[Shen Shiwan : A translator for medicine in the Period of the Republic of China].

Shen Shiwan was a translator and physician for both Chinese medicine and western medicine in the period of the Republic of China. This paper examined the life and the main academic contributions of Shen Shiwan. It was found that Shen's main contribution were translating medical works, founding journals and opening the door of Chinese medicine to the world. Additionally, he introduced western medicine, such as pathology, fertility and nutrition to Chinese medical professionals. He also introduced the medical schools of Japanese traditional medicine (Chinese medicine in Japan, Han Yi) into China. Shen's contribution in medicine played an important role for the medical professionals in China in understanding the development of western medicine and Chinese medicine in Japan.

[Clinical characteristics and outcome comparison between atrial fibrillation patients underwent catheter ablation under general aesthesia or local anesthesia and sedation].

Objective: To compare the outcome of radiofrequency catheter ablation under local anesthesia/sedation (S) or general anesthesia(GA) in atrial fibrillation patients. Methods: Data of 498 patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation in our departmentfrom January 2014 to December 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Two hundred and twenty patients assigned to the GA group, the other 278 patients to the S group. Patients were followed clinically every 3 months within one year after procedure. Immediate electrocardiogram was performed in patients with palpitation or choking sensation in chest. The end point of the study was recurrence of any atrial tachyarrhythmia lasting >30 seconds in device interrogation, 24-hour Holter monitoring or 12-lead electrocardiogram after a single procedure. After the ablation procedure, a blanking period of 3 months was allowed according to the guidelines. Procedure time, radiofrequency time, fluoroscopy time, the detection of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, the success rate and the complications were compared between the two groups. Results: There was no difference in the baseline characteristics between the two groups, such as age, gender, BMI, complications, LVEF, LAD (all P>0.05). The duration of procedure ((117.8±51.7)minutes vs.(115.4±36.9)minutes, P=0.79), duration of fluoroscopy((12.5±11.2)minutes vs. (10.4±10.2)minutes, P=0.35), duration of radiofrequency((40.1±12.9)minutes vs. (48.6±44.3)minutes, P=0.48) were similar between the two groups (P>0.05). Compared with S group, discovery of the frequency of atrioventricular node reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) was significantly lower in GA group (0 vs. 3.6%(10/278), P<0.01), but the difference disappeared with repeat electrophysiological examination when patients become conscious from GA(3.2%(7/220) vs. 3.6%(10/278), P=0.311). The difference of atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) was similar between the two groups(0.9%(2/220) vs. 0.7%(2/278), P=0.841). Compared with S group, reflection of vagus nerve was less in GA group (1.4%(3/220) vs. 8.6%(24/278), P=0.026). After following up of (356±92) days, freedom from atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter/atrial tachyarrhythmia was similar between the two groups(77.9%(162/208) vs. 79.9%(215/269), P=0.818). Conclusion: General anesthesia is a promising method to atrial fibrillation ablation, in view of stable patient status and safety for the procedure. There is no difference in complications, recurrence of arrhythmia between the two groups, but detection rate of AVNRT is lower in GA group.

High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis for the characterization of triterpenoids from Ganoderma.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis of triterpenoids from Ganoderma is developed and validated in an attempt to explore a way to differentiate a number of species of the genus Ganoderma. Results show that 64 samples examined in this study could be divided into 18 groups based on characteristics of the HPLC pattern of triterpenoids. This result also conforms with those of the morphological examination and the interfertility test by di-monokaryotic mating. The HPLC analysis of triterpenoids further reveals that differentiation among samples from three different regions each of the two species G. lucidum and G. tsugae is workable. Even then, an incorrect designation is found for two of the groups of samples that were originally classified as G. resinaceum but showed different morphological characteristics and mating incompatibility. In conclusion, an HPLC analysis of triterpenoids is a simple and easy way to differentiate among different species of the genus Ganoderma.

