Objective To observe the effect of Bushen Yizhi Prescription (BYP) on learning and memory in ovariec-tomized rats. Methods Three - month - old female SD rats were randomized into mimic operation group, model group, BYP group and estrogen control group. Ovariectomy was operated in the three latter groups. After operation, BYP group was treated with gastric infusion of BYP and estrogen group with subcutaneous injection of estrogen. The changes of refer- ence memory and working memory were tested by Morris water maze. Results & Conclusion Sixteen weeks after ovariecto-my, serum estrogen level was markedly decreased, the working memory became poor and the reference memory remained normal. B YP and estrogen can prevent the reduction of working memory in ovariectomized rats.

Objective To explore methods for establishinga cellu lar injury model of blood stasis syndrome (BSS). Methods Two experiments were c arried out. In the first experiment,the injured vascular endothelial cell model of BSS was established by the culture of vascular endothelial cell, and in the seco nd experiment, the vascular endothelial cell injured by the serum of BSS rabbit was cultured. Results In the first experiment, pathological features and end ocrine dysfunction in the primary cultured endothelial cell were similar to the B SS rabbit model, but the above changes did not remain in the subculture. The above changes were also found in the second experiment and were easy to be repea ted. Conclusion The injured vascular endothelial cell model of BSS establis hed b y the above methods reflects or partially reflects the structure and function of BSS rabbit model and the patients with BSS, and can be used to study the pathol ogical mechanism of BSS and therapeutic effect of blood_circulation activating a nd blood_stasis removing herbs.

Objective To obtain an accurate prevalence of dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in large sample of ≥75 year old elderly living in Guangzhou city. Methods From August 1994 to December 1995, the study was conducted in Liwan District of Guangzhou, China. A two stage cluster sampling design was used to obtain a large sample. ‘Jiedao’ (resident unit in China) was the primary sampling units (PSU),‘Jumin Xiaozu’ (resident group) was the secondary sampling units (SSU). Systematic sampling and simple random sampling procedures were used for the first and second stages, respectively. The study was divided into two phases: a door to door survey of the entire sample aged ≥75 years (4 735 persons), followed by a clinical examination of suspected cases for positive and differential diagnosis. In the first phase, mini mental status examination (MMSE) was used as screening method for dementia. In the second phase, dementia and AD were clinically diagnosed according to the criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM III R) , National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders (NINCDS) and Stroke Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association (ADRDA). Results The sensitivity and specificity of MMSE were 0 7451 and 0 7496 respectively while the positive predictive value was 0 2251. The prevalence of dementia in individuals aged 75 years and over was 8 90%, in which male and female were found to be 2 91% and 13 11%, and that of AD was 7 49%, male and female found to be 2 01% and 11 36% respectively. The prevalence of vascular dementia (VD) was 1 16%. Of the subjects with dementia, 84 24% was diagnosed Alzheimer's disease, 13% VD, and 2 76% dementia with other causes. The proportion of AD increased obviously by every 5 years. Conclusions The prevalence of dementia in ≥ 75 year persons was lower in Guangzhou than that in Shanghai, but was higher than that in other regional studies within China. In ≥75 year male and/or poorly educated female were more easily suffered from AD. The proportion of AD in dementia was higher in this study than that in others. These figures indicated that as a screening tool for dementia MMSE need improving and should be combined with ADL and POD together.

OBJECTIVE: To test the reliability and validity of Health Scale of Traditional Chinese Medicine (HSTCM) by means of questionnaires. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at Liwan Community of Guangzhou, Old People's Home in Guangzhou and Outpatient Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. A total of 652 Chinese individuals (over 18 years old) were assessed with the 88-item version of HSTCM and World Health Organization Quality of Life Measure-Abbreviated Version (WHOQOL-BREF), which were randomly delivered to them. Some socioeconomic characteristics were registered. RESULTS: A test-retest reliability (15-day interval) was found among the 76 persons who completed the questionnaires by themselves. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.93. Associated 95% confidence interval (CI) was 0.89-0.96. Split-half reliability was 0.79. Inter-investigator reliability (0.93) was also good, and the ICC of HSTCM was 0.90 (95%CI 0.67-0.97). The correlation between HSTCM and WHOQOL-BREF was -0.66. The correlations of HSTCM and questionnaire deliver order, investigator, interview date and interview time were 0.06, -0.12, -0.17 and 0.20 respectively. The correlation between HSTCM and self-rated health (0.46) was greater than that between HSTCM and chronic illness (0.28). Divided by individuals with or without chronic illness, area under the ROC (receiver operator characteristic) curve for HSTCM was 0.67 (95%CI 0.63-0.71). CONCLUSION: It indicates that the HSTCM is conceptually valid with satisfactory psychometric properties and forms a basis for further applications in clinical research of traditional or integrative medicine.

