppressing the growth of HCC. Finally, we also analyzed the potential components of DHZCP from the perspective of modern targets using network pharmacology methods and experimental results.

Intelligent Molybdenum Disulfide Complexes as a Platform for Cooperative Imaging-Guided Tri-Mode Chemo-Photothermo-Immunotherapy.

Design of new nanoplatforms that integrates multiple imaging and therapeutic components for precision cancer nanomedicine remains to be challenging. Here, a facile strategy is reported to prepare polydopamine (PDA)-coated molybdenum disulfide (MoS2 ) nanoflakes as a nanocarrier to load dual drug cisplatin (Pt) and 1-methyl-tryptophan (1-MT) for precision tumor theranostics. Preformed MoS2 nanoflakes are coated with PDA, modified with methoxy-polyethylene glycol (PEG)-amine, and loaded with 1-MT and Pt. The formed functional 1-MT-Pt-PPDA@MoS2 (the second P stands for PEG) complexes exhibit good colloidal stability and photothermal conversion efficiency (47.9%), dual pH-, and photothermal-sensitive drug release profile, and multimodal thermal, computed tomography and photoacoustic imaging capability. Due to the respective components of Pt, MoS2 , and 1-MT that can block the immune checkpoint associated to tumoral indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-induced tryptophan metabolism, tri-mode chemo-photothermo-immunotherapy of tumors can be realized. In particular, under the near infrared laser irradiation, fast release of both drugs can be facilitated to achieve cooperative tumor therapy effect, and the combined immunogenic cell death induced by the dual-mode chemo-photothermo treatment and the 1-MT-induced immune checkpoint blockade can boost enhanced antitumor immune response to generate significant cytotoxic T cells for tumor killing. The developed 1-MT-Pt-PPDA@MoS2 complexes may be used as an intelligent nanoplatform for cooperative precision imaging-guided combinational tumor therapy.

Antifouling Dendrimer-Entrapped Copper Sulfide Nanoparticles Enable Photoacoustic Imaging-Guided Targeted Combination Therapy of Tumors and Tumor Metastasis.

The development of functional intelligent theranostic nanoplatform for imaging-directed synchronous inhibition of primary tumor and tumor metastasis is still a challenging task. We present here the creation of functional dendrimer-entrapped CuS nanoparticles (CuS DENPs) complexed with plasmid DNA-encoding hypermethylation in cancer 1 (pDNA-HIC1) for photoacoustic (PA) imaging-directed simultaneous inhibition of tumors and tumor metastasis. Poly(amidoamine) dendrimers of generation 5 were covalently attached with 1,3-propane sultone and arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) peptide through a spacer of poly(ethylene glycol) and adopted for the templated synthesis of CuS NPs. The prepared functional RGD-CuS DENPs possess a mean CuS core diameter of 4.2 nm, good colloidal stability, and an excellent absorption feature in the second near-infrared window, thus having a photothermal conversion efficiency of 49.8% and an outstanding PA imaging capability. The functional DENPs can effectively deliver pDNA-HIC1 to prevent cancer cell invasion and metastasis in a serum-enhancing manner by virtue of zwitterionic modification-rendered antifouling property. The developed RGD-CuS DENPs/pDNA polyplexes display αvß3 integrin-targeted enhanced anticancer activity through the combined CuS NP-mediated photothermal therapy (PTT) and pDNA delivery-rendered cancer cell metastasis inhibition. This can also be proven by the therapeutic efficacy of a triple-negative breast cancer model in vivo, where inhibition of both the primary subcutaneous tumor and lung metastasis can be realized. The created dendrimer-CuS hybrid nanoplatform represents one of the updated designs of nanomedicine for PA imaging-directed combination PTT/gene therapy of tumors and tumor metastasis.

The Study of Yin-Chen-Hao-Tang Preventing and Treating Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease through PPAR Signaling Pathway Based on Network Pharmacology and RNA-Seq Transcriptomics.

