Research progress of needles with knife-edge for carotid cardiac syndrome / 中国针灸

According to topographic anatomy, pathogenesis and by retrieving, summarizing and analyzing literature regarding needle-knife and needles with knife-edge for carotid cardiac syndrome, it is found out that clinical misdiagnosis rate of carotid cardiac syndrome is considerably high. Needle-knife and needles with knife-edge could significantly improve the clinical symptoms of carotid cardiac syndrome, showing characteristic and advantage in treatment, but it is deficient in technique standard and efficacy criteria that should be united and authoritative. Researches regarding pathogenesis of carotid cardiac syndrome are not systematic. Clinical observation regarding long-term efficacy and relapse of needle-knife and needles with knife-edge treatment is rare. It is believed that the awareness on carotid cardiac syndrome should be increased to reduce misdiagnosis; scientific and standardized technique standard and efficacy criteria should be established; systematic and comprehensive researches regarding mechanism of needle-knife and needles with knife-edge for carotid cardiac syndrome should be launched; besides, clinical discussion regarding its long-term efficacy should start to provide a better clinical guideline.

Research on standardized preparation of traditional Chinese medicine (III): difference of extracting quantity of anthraquinones from mixed decoction of rhubarb with TCMs containing different ingredients / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the influence of compatibility of rhubarb with different traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) on extracted quantities of AQs, and to provide scientific basis for the clinical code for rhubarb preparation.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The influence of compatibility of rhubarb with different traditional Chinese medicines (saponin, alkaloids, flavonoids TCMs, animal medicines and mineral medicines) on decocting volume of anthraquinone substance was detected using ultra performance liquid chromatography.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>In comparable conditions, more AQs were extracted from mixed decoction of rhubarb and saponin medicinal materials (Astragali Radix, Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Polygalae Radix, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) than single decocting of rhubarb. The mixed decoction of rhubarb and alkaloid medicinal materials (Coptidis Rhizoma, Sophorae Flavescentis Radix, Prepared Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex, Aconiti Lateralis Radix) caused a remarkable decrease in extracted quantities of AQs. And the mixed decoction of rhubarb and mineral medicines (Natrii Sulfas, Gypsum Fibrosum, Ostreae Concha, Alumen) also resulted in less extracted quantities of AQs to varying degrees. Besides, more rhubarb AQs were extracted from mixed decoction with Curcuma than single decoction. But less rhubarb AQs were observed in mixed decoction with Lonicerae Flos, Rehmanniae, Artemisiae Herb and Forsythiae Fructus than single decoction to varying degrees. In the study, the maximum extracted quantities of AQs is 2. 3-fold higher than the minimum, the largest difference existed in the extracted quantity of physcion which was 13.5 times.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In compatibility between rhubarb and different TMCs, mixed decoction and single decoction show different influences on extracted quantity of rhubarb AQs. It is proved that more AQs may be extracted from mixed decoction between rhubarb and saponin medicinal materials, whereas less AQs may be observed in mixed decoction between rhubarb and alkaloid medicinal materials.</p>

Thinking and practice of animal ethology in study of cold and hot nature of traditional Chinese medicine / 中国中药杂志

From the view of macroscopic animal ethology combined with computer and modem image processing technique, by monitoring the temperature tropism of animal affected by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with different Cold and Hot natures and obtaining many behavior parameters which were difficult to assess in direct observation, the differences between the Cold and Hot nature of TCM were evaluated and presented. This method could real-time, intuitively and objectively, qualitatively and quantitatively monitor the temperature tropism of experimental animals with no disturbance. Further, the Cold and Hot nature of TCM can be expressed from the whole animal level. This method met to the application peculiarity of TCM and suited for the TCM theoretical system. It is a attempt for the study of drug nature of TCM. It also contributed to elucidate the objective authenticity and scientific connotation of Cold and Hot nature of TCM, and express the inherent connection of this nature and the temperature tropism of animal. In this review, a new point and technology platform was provided for establishing an objective method for evaluating the Cold and Hot nature of TCM, which are corresponding with the feature of the application of TCM.

