Asthma ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Inflammation Mediators ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy ; Signal Transduction

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound-medium frequency electrotherapy has better pain-relieving effect,whether it involves enkephalin and the like neurotransmitter is still not very clear, it is necessary to carry out qualitative and quantitative analysis of the pain response in rats received ultrasound-medium frequency electrotherapy.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pain-relieving effect of ultrasound-medium frequency electrotherapy and its influence on the enkephalin content in rats, aiming to probe its underlying mechanism and relationship with neurotransmitter enkephalin.DESIGN: Randomly controlled study taking experimental animals as subjects.SETTING: Department of Physiotherapy, First Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University, Institute of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical CollegeMATERIALS: This experiment was carried out at the Institute of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College between June 2002 and March 2003. Forty healthy male Wistar rats were adopted and randomized into four groups,namely methionine enkephalin detection experimental group and control group,as well as leucine enkephalin detection experimental group and control group with 10 rats in each group ,amongst which methionine enkephalin experimental group and leucine enkephalin experimental group were generally designed as experimental group ,with the other two group as control group.METHODS: ①Rats ín the experímental group were subjected to ultrasound-medium frequency electrotherapy with frequency of 0.8 MHz in manner of geminal pulse,the modulatìng frequency was 100 Hz and ultrasound intensity of 0.9 W/cm2;the carrier frequency of medium frequency electricity was 4 kHz with modulating frequency of 100 Hz in manner of continuous wave,the electric current of medium frequency was 2 mA and acting time of 10 min. rats in control group received the same dealing,but the higher voltage of ultrasound-medium frequency electrotheprauetic instrument was not used, thereby no energy output was available. tail flick test(TFr) was used to test rat algesthesia,and stopwatch was used to record the time for tail flick(s) that was taken as the value of pain threshold. ②The threshold of pain was tested at 10 minutes instantly after ultrasoundmedium frequency electric stimulation,and then pituitary (removing the posterior pituitary lobe) and hypothalamus were obtained to detect the content of methionine enkephalin and leucine enkephalin by using radioimmuno assay.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The changes of the pain threshold after treatment,the content of methionine enkephalin and leucine enkephalin.RESULTS: Totally 40 rats were enrolled in the experiment and entered in the results analysis. ① The changing rate of pain threshold in two experimental group were 265.79% and 272.90% respectively,the difference was of no statistical significance (P ＞ 0.05). ②After ultrasoundmedium frequency electrotherapy,the content of methionine enkephalin and leucine enkephalin in pituitary and hypothalamus were obviously higher than before treatment [ The changing rate of methionine enkephalin and leucine enkephalin in adenohypophysis was 300.48 ±36.21)% and(204.61±68.65)% , respectively, compared to (239.80±59.98)%and(205.53±51.62)% in hypothalamus, P ＜ 0.05]. ③Linear regression analysis revealed that the variance of the pain threshold was positively correlated with the content of methionine enkephalin in adenohypophysis(r=0.91 ,P ＜ 0.01), suggesting the increment of methionine enkephalin in adenohypophysis was closely connected with the increment of pain threshold,and the level of methionine enkephalin in adenohypophysis would be higher than that in control group by 117.02% when the value of pain threshold increased by100%.CONCLUSION: One of the important mechanisms for the pain-relieving effect of ultrasound-medium frequency electrotherapy might be the increase of methionine enkephalin in adenohypophysis.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the serum apolipoprotein B (ApoB)/ ApoA-Ⅰ ratio and intracranial artery stenosis in young patients with ischemic stroke.Methods Patients with ischemic stroke aged from 18 to 45 were enrolled in the study.Brain CT angiography was used to evaluate the degree of intracranial artery stenosis,and the concentrations of serum total cholesterol,triglyceride,highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol,low-density lipoprotein cholesterol,ApoA-Ⅰ,and ApoB were detected.The ratio of ApoB/ApoA-Ⅰ was calculated.The Demographic and clinical characteristics of the intracranial artery stenosis group and the non-intracranial artery stenosis group were compared.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent risk factors for intracranial artery stenosis in young patients with ischemic stroke.Results A total of 161 young patients with ischemic stroke were enrolled,including 89 in the intracranial artery stenosis group and 72 in the non-intracranial artery stenosis group.The constituent ratios of diabetes mellitus (20.2％ vs.6.9％;x2 =4.641,P =0.032),smoking (47.5％ vs.15.2％;x2 =15.121,P=0.001),hyperlipidermia (56.1％ vs.48.6％;x2 =4.197,P=0.040),as well as the radios in serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (1.29 ± 0.30 mmol/L vs.1.65 ± 0.34 mmol/L;t =7.131,P=0.002),ApoA-Ⅰ (1.49 ± 0.65 g/L vs.1.63 ± 0.23 g/L;t =2.751,P =0.001),ApoB (1.49 ± 0.65 g/L vs.1.63±0.23 g/L;t=2.751,P=0.001),and ApoB/ApoA-Ⅰ ratio (1.49±0.65 vs.1.63± 0.23;t =2.751,P=0.001) had significant differences between the two groups.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes (odds ratio [OR] 3.052,95％ confidence interval [CI] 1.186-7.856;P =0.021),smoking (OR 2.997,95％ Cl 1.456-6.172;P =0.003),hyperlipidemia (OR 4.745,95％ CI 2.108-10.668;P =0.001),ApoB (OR 4.861,95％ CI 3.029-7.802;P=0.001),and ApoB/ ApoA-Ⅰ ratio (OR 5.684,95％ CI 2.215-14.584;P=0.002) were the independent risk factors for intracranial artery stenosis in young patients with ischemic stroke,while HDL-C (OR 0.561,95％ CI 0.354-0.888;P=0.014) and ApoA-Ⅰ (OR 0.065,95％ CI 0.010-0.409;P=0.004) were the independent protective factors.After adjustment for hypertension,diabetes,smoking,hyperlipidemia,HDL-C,ApoA-Ⅰ,and ApoB,ApoB/ApoA-Ⅰ ratio was still an independent risk factor for intracranial artery stenosis in young patients with ischemic stroke (each increase of 1 standard deviation,OR 4.255,95％ CI 2.348-7.711;P=0.001).Conclusion ApoB/ApoA-Ⅰ ratio is an independent risk factor for intracranial artery stenosis in young patients with ischemic stroke.

Xanthan gum is a microbial, natural high molecular weight polysaccharide produced by a the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris. Due to its exceptional rheological properties, its numerous areas of application cover a broad range. This review focuses on various aspects of xanthan production, properties, degradation, and application.

AIM:To investigate the surgical method and extent of reoperation in the concomitant strabismus patients with surgical under-correction and over-correction.
METHODS: Ninety - six concomitant strabismus patients with surgical under - correction and over -correction were recruited in this study, which included 41 males and 55 females, aged 21. 90±14. 70. All individuals underwent routine eye examinations for strabismus before the surgery. Among the cases with concomitant esotropia, there were over-correction in 23 cases, under-correction in 15 cases. Among the cases with concomitant exotropia, there were over-correction in 28 cases, under - correction in 30 cases. The method of reoperation were based on angle of deviation, the method of original operation and acute visual acuity of patients.
RESULTS:In over - correction cases with concomitant esotropia, medial rectus muscle of 9 cases were advanced, the corrective extent was (5. 51±2. 63) ? / mm;9 cases were performed advance of medial rectus muscle and recession of lateral rectus muscle, the corrective extent was (6. 25±1. 59) ? / mm; 3 cases were performed resection of medial rectus muscle and recession of lateral rectus muscle, the corrective extent was (4. 26±1. 04) ? /mm; only 2 cases were performed recession of lateral rectus muscle, the corrective extent was (4. 21±1. 91) ? /mm. In under - correction cases with concomitant esotropia, 6 cases were performed resection of lateral rectus muscle, the corrective extent was (4. 03±0. 98) ? /mm; 6 cases were performed resection of lateral rectus muscle and recession of medial rectus muscle, the corrective extent was (6. 86 ± 1. 32) ? / mm; 3 cases were performed recession of medial rectus muscle, the corrective extent was ( 4. 33 ± 0. 29 ) ? / mm. In over -correction cases with concomitant exotropia, 16 cases were performed advance of lateral rectus muscle, the corrective extent was (5. 37 ± 1. 56) ? / mm; 6 cases were performed recession of medial rectus muscle, the corrective extent was (6. 29 ± 3. 68) ? / mm; 5 cases were performed advance of lateral rectus muscle and recession of medial rectus muscle, the corrective extent was (5. 46±1. 78) ? / mm; 1 case were performed resection of lateral rectus muscle, the corrective extent was 5. 00? / mm. In under - correction cases with concomitant exotropia, 12 cases were performed resection of medial rectus muscle, the corrective extent was (4. 47 ± 0. 54) ? / mm; 16 cases were performed recession of lateral rectus muscle and resection of medial rectus muscle, the corrective extent was ( 5. 11 ± 0. 75 ) ? / mm; 2 cases were performed recession of lateral rectus muscle, the corrective extent was (2. 65±0. 42) ? / mm.
CONCLUSION: In reoperation of concomitant strabismus patients with over-correction, weakening or/and strengthening the horizontal muscle which were performed surgery before has a greater and more unstable surgical corrective extent. While In reoperation of concomitant strabismuspatients with under -correction, weakening or/ and strengthening the horizontal muscle which were not performed surgery has a normal corrective extent as usual.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA Methylation ; DNA Restriction Enzymes ; metabolism ; DNA, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Glutathione S-Transferase pi ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods

This study aimed to simultaneously determine the contents of astilbin and engeletin in dong medicine "sunl gaems" of Guizhou origin by quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker (QAMS), with astilbin as the internal standard substance. On UPLC and HPLC chromatograms, different models of instruments were used to investigate relative correction factors (RCF), in order to discuss the interoperability of RCFs established in different chromatographic systems. The engeletin content was calculated based on the established RCFs and compared by the one point external standard method and the external standard working curve method, in order to verify the accuracy of QAMS. According to the result, in different chromatograms, the ratios between RCF and retention time of engeletin and astilbin had a good reproducibility, with RSD between 2.0% and 1.8%, both were less than 3%. The relative differences among results of QAMS, the external standard working curve method of dong medicine "sunl gaems" ranged between 1.6% and 3.9%, with RSD between 2.02%-0.80% in line with relevant requirements and Pearson correlation coefficient at 0.9998 (P <0.01). The findings showed that QAMS was an accurate, reliable and highly reproducible method to determine the contents of astilbin and engeletin in dong medicine "sunl gaems" of Guizhou origin and so could be used to control the inherent quality of the herb.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Flavonols ; analysis ; Glycosides ; analysis

The paper is aimed to search more natural plant antioxidants and further research and develop new medicinal plant resources in Guizhou. The Guizhou special miao medicine "bod zangd dak" was extracted with 60% ethanol. The antioxidant activity of the different polarity components separated from the extract was tested by DPPH method with ascorbic acid as positive control. The results showed that the IC50 of the different polarity components was as following: ascorbic acid (0.033 4 g x L(-1)) < ethyl acetate components (0.052 3 g x L(-1)) < total tannins components (0.054 9 g x L(-1)) < 60% ethanol extraction components (0.076 7 g x L(-1)) < butanol extraction components (0.110 g x L(-1)) < water-soluble polysaccharides components (0.168 g x L(-1)) < water extraction components (0.174 g x L(-1)) < water components after extraction (0.226 g x L(-1)) < total polysaccharides components (0.645 g x L(-1)). It is concluded that the different polarity components have different free radical scavenging activity and that provides a scientific basis for further search of the active ingredients and the activive mechanism.
Antioxidants ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Biphenyl Compounds ; chemistry ; China ; ethnology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Free Radicals ; chemistry ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Picrates ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Smilax ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of icariin on Bcl-2 and Bax protein expressions and eosinophils apoptosis in bronchial asthmatic mice.

METHODS48 female Balb/c mice were randomly divided into 6 groups, i.e., the normal control group, the model group, the Dexamethasone group, the low dose icariin group, the middle dose icariin group, and the high dose icariin group, 8 mice in each group. Bronchial asthma in mice were induced by intraperitoneal sensitization and challenged with nebulized ovalbumin (OVA). The mice of each treatment group were administrated with different doses of icariin by peritoneal injection from the first asthma sensitization (the 3rd week after the modeling) to the day before killing once every other day, while mice in the normal control group were administrated with physiological saline. The mice were killed after 6 weeks of treatment. The apoptosis of eosinophils and the Bcl-2 and Bax protein expressions of the lung tissues were detected by TUNEL and immunohistochemical assay respectively.

RESULTSAs compared with the model group, the apoptosis ratio of eosinophils were higher in the rest four treatment groups (P<0.05). The Bcl-2 protein positive areas in the lung tissues and the airway wall were significantly lowered (P<0.05). The Bax protein positive area significantly increased (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn bronchial asthmatic mice, icariin could enhance the apoptosis of eosinophils and lessen their infiltration by decreasing the expression of Bcl-2 protein and increasing the expression of Bax protein in lung.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Asthma ; metabolism ; Eosinophils ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Female ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the biomarkers and inflammatory characteristics for microcosmic syndrome differentiation of cold-phlegm syndrome (CPS) and heat-phlegm syndrome (HPS) in patients with bronchial asthma.

METHODSPatients with bronchial asthma of chronic persistent condition were distributed into three groups according syndrome differentiation, the CPS group (27 patients), the HPS group (32 patients) and the non-cold/heat-phlegm syndrome group (NP group, 31 patients), besides, a control group was setup with 33 healthy persons. Percentages of neutrophils and eosinophils (NEU, EOS) in sputum sample (collected by induction) and peripheral blood were counted; and levels of interleukin-8, -5, and -4 (IL-8, IL-5 and IL-4), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), leukotriene B4 (LT-B4), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in sputum supernatant and serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSPercentage of NEU in sputum of HPS group was higher than that in the other three groups (P < 0.05); while percentages of EOS in serum and sputum of CPS group were higher than that in the other three groups (all P < 0.01). Level of ECP (a parameter closely associated with EOS) also was high in the CPS group, but IL-8 (a parameter closely associated with NEU) showed no significant difference in various groups (P > 0.05). Moreover, the CPS group showed a higher serum IL-4 (P < 0.05) but a lower IFN-gamma/IL-4 level as compared with those in the NP group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPhlegm, which is considered by Chinese medicine as an inveterate root of asthma, might be closely related with the inflammation in modern medicine. The inflammatory characteristics of asthma in patients with CPS partially present as increase of EOS, possibly show Th2 dominant trend, similar to that presented in eosinophilic asthma. Asthma with HPS embodies increase of NEU in respiratory tract. EOS and ECP might be the important markers for microcosmic syndrome differentiation of CPS, and NEU might be that for HPS.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Asthma ; complications ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein ; metabolism ; Eosinophils ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; complications ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Neutrophils ; pathology ; Young Adult