BACKGROUND: Alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD) is the first stage of the alcoholic liver disease course. Yin-Chen-Hao-Tang (YCHT) has a good clinical effect on the treatment of AFLD, but its molecular mechanism has not been elucidated. In this study, we tried to explore the molecular mechanism of YCHT in improving hepatocyte steatosis in AFLD mice through network pharmacology and RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) transcriptomics. METHODS: Network pharmacological methods were used to analyze the potential therapeutic signaling pathways and targets of YCHT on AFLD. Then, the AFLD mice model was induced and YCHT was administered concurrently. Liver injury was measured by serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and liver tissue H&E staining, and liver steatosis was determined by serum triglyceride (TG) level and liver tissue Oil Red staining. The molecular mechanism of YCHT on prevention and treatment of mice AFLD was investigated according to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis of the differential expression genes data obtained by liver tissue RNA-Seq. Finally, ethanol-induced AFLD AML12 hepatocyte model was established, YCHT with or without PPARα agonist pemafibrate or PPARγ inhibitor GW9662 was administered, Nile Red fluorescent staining was used to evaluate steatosis levels in AML12 hepatocytes, and qRT-PCR was used to detect PPARα and PPARγ gene expression. RESULTS: The results of network pharmacology analysis showed that YCHT may exert its pharmacological effect on AFLD through 312 potential targets which are involved in many signaling pathways including the PPAR signaling pathway. AFLD mice experiments results showed that YCHT markedly decreased mice serum ALT activity and serum TG levels. YCHT also significantly improved alcohol-induced hepatic injury and steatosis in mice livers. Furthermore, KEGG pathway enrichment results of RNA-Seq showed that the PPAR signaling pathway should be the most relevant pathway of YCHT in the prevention and treatment of AFLD. AFLD hepatocyte model experiment results showed that YCHT could remarkably reduce hepatocyte steatosis through reducing PPARγ expression and increasing PPARα expression. CONCLUSIONS: Our study discovered that PPARγ and PPARα are the key targets and the PPAR signaling pathway is the main signaling pathway for YCHT to prevent and treat AFLD.

New effect of G-protein coupled receptors on blood pressure regulation / 中国中药杂志

Hypertension is a clinical syndrome characterized by elevated systemic arterial blood pressure, which may be accompanied by functional or organic damage of heart, brain, kidney and other organs. The pathogenesis and development of hypertension are affected by genetic, environmental, epigenetic, intestinal microbiota and other factors. They are the result of multiple factors that promote the change of blood pressure level and vascular resistance. G protein coupled receptors(GPCRs) are the largest and most diverse superfamily of transmembrane receptors that transmit signals across cell membranes and mediate a large number of cellular responses required by human physiology. A variety of GPCRs are involved in the control of blood pressure and the maintenance of normal function of cardiovascular system. Hypertension contributes to the damages of heart, brain, kidney, intestine and other organs. Many GPCRs are expressed in various organs to regulate blood pressure. Although many GPCRs have been used as therapeutic targets for hypertension, their efficacy has not been fully studied. The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the role of GPCRs in blood pressure regulation and its distribution in target organs. The relationship between GPCRs related to intestinal microorganisms and blood pressure is emphasized. It is proposed that traditional Chinese medicine may be a new way to treat hypertension by regulating the related GPCRs via intestinal microbial metabolites.

Prescription Research and Clinical Application of Yiguanjian / 中国实验方剂学杂志

By systematically sorting out the ancient medical books and modern clinical literature of Yiguanjian， the historical evolution of this formula， including its source， composition， origin， processing， dosage， preparation and usage， functions and indications， evolution of prescription meaning， is textual so as to clarify the historical evolution and clinical application of Yiguanjian. On the basis of fully considering the actual demand of development of famous classical formula preparation and the usage habit of modern clinical practice， the feasible development suggestions were put forward. Yiguanjian is composed of six herbs， which is derived from Yifang Jiedu (《医方絜度》) . It is an ancient book of traditional Chinese medicine edited by QIAN Min-jie in Qing dynasty. The original medicinal plants and medicinal parts of the formula were basically the same as those recorded in the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The raw products should be selected for decoction pieces and processed according to the methods recorded in the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The reference dose of the medicine in this formula is set out in Yifang Jiedu. According to dosage of one Qian（钱）=3.73 g， the dosages of Glehniae Radix， Ophiopogonis Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix were 5.60 g， the dosages of Lycii Fructus and Rehmanniae Radix were 11.19 g， the dosage of Toosendan Fructus was 7.46 g. These decoction pieces were boiled and warm decoction was taken. According to ancient medical records， the formula always has the effect of nourishing Yin and relieving Qi of liver. It is used to treat syndrome of stagnation of liver-Qi and deficiency of liver-Yin and kidney-Yin， which can be seen with pain in chest， stomach and flank， acerbity and vomiting， dry throat and mouth， red tongue， weak pulse or deficiency of string and hernia. Here， the source， processing and others of Yiguanjian were clarified， providing a literature reference for the development and application of this famous classical formula.