[Observation on collaborative treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine (TCM-WM) in treating dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). METHODS: Patients of DCM were randomly divided into two groups, the 164 patients in the TCM-WM group were treated with combination therapy of traditional Chinese and western medicine, consisting of conventional western medicine, such as cardiac diuretic, vasodilative agents, taurine, coenzyme Q10, antiarrhythmics, beta blockers and Chinese herbal preparations such as Astragalus membranaceus and Shengmai injection; while the 156 cases in the control group were treated with conventional western medicine alone, including polarized liquid therapy, etc. RESULTS: The improvement of clinical symptoms and heart function in the TCM-WM group was significantly better than that in the control group. Although the total number of deceased cases in the two groups were similar, the dead number in 3-6 months in the TCM-WM group was less than that in the control group. Moreover, 1 year later, the deceased number of patients insisted with TCM-WM treatment for over 1 year was significantly less than in those treated for only 3-6 months (1 case vs 11 cases). CONCLUSION: Under the condition that there is no specific effective drugs, TCM-WM therapy can yet be regarded as an acceptable therapy for treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy.

[Effect of reduqing on HL-60 cells in secreting tumor necrosis factor alpha production and on TNF alpha converting enzyme mRNA expression].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the molecular mechanism of inhibiting effects of Reduqing on the release of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha). METHODS: Using cytobiologic and molecular biologic technique to observe the effects of Reduqing on HL-60 cells in producing inflammatory cytokine secreting TNF alpha (sTNF alpha) and on mRNA expression of TNF alpha converting enzyme (TACE). RESULTS: (1) Reduqing, diluted in ratio 1:30, could effectively inhibit the increased HL-60 production of sTNF-alpha induced by lipopolysaccharides (LPS); (2) Although no obvious effect on TACE was shown when Reduqing was applied alone on HL-60 cells, there was evident inhibitory effect of Reduqing on TACE mRNA expression enhancement induced by LPS. CONCLUSION: Reduqing could have the double inhibitory effects both on sTNF-alpha production and on the gene expression of its key enzyme, i.e. TACE stimulated by LPS, suggesting that it might be a hopeful and excellent natural TACE inhibitor.

[A study on combination therapy of Western and traditional Chinese medicine of acute viral myocarditis].

UNLABELLED: To investigate the combination therapy of Western and traditional Chinese medicine on treatment of acute viral myocarditis, 48 patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. The 1st group consisted of 30 patients, receiving the combination therapy of Western and traditional Chinese medicine, including Astragalus membranaceus, taurine, coenzyme Q10 and antiarrhythmics, while the 2nd group consisted of 18 patients, receiving the conventional therapy, including glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK), coenzyme Q10 and also antiarrhythmics. RESULTS: The efficacy of combination therapy of western and traditional Chinese medicine was better than that of conventional therapy in improving the clinical manifestation, negative converting positive EVsRNA in peripheral leukocytes and controlling the premature beats. CONCLUSION: The combination therapy of western and traditional Chinese medicine was an effective method in treating acute viral myocarditis.

[Effect of Astragalus membranaceus on Ca2+ influx and coxsackie virus B3 RNA replication in cultured neonatal rat heart cells].

The effect of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) on Ca2+ influx across the myocardial plasma membrane and coxsackie virus B3(CVB3)-RNA replication in cultured neonatal rat heart cells infected with CVB3 was investigated. It was found that the Ca2+ influx could be inhibited significantly (P < 0.01) by AM after infection of heart cells for 48 h. In addition, when the cultured heart cells infected with CVB3 and treated with AM for 48 h, the Ca2+ influx of infected heart cells also could be inhibited by AM (P < 0.05) and the amounts of CVB3-RNA in myocytes were significantly decreased than that in infected control group (P < 0.001). These phenomena suggested that AM could exert the effects of decreasing the secondary Ca2+ damages, and improving the abnormal myocardial electric activity, and inhibiting replication of CVB3-RNA in myocardium. Thus, it is a rational choice to treat patients with AM in viral myocarditis.

[Effect and mechanism of Astragalus membranaceus on coxsackie B3 virus RNA in mice].

