Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Endotoxemia ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharide Receptors ; blood ; Lipopolysaccharides ; blood ; Phytotherapy ; Shock, Septic ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology

Objective To explore the relationship between asthma exacerbation and respiratory tract infections of viruses,Mycoplasma pneumoniae(MP),Chlamydia pneumoniae(CP)in children.Methods Seven viruses including respiratory syncytial virus(RSV),adenovirus(AdV),influenza virus A(IFVA),influenza virus B(IFVB) and parainfluenza virus Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ(PFVⅠ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ) from the nasopharyngeal aspirate of 74 patients with asthma were rapidly diagnosed by direct immunofluorescence assay,as well as the serum MP-IgM,CP-IgM were detected by the granule agglutinating method and indirect solid-phase enzyme immunoassay(EIA),respectively.Results Pathogens were detected in 29 out of 74 cases(39.2%) with asthma exacerbation.Of whom 14 cases(43.8%) were in infant and another 15 cases(18.8%) were in preschool and school children.RSV was the leading pathogen in infant,it was discovered in 6 cases(accounting for 18.8%).The se-cond pathogen was PFVⅢ which was discovered in 4 cases(12.5%).MP,AdV and CP accounted for 6.25%,3.1%,3.1%,respectively.But in preschool and school children,MP was the most common pathogen which were discovered in 9 cases(21.4%),the following pathogen was CP which was discovered in 3 cases(7.1%),PFVⅢ and RSV only accounted for 4.8%,2.4%,respectively.There was significant differences statistically between two groups in viral respiratory tract and atypical-microorganism infections rate(Pa

Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; Occupational Medicine ; standards

Objective To investigate the appropriate and pragmatic drainage after the breast cancer by radi- cal surgery.Methods 120 patients treated by the radical surgery from July 2003 to July 2005,were divided into the experimental group(ring-like double tubes with negative pressure drainage) and the control group(armpit single tube drainage with pressure bind).The differences between the two groups were analyzed in the same period,respectively sixty cases.Results The outflow of the first three days after operation in the experimental group was more than that in control group(P0.05).The incidence of sinoma and incision delaying healing in experimental group was lower than that in con- trol group(P

Humans ; Moxibustion ; Depression ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Esophagitis, Peptic

AIMTo explore the effect of platelet-activating factor on long-term potentiation in the CA1 region of rat hippocampal slices.

METHODSWe recorded the excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) and investigated effect of long-term potentiation by PAF in rat hippocampus in vitro.

RESULTSLow doses (1 micromol/L ) of PAF could induce LTP, while higher doses (10-50 micromol/L) of PAF could inhibit induction of LTP. But it couldn't inhibit the LTP induced by subsequent high frequency stimulation and the EPSP of basal. GB of PAF receptor antagonists could prevent the LTP induced by low doses of PAF, and could't inhibit the LTP induced by HFS.

CONCLUSIONHigher doses of PAF is an HIV-1-induced neurotoxin, it may contribute to the HAD pathogenesis by inhibition of LTP.

Animals ; Electric Stimulation ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; physiology ; Long-Term Potentiation ; Male ; Organ Culture Techniques ; Platelet Activating Factor ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy and safety of Yigu capsule (YGC, a Chinese herbal compound preparation) in treating postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) and to explore its possible mechanism.

METHODSThe clinical study was conducted adopting prospective, randomized, double blinded method for 6 months with placebo and positive controls. Two hundred and ten PMO patients with confirmed diagnosis were divided into the YGC group, the osteocalcin group and the placebo group, they were treated with YGC, osteocalcin capsule and placebo capsule, respectively. The symptoms, as new fracture and ostealgia, bone mineral density (BMD) of the 2nd to the 4th lumbar vertebrae (L24) and upper segment of femur, blood and urinary indexes for bone metabolism, sex hormone level and adverse reaction were observed.

RESULTSIn the YGC group, the total effective rate was 95.50%, no new fracture occurred, which was significantly better than that in the other two groups (P < 0.05). The increase of BMD was 9.83% in L2-4, 4.09% in femoral neck, 4.60% in Wards triangle, 3.00% in greater trochanter, which were better than those in the placebo group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). As compared with the placebo group, in the YGC group, levels of urinary oxyproline hydroxyproline/creatinine, urinary calcium/creatinine were lower, serum and bone alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, estradiol, and estradiol/testosterone were higher, but with no difference in level of testosterone. In the observation period, no abnormal findings in blood and urine routine examination as well as in liver and renal function were found. Mild, transient gastro-intestinal response occurred in individual patients but it didn't affect the treatment.

CONCLUSIONYGC could treat PMO effectively, it could obviously increase the BMD of lumbar vertebrae and hip, elevate the alleviating rate of ostealgia and incessant motion time, without new compressive fracture of vertebrae, and without any related adverse reaction. YGC could not only promote the formation, but also inhibit the absorption of bone, and increase the sex hormone level, therefore, it is a pure Chinese herbal compound preparation that worths further deep research and development.

Absorptiometry, Photon ; Bone Density ; Capsules ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Phytotherapy ; Prospective Studies ; Testosterone ; blood

BACKGROUNDThe classic glycine receptor (GlyR) in the central nervous system is a ligand-gated membrane-spanning ion channel. Recent studies have provided evidence for the existence of GlyR in endothelial cells, renal proximal tubular cells and most leukocytes. In contrast, no evidence for GlyR in myocardial cells has been found so far. Our recent researches have showed that glycine could protect myocardial cells from the damage induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Further studies suggest that myocardial cells could contain GlyR or binding site of glycine.