BACKGROUND: The decrease of activity level of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and reduction of membrane protein of synaptic vesicles are the main biochemical indexes in Alzheimer disease. Traditional Chinese bushen yizhi formula is of the effects of strengthening the kidney, replenishing qi, generating marrow and nourishing the brain, its medicine-containing serum can effectively protect these changes resulting from amyloid protein.OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the medicine-containing serum of bushen yizhi formula can improve the pathological injury of neurons induced by amyloid protein metabolites in Alzheimer disease, thus to estimate the therapeutic effect of bushen yizhi formula on Alzheimer disease.DESIGN:A randomized and controlled trial. SETTING:Institute of Neuroscience, Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530011, Guangxi Zhuang Nationality Autonomous Region, China; Encephalopathic Institute of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.MATERIALS:The experiment was conducted from September 2003 to March 2004 at the Research and Development Center of New Drugs of Guangxi College of TCM. Totally 60 healthy Wistar rats of clean grade,three months, were at random divided as blank control and bushen yizhi groups, with 30 in each group. The bushen yizhi formula consisted of Fructus Lycii, Fructus Cnidii, Radix Gingeng, Radix Polygoni Multiflori,Cortex Moutan Radicis, Borneolum, etc. The medicine was prepared before use as 0.176 g/Ml liquid(including 1.13 g/Ml rude drugs).METHODS:① Each of the rats in bushen yizhi group was by garage given 1.0-1.5 Ml prepared liquid per day for consecutive 30 days. Within 4hours after the last administration the serum was isolated at 5 000 r/min for 5 minutes, filtered aseptically, the compliment was inactivated at 56 ℃,then the medicine-containing serum was obtained. The rats in blank control group were given saline of the same volume, and the serum was prepared with the same method. ② For NG108-15 cells, the concentration of amyloid protein 25-35 segments in the culture liquid was 5 μ mol/L, or 1-42 segments, 200 nmol/L, was suitable. ③ NG108-15 cells was first in cubated for a day in CO2 incubator with Dulbecco-improved Eagle medium of 0.1 molarity at 37 ℃, then 5 μmol/L amyloid protein 25-35 segment or 200 nmol/L segment 1-42 was added to continuously incubate for a day, after that the cell models of Alzheimer disease was ready. Then 50 g/L medicine-containing serum or Dulbecco-improved Eagle medium of blank control group serum was taken to replace the original culture liquid, and the amyloid protein segments of the above-mentioned concentration was still added for maintaining the cell models of Alzheimer disease, after 5 days'differentiation incubation, the indexes were detected with those in non-amyloid protein as control. ④ Western blotting, radioimmunoassay and electrophysiological examination were used to investigate the ChAT activity,synapsin protein level and rate of functional synapse formation of NG108-15cells in Alzheimer disease after treatment with the medicine-containing serum of bushen yizhi formula.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES :The effects of the medicine-containing serum of bushen yizhi formula on ChAT activity, synapsin protein level,rate of functional synapse formation of NG108-15 cells and frequency of miniature plate potential in NG108-15 cells.RESULTS:Totally 60 rats involved all entered the final result analysis.① The effect of the medicine-containing serum of bushen yizhi formula on ChAT activity: In the conditions when there was no amyloid protein or the final concentration of amyloid protein 1- 42 was 200 nmol/L, the ChAT activity in bushen yizhi group was obviously higher than that in blank control group [(1651.2±134.5), (1336.1±268.2), ( 586.1±223.4),(1290.7±381.5)μmol/(g·h); P ＜ 0.05] . ② The effect of the medicinecontaining serum of bushen yizhi formula on synapsin protein level: The absorbance values of synapsin Ⅰa and Ⅰb, in the conditions when there was no amyloid protein, amyloid protein 25-35 and 1-42, were respectively 5.02, 1.36 and 2.46 in bushen yizhi group; and 3.18, 0.57 and 0.71 in blank control group. The values in bushen yizhi group were respectively 1.6,2.4 and 3.5times those in blank control group. ③ The effect of the medicine-containing serum of bushen yizhi formula on functional synapse formation of NG108-15 cells: In the conditions when there was no amyloid protein or amyloid protein 1-42, the levels of functional synapse formation in bushen yizhi group wereall higher than those in blank control group [(90.6±6.0)%, (63.2±17.0)%, (58.0±13.1)%, (34.2±13.0)% ;P＜0.05].④ The effect of the medicine-containing serum of bushen yizhi formula on frequency of miniature plate potential in NG108-15 cells: In the conditions when there was no amyloid protein or amyloid protein 1-42, the frequencies of miniature plate potential in bushen yizhi group were all higher than those in blank control group [(9.28±4.1), (5.48 ±5.14), (5.55±5.85),(3.05±4.46)/min; P ＜ 0.01, P＜ 0.05].CONCLUSION:In the conditions when there existed no amyloid protein or amyloid protein, the medicine-containing serum of bushen yizhi formula can raise ChAT activity, not only correct the decrease of cellular synapsin caused by amyloid protein, but also raise the expression of synapsin protein, the rate of functional synapse formation and neurotransmitter release under the condition of no amyloid protein. It was shown that the prescription can antagonize the pathological development of Alzheimer disease, and play the therapeutic effect through enhancing the release power of neurotransmitter.

Objective To observe the protective effect of Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (XZD) on vascular endothelial cells (VEC) injured by the serum of blood_stasis_syndrome ( BSS) rabbits. Methods The morphological features of VEC cultured with norma l rabbit serum (Group A), BSS rabbit serum(Group B), the serum of normal rabbit medicated with XZD(Group C) and the serum of BSS rabbit medicated with XZD(Group D) were observed respectively under light microscope and electron microscope. Results Under light microscope, VEC was shrinked, intercellular space widene d and cytoplasm contained dark granules in Group B. The change of intercellular space was not obvious in Group D. Under electron microscope, pinocytotic vesicle s increased, rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) decreased and dilated, mitochondr ia became smaller and indistinct and only a small amount of microvilli appeared on cell membrane with top expanded and merged in VEC of Group B as compared with Group A and Group C. Less RER but no dilatation and fewer microvilli without to p merged were found in VEC of Group B. Conclusion The serum of BSS rabbits c an injury normal VEC cultured in vitro and XZD exerts a certain protective effe ct on VEC injured by the serum of BSS rabbits.

[Objective] Systematic review was carried out in quality analysis of literature of Shuang Huanglian Injection (SHI) for acute respiratoiy infections ( ARI) . [Methods] Database was set up according to the principles of clinical epidemiology and evidence-based medicine and the evaluation scale for ARI. The data was managed by descriptive analysis and uniformity test. [Results] In 49 clinical reports, 42.16% adopted the randomized and controlled method but the quality was not so good; the criteria of inclusion and exclusion was absent or not standardized in most of the reports; blinded method was adopted scarcely; drop-out and missed cases were rarely mentioned while adverse effects were reported usually. [Conclusion] The design of clinical study of SHI for ARI has been improved in recent years but there is still a lot of inadequany.

Object To observe the improving effects of BUSHEN YIZHI DECOCTION (BSYZD) on interspace explore learning and memory in rat model with Alzheimer's disease. Methods Eighty 15-month Wistar rats were induced by ip D -galactose for four weeks and injection of basal nucleus of Meynert with ibotenic acid (IBO) to make AD model, then randomly divided into AD model group, Hup-A treated group, BSYZD (high dose, 12 g/kg?d) treated group and BSYZD (low dose, 6 g/kg?d) treated group, and also normal aged and young groups. After treating for four weeks, Morris water maze was used to assess the improvement of rat interspace explore learning and memory. Results In the interspace explore experiment, the significant differences were observed between the model, Hup-A treated groups and normal aged, young groups (P0.05). Conclusion BSYZD possesses a certain preventive effects on interspace explore learning and memory in AD rat model.

