OBJECTIVETo observe clinical therapeutic effects of acupuncture for pattern of liver-stagnation and spleen-deficiency in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS) and its impact on cell factors.

METHODSForty cases were selected and divided into an acupuncture group (21 cases) in which acupuncture was applied and a medicine group (19 cases) in which oral administration of dicetel and bifidobacterium lactobacillus triple viable capsules were applied. The symptom scores, level of Th1-type cytokine (IFN-gamma, IL-2) and Th2-type cytokine (IL-4, IL-10) and ratio of IFN-gamma to IL-4 were compared in two groups before and after treatment to analyze acupuncture effect.

RESULTSThe clinical symptoms were improved after one-week treatment in the acupuncture group (P<0.05), which had faster onset than the medicine group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 90.48% (19/21) in the acupuncture group, which was superior to 78.95% (15/19) in the medicine group (P<0.05). Compared with medicine treatment, imbalanced condition of Th1/Th2 was turning towards the direction of Th2 after acupuncture, indicating a tendency to recover the balance.

CONCLUSIONThe clinical efficacy of acupuncture for D-IBS has close relationship with effectively improving balance of Th1/Th2 in patients with liver-stagnation and spleen-deficiency.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Cytokines ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; immunology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spleen ; physiopathology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate regulation function of anodonta glucan HBP-A on chondrocytes through Wnt pathway in vitro.

METHODSRat chondrocytes were cultured and differentiated induced with IL-1beta (10 ng/ml) in vitro. Chondrocytes were divided into five groups:IL-13 group,IL-1beta + IWP-2 (5 microM,Wnt pathway inhibitor) group, IL-1beta + HBP-A (0.3 mg/ml) group and IL-1beta + IWP-2 + HBP-A group. Wnt-3a, beta-catenin (24 h,48 h,72 h) and MMP-13(72 h) genes expression were detected by Rt-PCR, while beta-catenin, MMP-13, Sox-9 and coll-II (48 h) protein expression were measured by Western-blot.

RESULTSAfter induction of IL-1beta, gene expression of Wnt-3a, beta-catenin and MMP-13 were increased,so were the protein expression of beta-catenin and MMP-13. In contrast,protein expression of Sox-9 and Coll-II were declined. Following addition of HBP-A, Wnt-3a, beta-catenin and MMP-13 were shown as induction of IL-1beta, but protein expression of Sox-9 and Coll-II were upgraded. Combining HBP-A with IWP-2 led to the lowest level in Wnt-3a, beta-catenin gene and beta-catenin protein expression and highest expression of Sox-9 protein.

CONCLUSIONHBP-A could not only delay the differentiation of chondrocytes through downgrading the signal expression of Wnt/beta-catenin,but also adjust the expression of Wnt-3a, beta-catenin and Sox-9 when combinated with the Wnt inhibitor.

Animals ; Anodonta ; chemistry ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Glucans ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Rats ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; drug effects ; Wnt3A Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of SYT-1, a new compound of tetrahydroisoquino-line, on tumor cell proliferation and underlying mechanisms. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method was used to detect cell proliferation; clone formation experiment was used to detect cell clone formation ability; JC-1 probe was used to detect cell mitochondrial membrane potential; 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) probe was used to detect intracellular reactive oxygen species; Annexin V-FITC/PI (fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium) counterstaining method was used to detect apoptosis; Western blot assay was used to detect the expression level of related proteins. The experimental results show that SYT-1 has a significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation of six human-derived cancer cells. Among them, the inhibitory effect on breast cancer MCF-7 cells is the strongest, the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of SYT-1 of 48 h administration on MCF-7 cells is 5.87 μmol·L^-1, which is better than that of cisplatin (8.92 μmol·L^-1). Further studies have shown that SYT-1 can dose-dependently inhibit the monoclonal formation ability of MCF-7 cells, and can cause the mitochondrial membrane potential of the cells to decrease and the level of reactive oxygen species to increase. In addition, SYT-1 can significantly inhibit the activation of PI3K-Akt (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B) signaling pathway and induce apoptosis of MCF-7 cells. The above research results show that, as a new type of tetrahydroisoquinoline compound, SYT-1 has the potential to inhibit tumor cell proliferation.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture for treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and discuss its action mechanism.

METHODSFifty-seven cases were randomly divided into two groups. The acupuncture group (29 cases) was treated with acupuncture at Taichong (LR 3), Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) etc., once a day and 5 times per week. The medication group (28 cases) was treated with oral administration of pinaverium (50 mg each time, 3 times a day) and live combined bifidobacterium and lactobacillus tablet (4 tablets each time, 3 times a day). Four weeks were taken as a treatment course in both groups. Before and after treatment ELISA method was applied to measure the level of serum 5-HT of the patients in two groups. The scores of clinical symptoms were observed before treatment, after one and four weeks of treatment and 3 months after treatment, respectively.

RESULTSThe level of serum 5-HT was significantly reduced in the acupuncture group and medication group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), which had no statistical difference between two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with the medication group, the scores of clinical symptoms were obviously improved in the acupuncture group after one and four weeks of treatment and 3 months after treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The total effective rate was 89.66% (26/29) in the acupuncture group, which was superior to 67.85% (19/28) in the medication group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe efficacy of acupuncture is superior to that of medicine in the treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome. The acupuncture treatment could reduce the visceral sensitivity, improve the intestinal motility and regulate the imbalance of brain-intestine interactive function.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Diarrhea ; blood ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; blood ; therapy ; Male ; Serotonin ; blood ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To investigate regulation function of anodonta glucan HBP-A on chondrocytes through Wnt path-way in vitro. Methods:Rat chondrocytes were cultured and differentiated induced with IL-1β (10 ng/ml) in vitro. Chondro-cytes were divided into five groups:IL-1βgroup,IL-1β+IWP-2 (5μM,Wnt pathway inhibitor) group,IL-1β+HBP-A (0.3 mg/ml) group and IL-1β+IWP-2+HBP-A group. Wnt-3a,β-catenin (24 h,48 h,72 h) and MMP-13(72 h) genes expres-sion were detected by Rt-PCR,whileβ-catenin,MMP-13,Sox-9 and coll-Ⅱ (48 h) protein expression were measured by Western-blot. Results:After induction of IL-1β,gene expression of Wnt-3a,β-catenin and MMP-13 were increased,so were the protein expression ofβ-catenin and MMP-13. In contrast,protein expression of Sox-9 and Coll-Ⅱwere declined. Follow-ing addition of HBP-A,Wnt-3a,β-catenin and MMP-13 were shown as induction of IL-1β,but protein expression of Sox-9 and Coll-Ⅱwere upgraded . Combining HBP-A with IWP-2 led to the lowest level in Wnt-3a ,β-catenin gene andβ-catenin protein expression and highest expression of Sox-9 protein. Conclusion:HBP-A could not only delay the differentiation of chondrocytes through downgrading the signal expression of Wnt/β-catenin,but also adjust the expression of Wnt-3a,β-catenin and Sox-9 when combinated with the Wnt inhibitor.

Objective According to results from the two-month consecutive surveillance program in Maanshan,six suspected cases of non-O1 non-O139 Vibrio (V.) cholerae infection,were found that called for identification of pathogens as well as molecular-epidemiological analysis to determine the aggregation of the epidemic situation.Methods Biochemical and serotype identification,hemolysis test,and drug sensitive test were used to detect the drug resistance spectrum.Real-time PCR and conventional PCR were used to detect the presence of V.cholerae specific genes,virulent genes and its related genes,including ompW,ctx,tcpA,toxR,hlyA,zot,ace,rstR and g ⅢCTX.Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to analyze the molecular type of strains.Results All the six isolates of non-O 1 non-O 139 V.cholerae were identified by biochemical and serologic tests,and appeared to be β hemolytic.Twelve out of the 14 kinds of drugs showed 100％ sensitive.All isolates were positive of ompW gene by real-time PCR,but negative for ctx,tcpA,zot,ace,rstR and gⅢ CTK.Five of the six isolates were positive for toxR and hlyA,except for strain 1001434446.All strains had different PFGE types,but two strains had similar types.All strains had a low similarity compared to the toxigenic V.cholerae.Conclusion Six cases ofnon-O1 and non-O139 nontoxigenic V.cholerae infection appeared in the same period.Along with epide(m)iological information,we noticed that these cases had a sporadic nature,but frequently appeared in the same area.We got the impression that public health measurements should be strengthened,with special attention paid to those diarrhea outbreaks caused by non-O 1 /non-O 139 strains since V.cholerae had appeared in low incidence.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with imatinib in gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST) patients who had high risk of recurrence.

METHODSA prospective, open-label, multi-center trial conducted in sixteen teaching hospitals in China was carried out. The criteria of the enrolled patients included age more than 18 years old, CD117 positive GIST, tumor size more than 5 cm, pathological mitosis counts more than 5/50 HPF, and treatment beginning within 4 weeks after complete resection and with imatinib (400 mg, once a day) for at least 12 months. The 1, 3 year recurrence rates, disease free survival, overall survival rate and quality of life were evaluated.

RESULTSFrom Aug. 16th 2004 to Sep. 13th 2005, there were totally 74 patients screened and 57 patients (34 men, 23 women) enrolled in the imatinib treatment group. The primary tumors were located in the stomach in 50.9%, the small intestine in 38.6% and the colorectum in 10.5% of the cases. All the patients received radical resection. Until the cut-off date of interim analysis, there was no evidence of tumor relapse or metastasis in all patients and no death was reported either. Among the 57 enrolled patients with intention to treat(ITT), twelve patients finished the protocol (per protocol, PP). The disease free survival was (268.3 +/-120.2) d in ITT analysis, and (396.7+/-38.2) d in the PP analysis. The incidence of adverse effect was 44.4% . The score in quality of life showed no statistically significant difference between the baseline visit and the follow-up visits.

CONCLUSIONImatinib is a promising postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in GISTs patients with high risk of recurrence, and the adverse effects are receivable.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Benzamides ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Postoperative Period ; Prospective Studies ; Pyrimidines ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

In this paper， the name， origin， quality evaluation， producing area and processing methods of Platycodonis Radix used in the famous classical formulas are researched by consulting related materia medicas， prescription books and medical books of the past dynasties. It was found that Platycodonis Radix was the correct name in the materia medicas of the past dynasties， which was named for its "roots are strong but the stems are straight". Its dominant base of the past dynasties was Platycodon grandiflorus， and since the Ming and Qing dynasties， Hexian county of Anhui has been respected as the representative authentic producing area. In modern times， it has been concluded that the quality of Platycodonis Radix is best if the body is dry， thick and uniform， solid， white in color， and bitter in taste. In ancient times， the processing methods of Platycodonis Radix were mainly removing the reed head and floating skin， rice simmering and drying， and slicing and micro-frying. In modern times， its processing methods have been mainly simplified to peeling and cutting into thick slices. Therefore， it is recommended to use the dry roots of P. grandiflorus and its raw products in the famous classical formulas.

In this paper， the name， origin， medicinal properties， specifications， clinical efficacy， producing area， quality evaluation and processing methods of Forsythiae Fructus in the famous classical formulas are researched by consulting related herbal literature， medical books and prescription books. The results showed that Forsythiae Fructus was sourced from Hypericum ascyron and its genus plants before Song dynasty， and it is used as medicine in many parts. After Song dynasty， Forsythiae Fructus is sourced from the fruit of Forsythia suspensa. Since the Ming dynasty， Forsythiae Fructus is divided into Qingqiao and Laoqiao according to different harvesting time. According to the research results， it is suggested to refer to the following suggestions for the application of Forsythiae Fructus in the development of famous classical formulas：①F. suspensa should be chosen as the origin since the Ming and Qing dynasties. ②If there is no special requirement for the source of prescriptions， it is recommended that Laoqiao be used in famous classical formulas since the Ming and Qing dynasties. ③The harvest time of Qingqiao should be from July 15^th to August 15^th， and Laoqiao should be in September， and it should be the husk after the seeds have been removed.

Through consulting the ancient herbs and medical books,combining with modern literature and field investigation,this paper makes textual research on herbal medicine,and makes textual research on the name,origin,position and changes of collection and processing of the medicinal herbs in Ancient Classical Prescriptions. " Zhu" wasn't distinguished before the Northern and Southern Dynasties,but the efficacy of the techniques recorded in the documents at that time was similar to that of today's Atractylodis Rhizoma.Tao Hongjing put forward the theory of " red and white" in the Northern and Southern Dynasties. " Cangzhu" and " Baizhu" gradually differentiated,but there was no clear distinction between them. Since Song and Yuan Dynasties, " Baizhu" has been respected and classified in the literature. In Ming Dynasty, " Baizhu" was cultivated and differentiated into different quality specifications according to its growth pattern and origin. Maoshan is the genuine production area of " Cangzhu". The quality of wild " Baizhu" produced in Yuqian city is the best. In modern times,the origins of " Cangzhu" and " Baizhu" were defined according to plant taxonomy. " Zhu" before Song Dynasty was close to Atractylodes lancea, " Baishu" had been respected since the Song Dynasty. So when Song people revised the previous literature,they unified " Zhu" into " Baizhu" and used it for later generations. Its safety and effectiveness have been confirmed,and the wild resources of modern atractylodes are scarce. Therefore,it is suggested that when classical famous prescriptions are developed,the prescription recorded as " Baizhu" does not need to be changed in its origin,that is,A. macrocephala at present or can choose the appropriate basis according to the principle of local righteousness.Textual research shows that the origin of " Cangzhu" in the classical prescription should be A. lancea.
Atractylodes/classification* ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal/classification* ; Rhizome