The prescription combinations of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) focuses on the taste and channel tropism, the Qi movement, as well as the compatibility according to multiple combination principles and medicinal property and flavor combination of several traditional Chinese medicines. With the in-depth study on the prescription compatibility, researchers have realized that the medicinal property theory is the core of TCM combinations. However, there is no definite method for combinations based on medicinal properties. In this paper, the authors put forward an method for designing prescription combinations based on bipartite graph and the greedy algorithm. With the medicinal property combinations of Siweilurong Pills for example, the authors proved this method could provide ideas for quickly choosing herbal medicines for prescription combinations, and discussed the prospect of this method in substituting previous and endangered herbal medicines and banned medicinal materials.
Algorithms ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Prescriptions ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy

OBJECTIVETo explore acupuncture-assisted anesthesia in transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy via the perineum.

METHODSOne hundred and five cases of prostate biopsy were randomly divided into two groups. For 51 cases in observation group (group A), the periprostatic nerve plexus block and acupuncture on bilateral Zusanli (ST 36) were applied. For 54 cases in control group (group B), the simple periprostatic nerve plexus block was adopted. Visual Analogue Score (VAS) was used to evaluate the pain extent after biopsy and blood pressure and heart rate were monitored before, during and after operation, separately.

RESULTSVAS scores were 0.9 +/- 0.8 and 2.8 +/- 1.0 in group A and group B, separately, indicating statistical significant difference in comparison (P < 0.01). Additionally, in group B, blood pressure and heart rate during and after operation were higher remarkably than those before operation (all P < 0.05). Moreover, in group B, blood pressure during operation and heart rate during and after operation were all higher apparently than those in group A (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture-assisted anesthesia alleviates apparently pain and discomforts during transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy via the perineum in patients and ensures the stability of blood pressure and heart rate.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biopsy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain Management ; Perineum ; innervation ; Prostate ; pathology ; Prostatic Diseases ; diagnosis ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo observe pathohistological features of vulnerable plaques in coronary arteries.

METHODSAutopsy coronary samples from 67 patients died of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and 60 patients of non-cardiac death from 1992 to 2006 in Beijing Hospital were examined. Morphological features of vulnerable plaques of ACS cases were evaluated in terms of thrombus, ratio of lipid core, the minimal thickness of fibrous cap and the density of inflammatory infiltration.

RESULTS(1) There are 305 plaques in ACS group and the incidence of big lipid core is 153 (50.16%), thin fibrous cap is 187(61.31%), inflammatory infiltration is 263 (86.23%), neovasculature conformation is 217 (71.15%), severe stenosis is 26 (8.52%), calcification is 238 (78.03%), superficial calcified nodule is 26 (8.52%), fissured plaque is 12 (3.93%), endothelial denudation is 3 (0.98%) and intraplaque hemorrhage is 54 (17.70%), which are significantly higher than control samples except endothelial denudation (P < 0.01). (2) The incidence of vulnerable plaques in ACS group is significantly higher than in the control group (89.51% vs. 21.98%, P < 0.01). There are 4.07 sections of vulnerable plaques with high density of inflammatory infiltration out of 4.55 sections reviewed in ACS patients, while there are 0.85 sections of vulnerable plaques with mild inflammatory infiltration out of 3.87 sections reviewed in the control cases.

CONCLUSIONSFormation of vulnerable plaque was an important pathological factor for the development of ACS. The major morphological characteristics of vulnerable plaque are big lipid core, thin fibrous cap, inflammatory infiltration, neovascularization, severe stenosis, plaque rupture, and endothelial denudation suggesting inflammation performed an important role in the formation of vulnerable plaque.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; pathology ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; pathology

Adult ; Humans ; Lateral Ventricles ; pathology ; Male ; Neurocytoma ; pathology

Multi-component traditional Chinese medicines are an innovative research mode for traditional Chinese medicines. Currently, there are many design methods for developing multi-component traditional Chinese medicines, but their common feature is the lack of effective connection of the traditional Chinese medicine theory. In this paper, the authors discussed the multi-component traditional Chinese medicine design methods based on medicinal property combination modes, provided the combination methods with the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine for the prescription combinations, and proved its feasibly with hypertension cases.
Animals ; Antihypertensive Agents ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of gastric dynamics by transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) combined general anesthesia when controlled hypotension dropped to 60% of the mean arterial prenssure (MAP) baseline, and to provide experimental evidence for organ protection in clinical controlled hypotension.

METHODSEighteen male beagles were randomly divided into three groups, the general anesthesia group (blank), the general anesthesia induced controlled hypotension group (control), and the general anesthesia combined TEAS induced controlled hypotension group (experiment), 6 in each group. Controlled hypotension was performed in the latter two groups with isoflurane inhalation and intravenous injection of sodium nitroprusside (SNP). The mean arterial pressure (MAP) was lowered to 60% of the MAP baseline and kept for 60 min. Controlled hypotension was not performed in Beagles of the control group. For Beagles in the experiment group, TEAS [2/100 Hz, (4 ± 1) mA] was applied to bilateral Hegu (LI4), Quchi (LI11), Zusanli (ST36), and Sanyinjiao (SP6) from stable physiological conditions to the end of maintaining stages. Changes of EGG frequencies and EGG amplitudes were monitored. Serum levels of gastrin (GAS) and motilin (MTL) were also detected at corresponding time points during and after experiment.

RESULTSAs for the pressure control effect of TEAS combined general anesthesia in the controlled hypotension, during the process of controlled hypotension (T1-T4), MAP levels of two controlled pressure groups remained relatively stable, and were kept at 60% of the MAP baseline. When the blood pressure dropped to the target low MAP and maintained at 60 min (T1-T4), EGG amplitudes of Beagles in all the three groups showed decreasing tendency. But it was more obviously lower than its basic level in the control group (P <0.05), while it was not obviously decreased in the experiment group (P < 0.05). EGG frequencies of Beagles in all the three groups showed no obvious change during this stage. By the end of the MAP rising stage (T8), the EGG amplitude of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group and the blank group (P < 0.05), while it didn' t show any obvious increase in the control group. During this period, EGG frequencies of the two controlled hypotension groups decreased more than those of the blank group. Two h after rising blood pressure (at T9), EGG amplitudes and frequencies in the two controlled hypotension groups basically restored to their respective baselines and levels of the blank group at T9. At 2 h (T9) after controlled hypotension, serum levels of GAS and MTL were lower than those of basic levels in the two controlled hypotension groups (P <0.05). However, serum levels of GAS and MTL had an increasing trend in the two controlled hypotension groups at 24-72 h (T10-T12). Besides, the increasing speed and amplitude was better in experiment group than in the control group at T10-T12. However, there was no statistical difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). At 72 h (T12) serum levels of GAS and MTL had basically restored to their basic levels in the two controlled hypotension groups and that of the blank control group.

CONCLUSIONEGG amplitudes could be effectively improved in TEAS combined general anesthesia for controlled hypotension at 60% of the MAP baseline, the recovery of the serum GAS level accelerated, gastric power improved and stomach protected.

Acupuncture Points ; Anesthesia ; methods ; Anesthesia, General ; Animals ; Arteries ; Dogs ; Gastrins ; Hypotension, Controlled ; Male ; Motilin ; Nitroprusside ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation

Humans ; Homicide ; Forensic Pathology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the activation characteristics of microglia (MG) in the rats striatum with MA-induced neurotoxicity. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided randomly into control group (n=24) and experimental group (n=24). The rats of experimental group were injected intraperitoneally with MA (15 mg/kg x 8 injections, at 12 hours interval). The rats of control group were administrated with saline. The tissues of striatum of two rat groups were harvested at 0.5 d, 1 d, 2 d, 3 d, 4 d, 5 d, 6 d and 7 d post initial administrations of MA or saline. The structure changes were observed by transmission electron microscopy and CD-11b immunohistochemistry. The ratio of activated MG was calculated and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: In the control group, the morphological characteristics of the MG showed that the cell bodies were small with slender processes, high electronic density nucleus, and fewer organelles known as the "fork-type". In contrast, the MG in the MA-induced neurotoxicity group displayed larger cell body, shorter cell processes or disappeared, lower electronic density nucleus and rich organelles, resembling "bush-like" or "amoeba-like". The ratio of activated MG in control group was below 0.15 at all timepoints, whereas in the experimental group, the ratio of activated MG increased significantly from day 1 to day 7 (P<0.001). CONCLUSION The continuous MA stimulation of the CNS results in prominent MG activation.
Animals ; Corpus Striatum/pathology* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Methamphetamine/toxicity* ; Microglia/ultrastructure* ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Staining and Labeling ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect of abdominal acupuncture and Chinese medicine on pain relieving in pelvic cavity in patients with endometriosis.

