OBJECTIVETo provide experimental proof for establishing a standard quality evaluation method of adhesive property on Cataplasma by studying the factors of effect on evaluation of adhesive quality on Cataplasma.

METHODWith 180 degrees peel off test, tensile shear and adhesive force test, the influence caused by the square of samples, texture of fabric base and the moisture loss was tested with multifunctional material tester and first stickiness tester.

RESULTThe peel off strength of 40 mm wide sample is 26% lower than that of the 20 mm wide sample (P < 0.05), and tensile shear strength had no significant difference. The peel off strength of transverse fabric base was higher than that of lengthways fabric base (P < 0.01). The tensile shear strength of transverse fabric base was lower than that of lengthways fabric base (P < 0.05). The sample with 35% moisture lost had a maximum tensile shear strength and the sample which lost 30% moisture lost had a maximum peel off strength; The sample which lost 20% moisture lost had a maximum first adhesive force.

CONCLUSIONThe square of samples, the texture of fabric base and the moisture loss of samples can all affect the evaluation of adhesive quality on Cataplasma.

Adhesiveness ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; standards ; Materials Testing ; methods ; Ointment Bases ; chemistry ; Ointments ; chemistry ; standards ; Quality Control ; Tensile Strength

OBJECTIVETo establish a novel model of lumbar disc degeneration on the early stage in the rhesus monkey using percutaneous needle puncture guided by CT.

METHODS(1) Thirteen rhesus monkeys aged from 4 to 7 years, female 7 and male 6 were selected for establishing a model of the early stage of lumbar disc degeneration. (2)13 monkeys, 91 discs were divided into 3 groups: 64 discs from L1/2 to L5/6 were percutaneous punctured with a needle 20G as experimental group and 1 disc with a needle 15G as puncture control group and 26 discs were not be punctured from L6,7 to L7-S1 as control group. (3) Lumbar disc localization for needle puncture was guided by CT. All discs were examined by MRI, the HE, Masson's trichrome, Safranine-O and immunohistochemical staining of type II collagen before disc puncture and after puncture at 4, 8 and 12 weeks.

RESULTSMRI: (1) Experimental group: Pfirmann's Grade I was shown at postoperation 4, 8 and 12 weeks; (2) Puncture control group: Grade III was shown at postoperation 4 weeks and Grade IV at 8 weeks; (3) CONTROL GROUP: Grade I was shown at postoperation 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Histological examination: (1) In experimental group, there was no any change at postoperation 4 weeks, and the cell population of the nucleus was decreased at 8 weeks and more decreased at 12 weeks in HE. (2) There was no any change at postoperation 4 weeks, the clefts among the lamellae of the annulus fibrosus (AF) were shown at 8 weeks and more wider of the clefts of AF at 12 weeks in Masson's trichrome. (3) No any change was shown at postoperation 4 weeks, proteoglycan were progressively decreased at 8 and 12 weeks in Safranine-O. (4) No statistically significant difference in positive rate was observed at 4 and 8 weeks compared with control group in immunohistochemical staining of type II collagen. There was statistical difference at 12 weeks compared with control group (P<0.05). In puncture control group postoperation 8 weeks, the morphology of cell of nucleus pulposus was not clear in HE. The wider clefts of lamellae of the AF were shown in Masson's trichrome. The proteoglycan was obviously decreased in Safranine-O. Immunohistochemical staining collagen II synthesized was decreased. In normal control group, no any change was shown at 4, 8 and 12 weeks.

CONCLUSIONSThe degeneration of lumbar intervertebral disc on the early stage could be induced by the percutaneous needle puncture (20G) to the annulus fibrosus. The assessment of disc degeneration on early stage is not shown on MRI and only confirmed by histological examination.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Intervertebral Disc ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Macaca mulatta ; Male ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Random Allocation

Objective: To investigate the effect of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma on gastrointestinal function of normal rats and explore its therapeutic mechanism,and compare the difference of this herb before and after simmering. Method: Healthy SD rats were randomly divided into 7 groups,including the blank group,the high,medium and low dose groups of raw Rhei Radix et Rhizoma(1.5,3.0,6.0 g·kg^-1·d^-1) and the high,medium and low dose groups of simmered Rhei Radix et Rhizoma(1.5,3.0,6.0 g·kg^-1·d^-1),eight rats in each group were continuous intragastric administration for 10 days,the effect of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma on gastrointestinal function of rats were evaluated by body weight,food intake,gastric remnant rate,small intestine propelling rate,stomach weight coefficient and gastrointestinal tissue morphology;enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect contents of motilin(MTL) in rat plasma and gastrin(GAS),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-10(IL-10) in rat serum,the mechanism of effect of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma on gastrointestinal function was explored and the effect of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma on gastrointestinal function of normal rats before and after simmering was compared. Result: In each administration group,weight growth of rats was slowed down,gastric emptying and intestinal propulsion were inhibited,inflammatory reaction was triggered,and gastric mucosal injury was increased.Compared with the blank group, except for the low-dose and medium-dose groups of simmered Rhei Radix et Rhizoma,stomach weight coefficient,gastric remnant rate and content of TNF-α of rats were significantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01), and the content of IL-10 was significantly reduced, in addition to the low-dose group of simmered Rhei Radix et Rhizoma,the weight,small intestine propelling rate,contents of GAS and MTL of rats were significantly decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Compared with the isodose raw Rhei Radix et Rhizoma group,the weight,small intestine propelling rate,contents of GAS,IL-10 and MTL were all increased with different degrees, the gastric weight coefficient,gastric remnant rate and content of TNF-α of rats were all decreased to different degrees. Conclusion: Gastrointestinal dysfunction caused by Rhei Radix et Rhizoma is related to inhibiting the expression of gastrointestinal hormones and promoting the expression of inflammatory cytokines, in addition,the effect of "stomach injured by bitterness and cold property" of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma is weakened after simmering,which provides scientific basis for clinical rational use of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma.