This paper has introduced the terms, concept and characteristics of superfine comminution of traditional Chinese medicine. The progress in the study on the superfine comminution of the single drug and compound prescription was analyzed, and work principles of equipment in common use for superfine comminution were outlined. The future application of superfine comminution technique in traditional Chinese medicine was forecast and the problems that should be solved during the future research work were also pointed out in the paper.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Nanotechnology ; Particle Size ; Powders ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; instrumentation ; methods

Hyperpolarization activated cyclic nucleotide-gated cation (HCN) channels are involved in neuronal rhythm regulation, synaptic activity, membrane resistance and dendritic integration due to their voltage-gated physiological properties. Recent studies have shown that HCN channels play an important role in central nervous system diseases, such as temporal lobe epilepsy, neuropathic pain, learning and memory disorder, substance abuse addiction and other related diseases. In this paper, we summarize the research progress of HCN channels in central nervous system diseases in recent years.

OBJECTIVESTo observe the role of PPARgamma during the activation process of hepatic stellate cells (HSC).

METHODSBy morphology and RT-PCR, we study the changes of expression of PPARgamma in culture-activated HSC or in vivo activated HSC induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN).

RESULTSIn vitro, the expression level of PPARgamma in freshly isolated HSC (0.72+/-0.01) significantly reduced to 0.48+/-0.03 on the third day of culture (t = 19.8372, P<0.01), and reduced 70% on the seventh culture-day and could not be detected after the second passage. In vivo, HSC freshly isolated from normal control rats expressed PPARgamma (0.76+/-0.01). During the development of rat liver fibrosis induced by DMN, the expression level significantly reduced to 0.46+/-0.02 after the third injection of DMN (t = 29.5318, P<0.01), and reduced 66% on the end of first week and could not be detected on the end of second and third week.

CONCLUSIONThe expression of PPARgamma might play an important role on the maintenance of resting-form of HSC, and the reduction of expression of PPARgamma might be an early event during the activation process of HSC.

Animals ; Liver ; cytology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; etiology ; pathology ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear ; physiology ; Transcription Factors ; physiology

OBJECTIVEIn order to study the effect of the polymorphism at the exon2 region of the (3-LG allele gene on milk composition and yield.

METHODSThe single-strand conformation polymorphism method (PCR-SSCP) was used to analyze for polymorphism the exon2 region of the 3-LG gene (NCBI accession number: DQ489319) in Chinese Holstein.

RESULTSEight SSCP patterns were detected in the fragments: ab, abc, abd, abe, abcd, abce, abde and abcde, and the patterns frequencies as follows: 0.14, 0.10, 0.27, 0.23, 0.05, 0.04, 0.11 and 0.06 (P < 0.05); Six single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) were detected in this study: sitel C>T, site2 T>C, site3 C>T, site4 C>C, site5 C> A, site6 A>T or C, and the polymorphism infonnation content (PIC) of these SNPs were in median or high polymorphism (PIC > 0.25).

CONCLUSIONThese SNPs at the exon2 region of the beta-LG gene were remarkably and affected milk performance traits (milk yield, protein and fat contents) in Chinese Holstein.

Alleles ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cattle ; classification ; genetics ; China ; Exons ; Female ; Lactoglobulins ; genetics ; Milk ; chemistry ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of ligand of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) 15d-PGJ2 on the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and to study the role played by PPAR gamma during the process of HSC activation.

METHODSBy using RT-PCR and cell culture, we investigated the effects of 5 micro mol/L and 10 micro mol/L 15d-PGJ2 on culture-activated HSC and on PDGF-induced HSC proliferation, production of extracellular matrix and expression of chemokines.

RESULTSThe expression of alpha-SMA was significantly suppressed by 5mumol/L 15d-PGJ2, and the expression of PPAR gamma was significantly higher in the 15d-PGJ2 treated group than in the untreated group (0.64+/-0.03 vs 0.09+/-0.01, t=36.0517, P<0.01); PDGF-induced HSC proliferation was dose-dependently suppressed by 15d-PGJ2; the expressions of PPAR gamma in 5 micro mol/L and also in 10 micro mol/L 15d-PGJ2 plus PDGF pre-treated group increased much more than those in the PDGF-treated group (0.03+/-0.02 vs 0.60+/-0.03, t=42.6616, P<0.01 and 0.03+/-0.02 vs 0.69+/-0.04, t=33.83, P<0.01); the expressions of alpha-SMA, alpha 1 (I)-collagen and MCP-1 were suppressed.

CONCLUSIONActivation of PPAR gamma can modulate pro-fibrotic and pro-inflammatory roles of HSC and the increased expression of PPAR gamma may become a new target for antifibrosis.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Male ; PPAR gamma ; metabolism ; Prostaglandin D2 ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of microsatellite instability(MSI) in Chinese sporadic coloretal cancer.

METHODSA total of 146 patients with colorectal cancer were treated surgically from August 2004 to September 2006 in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Data were collected prospectively. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed for parameters such as age, gender, tumor location, differentiation, MSI, tumor type, lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, and survival.

RESULTSFollow-up was available in 134 patients including telephone call and office visit. MSI(P=0.029), tumor type(P=0.000), TNM stage(P=0.000) were independently associated with survival on Cox regression model. There were 26 patients with MSI, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 100%, 92.3%, and 92.3%, respectively. The remaining 108 patients had microsatellite stable tumor, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 96.3%, 72.2%, and 63.5%, respectively. The difference was statistically significant(P=0.016).

CONCLUSIONMicrosatellite instability is an important factor associated with patient survival in Chinese sporadic colorectal cancer.

Aged ; China ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Instability ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate

To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of Tianma Gouteng Granules combined with conventional anti-hypertensive drugs in the treatment of essential hypertension. The clinical randomized controlled trials(RCTs) on the treatment of essential hypertension with Tianma Gouteng Granules combined with conventional anti-hypertensive drugs were searched in PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, VIP, CNKI, Wanfang, SinoMed since the establishment of the databases to April 2020 based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, and Meta-analysis was conducted by using RevMan 5.3 software. A total of 15 RCTs were included, involving a total of 1 508 patients. Meta-analysis results showed that Tianma Gouteng Granules combined with conventional Western medicine were supe-rior to the control group in reducing systolic blood pressure(MD=-10.24, 95%CI[-13.54,-6.95], P<0.000 01), diastolic blood pressure(MD=-5.33, 95%CI[-7.21,-3.45], P<0.000 01), improving the clinical efficacy of patients(RR=1.22, 95%CI[1.15, 1.28], P<0.000 01) and curative effect of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome(RR=1.26, 95%CI[1.02, 1.57], P=0.04), increasing nitric oxide content(MD=9.59, 95%CI[7.23, 11.96], P<0.000 01), reducing endothelin-1(MD=-10.74, 95%CI[-15.74,-5.75], P<0.000 1), tumor necrosis factor(MD=-0.28, 95%CI[-0.36,-0.19], P<0.000 01), and interleukin-6(MD=-39.71, 95%CI[-43.40,-36.03], P<0.000 01). There was no statistically significant difference between the test group and the control group in the incidence of adverse reactions. No liver and kidney dysfunction occurred. The results of the subgroup analysis showed that the effect of Tianma Gouteng Granules combined with ARB drugs was more obvious in reducing the systolic and diastolic pressure. Trial sequential analysis showed that the studies accumulatively included for clinical efficacy crossed the traditional threshold and the TSA threshold, further affirming its clinical efficacy. The clinical application of Tianma Gouteng Granules combined with conventional Western medicine in the treatment of primary hypertension and accompanying symptoms has clear efficacy and certain safety, so it is recommended for clinical application.
Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Essential Hypertension/drug therapy* ; Humans

BACKGROUNDUnderstanding the characteristics of Chinese dialysis patients and the current practice trends is the first step to evaluate the association between practice pattern and outcome in these populations. In the present study, we evaluated the status of medical treatment and characteristic features of chronic dialysis patients in China.

