Effects of electroacupuncture on NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis protein GSDMD in uterine tissue in rats with primary dysmenorrhea / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on NLRP3 inflammasome and its downstream protein gastermin D (GSDMD) in rats with primary dysmenorrhea (PDM), and to explore the potential mechanism of EA on the treatment of PDM.@*METHODS@#Forty healthy female SD rats without pregnancy were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, an EA group and an ibuprofen group, 10 rats in each group. PDM model was prepared by injection of estradiol benzoate and oxytocin. Except the control group, the rats in each group were subcutaneously injected with estradiol benzoate for 10 days, and oxytocin was injected on the 11th day. The rats in the EA group were intervened with EA (dense wave, frequency of 50 Hz) at "Guanyuan" (CV 4) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) at the same time of modeling, once a day, 20 min each time, for 10 consecutive days. The rats in the ibuprofen group were treated with 0.8 mL of ibuprofen by gavage (concentration of ibuprofen solution was 1.25 mg/mL) for 10 consecutive days. After modeling, the writhing reaction was observed. After intervention, the HE staining method was used to observe the histological morphology of uterus and evaluate the pathological damage score of uterus; ELISA method was used to detect the serum levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α); Western blot method was used to detect the protein expression of NLRP3, apoptosis related spot like protein (ASC), caspase-1, GSDMD, GSDMD-N and inflammatory factors (interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-18) in uterine tissue.@*RESULTS@#In the model group, a large number of vacuolar degeneration and death of endometrial epithelial cells, spiral arterioles congestion in lamina propria and neutrophil infiltration were observed. In the EA group, there was a small amount of vacuolar degeneration and death of endometrial epithelial cells, a small amount of spiral arterioles congestion in the lamina propria, and a small amount of neutrophils infiltration. In the ibuprofen group, there was very small number of degeneration and death of endometrial epithelial cells, and no obvious arterial congestion was found in lamina propria, and neutrophil infiltration was occasionally seen. Compared with the control group, in the model group the number of writhing was increased (P<0.01), the writhing reaction score and serum level of PGF2α and PGF2α/PGE2 value were increased (P<0.01), the level of PGE2 was decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, in the EA group and the ibuprofen group the number of writhing were decreased (P<0.05), the latency of writhing was prolonged (P<0.01), the writhing reaction scores and serum levels of PGF2α and PGF2α/PGE2 values were decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), the levels of PGE2 were increased (P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the protein expression of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, GSDMD, GSDMD-N, IL-1β and IL-18 in the uterine tissues of rats was increased in the model group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the protein expression of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, GSDMD, GSDMD-N, IL-1β and IL-18 in the uterine tissues of rats was decreased in the EA group and the ibuprofen group (P<0.01, P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the EA group and the ibuprofen group in the above indexes (P>0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#EA could alleviate pain and uterine tissue injury in rats with PDM. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in rat uterine tissues, thereby inhibiting pyroptosis and its inflammatory factors release.

Antithrombotic effects of the effective components group of Xiaoshuantongluo formula in vivo and in vitro / 中国天然药物

The present study was designed to investigate the antithrombotic effects and underlying mechanisms of the effective components group (ECG) of Xiaoshuantongluo recipe (XECG) and to further verify the rationality and feasibility of ECG-guided methodology in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) research. The arterial thrombosis model induced by ferric chloride (FeCl3) oxidation and the venous thrombosis model induced by inferior vena cava ligation were established to evaluate the antithrombotic potential of XECG. Our results indicated that XECG significantly prolonged the time to occlusion, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and prothrombin time (PT), and markedly inhibited adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation in the 20% FeCl3-induced arterial thrombosis model. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly increased and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) were dramatically decreased in the plasma of arterial thrombosis rats after XECG treatment for 12 days. Furthermore, XECG markedly reduced the weight of thrombus formed by inferior vena cava ligation. Additionally, XECG exhibited 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity and protective effect on mitochondrial lipid peroxidation. In summary, XECG played an important role in the prevention of thrombosis through interacting with multiple targets, including inhibition of platelet aggregation and coagulation and repression of oxidative stress. The ECG-guided methodology was validated as a feasible tool in TCM research.

Improvement of survival quality of the patients with hemodialysis treated with moxibustion for regulating spleen and stomach functions: multi-central randomized controlled study / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the impacts of moxibustion for regulating spleen and stomach function on the survival quality of the patients of end stage renal disease (ESRD) with maintenance hemodialysis (MHD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and nine cases of uremia with MHD from 3 hemodialysis centers were randomized into an observation group (58 cases) and a control group (51 cases). The regular hemodialysis and conventional medication were used in the two groups. In the observation group, on the basis of the common treatment, moxibustion was applied to Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6), 2-3 times a day, the treatment of 4 weeks made one session. Totally, 3 sessions were required and the follow-up lasted for 3 months. KDQOL-SF (kidney disease quality of life short form,KDQOL-SFTM 1. 3) was adopted for the questionnaire investigation on survival quality before treatment, after treatment and at the end of follow-up separately in the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, the survival quality scores in terms of physical functioning (83.62+/-13.27 vs 79.32+/- 22. 17), general health (58. 88+/- 20.24 vs 48.82+/-20.89) and vitality (77.07+/-15.56 vs 70. 59+/-22.61) in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (all P<0. 05). In comparison before and after treatment in the same group, the survival quality scores in terms of physical functioning, general health, vitality and symptoms/problems were all improved in the observation group (all P<0. 05). At the end of follow-up, the survival quality scores in terms of physical functioning, general health, mental health, social functioning, vitality, effects of kidney disease and cognitive function were higher in the observation group as compared with those in the control group (all P<0. 05). In comparison of the results at the end of follow-up with those before treatment, the survival quality scores in terms of vitality, symptoms/problems and cognitive function in the observation group were improved (all P< 0. 05). The differences were not significant in all of the 19 fields of survival quality evaluation before and after treatment, and after follow-up in the control group (all P>0. 05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Moxibustion for regulating spleen and stomach function improves the survival quality of the patients with hemodialysis in terms of physical functioning, general health and vitality, which benefits the psychological condition of the patients, resulting in the improvements of the survival quality in the fields of mental health, social functioning, effects of kidney disease and cognitive function.</p>

Effects of the effective components group of xiaoshuantongluo formula on rat acute blood stasis model / 药学学报

Effects of the effective components group of Xiaoshuantongluo formula (XECG) on rat acute blood stasis model were studied under the guidance of the concept of effective components group. Rat acute blood stasis model was induced by subcutaneous injection of epinephrine combined with ice water bath. Hemorheology indices such as whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, erythrocyte aggregation index and platelet aggregation rate; coagulation parameters including PT, APTT, TT and FIB; 6-keto-PGF1alpha, TXB2 and D-dimer levels were determined to evaluate the effects of XECG. The results showed that XECG significantly reduced ADP-induced platelet aggregation, but showed little influence on the whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity and erythrocyte aggregation rate. XECG extended PT and TT slightly, but had no effects on APTT and FIB content. D-dimer levels significantly decreased after administration of XECG with a little decrease of TXB2, but the content of 6-keto-PGF1alpha did not change significantly. The results suggest that the role of XECG of anti-aggregation is more prominent.

Randomized controlled trail on moxibustion for maintenance hemodialysis patients in deficiency syndrome / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effective therapy for maintenance hemodialysis patients in dificiency syndrome in end-stage renal disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety-seven cases were divided into an observation group (51 cases) and a control group (46 cases) randomly, and routine western medicine was used in both of them. On this base, moxibustion was used in Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) in paper-tube-moxibustion equipment in the observation group. Evaluate the therapeutic effect on symptoms by comparing the symptom scores in two groups before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the symptom scores in the observation group were improved after treatment, and the differences were significant (all P < 0.05). Among all symptoms, the most improved ones included lassitude and fatigue, short breath and aversion to talk, poor appetite, soreness and softness of waist and knees, aversion to cold, cold extremities and so on. In the aspect of therapeutic effect on symptoms, the total effective rate in observation group (64.7%, 33/51) was higher than that in control group (23.9%, 11/46), and the difference was significant (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Moxibustion can improve the clinical symptoms of maintenance hemodialysis patients in end-stage renal disease, and can generate some therapeutic effect to the dificiency syndrome of this disease.</p>

Effect of moxibustion on quality of life in hemodialysis patients / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To probe the effect of moxihustion on the quality of life in the end-stage renal failure patients in hemodialysis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-one hemodialysis patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, and the quality of life of all the patients was evaluated with the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form (KDQOL-SF). The Control group were treated with routine comprehensive therapy (including hemodialysis and medication), and the observation group with the routine comprehensive therapy and moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36), Guanyuan (CV 4), Sanyinjiao (SP 6). Changes of the quality of life in the patients before and after hemodialysis were recorded and analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment there were significant differences between the two groups in DSF, RE and GH (P<0.05), and 7 fields including RE, BP, QSI and others significantly improved in the both groups (P<0.05). Additionally, the 4 fields including RP, EB, VT and WS significantly improved in the observation group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Moxibustion can improve physical strength and mood in the quality of life of the hemodialysis patients; to evaluate the quality of life of hemodialysis patients should consider effects of society, climate and geographical condition and other factors.</p>

Comparative analysis of character on germplasm resources of Rehmannia glutinosa / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare difference in character between wild germplasm and cultivar of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Field test and statistical analysis were applied.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The results showed that the plant height and leave weight of individual plant in cultivar were decreased significantly comparing to wild germplasm, and the output was increased significantly. The leave length was reduced. The leave width, the catalpol content in leave and polysaccharides and reducing sugar content in cultivar was increased not significantly. Whereas the catalpol content and the water extract content in cultivar were equal to wild germplasm.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The plant height and leave weight of individual plant of R. glutinosa was decreased significantly in cultivar, but the active compounds content not changed obviously.</p>

Effect of ginkgo biloba extract and dipyridamole on transcription and translation of inducible NO synthbase in rabbits after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of Egb761, an extract of ginkgo biloba , and dipyridamole on inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in rabbits after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>After being established into ischemia-reperfusion injury model, 35 rabbits were divided randomly into 5 groups: Group A (the sham group), Group B (the model group), Group C (treated with dipyridamole 0.8 mg/kg), Group D (treated with Egb761, 40 mg/kg), and Group E (treated with Egb761 40 mg/kg combined with dipyridamole 0.8 mg/kg), all the medications were administered by intravenous injection 30 min after reperfusion. After administration, myocardial iNOS mRNA expression was detected by RT-PCR and western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Myocardial iNOS mRNA transcriptive expression in the 5 groups were A 0, B 157.11 +/- 17.73, C 202.6 +/- 21.84, D 356.13 +/- 24.18 and E 562.34 +/- 35.19 respectively, showing significant difference between the treated groups and group B (P <0.01). The translative expression of myocardial iNOS in the 5 groups were A 34.24 +/- 15.78, B 75.70 +/- 13.71, C 116.89 +/- 22.57, D 143.75 +/- 16.05 and E 195.09 +/- 22.25 respectively, showing significant difference between the treated groups and group B as well (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both Egb761 and dipyridamole could increase myocardial iNOS expression in transcriptive and translative levels in rabbits after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, and the combined treatment of them shows a more significant effect.</p>