OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical therapeutic effect of electric acupuncture (EA) at Sishencong (EX-HN 1) on insomnia.

METHODSTwo hundred and seventy-six patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups, 138 in each group, the EA group treated with EA at Sishencong, and the control group with oral administration of Tianmeng Capsule. The treatment course for both groups was 3 weeks. The quality and related parameters of sleep before and after treatment were evaluated with a multi-channel sleep detector.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the quality of sleep was improved in both groups (P < 0.05), as compared with before treatment, the difference in related parameters was significant respectively (P<0.05 or P <0.01), however, the improvement in the EA group was superior to that in the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONEA at Sishencong has obvious effect on insomnia.

Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polysomnography ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the relationship between some single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP)loci of interferon regulatory factor 6(IRF6)gene,transforming growth faetor-?(TGFA)gene and nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate(NSCL/P)in nuclear families consisting of fathers, mothers and affected offspring with NSCL/P from southeast China.Methods Some SNloci of IRF6 and TGFA were detected by applying microarray technology in nuclear families,and then haplotype relative risk (HRR)and transmission disequilibrium test(TDT)were performed.Results There were no significant difference in genotypes and alleles distribution between patients and their parents.The SNP locus——V274I of IRF6 was associated with NSCL/P(HRR:?~2=4.5816,P

AIM:To explore the molecular mechanism of panaxadiol saponin(PDS)by observing Toll like receptor(TLR)2 and TLR9 mRNA expression induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS).METHODS:Rats were divided into LPS,LPS+PDSL,LPS+PDSM and control group,respectively.Nitric oxide synthase(NOS)activity,nitric oxide(NO)content,LPO content,SOD activity and TLR2 and TLR9 mRNA expression were assayed 4 h after intravenous injection of LPS.RESULTS:NOS activity,NO content,LPO content of LPS+PDSL group and LPS+PDSM group were significantly lower than those in LPS group.TLR2 mRNA expression in the liver tissue of LPS+PDSL group and LPS+PDSM group was decreased compared with LPS group.CONCLUSION:PDS has a protective effect on liver tissues by triggering the down-regulation of TLR2 expression,reducing NOS activity,and NO content.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of puerarin on ADRP gene mRNA expression in fatty tissue of type 2 diabetes mellitus rats (T2DM).

METHODWiastar rats of T2DM model were made by feeding with high glucose and fat diet and injecting with small dose of streptozocin (25 mg x kg(-1)). 40 model rats were randomly divided into model control group and three puerarin groups (40, 80, 160 mg x kg(-1)), another 10 rats were selected as normal control group. FBG and FINS were measured to calculate IR after rats were injected consecutively for 6 weeks. The level of ADRP gene mRNA in fatty tissue was determined by RT-PCR after rats were injected eight weeks.

RESULTCompared with model control group, high and middle dosage of puerarin can decreased ADRP gene mRNA expression in fatty tissue obviously, FBG, IR level in each puerarin group and FINS in high and middle dosage puerarin groups decreased obviously.

CONCLUSIONPuerarin can decrease the blood glucose level of T2DM by downregulating ADRP mRNA expression and depressing the insulin resistance.

Adipose Tissue ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; drug effects ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; In Vitro Techniques ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Perilipin-2 ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVEContinuous spike-and-wave during slow wave sleep (CSWS) syndrome is one of the presentations of electrical status epilepticus during sleep (ESES). The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of CSWS syndrome in children.

METHODSBetween 2007 and 2009, a total of 778 nocturnal long-term or 24-hr video-EEG records were included. The EEG, clinical and neuroimaging characteristics were studied in children who met standard criteria for CSWS.

RESULTSNine children met standard criteria for CSWS in video-EEGs. Their ages ranged 6 to 13 years. Their EEGs were characterized by continuous spike-and-wave (SW) discharges during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, accounting for 85%-100% of the period of NREM sleep. Clinically, these children had various types of epileptic seizures and exhibited different degrees of neuropsychiatric impairments, language dysfunction, and/or behavioral disturbances. Neuroimaging abnormalities were found in 6 cases, including atelencephalia or atrophy, gray matter heterotopia and leucomalacia.

CONCLUSIONSThis study indicates the characteristics of CSWS syndrome in clinical manifestations, EEG and neuroimaging examinations. This will be helpful in understanding CSWS syndrome.

Adolescent ; Child ; Electroencephalography ; Humans ; Sleep ; physiology ; Status Epilepticus ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Syndrome