METHODSThrough a clustering sampling, we selected 9 centers from the largest dialysis facilities in 6 cities around China. All adult undergoing dialysis in the selected units were screened. A total of 2388 (1775 on hemodialysis (HD) and 613 on peritoneal dialysis (PD)) patients were finally enrolled. All data were collected at enrollment on the bases of review of medical records.

RESULTSIn this cohort, 1313 (55.0%) were male. The mean age was 54 years old. The median time for dialysis was 26 months (12 - 51 months). Seventy-five percent of patients were on HD and 25.0% on PD. Among PD patients, about 21% patients did not receive dialysis adequacy. For HD patients, about 14.0% of them did not achieve dialysis adequacy when the target of kt/V was set as 1.2. Only 44.7% of patients achieved blood pressure target of 140/90 mmHg. About 60% of patients did not reach the hemoglobin target of 110 g/L even though 85.0% of them were treated with erythropoietin. In addition, 48.5% of the patients had uncontrolled mineral metabolism revealed by the high calcium-phosphate product. Compared with HD patients, higher level of serum glucose, triglyceride, and total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol were more common in PD patients.

CONCLUSIONSThis observational study suggests that many Chinese dialysis patients did not achieve the therapeutic target, particularly in blood pressure control, anemia correction, and mineral balance. PD patients were more likely to suffer metabolic disturbance.

Adult ; Aged ; Anemia ; physiopathology ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Renal Dialysis

Objective To investigate the influencing factors of kinking of extracranial internal carotid artery (EICA) in patients with transient ischemic attack. Methods Three hundred and thirty-four patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease performed digital subtraction angiography (DSA) were chosen; they were divided into 2 groups according to vascular morphology through DSA detection: kinking group (angulation smaller than 90°, n=110) and non-kinking group (angulation larger than 90°, n=224). According to the age, the patients were divided into youth group (18-45 years old),middle age group (46-64 years old) and elderly group (older than 65 years old). The influencing factors which may be related to the kinking of EICA, including gender, age, height and stenosis degree, and the risk factors for cerebrovascular diseases were statistically analyzed. Results Univariate analysis found that the kinking group and non-kinking group on the ratio of age, gender, height, and histories of hypertension, smoking and drinking were significantly different (P＜0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the kinking of EICA was obviously correlated to the history of hypertension (OR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.376-4.712, P=0.003) and age (taking youth group as reference group, middle age group:OR=2.610, 95% CI: 1.056-6.452, P=0.038, elderly group: OR=2.929, 95% CI: 1.159-7.401, P=0.023).Conclusion The history of hypertension and age are identified as independent predictors for kinking of EICA in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular diseases.

BACKGROUNDLiddle's syndrome is a rare autosomal-dominant monogenic form of salt-sensitive hypertension. This study aimed to screen the gene mutation in β and γ subunits of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) of a Chinese family with Liddle's syndrome, an autosomal dominant form of hypertension.

METHODSDNA samples from the proband with early-onset, treatment-resistant hypertension and suppressed plasma renin activity were initially screened for mutations in the C-terminal exons of the ENaC β or γ subunit genes, using amplification by polymerase chain reaction and direct DNA sequencing. We also screened the C-terminus of SCNN1B and SCNN1G in family members, and screened for the mutation in 150 controls.

RESULTSGenetic analysis of the β ENaC gene revealed a missense mutation of CCC to TCC at codon 616 in the proband, her mother and her grandmother. One hundred and fifty randomly selected controls had not the mutation, indicating that this is not a common genetic polymorphism. There was no mutation of the γ ENaC gene in any of the individuals examined.

CONCLUSIONSThrough direct DNA sequencing analysis, we established the diagnosis of Liddle's syndrome for the proband and her families, and provided tailored therapies to this abnormality. These results provide further evidence that Pro616Ser is a critical amino acid that has a key role in the inhibition of sodium channel activity.

Adolescent ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Epithelial Sodium Channels ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Liddle Syndrome ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation, Missense ; Pedigree