Two regression models, based on panel data over the period of 2000-2011, are built and used to analyze what factors determine China's exports of primary and semi-finished products of traditional Chinese medicine to ASEAN. The results indicate that, China GDP, the ratio of ASEAN to China GDP per capita, average export price, the ratio of state-owned assets to total assets, have a significant positive influence on the export volumes of primary products of Chinese medicine. At the same time, RMB appreciation, the ratio of three kinds of foreign-invested assets to total assets, China-ASEAN Early Harvest Program, ASEAN-China Free Trade Area have a significant negative influence. In respect of the export volumes of semi-finished products of Chinese medicine, the significant influential factors are ASEAN GDP and the ratio of ASEAN to China GDP per capita. The former is positive and the latter is negative. In order to optimize the commodity composition of experts, it is needed to increase export volumes of both primary and semi-finished products of Chinese medicine. According to the analysis above, some proposals are put forward, such as, improving the performance of foreign capital, playing an exemplary and leading role in technological innovation by state-owned enterprises, taking advantage of bargaining power of suppliers, increasing outward foreign direct investment.
China ; Commerce ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; economics ; Europe, Eastern ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; economics ; standards ; Quality Control

Animals ; Guanylate Cyclase ; metabolism ; Hypercapnia ; metabolism ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear ; metabolism ; Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase

Objective Measurement of ankle brachial index (ABI) is a simple method of assessing lower limb arterial blood supply,while measurement of toe brachial index (TBI)has only been advocated as an alternative.The aim of this study was to obtain information about whether TBI should be taken in type 2 diabetes,even when ABI is normal,and to evaluate the relationship between TBI and atherosclerosis.Methods In a crosssection study,ABI,TBI,and carotid intimal-medial thickness (IMT) were measured on 979 outpatients with type 2 diabetes in Ruijin Hospital.Those with normal ABI (0.9 ≤ABI ＜ 1.3,n = 945) were divided into two groupsnormal TBI group(TBI≥0.6,n=893) and low TBI group(TBI＜0.6,n=52),and then the clinical and laboratory data were compared between these two groups.Furthermore,the relationship between TBI and atherosclerosis was investigated.Atherosclerosis was defined as the maximum IMT ≥ 1.1 mm.Results Low ABI and low TBI were detected in 1.3% and 6.6% of the patients,respectively.Comparison of the clinical and laboratory data between the two groups showed that age and HbA1C values were significantly higher in the low TBI group.Furthermore,TBI was inversely associated with IMT(β=-0.217,P＜0.01),an indicator for atherosclerosis of the carotid artery.Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that decline of TBI was an independent risk factor of atherosclerosis (OR=1.30,95% CI 1.01-1.69,P＜0.05).Conclusion In type 2 diabetes,the decline of TBI is associated with atherosclerosis,indicating the necessity for diabetic patients to detect TBI,even when ABI is within normal range,in order to detect peripheral artery disease in early stage,and reduce the risk for atherosclerosis.

patients. Maintenance of systolic BP<120 mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa) and diastolic BP<80 mm Hg may reduce the risk of atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVETo subjectively and objectively assess the effect of Jiawei Xiaoyao Powder (JXYP) on sleep in patients with psychological stress insomnia. METHHODS: A randomized controlled study was conducted in 33 patients with psychological stress insomnia. They were assigned to 4 groups, 4 in the TCM group treated with JXYP, 5 in the Western medicine (WM) group treated with Estazolam, 9 in the integrated medicine (IM) group treated with JXYP plus Estazolam, and 10 in the control group treated with placebo. Quality of sleep in patients was assessed subjectively and objectively before treatment and 6 weeks after treatment by Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), self-rating scale of sleep (SRSS) and polysomnography (PSG), respectively.

RESULTSSubjective assessment on sleep showed that after 6-week treatment, the scores of PSQI and SRSS remarkably reduced in the TCM, IM and control groups (P < 0.05), while the decrease was insignificant in the WM group (P > 0.05), but no significant difference between groups was shown. The objective assessment by PSG showed that no significant change was found after treatment in parameters of total sleep time (TST), sleep time of phase 1 and 2, slow wave phase, rapid-eye-movement (REM) phase, sleep latency, REM sleep latency, also in long waking and short waking times in all group (P > 0.05), but a significant increase of sleep efficacy (P < 0.05) and an increasing trend of TST (P > 0.05) were shown in the IM group, and an increasing trend of both in the TCM group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONJXYP, combined with or without Estazolam, can improve the quality of sleep subjectively, and the combination of the two could enhance the efficacy of sleep in patients with psychological stress insomnia.

Adult ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Estazolam ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Stress, Psychological ; complications ; Young Adult

Objective To explorethe effect of Bailingcapsule on epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT) inrats withadenine-in-duced tubulointerstitial fibrosis .Methods Tubulointerstitial fibrosis ani mal models were established and SDrats were dividedinto mo-del group (n=30) ,treatment group (n=30) andcontrol group(n=30) ,randomly .Experi mental rats were harvested at 7 w,12 w,17 wafter onset of experi ment and functional evaluations were performed. Histology ,i mmunohistology were examined to investigateboth histolopathology changes and the expression of bone morphogenic protein-7 (BMP-7) ,transforming growth factor-?1(TGF-?1)and a-smooth muscle actin (?-SMA) in kidneys at three ti me points mentioned above ,respectively .Results Compared with controlgroup ,24 h urinary proteinin model grouplost increasingly and significantly difference appeared at three ti me points relative to controlgroup(P0 .05) rel-ative to control group.There was significant difference at 12 wand 17 w(P

Objective To explore the effect of Bailing capsule on epithelial-mesenchymal transition( EMT) in rats with adenine-in-duced tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Methods Tubulointerstitial fibrosis animal models were established and SD rats were divided into mo-del group ( n = 30), treatment group ( n = 30) and control group( n = 30), randomly. Experimental rats were harvested at 7 w, 12 w,17 w after onset of experiment and functional evaluations were performed. Histology, immunohistology were examined to investigateboth histolopathology changes and the expression of bone morphogenic protein-7 (BMP-7), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1 )and a-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in kidneys at three time points mentioned above, respectively. Results Compared with controlgroup, 24 h urinary protein in model group lost increasingly and significantly difference appeared at three time points relative to controlgroup ( P ＜ 0.01 ). Urinary NAG in model group was markedly higher than that in control group from 7 w after onset (P ＜ 0.01 ) andwas increasingly raised at 12 w and 17 w (P＜0.01). The value of blood BUN and Cr in model group increased at 7 w (P＞0.05) rel-ative to control group. There was significant difference at 12 w and 17.w (P ＜ 0.01 ). Histologically, kidneys in model group, at 7 w,exhibited tubular casts and gently tubular dilation, granuloma in cortex, mononuclear cells infiltration in tubulointerstitial areas, andmild interstitial fibrosis. At 12 w, the degree of tubular injury and tubulointerstitial fibrosis gradually aggravated. Up to 17 w, diffusetubular dilation or atrophy was observed and focal tubules disappear. Diffuse interstitial fibrosis was exhibited. In normal kidneys, im-munohistochemistry suggested that the light expression of BMP-7 was detected in proximal renal tubular epithelial cells and marked ex-pression was identified in distal tubule, collecting duct, and renal tubular epithelial in junction area between cortex and medulla. How-ever, the expression of BMP-7 in kidneys of model group significantly decreased with increasing tubulointerstitial fibrosis and was nega-tive correlation with the expression of TGF-β1(r = -0. 981 P＜0.01) and α-SMA (r= -0.975 P＜0.01). Bailing capsule ad-ministration protected the expression of BMP-7 and reduced TGF-β1 and α-SMA expression before 12 w(P＜ 0.01 ). Conclusions Ourstudy shows an anti-fibrotic reno-protective function of Bailing capsule in rats with tubulointerstitial fibrosis via prevention of epithelial-mesenchymal transition at early stage. However, the beneficial effect lost with increasing tubulointerstitial fibrosis.

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of the reference values for semen analysis proposed in the 5th edition of the WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination and Processing of Human Semen on the indication spectrum for intrauterine insemination (IUI).

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 111 cycles of IUI by the reference values for semen analysis in the 4th edition of the WHO Laboratory Manual (group A) and 84 cycles by the 5th edition (group B). We recorded and compared the percentages of various indications for IUI between the two groups.

RESULTSThe complications for IUI in groups A and B were as follows: asthenospermia (87.4% [97/111] vs 55.9% [47/84], P < 0.05), oligospermia (0 vs 0), teratospermia (51.4% [57/111] vs 35.7% [30/84]) , abnormal liquefaction (0.9% [1/111] vs O) , sexual dysfunction and genital malformation (0 vs 3.6% [3/84] , immune infertility (0.9% [ 1/111] vs O), and unexplained infertility (3.6% [4/111] vs 2. 4% [2/84 ] ). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the percentages of all the indications except that of asthenospermia.

CONCLUSIONThe reference values for semen analysis proposed in the 5th edition of the WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination and Processing of Human Semen have an evident influence on the indication spectrum for IUI by largely reducing the cases of IUI for male factors, prolonging the cycles of some patients, causing excessive diagnosis and treatment for females, and increasing their mental and economic burdens.

Adult ; Contraindications ; Female ; Humans ; Insemination, Artificial ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Reference Values ; Retrospective Studies ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; World Health Organization

Activin receptor-like kinase (ALK) 1 is a transforming growth factor-β/bone morphogenetic pro-teins superfamily type Ⅰ receptor, predominantly expressed in active endothelial cells. ALK1 has been shown to play a piv-otal role in regulating angiogenesis, which is involved in vascular formation during embryonic and early postnatal develop-ment and angiogenesis-related diseases, such as cardiovascular disorders and tumor. Understanding the exact function of ALK1 in angiogenesis will provide theoretical basis for anti-angiogenic strategy of ALK1 inhibition. In the present study, we briefly recapitulate ALK1 signaling pathway and its role in blood vessel formation and pathological neovascularization.

Acetaminophen (APAP, also known as paracetamol)-induced liver injury is the leading cause of drug-induced liver injury in the world. Wuzhi Tablet (WZ, an ethanol extract of Schisandra sphenanthera) is widely used in clinical practice to protect liver function. Our previous studies have shown that pretreatment with WZ for 3 days can significantly protect against APAP-induced liver injury; however, the effect of different intervals between APAP and WZ treatment on APAP-induced liver injury remains unclear. In this study, the change in liver injury indexes, APAP metabolites, and the activity of cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes after treatment with WZ and APAP at different intervals were determined. The animal experiment was reviewed and approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Sun Yat-sen University. The results show that 0 h, 0.5 h, and 2 h pretreatment with WZ significantly protected against APAP-induced liver injury in mice, as evidenced by a significant decrease in biochemical parameters such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and malonaldehyde (MDA). WZ inhibited the metabolic activation of APAP mediated by CYP450 enzymes and reduced the formation of APAP metabolites. This study further demonstrates that pretreatment with WZ at different intervals (0 h, 0.5 h, and 2 h before APAP dosing) exerts a significant hepatoprotective effect against APAP-induced liver injury, and a single-dose of WZ inhibits the activity of CYP450 enzymes related to APAP metabolic activation, thereby protecting against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity.