OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effect of Pishen Bingbu Recipe (PBR) in treating patients with sympathetic cervical spondylosis (SCS) of qi-blood deficient syndrome type and its impact on heart rate variability (HRV).

METHODSFifty patients were randomized into the control group and the treatment group equally. Both were treated with mecobalamin, vitamin B1, neurotropin, and occipital - jaw band traction in the sitting posture, but to patients in the treatment group, PBR was given additionally. The course of treatment was 60 days. Therapeutic effect and changes of HRV indexes were observed.

RESULTSAfter treatment, in the treatment group, 5 patients (20%) were clinically cured, treatment was markedly effective in 12 patients (48%), effective in 7 (28%) and ineffective in 1 (4%), while the corresponding data in the control group were 2 (8%), 4 (16%), 18 (72%) and 1 (4%) respectively, demonstrating the efficacy in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group (P <0.05). Before treatment, the HRV indexes in the two groups were insignificantly different respectively (P >0.05). But after treatment, difference between groups was observed in terms of either time domain or frequency domain. Those of time domain were: standard deviation of NN intervals (SDNN, ms) 133.41 +/- 8.61 vs 115.61 +/- 13.49, average standard deviation of 5 min NN intervals (SDANN, ms) 126.90 +/- 9.99 vs 106.20 +/- 8.84, HRV trigonometric index (HRVTI) 35.10 +/- 4.48 vs 25.51 +/- 2.24; and those of frequency domain: low frequency (LF, ms2) 379.90 +/- 159.07 vs 477.70 +/- 396.91 high frequency (HF, ms2) 157.10 +/- 28.18 vs 122.10 +/- 101.90, and LF/HF ratio 2.37 +/- 0.52 vs 4.27 +/- 2.84. All were superior in the treatment group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPBR shows evidently clinical efficacy on SCS, it can significantly improve the functional activities of sympathetic nerve in patients.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spondylosis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo assess the clinical effect of integrative Chinese and Western medicine in treating nontumorous vulval intraepithelial lesion (NIEL).

METHODSOne hundred patients of NIEL, with their diagnosis confirmed by pathologic examination, were equally assigned to two groups randomly, the treatment group and the control group. The treatment group was treated by Chinese recipe consisting of herbs for nourishing Gan-Shen, it was decocted for 3 times, the foregoing two decoctions for oral intake, and the latter one (500 mL) for hip bathing 5-10 min every night before sleep. Besides, the self-formulated preparation Jingan oil (composed of aureomycin and glycerine, etc. ), was locally applied twice every day. The control group was treated only by local applying of Jingan oil and a 5-10 min hip bathing with warm water every night. The course for both groups was 2 months. Efficacy of the treatment was assessed at the end of the therapeutic course and after a 2-month follow-up, depending on the changes of local lesion degree, vulval symptoms as pain and itching, estrogen and progestin receptors in the lesion, and the scores of symptoms.

RESULTSThe total clinical effective rate was 94% (47/50) in the treatment group and 66% (33/50) in the control group. The severity of local lesion degree, symptoms of pain and itching and the scores of symptoms were significantly improved in both groups, as compared with those before treatment (all P <0.01). However, comparison between groups showed that the improvement was better in the treatment group. The positive rates of estrogen and progestin receptors in the local lesions of the two groups showed insignificantly statistical difference.

CONCLUSIONThe integrative medical treatment can effectively alleviate the NIEL and improve the relevant clinical symptoms.

Adult ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Epithelium ; drug effects ; Female ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Vulvar Diseases ; drug therapy ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacies of Chinese composite Yanting Decoction medicated via two different paths (via oral and via retention enema) in treating chronic pelvic inflammation.

METHODSAdopting the randomized multicentered parallel contrast principle, 93 patients were assigned to the retention enema (RE) group (47 cases) and the oral medicated (OM) group (46 cases) at random, Yanting Decoction was administered via respective paths for 10 days as one course. The changes of syndromes (qi-stagnance and blood stasis) and local signs were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSIn the 47 patients of the RE group, 3 were cured, the treatment was markedly effective in 20, effective in 22 and ineffective in 2, the total effective rate being 95.7%; while in the 46 patients of the OM group, the corresponding number were 1, 8, 30, 7 and 84.8%, respectively, the difference of the total effective rate between groups was statistically significant (P <0.05). The total effective rate for TCM syndromes in the RE and the OM group was 95.7% (45/47) and 82.6% (38/46) respectively, and that for local signs, 97.9% (46/47) and 84.8% (39/46) respectively, the improvements in the RE group were better than those in the OM group (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONChinese preparation Yanting Decoction shows good clinical efficacy in treating chronic pelvic inflammation of qi-stagnant blood-stasis type, the effect could be enhanced by medicating via retention enema than that via oral.

Adult ; Drug Administration Routes ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ; drug therapy ; Qi ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy of Sanjie Zhentong Capsule (SJC) in treating ovarian cyst after ovulation-induction.

METHODSFifty-eight patients with ovarian cyst were randomly assigned to two groups, 33 in the treated group treated with SJC and 25 in the control group treated with temporization for 1 month. Changes of estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level as well as condition of cyst before and after treatment were observed and compared. And the time for complete disappearance (TCD) of cyst and the pregnant rate within 4 months were followed-up.

RESULTSEffective rate (no fluid cyst sized over 1.0 cm could be found in bilateral ovary and E2 <280 pmol/L) in the treated group was 81.8% (27/33) and 52.0% (13/25) in the control group, showing significant difference between them (P <0.05). Level of E2 decreased in both groups, but the lowering was more significant in the treated group, after 1 month, it being 220.54 +/- 96.23 pmol/L vs 372.56 +/- 330.62 pmol/L (P <0.05). The changes of LH and FSH levels were of no statistical significance (P >0.05). TCD in the treated group was 1.18 +/- 0.46 months, which was shorter than that in the control group (1.96 +/- 1.34 months, P <0.05). The pregnant rate within 4 months in the two groups was 60.6% (20/ 33) and 32.0% (8/25) respectively, showing significant difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSJC has good efficacy in treating ovarian cyst after ovulation-induction.

Adult ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Ovarian Cysts ; blood ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Ovulation Induction

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of rhodiola on expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) and angiogenesis in aortic atherosclerotic plaque of rabbits.

METHODSThirty male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups equally, i. e. the control group (A) fed with common diet and treated with distilled water, the high fat diet group (B) and the rhodiola group (C) fed with diet containing 1.5% cholesterol and treated respectively with distilled water and rhodiola (1 mL/kg per day), all the treatments were administered via gastrogavage once a day for 9 successive weeks. Level of blood lipids in various groups was determined and compared at the end of the experiment. Meanwhile, the tissue sample of aorta was taken for observation through HE and Sudan red staining, for detecting the CD34 positive response intensity by immunohistochemical staining and the VEGF expression by Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSDetermination of blood lipids showed that in Group C, TC was 42.01 +/- 1.99 mmol/L, TG 4.83 +/- 0.75 mmol/L and LDL-C 38.40 +/- 0.74 mmol/L, all lower than those in Group B (70.74 +/- 2.66 mmol/L, 8.75 +/- 0.78 mmol/L and 51.05 +/- 0.34 mmol/L, respectively), showing statistical difference between groups (P < 0.05). The intima/media tunica thickness ratio and the CD34 positive area of plaque in Group C were all lower than those in Group B (0.35 +/- 0.03 vs 0.43 +/- 0.03 and 29.12 +/- 2.56% vs 39.28 +/- 3.48%, P <0.05). Besides, the VEGF expression in atherosclerotic plaque was also lower in Group C than that in Group B.

CONCLUSIONRhodiola has the effects of inhibiting atherosclerosis formation, decreasing the VEGF expression and suppressing the angiogenesis in the plaque.

Animals ; Aorta ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; Random Allocation ; Rhodiola ; chemistry ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the acting mechanism of Danpu Capsule (DPC) in treating chronic prostatitis by observing its effect on inflammatory factors in autoimmune prostatitis rat model.

METHODSThe rat model was established by abdominal subcutaneous multiple points injection of rat's prostate tissue antigen. Thirty modeled rats were randamly divided into 3 groups, the DPC group, the Qianlietai Tablet (QLT) group and the model group. They were treated via gastrogavage respectively with DPC, Qianlietai Tablet and normal saline respectively. Besides, a control group was set up with 10 healthy rats. All animals were sacrificed 56 days after treatment. Pathologic change of prostatic tissue was observed by light microscopy, and the levels of interleukin 8 (IL-8), interleukin 10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in blood serum and prostatic tissue were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSCompared with the normal group, the serum and prostatic levels of IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-alpha, as well as the prostatic level of PGE2 in the model group were higher (P <0.05 or P <0.01). In the DPC group, the serum and prostatic levels of IL-8 was 3.07 +/- 0.61 ng/L and 7.32 +/- 2.44 ng/L respectively, which was lower than those in the model group (4.73 +/- 1.95 ng/L and 10.14 +/- 3.64 ng/L, respectively); that of TNF-alpha in the DPC group (85.34 +/- 19.20 ng/L and 87.01 +/- 15.4 ng/L) was also lower in the model group (111.48 +/- 31.57 ng/L and 119.88 +/- 14.13 ng/L); similar difference between the two groups was also shown in prostatic level of IL-10 (34.05 +/- 7.56 ng/L vs 47.20 +/- 15.97 ng/L), and so was PGE2 (603.97 +/- 114.62 ng/L vs 712.58 +/- 117.10 ng/L), all with statistical significance (P <0.05 or P <0. 01).

CONCLUSIONDPC could reduce the prostatic inflammatory response of model rats, and regulate the local immune condition.

Animals ; Autoimmune Diseases ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Capsules ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Inflammation Mediators ; blood ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-8 ; blood ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; blood ; Prostatitis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Jiangzhuo Mixture (JZM) on glucose and lipid metabolism, free fatty acid (FFA) and insulin sensitivity index of sodium glutamate (MSG) induced obese rats.

METHODSSixty-four male MSG rats, 8-10 weeks old, were randomly divided into 4 groups equally, the low dose and high dose JZM group were treated respectively with 10 mL/(kg d) and 20 mL/(kg d) JZM, the rosiglitazone (RGZ) group with water solution of RGE 20 mg/(kg d), while the model group fed only with distilled water 10 mL/(kg d) for control, all by gastrogavage for 7 successive weeks. Levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (TC), and serum fasting insulin (Ins) were measured before and after treatment. Besides, the level of FFA and the proportion of fat weight to body weight (F/B) were measured and insulin sensitivity index (ISI) was calculated after treatment.

RESULTSAfter being treated for 7 weeks, the indexes including TC, FBG, Ins, F/B and FFA were all lower than those in the model group. Compared with before treatment, TC level lowered, FBG and Ins level raised in the two JZM groups and the RGZ group. Comparisons between the three treated group showed a significant lower level of Ins in the RGZ group. Level of ISI was significantly lowered in the 3 groups after treatment (P <0.05), but still higher in the RGZ group than that in the model control group (P <0.05). As for level of FFA, it was 314.81 +/- 110.25 micromol/L in the high dose JZM group and 305.56 +/- 92.33 micromol/L in the RGZ group, which were lower than that in the low dose JZM group (375.00 +/- 219.95 micromol/L, P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONSJZM could decrease the serum levels of TC, FBG, Ins and FFA in MSG rats, and decrease the fat content of organism in rats' growth process. The FFA decreasing action is dose-dependent. But its effect on ISI in MSG rats in the growth stage is insignificant. JZM can not reverse the forming processes of hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance in MSG rats.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism ; drug effects ; Male ; Obesity ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sodium Glutamate ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVEMultidrug resistance (MDR) plays an important role in the failure of chemotherapy on malignant tumors. This study was to investigate the biomolecular mechanisms of cyclosporine A (CsA), tetrandrine (Tet) and their combination on multidrug resistance in cell line K562/A02.