Using Balb/c mice infected with Coxsackie virus B3 (CVB3) as a model, the effect of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) on CVB3-RNA has been observed in myocardial tissues of mice by RNA-RNA in situ hybridization with negative-strand RNA probes leballing with 35S and quantitative imaging analysis of positive hybridization signals. The mechanism of its effect on CVB3-RNA has also been investigated by induction with AM and detection of beta-interferon (beta-IFN). Results showed that the copy numbers of CVB3-RNA as well as the histologic necrotic sizes in myocardial tissues of AM treated infected mice were significantly smaller than that in infected normal saline treated mice (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) respectively, suggesting that AM could inhibit the replication of CVB3-RNA, but its effect on CVB3-RNA was not correlated with induction of beta-IFN.

Alkylation of proteins by artemisinin. Effects of heme, pH, and drug structure.

Artemisinin and its derivatives are a promising new class of antimalarial agents containing an endoperoxide bridge. [14C]Artemisinin alkylated various proteins in vitro. Between 5 and 18% of added drug bound to hemoproteins such as catalase, cytochrome c, and hemoglobin. However, it did not react with heme-free globin. For catalase and hemoglobin, most of the drug reacted with the protein moiety rather than the heme. Artemisinin bound to human serum albumin (HSA) more efficiently at pH 8.6 than 7.4, more efficiently in Dulbecco's PBS than in Tris-HCl buffer, and better when HSA had been made fatty acid-free. Dihydroartemisinin also bound to HSA, whereas deoxyartemisinin, an inactive derivative, did not. There was no binding between DNA and artemisinin. These data provide insight into the mechanism of the reaction between artemisinin and proteins.

[Effect of Astragalus membranaceus on electrophysiological activities of acute experimental Coxsackie B3 viral myocarditis in mice].

A murine model for observing the effect of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) on electrophysiological activity of the right ventricular myocardium was developed in 4 week-old male BALB/c mice infected with Coxsackie B3 virus (CB3V). The conventional microelectrode technique and real-time microcomputer data processor system was used. The survival rate in infected-AM treated mice was significantly higher and the percentage of abnormal action potential was much lower than those in control mice (P < 0.05 and < 0.01 respectively). Some abnormal electrophysiological parameters, such as APA, OS and Vmax in infected myocardium were found to be improved by AM treatment. Single dose of AM did not show beneficial effect in murine myocardium infected with CB3V. The results suggested that AM might be valuable in the prevention and treatment of acute myocarditis involving Coxsackie B3 virus.

The interaction of artemisinin with malarial hemozoin.

[14C]Artemisinin was taken up by Plasmodium falciparum in culture and concentrated in hemozoin. In vitro, hemin and artemisinin were found to undergo a chemical reaction forming two major products which were isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The m/z values of the two products were 856 and 871. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and HPLC of hemozoin isolated from [14C]artemisinin-treated parasites showed that the majority of the hemozoin-associated radioactivity comigrated with the synthetic adducts. When [14C]artemisinin was incubated with isolated hemozoin, [14C]artemisinin disappeared from the solution in a time-dependent manner. Some of the radioactivity present in the treated hemozoin also comigrated with the adducts on TLC. Thus, artemisinin appears to react covalently with heme in malaria hemozoin both in vitro and in situ.

Iron-dependent free radical generation from the antimalarial agent artemisinin (qinghaosu).

Artemisinin is an important new antimalarial agent containing a bridged endoperoxide. The in vitro antimalarial activity of an artemisinin derivative, arteether, is antagonized by two iron chelators, pyridoxal benzoylhydrazone and 1,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxypyrid-4-one. Similarly, the acute toxicity of artemisinin in mice is antagonized by another chelator, deferoxamine-hydroxyethylstarch. A combination of artemisinin and hemin oxidizes erythrocyte membrane thiols in vitro, and this oxidation is also inhibited by an iron chelator. Thus, iron plays a role in the mechanisms of action and toxicity of artemisinin. The combination of artemisinin and hemin also decreases erythrocyte deformability. Iron probably catalyzes the generation of free radicals from artemisinin since alpha-tocopherol antagonizes the thiol-oxidizing activity of artemisinin and since a spin-trapped free radical signal can be seen by electron paramagnetic resonance only when artemisinin is incubated in the presence of iron.

