This study was aimed to find the optimal conditions for seed propagation of Fritillaria cirrhosa in the plateau region in order to summarize the best sowing time and method of artificial propagation. Seeds were stored in appropriate environment. After the seeds matured, the seedbed of F. cirrhosa was treated with cattle dung humus and small shed. The results showed that early March is the best sowing time and cattle dung humus with a thickness about 1 cm is the best coving for propagation of F. cirrhosa; the growing period of film propagation (FP) is about 160 days each year compared with that of control about 50-60 days, respectively. It was concluded that the propagating seeds in plastic greenhouses by using cattle dung humus as planting substrates, using sunshade nets for shading and keeping humidity by spraying can effectively prolong the growing period, improve the retention rate of annual bulbs and the production of F. cirrhosa.

Based on the SWOT analysis, this paper studied the advantages and disadvantages, external opportunities and challenges of foreign affairs work in Chongqing TCM Hospital. It also discusseds and presented the development strategy of hospital foreign affairs work. Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital developed its own advantages and reduces pressures by seizing external opportunities. It made use of external opportunities to overcome shortcomings, solve internal problems, and respond to external challenges. The hospital gradually regulates the foreign affairs work, enhances the international communication capability of TCM, and expands the influence and core competitiveness.

This study was aimed to compare and evaluate the diagnostic performance of non-contrast-enhanced MR angiography (NCE-MRA) with contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA) in the anatomic assessment of hepatic portal vein. Thirty people, ten patients with hepatic cirrhosis without ascites and twenty normal physical examination donors as control group were included in the NCE-MRA and CE-MRA with the same 1.5T MR scanner. Anatomic angiographic images were reconstructed and their datasets available for analysis independently performed by two radiologists. Assessment of data quality of hepatic portal vein vessels was rated with a four-point scale. After consensus reading, a total 27 images (90%) scored more than 3 point were observed in NCE-MRA and 28 (93.3%) in CE-MRA, respectively. Segmental branch vessels were visualized on MR angiography in the majority of cases. Both NCE-MRA and CE-MRA correctly characterized the hepatic portal veins with grade 5 and without false positive cases. Only 4 false negatives with grade 6 were missed in NCE-MRA group. There were no statistically significant differences between NCE-MRA and CE-MRA for characterization of hepatic vasculature (P < 0.05). Kappa value was larger than 0.75 for both reviewers. A conclusion could be drawn that NCE-MRA is a non-invasive and effective method that provides a comprehensive assessment of the hepatic portal vein.
Adult ; Aged ; Contrast Media ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Portal Vein ; pathology ; Young Adult

Background: Zhongyi paste is a traditional Chinese medicine herbal paste that is externally applied to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Methods: An acute foot swelling inflammation model in C57BL/6J mice was established by carrageenan-induced pathogenesis. Zhongyi paste raised the pain threshold and also reduced the degree of swelling in mice with carrageenan-induced foot swelling. Results: Analysis indicated that serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) cytokine levels and PGE2levels in the paw tissue of the mice were decreased by Zhongyi paste treatment. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot results showed that Zhongyi paste downregulated the mRNA and protein expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and also downregulated the mRNA expression of PGE2 . At the same time, the Zhongyi paste exerted a stronger effect as an external drug than that of indomethacin, which is an oral drug, and voltaren, which is an externally applied drug. Conclusions Our results indicated that Zhongyi paste is a very effective drug to reduce inflammatory swelling of the foot, and its mechanism of action is related to regulation of the ERK1/2–COX-2–PGE2 pathway.

Dissolving microneedles carried drug molecules can effectively penetrate the stratum corneum of skin to improve the transdermal drug delivery. The traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture is based on the needle stimulation at a specific location (acupoint) to generate and transmit biochemical and physiological signals which alter the pathophysiological state of patients. However, the pain associated with conventional acupuncture needles and the requirement of highly trained professionals limit the development of acupuncture in non-Asian countries. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the dissolving microneedles can be utilized as a self-administered painless replacement for acupuncture and locally released drug molecules can achieve expected therapeutic outcomes. Immunosuppressive rats were treated with acupuncture at Zusanli (ST36) acupoint using microneedles containing thymopentin. The immune functions and psychological mood of the immunosuppressed animals were examined. The proliferation of splenocytes was examined by CCK-8 assay. CD4 and CD8 expression patterns in spleen cells were detected by flow cytometry. The current study showed that use of either microneedles containing thymopentin or conventional acupuncture both resulted in immune cell proliferation, which was confirmed by flow cytometry. Furthermore, either conventional acupuncture or microneedles were able to effectively mitigate the anxiety caused by immune-suppression when applied on the ST36.