This study was aimed to investigate the effects of DMSO on platelets during pre-treatment for lyophilization, including centrifugation, washing and loading trehalose. After pre-treatment for lyophilization, the expression of platelet membrane surface glycoprotein (GP) including CD62p and PAC-1 was analyzed by FCM before and after induction with thrombin, the mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet maximal aggregation with several platelet inducers were investigated. The results showed that the expression rates of CD62p and PAC-1, as the platelet activation signs, increased and were 30.37% and 15.01% respectively in group without DMSO after pre-treatment. And their differences in comparison with control were statistically significant, but that of CD62p was 10.72% and PAC was 10.11% in group with DMSO, in comparison with group without DMSO respectively, their differences were statistically significant after diluting with DMSO, CD62p was re-expressed to 54.39% in group with DMSO and more than that in group without DMSO and lower than control statistically significant. PAC-1 was re-expressed to 49.28% in group with DMSO and more than that in group without DMSO (p<0.01) and reached to control. Platelet maximal aggregations induced by thrombin, restocetin and propyl gallate were 92.76%, 91.24% and 89.66 respectively in group with DMSO. These were closed to that in control group and in group without DMSO. But the aggregation induced by ADP was 34.33%, it was less than control (p<0.01) and more than that in group without DMSO (p<0.01). It is concluded that DMSO can inhibit the expression of CD62p and PAC-1 on platelet in vitro. But when diluted with plasma, platelets can express CD62p and PAC-1 induced by thrombin and be led to aggregate by several inducers, so the inhibitory effects of DMSO on platelet activation are reversible. DMSO play roles in inhibitor damage from platelet activation and cryoprotectant. This property of DMSO is very important in research of platelets lyophilization.
Blood Platelets ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Blood Preservation ; methods ; Cell Survival ; Cryopreservation ; methods ; Cryoprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; pharmacology ; Freeze Drying ; Humans ; Platelet Activation ; drug effects ; physiology ; Trehalose ; blood ; pharmacology

Objective　To explore the effects of hypoxia on the syntheses and secretion of adrenomedullin (AM), calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) and c-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) and the relationship between these peptides. Methods　Rat models were established with hypoxia for 10, 20 and 30 d respectively and rats under normal altitude were served as control. Pulmonary artery pressure and the maximum increasing speed of right ventricle (RVdp/dtmax) were measured in every group. The dynamic changes of AM, CGRP and CNP concentrations in plasma were studied with radioimmunoassay. Results　During hypoxia, pulmonary artery pressure and RVdp/dtmax were enhanced. Plasma AM and CNP concentrations were increased while CGRP was decreased significantly. The plasma level of AM had positive correlation with that of CNP, but negatively correlated with that of CGRP. Conclusion　Results indicate that hypoxia may cause pulmonary artery pressure change and right ventricle has compensatory reaction to hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. Dynamic changes of plasma AM, CGRP and CNP concentrations can be regarded as indexes for condition of illness.

Aim To explore the alterations of blood corticosterone (CORT) level and adrenal steroidogenic function,as well as its sex specificity in intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) rats induced by prenatal nicotine exposure (PNE) with high-fat diet (HFD) after birth,and to make clear its mechanism through insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) signaling pathway.Methods IUGR model was established by PNE (2.0mL · kg-1 · d-1),and the offspring rats were administered with HFD until postnatal week (PW) 24 after weaning.Blood CORT concentration,adrenal steroidogenesis enzymes,expressions of IGF-1 signaling pathway and 11β-HSDs/CR system were tested.Results Compared with HFD control group,the CORT concentration in male offspring of PNE group represented a decrease trend,while an increase trend in female;the expressions of adrenal steroidogenesis enzymes (such as StAR,3β-HSD and P450cll) in male offspring decreased,while increased in female offspring (such as SF-1 and P450c21);the expressions of IGF-1 signalling pathway (IGF-1 and IGF-1R) in male offspring increased,and they significantly increased in female offspring;the expression levels of 11 β-HSD2 and GR decreased,but 11β-HSD1/11β-HSD2 ratio was enhanced in male PNE group,while in female PNE group,the corresponding gene expressions increased.Conclusions PNE could induce abnormal alterations of adrenal steroidogenic function,and exhibit apparent gender differences.The potential mechanism is related to low adrenal steroidogenesis function programming induced by nicotine and catch-up growth mediated by IGF-1 after birth.

Objective To establish a simple and specific method for the determination of rhaponticin in Rhei Radix et Rhizoma. Methods A comparison of the methods of polyamide, silica gel TLC and HPLC in the determination of rhaponticin was studied to investigate the optimum way to identify authentic Rhei Radix et Rhizoma. Results The durability of polyamide and silica gel TLC method for the determination of rhaponticin in Rhei Radix et Rhizoma was poor. HPLC method was more suitable for the detection of rhaponticin. Conclusion HPLC method is accurate and reliable, and can be used for the quality control of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and provide references for the authenticity of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma.

Objective To select the optimum process of granule spray for Tangwang Mingmu Granules, To improve the yield and finished product quality. Methods The effects of the relative density, the type of excipients, the ratio of the extract and the excipient, the inlet temperature-the material temperature, the spray rate and the atomization pressure were selected by single factor and orthogonal test respectively to determine the optimum preparation process. Validation for three batch sample, particle flow, hygroscopicity and other related content of the preparation were studied. Results The optimum spray granulation process of Tangwang Mingmu Granules: the relative density of extract (60 ℃ determination) was 1.15–1.20; the excipient was selected as dextrin; the ratio of dry extract and excipient was 58:42; inlet temperature - material temperature was 90-75 ℃; atomization pressure was 0.12 mPa;spray rate was 10 Hz.Conclusion The preparation technology of Tangwang Mingmu Granules optimized in this study is with high preparation rate, good fluidity and hygroscopicity, which can be used for the preparation of Tangwang Mingmu Granules.