Effect of "re du qing" on the activation, proliferation and membrane fluidity of lymphocytes.

Effects of Chinese Medicinal Preparation "Re Du Qing" (RDQ) on the activation, proliferation and membrane fluidity of T lymphocytes from human peripheral blood were studied by means of 3H-TdR incorporation and DPH fluorescence polarization. The results showed that "RDQ" can: 1) significantly inhibit the activation of T lymphocytes; 2) restrain the proliferation of activated T lymphoblasts in the presence of exogenous interleukin-2 (IL-2); and 3) increase the membrane fluidity of T lymphocytes and antagonize the decreased fluidity of lymphocyte membrane mediated by Con A or PHA. The functional abnormalities of T lymphocytes in some autoimmune diseases such as arthritis and the usefulness of RDQ in the treatment of these diseases were also discussed.

Effect of Astragulas membranaceus on natural killer cell activity and induction of alpha- and gamma-interferon in patients with Coxsackie B viral myocarditis.

The patients suffering from Coxsackie B viral myocarditis with depressed natural killer (NK) activity were treated with Astragulas membranaceus (AM) intramuscularly for 3-4 months. After the treatment, the NK activity was increased significantly from 11.5 +/- 11.9% before therapy to 44.9 +/- 15.0%. Another 6 patients of Coxsackie B viral myocarditis with depressed NK activity were treated with conventional therapy. The NK activity remained unchanged in 12.9 +/- 6%. The general condition and symptoms improved in all patients with AM therapy, while the titers of neutralizing antibody remained at the same level. Two days after AM treatment, the mean titers of alpha- and gamma-interferon (IFN) markedly increased in comparison with those before therapy and 3 weeks after AM therapy in 16 patients with Coxsackie B viral myocarditis, with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) less than 65% and/or weak ventricular wall motion assayed by radionuclide angiocardiography. Whereas, in 12 patients treated with conventional therapy, there was no statistical difference among the results before and 2 days and 3 weeks after treatment. The results indicate that AM could partly regulate the lost of control of cellular immunity in patients with viral myocarditis.

Effect of astragalus membranaceus on electric activities of cultured rat beating heart cells infected with Coxsackie B-2 virus.

Astragalus membranaceus (AM) which has a protective effect on rat beating heart cells infected experimentally with Coxsackie B-2 virus was evaluated on the basis of changes in morphologic and electric activity of the cells. Rhythm, beating frequency, beating percentage, cardiac cellular damage and cytopathic effects (CPE) were monitored every 24 h after challenge; electric activities parameters were measured by conventional intracellular microelectrode technique. Significant protective effects were demonstrated when AM was given in the early period of infection. The results suggest that AM should be valuable in preventing and treating acute myocarditis caused by Coxsackie B virus.

Treatment of experimental Coxsackie B-3 viral myocarditis with Astragalus membranaceus in mice.

A murine model system for observing the effect of Astragalus Membranaceus (AM) on experimental myocarditis caused by Coxsackie B-3 virus (CB3V) was developed in 4-week-old male BALB/C mice. Gross, histopathologic and ultrastructural examinations of the infected-AM treated group showed that the severity and involved area of the myocardial lesions became milder and smaller than those in the infected-NS treated mice. The total lesion area, and the total lesion area/total myocardial area examined (%) and virus titer in the former group were also smaller and lower than those in the latter group. The results suggest that AM is effective in the inhibition of Coxsackie B virus propagation and protection of myocardium in mouse myocarditis.

[The influence of GABA injected into cerebral ventricle on electrical activities of pain-excitation neurons and pain-inhibition neurons in nucleus parafascicularis of the thalamus of rats].

The influence of intraventricular injection of GABA on electrical activities of PEN and PIN in nucleus parafascicularis of the thalamus of rats was studied. The results showed that GABA could significantly inhibit the electrical discharges of PEN and increase the electrical discharges of PIN. So it was believed that intraventricularly injected GABA could antagonize or partly antagonize the excitatory action of noxious stimuli and might thus produce analgesia.