[Therapeutic effect of acupoint injection as adjuvant treatment on dry eyes of convalescent herpes simplex keratitis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effect of acupoint injection of houttuynia cordata as the accessory treatment on dry eyes of convalescent herpes simplex keratitis (HSK). METHODS: A total of 60 patients with dry eyes of convalescent HSK were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. In the control group, the artificial tears and anti-inflammatory drugs were combined in treatment. In the observation group, on the base of the treatment as the control group, the acupoint injection of houttuynia cordata at Neiqiuhou (Extra) was combined, 3 mL each time, once a day. After consecutive 3 injections, the injection was adjusted to be once every two days, consecutively for 3 times. The treatment for 6 times was as one course and one course of treatment was required. Separately, before treatment and in 7, 15 and 30 days after treatment, the changes of the scores of visual analogue scale (VAS), theresults of SchirmerⅠtest (SⅠT), the tear break-up time (BUT) and the score of corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) were observed and analyzed in the patients of the two groups. RESULTS: In 7, 15 and 30 days after treatment, VAS scores and CFS scores were all reduced as compared with those before treatment in the patients of the two groups (P<0.05), and the scores of VAS and CFS in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). In 7, 15 and 30 days after treatment, the values of SⅠT and BUT were all increased as compared with those before treatment in the patients of the two groups (P<0.05), and the values in the observation group were higher than the control group in 15 and 30 days after treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupoint injection of houttuynia cordata promotes corneal epithelial recovery, reduces the discomfort symptoms as well as increases tear secretion and the stability of tear film in dry eyes of convalescent herpes simplex keratitis.

Purification, structure characterization and antioxidant activity of polysaccharides from Saposhnikovia divaricata.

Polysaccharide from traditional Chinese herb, Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk. (SD) was extracted, fractionated and characterized in this work. Four fractions were prepared. Their molecular weight, monosaccharide compositions, linkage modes and structural properties were characterized with SEC-MALS-RI, HPAEC-PAD, GC-MS and NMR. SDP1 was assigned as a 1, 4-α-glucan with small amount of O-6 linked branches. SDP2 contained a big amount of the 1, 4-α-glucan and a small amount of arabinogalactan, while SDP3 possessed relatively lower amount of the 1, 4-α-glucan and a big amount of the arabinogalactan. SDP4 was defined as a pectic arabinogalactan. Four fractions showed antioxidant activities in both molecular and cellular levels and their activity was ranked as SDP4 ≈ SDP3>SDP2>SDP1. The 1, 4-α-glucan in SDP1 had the weakest, while SDP3 and SDP4 showed similar and the highest antioxidant activity. The arabinogalactan was the major component of both SDP3 and SDP4, which significantly contributed to the antioxidant activity of SDP.

UFLC-Q-TOF-MS fingerprints of rhizome of Curcuma phaeocaulis and its vinegar processed products and inhibitory effect on thrombosis / 中国中药杂志

Both raw and vinegar products of the rhizome of Curcuma phaeocaulis are common drugs for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis in traditional Chinese medicine,which could be reflected in the inhibition of tail thrombosis in mice. As the traditional processing theory instructs,vinegar tastes sour and bitter,but can activate blood circulation and remove stasis after being infiltrated into the rhizome of C. phaeocaulis as an excipient. In this study,under the help of the ultrafast liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-offlight mass spectrometry( UFLC-Q-TOF-MS),the spectrum-effect relationship between the inhibition of tail thrombosis in mice and the rhizome of C. phaeocaulis both before and after the vinegar processing,were established to explore the functional changes of blood circulation and stasis after vinegar process. Based on the peak area from the fingerprint of UFLC-Q-TOF-MS of the alcohol extracts from the raw and vinegar-processed rhizome of C. phaeocaulis and their efficacy for inhibiting tail thrombosis,the correlation between the chromatography of UFLC-Q-TOF-MS and the inhibition of tail thrombosis in mice were analyzed by orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis( OPLS-DA) method. The results,produced by Simca-P software,showed that effective components consisted of eight peaks 16,24( aromadendrene oxide),3,11,22( dehydro-α-curcumene),19[( R)-(-)-α-curcumene],23 and 10 from the fingerprint,making great contribution to distinguish C. phaeocaulis raw products and the corresponding vinegar processed products. Therefore,from the perspective of inhibiting the formation of tail thrombosis in mice,the marker components could be found through the spectrum-effect relationship to distinguish C.phaeocaulis raw and vinegar products. This study provided new basis to explain the difference between the raw and the processed products of traditional Chinese medicine in the functional change of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis.

Advances in clinical anti-bacteria and cyclodextrin inclusion of volatile oil / 药学实践杂志

The volatile oil from traditional Chinese medicine has been widely used in medicine, food, agriculture and many other fields as its significant antibacterial effect on gram positive bacteria, gram negative bacteria, anaerobic bacteria and fungus.The clinical application is still not popular due to the poor stability.Cyclodextrin is used as the inclusion material to enhance the stability of volatile oil, make the preparation of production more convenient and the bioavailability improved.The literature referred to antibacterial volatile oil and the inclusion technology were summerized in order to provide reference to intensive study, optimize the technology of inclusion and develop more preparations.

Design method of constitution regulating and healthcare foods based on medicinal property combination mode / 中国中药杂志

Currently, the herbal prescription therapy for corresponding constitutional diseases is a common constitution regulating method. This method has an obvious effect in treating and regulating constitution-related diseases. However, for people who do not have disease, they prefer to regulate constitution with dietary therapy. In this paper, the researchers came up with a design method of constitution regulating and healthcare foods based on medicinal property combination mode of clinical empirical formulas. With "Yupinfeng San", a common formula for Qi-insufficiency constitution and specific endowment constitution, as the example for constitution regulating and healthcare foods, the researchers proved the effectiveness and rationality of healthcare food schemes in terms of the efficacy of single herb and the modern pharmacological study.

Study on mechanism for anti-hyperlipidemia efficacy of rhubarb through assistant analysis systems for acting mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine / 中国中药杂志

Rhubarb is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), wildly used in treating the disease of hyperlipidemia. However, its components are complicated, so that it is still difficult to clear the specific roles of its various components in blood lipids regulation in. So we decide to systematically study the anti- hyperlipidemia mechanism of rhubarb. We integrated multiple databases, based on entity grammar systems model, constructed molecular interaction network between the chemical constituents of rhubarb and hyperlipidemia. The network includes 231 nodes and 638 edges. Thus we infer the interactions of active targets and disease targets to clarify the anti-hyperlipidemia mechanism. And find that rhubarb can promote excretion of cholesterol; inhibit clotting factors and improve blood circulation; inhibit the release of inflammatory cytokines and maintain fat metabolism balance; inhibit cholesterol and triglyceride synthesis; and other ways to achieve lipid-lowering effect. Thus this study provides reference for novel drug development and component compatibility, and also gives a new way for the systematically study of acting mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine.

