OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of external application of Zhuangshenling Recipe (ZR) combined with Western medicine (WM) on the heart function of chronic heart failure (CHF) patients of Xin-Shen yang deficiency, interior retention of water-fluid syndrome (XSYDIRWFS).

METHODSTotally 140 CHF patients of XSYDIRWFS were randomly assigned to two groups, the treatment group and the control group, 70 in each group. All patients received WM therapy. Those in the treatment group were applied with ZR at Xinshu (BL15) and Shenshu (BL23), while those in the control group were applied with placebos at Xinshu (BL15) and Shenshu (BL23). The therapeutic course for all was 12 weeks. The integrals of TCM syndrome, grading of cardiac function, brain natriuretic polypeptide (BNP), and 6 min walking distance were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter twelve weeks of treatment, the effective rate of improved grading of cardiac function, the total effective rate of TCM syndrome efficacy, and the BNP level were obviously better in the treatment group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in 6 min walking distance between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONExternal application of ZR combined with WM could improve the heart function of CHF patients of XSYDIRWFS.

Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Yang Deficiency ; drug therapy

Pulsed field gel electrophoresis(PFGE)is a new type technique of gel electrophoresis which can be used to separate large DNA molecules.It has been widely applied to the karyotype analysis,identification of species groups,genetic orientation and genetic analysis for fungi.This article describes the principle,development and general manipulative procedure of PFGE,and elaborates the application in the molecular research of fungi.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupoint injection of Chuankezhi plus acupoint sticking treatment for bronchial asthma, and provide clinical evidence for the synergy of the two therapies, and explore their synergistic mechanism. Methods: A total of 70 patients were randomized into an acupoint injection plus sticking group and an acupiont sticking group by the random number table, with 35 cases in each group. The treatment took place in July and August. The acupoint injection plus sticking group was treated with acupoint injection and acupiont sticking, while the acupiont sticking group was treated only with acupiont sticking therapy. The treatment course was 4 weeks. After the treatment, the scores of symptom scale in the two groups before treatment, 3 months and 6 months after the treatment were observed. Results: During the treatment, there were 5 dropouts in the acupoint injection plus sticking group with 30 cases remained, and 4 dropouts in the acupiont sticking group with 31 cases remained. Before the treatment, there was no significant difference in the total scores of symptom scale between the two groups. Three months after the treatment, the total scores of symptom scale of both groups were lower than those before treatment, and the intra-group differences were statistically significant (bothP<0.05). In the inter-group comparison, there was no significant difference in the difference values of the scores before treatment and 3 months after treatment (P>0.05). Six months after the treatment, the total scores of symptom scale in both groups were lower than those before treatment, and the intra-group differences were statistically significant (bothP<0.05), so were the differences in the difference values of the scores before treatment and 6 months after treatment (bothP<0.05). Conclusion: Acupoint injection of Chuankezhi plus acupoint sticking or acupoint sticking alone both can improve the symptoms of patients with bronchial asthma. Acupoint injection of Chuankezhi plus acupoint sticking has a higher total effective rate than single acupoint sticking therapy.

Relapse, which puzzled several generations of hematologists, is the bottle-neck of radical treatment for leukemias. The progress of Human Microbiome Project at the beginning of 21st century suggested that human body was a super-organism constituted by the core of human cells and symbiotic microorganisms. The elucidation and characterization of endogenous retrovirus and prion protein suggested the possible effects of co-evolutional microorganisms on human health. Recently, the elucidation of the roles of tunneling nanotubes in intercellular communication and transportation suggested a novel way for cellular communication and transport of oncogenic materials. The role and significance of in vivo cell fusion have been studied in more detail. On the other hand, donor cell leukemia was reported. All of these approaches provide novel insights for studying the mechanism of leukemia relapse. Based on previous work, the authors suggest the hypothesis: there are two possible mechanisms for the relapse of leukemias: the minimal residual disease (MRD) and intercellular transportation of oncogenic materials.
Cell Fusion ; Humans ; Leukemia ; pathology ; Neoplasm, Residual ; pathology ; Recurrence

