Angelica sinensis ; chemistry ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; drug therapy ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; drug therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

The incidence of aduIt obesity,diabetes,hyperIipidemia and hypertention has been rising dramaticaIIy in recent years. Obesity and overweight have become a significant pubIic heaIth probIem worIdwide. Though obesity is caused by compIex interactions between genetic,behavioraI,and environ-mentaI factors,its etioIogy is stiII uncIear. There is growing evidence that exposure to bisphenoI A(BPA) during prenataI and neonataI or adoIescence periods Ieads to much body mass gain. In addition,in epi-demioIogicaI studies,the association between BPA exposure and obesity and type 2 diabetes has been found. The potentiaI mechanism may be attributed to promoted differentiation and function in adipocytes via aIteration of a number of genes. BPA may act aIso through other mechanisms. It can directIy bind to nucIear receptors acting as agonists or antagonists and indirectIy disrupt hormone IeveIs by inhibiting enzymatic activity or by activating expression of the P450 enzymes. This review is focused on the effects of estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicaIs such as BPA on the deveIopment of obesity.

Objective To investigate the impact of paced QRS duration (pQRSd) on heart function in patients with right ventricular apical pacing. Methods Seventy-six patients with Ⅲ° atrioventricular block received pacemaker treatment were enrolled and randomized into group A (pQRSd < 190 ms, n = 52) and group B(pQRSd≥ 190 ms, n = 24). The concentration of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP),parameters of left atrial diameter (LAD), left ventricular ejection fracetion (LVEF), left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end systolic dimension (LVEDD) were measured before operation, at 12 months and 24 months after implanting, respectively. The parameters of echocardiography assay, the concentration of BNP and the incidence of heart failure event after implantation were compared between two groups. Results At 12 months after implanting, LVEF of the patients in the group B decreased significantly compared with that of group A (P < 0.05). However, the echocardiography paramenters and the concentration of BNP were not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05). At 24 months after implanting, LAD、LVEDD、LVESD of group B increased significantly compared with those of group A [LAD,( 44.5 ± 6.2) mm vs (41.6 ± 5.1) mm, LVEDD, (52.7 ± 9.3) mm vs (48.2 ± 7.5) mm, LVESD, (37.5 ± 5.6) mm vs (33.8 ± 4.9)mm, each P < 0.05, respectively]. The concentration of BNP of group B increased significantly [(408.2 ± 102.1)ng / L vs (243.7 ± 92.8)ng / L, P < 0.001], and LVEF of the patients in group B decreased significantly compared with those of group A [(46.3 ± 6.8)% vs (51.6 ± 5.2)%, P < 0.001], respectively. No significant difference in the incidence of heart failure event (41.7% vs 26.9%, P > 0.05)between two groups during 24-month follow-up. Conclusion The prolonged paced QRS duration has a detrimental effect on long-term cardiac function during RVA pacing in patients with Ⅲ°atrioventricular block.

To investigate the effects of manual acupuncture at Shenmen (HT7) or Taiyuan (LU9) on the attention function of the brain, and to lay an experimental foundation for researching brain function and integration mechanisms of the human brain in relation to acupuncture stimulation.

This article gives a profound exploration on the theoretical origin, prohibitions and mechanisms of moxibustion for heat syndrome. Based upon the ancient and modem literature, this article also gives a classified summarization on diseases of moxibustion for heat syndrome, in order to obtain a thorough understanding about the theory and clinical application of moxibustion for heat syndrome, hence to further perfect the theory of moxibustion and guide the clinical practice.

Objective: To observe the influence on IL-1β and IL-2 in rat models with rheumatoid arthritis after moxibustion on Shenshu (BL 23) and Zusanli (ST 36) points, and to discuss the mechanism of moxibustion. Methods: Fifty male Wistar rats were divided randomly into 5 groups,control group, model group, drug group, moxibustion group, and laser group, 10 for each. Four groups except the normal group were built on the model of rheumatoid arthritis. The changes of body weight and plantar circumference were measured and the level of IL-1β、 IL-2 in sera were examined by ELISA. Results: Compared with the model group, the weight and plantar circumference of rats in the moxibustion group were improved significantly after treatment (P＜0.01), and the improvement of plantar circumference also had significant differences compared with the drug group and the laser group (P＜0.05). The level of IL- 1β、 IL-2 in sera were down regulated in the moxibustion group and the laser group, which had statistical differences compared with the model group (P＜0.05), but no statistical differences were found when comparing with the drug group. Conclusion: Moxibustion obviously improves the toe tumefaction of the rats with rheumatoid arthritis, which is better than CO2 laser of 10.6μm. On the aspect of decreasing the amount of IL-1β、 IL-2, CO2 laser of 10.6 μm is similar with moxibustion.

