[Considerations about study on mechanisms of acupuncture underlying efficacy-enhancement and toxicity-attenuation of digitalis drugs for heart failure].

Digitalis glycosides, a group of cardiotonic agents for heart failure, have been used for a long time, but may often trigger arrhythmias as a result of digitalis intoxication. It is of great significance in finding a method to reduce their toxicity and improve clinical curative effects simultaneously in the application of digitalis glycosides. It has been well documented that acupuncture has good therapeutic effects in improving cardiac function and inhibiting arrhythmia induced by myocardial ischemia. Acupuncture combined with chemotherapeutics can reduce the adverse effects of chemotherapeutics. Accordingly, acupuncture combined with digitalis is likely to reduce the side effects of digitalis by regulating intracellular Ca2+, improving the function of Ca(2+)-ATPase in the sarcoplasmic reticulum, increasing calcium sensitivity of cardiac troponin, etc. These considerations may provide a novel clue for treatment of heart failure by joint administration of acupuncture and drugs.

[In vitro study on gastrointestinal absorption of FITC labeled pilose antler protein extraction].

An in vitro detection method of the gastrointestinal absorption of Pilose Antler protein was established for mixed protein activity. Five bands of protein with molecular weight of 17.8-160 kD derived from the Pilose Antler were extracted and sufficiently labeled with FITC (FITC-PE). The stability and variation of FITC-PE in gastrointestinal circumstances were detected by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and confocal laser scanning microscope. Results showed that the main component of FITC-PE kept invariant after being reacted with artificial gastric fluid and artificial intestinal fluid. The fluorescence signal was detected 20 min after administration in the valgus intestinal purse experiment, and three kinds of protein, with molecular weight of 45, 25, and 17.8 kD, were detected in the mixture of absorbent protein. The research laid the foundation for the further in vivo study of Pilose Antler protein. Meanwhile, it would be an in vitro screening method for the absorption, distribution and metabolism of mixed protein from traditional Chinese medicine.

[Discussion on the novel clues for studying the underlying mechanisms of acupuncture-induced potentiation of the curative effect of medicines].

Acupuncture combined with drugs has been widely used in the treatment of various clinical conditions and can produce a stronger or more beneficial curative effect than either separate acupuncture or chemical drug does. However, the mechanisms underlying the additive or synergetic effects of acupuncture plus drugs are not well understood so far. Based on careful review and analysis of the literature accumulated, the authors proposed several aspects possibly involving the additive or synergetic effects produced by acupuncture plus drugs. For instance, acupuncture stimulation at acupoints may influence the drug concentration in blood and/or in target organ and the bioavailability of the drug via modulating the drug absorption, distribution and metabolism in the body. In addition, the curative effect of drug may also be strengthened by acupuncture stimulation via altering the signaling pathways of the targeted specific receptors and via potentiating the resultant responsiveness or sensitivity of the cells in the target organ in responding to the drugs administered. The ideas mentioned above may raise the novel clues for further studying the mechanisms underlying acupuncture-produced increase of the curative effects of medicines.

[The effect of Siwu Tang on EPO and G-CSF gene expression in bone marrow of irradiated blood deficiency mice].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the blood enriching function of Siwu Tang and its effect on Epo and G-CSF gene expressions in bone marrow of blood deficiency mice, and thus provide the basis for understanding the molecular mechanism of blood enriching function of Siwu Tang. METHOD: The animal model of blood deficiency were established in the mice by using 3.5 Gy60Co gamma-ray. Peripheral blood cells were analyzed and CFU-GM, BFU-E, CFU-E and CFU-mix were counted in bone marrow colony cultured. Both Epo and G-CSF gene expressions in bone marrow were measured with RT-PCR. RESULT: Siwu Tang significantly increased the number of peripheral blood cells and the amount of CFU-GM, BFU-E, CFU-E and CFU-mix in bone marrow and enhanced Epo and G-CSF gene expression in bone marrow in the mice with blood deficiency. CONCLUSION: The promotion of Epo and G-CSF gene expressions in bone marrow may be one of the mechanisms underlying the blood enriching function of Siwu Tang decoction.