ObjectiveTo deter mine the sustained attention function of the patients with mild Alzheimer's disease(AD) and mild cognitive impairment(MCI).Methods10 patients with MCI, 10 with mild AD and other 10 healthy elderly controls were tested with Continuous Performance Task(CPT) aimed to assess sustained attention. ResultsCompared with the normal controls, the mild AD patients reacted very more slowly(P<0.001), missed more targets(P<0.05), while that the MCI patients did was as well as the control group. ConclusionThe mild AD patients shows impairment in sustained attention function, but the MCI patients shows a preserved ability of sustained attention function.

·AIM: To evaluate the recurrence rate and safety of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) augmented with mitomycin C (MMC) compared with amniotic membrane transplantation alone during the pterygium excision.·METHODS: We took a meta-analysis on this program.Pertinentstudieswereselectedthroughextensive searches of the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE,CBMdisc, CNKI. Pooled estimates were carried out in RevMan software V4.2.·RESULTS: Six trials reported postoperative recurrence rate of pterygium, included 882 eyes, three trials reported the complications. The results of meta-analysis showed that recurrence rate of AMT plus MMC group was 5.41％,AMT alone group was 16.89％, relative risk (RR) was 0.32, 95％CI ranged from 0.19 to 0.56, Zwas 4.06, P< 0.001. Two trials reported early complication as punctata keratitis, the incidence rate of AMT plus MMC group and AMT alone group were 17.14％ and 0.00％, RR was 12.11,95％CI ranged from 1.62 to 90.76.·CONCLUSION: Amniotic membrane transplantation with MMC is associated with lower recurrence rate compared with amniotic membrane transplantation alone in pterygium excision,whether accompanied a higher risk with adverse events need more investigation.

In this study, we investigated the effect of Cigu Xiaozhi formula on HSC-T6 activity in hypoxic microenvironment based on network pharmacology and computer-aided drug design, and predicted and verified its possible targets and related signaling pathways. The potential active components and targets of Cigu Xiaozhi formula were screened by searching Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), Encyclopaedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ETCM) and Bioinformatics Analysis Tool for Molecular Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine (BATMAN-TCM) databases, and the liver fibrosis related targets retrieved from Gene Cards and Pharm GK database were integrated to obtain the potential targets of Cigu Xiaozhi formula in the treatment of liver fibrosis. GO enrichment analysis and KEGG signaling pathway enrichment analysis were performed on Omic Share platform, and Cytoscape software was used to construct the "potential active ingredient-key target-pathway" network. The active components and target proteins were subjected to molecular docking analysis by Auto Dock software. According to the results of molecular dynamics simulation and binding free energy calculation, the top 5 active components with degree were scored. The active components stigmasterol and β-sitosterol were subjected to molecular docking. CoCl₂ was used to induce HSC-T6 cells to construct hypoxia model in vitro. The cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay, and the optimal time and concentration of hypoxia model of HSC-T6 cells was determined to be 100 µmol·L^-1 CoCl₂ for 24 h. Under hypoxia condition, HSC-T6 cells were activated, the wound healing rate was significantly increased, and the fluorescence signal of activation marker protein α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was significantly enhanced. However, 6% drug-containing serum could inhibit the activation of HSC-T6 cells, and the wound healing rate was significantly decreased, and the fluorescence signal of α-SMA was significantly weakened. Further studies showed that the expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), α-SMA and key proteins of Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway in HSC-T6 cells were up-regulated under hypoxia, while the expressions of HIF-1α, α-SMA, Patched-1 (Ptch-1) and glioma related oncogene homology-1 (Gli-1) were down-regulated in 6% drug-containing serum group, the YC-1 group and the cyclopamine group. These results indicated that HIF-1α and Hh signaling pathways were involved in the activation of HSC-T6 cells, and the traditional Chinese medicine Cigu Xiaozhi formula could inhibit the activation of HSC-T6 cells, and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of HIF-1α expression and the blocking of Hh signaling pathway. In conclusion, Cigu Xiaozhi formula can inhibit the activation of HSC-T6 cells by directly acting on HIF-1α and Hh signaling pathway, and exert an anti-hepatic fibrosis effect. The animal experimental protocol has been reviewed and approved by Laboratory Animal Ethics Committee of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, in compliance with the Institutional Animal Care Guidelines.

