Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of heat-sensitive point thunder-fire moxibustion in treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods One hundred and forty-eight KOA patients were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 74 cases each. The treatment group received heat-sensitive point thunder-fire moxibustion and the control group took diclofenac sodium enteric-coated tablets. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score and 50 yards fastest walking time were observed in the two groups before and after 30 days of treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups. Results There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the VAS score and WOMAC subscores in the two groups (P<0.01). There was a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference in 50 yards fastest walking time in the treatment group (P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in the VAS score, the WOMAC score and the WOMAC pain and stiffness scores between the treatment and control groups (P<0.01). There were statistically significant differences in the VAS and WOMAC scores at three months after treatment between the treatment and control groups (P<0.01). The total efficacy rate was 95.9%at the end of treatment and 95.6%at three months after treatment in the treatment group, and 86.1%at the end of treatment and 86.8%at three months after treatment in the control group; there were statistically significant differences between the two groups (P<0.05). Conclusion Heat-sensitive point thunder-fire moxibustion is an effective way to treat knee osteoarthritis.

Objective:To construct an adenovirus vector harboring human basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) cDNA and investigate the expression of bFGF in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in vitro. Methods: The adenovirus expression vector Ad5-bFGF was constructed by homologous recombination technique. The best value of MOI was tested by transfecting human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) with Ad5-GFP. Ad5-bFGF was used to transfect HUVEC at the obtained value of MOI and the expression of bFGF protein was detected by immunocytochemistry method and Western blotting. Results: The best value of MOI for adenovirus 5 to transfect HUVEC was 200 and the transfection rate was 90%. Immunocytochemistry method and Western blotting showed that bFGF was expressed in HUVEC after transfection with Ad5-bFGF and the expression was significantly higher than that in untransfected HUVEC (P

Objective To investigate the mechanism of regulating gastrointestinal motility by elec- troacupunturing point of"Zusanli"in rabbits.Methods Thirty adult rabbits were divided into control, electrical acupuncture point of"Zusanli"and non acupuncture point groups.The blood concentrations of motilin were detected at different times(before acupuncture and 15,30,45 and 60 min after acupunc- ture).Sixty min after acupuncture,the mice were sacrificed.The acetylcholine esterase and nitric oxide synthase(NOS)in gastric and jejunum tissues were examined.The electron microscope was used to observe the vesicles of nerve ending.Results The concentrations of motilin in electrical acupuncture group was significantly increased and reached the high peak at 45min.The activities of acetylcholine es- terase was increased significantly in electrical acupuncture group compared to control group[gastric tis- sue:(15 571?2876)pinel vs(9081?801)pinel,P

Carcinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; China ; Humans ; Male ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; genetics ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Serine Endopeptidases ; genetics ; metabolism

In order to clarify material basis of effective parts of liangxue tongyu prescription, blood-heat and blood-stasis rat model induced by dry yeast was established. The changes of rectal temperature, blood viscosity and plasma viscosity were used to evaluate the cooling-blood and activating-blood effects of liangxue tongyu prescription and its parts. Compared with the model group, the extract from liangxue tongyu prescription, its volatile oil and n-butanol part could significantly reduce rectal temperature (P<0.01), and also reduce blood viscosity and plasma viscosity to various degrees (P<0.01 or P<0.05). So volatile oil and n-butanol part were primarily identified as effective parts of liangxue tongyu prescription. By using GC-MS with normalization method of area to analyze volatile oil of liangxue tongyu prescription, 70 compounds were identified, accounting for about 92.54%, mainly as β-asarone, paeonol, α-asarone and shyobunone. 42 compounds such as peony glycosides, tannins, and iridoid glycosides were identified by HPLC-MS techniques and standard comparison. The study determined the effective parts of liangxue tongyu prescription and clarified the chemical composition providing the foundation for further studies on material basis of liangxue tongyu prescription.
Acetophenones ; chemistry ; Animals ; Anisoles ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Oils, Volatile ; chemistry ; Rats ; Tannins ; chemistry

Objective To observe the effects of different doses of Sappan Lignum and Chuanxiong Rhizoma on tumor stem cells marker ABCG2 in vivo. Methods Sphere cells obtained from serum culture were inoculated in nude mouse armpit, which were randomly divided into 5 groups: control group, Sappan Lignum high- and low-dose groups, and Chuanxiong Rhizoma high- and low-dose groups. Each medication group was given relevant medicine for gavage. 21 days later, inhibition tumor rate and ABCG2 protein and mRNA expression were detected with confocal microscope, Western blot, and RT-PCR. Results The sphere cells obtained from serum free culture had the abilities of cancer stem cells, such as proliferation, anti-aptosis and high expression of cancer stem cells markers. Chuanxiong Rhizoma high- and low-dose groups could inhibit tumor growth (P<0.05), and the inhibitory rate of Chuanxiong Rhizoma low-dose group was higher than the Chuanxiong Rhizoma high-dose group. Sappan Lignum high- and low-dose groups inhibited tumor growth without statistical significiance (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, Chuanxiong Rhizoma low-dose group could significantly inhibit the expression of resistant protein of ABCG2. Sappan Lignum high- and low-dose groups could not inhibit the protein expression of ABCG2. Each medication group up-regulated the mRNA expression of ABCG2 except for Chuanxiong Rhizoma low-dose group. Conclusion Low dose of Chuanxiong Rhizoma can inhibit the expression of ABCG2 protein levels, which can be the targeting killer for cancer stem cells.

Objective To determine the length of warm ischemic (WI) tolerance in bronchial graft from non-heart-beating donors. Methods Forty-eight rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (each group having 12 rats) according to different WI durations including WI-0 min (group A), WI-30 min (group B), WI-45 min (group C) and WI-60 min (group D). In each group, the tracheae from 6 rats were respectively imbedded in greater omentum of other 6 rats, and 14 days later, the transplanted tracheae were taken from recipients to evaluate epithelial thickness and regeneration. Results Epithelial thickness and the degree of epithelial regeneration had no significant difference (P >0. 05) between the syngeneic control group and the WI-30 minutes group. All of the grafts with WI duration of 45 min were viable, but the epithelium was significantly thinner than that in the syngeneic control group (P<0. 05). However all of the grafts with WI duration of 60 min showed lower viability rate. Conclusion The time limits of tolerance to WI of tracheal grafts from NHBDs may be 45 min.

BACKGROUND: Angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang-Ⅱ) can stimulate vascular endothelial cells to excrete endothelin, a kind of potent vasoconstrictor. The content of endothelin in blood or cell culture media directly reflects the function and injured status of vascular endothelial cells. Therefore, it is significant for strengthening vascular endothelial cells to resist the injured factors. Tea polyphenols is a mainly active component of tea, and it is considered as a reagent for anti-atherosclerosis, protecting injuries of vascular endothelial cells and preventing cardiovascular diseases. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of tea polyphenols in different concentrations on endothelin content in vascular endothelial cells induced by Ang-Ⅱ at various time points through establishing Ang-Ⅱ-induced vascular endothelial cell injury models and further to investigate the protective effect of tea polyphenols on vascular endothelial cells. DESIGN: Observational study.SETTING: Aerospace and Diving Medical Center, Navy General Hospital of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS: The experiment was carried out in Laboratory of Aerospace and Diving Medical Center, Navy General Hospital of Chinese PLA from March to September 2005. Main materials were detailed as follows: Ang-Ⅱ (Sigma Company), tea polyphenols (Department of Tea Science, Zhejiang University) and vascular endothelial cells (human large artery vascular endothelial cell system, CBI Company, USA).METHODS: Cultured vascular endothelial cells were divided into 4 groups: ① Control group: The normal culture media was added in the isopyknic vascular endothelial cells, and 100 μL supernatant was extracted before and at 0.5, 6 and 24 hours after filling moisturized liquid. ② Ang-Ⅱ group: Cell culture media containing 10-7 mol/L Ang-Ⅱ was added in the vascular endothelial cells, and other operations were as the same as those in the control group. ③ High-concentration tea polyphenols + Ang-Ⅱ group: Cell culture media containing 50 mg/L tea polyphenols was added in the vascular endothelial cells, and other operations were as the same as those in the Ang-Ⅱ group. ④ Low-concentration tea polyphenols + Ang-Ⅱ group: Cell culture media containing 25 mg/L tea polyphenols. 100 μL supernatant was extracted before and after 0.5, 6 and 24 hours treatment in each group. Thereafter, radioimmunoassay was used to measure the content of endothelin. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Content of endothelin.RESULTS: ① Content of endothelin in Ang-Ⅱ group was higher than that in the control group (P ＜ 0.01). ② At 6 and 24 hours after high-concentration tea polyphenols incubation, content of endothelin in high-concentration tea polyphenols + Ang-Ⅱ group was lower than that in Ang-Ⅱ group (P ＜ 0.01). Moreover, the content of endothelin in low-concentration tea polyphenols + Ang-Ⅱ group was lower than that in both high-concentration tea polyphenols + Ang-Ⅱ group and angiotensin Ⅱ group (P ＜ 0.01). CONCLUSION: Tea polyphenols has inhibitory effects on endothelin releasing function of vascular endothelial cells induced by Ang-Ⅱ, suggesting that tea polyphenols has protective effect on vascular endothelial cells, and the effect of low-concentration tea polyphenols is superior to that of the high-concentration one.

Objective:To improve the centralized bidding procurement practice of essential medicine in China. Methods:By using literature review, comparative analysis and field investigation, implementation plans and regula-tions of the centralized bidding procurement of essential medicines in 30 provinces were collected and analyzed. Re-sults:There are differences in the operating organization, scope of implementation, purchasing cycle, bidding pro-curement mode, judgment criteria and other aspects among provinces. Conclusion: The progress of the implementa-tion of the centralized bidding procurement practice of essential medicine under the request of Document No. 56 of the State Council differed greatly among the provinces. The government should adhere to the centralized bidding procure-ment practice of essential medicine, give full play to the advantages of group purchasing, explore approaches of medi-cal insurance institutions participating in the centralized bidding procurement practice, and perfect the assessment of drug quality to assure the quality of essential medicine.

Promoting equity and access to medicine is important to guarantee health equity. The international communities commonly guarantee equity and access to medicine through free pharmaceutical policy. In most coun-tries, free pharmaceutical policy covers patients who cannot afford, children under 5, pregnant women and elderly people. The free medicines include essential medicines, medicines for chronic and infectious diseases, vaccines, etc. Financing of free medicines comes from health insurance, direct government investment and international aid, and the medicine delivery mainly depends on the public medical institutions. Free pharmaceutical policy in China mainly refers to medicines for infectious diseases and vaccines, and the coverage is narrow. This paper argues that since China has been becoming one of the middle income countries, the amount of free medicines should be in-creased, especially for chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, etc. The equity and access to medicine in China should be further promoted by providing all essential medicines for free.