Tissue distribution of free anthraquinones in SD rats after orally administered extracts from raw and prepared rhubarbs / 药学学报

Rhubarb anthraquinone derivatives (AQs) have been documented to have both therapeutic and toxic effect on liver and kidney, leading to a complex puzzle to assess their benefits and risks. In this study, the tissue distributions of AQs in SD rats after orally administrated extracts of raw and prepared rhubarb were examined whether they undergo different uptake. The total rhubarb extract (14.49 g x kg(-1) of body weight per day od, counted on the quantity of crude material) was administrated orally for 12 weeks. The concentrations of the AQs in different tissues were quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The five major AQs, aloe-emodin, rhein, emodin, chrysophynol and physcion, could all be detected in the liver, kidney and spleen, while only rhein, aloe-emodin and emodin reached the quantitative limit. The tissue concentrations of AQs in raw rhubarb group were higher than that in steamed rhubarb group with rhein > emodin > aloe-emodin in the same tissue. On the whole, the tissue distribution of rhein was higher than that of emodin and aloe-emodin in liver, spleen and kidney. AQs could not be detected in those tissues after drug withdraw for 4 weeks, which suggested scarcely any accumulative toxicity of rhubarb. The result indicated that raw rhubarb had more tissue toxicity than steamed rhubarb and rhein may be one of the major poisonous ingredients. The results were concordant with the traditional Chinese medicine theory of toxicity-attenuating effect of processing.

Thermodynamic outlook and practice of Chinese medicinal nature / 中国中药杂志

Medicinal nature theory of Chinese medicine is the difficult and hot issue in the basic research of Chinese medicine (CM), but has not yet obtained some important breakthrough until now. The cold and heat syndromes is considered as the capital differentiation of CM in clinic; cold and hot is the primary medicinal nature of CM. Treating the cold with heat, the heat with cold is the main therapeutic principle of CM. But, whether the cold and hot of medicinal nature objectively exists? Whether/how to establish a set of objectives and feasible appraisal methodologies? How to apply the theoratical and research findings of medicinal nature in clinical practice? In recent years, a new road for ourselves to carry out a series of explorations and researches on the cold and hot nature of CM from the thermodynamic view has been opened, and the doctrine of "Thermodynamic outlook of Chinese medicinal nature" has been proposed firstly by our research group. Consequently, we have established the research model, "coming from clinic, verifying in experiment and returning to the clinic", on the medicinal nature of CM, and developed a set of appraisal methodologies of the cold and hot nature of Chinese medicine based on biothermokinetics, such as the cold/hot plate differentiating system, microcalorimetry, evidence-based medical analysis for medicinal nature of CM. Based on these methods, a systematical investigation has been done focusing the energy transfer and thermal change in the metabolism progress of organism and the intervention effects of different Chinese medicines on this progress from the experiment to the clinic, in vitro and in vivo. Our studies have essentially elucidated the objectivity of the differences between the cold and hot nature of Chinese medicine as well as the scientific connotation of "treating the cold with heat, the heat with cold", provided a novel and perspective approach for investigating the medicinal nature theory of Chinese medicine, further supplied some new technological supports for the modernization of CM.

Different Effects of Mahuang Decoction and Maxing Shigan Decoction on Animal Temperature Tropism and Correlation to Differences of Cold and Hot Nature of Chinese Materia Medica / 中草药·英文版

Objective To establish an objective method for evaluating the intrinsic characteristics between cold and hot nature of Chinese materia medica(CMM)through the different effects of Mahuang decoction(MHD)and Maxing Shigan decoction(MSD)on animal temperature tropism.Methods The equipment with cold/hot pads was used to investigate the variety ofthe temperature tropism between two groups of mice treated by MHD and MSD,respectively.Meanwhile,the activities ofadenosine triphosphatase(ATPase),superoxide dismutase,succinate dehydrogenase,and malondialdehyde were measured.Results After treated by MHD,the macroscopic behavioral index of remaining rate on warm pad(40 ℃)of mice decreasedsignificantly(P < 0.05),suggesting the enhancement of cold tropism,meanwhile,the internal indices of ATPase activity and oxygen consuming volume increased significantly(P < 0.05),suggesting the enhancement of energy metabolism.On theother hand,the above-mentioned indices in MSD group changed on the inverse way.Conclusion The relative drug natureof MHD and MSD revealed in this study is consistent with the theoretical prognostication or definition.It indicates that theinternal cold and hot nature of CMM could be reflected in ethological way on the changes of animal temperature tropismwhich might be internally regulated by body energy metabolism.