Objective To investigate the relationship between expression of surfactant protein B (SP-B) gene product and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) in Han ethnic group.Methods Unrelated 20 cases with NRDS of Han ethnic group were selected as NRDS group while unrelated 20 cases of Han ethnic group with other diseases were selected as a control. The cases in the control group had congenital heart disease or bronchopulmonary dysplasia or persistent pulmonary artery hypertension. Blood sample was taken from each case. Lung tissues were taken from the patients in half an hour after their death in the two groups. Expression of SP-B in the lung tissues was determined with immunohistochemical technique. Genetic deficiency variant of SP-B intron Ⅳ was screened with polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Results Two cases at gestational age of 26 weeks, one at 34 weeks and two at 42 weeks in the NRDS groups had lower expression level of SP-B in the lung tissues than those at the same age in the the control group. Expression of SP-B in the lung tissues of the control group increased with gestational age, but no such phenomenon was found in NRDS group. Further two cases at gestational age 42 weeks of NRDS group had genetic deficiency variant of SP-B intron Ⅳ with gene analysis of five cases who had lower expression of SP-B. Clinical data suggest that patients at 42 weeks of gestational age had severe illness.Conclusion Decrease of SP-B expression may be involved in occurrence of NRDS, genetic deficiency variant of SP-B intron Ⅳ exists in NRDS cases of Han ethnic group of China.

In this paper, three kinds of chemotactic parameters (concentration, temperature and pH) were determined by plate assay and spore germination method to research the chemotactic response of Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria panax, and their spores on total ginsenosides. The results showed that Botrytis cinerea had strong chemotactic response at the mid-concentration of total ginsenosides (cultivation temperature was 20 degrees C and pH value was 6), and the data of chemotactic migration index (CMI) was 1.293 0, chemotactic growth rate (CGR) was 0.476 0, spore germination rate (SGR) was 53%, and dry weight of mycelial (DWM) was 0.452 6 g x L(-1); however, Alternaria panax had strong chemotactic response at the low-concentration of total ginsenosides (cultivation temperature was 25 degrees C and pH value was 6), and the data of chemotactic migration index (CMI) was 1.235 4, chemotactic growth rate (CGR) was 0.537 0, spore germination rate (SGR) was 67%, and dry weight of mycelial (DWM) was 0.494 8 g x L(-1). The results indicated that the low and middle concentration (2, 20 mg x L(-1)) of total ginsenosides had significant promoting effect on chemotactic response of these two pathogens, and the spore germination, mycelial growth rate, dry weight of mycelial of them were also significantly improved by this chemotactic response, whereas it decreased as the increase of total ginsenosides concentration.
Alternaria ; drug effects ; growth & development ; physiology ; Botrytis ; drug effects ; growth & development ; physiology ; Chemotaxis ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Ginsenosides ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Panax ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Plant Diseases ; microbiology ; Spores, Fungal ; drug effects ; growth & development ; physiology

Background Following the accelerated speed of population aging in China,the incidence of cataract is rising gradually.Researches indicated that senescenee marker protein-30 ( SMP-30 ) is closely associated with the occurring and developing of cataract. Objective This study was to investigate the expression of SMP-30 in human lens epithelial cells(LECs) of age-related cataract and study the relationship between SMP-30 and apoptosis.Methods Capsulotomy was performed on 80 eyes of 59 patients with simple cortex age-related cataract and 70 eyes of 53 age-matched patients with nucleus age-related cataract.The anterior capsular specimens were obtained by circularly capsulorhexis during the operation.Expressions of the SMP-30 protein and mRNA in the LECs of two types of cataract were detected using immunochemistry and real-time PCR respectively.Apoptosis of the LECs was assayed by TUNEL.The differences of expression of SMP-30 and apoptosis were compared between the two types of cataract.Results Immunochemistry showed that SMP-30 was expressed in cytoplasm of LECs.The expression intensity of SMP-30 was higher in the center zone compared with periphery zone.The apoptosis rate of LECs was significantly higher in the center of the anterior capsule than the periphery in both two types of cataract ( nucleus cataract:19.34％±0.11％ vs 8.32 ％ ± 0.57 ％,P =0.025 ; cortex cataract:42.07 ％ ± 0.86 ％ vs 13.55 ％ ± 0.64 ％,P =0.010 ).The expression amount of SMP-30 mRNA was lower at the periphery than the center of lens in both two types of cataract (nucleus cataract:45.21±2.79 vs 76.42±11.21,P=0.042 ;cortex cataract:108.32±4.32 vs 206.34±15.67,P=0.037 ),and that of nucleus cataract was significantly lower than cortex cataract (60.02±9.08 vs 157.33 ± 13.01,P =0.034),and the apoptosis rate of LECs was declined in the nucleus cataract group compared with the cortex cataract group ( 14.05％ ±0.22％ vs 27.70％ ±0.81％,P =0.007 ). Conclusions LECs apoptosis exists in age-related cataract.SMP-30 probably plays an important role in the formation of cataract.

