[Identification of metabolites of Yiqi Baoyuan Prescription in rat plasma, bile, urine and feces after oral administration].

This study was designed to determine the metabolites of Yiqi Baoyuan Prescription(YQBYP) in rats. The ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-TOF-MS) and mass defect filter(MDF) were employed to analyze the metabolites of YQBYP in rat plasma, bile, urine and feces. Chromatographic separation was conducted on Acquity UPLC BEH C_(18) column(2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.7 µm) under gradient elution with 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution(A)-acetonitrile(B), and the column temperature was 30 ℃. Electrospray ion(ESI) source was used under positive and negative ion modes, with capillary voltage of 3.0 kV and mass scanning range of m/z 100-1 000. In this experiment, 9 prototype components and 36 metabolites were identified in rat plasma, bile, urine and feces samples. The results showed that the main metabolic pathways of YQBYP in rats involved methylation, demethylation, oxidation, and other phase Ⅰ reactions as well as glucuronidation, sulfation, and other phase Ⅱ reactions. This study provided scientific basis for clarifying the therapeutic material basis of YQBYP and product development.

Associations Between Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Risk and Folate Status in Early Pregnancy and MTHFR C677T Polymorphisms in Chinese Women.

PURPOSE: Red blood cell (RBC) folate indicates long-term folate intake, and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene is the main gene affecting folate status. Increasing evidence suggests an association between gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and increased folate levels. Whether RBC folate concentrations in the first trimester of pregnancy or polymorphisms of MTHFR C677T (rs1801133) affect GDM risk in Chinese pregnant women remains unknown. Therefore, we analyzed the associations of RBC folate concentrations and rs1801133 polymorphisms with GDM risk among pregnant women in China. METHODS: A total of 366 women with a singleton pregnancy were followed prospectively from their first prenatal visit to delivery. RBC folate concentrations and rs1801133 polymorphisms were assessed during the first trimester of pregnancy. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the odds ratios (ORs) of GDM and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) by using the RBC folate concentration quartiles and rs1801133 polymorphisms. RESULTS: Participants with the TT genotype had the highest RBC folate concentrations. Those with heterozygous or homozygous variants did not have a significantly higher risk of GDM than did women with C alleles. After adjustments for covariates, women in the highest quartile for RBC folate concentration had a higher risk of GDM (adjusted OR = 2.473, 95% CI = 1.013-6.037, P = 0.047) than did those in the lowest quartile, but this association was nonsignificant after adjustment for rs1801133 polymorphisms. CONCLUSION: Higher RBC folate, partly caused by MTHFR 677C→T, may be associated with increased GDM risk, even in early pregnancy. Assessing RBC folate status and appropriately supplementing folate during early pregnancy, particularly for patients with MTHFR 677C→T, may prevent GDM. Further studies with larger populations are warranted.

Real-time monitoring of stresses and displacements in cervical nuclei pulposi during cervical spine manipulation: a finite element model analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to research the distribution of stresses and displacements in cervical nuclei pulposi during simulated cervical spine manipulation (CSM). METHODS: A 3-dimensional finite element model of C3/4~C6/7 was established. The detailed mechanical parameters of CSM were analyzed and simulated. During the process, the changes in stresses and displacements of cervical nuclei pulposi within the model were displayed simultaneously and dynamically. RESULTS: Cervical spine manipulation with right rotation was targeted at the C4 spinous process of the model. During traction, levels of stresses and displacements of the nuclei pulposi exhibited an initial decrease followed by an increase. The major stresses and displacements affected the C3/4 nucleus pulposus during rotation in CSM, when its morphology gradually changed from circular to elliptical. The highest stress (48.53 kPa) occurred at its right superior edge, on rotating 40° to the right. It protruded toward the right superior, creating a gap in its left inferior aspect. The highest displacement, also at 40° right, occurred at its left superior edge and measured 0.7966 mm. Dimensions of stresses and displacements reduced quickly on rapid return to neutral position. CONCLUSION: The morphology of the C3/4 nucleus pulposus changed during CSM with right rotation, and it created a gap in its left inferior aspect. Biomechanically, it is more safe and rational to rotate toward the healthy side than the prolapsed side of the intervertebral disk during CSM. Upon ensuring due safety, the closer the application force is to the diseased intervertebral disk, the better is the effect of CSM.

Influence of cervical spine position, turning time, and cervical segment on cadaver intradiscal pressure during cervical spinal manipulative therapy.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine influences of cervical spine positions, turning times, and cervical segments on cadaver intradiscal pressure (IDP) during cervical spinal manipulative therapy (SMT). METHODS: We simulated cervical SMT with stretching and rotation on 7 fresh adult cadaver specimens in the material test system machine. The changes in IDP for cervical intervertebral disks (C3/4, C4/5, and C5/6) during 4 different stages of cervical SMT (physiologic state, end of the traction stage, turning stage, and finish time) were monitored. Five different cervical positions (extension 20°, extension 10°, neutral position, flexion 10°, flexion 20°) and 3 different turning times (0.06, 0.11, 0.16 second) of IDP were monitored, using micropressure sensors. RESULTS: The variable tendency of cervical IDP presents a "V"-shaped curve during SMT. The 4 stages of SMT had significantly different IDP (F=5498.956; P<.001). There were also significant differences in IDP between 5 cervical positions ([F=1371.216; P<.001], [flexion 20°>flexion 10°>neutral position>extension 10°>extension 20°]), 3 turning times ([F=419.530; P<.001], [0.06>0.11>0.16 seconds]), and 3 cervical segments ([F=84.282; P<.001], [C3/4

Antioxidant action of a Chrysanthemum morifolium extract protects rat brain against ischemia and reperfusion injury.

The present study evaluated the potential neuroprotective effect and underlying mechanism of the total flavones extracted from Chrysanthemum morifolium (TFCM) against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. An animal model of cerebral ischemia was established by occluding the right middle cerebral artery for 90 minutes followed by reperfusion for 22 hours. The neurobehavioral scores, infarct area, and hemispheric edema were evaluated. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in brain were also measured. The results showed that pretreatment with TFCM significantly decreased the neurological deficit scores, percentage of infarction, and brain edema and attenuated the decrease in SOD activity, the elevation of MDA content, and the generation of ROS. In isolated brain mitochondria, Ca(2+)-induced swelling was attenuated by pretreatment with TFCM, and this effect was antagonized by atractyloside. These results showed that pretreatment with TFCM provides significant protection against cerebral I/R injury in rats by, at least in part, its antioxidant action and consequent inhibition of mitochondrial swelling.

[Inflammatory reaction caused by acupuncture is one of the initial factors of acupuncture effect].

The modern studies indicate that there is a close relationship between mast cells and the acupuncture effect, and acupuncture can activate mast cells to induce a series of vascular reaction and immunological effect. The authors hold that acupuncture is a kind of nociceptive stimulus, which can cause inflammatory reaction in the sites of acupuncture, and then further activate the nerve-endocrine-immune network to cause the cascade amplification of the acupuncture effect. The inflammatory reaction induced by acupuncture is one of the initial factors of acupuncture effect.

[Summarization and analysis on the acupuncture-related articles published in science citation index (SCI) periodicals in 2005].

OBJECTIVE: To retrieve, summarize and analyze journals and articles related to acupuncture published in SCI periodicals in 2005, so as to understand the international dynamics about acupuncture researches. METHODS: The articles about treatment and mechanisms of acupuncture published in SCI periodicals in 2005 were found out and searched for by acupuncture information retrieval online and databank. RESULTS: Most of the 72 SCI periodicals retrieved are from the west, with 147 articles of acupuncture published, and Lancet has the highest impact factors of 23. 407. CONCLUSION: The kinds of the journals and articles publishing acupuncture researches are increasing, with varied types, rich and varied contents, and increasing the design level. However, the results of the studies are vastly different due to differences of experimental methods, objects and acupuncture manipulations. Therefore, standardization of acupuncture studies is extremely urgent.