Objective To observe the effect of Bushen Yizhi Prescription(BYP) on long-term potentiation (LTP) in hippocampus of ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Methods Three-month-old female SD rats were randomized into mimic operation group, model group, low dosage BYP group, high dosage BYP group and estrogen control group. Ovariectomy was operated in the three latter groups. After operation, BYP group was treated with gastric infusion of BYP and estrogen group with subcutaneous injection of estrogen. The changes of LTP of dentate gyms in hippocampus of OVX rats were observed by electrophysiological method and the effect of BYP on LTP was also evaluated. Result & Conclusion The increased amplitude of population spike of LTP was significantly low and maintained a short time in model group as compared with that in mimic operation group. There were insignificant difference between the high-dosage BYP group and estrogen control group. It is indicated that synaptic transmission in hippocampus can be protected and sustained by BYP and the estrogen replacement.

BACKGROUND:Chinese herb, bushen yizhi formula protects at certain extent learning and memory in rat model of Alzheimer disease. The drug serum in this formula can alleviate neurotoxic reaction of nerve tumor cell NG 108-15 to beta-amyloid protein. In order to understand further the mechanism and compatibility of the formula, it is necessary to carry on the study on the broken formulas.OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of drug serum in subgroups of broken bushen yizhi formulas on growth and differentiation of cell model of Alzheimer disease and probe into the compatibility rule of bushen yizhi formula in view of serum pharmacology.DESIGN: Randomized controlled experiment.SETTING: DME Center of Clinical Pharmacological Institute Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.PARTICIPANTS:The experiment was performed in DME Center of Clinical Pharmacological Institute Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January to August 2003, in which, 40 healthy male SD rats of 3 months old were employed and NG108-15 cell line was frozen-preserved.into the control, original formula group (No. 1 group) [shechuanzi (Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cuss), gouqizi (Lycium barbarum L.), renshen (Panax ginseng C.A.Mey.), heshouwu (Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.), danpi (Paeonia Suffruticisa Andr.) and bingpian (Borneolum)], kidney replenishment group (No.2 group) [shechuanzi (Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cuss), gouqizi (Lycium barbarum L.), etc.], group for benefiting qi and nourishing blood (No.3 group)[renshen (Panaz ginseng C.A.Mey), zhishouwu (Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.), etc.] and group with bingpian (Borneolum) removed (No.4 group)[Panax ginseng C.A.Mey.], heshouwu (Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.) and danpi (Paeonia Suffruticisa Andr.)], 8 rats in each group. The concentrated Chinese herbal solutions of every group were applied at 10 μL/g (equal to 6 g/kg of raw herbs) for gastric infusion successively,continuously for 1 month. In the control, the physical saline solution of equal dosage was used for infusion. Two hours after the last gastric infusion in rats of each group,the blood was collected from heart after anesthesia and the serum was sepaNG108-15 cell cultured in vitro was divided into 6 groups. In the control and model group, normal rat serum was contained in proliferated culture solution. In the rest 4 groups, the drug serum of No. 1 group and 3 sub-groups was contained.Simultaneously, beta-amyloid protein 25-35 in each hole was prepared to the terminal concentration 5 μmol/L (except in the control) and the culture went on for 48 hours.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:MTT method was used to determine proliferated number and survival rate of cells. Simultaneously, the ratio of neurite cells to total cell count and average length of neurit were determined.icantly than the control (0.520±0.022, 0.665±0.037, P ＜ 0.01), and that in every drug serum group was higher than model group, of which, the result vival rate of differentiated cells: That in model group was lower significantly than the control (58.4%, 100%) and that in every drug serum group was higher than model group, of which, the result in No.4 group was the most tal cell count: That in model group was lower significantly than the control [(42.95±11.42)%, (58.75±12.84)%, P ＜ 0.01] and that in every drug serum group was higher than model group, of which, the result in No.4 group was rite: That in model group was shorter significantly than the control [(356.0 ±109.0), (493.8±133.0) μm, P ＜ 0.01] and that in every drug serum group was longer than model group, of which, the result in No.4 group was the most significant [(486.8±79.2) μm, P ＜ 0.01].CONCLUSION: The drug serum in all of bushen yizhi formula and every subgroup inhibits at certain extent the injury of beta-amyloid protein 25-35 to NG108-15 cell, but the results of each group are various. The protection of drug serum to the cell in every group is in the sequence from strong to weak as group with bingpian removed ＞ original formula group ＞ kidney replenishment group ＞ group for benefiting qi and nourishing blood. It is to expect a further study on the efficacy of group with bingpian removed.