Choosing the right solvent and timely use is the basis of rational drug use and the most direct and efficient way to improve the safety of traditional Chinese medicine injections. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of solvent and drug preparation time on Shuanghuanglian injection inducing pseudo-allergic reactions with mouse mode. The two tests were carried out: (1) Comparative experiment between different solvent: Shuanghuanglian injection preparation to the appropriate concentration with 0.9% sodium chloride injection and 5% dextrose injection, mixed with Evans blue, at one time intravenous injected into mice, 30 minutes later, the mouse ears vascular permeability were observed and compared. (2) Comparative experiment among different preparation time: placed 10 min, 2.5 h, 6 h and 24 h after Shuanghuanglian injection were prepared and then to detect the pseudo-allergic reactions in mice using the same methods as in (1). The results showed that there was no significant difference in the pseudo-allergic reactions in mice which induced by the same dose of Shuanghuanglian injection, respectively with 0.9% sodium chloride injection and 5% dextrose injection preparation, and with the extension of preparation time, the degree of pseudo-allergic reactions of Shuanghuanglian injection was gradually severe.
Animals ; Drug Compounding ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; etiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; Injections ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Solvents ; Time Factors

To evaluated the pseudo-allergic reactions of cordate houttuynia, pulse-activating and Qingkailing injection in mice, the ICR mouse were divided into different test groups, then were intravenously injected with three traditional Chinese medicine injections, positive control compound 48/80 and physiological saline as normal control. All test substances were mixed with 0.4% Evans blue. The reaction and vascular permeability of the ears were observed and measured 30 min after injection. At the same time, the mechanisms of the traditional Chinese injections' pseudo-allergic reactions was studyed. ICR mice were injected with the test substances as above without EB, blood in a part of mice were collected after 5 min, and the level of histamine in the plasma were measured. Blood in the other part of mice were collected after 30 min, and the level of VEGF, TNF-α and IL-10 in the serum were measured. The reasults showed that except the cordate houttuynia injection, pulse-activating injection in 1. 5 times clinical concentration and Qingkailing injection in 3.3 times clinical concentration caused mild pseudo-allergic reactions mainly for vascular permeability, no pseudo-allergic reactions occurred when the concentration of the two injections was below the concentration metioned above; 5 minutes after intravenous injection of the three TCM injections into ICR mice with the highest dose, the levels of histamine in plasma of pulse-activating injection and Qingkailing injection groups were increased significantly, 30 minutes later, the levels of VEGF, TNF-α and IL-10 in the serum of all groups were no significant change compared to normal group. The mouse of pulse-activating and Qingkailing injection groups showed inflammatory changes in ear and lung tissues. It can be conluded that when the dose or concentration increased to a certain extent, pulse-activating and Qingkailing injection could induce pseudo-allergic reactions on ICR mice, the increased histamine realease maybe the main reason for pseudo-allergic reactions of the two traditional Chinese medicine injections. In addition the author preliminary thought that inflammatory mechanisms leading to hyperpermeabilities were the main reason of the traditional Chinese medicine injection's pseudo-allergic reaction.
Animals ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; etiology ; Humans ; Injections ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; adverse effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR

OBJECTIVETo explore the best acupoints for the treatment of herpes zoster.

METHODSTwo hundred cases were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 100 cases in each one. In observation group, meridian-collateral electric information diagnosis and treatment instrument was used to detect meridian and collateral so as to find out the relevant "sick meridian open" for electric stimulation, bloodletting and cupping. In control group, Acyclovir was administered orally.

RESULTSIn observation group, it had been dectcted that "sick meridian open" were mostly localized in Ashi point (Extra), Zhangmen (LR 13), Daimai (GB 26), Qimen (LR 14), Dabao (SP 15), etc. The totally effective rate in observation group was 100.0% (100/100) that was superior to 60.0% (60/100) in control group (P < 0.000 1). Additionally, the time for pain relief, blister relief and scarring in observation group was shorter obviously than that in control group (P < 0.000 1). There was no case of post-herpetic neuralgia in observation group, but the incidence of it in control group was 26.0% (26/100).

CONCLUSIONMeridian-collateral diagnosis and treatment instrument detects "sick meridian open" for electric stimulation and bloodletting and cupping in the treatment of herpes zoster, which can effectively relieve pain and prevent from post-herpetic neuralgia promptly.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; Female ; Herpes Zoster ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Neuralgia ; therapy ; Punctures

OBJECTIVE: To profile urinary metabolite variations from 1, 2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced precancerous colon rats, Jinfu Kang treated rats and healthy controls.

METHODWe used ethyl chloroformate derivatization and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) based metabonomic method to analyze rat urines.

RESULTThe time-dependent variations of metabolite profile showed a progressive deviation of the metabolism in the model group from the initial pattern over time and a systemic recovery of the metabolism in the treatment group, which is consistent with the histological results. The in-depth analysis indicated that the disorder of tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), tryptophan metabolism, polyamine metabolism and gut flora structure were associated with DMH intervention.

CONCLUSIONMetabolic study revealed that Jinfu Kang can effectively reverse metabolic departures in DMH-induced precancerous colon rat, which is consistent with pathological results.

Animals ; Colonic Neoplasms ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Colonic Polyps ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; urine ; Dimethylhydrazines ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar