OBJECTIVETo study the effect of captopril on the nervous function in rabbits exposed to vibration.

METHODSRabbits were divided into vibration group, intervention group, and control group. Vibration group and intervention group were exposed to (tested by) vibration. Captopril was given to intervention group from the 11th day of vibration exposure. Somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) and motor nervous conduction function (MCF) were measured and analyzed in each group before and after vibration exposure.

RESULTSThe latent periods of N1, P1 and N2 of SEP in vibration group after vibration exposure were (30.76 +/- 4.26), (41.91 +/- 6.67), and (45.29 +/- 5.81) ms respectively, and in intervention group after vibration exposure were (27.00 +/- 3.04), (35.07 +/- 4.20) and (41.15 +/- 3.19) ms respectively. Compared with intervention group before and after exposure, and control group, the latent periods of each wave of SEP were delayed significantly (P < 0.05). The nervous conduction velocity, the distant wave amplitude, and the distant potential period of sciatic nerve in vibration group after vibration exposure were significantly different from those in intervention group [(35.69 +/- 4.37) m/s, (1.55 +/- 0.73) microV, (8.16 +/- 0.71) ms respectively vs (52.20 +/- 5.13) m/s, (2.89 +/- 0.36) microV, (7.26 +/- 0.77) ms respectively (P < 0.01)].

CONCLUSIONCaptopril may improve the impairment of nervous functions to a certain degree in rabbits exposed to vibration.

Animals ; Captopril ; pharmacology ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory ; drug effects ; Female ; Male ; Neural Conduction ; drug effects ; Rabbits ; Sciatic Nerve ; drug effects ; physiology ; Vibration ; adverse effects

The cause of premature ejaculation (PE) has been thought to be psychological in the majority of patients but we investigated penile hypersensitivity for an organic basis of PE. For another organic basis of PE, we have suggested hyperexcitability of the ejaculation center. SS-cream is a topical agent containing 9 oriental herbs for treating PE. Clinically SS-cream has been effective in the treatment of PE. Therefore, in order to implicate the organic basis of PE and realize the effect of SS-cream on PE, we investigated the somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) in patients with PE(16 cases) and the effects of SS-cream on SEP for treating PE. The latencies and amplitudes of the evoked responses were measured by two different places in stimuli, one was on the penile shaft with ring electrode and the other on the glans penis with a surface electrode. The latency of SEP stimulated at the glans penis was significantly longer than that stimulated at the penile shaft (p< 0.05). The latency stimulated at the glans penis after applying SS-cream was significantly longer than before applying SS-cream (p< 0.05), which was near the level of a normal potent man. But the latency stimulated at the penile shaft has no significant difference between before and after the application of SS-cream (P > 0.05). The amplitudes of the evoked responses stimulated at the glans penis were significantly higher than those stimulated at penile shaft (p< 0.05). And both these amplitudes were significantly reduced with the application of SS-cream (p< 0.05). With these result, we can suggest that the patients with PE have glans penile hyperexcitability and it provides further implications for an organic basis of PE, SEP stimulated at the glans penis can be a very useful method to evaluate PE, along with SEP stimulated a penile shaft and SS-cream prolongs the sensory conduction and reduces the penile hyperexcitability of the patient with PE.
Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/*therapeutic use ; Ejaculation/*drug effects ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory/*drug effects ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological/*drug therapy/physiopathology

AIMThe effect of a renewed SS-cream (RSSC) on the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE) was evaluated and compared with the original SS-cream (OSSC).

METHODSSixty male white New Zealand rabbits, weighing 2.5 kg-3.0 kg, were divided at random into 3 groups: the RSSC, OSSC and placebo groups. The spinal somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) elicited by electric stimulation of the glans penis with disk electrode was investigated with an electrophysiograph (Poseidomn, Shanghai, China) before and 10, 30 and 60 min after drug or placebo application on the glans. The Onset and the N1 latencies and the amplitude of SSEP were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the mean Onset and N1 latency of SSEP among the 3 groups before drug application. Compared with the pre-application value, the mean Onset and N1 latencies in the RSSC and OSSC groups were significantly prolonged at 10, 30 and 60 min after treatment (P<0.05), while they were not significantly changed (P>0.05) in the placebo group. The mean Onset latency of RSSC at 10 and 30 min and that of OSSC at 30 min were significantly delayed (P<0.05) compared with the placebo group. The mean N1 latency of RSSC at 30 and 60 min and that of OSSC group at 30 min were also significantly delayed (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONRSSC delays the latencies of SSEP, suggesting a local desensitizing effect on the sensory receptor of the glans penis dorsal nerve, which provides the potential for PE treatment. The desensitizing effect of RSSC is higher than that of OSSC.

Amphibian Venoms ; administration & dosage ; Animals ; Drug Combinations ; Ejaculation ; drug effects ; Electric Stimulation ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory ; drug effects ; Male ; Penis ; innervation ; Placebos ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; Rabbits ; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological ; drug therapy

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of electroacupuncture, corticosteroid, and combination of two treatments on ambulatory paresis due to spinal cord injury in dogs by comparing therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture and corticosteroid. Spinal cord injury was induced in twenty healthy dogs (2.5~7 kg and 2~4 years) by foreign body insertion which compressed about 25% of spinal cord. There was no conscious proprioception, no extensor postural thrust, and ambulatory. Dogs were divided into four groups according to the treatment; corticosteroid (group A), electroacupuncture (group B), corticosteroid and electroacupuncture (group AB), and control (group C). Neurological examination was performed everyday to evaluate the spinal cord dysfunction until motor functions were returned to normal. Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were measured for objective and accurate evaluations. The latency in measured potentials was converted into the velocity for the evaluation of spinal cord dysfunctions. Pain perceptions were normal from pre-operation to 5 weeks after operation. Recovery days of conscious proprioception in groups A, B, AB, and C were 21.2+/-8.5 days, 19.8+/-4.3 days, 8.2+/-2.6 days, and 46.6+/-3.7 days, respectively. Recovery days of extensor postural thrust in group A, group B, group AB, and group C were 12.8+/-6.8 days, 13.8+/-4.8 days, 5.4+/-1.8 days, and 38.2+/-4.2 days, respectively. There were no significant differences between group A and group B. However, recovery days of group AB was significantly shorter than that of other groups and that of group C was significantly delayed (p<0.05). Conduction velocities of each group were significantly decreased after induction of spinal cord injury on SEPs (p<0.05) and they showed a tendency to return to normal when motor functions were recovered. According to these results, it was considered that the combination of corticosteroid and electroacupuncture was the most therapeutically effective for ambulatory paresis due to spinal cord injury in dogs.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/*therapeutic use ; Dogs ; Electroacupuncture/*veterinary ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory/drug effects ; Female ; Male ; Methylprednisolone Hemisuccinate/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Spinal Cord/drug effects/pathology ; Spinal Cord Compression/drug therapy/*therapy/*veterinary

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) after tractive spinal cord injury in rats and to explore the recovery of spinal cord function.

METHODSThe rats were subjected to tractive spinal cord injury at T13-L2. Cortical somatosensory-evoked potential (CSEP) was closely monitored and when P1-N1 wave amplitude decreased to 70% of that before operation, a small-bore catheter was inserted below the injured plane through subarachnoid cavity. In the treatment groups, 20 microl of bFGF solution (containing 20 microg of bFGF) was injected through the catheter right after the operation and 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h postoperatively. In the control group, same volume of normal saline was injected and every four rats were killed at 1, 4, 7, 14 and 21 d after the operation. Combined behavior score (CBS) and electro-physiological examination were adopted to evaluate function recovery. Expression of GFAP was observed by immuno-histochemical staining and was analyzed quantitatively by computer image analysis.

RESULTSThere was statistically significant difference in GFAP-positive cells between bFGF treatment group and the control group (P<0.01). Similar tendency was indicated by the results of CBS and CSEP.

CONCLUSIONSbFGF can induce large expression of GFAP after tractive spinal cord injury in rats and promote spinal function recovery, which is highly important for spinal cord regeneration.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory ; drug effects ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; pharmacology ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recovery of Function ; Reference Values ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Traction

OBJECTIVETo observe the change of auditory event-related potentials (P300) and sympathetic skin response (SSR) in people with insomia of Sweet Dream Capsule therapy.

METHODS30 patients meeting criteria for primary insomnia and 30 healthy volunteers with age matching controls were selected for the study. P300 and SSR were measured before treatment of Sweet Dream Capsule and at week 4 , 8 of the therapeutic course. That the change of P300 and SSR before and after treatment and their relations with PSQI were studied.

RESULTCompared with those of normal controls, both P300 latency and SSR latency were prolonged while amplitude was decreased in patients with insomnia (P < 0.01). P300 amplitude was increased significantly at central (Cz) electrode sites only at week 8 when compared with amplitude before treatment (P < 0.05). With improvement of symptom and PSQI scores, latency and amplitude of SSR were improved at week 4 and week 8 (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01) .

CONCLUSIONP300 has a some improvement in people with insomia of Sweet Dream Capsule therapy while SSR im proves significantly, and PSQI scores are ameliorated too.

Adult ; Capsules ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Electric Stimulation ; Event-Related Potentials, P300 ; drug effects ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Skin ; innervation ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Sympathetic Nervous System ; physiopathology