Impact of CCND1 A870G polymorphism on acute adverse events in postoperative rectal cancer patients treated with adjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of CCND1 A870G and acute adverse events (AEs) in postoperative rectal cancer patients who received capecitabine-based postoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four hundred patients with stage II and III rectal cancer received postoperative CRT of capecitabine with or without oxaliplatin were accumulated and prostectively studied in this study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. Two hundred and twenty-eight patients were treated with concurrent capecitabine and radiotherapy (Cap-CRT), and 172 patients were treated with capecitabine and oxaliplatin plus radiotherapy (Cap-Oxa-CRT). Adverse events were graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, v. 3.0 (CTCAE v3.0). The genotype of CCND1 A870G in the patients was detected by polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. The associations between the SNP and acute AEs were indicated by odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), which were computed with logistic regression model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 136 patients presented severe AEs. Among them the frequencies of the three genotypes GG, GA and AA were 16.9%, 50.7% and 32.4%, compared with 24.6%, 48.1% and 27.3%, respectively, among the patients without severe AEs. Diarrhea was the most common AE, and severe diarrhea occurred in 109 patients. The frequencies of the three genotypes GG, GA and AA were 15.6%, 47.7% and 36.7% among these patients, compared with 24.4%, 49.5% and 26.1%, respectively, among patients without severe diarrhea. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a 1.66-fold increased risk for severe diarrhea in patients with AA genotype (95%CI 1.03 - 2.67, P = 0.038) compared with the cases with GG or GA genotypes. Stratified analysis showed that in the Cap-Oxa-CRT group, patients with AA genotype showed a 2.34-fold increased risk for severe diarrhea (95%CI 1.16 - 4.76, P = 0.018) compared with those with GG or GA genotypes, but in the Cap-CRT group, the SNP was not associated with the risk of severe diarrhea.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The genetic polymorphism of CCND1 A870G might be a potential biomarker for predicting acute AEs in postoperative stage II and III rectal cancer patients treated with adjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy of capecitabine and oxaliplatin.</p>

Effect of Shengmaisan on learning and memory abilities and hippocampal nitric oxide synthase expression and neuronal apoptosis in rats with vascular dementia / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Shengmaisan on the learning and memory abilities and the expression of nitric oxide synthase and neuron apoptosis in the hippocampus of rats with vascular dementia (VD), and explore the mechanism of Shengmaisan for treatment of VD.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Wistar rats were divided randomly in to normal control group, sham-operated group, VD model group, high-dose Shengmaisan group, low-dose Shengmaisan group, and nimodipine group. In the latter 4 groups, bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) was performed to establish rat models of VD followed by intragastric administration of Shengmaisan at 10 or 30 g.kg(-1).day(-1) or nimodipine at 20 g.kg(-1).day(-1) accordingly. The rats in the control, sham-operated and model groups were given saline in the same manner. The improvement of learning and memory abilities of the rats was assessed using Morris water maze test, and NOS activity and neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampus were determined after the treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The learning and memory ability and hippocampal NOS activity and neuronal apoptosis in low-dose Shengmaisan group and nimodipine group were significantly different from those in the VD model group (P<0.01), but no significant differences were found between high-dose Shengmaisan group and nimodipine group (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Shengmaisan can significantly improve the learning and memory abilities of VD rats but may not be able to totally reverse the damage. The therapeutic effect of Shengmaisan might be related to its effect in decreasing NOS activity and inhibiting neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampus.</p>

Study on fMRI brain map in patients undergoing needling at Zusanli (ST36) by reinforcing method / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the characteristic of the fMRI brain map in patients undergoing needling at Zusanli (ST36) by reinforcing method for exploring the essence of Meridian-Collaterals and the mechanisms of acupuncture in treating diseases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-six healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to two groups by double blinded method, 16 in the acupoint group and 10 in the non-acupoint group. Using GE Signa 1. 5 T superconducting MRI system, the fMRI was performed with Gradient echo-EPI sequence. Post-processing of fMRI data was performed using the Functool software (GE-ADW4.0) to generate positive correlation coefficient brain functional activating images and the data was analyzed statistically using SPSS 13.0 software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Brain functional area was elicited in 13 out of the 15 patients in the acupoint group and 10 in the non-acupoint group. Among them, the temporal elicited area in the acupoint group showed specificity (Fisher's Exact test, P = 0.022) and only the difference in contralateral hemisphere activation rate was of statistical significance (McNemer test, P = 0.020).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupoints has its own specific brain activated areas. The therapeutic effect of acupoint might be mediated through brain to treat diseases and regulate functional disorder of organs. There exists special transmission channel of meridian.</p>