COLD or HOT natural attribute of Zuojinwan and Fanzuojinwan based on temperature tropism of mice / 药学学报

This study is to investigate the authenticity between COLD and HOT natural attribute in the famous Chinese medicine formulas--Zuojinwan (Coptis-Evodia 6 : 1) and Fanzuojinwan (Coptis-Evodia 1 : 6) based on mice temperature tropism, and establish an objective method to estimate the difference of two natural attribute by using a cold/hot plate differentiating technology. The results indicated that the COLD nature Zuojinwan could decrease significantly the remaining rate of HOT-symptom rat on warm pad (P < 0.05). That was not notable to COLD-symptom rat. The interference result of COLD-HOT temperature tropism to COLD/HOT symptom rat in Fanzuojinwan was the reverse with the COLD nature Zuojinwan. Meanwhile, biochemical indicators which are relative to energy metabolism such as ATPase enzyme activity and total anti-oxidant capability (T-AOC), had corresponding change in the organism. In the study, the COLD and HOT natural tendency in Zuojinwan and Fanzuojinwan which were composed by the same herbs with different proportion could be expressed qualitatively, quantitatively, objectively and directly with applying animal temperature tropism, and be verified to philosophical idea of treating disease theory with "expelling heat with cold herbs and cryopathy requiring warm prescription", not "expelling heat with heat herbs and cryopathy requiring cold prescription" in ancient traditional Chinese medicine, which brings a new approach in investigation of the nature theory of traditional Chinese medicine.

Role of Notch signaling pathway in cerebral ischemic tolerance induced by electroacupuncture preconditioning / 中华麻醉学杂志

Objective To investigate the role of Notch signaling pathway in cerebral ischemic tolenmce induced by clectroacupuncture (EA) preconditioning.Methods Fifty-two adult male SD rats weighing 280-320 g were randomly divided into 2 groups(n=each):control group(group C)and electroacupuncture preconditionig group(group EA).Group C received no treatment.Group EA received EA at the Baihui acupoint (GV20) for 30 min a day for 5 days.Twenty-four hours after the last preconditionig,focal cerebral ischemia was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 120 min,followed by 72 h of reperfusion.Notch intracellular domain(NICD)expression was determined by Western blot and expression of Notch1,Notch4,Jag1,and Hes1 mRNA by real-time PCR immediately before iachemia and 24 and 72 h of reperfusion.The neurological deficit was scored at 72 h of reperfusion.The infarct volumes were then determined after evaluation of the neurological deficit score .Results There was no significant difference in Hesl mRNA and NICD expression immediately before ischemia between group EA and C(P>O.05).NICD expression was up-regulated at 24 and 72 h of reperfusion in both groups, and Hesl mRNA expression at 72 h of reperfusion in group C and at 24 h of reperfusion in group EA was up-regulated compared with those immediately before ischemia (P < 0.05). Hes1 mRNA and NICD expression was up-regulated in group C, while down-regulated in group EA at 72 h of reperfusion compared with those at 24 h of reperfusion ( P < 0.05 ). Compared with group C, the expression of Notchl,Notch4 and Jag1 mRNA was up-regulated immediately before ischemia, and Hes1 mRNA and NICD expression was up-regulated at 24 h of reperfusion while down-regulated at 72 h of reperfusion in group EA( P < 0.05). EA preconditioning significantly reduced infarct volumes and increased neurological deficit scores at 72 h of reperfusion (P < 0.05 ). Conclusion Notch signaling pathway may participate in cerebral ischemic tolerance induced by EA preconditioning.

Investigation of differences between cold and hot nature of Mahuang decoction and Maxing Shigan decoction based on cold/hot plate differentiating assay / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the objectivity and authenticity of the difference of the Cold and Hot nature between Mahuang decoction and Maxingshigan decoction based on the cold/hot plate differentiating assay.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The measuring time and dosage of Mahuang decoction and Maxingshigan decoction were investigated before the compliance experiment. Meanwhile, the activities of adenosine triphosphatase were detected in order to probe into the mechanism of their action.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>It was found that the drug dose should be 10 times amount to human dose (0.80 g x kg(-1) of Mahuang decoction and 2.26 g x kg(-1) of Maxing Shigan decoction) and the measuring time should be from 30 min to 60 min after administering. Compared with the control group, the remaining ratio of the mice treated with Mahuang decoction on the hot pad significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Compared with Mahuang decoction, the remaining ratio of the mice treated with Maxingshigan decoction on the hot pad significantly increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the Na(+) -K(+) -ATPase activity of liver tissue of the mice treated by Mahuang decoction significantly increased (P < 0.05), while the activity of Na(+) -K(+) -ATPase and Mg(2+) -Ca(2+) -ATPase of liver tissue of the mice treated by Maxingshigan decoction reduced significantly (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This study showed that the differences of Cold and Hot nature of Mahuang decoction and Maxingshigan decoction were objectively existent from animal ethology, which was consistent with the traditional theroy of Chinese medicine. And the changes of ATPase activity of liver tissue might be the mechanism of drug action.</p>

