This study took herbal medicinePoria cocosas an example to establish a method to explore the potential function of herbal medicine. And then, the new function was identified through the systematic study. It was able to improve the application range of herbal medicine and the clinical therapeutic effects. The established database management system ofPu-Ji-Fanghad been used for the searching ofPoria cocosin the treatment of different diseases in order to receive the compound prescription containedPoria cocos in different diseases. Then, indications recorded in herbalism literatures through dynasties and thePharmacopoeia of People’s Republic of China(Chinese Pharmacopoeia) were compared. Through statistical analysis and logical judgment, as well as the combination of modern pharmacological research results and clinical therapeutic evaluations, the overall understanding on conventional and potential functions ofPoria cocos were received. The results showed that the functions ofPoria cocos summarized through dynasties contained alleviating thirst, eliminating phlegm, enhancing memory, astringent, relieving cough and vomiting, invigorating blood circulation, promoting appetite and securing fetus, as well as treatment of deficiency, vomiting, stroke, diabetes, cough, cold damage syndrome, convulsion and other syndrome, were not recorded in theChinese Pharmacopoeia. It was concluded that tonifying kidney, relieving cough and phlegm, relieving vomiting, alleviating thirst, expelling wind, relieving convulsion and securing fetus were the potential function ofPoria cocos, which should arouse the attention from the academic community.

This article was aimed to study potential functions of Mori Cortex. Through the investigation of Mori Cortex in ancient herbal literatures, ancient prescriptions, the 2010 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, current pharmacodynamics and clinical studies, potential functions of Mori Cortex that had been lost were analyzed through comparative analysis. The results showed that the confirmed core functions of Mori Cortex recorded in ancient materia medica were in consistent with its applications in ancient prescriptions and its records in theChinese Pharmacopoeia. The functions summarized from the materia medica literatures contained potential functions such as supplementing qi, promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis, encouraging production of body fluids to extinguish thirst, removing phlegm, hemostasis, relieving stranguria, analgesia, expelling wind, and deworming. Mori Cortex compound prescription recorded in thePu-Ji-Fangdatabase were used in the treatment of consumptive disease, sore, typhoid, traumatic injury, stroke, diabetes, stranguria, arthralgia syndrome, phlegm, bleeding, various types of pain, parasitic diseases, poisonous insect bites, itching, and pox. All these potential functions of Mori Cortex were not included in theChinese Pharmacopoeia. It was concluded that combined with experimental researches and current clinical applications, potential functions such as supplementingqi, promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis, encouraging production of body fluids to extinguish thirst, removing phlegm, and relieving stranguria of Mori Cortex were confirmed.

0.05), 9.6% vs. 17.0% were stage Ⅳ ( P

Objective To evaluate the effect of human milk fortification on short‐term growth of premature infants in NICU and its clinical safety .Methods According to different formulas ,the premature infants were divided into preterm formula group ,human milk group and human milk fortification group (HMF group) .Its growth rate ,blood biochemistry ,adverse event rate and so on were compared .Results There were 147 cases meeting requirements .the weight growth velocity of preterm formula group ,human milk group and HMF group were (19 .44 ± 5 .14) ,(14 .53 ± 5 .86) ,(17 .09 ± 5 .81) g · kg -1 · d-1 respectively with statistical sig‐nificance (P<0 .01);the growth velocity of head circumference of preterm formula group (0 .72 ± 0 .34)cm/w and HMF group (0 .71 ± 0 .29) cm/w were significantly higher than that of human milk group (0 .51 ± 0 .34)cm/w (P<0 .01);the time of regaining or overtopping birth weight of preterm formula group (8 .55 ± 3 .20)d and HMF group (9 .43 ± 4 .53)d was significantly shorter than that of human milk group (10 .93 ± 3 .02)d(P<0 .01);the EUGR occurrence rate of head circumference of preterm formula group and HMF group were significantly lower than that of human milk group(P<0 .01) .The feeding intolerance rate of preterm formula group (15 .52% ) was significantly higher than that of human milk group (2 .13% ) (P<0 .05);there were no significant difference in incidence rate of infection event in each group(P>0 .05) .Conclusion Human milk fortification can control the inci‐dence rate of infection event and feeding intolerance to increase growth velocity of weight and head circumference of premature in‐fants during hospital stay .