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of retroperitoneal laparoscopic pyelolithotomy ( RLP) combined with holmium laser lithotripsy under flexible cystoscopy in the treatment of complicated nephrolithiasis. Methods The retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 37 patients who underwent RLP and holmium laser lithotripsy under flexible cystoscopy for complicated nephrolithiasis from January 2013 to January 2014. The clinic parameters involved basic data of patients,operational time,blood loss,post-operative hospital stay,the status of stone-free,perioperative complications,and the follow-up data of patients were observed. Results No patient was converted to open surgery. The mean stone size was (2. 8 ± 0. 9) cm in diameter,operational time was (89 ± 24) min,blood loss was (21. 3 ± 7. 7) mL,post-operative hospital stay was (6. 8 ± 1. 7) d,the stone removal rate in one session was 94. 6%. One case occurred urinary leakage,1 case occurred fever after operation,who were all recovered through conservative treatment. All cases were followed up at the sixth months after operation. Conclusion RLP combined with holmium laser lithotripsy under flexible cystoscopy is effective and safe for the treatment of com-plicated nephrolithiasis.

To set standards for histomorphological studies on Lysimachia fortunei, an efficacious and widely applied folk medicine in this study, in order to develop its resources. Its species were identified by observing plant morphology and herbs appearance characters, preparing slices with routine methods and defining structural characters. According to the results of morphologic observation, leaves, stamen and pistil of this plant were different from the descriptions in Flora of China. The whole herb can be used in medicines, mainly including rhizomes, stems and leaves. According to the findings in the first study on microscopic structures, its rhizomes, stems and leaves were characteristic and worth identifying. The transaction tissue structures of rhizomes and stems were under developed and contained endodermis, secretory structures; Stems had sclerenchymata of different shapes of sclereids; Leaves were bifacial and had vascular bundles under midribs, which were surrounded by parenchymal sheathes. On the surface of leaves, stomata, glandular hairs and keratin lines were morphologically different in upper and lower epidermis. The herbal power had glandular hairs, sclereids and vessels. In conclusion, herbs of L. fortunei can be identified by the above histomorphological characteristics, which lays a foundation for further development and application of L. fortunei.
Medicine, Traditional ; Plant Leaves ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Plant Stems ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Primulaceae ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development

Objective To investigate the children's body environmental Se and T-2 toxin level in their staple food in Kaschin-Beck disease(KBD)relative active regions in Aba state of Sichuan province in 2008.Methods We took X-ray photograph of the right hand on children aged 7-13 years in 48 villages from 11 counties in Aba state.The relative active regions of KBD were chosen according to the X-ray result and historical status of KBD.The children's urine and hair,drinking water and their staple food werr sampled.Selenium contents in urine,hair,water and food samples were determined by naphthalene fluorescence,and T-2 toxin in staple food samples were detected by ELISA kits.Results In 2145 X-ray films,66 films were positive,and the children's KBD positive rate was 3.08%(66/2145).The KBD positive rate was respectively 10.98%(29/264)and 8.52%(19/223)in Maerkang county,Jinchuan county and it was 0.75%(3/400)in Rangtang county,historically serious endemic area.The selenium content in urine of children aged 7-13 years in Maerkang county,Jinchuan county and Rangtang county was (10.41±4.67), (10.11±3.65), (8.42±2.68)μg/g Cr, respectively, there was no statistical difference among three counties(F=0.901, P>0.05). The selenium content in hair of children aged 7-13 years in Maerkang county[(0.18±0.04)mg/kg] was lower than that in Jinchuan county[(0.21±0.04)mg/kg, P<0.05].The selenium content in water in Jinchuan county [(0.225±0.124 )μg/L ] was lower than that in Maerkang county and Rangtang county[(0.320±0.092), (0.339±0.105)μg/L, all P<0.05]. The selenium content in staple food in Jinchuan county(0.0033 mg/kg) was lower than that in Maerkang county and Rangtang county(0.0258,0.0137mg/kg, Z=-6.146,-3.042, all P<0.017). The T-2 toxin level in flour in three counties was 19.60,17.95,26.25 ng/g,respectively,there was no statistical difference among three counties(X2=5.623, P>0.05).The T-2 toxin level in grain Maerkang county (10.72 ng/g) was higher than that in Jinchuan county and Rangtang county (3.74,3.30 ng/g, Z=-6.315,-4.407,all P<0.017). T-2 toxin contamination in flour was more severe than that in grain (Z=-6.690,-5.493,-3.676, all P<0.05). Conclusions In 3 relative active KBD regions of Aba state,the children's selenium nutritional status and the T-2 toxin contamination level in their staple food is consistent with the distribution of KBD.

L9 (3(4)) orthogonal experiment was used to design the extraction technology of compound Clematidis Radix spray. Weight coefficients of active ingredients and dry extract rate were solved by information entropy. Support vector machine (SVM) was established and the model parameters were optimized through the genetic algorithm. Grid search algorithm was used for optimization of extraction technology of Clematidis Radix spray. The optimal extraction technology was to extract Clematidis Radix spray in water with 6 times the weight of herbal medicine for 3 times, with 2 h once. Bias of value between real and predicted by SVM was 1.23%. SVM was compared with traditional intuitive analysis of orthogonal design. It indicates that the new method used to optimize the extraction parameters of compound Clematidis Radix spray is more accurate and reliable.
Clematis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Support Vector Machine ; Technology, Pharmaceutical

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of salidroside on hypoxia-induced apoptosis of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells (CCSMCs) in rats.

METHODSRat CCSMCs were cultured in vitro by the enzyme digestion method and identified by immunofluorescent staining of anti-alpha-SMA and anti-Desmin. The non-toxic dose of salidroside was determined by MTT assay. Low-oxygen mixed gas (1% O2, 5% CO2, and 94% N2) was piped into a modular incubator chamber to induce hypoxia. The CCSMCs were divided into a normal, a hypoxia, and a 32 microg/mL salidroside intervention group. The apoptosis of the CCSMCs was detected by flow cytometry and the expression of the caspase-3 protein determined by Western blot.

RESULTSThe majority of the CCSMCs were positive for alpha-SMA and Desmin at immunofluorescent staining. Salidroside at < 32 microg/ml produced no obvious toxicity to CCSMCs. Compared with the normal control group, the rates of early and late apoptosis of CCSMCs were both increased significantly in the hypoxia group ([12.77 +/-1.41]% vs [18.69 +/- 1.29]%, P < 0.01 and [14.63 +/- 2.00]% vs [21.03 +/- 1.530]% , P < 0.05). Western blot showed a markedly increased expression of cleaved caspase-3 (P < 0.01). Intervention with 32 microg/ml salidroside significantly reduced hypoxia-induced early apoptosis of CCSMCs ([13.46% +/- 1.87]%, P < 0.01) and decreased the expression of cleaved caspase-3 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSalidroside can reduce the expression of cleaved caspase-3 and inhibit hypoxia-induced apoptosis of CCSMCs in rats.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; physiology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Hypoxia ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Penis ; cytology ; drug effects ; Phenols ; pharmacology ; Rats

It is held by some of the researches that the "16 collaterals" is composed of the "15 collaterals" and "the major collateral of stomach". And it is included into the textbook that Xuli, the major collateral of stomach, is the pulsation point at the cardiac region. Xuli is often explained as the empty portion of the human body by many researches. Through analysis and summarization of the related theory of the major collateral of stomach, the above mentioned opinion is discussed. And the understanding on the major collateral of stomach is deepened. As a result, it is concluded that count the major collateral of stomach into the 16 collaterals together with the 15 collaterals is inadvisable. The real pulsation point at the cardiac region locates under the left breast. And the real meaning of Xuli is "extending in all directions".
Acupuncture ; history ; China ; Collateral Circulation ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine in Literature ; Meridians ; Stomach ; blood supply