Study toxicity-attenuating effect and dose-toxicity relationship of rhubarb by processing based on correspondence analysis / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the toxicity-attenuating effect and the dose-toxicity relationship of rhubarb by processing based on correspondence.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The effects of different processed materials of rhubarb on the hepatic and renal functions of mice was researched in a way of parallel comparison, as well as the chemical alteration induced by processing was observed. Correspondence analysis, a kind of multivariate statistical analysis, was performed to explore the dose-toxicity relationship of processed materials of rhubarb.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>No obvious toxic effect was found in mice after single intragastric administration of crude drug of rhubarb at dosage of 76 g x kg(-1), while some lesions to liver and kidney tissues were observed in mice after repeated administration of rhubarb and its processed materials for 14 days at the same dosage. In the correspondence analysis diagram, it could be deduced that there was definite dose-toxicity relationship of processed rhubarb as the distance between trial groups and control group increased along with the dosage and the toxicity. The distance of the processed rhubarb showed as the following consequence: crude drug of rhubarb > vinegar-processed rhubarb > alcohol-processed rhubarb > steamed rhubarb > carbonized rhubarb > Qingning pian. Theerefoer, the toxicity of processed rhubarb was much lower than that of crude drug and the extent of toxicity attenuation was related to the processing intensity. Meanwhile, the toxicity-attenuating effect of processed rhubarb was related to the decline of the contents of both anthraquinone glycosides and tannins, and the former was contributed remarkably to toxicity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The toxicity-attenuating effect of processed rhubarb was verified in this study and the toxicity of steamed rhubarb attenuated notably while the pharmacological substances degraded little. The correspondence analysis would be useful to assess the pharmacological and toxic effects with multiple indexes of traditional Chinese medicines.</p>

A multiple center, randomized, controlled, double-blinded and double-dummy trial of Yiqing Shuangjie Capsule and Tablet in treating acute upper respiratory tract infection with the syndrome of heat attacking the lung and Weifen / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Yiqing Shuangjie Capsule and Tablet in treating acute upper respiratory tract infection with wind-warm syndrome. METHODS: The multiple center, double-blinded, double-dummy and randomized controlled method was conducted. Three hundred and sixty patients were randomly divided into the treatment group A (n=120, treated with Yiqing Shuangjie Capsule and Chaihuang analogues), treatment group B (n=120, treated with Yiqing Shuangjie Tablet and Chaihuang analogues) and the control group (n=120, treated with Chaihuang Tablet and Yiqing Shuangjie Capsule analogues). Every drug was administered 3 pills each time. Patients in the three groups were all treated for 5 days and three times daily. The accumulated scores of syndrome, clinical symptoms, adverse effect and body temperature were recorded before and after the treatment. The safety indexes, such as routine tests of blood, urine and stool, hepatic and renal function tests and electrocardiogram (ECG) were taken before and after the treatment. RESULTS: Three cases were excluded and eighteen cases lost to follow-up. There were 343 patients who entered to the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis and 339 patients fitted in the per-protocol population set (PPS) analysis. After treatment, the therapeutic effects of respiratory tract infection were calculated by ITT and PPS analysis respectively. The rates of total obvious effect were 84.96% and 87.27% respectively in the treatment group A, and the total response rates were 96.46% and 97.27% respectively. The rates of total obvious effect were 85.47% and 86.20% respectively in the treatment group B, and the total response rates were 97.45% and 97.41% respectively. In the control group, the rates of total obvious effect both were 72.57%, and the total response rates both were 99.12%. There was significant difference among the three groups (P<0.05). The effects of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome were also detected by ITT and PPS analysis respectively. In the treatment group A, the total obvious effect rates were 84.07% and 85.46% respectively, and the total response rates were 96.46% and 97.27% respectively. In the treatment group B, the rates of total obvious effect were 88.89% and 89.65% respectively, and the total response rates were 97.44% and 97.41% respectively. In the control group, the rates of total obvious effect both were 72.57%, and total response rates both were 99.12%. There was also statistical significant difference among the three groups (P<0.05). ITT and PPS analysis had the same results. No adverse effect was found in the trial. CONCLUSION: Yiqing Shuangjie Capsule and Tablet are effective and safe in treating acute upper respiratory tract infection of wind heat syndrome without obvious adverse effect.

