OBJECTIVETo observe the regulatory effect of Chinese herbal compound for detoxifying and activating blood circulation on expression of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in aorta of apolipoprotein E gene knocked-out (ApoE (-/-)) mice.

METHODSApoE (-/-) mice of 13-week old were divided into two groups and fed with normal diet (Group A) and hyperlipidemic diet (Group B) respectively, the latter was subdivided into 7 groups as Group B1 - 7. Besides, a normal control group was set up with C57BL/6J mice. The drugs used for intervention were polydatin (PD, with 26.6 mg/kg as one dose) for detoxifying and Xiongshao Capsule (XC, with 110 mg/kg as one dose) for activating blood circulation respectively. The intervention was started 19 weeks later by treated Group B1 with PD one dose daily, Group B2 with XC one dose daily, Group B3 with PD and XC each 2 doses daily, Group B4 with PD and XC each one dose daily, Group B5 with PD and XC each half dose daily, Group B6 with lovastatin. To the Group B 7 (as a hyperlipidemia model group) as well as Group A and the normal control group, normal saline was given. After 17 weeks of intervention, the expressions of NF-kappaB and MMP-9 in aorta of mice were determined with immunohistochemical assay.

RESULTSExpressions of NF-kappaB and MMP-9 in aorta and sclerotic plaque were higher in group B7 than those in the normal control group, which were lowered in group B1 - 6 (P < 0.01), and the optimal effect was shown in group B3 (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONCombined use of Chinese herbal medicine for detoxifying and activating blood circulation could reduce expression of NF-kappaB and MMP-9 in aorta of ApoE (-/-) mice, and the effect of the combination of the two was superior to that of use either of them.

Animals ; Anticholesteremic Agents ; pharmacology ; Aorta ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; Blood Flow Velocity ; drug effects ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lovastatin ; pharmacology ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; biosynthesis ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; blood supply ; drug effects ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo observe the temperature change of traditional silver needle in the human body during the burning of moxa ball.

METHODSThirty-six healthy volunteers were randomly divided into a single-needle group and a multi-needle group, 18 cases in each group. For both groups, one silver needle (18 cm in length, 1.1 mm in diameter), which was adopted in this research to measure the temperature change, was punctured in the insertion point of the volunteer (inside the top of the left buttock, 7 cm under the edge of the highest point of the iliac crest, 7 cm lateral to the dorsomedian line), then another four silver needles were punctured 2 cm respectively anterior, posterior and lateral to the insertion point in the multi-needle group, and all the silver needles were inserted with 6 cm depth. Afterigniting the 1.3 g moxa ball on the needle tail, the temperature of the measuring points that were 3 mm, 33 mm, and 63 mm above the silver needle tip were recorded separately by digital temperature measuring instrument.

RESULTSThe peak temperature of the three measuring points in the single-needle group was all around 41 degrees C, while those in the multi-needle group were around 43 degrees C, which had significant differences (all P < 0.05), but no significant differences among the highest temperature of the measuring points in the same group could be found (all P > 0.05). The highest temperature of moxa ball in the single needle group was (611.16 +/- 6.91) degrees C, while that of the central moxa ball in the multi-needle group was (628.94 +/- 8.99) degrees C, the difference of which was significant difference (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe temperature conductivity of the silver needle is very well, so the heat of the moxa ball could pass from the tail of needle to the tip during the warming treatment. The peak temperature on the body, tip of the silver needle in the multi-needle group is higher than those in the single needle group. Also, the peak temperature of multi-moxa ball is higher than that of single moxa ball.

Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Adult ; Female ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Needles ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVES: Some changes are found in the labyrinth anatomy during postnatal development. Although the spatial orientation of semicircular canals was thought to be stable after birth, we investigated the age-related orientational changes of human semicircular canals during development. METHODS: We retrospectively studied the computed tomography (CT) images of both ears of 76 subjects ranged from 1 to 70 years old. They were divided into 4 groups: group A (1-6 years), group B (7-12 years), group C (13-18 years), and group D (>18 years). The anatomical landmarks of the inner ear structures were determined from CT images. Their coordinates were imported into MATLAB software for calculating the semicircular canals orientation, angles between semicircular canal planes and the jugular bulb (JB) position. Differences between age groups were analyzed using multivariate statistics. Relationships between variables were analyzed using Pearson analysis. RESULTS: The angle between the anterior semicircular canal plane and the coronal plane, and the angle between the horizontal semicircular canal plane and the coronal plane were smaller in group D than those in group A (P<0.05). The JB position, especially the anteroposterior position of right JB, correlated to the semicircular canals orientation (P<0.05). However, no statistically significant differences in the angles between ipsilateral canal planes among different age groups were found. CONCLUSION: The semicircular canals had tendencies to tilt anteriorly simultaneously as a whole with age. The JB position correlated to the spatial arrangement of semicircular canals, especially the right JB. Our calculation method helps detect developmental and pathological changes in vestibular anatomy.
Ear ; Ear, Inner ; Humans* ; Methods ; Parturition ; Retrospective Studies ; Semicircular Canals* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To explore the relationship between -262C/T and -21A/T polymorphisms of catalase(CAT) gene and coal-burning borne fluorosis. Methods In 2007, 150 villagers were taken as a nonintervention group in Bijie city from the village of coal-burning borne fluorosis areas with unchanged cooking stoves;150 villagers were taken as the intervention group from the town of Changchun county where cooking stoves changed; 150 villagers were taken as control from non-endemic fluorosis areas in Baiyun town of Changshun county.PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism were employed to detect genotypes of CAT-262C/T and CAT-21A/T polymorphism of CAT gene. Results The genotypic frequencies of CAT-262C/T and CAT-21A/T in nonintervention group,intervention group and control group were in line with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium law (P＞ 0.05 ).The genotypes of CC and CT were detected while no TT were detected for CAT-262C/T polymorphism; the genotypes of AA, AT and TT were detected for CAT-21A/T. The genotype frequencies of CAT-262 CC, CT in control group, intervention group and non-intervention group were (89.33%(134/150), 10.67%(16/150); 88.67%(133/150), 11.33% (17/150),93.33% (140/150),6.67% (10/150), respectively. The gene frequency of C in control group, intervention group and non-intervention group were (94.67% (284/300), 94.33% (283/300),96.67%(290/300), respectively. The gene frequency of T in control group, intervention group and non-intervention group were 5.33%(16/300), 5.67%(17/300), 3.33%(10/300), respectively. The genotype frequencies of CAT-21 AA,AT and TT in control group, intervention group and non-intervention group were 48.67%(73/150),46.00%(69/150),5.33%(8/150) ,52.67%(79/150) ,38.00%(57/150) ,9.33% (14/150) ,51.33%(77/150) ,38.00%(57/150), 10.67%(16/150), respectively. The gene frequency of A in control group, intervention group and non-intervention group were 71.67%(215/300),71.67%(215/300),70.33%(211/300), respectively. The gene frequency of T in control group, intervention group and non-intervention group were 28.33% (85/300),28.33% (85/300),29.67% (89/300),respectively. CAT-262C/T and CAT-21A/T genotype and allele frequencies in the control group, the intervention group and non-intervention group showed no significant differences in the distribution(x2= 0.331,0.336, all P ＞0.05 ). Conclusion CAT-262C/T and CAT-21A/T polymorphism is not associated with coal-burning borne fluorosis.

Objective To study the effect of time and temperature on the count of peripheral blood cells in newborns.Methods The peripheral blood of 100 cases of newborns who were admitted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University from January 2016 to June 2016 were collected,and measured with Sysmex XS-500i automatic blood cell analyzer immediately,then were split into two parts and stored at 4 ℃ and room temperature respectively.The measurement was repeated in 24 and 48 h,and the groups were compared on WBC,RBC,PLT,HGB,IG％ and IG#.Results There were statistically significant differences between the instantly measuring result and those in 24 and 48 h under room temperature (P＜0.05).In case of 4 ℃,the instantly measuring result had no obvious difference with that in 24 h (P＞0.05),while statistical difference with that in 48 h (P＜0.05).Conclusion Newborns' peripheral blood can be stored at 4 ℃C,and the counting results will not be affected for WBC,RBC,PLT,HGB,IG％ and IG# within 24 h.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Huxin Formula on expressions of the chief reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) associated genes, caveolin-1 and scavenger receptor-BI (SR-BI) in ApoE-gene knockout [ApoE (-/-)] mice.