[Antagonistic effects of vitamin E on the testicular injury by cyclophosphamide in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the protective effects of vitamin E on the testicular injury by cyclophosphamide in mice, and the correlative mechanism. METHODS: Fifty sexually mature male mice were randomly divided into five groups: the cyclophosphamide group (the CP group), the low-dose vitamin E group (the low-dose group), the middle-dose vitamin E group (the middle-dose group), the high-dose vitamin E group (the high-dose group), the matched control group (the control group). The first four groups were given cyclophosphamide by gavage at a dose of 5 mg/(kg x d). The low-dose group, the middle-dose group and the high-dose group were given vitamin E by subcutaneous injection at doses of 30 mg/(kg x d), 50 mg/(kg x d) , 70 mg/(kg x d) after 4 h of cyclophosphamide treatment. The control group was gavaged with equivalent normal saline. The treatment period for all groups was 28 days. The level of plasma FSH, LH, T and the activity of testicular SOD, GSHPx, CAT and the level of testicular MDA were detected. The histological structure and the ultrastructure of the testis were examined by light microscope and electron microscope. RESULTS: As compared with the CP group, the plasma FSH, LH, T level and the SOD, GSHPx, CAT activity in the middle-dose group and the high-dose group were higher (P< 0.05, P< 0.01), MDA level significantly lower(P<0.01). The histological structure and the ultrastructure of the testis were in the normal range. CONCLUSION: Vitamin E has protective effects on the testicular injury by cyclophosphamide in mice. The possible mechanism of vitamin E may be its scavenging free radical and antioxidant effects, as well as it may have some stimulatory effects on gonadotrophin releasing of pituitary anterior lobe.

Studies on chemical constituents in roots of Euphorbia soongarica / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the chemical constituents of the roots of Euphorbia soongarica (Xinjiang origin).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Compounds were isolated and purified by repeated normal column chromatography, preparative thin layer chromatography and Sephadex LH - 20 chromatography. The chemical structures were elucidated by NMR and MS spectra.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Ten chemical constituents were isolated from the n-BuOH fraction and identified as ellagic acid (1) , 3, 3'-di-O-methylellagic acid (2) , 3, 3'-di-O-methylellagic acid-4'-O-alpha-D-arabinfuranoside (3), 3, 3'-di-O-methylellagic acid-4'-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (4), 3, 3'-di-O-methylellagic acid-4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5), 3, 3', 4'-tri-O-methylellagic acid (6), 3-O-methylellagic acid-4'-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (7), 3, 3', 4-tri-O-methylellagic acid-4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (8), brevifolin (9) and ethyl brevifolin carboxylate (10).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>All of above compounds were obtained from this plant for the first time.</p>

[The synergistic effects of docetaxol and retinoic acid on prostate cancer cell line PC-3].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the synergistic effects of docetaxol and retinoic acid on prostate cancer cell line PC-3 in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Cell morphology, MTT, flow cytometry, immunocytochemical method were used to observe the effects of 10(-6) mol/L, 10(-7) mol/L, 10(-8) mol/L docetaxol and 10(-5) mol/L, 10(-6) mol/L, 10(-7) mol/L retinoic acid on prostate cancer cell line PC-3 in single or synergistic administration ways for 24 and 48 hours in vitro. Male BALB/C-nu mice with PC-3 prostate cancer cell lines were treated by docetaxol and retinoic acid singly or synergistically in vivo. Serum PSA of mice, weights of mice and PSA expression in xenograft tumors of mice by immunohistochemical method were measured. RESULTS: Above 10(-6) mol/L retinoic acid enhanced the growth suppression (suppression ratio > or = 69.2%, P<0.01), apoptosis (Apoptosis ratio > or = 23.8%, P<0.05) and down-regulation of the expression of cyclin D1 (expression ratio < or = 14.2%, P<0.05) induced by above 10(-7) mol/L docetaxol in PC-3 cells. Retinoic acid changed the ratio of G2/M phase induced by docetaxol from 70.3% to 54.6%, and reversed the G2/M arrest partially (P<0.05). Mean serum PSA of mice [(43+/-11) ng/ml], weight of xenograft tumors [(2.8+/-0.4) g] and PSA expression in tumors [(26+/-3.2)%] with PC-3 prostate cancer cell lines of nude mice were decreased significantly in docetaxol combined with retinoic acid group than in control group except weight of mice [(20.3+/-1.1) g]. CONCLUSION: Retinoic acid can enhance the growth suppression and apoptosis induced by docetaxol in synergistic way in vitro and in vivo, thus showing their great potential in the treatment of androgen-independent carcinoma of prostate.