Objective: To observe the effects of moxibustion therapy at Shenshu (BL 23) and Zusanli (ST 36) of rats with induced rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on the serumal intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICMA-1) and the pathological tissue, to discuss the mechanism of the warming and activating effect of moxibustion. Methods: After establishing the RA rats model, the induced rats were treated with moxibustion therapy on the acupoint Shenshu (BL 23) and Zusanli (ST 36), followed by analyzing the pathological section of the ankle of the hind limb and testing the ICAM-1 content with ELISA. Results: The plantar circumferences of the induced rat increased significantly compared with the rats in the control group (P<0.01), accompanying with the increase of the synovial layer, the erosion of phlogocytes to chondrocytes and the specific increase of ICAM-1 content. After the moxibustion therapy, the plantar circumferences decreased significantly (P<0.01) while the synovial layer tended to reduce. In addition, there was no pathological damage of the articular cartilage and the ICAM content decreased with significant deviation (P<0.01), compared to the model group. Conclusion: It was concluded that moxibustion therapy could inhibit the arthrosynovitis and hyperplasia, ameliorate the erosion of phlogocyte to cartilage, prevent articular periosteal lesions and delay the pathological course. The warming and activating effect of moxibustion therapy may involve the inhibition of the formation of ICAM-1 and pannus.

BACKGROUND:Understanding the difference of miRNA-34s expression in normal tissue and tumor tissue wil contribute to screen out a miRNA with high sensitivity as the specific tumor molecular marker.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the differential expression of miRNA-34s (miR-34a/b/c) between normal skin and keloid tissue using real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR, and to evaluate the role and mechanisms of miRNA-34s in keloid formation and development.
METHODS:Ten cases of keloid tissue and two cases of normal skin tissue were col ected as specimens. Total RNAs were extracted from keloid and nomal skin tissue by Trizol method, and miRNA-34s were further isolated by Ambion’s miRNA Isolation Kit. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was applied to verify expression levels of microRNA-34s (miR-34a/b/c) in keloid tissue and normal skin tissue.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:miRNA-34s (miRNA-34a/b/c) expression was down-regulated in keloid tissue compared with normal skin tissue (P<0.01). The findings showed that miRNA-34s (miRNA-34a/b/c) are involved in keloid formation and development, and down-regulation of the family member may result in neoplastic growth of keloid.

Objective To study the effects of a rotating magnetic field(RMF)on Li pilocarpine-in- duced seizure activity and the expression of mGluR1 and mGluR5 in the hippocampus.Methods Thirty rats were divided into 5 groups.Each rat in the model(M),short treatment(ST)and long treatment(LT)groups was treated with intra-peritoneal injections of lithium chloride(60 mg/kg),followed by an intra-peritoneal injec- tion of pilocarpine(35 mg/kg)24 h later.The rats in the ST group were exposed to 20 mT RMF for 20 min ev- ery day for 3 d before seizure induction,while the rats in LT group were exposed to the same RMF for 8 d.The latency,severity and duration of seizure,as well as accompanying symptoms and electroencephalogram data, were recorded,and the expression of mGluR1 and mGluR5 was calculated using an electrophoretic imaging anal- ysis system.Results The duration,times and accompanying symptoms of seizure were significantly decreased in the LT group.The mGluR1 mRNA level and mGluR1/mGluR5 ratio in the M group were markedly increased, but the mGluR5 mRNA level was obviously decreased,while the expression of mGluR1 in the ST and LT groups was decreased,and mGluR5 was increased.Conclusions Seizure activity in rats can be inhibited by 20 mT RMF,and the expression of mGluRl and mGluR5 in the hippocampus of rats suffering seizures can be markedly influenced by longer-term RMF.

Response Surface Methodology was applied to optimize the culture components for lipopeptide production by Bacillus natto TK-1. In the first step, two level factorial design of Plackett-Burman was used to evaluate the influence of six related factors. It showed that three factors playing the important roles in the medium, including peptone, yeast extract powder and CaCl_2. The path of steepest ascent was used to approach the optimal region of the fermentation conditions subsequently. In the third step, the concentrations of those three main factors were further optimized by using Box-Behnken and Response Surface Analysis. By solving the quadratic regression model equation, the optimal concentrations of the variables were determined as: peptone 1.73%, yeast extract powder 0.063 %, CaCl_2 1.385?10-4mol/L. Under the optimal culture conditions, the diameter of haemolysis zone increased 29.3 % than before. HPLC analysis showed the precise production of lipopeptide was 30.2% higher than preliminary culture. Furthermore, at three batches cultivation, the experiment values under the optimal conditions agreed with the predictive values. It showed that Response Surface Methodology was proper and a good choice for optimization.