METHODSK562/A02 cells were treated with CsA and (or) Tet. The intracellular daunorubicin (DNR) concentration and the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) were observed by flow cytometry assay. The mRNA expression of mudtiding resistance gene (mdr1) was measured by fluorescent semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSCsA and Tet (alone or combination) elevated the intracellular DNR concentration in K562/A02 cells (the fluorescence intensity of intracellular DNR in K562/A02 cells was 60%, 65% and 98% respectively of that in K562 cells). The fluorescence intensity of P-gp in K562 and K562/A02 cells was 0.18% and 96.51%. The P-gp expression was down-regulated after treated with CsA, Tet and both (75.32%, 76.86% and 48.61%); mdr1 mRNA was also down-regulated, and the effect of their combination was more obvious.

CONCLUSIONMDR can be partially reversed by CsA or Tet, the combination of both drugs shows a great synergistic reversal effect.

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Benzylisoquinolines ; pharmacology ; Cyclosporine ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effect and mechanism of berberine (BER) on the proliferation and differentiation of adipocytes.

METHODSThe proliferation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes was detected by XTT method. Lipid droplets accumulated in the cytoplasm of adipocytes in the differentiating process were observed by oil red O staining and quantified by colorimetry. The expressions of peroxisome proliferation activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), CAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPalpha) mRNA and protein were detected by Real-time PCR and Western blotting respectively.

RESULTSIntervention with BER in concentration below 10 micromol/L for 24 h showed insignificant effect on the proliferation of adipocytes, as compared with that in the control group (P > 0.05); but that in concentrations 20, 40 and 80 micromol/L revealed significant suppressive effect; that in different concentrations acting for 48 h and 72 h could affect the proliferation and the effect displayed a dose-dependent manner, i. e. the higher the concentration of BER, the more apparent the suppression, showing significant difference as compared with those in the control group (P <0.05 or P <0.01). The pre-adipocyte treated with 10 micromol/L BER showed that the lipid droplets in the cytoplasm significantly lessened, so did the expression of differentiation related factor PPAR gamma mRNA as well as the expressions of C/EBPalpha mRNA and protein, as compared with those in the blank control group and the group intervened with rosiglitazone, the difference was significant (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSBER can suppress the proliferation and differentiation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes, reduce the accumulation of lipid drops in the adipocyte differentiating process, which may be associated with its effects in decreasing the expressions of adipocyte differentiation related gene PPARgamma, C/EBPalpha mRNA and protein. The study provides a basis for applying BER on the prevention and treatment of such metabolic related diseases as obesity.

3T3-L1 Cells ; Adipocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Animals ; Berberine ; pharmacology ; CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Mice ; PPAR gamma ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of cryptotanshinone on androgen synthesis for the prenatally androgenized male rats.

METHODSOn days 16-18 of pregnancy, rats were injected s. c. with testosterone propionas continuously for 3 days; male offspring were studied as subject. Serum concentrations of testosterone (T), 17a-hydroxy progesterone (17-OHP), blood glucose, and insulin were measured by radioimmunoassay. Then, the rats were treated with cryptotanshinone by gavage for 14 days, and the levels of serum T, 17-OHP and insulin were detected and the 17a-hydroxylase protein expression in interstitial cell was measured using the method of immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThere was no difference between the male groups who were prenatally androgenized in serum levels of T, but the 17-OHP, fasting insulin levels and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) elevated significantly (P < 0.05). Cryptotanshinone could lower the levels of 17-OHP (P < 0.05) but had no effect on 17a-hydroxylase.

CONCLUSIONPrenatally androgenized male rats exhibit elevated 17-OHP and diminished insulin sensitivity. Cryptotanshinone could decrease 17-OHP, but has no effect on insulin, indicating it may reduce androgen synthesis.

Androgens ; biosynthesis ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Maternal Exposure ; adverse effects ; Phenanthrenes ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar