Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture with points selection based on yin-yang and qi-blood in treating insomnia by using polysomnography.Method Seventy-five insomnia patients were randomized into a treatment group of 38 cases and a control group of 37 cases. The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture with points selection based on yin-yang and qi-blood, while the control group was by oral administration of Estazolam. The polysomnography was used to assess sleep condition before and after 2 treatment courses, and the clinical efficacies were compared between the two groups.Result The sleep parameters [sleep latency, rapid eye movement (REM) latency, total sleep duration, and sleep efficiency) were significantly changed after the treatment in both groups (P<0.01). The Non-REM (NREM) and REM duration of the treatment group were significantly changed after the treatment (P<0.01). The REM duration of the control group was significantly changed after the treatment (P<0.01). After the treatment, the NREM and REM durations of the treatment group were significantly different from that of the control group (P<0.01). The sleep durations in S1, S2, S3, and S4 stages during NREM were significantly changed in the treatment group after the intervention (P<0.01). The sleep duration in S1, S2 during NREM was markedly changed in the control group after the intervention (P<0.01 ,P<0.05). After the treatment, the sleep durations in S1, S2, S3, and S4 during NREM of the treatment group were significantly different from that of the control group (P<0.01). The total effective rate was 73.7% in the treatment group versus 75.7% in the control group, and the difference was statistically insignificant (P>0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture with points selection based on yin-yang and qi-blood is effective in treating insomnia, and it can improve the sleep structure and quality.

Notch signaling, a highly conserved pathway, is wide-ly found in invertebrates and vertebrates. By mediating cell com-munication, it can regulate many physiological and pathological processes in various kinds of cells, including cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis in multi-cellular organism. Accu-mulating evidence shows that abnormality in Notch signaling is highly related to diabetes mellitus and its complications. Accord-ingly, this paper reviews the molecular basis of Notch signaling and the relations between its abnormal expression and diabetes mellitus, and focuses on the impact of key elements in the Notch signaling pathway on diabetic complications as well as correlative mechanisms.

OBJECTIVE:To study the effect and its possible mechanism of Xuezhiping capsule on blood lipid levels of high blood lipid model golden hamsters. METHODS:Golden hamsters were randomly divided into normal control group,model group, atorvastatin group (3 mg/kg),combination group (Xuezhiping capsule 1.3 g/kg+atorvastatin 1.5 mg/kg),Xuezhiping capsule low-dose,medium-dose,high-dose groups(Xuezhiping capsule 1.3,2.6,5.2 g/kg),10 in each group. Hamsters in normal control group received normal diet,the other groups were given high-fat diet to establish high blood lipid model. Then relevant drugs were intragastrically given 2 weeks later. Normal control group and model group were intragastrically given equal volume of distilled wa-ter,once a day,for 4 weeks. After last administration,blood lipid indexes(TG,TC,HDL-C,LDL-C,FFA),mRNA and protein expressions of lipid metabolism related genes (PPAR-α,CYP7A1,ACOX,SREBP-1c,ACC1) were detected. RESULTS:Com-pared with normal control group,serum contents of TC,TG,LDL-C,FFA in model group increased,HDL-C content decreased;PPAR-α,CYP7A1,ACOX mRNA and protein expressions were weakened,SREBP-1c,ACC1 mRNA and protein expressions were enhanced(P<0.05). Compared with model group,above-mentioned indexes were obviously improved in Xuezhiping capsule high-dose group,atorvastatin group and combination group (except for HDL-C in Xuezhiping capsule high-dose group)(P<0.05);TC,TG,FFA contents,and PPAR-α,CYP7A1,ACOX,ACC1 mRNA,and CYP7A1,SREBP-1c,ACC1 protein were obviously improved in Xuezhiping capsule medium-dose group(P<0.05);TC,TG contents,and PPAR-α mRNA,and CYP7A1, SREBP-1c protein were obviously improved in Xuezhiping capsule low-dose group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Xuezhiping cap-sule has a promising effect of lowering blood lipid,the mechanism may be related to activating PPAR-α and inhibiting SREBP-lc signaling pathway.

Arsenic trioxide has a significantly positive effect on the treatment of acute promyelocyte leukemia( APL) , and it also has been proved that arsenic trioxide can protect against some other kinds of malignant tumors in recent years. However, with the further research about arsenic trioxide, the reports about car-diac toxicity of arsenic trioxide are increasing. Currently, the possible mechanisms of As2 O3-induced cardiotoxicity are mainly considered to be associated with changes in cardiac ion chan-nels, oxidative stress injury and apoptosis. Research advances on cardiac toxicity of arsenic trioxide and some ways of preven-tion are summarized.

In order to find the cardiotonic constituents of lateral roots of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx., the investigation was carried out. Silica gel column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20, medium-pressure MCI and reverse phase ODS column chromatography were used to separate the 90% EtOH extract of the lateral roots of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx. The structures of the isolated compounds have been identified by chemical properties and spectroscopic analyses. Ten compounds were isolated and their structures were elucidated as benzoic acid-5-hydroxy-2-benzoyl-amino methyl ester (1), honokiol (2), pinoresinol (3), salicylic acid (4), p-hydroxy-cinnamic acid (5), songorine (6), karakoline (7), mesaconitine (8), hypaconitine (9) and 14-benzoylhypaconitine (10), separetely. Compound 1 is a new compound and its structure has been established by NMR, HR-ESI-MS, UV, IR and X-Ray. Compound 2-5 are isolated from the lateral roots of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx. for the first time.

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury ( MI/RI) is a pathophysiological phenomenon commonly seen during thromboly-sis, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty ( PTCA ) , and coronary artery bypass grafting ( CABG ) . It is defined as restoration of blood flow to a previously ischemic region followed by complex pathological events leading to tissue injury greater than the original ischemic insult. Many experimental interven-tions have been reported to protect the ischemic myocardium in experimental animals; however, with the exception of early reperfusion, none has been translated into clinical practice. The root of Panax notoginseng ( Burk. ) F. H. Chen ( PN) is one of the iconic herbs in traditional Chinese medicine. Traditional pharmacopeia recommended it among the most efficacious herbs for‘promoting blood circulation ’ and hemostasis. Inspired by this, in the last decade, a large number of modern investigators made substantial efforts to search the PN activities against a vari-ety of MIRI. The systematic review was performed according to the protecting drug of the MIRI development guidelines.

The damage of tissue increases dramatically after reperfusion of blood supply to ischemic tissues.Immune response is one of the key reasons of ischemia-reperfusion injury.Th1 /Th2 generally stays balanced in normal states.Under the envi-ronment of ischemia reperfusion,Th1 /Th2 shifting let Th1 domi-nant to mediate cellular immunity.Excessive immune reaction may cause cell apoptosis and tissue damage.Recent studies showed that induction of transferring Th1 dominant to Th2 domi-nant was feasible for the treatment of ischemia-reperfusion inju-ry.With the progress of modern drug development paradigm“multi-composition,multi-target”,Chinese medicine has advan-tages in treating complex diseases.This paper summarizes the research of the relationship between Th1 /Th2 imbalance and is-chemia-reperfusion injury,together with the prospects of tradi-tional Chinese medicine with multi-target effect in ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Objective To select the optimal acupoints formula by evaluating the efficacy of different groups of acupoints in the treatment of post-stroke depression (PSD) with acupuncture. Method Totally 108 PSD patients were randomized into 3 groups, i.e. Neiguan (PC6) group, Taichong (LR3) group, and Baihui (GV20) group, 36 cases each. The acupuncture treatment was given once a day, 5 sessions a week, 3 weeks as a treatment course. The clinical efficacies were compared among the 3 groups after the intervention. The 3 groups were evaluated by the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and Quality of Life Scale (QOL) before and after the treatment, and the results were statistically analyzed. Result The effective rates were respectively 72.2%, 75.0%, and 86.1%in Neiguan group, Taichong group, and Baihui group, and the inter-group differences were statistically significant (P<0.05); the HAMD, NIHSS, and QOL scores were significantly changed after the intervention in the 3 groups (P<0.01);the inter-group differences in the NIHSS and QOL scores were statistically insignificant (P>0.05). Conclusion The three groups of acupoints are effective in improving the depression symptoms, neural defect and QOL, while Baihui group can produce a more significant efficacy in improving the depression symptoms compared to Neiguan and Taichong groups;the effects in improving neural defect and QOL are equivalent among the 3 groups of acupoints.

Objective To study the chronic toxicity and its severity of a Chinese medicine, Anshen Bunao Liquid ( ABL) , in rats, provide the target organs and extent of reversibility of their adverse effects, determine its non-toxic dose, and to evaluate the safety of medication and provide reference for clinical trial dose and observation indexes.Methods Two hundred and forty healthy 6-week old Wistar rats ( male:female=1:1) were divided into low,middle, and high dose Anshen Bunao liquid groups (2.5, 5, 10 mL/kg),and solvent control group (distilled water 2 mL/100 g), with 60 rats in each group.The drug was orally administered to rats once a day and 6 days per week for 26 weeks.The general state, body mass and food intake were measured.By the end of 13 weeks, 26 weeks of experiment and 4-week recovery period after drug withdrawal, hematological and biochemical indexes were assayed, organ coefficients were determined, and histopathological observation was performed.Results Long-term continuous oral administration of Anshen Bunao liquid, the general state, behavior and gross appearance showed no significant abnormal changes.Compared with the control group, no significant differences in all checked items were found in the treatment groups.During 3 and 6 months, the size and location of organs,organ weight and organ coefficient had no obvious changes, with only non-significant increase of weight of some organs.All the organ coefficients of the animals in different groups were within normal range.Histopathology showed no obvious patho-logical and toxicological changes even in the high-dose drug treatment group, and no delayed toxicity occurred after with-drawal of drug administration.Conclusions The Chinese drug, Anshen Bunao liquid has no obvious toxicity and no de-layed toxicity after withdrawal of the drug in rats.It is expected that the planned dose in clinical use is a safe dose.

Objective To compare the levels of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) from HIV-1 infected and HIV-1 negative individuals and in human tumor cells in the presence or absence of TLR ligand stimulation.Methods TaqMan probe real-time RT-PCR method for human IDO mRNA was established; IDO mRNA levels in the PBMCs from HIV-1+ and HIV-1-individuals were tested; IDO mnRNA levels in mucosal origin(T84,Caco-2,Hela) and leukocyte origin(THP-1,MT-4) tumor cells before and after exposure to agonists for TLR4,TLR7/8 and TLR9 were examined.Results It was found that a high level of IDO mRNA could be found in HIV-1+ individuals( 103.42 copy IDO mRNA/106 copy GAPDH mRNA) ; however,some high risk HIV-1-individuals may have also a high level of IDO mRNA.Some of the tumor cells could express higher level of IDO mRNA after exposure to TLR agonist.Conclusion This study indicated a role for IDO in the viral persistence and tumor formation in HIV/AIDS and further studies were warranted.