OBJECTIVETo study the inhibition of berberine (BBR) against ECV-304 apoptosis induced by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).

METHODSECV-304 cells were pre-treated with 128 microg/mL BBR for 2 h and then S. aureus was added (1:100). The viability of cells was detected by MTT (3-4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. The morphological changes were observed by Hoechst 33258 staining. The protection of BBR for infected cells was detected by DNA Ladder.

RESULTSECV-304 cells' viability were not obviously affected by berberine. But S. aureus induced ECV-304 cells' viability could be significantly inhibited by pre-treatment of BBR (P < 0.05). Besides S. aureus-induced ECV-304 apoptosis could be reduced, with significantly lessened apoptotic body and unobvious DNA degradation.

CONCLUSIONBBR could significantly inhibit S. aureus induced ECV-304 apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Berberine ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; microbiology ; pathology ; Humans ; Staphylococcus aureus

Objective To observe the effect of ear acupuncture point treatment for insomnia patients of kidney deficiency. Methods A total of 91 cases of insomnia patients with kidney deficiency were randomly divided into two groups: 46 cases of treatment group and 45 cases of control group. Patients in treatment group underwent ear acupuncture point treatment for 1 months, two ears in turn, three days changed. While patients in control group only used warm water treatment. Results The effective rate of treatment group was significantly higher than that in control group ( P < 0. 01). Except for sleeping efficiency and daytime function factor of PSQI factor score, the other score in treatment group was significantly lower than that in control group (P < 0. 05). The SAS score of treatment group had significant difference, (P <0. 01). There was no significant difference in terms of the rate of adverse effect between groups (P >0. 05); The positive symptom of anxiety and depression in treatment group was significantly lower than that in control group. Conclusions The effect of ear acupuncture point treatment can improve sleep quality and psychological health of patients of kidney deficiency, its uncomfortable rates has no significant difference compared with that in hot water footbath therapy.