Through the investigation ofGentiana macrophylla in herbalism literatures, ancient prescriptions and theChinese Pharmacopoeia 2010 edition, we found that functions from ancient herbalism and prescriptions were in conformity with those from theChinese Pharmacopoeia. However, other functions recorded in ancient literatures such as dissipating wind, calming the liver to stop wind, clearing heat-fire, stopping bleeding, relieving cough were not included in theChinese Pharmacopoeia. With modern studies on pharmacodynamics and clinical applications, these functions were primarily conformed as the lost potential functions ofG. macrophylla.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between sevoflurane-induced cognitive decline and α1A norepinephrine receptor (ADRA1A) in the cerebral cortex of rats.Methods Forty-eight cleangrade healthy adult Sprague-Dawley rats (24 male,24 female),weighing 220-260 g,aged 3-4 months old,were divided into 2 groups (n =24 each) using a random number table method:control group (group C) and sevoflurane group (S group).Group S inhaled 3％ sevoflurane for 5 h.Rats underwent the Barnes maze test on days 1 and 7 after anesthesia.Rats were sacrificed immediately after anesthesia and on days 1 and 7 after anesthesia,and the cerebral cortex was removed for determination of the expression of ADRA1A protein and mRNA (by Western blot or fluorescent quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction).Results Compared with group C,the number of entering incorrect holes was significantly increased,and the latency of entering the target hole and the distance were prolonged,and the expression of ADRA1A protein and mRNA in cerebral cortex was down-regulated at each time point in group S (P＜0.05).Conclusion The mechanism of sevoflurane-induced cognitive decline is related to down-regulated expression of ADRA1A in the cerebral cortex of rats.

Objective To evaluate the effect of nicorandil on early prognosis in patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).Methods Forty American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅱ or Ⅳ patients,aged 18-64 yr,with New York Heart Association grade Ⅱ or Ⅲ,scheduled for elective cardiac valve replacement with CPB,were divided into 2 groups (n =20 each) using a random number table method:control group and nicorandil group.Nicorandil was intravenously infused at 10-60 μg · kg-1 · h-1 (3-15 ml/h) after anesthesia induction until the end of surgery in nicorandil group.Before anesthesia induction (To) and at 6,12,24,48 and 72 h after surgery (T1-5),and when the patients were discharged from hospital (T6),venous blood samples were obtained for determination of the concentrations of serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and brain natriuretic peptide.The events of myocardial ischemia or development of arrhythmia before and after surgery,development of defibrillation during restoration of heart beat,spontaneous heart beat,drug administration during restoration of heart beat,heart rhythm after restoration of heart beat,and the requirement for cardiovascular drugs during and after surgery were recorded.The mechanical ventilation time,duration of intensive care unit stay,and length of postoperative hospital stay were also recorded.Results Compared with control group,the concentrations of serum cTnI at T2,3 and brain natriuretic peptide at T2-6 were significantly decreased,the consumption of intraoperative norepinephrine and postoperative dobutamine was reduced,and the ventilation time and duration of intensive care unit stay were shortened (P＜0.05),and no significant change was found in the rate of defibrillation,restoration of spontaneous heart beat,requirement for drugs during restoration,heart rhythm after restoration or duration of postoperative hospital stay in nicorandil group (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Continuously infusing nicorandil during surgery can reduce myocardial injury and improve early prognosis in patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement with CPB.

Objective To evaluate the effect of sevoflurane anesthesia on the expression of hippocampal α4 subunit-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α4nAChR) in rats.Methods One hundred and forty-four Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes,aged 3-4 months,weighing 220-270 g,were divided into 4 groups (n =36 each) using a random number table:control group (group C),sevoflurane anesthesia for 1 h group (group S1),sevoflurane anesthesia for 3 h group (group S2) and sevoflurane anesthesia for 5 h group (group S3).Group C inhaled air,and S1,S2 and S3 groups inhaled 3％ sevoflurane for 1,3 and 5 h,respectively.Twelve rats in each group were selected at 1 and 7 days after emergence from anesthesia to undergo spatial probe test.Rats were then sacrificed immediately after anesthesia and at 1 and 7 days after emergence from anesthesia,and hippocampi were removed for determination of the expression of α4nAchR protein and mRNA in hippocampal neurons (by Western blot or real-time polymerase chain reaction).Results Compared with group C,the duration of staying at the target quadrant was significantly shortened,and the ratio of duration of staying at the original platform quadrant to the total duration and ratio of swimming distance in the original platform quadrant to the total distance were decreased on 1 and 7 days after emergence from anesthesia,the expression of α4nAchR protein and mRNA was down-regulated,and the number of positive cells was reduced in S1,S2 and S3 groups (P＜0.05).Compared with S1 and S2 groups,the duration of staying at the target quadrant was significantly shortened,the ratio of duration of staying at the original platform quadrant to the total duration and ratio of swimming distance in the original platform quadrant to the total distance were decreased on 1 day after emergence from anesthesia in group S3 (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the expression of α4nAchR protein and mRNA or number of positive cells at each time point between group S1,group S2 and group S3 (P＞0.05).Conclusion The mechanism by which sevoflurane anesthesia induces cognitive dysfunction may be partially related to down-regulating the expression of hippocampal α4nAchR in rats.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between sevoflurane-induced cognitive impairment and α1B adrenoceptors (ADRA1B) and ADRA1D in the cerebral cortex of rats.Methods Forty-eight SPF adult Sprague-Dawley rats (half male,half female),weighing 220-260 g,were divided into control group (C group,n =24) and sevoflurane group (S group,n =24) using a random number table method.Group C and group S inhaled air and 3％ sevoflurane,respectively,for 5 h.Eight rats in each group were sacrificed immediately after anesthesia,and the cerebral cortex was removed.Eight rats in each group were selected on days 1 and 7 after anesthesia and underwent Barnes maze test.The rats were then sacrificed,and the cerebral cortex was removed.The expression of ADRA1B and ADRA1D protein and mRNA in cerebral cortex tissues was detected by Western blot and fluorescent quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction,respectively.Results Compared with group C,the number of entering incorrect holes was significantly increased at 1 and 7 days after anesthesia,the latency and total distance to enter the target hole were prolonged,and the expression of ADRA1B and ADRA1D protein and mRNA in cerebral cortex was down-regulated immediately after anesthesia and at 1 and 7 days after anesthesia in group S (P＜0.05).Conclusion The mechanism underlying sevoflurane-induced cognitive impairment may be related to the down-regulated expression of ADRA1B and ADRA1D in cerebral cortex of rats.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of nicorandil on cardiac function in the patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).Methods:Forty patients of both sexes, aged 18-64 yr, of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅱ-Ⅳ, with New York Heart Association class Ⅱ or Ⅲ, with body mass index of 18-25 kg/m 2, scheduled for elective cardiac valve replacement under general anesthesia and CPB, were divided into conventional group( n=20) and nicorandil group( n=20) according to a randomized number table method.In nicorandil group, nicorandil 10-60 μg·kg -1·h -1 was intravenously infused starting from the end of anesthesia induction until the the end of operation.Mean arterial pressure was maintained at 60-80 mmHg in two groups.Venous blood samples were collected before induction of anesthesia (T 0) and at 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after operation (T 1-5) and at the time of discharge (T 6) to determine the serum amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentrations.The occurrence of myocardial ischemic events or arrhythmia before and after operation was recorded.The defibrillation during intraoperative restoration of spontaneous heart beat, restoration of spontaneous heart beat, medication during restoration of spontaneous heart beat, and cardiac rhythm after restoration of spontaneous heart beat were recorded.The intra- and post-operative requirements for cardiovascular drugs were recorded.The mechanical ventilation time and intensive care unit stay time were also recorded. Results:Compared with conventional group, the serum NT-proBNP concentration was significantly decreased at T 5 and T 6, the mechanical ventilation time and intensive care unit stay time were shortened, the consumption of intraoperative norepinephrine and postoperative dobutamine was decreased ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the incidence of postoperative myocardial ischemic events or arrhythmias, defibrillation rate during restoration of spontaneous heart beat, rate of spontaneous recovery of heart beat, cardiac rhythm after restoration of spontaneous heart beat or medication during restoration of spontaneous heart beat in nicorandil group ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Intravenous infusion of nicorandil can improve the cardiac function and is helpful in improving short-term prognosis in the patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement under CPB.