The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory of "treating heart and brain diseases with same methods (Nao Xin Tong Zhi: NXTZ)" has great significance to the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. It has been proven effective by a great deal of clinical researches. However, the underlying mechanism for this theory is still unclear. To provide insights into the potential mechanism of "NXTZ", this study attempts to deeply investigate the mechanism from two representative cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, coronary heart disease (CHD) and cerebral apoplexy. First, various data resources were integrated to obtain different types of biomedical entities including drugs, targets, pathways and diseases. Then, three different approaches including text mining, biological network and enrichment analysis were utilized to recognize the potential common features between CHD and cerebral apoplexy, and the corresponding functions of drugs which could treat both diseases, thus unveiling the mechanism of NXTZ.
Brain ; drug effects ; Coronary Artery Disease ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Databases, Bibliographic ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Heart ; drug effects ; Humans ; Stroke ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism

Parkinson's disease(PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder with no effective protective treatment,characterized by a massive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra(SNpc) and the subsequent loss of their projecting nerve fibers in the striatum.The major neurochemical manifestation of this disorder is the loss of the neurotransmitter dopamine(DA) in the striatum as a result of the progressive degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra.There have been significant progresses in recent years reporting on the use of mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)in gene therapy,with specific application towards PD.MSCs,a kind of multipotent adult progenitor cells,are considered as a useful vehicle for cell and gene therapy because of their multiple differentiation potentiality and self-transplantation.The present study was focused on treating rat model of PD using human tyrosine hydroxylase gene(hTH),human aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase gene(hAADC) and human GT Pcyclohydrolase I gene(hGCH-I) engineered MSCs,in order to provide a better understanding about the application of these cells in the therapeutic benifit of PD.The gene of hTH,hAADC and hGCH-I were introduced via recombinant adeno-associated virus(rAAV) infection into the MSCs in vitro.The genetically modified MSCs expressing hTH,hAADC and hGCH-I were transplanted into the striatum of PD rat models.The behavior,the nigra-striatal level of DA and its metabolite were detected.The results of present study were shown as follows:hTH,hAADC,hGCH-I and LacZ gene were transfected into MSCs with adeno-associated virus vectors.The HEK293 packaging cells(ATCC) were transfected with the plasmids of pAAV-hTH,pAAV-hAADC,pAAV-hGCH-I,pAAV-LacZ,pAAV-RC,pHelper by using calcium phosphate precipitation.Titer was detected using HT1080 cells.Viral particles were collected and used to infect MSCs.The purified modified MSCs expressing the three kinds of genes were selected separately and were grafted in the striatum of the PD model rats in the lesion side.The MSCs genetically modified suvived well 12 weeks after transplantation.The improvements of the behavior were observed every week after transplantation.Compared with the control group,the rounds of asymmetric rotation after apomorphine administration decreased in the groups double or triple genes engineered MSCs grafted(p

Objective:To observe the serum level of fibroblast growth factor-23(FGF-23) in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) and study its association with phosphorus and vitamin D metabolism.Methods: Serum FGF-23 level was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in ESRD patients undergoing haemodialysis (HD, n=50) and peritoneal dialysis (PD, n=24) and in twenty healthy controls (control group,n=20).Serum level of 1,25-(OH) 2VitD was measured by enzyme immunoassay(EIA).Serum intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), creatinine, and calcium and phosphorus were also measured.Results: Serum FGF-23 was obviously higher in HD group([88.51?35.01] ng/L vs [11.76?3.63] ng/L)and PD group([87.85?33.65] ng/L vs [11.76?3.63] ng/L)than in control group. Moreover, the serum level of 1,25-(OH)2VitD was lower in HD and PD groups than in control group ([19.82?4.99] pmol/L vs [48.37?3.47] pmol/L; [24.31?7.11] pmol/L vs [48.37?3.47] pmol/L ), and the level of 1,25-(OH)2VitD was much lower in HD group than in PD group. Pearson relativity analysis showed that serum FGF-23 level was positively correlated with serum creatinine, phosphorus, intact PTH and duration of dialysis(P

Objective To evaluate the value of ultrasound elastography in the diagnosis of breast tumor ,and compared with imaging analysis .Methods To collect the image data of 160 patients ,confirmed by pathology ,a total of 182 ,preoperative ultra-sound elasticity imaging and DWI ,ultra sonic elastography diagnosis by five points method ,DWI on the basis of the measured ADC value in the diagnosis of lesions ,respectively compared with pathology .Results Ultrasound elastography diagnosis of 89 malignant tumors ,of which the correct diagnosis of 78 malignant tumors ,7 misdiagnosis ,11 benign misdiagnosed as malignant diagnosis;93 benign tumors ,86 of correct diagnosis ,11 misdiagnosis ,7 malignant misdiagnosed as benign ,sensitivity was 87 .6% ,specificity of 92 .5% ,the Accuracy was 93 .9% ;ultrasound elastography and DWI combined imaging diagnosis of 86 malignant tumors ,81 correct diagnosis of malignant tumors ,4 misdiagnosis ,5 from the benign misdiagnosed as malignant diagnosis ,96 benign tumors ,92 correct diagnosis ,5 misdiagnosis ,the sensitivity was 94 .1% ,specificity of 95 .8% ,the accuracy was 97 .2% .Conclusion Ultrasound elas-tography in breast benign and malignant tumor diagnosis with higher sensitivity and specificity ,accuracy ,joint DWI can significantly improve the sensitivity and specificity of breast benign and malignant tumor diagnosis ,accuracy .

Objective To investigate the effects of partial body weight supported treadmill training (BW- STT) on post-stroke depression (PSD) and on patients' quality of life.Methods Sixty patients with PSD were re- cruited and divided into a training group (n=30,male 17,female 13) and a control group (n=30,male 16,fe- male 14).All patients were treated with routine internal medication and rehabilitation.The patients of the training group also received BWSTT in addition to their routine treatment.All patients' neurological impairment was evaluated using the Modified Edinburgh-Scandinavian Stroke Scale (MESSS).The Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) was used for evaluating the degree of depression.The Fugl-Meyer scale and the Barthel index were used to assess ambula- tion and balance,and facility in the activities of daily living.All patients were assessed before and after the treat- ment.Results After four weeks of treatment,depression in the training group had improved significantly more than in the control group.Conclusion BWSTT intervention is very important for patients with PSD:it can reduce the degree of depression and improve the quality of life.

Objective To investigate the function of transferrin-DNA complex,transported by transferrin(Tf)and trans-arterial injection via interventional approach be the duel-target-orientated delivery and the transferring into malignant cells to get more effective therapy.Methods p53-LipofectAMINE ligand with different concentrations of Tf(0,10,25,50,100?g)transfected the 4 strains including LM6、Hep3B、YY and L02 in vitro to evaluate the gene transfeetion efficiency through western blot.Then,after setting up the VX2 hepatocarcinoma models,we delivered the Tf-p53-LipofeetAMINE complex into the hepatic arteries via interventional techniques to analyse the transfection efficiency in vivo.Results Tf,within the range of 10 100?g,could increase gene transfection efficiency mediated by liposome,and the efficiency increases with the raise of Tf concentration.Combination with interventional technique to inject Tf-DNA complex into tumor arteries,gene transfeetion efficiency was enhanced in rabbit models.Conclusion Tf can enhance gene- liposome transfection efficiency,furthermore with combination of interventional catheter technique,there would be a potential duel-target-orientated gene therapy method.(J Intervent Radiol,2007,16:99-103)

Sleep deprivation (SD) leads to cognitive impairment, especially hippocampus-dependent learning and memory (L&M). The hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) is the key structure involved in spatial L&M while long-term potentiation (LTP) is an important cellular mechanism responsible for L&M. Physiological and behavioral evidences support the hypothesis that norepinephrine (NE) and β-adrenoceptors (β-AR) may play an important role in regulating L&M, including LTP. However, it is enigmatic how β-AR influences the LTP disruption or memory impairment under SD circumstances. In the present study, the rats were subjected to SD for 18 h per day for 21 consecutive days and cognitive capacity was assessed by the Morris water maze (MWM) test. We examined the extracellular concentration of NE in the DG using in vivo brain microdialysis and HPLC analysis. The amplitudes of field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP) were subsequently measured in the DG during MWM test in freely moving conscious rats. The extracellular concentrations of NE and fEPSP amplitudes in the DG were significantly increased during MWM test, while these responses were suppressed in SD rats. When fEPSP amplitudes in the DG were measured after local injection of isoproterenol (an agonist of β-AR), SD rats significantly alleviated the fEPSP impairment and rescued deficits of spatial L&M. In addition, the reduced expression of N-methyl-Daspartate (NMDA) and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA) receptors in SD rats significantly increased by activation of β-AR by isoproterenol in the DG. In conclusion, we propose that β-adrenergic signaling can improve memory impairment in sleep-deficient rats by regulating synaptic efficiency and glutamatergic receptor expression.

Sleep deprivation (SD) leads to cognitive impairment, especially hippocampus-dependent learning and memory (L&M). The hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) is the key structure involved in spatial L&M while long-term potentiation (LTP) is an important cellular mechanism responsible for L&M. Physiological and behavioral evidences support the hypothesis that norepinephrine (NE) and β-adrenoceptors (β-AR) may play an important role in regulating L&M, including LTP. However, it is enigmatic how β-AR influences the LTP disruption or memory impairment under SD circumstances. In the present study, the rats were subjected to SD for 18 h per day for 21 consecutive days and cognitive capacity was assessed by the Morris water maze (MWM) test. We examined the extracellular concentration of NE in the DG using in vivo brain microdialysis and HPLC analysis. The amplitudes of field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP) were subsequently measured in the DG during MWM test in freely moving conscious rats. The extracellular concentrations of NE and fEPSP amplitudes in the DG were significantly increased during MWM test, while these responses were suppressed in SD rats. When fEPSP amplitudes in the DG were measured after local injection of isoproterenol (an agonist of β-AR), SD rats significantly alleviated the fEPSP impairment and rescued deficits of spatial L&M. In addition, the reduced expression of N-methyl-Daspartate (NMDA) and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA) receptors in SD rats significantly increased by activation of β-AR by isoproterenol in the DG. In conclusion, we propose that β-adrenergic signaling can improve memory impairment in sleep-deficient rats by regulating synaptic efficiency and glutamatergic receptor expression.

In this study, the rat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) model was established through tail vein injection with low dose of streptozotocin (STZ) and high fat diet for 8 weeks, and then treated with Jiaotai Pill. The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), fasting serum insulin (FINS), free fatty acid(FFA) levels and blood lipid were assayed. HOMA-IR was calculated. Pancreatic pathology was performed. And pancreatic triglyceride (TG) content was examined by the lipid extraction method. Pancreatic islet cell apoptosis were detected by terminal dexynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). According to the results, the model group showed abnormal OGTT, increased FINS, HOMA-IR, FFA, lipid disorder, obvious fat accumulation and significantly increased TG content in pancreatic tissues, and enhanced pancreatic islet cell apoptosis. Compared with the model group, the Jiaotai Pill group displayed improved OGTT, reduced FINS, HOMA-IR, FFA, recovered lipid disorder, decreased fat accumulation and significantly declined TG content in pancreatic tissues, and lowered pancreatic islet cell apoptosis. In summary, Jiaotai pill could effectively treat type 2 diabetes in rats. Its mechanism may be related to the reduction in pancreatic fat accumulation and islet cell apoptosis.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Fats ; metabolism ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Islets of Langerhans ; cytology ; drug effects ; Male ; Pancreas ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

By summarizing the state of application of "syndrome differentiation through formula effect assessment", it was pointed out that several problems exist in this kind of study, mainly the irrational setting of experimental control group, over simplified pharmacodynamic indexes, and negligence of study on "correspondence between drug and disease", etc. The authors proposed accordingly the thinking methods and strategy in the study on "syndrome differentiation through formula effect assessment" should be setting control properly, taken "correspondence between disease and syndrome" as the key point, and to define clearly the criteria for evaluating the efficacy of formula as the premise.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Phytotherapy ; Research Design ; Syndrome