METHODSThirty ApoE (-/-) mice of 4-6 weeks old were randomly divided into three groups (A-C). After being fed with high-fat diet for 16 weeks, they were treated with HXF (1 mL/100 g), pravachol (0.3 mg/100 g), and saline in equal volume respectively for 16 weeks successively; in addition, a blank group was set up with 10 C57BL/6J mice of 6-week old received 16-week high-fat feeding and saline treatment. Animals were sacrificed at the termination of the experiment, their paraffin sections of aortic tissue were used to measure the size of plaque, expressions of cavolin-1 and SR-BI were detected by immunological histochemical method.

RESULTSAs compared with the blank group, levels of caveolin-1 and SR-BI were increased in Groups A and B (P<0.01); but the increase in Group A was more significant than that in Group B (P<0.05). The plaque/aorta area ratio decreased significantly in Groups A and B, but showed insignificant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONHXF could obviously increase the expressions of RCT associated genes, caveolin-1 and SR-BI, promote the RCT process, so as to reduce the formation of aorta atherosclerotic plaque in ApoE (-/-) mice.

Animals ; Aorta ; drug effects ; pathology ; Apolipoproteins E ; deficiency ; genetics ; Atherosclerosis ; pathology ; Biological Transport ; drug effects ; Caveolin 1 ; metabolism ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; pathology ; Receptors, Scavenger ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the homing and differentiation of marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) transplanted intravenously in smoke inhalation injured rabbits.

METHODSThirty-two New Zealand big ear rabbits were divided into normal control group (NC), inhalation injury group (II), normal control + MSC treatment group (NM), and MSC treatment group (MT) according to the random number table, with 8 rabbits in each group. Rabbits in NC group were injected with 10 mL phosphate buffered saline (PBS) via ear marginal vein. Rabbits in NM group were injected with 10 mL PBS containing the third generation MSC labeled by BrdU (1 × 10(7) per 10 mL PBS) via ear marginal vein. Severe smoke inhalation injury model was reproduced in the other two groups, among them rabbits in II group were treated as rabbits in NC group, rabbits in MT group treated as rabbits in NM group. On the 7th and 28th day post treatment (PTD), lung tissue and trachea tissue were harvested from four groups for observation on injury with HE staining. Homing of MSC in injured tissue was observed with immunohistochemistry staining. The differentiation of MSC into functional cells was observed with immunohistochemical double staining of combining nuclear marker BrdU with lung (trachea) membrane-specific marker aquaporin-5 (AQP-5), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), CD34, and cytokeratin respectively.

RESULTS(1) MSC homing in lung and trachea tissue was observed in MT group on PTD 7, which was not observed in NM group. (2) AQP-5, AKP, and CD34 positive MSC were observed in lung tissue in MT group on PTD 28, while cytokeratin positive MSC was not observed in trachea tissue. No positively marked MSC was observed in NM group. (3) Injury in lung and trachea was less severe in MT group than in II group; and the proliferation of fibroblasts was less in MT group.

CONCLUSIONSIntravenous injection of MSC to rabbits with smoke inhalation injury can migrate to lung and trachea tissue at obviously inflammatory site, and differentiate into alveolar epithelial cells typeI and II, and pulmonary vascular endothelial cells, which may participate in the process of tissue repair in smoke inhalation injury.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Lung ; cytology ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Pulmonary Alveoli ; cytology ; Rabbits ; Smoke Inhalation Injury ; pathology ; Trachea ; cytology

