OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Pi transportation, dampness resolving and phlegm expelling herbs (PTDRPEH) on the obesity degree, fat hormones, and leptin resistance in diet-induced obesity (DIO) rats.

METHODSAmong the 120 Wister rats, 10 were recruited as the blank control group (fed with basal forage), and the remaining 110 were administered with high-fat high-nutrition forage for 17 weeks. According to weight, we obtained 40 DIO rats and 10 diet-induced obesity resistance (DIO-R) rats. DIO rats were further divided into four groups, i.e., the DIO model group (normal saline, at the daily dose of 2 mL), the sibutramine group (at the daily dose of 1.6 mg/kg), the dampness resolving and phlegm expelling group (DRPE, at the daily dose of 3.2 g/kg), and the Pi transportation group (PT, at the daily dose of 3.2 g/kg). All were given by gastrogavage. Normal saline (2 mL) was given by gastrogavage to rats in the blank control group and the DIO-R group. The basal forage was administered to rats in the blank control group, while high fat forage was continually given to rats in the remaining five groups. Their body weights and body lengths were measured after 16 weeks of gastrogavage. All intra-abdominal fat was taken out to measure the degree of obesity and fat contents. Insulin resistance index (IRI), blood glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, leptin, neuropeptide Y (NPY), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and adiponectin were detected after blood withdrawing. Leptin, TNF-alpha, adiponectin, suppressors of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS-3), and other relevant adipose hormones and inflammatory cytokines were examined in the fat homogenate.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, DIO model rats' body weight, body mass index (BMI), fat factor, IRI, serum leptin, TNF-alpha, and SOCS-3 significantly increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); serum NPY, serum leptin, and adiponectin decreased (P < 0.05). Leptin increased and NPY decreased in DIO-R model rats. Compared with the DIO group, DIO-R model rats' body weight, BMI, fat factor, IRI, serum NPY, TNF-alpha, and SOCS-3 all decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); leptin and adiponectin in serum and the fat homogenate all increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). After intervention with Sibutramine, rats' body weight, BMI, fat factor, and TNF-alpha in the fat homogenate obviously decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Serum TNF-alpha decreased, leptin and adiponectin increased in rats of the DRPE group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). BMI, fat factor, IRI, leptin, and SOCS-3 showed a decreasing tendency, but with no statistical difference (P > 0.05). The body weight, BMI, fat factor, IRI, TNF-alpha, and SOCS-3 all decreased in the PT group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); leptin and adiponectin in the serum and the fat homogenate increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSSibutramine could reduce body weight and TNF-alpha in the adipose tissue. Herbs of PT could inhibit fat diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance (IR), with superior effect to herbs of DRPE. Its mechanism might be closely related to promoting leptin and adiponectin secreted by fat, reducing leptin resistance, and elevating serum levels of leptin and adiponectin.

Adiponectin ; blood ; Animals ; Diet, High-Fat ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Insulin Resistance ; Leptin ; blood ; Male ; Obesity ; blood ; drug therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effect of catalpol on vascular endothelial function in STZ-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats. 40 high-fat diet with STZ-induced diabetes rats were randomly divided into model group, catalpol low-dose, middle-dose and high-dose group (10, 50, 100 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)), 10 normal Wistar rats were used as the normal group. The normal and model groups were given an equivalent amount of saline. All reagents were administered by oral gavage for 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, blood glucose and lipids were detected by an automatic biochemical analyzer. The endothelium-dependent vasodilation response of thoracic aortar was detected. The pathological changes of the thoracic aorta were observed by HE staining. Ser- um nitric oxide (NO), 8-iso prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were detected by ELISA. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) level of thoracic aorta was detected by fluorescence method. The expression of Nox4 and p22phox mRNA and protein in aortic tissue were detected by RT-PCR and Western-blot respectively. After catalpol treatment, endothelial damage of thoracic aorta was attenuated significantly; ROS level of thoracic aorta and serum level of 8-iso-PGF2α were decreased significantly; serum NO and SOD levels were remarkably elevated; expression of Nox4, p22phox mRNA and protein in thoracic aorta were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). Therefore, catalpol has protective effect on endothelial of T2DM, its mechanism may be associated with the down-regulation of Nox4 and p22phox expression, inhibiting oxidative stress reaction response.
Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; pathology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; pathology ; Dinoprost ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Iridoid Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Male ; NADPH Oxidase 4 ; NADPH Oxidases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Retinoblastoma is the most common intraoeular malignant tumor in children.In its treatment,drug therapy is one of the most effective and irreplaceable methods.To reduce the toxicity of drugs,enhance the therapeutic effect and lessen drug resistance, some new drug deliver systems and new medicines for retinoblastoma are coming into being.Ophthalmic arterial infusion,fibrin sealant and iontophoresis are newly-found drug deliver systems.And the latest drugs under research include nutlins,phenoxazine derivative Phx-1,combretastatin A4 phosphate,2-deoxy-d-glucose and histone deacetylase inhibitors,etc.The following text is focused on the two aspects of the drug therapy for retinoblastoma.

Objective To investigate the incidence of the nosocomial infection in patients of Shenzhen district polyclinic,provide solution for controlling the nosocomial infection and give precautionary measures for the future.Methods By prospective and retrospective combinative case-control methods,the incidence of nosocomial infection of the in-patients during May 2002 to December 2004 was investigated and analyzed.Results There were 237 patients and 251 cases of nosocomial infection from 10271 in-patients.The incidence of nosocomial disease was 2.31%.The infection rate was 2.44%.Conclusion In the basis of completely utilizing the third-class network management in nosocomial infection,the precautionary nosocomial infection can be effectually controlled by monitoring and enhancing staff training.

OBJECTIVE:To put forward strategies to evolve the current drug bidding system.METHODS:The objective and efficacy of the drug bidding system was analyzed;and the reasons for the poor efficacy of the system were analyzed using the information asymmetry theory in economics,and the system was compared with its US counterpart.RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS:The drug bidding system in China should adopt such model in which the payers are chosen as agency and charge from the entrusting party.It is a systematic project to standardize drug circulation channels,reduce drug price and reduce the burden of patient,which can't be tackled by drug bidding system only.

Recently,studies have demonstrated that several signaling pathways including Wnt,Notch,and Hedgehog which are involved in the regulation of the stem cells are abnormally activated in lung cancer.They are closely associated with some properties of the lung cancer stem cells,such as high tumorigenic,high metastasis,drug resistance and so on.In addition,several studies have shown that the population of the lung cancer stem cells,which are resistant to radiotherapy and chemotherapy significantly,highly express drug resistance proteins.Therefore,how to target lung cancer stem cells and ultimately cure the disease is becoming a hotspot in the cancer targeted therapy.

Animals ; Chronic Disease ; drug therapy ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; International Cooperation ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; trends ; Primary Prevention ; methods

Abstract?AIM: To characterize the effects of sodium iodate on mouse retinal morphology and function.?METHODS: Sodium iodate at 35mg/kg ( body weight) was administered by tail vein injection into adult 6-8wk C57BL/6J mice. Morphological and functional changes of the retina were assessed at 6h, 1, 3, 5 and 8d after injections by fundus imaging, optical coherence tomography (OCT), ERG and histology. Mice in control group were give tail vein injection of equivalent dose of normal saline. All the eyeballs were removed for paraffin section and H-E staining.?RESULTS: The fundus photographs images at 6h after injection showed obvious changes, which were light red in retina and showed retinal blood vessels radial arranged. At 6h after injection, off-white drusen-like change was found at fundus. While there were no observable changes in OCT image and ERG. At 1d after injection, the fundus lesion aggravated and the drusen increased gradually. There were retinal pigment epithelial ( RPE) disorders, photoreceptors and outer nuclear layer (ONL) damage through OCT. At 3d after injection, the retina lesion aggravated further and the retina became edema. At 5d after injection, the retina edema cleared away, the optic nerve became white and the fundus lesions increased. At 8d after injection, the RPE layer, photoreceptors and ONL were destroyed obviously. In the process, ERG showed the amplitudes of a- and b-wave decreased in a time-dependent manner. H-E staining showed that cells in retina of mice in control group were neatly arranged and well- distributed. The outer layer retina of sodium iodate injection group was wave-like, the normal structure of RPE disappeared and black round sediment could be seen which increased with time. At 8d after injection, there were any normal RPE.?CONCLUSION: The tail vein injection of sodium iodate can well simulate the pathogenesis of age - related macular degeneration which can provide a good animal model for AMD.

The treatment plan of facial neuritis in Evidence-based Guidelines of Clinical Practice in Acupuncture and Moxibustion (2011 edition) is discussed, and case information of facial neuritis during the recent five years in department of acupuncture and moxibustion, PLA General Hospital, is retrospectively analyzed. In accordance with anatomy of the facial nerve to form the acupuncture prescription, the detailed diagnosis and treatment method for facial neuritis are introduced. The advantages of the diagnosis and treatment method for facial neuritis are summarized, hoping to establish a more comprehensive, standardized and unified treatment plan.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; standards ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; standards ; Facial Nerve ; anatomy & histology ; Facial Nerve Diseases ; therapy ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; standards ; Practice Guidelines as Topic

The research was carried out to establish HPLC fingerprints of Tibetan medicinal herb "Songdi" (Saxifraga umbellulata var. pectinata), and to provide reference for identification an quality control of it. It was performed on an Amethyst-C18-P (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) column with the mobile phase of methanol-0.4% formic acid in a linear gradient mode at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1). The column temperature was 30 degrees C, and the detection wavelength was set at 254 nm. The software for chromatographic fingerprint was applied to analyse the pattern analysis, the common peaks and similarity. Cluster analysis was done based on the common peaks data of 33 samples from different plant species and sources by SPSS software. Ten common chromatographic peaks were identified by fingerprint, showing a low similarity in constituent and variety. Flavonoids and saponins were the principal components. The number and area of peaks were affected by the collection sources and method. The high similarity are showed by the samples derived from the same area with high accuracy and high purity. The method is so simple, exclusive, stable and high repeatable that it can provide reference for identification and quality assessment of "Songdi" (S. umbellulata var. pectinata).
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; Quality Control ; Saxifragaceae ; chemistry