Microcalorimetric studies of the action on four organic acids in Radix isatidis on the growth of microorganisms / 生物工程学报

The actions of four organic acids in Radix isatidis, a traditional Chinese medicinal (TCM) herb, on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Shigella dysenteriae growth were investigated by microcalorimetry. The four organic acids were syringic acid, 2-amino-benzoic acid, salicylic acid and benzoic acid. The power-time curves of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Shigella dysenteriae growth with and without organic acids were acquired, meanwhile the extent and duration of inhibitory effects on the metabolism were evaluated by growth rate constants (k1, k2), maximum heat-output[0] power (P(m)) and peak time (t(m)). The inhibitory activity varied with different drugs. The sequences of anti-microbial activity of the four organic acids on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Shigella dysenteriae were all: syringic acid > 2-amino-benzoic acid > salicylic acid > benzoic acid. And benzoic acid promoted the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Shigella dysenteriae. This study provides a basis for the further study on Radix Isatidis.

Review on study of key technologies in manufacture of Chinese materia medica / 中草药

To be a reference to industrial production of Chinese materia medica (CMM) and modernization of CMM and to summarize several relevant articles and consulte some publications about common key technologies in CMM production. Since 2000, some new technologies have been applied to CMM industrial production, such as SFE, macroporous resin extraction, MST, high-speed centrifugal, ultrasonic extraction, microwave extraction, HSCCC, etc. There are still some problems and difficulties lying in its application to industry. But with the innovation and further research of these new technologies, the application of these technologies to CMM preparation and production may help to expedite the modernization and industrial production of CMM. These technologies will be applied to CMM industrial production with making it more and more vigorous.

Biothermokinetic studies on four properties of traditional Chinese materia medica——Comparison of different preparation properties of Coptidis Rhizoma by microcalorimetry / 中草药

Object To probe into the objectivity and authenticity of four properties (cold, heat, warm, and cool) of raw Coptidis Rhizoma (RCR) and their preparations from biophysics and biochemistry. Methods Microcalorimetry was used to obtain the metabolic growth power-time curve of bacteria affected by the total alkaloid in different preparations of RCR and biothermokinetic parameters. Combined with the records of ancient herbal literatures, the influence of properties by different preparations to RCR were synthetically evaluated. Results All the effective total alkaloid in different preparations of RCR can restrain the Escherichia coli growth and metabolism in different level. Drugs, such as Coptidis Rhizoma Stir-fried with ginger juice (CRGJ), Coptidis Rhizoma stir-fried with wine (CRW), and Coptidis Rhizoma stir-fried with Fructus Evodiae (CRFE), with a little Warm Property can decrease the multiplication rate constants of E. coli index and increase heat output in growth metablism remarkably, while the drugs, such as RCR, Coptidis Rhizoma stir-fried with vinegar (CRV), and Coptidis Rhizoma stir-fried with gallbladder juice (CRGBJ), with a little Cold Property can decrease the multiplication rate constants and increase heat output a little. There was a stable difference between them. Conclusion Microcalorimetry is a new and useful mean for the study of the properties of tradition Chinese medicine.

Biothermodynamic study on four therapeutic features of TCM Ⅱ Comparison of therapeutic features of Folium ginseng and Flos ginseng by microcalorimetry / 中草药

Object To demonstrate the naked truth of four therapeutic features of TCM (cold, hot, warm and cool) from biophysical and biochemical point of view. Methods Growth thermogenesis curves of Escherichia coli were determined under different conditions by microcalorimetry to give biothermodynamic parameters, such as multiplication constant (k), median inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ), and enthalpy (?H). Differences between folia ginseng and flos ginseng were comprehensively compared with reference to classical Chinese literatures on material medica. Results The bacteriostatic curve of both drugs were basically similar. With increasing concentration of decoctions of both drugs, the lag phase was delayed and the peaks shifted to the right. While the difference of ?H was stable, which decreases with the increasing concentration of Folium ginseng, but increases with increasing concentration of Flos ginseng. Conclusion Microcalorimetry is not only a new effective method to describe the therapeutic features of TCM, but also could be used as a tool for the screening of active TCM.