At present, lung cancer ranks second and first respectively in the incidence and the mortality among malignant tumors. It is urgent to find new effective anti-lung cancer drugs with less side effects and relatively defined mechanisms. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-mediated apoptosis pathway is an effective way to promote tumor cell apoptosis; diterpenoid tanshinone (DT), an effective part separated from Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, was found to have an anti-lung cancer effect in previous studies via ERS-induced PERK-EIF2α pathway. In this paper, human lung adenocarcinoma PC9 cell line and nude mouse transplantation tumor model were applied to verify the anti-lung cancer effect of DT in vivo and in vitro, and illuminate the potential mechanism via ERS induced IRE1α/caspase 12 apoptosis pathway. The results showed that in vivo, DT could promote PC9 cell apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner, up-regulate Bip, IRE1 and TRAF2 protein expressions in tumor tissue, reduce tumor weight and alleviate bodyweight loss. In vitro, DT inhibited the proliferation of PC9 cell line in a concentration-dependent manner, and destroyed the structure of mitochondria in PC9 cell, promoted Bax, IRE1α, Bip, TRAF2 and caspase 12 protein expressions, lower Bcl-2 protein expression in a time-dependent manner. DT shows a good effect on anti-lung cancer both in vivo and in vitro. The mechanism is related to the activation of ERS-induced IRE1α/caspase 12 apoptosis pathway and the promotion of cell apoptosis. ERS-mediated apoptosis pathway may be an important target of DT on anti-lung cancer.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Mice ; Signal Transduction

Objective: To study the clinical efficacy of modified Zhenwutang combined with Zhengji technique on cold-dampness arthralgia syndrome caused by knee osteoarthritis (KOA) at episode and the effect on inflammatory factors of joint fluid. Method: One hundred and forty-eight patients were randomly divided into control group and observation group by random number table. Patients in control group got celecoxib capsules, 0.2 g/time, 1 time/day, and Zhengji technique with lumbar positioning oblique pulling and finger pressing for 12 times, 1 time for every two days, 3 times/week. Patients in observation group got modified Zhenwutang, 1 dose/day, and the same Zhengji technique. The course of treatment was 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis index (WOMAC), pain and swelling, index of severity of osteoarthritis (ISOA), local signs of knee joint and cold-dampness obstruction syndrome were scored, and the score of quality of life were discussed by arthritis impact measurement scale 2 (AIMS2-SF). And levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), IL-17, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were detected. Result: The clinical efficacy in observation group was better than that in control group (Z=2.131, P<0.05). Scores of pain from WOMAC scale, stiff, joint function and the total score of WOMAC were lower than those in control group (P<0.01), and scores of pain (walking pain, resting pain, tenderness), degree of swelling, ISOA, cold-dampness arthralgia syndrome and local signs of knee joint were lower than those in control group (P<0.01). And physical, symptoms, impact, social and work factor scores, the total scores of AIMS2-SF scale, IL-1β, IL-17, TNF-α, SP and CGRP were higher than those in control group (P<0.01). Conclusion: Modified Zhenwutang combined with Zhengji technique can relieve clinical symptoms of patients with cold-dampness arthralgia syndrome caused by knee osteoarthritis (KOA) at episode, ameliorate joint function to improve patients' quality of life, reduce the expression of proinflammatory factors and neuropeptides in synovial fluid, so as to inhibit the inflammatory response and controlling clinical symptoms.

Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii is a rare and endangered Chinese medicine. In the collection of Notopterygium franchetii fruits, we collected a sample of N. forrestii , which is a spurious breed. Fruits of N. franchetii and N. forrestii are very similar in morphology and can be easily confused. Until now the morphological identification of the fruits of Notopterygium has not been reported. To provide a scientific basis for the identification of N. franchetii and N. forrestii fruits, the morphology and microscopic identification were studied in this paper. In this study, stereomicroscope and paraffin sections were used to compare the morphological characteristics and microscopic characteristics of these two fruits. Our results showed that these two fruits were different in size, surface texture and the number of vertical edges on the back. These traits can be used as diagnostic characteristic of these two fruits. The difference between the number of tubing and the endosperm cell contents can be used as microscopic identification features. The above discriminative characteristics can distinguish the two fruits and provide scientific basis for the identification and germplasm evaluation of Notopterygium fruits.