OBJECTIVETo discriminate Descurainiae Semen and Pantagirus Semen.

METHODA high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed to establish the fingerprint of Descurainiae Semen, and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were applied to study HPLC fingerprinting and chemical recognition.

RESULTThere exists large difference of chromatographic peaks and its relative peak area of HPLC fingerprints between Descurainiae Semen and Pantagirus Semen, and after conducting statistical analysis, the result demonstrated that all samples were classified into three categories: Descurainiae Semen, Pantagirus Semen and their mixtures.

CONCLUSIONThe developed HPLC fingerprint combined with chemometrics can be utilized to discriminate between Descurainiae Semen and Pantagirus Semen, which was quick, simple, accurate and reliable an can provide the basis for the characterization and quality assess of Descurainiae Semen and Pantagirus Semen.

Brassicaceae ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Cluster Analysis ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

"Tinglizi", the ripe seed of Descurainia sophia and Lepidium apetalum, is a member of Brassicaceae (Cruciferae). Traditionally, the former is called "Nantinglizi" (Descurainiae Semen) while the latter is called "Beitinglizi" (Lepidii Semen). In the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, it has the power to purge lung-fire, relieve dyspnea, promote diuresis and reduce edema, and it is mainly indicated in a case with phlegm-fluid accumulation, cough with excessive sputum, dyspnea with being unable to lie, and general swelling. In view of its wide-spread application in clinic, a comprehensive review of Lepidii Semen and Descurainiae Semen was conducted from the following aspects: herbalogical study, variety identification, historical evolution of processing, chemical constituents, pharmacological effects, quantitative determination and toxicity which could provide reference for further research and development of "Tinglizi".
Brassicaceae ; chemistry ; Diuresis ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Dyspnea ; drug therapy ; Edema ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Lepidium ; chemistry ; Lung ; drug effects ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Components, Aerial ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; Seeds ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of hypoxia on the human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells two pore domain potassium channels TASK-1 and the regulation of non-receptor tyrosine kinase c-Src in this process.

METHODSThe cultured human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (hPASMCs) were divided into: normal group, hypoxia 30 minute group, hypoxia 6 hours group and hypoxia 48 hour group, and hypoxia 48 hour + PP2 group, hypoxia 48 hour + PP3 group, hypoxia 48 hour + bpV group. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the cell cycle, RT-PCR and Western blot technique were carried out to detect the expression changes of TASK-1 mRNA and protein in different groups.

RESULTS(1) Cell Cycle Show: Compared with normal control group, with prolonged hypoxia, the percentages of hPASMCs in S phases of cell cycle were increased. While compared with hypoxia 48 hour group, the percentages of hypoxia 48 hour + PP2 group hPASMCs in S phases of cell cycle were decreased. The expression of TASK-1 mRNA on hPASMCs in acute hypoxia 6 hour group was increased, while the expression of TASK-1 protein on hPASMCs in the acute and chronic hypoxia group was decreased, and the expression of TASK-1 mRNA on hPASMCs in the chronic hypoxia group was decreased; After pre-incubation of a potent and selective inhibitor of the Src family of protein tyrosine kinases PP2, the expression of TASK-1 mRNA and protein in hypoxia 48 hour group was increased, however after pre-incubation of the inhibitor of the Src family of protein tyrosine phosphatase bpV, the expression of TASK-1 protein in hypoxia 48 hour group was decreased.

CONCLUSIONHypoxia promotes human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation, and non-receptor tyrosine kinase c-Src may participate in the expression of two pore domain potassium channels TASK-1 regulated by hypoxia. Therefore, we hypothesized that TASK-1 channels and c-Src participatein the acute and chronic hypoxic human pulmonary vasoconstriction.

Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Artery ; cytology ; RNA, Messenger ; Vasoconstriction ; src-Family Kinases ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture on cell apoptosis(CA)and the ex- pression of insulin like growth factor 1(IGF_1)in the hippocampal CA1 region of rats'brains after cerebral ischemic- reperfusion(CIR).Methods Middle cerebral artery obturation(MCAO)was established by the suture embolic method.CA and the expression of IGF_1 in the hippocampal CA1 region were detected by immunohistochemical meth- ods and TUNEL staining,respectively.Results Compared with those in the normal and sham operation groups, apoptotic cells were significantly increased in the hippocampal CA1 region of the model group(P＜0.01),while the expression of IGF_1 was slightly enhanced and plasma staining was also slightly positive(P＜0.05).Apoptotic cells in the CA1 region in the electroacupuncture group were obviously fewer in comparison with the normal group(P＜0.01),while the expression of IGF_1 was distinctly increased and the plasma staining was also obviously positive(P＜0.01).Conclusion Electroacupuncture treatment has preventive and therapeutic effects on ischemia-reperfusion injury,and its mechanism might be related with up-regulating the expression of IGF_1 and inhibiting CA.

Objective To determine whether homocysteine(Hcy)and monosodium glutamate (MSG)could lead to animal model of hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy and its mechanism. Methods Female adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:pregnant control group(PN), pregnant Hcy group(PH),pregnant glutamic acid group(PG)and pregnant Hcy and glutamie acid group (PHG).The rats of each group were injected with Hey 200 mg/kg or physiological saline every day intraperitoneally and with MSG or 0.9% saline every other day via Hcy injection from the 10th day to the 20th day of pregnancy.The blood pressure,urine protein,function of liver and kidney,weight of placenta, length and weight of fetus were all measured.The histological change of the pallium and the change of behavior of pregnant rats were also observed.Results(1)The blood pressure in PH[(107?8)mm Hg, 1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa],and PHG group [(109?10)mm Hg] after the treatment increased significantly compared with those in other groups from the 12 th day after pregnancy(P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnosis, surgical procedure and clinical outcome of cervical intraspinal benign neoplasm.

METHODSTwenty-two cases confirmed pathologically were reviewed included 16 males and 6 females with an average age of 43.8 years old ranging from 18 to 56 years. Symptoms mainly included neck pain, numbness and weakness of the extremities, urinary and fecal incontinence, pyramid signs, etc. All underwent X-ray, CT and MRI, 11 cases were diagnosed as neurilemomas, 4 neurofibromas, 3 spinal meningiomas, 2 intraspinal cysts and 2 lipomas. The tumors were removed completely in 18 cases, above 60% in 3 cases and 25% with biopsy in 1 case. Cervical stability in 11 cases was restored after removal of tumors.

RESULTSAll were followed-up for from 6 to 84 months(means 12.5 months). Symptoms improved in 20 cases and stable in 1 case and worsened in 1 case postoperatively according to JOA scoring system. Two patients recurred and were treated with second surgery. JOA scoring was (6.52 +/- 1.10) before operation, (11.42 +/- 0.79) after operation, there was statically significance (t = 21.38, P < 0.001). The average recover ratio of total was (46.7 +/- 2.46)%, cervical stability was (62.37 +/- 3.58)%, the other methods was (41.21 +/- 4.63)%. The results of JOA were excellent in 18 cases, good in 2, fair in 1 and poor in 1.

CONCLUSIONThe surgical exairesis for cervical intraspinal benign neoplasm has low post-operative recurrence. The main reason of recurrence is not removed the tumor completely. MRI is regarded the effective method which is helpful in differential diagnosis and surgery guidance.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cervical Vertebrae ; pathology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Neoplasms ; pathology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe clinical therapeutic effect of warming needle moxibustion on chronic pelvic in flammation of cold-damp stagnation type.

METHODSEighty-five cases with chronic pelvic inflammation were randomly divided into a warming needle moxibustion group of 45 cases and a Chinese drug group of 40 cases. The war ming needle moxibustion group were treated with warming needle moxibustion at Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6), Zusanli (ST 36) and Shenshu (BL 23) etc. and the Chinese drug group were treated with oral administration of TCM decoction, one dose each day. One course was constituted by 10 days. After treatment of 3 courses, the therapeutic effects, changes of C-reactive protein (CRP) level and the recurrence rate of the cured cases a half year later were observed.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 95.6% in the warming needle moxibustion group and 77.5% in the Chinese drug group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). Twenty-five cases in each group were selected to determine CRP levels and results showed that before and after treatment CRP levels were (16.47 +/- 7.11) mg/L and (5.98 +/- 2.29) mg/L in the warming needle moxibustion group, and (16.32 +/- 8.19) mg/L and (8.63 +/- 2.41) mg/L in the Chinese drug group, with significantly decreased in the two groups (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), and with a significant difference between the two group after treatment (P < 0.05). In the warming needle moxibustion group, of 23 cases followed-up, 2 cases relapsed, while in the Chinese drug group, among 9 cases followed-up, 2 cases relapsed.

CONCLUSIONWarming needle moxibustion has a definite therapeutic effect on chronic pelvic inflammation of cold-damp stagnation type and better improves CRP level of the patient.

Adult ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ; therapy ; Recurrence ; Thermosensing ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo introduce statistical methods of time trend analysis on cancer rates.

METHODSCancer incidence data collected by the Shanghai Cancer Registry during 1991 to 1999 was used in the analysis to calculate the crude and age-adjusted rates, percent changes (PCs) and annual percent changes (APCs). APCs were estimated by a linear regression of the logarithm on the incidence rates during the nine years. It also introduced a method for partitioning a linear trend in age-adjusted rates into site-specific contributions to the overall floating trend. 95% confidence intervals for the APCs and contributions were described in the paper.

RESULTSA decreasing rates were observed for cancers of stomach and esophagus among both men and women in urban Shanghai from 1991 to 1999. The increasing rates among men would include cancers of colon, rectum, gall bladder, pancreas, prostate, urinary bladder, kidney and leukemia. The rates of cancers among women increased for colon, rectum, lung, breast, gall bladder, endometrium, ovary, urinary bladder and kidney. The changes of above cancers over time were statistically significant (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), but rates for other cancer sites changed little. The APCs (weighted method) and contributions for the cancers of stomach, esophagus, colon, rectum and prostate were -2.99% and -65.72%, -2.90% and -17.07%, 12.30% and 21.46%, 2.94% and 18.62%, and 3.11% and 15.09% among men, and -6.05% and -39.55%, -1.08% and -35.19%, 2.81% and 28.64%, and 3.69% and 15.70% for the cancers of stomach, esophagus, breast and colon in women, respectively.

CONCLUSIONAPC, and related statistics could be used to describe and analyze the time trend of cancer rates rather than PC or/and graphical method alone.

Algorithms ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Linear Models ; Male ; Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo study on visible display of Meridian on the dummy human body.

METHODSTube model-building method and computer technique were used, and data came from Voxel-Man dummy human body development platform.

RESULTSThe visual effect of re-building Meridian is very good and it can display the different layers of anatomic structures on the Meridian lines.

CONCLUSIONThe visible display of Meridian on the dummy human body is preliminary realized, which provides data carriers for establishing the platform of Meridian study.

Human Body ; Humans ; Meridians

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; Recombinant Proteins