METHODSIn isolated rat heart damaged by LPS, the myocardial monophasic action potential (MAP), the heart rate (HR), the myocardial tension and the activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from the coronary effluent were determined. The concentration of intracellular free calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)) was measured in cardiomyocytes injured by LPS and by hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R), which excludes the possibility that reduced calcium influx because of LPS neutralized by glycine. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the GlyR in myocardial tissue. GlyR and its subunit in the purified cultured cardiomyocytes were identified by Western blotting.

RESULTSAlthough significant improvement in the MAP/MAPD(20), HR, and reduction in LDH release were observed in glycine + LPS hearts, myocardial tension did not recover. Further studies demonstrated that glycine could prevent rat mycordial cells from LPS and hypoxia/reoxygenation injury (no endotoxin) by attenuating calcium influx. Immunohistochemistry exhibited a positive green-fluorescence signaling along the cardiac muscle fibers. Western blotting shows that the purified cultured cardiomyocytes express GlyR beta subunit, but GlyR alpha1 subunit could not be detected.

CONCLUSIONSThe results suggest that glycine receptor is expressed in cardiomyocytes and participates in cytoprotection from LPS and hypoxia/reoxygenation injury. Glycine could directly activate GlyR on the cardiomyocytes and prevent calcium influx into the cardiomyocytes.

Animals ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cytoprotection ; Glycine ; pharmacology ; Heart ; drug effects ; physiology ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; Immunohistochemistry ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; secretion ; Lipopolysaccharides ; toxicity ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Glycine ; analysis ; physiology

BACKGROUNDIncreasing evidence suggests that many neurons may die through apoptosis in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in this process of neuronal cell death. One promising approach for preventing AD is based upon anti-apoptosis to decrease death of nerve cells. In this study, we observed the memory improving properties of curcumin in mice and investigated the neuroprotective effect of curcumin in vitro and in vivo.

METHODSThe mice were given AlCl(3) orally and injections of D-galactose intraperitoneally for 90 days to establish the AD animal model. From day 45, the curcumin group was treated with curcumin for 45 days. Subsequently, the step-through test, neuropathological changes in the hippocampus and the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 were carried out to evaluate the effect of curcumin on the AD model mice. In cultured PC12 cells, AlCl(3) exposure induced apoptosis. The MTT assay was used to measure cell viabilities; flow cytometric analysis to survey the rate of cell apoptosis; DNA-binding fluorochrome Hoechst 33258 to observe nuclei changes in apoptotic cells and Western blot analysis of Bax, Bcl-2 to investigate the mechanisms by which curcumin protects cells from toxicity.

RESULTSCurcumin significantly improved the memory ability of AD mice in the step-through test, as indicated by the reduced number of step-through errors (P < 0.05) and prolonged step-through latency (P < 0.05). Curcumin also attenuated the neuropathological changes in the hippocampus and inhibited apoptosis accompanied by an increase in Bcl-2 level (P < 0.05), but the activity of Bax did not change (P > 0.05). AlCl(3) significantly reduced the viability of PC12 cells (P < 0.01). Curcumin increased cell viability in the presence of AlCl(3) (P < 0.01). The rate of apoptosis decreased significantly in the curcumin group (P < 0.05) when measured by flow cytometric analysis. Curcumin protected cells by increasing Bcl-2 level (P < 0.05), but the level of Bax did not change (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThis study demonstrates that curcumin improves the memory ability of AD mice and inhibits apoptosis in cultured PC12 cells induced by AlCl(3). Its mechanism may involve enhancing the level of Bcl-2.

Aluminum Compounds ; toxicity ; Alzheimer Disease ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chlorides ; toxicity ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Learning ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Mice ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; PC12 Cells ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the improvement of Kangshuai Yizhi Formula I ( I, KYF I) on: the learning and memory dysfunction in mice, and on the mechanism of the hippocampal cholinergic system and the nervous system of monoamine which are closely related to learning and memory function.

METHODSMice: in the low-, middle-, and high-dose KYF I groups were given low-, middle-, and high-dose KYF, respectively, by gastrogavage for 35 successive days. Animals in the control group and the model group were treated with distilled water. The acute learning and memory dysfunction model was established by injection of scopolamine from day 31, and Morris water maze was used to assess the behavior performance of scopolamine-induced model mice for five days. The activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), choline acetyl transferase (ChaT) and the content of monoamine neurotransmitters in hippocampus were measured. The activity of monoamine oxidase (MAO) in hippocampus and serum was also detected.

RESULTS(1) Compared with the control group, the: mean escape latency was shortened, and the frequency across the platform and the staying time at the platform area on the 5th day were decreased in the model group by Morris water maze test. The activities of AChE and MAO were increased, and the ChaT activity and monoamine neurotransmitter content were decreased as well. (2) The escape latency for 4 days in the low-, middle-, and high-dose KYF I groups was significantly shortened than that in the model group, with the shortest latency in the high-dose KYF I group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The frequency across the platform was significantly increased and the staying time at the platform was significantly prolonged in the middle- and high-dose KYF I groups (P<0.05, P<0.01). (3) As compared with the model group, the activity of ChaT and the content of monoamine neurotransmitters in the hippocampus were significantly increased, and the activities of AchE and MAO were significantly decreased in the hippocampus in the high-dose KYF I group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSHigh-dose KYF I can significantly improve the learning and memory dysfunction: induced by scopolamine in mice. Its mechanism may be related to improving the central cholinergic system and regulating the hippocampal monoamine neurotransmitters.

Acetylcholinesterase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Choline O-Acetyltransferase ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Learning ; drug effects ; Male ; Memory Disorders ; blood ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; physiopathology ; Mice ; Monoamine Oxidase ; blood ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; metabolism ; Reaction Time ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide ; toxicity ; Time Factors