METHODSFifty-eight cases were randomly divided into 2 groups. Thirty cases were in abdominal acupuncture group and 28 cases in Chinese medicine group. Abdominal acupuncture points such as Zhongwan (CV 12), Xiawan (CV 10) and Qihai (CV 6), etc. were adopted for the abdominal acupuncture group, and Tianqi Tongjing Capsule (radix notoginseng capsule for dysmenorrhea) was taken by the Chinese medicine group. After a 3-month treatment, the scores of McGill pain questionaire, level of serum CA125, average value of the radial line of endometrial cyst of ovary and the sum of 3 radial lines of the uterus of patients with adenomyosis as the complication of both groups were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe McGill estimation of 6 items for both groups improved obviously after treatment (all P < 0.01, except numbers of selected deseriptors in Chinese medicine group). The differences of the result of McGill estimation of 6 items after treatment had statistical significance, the scores in the abdominal acupuncture group were obviously better than those in the Chinese medicine group (all P < 0.01). The differences of CA125 levels within one group or between 2 groups had statistical significance (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The difference of the radial lines of patients with endometrial cyst of ovary within one group or between 2 groups after treatment had not statistical significance (all P > 0.05). For the value of 3 radial lines of the uterus of patients with adenomyosis within one group before and after treatment, only the difference in the abdominal acupuncture group had statistical significance (P < 0.01). The differences before and after treatment in the Chinese medicine group and the difference between 2 groups after treatment had no statistical significance (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEffect of abdominal acupuncture on relieving pain of pelvic cavity caused by endometriosis, reducing the level of serum CA125 is obverious than Tianqi Tongjing Capsule (radix notoginseng capsule for dysmenorrhea). However, the effects on reducing the size of the ovarian endometrial cyst and the size of uterus with adenomyosis are not significant. Therefore, it is concluded that abdominal acupuncture is a better choice for endometriosis with pain as the chief complaints.

Abdomen ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Endometriosis ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Pain Measurement ; Pelvic Pain ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of arsenite-induced permeability transition pore (PTP) opening and the role of Ca(2+). in As(2)O(3)-induced PTP opening.

METHODThe mitochondria were prepared from Wistar rat liver and mitochondrial swelling was assessed spectrophotometrically at 540 nm to evaluate PTP opening. The membrane potential of the mitochondria was measured with fluorescence spectrophotometry.

RESULTSPTP opening was induced with 10 micromol/L As(2)O(3) in the presence of 10 micromol/L Ca(2+), and the absorbance at 540 nm of the mitochondria did not decrease in response to exclusive treatment with 10 micromol/L As(2)O(3), or to 10 micromol/L As(2)O(3) plus 10 micromol/L Ca(2+) treatment with 0.5 mmol/L EGTA pretreatment. Treatment with As(2)O(3) at 0, 5, 10 and 20 micromol/L in the presence of 50, 20, 10 and 5 micromol/L Ca(2+), respectively, resulted in decreased absorbance at 540 nm of the mitochondria.

CONCLUSIONCa(2+) mediates As(2)O(3)-induced PTP opening. As(2)O(3) lowers Ca(2+) threshold necessary for eliciting PTP opening and thereby regulates cell apoptosis.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Arsenicals ; pharmacology ; Calcium ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Synergism ; Female ; Mitochondria, Liver ; drug effects ; physiology ; Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins ; drug effects ; physiology ; Oxides ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar