Volatile oil components and the contents and types of amino acid in spica of Prunella vulgaris were analysed by GC-MS and amino acid analyzer. Esters, fatty acids, aromatic hydrocarbon, ketone and several alcohol compounds were identified by mass spectrum comparison. In these ingredients, beta-ionone smelled aroma of cedar, raspberry, nerolidol showed weak sweet soft orange blossom flavor, neroli tasted sweet and fresh, nerolidol tasted sweet with light aroma of wood, hexadecanal showed a weak aroma of flowers and wax, alpha-sinensal had rich and fresh sweet orange flavor. To some extent, these types of aromatic substances can affect the taste of herbal tea or decoction made of Spica Prunellae. Among amino acids detected, natural amino acids accounted for a larger proportion, and those natural amino acids showed bitterness, slight bitterness, sourness (freshness), sweetness, slight sweetness, sourness (slight freshness). The results indicated that bitter and slightly bitter amino acids have the greatest impacts on the sense of Spica Prunellae.
Amino Acids ; analysis ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Oils, Volatile ; analysis ; Prunella ; chemistry ; Taste

Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture at the beginning and ending points of bicipital muscle on the superficial electromyography (sEMG) of the spastic limb in hemiplegia.Method Forty patients with spastic hemiplegia after cerebral stroke were divided by the random number table into a group of electroacupuncture at the beginning and ending points (group A) and a group of electroacupuncture at antagonistic muscles (group B). The former selected Ashi points at the beginning and ending points of bicipital muscle, while the latter selected points at the antagonistic muscles [Tianjing (TE10), Qinglingyuan (TE11), etc.], to receive perpendicular puncturing. The needles were retained for 30 min, and the sEMG of bicipital muscles in resting state was detected after the removal of the needles. The spastic bicipital muscle was examined by sEMG prior to the acupuncture treatment, and respectively after 2-week and 4-week acupuncture treatment, and the detected parameters included root mean square (RMS) and integrated electromyography (IEMG).ResultThe EMG and IEMG declined gradually in the two groups after the acupuncture treatment; the intra-group comparisons of the RMS and IEMG values at three time points, e.g. prior to acupuncture treatment, after 2-week acupuncture treatment and after 4-weekacupuncture treatment, showed that the values changed significantly compared to those at the previous time point (P<0.05); the between-group comparisons showed that there were no significant differences in comparing the RMS and IEMG values regardless of different time points (P>0.05). The RMS and IEMG values presented same changing tendencies after 4-week acupuncture treatment in the two groups.ConclusionAcupuncture at the beginning and ending points and at the points on antagonistic muscles both can decrease the resting-state muscle tension in hemiplegia patients; sEMG is of certain significance in evaluating the treatment of hemiplegia.

Induced the mouse embryonic stem(ES)cells into neural cells on silk fibroin via the improved 4-/4+ RA method to explore the effect of the silk fibroin to the ES-derived neurons' growth,adherence and differentiation.Suspended the ES cells into EBs and then transferred them to three different substrates-coated 35 mm dishes including gelatin,Bombyx mori silk fibroin(SF) and Tussah silk fibroin(TSF) to identify the adherence and proportion of ES cells-derived neurons under these three substrates.The results showed that the EBs adhered to the gelatin and TSF are faster than to the SF.The average adhesive rate on gelatin and TSF are 90.3% and 84.4% respectively,and only 38.5% on SF,all the proportion of ?-Ⅲ-Tubulin positive cells is approximately 40%.It may provide important experimental information for tissue engineering,in which ES cells-derived neuron cells and silk fibroin materials are scaffolds,and also offer a source for cell therapy research of neurodegenerative disease.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of nano-SiO2 on spatial learning and memory.

METHODSTwenty-four male rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group (C group), low dose group (L group) and high dose group (H group). The rats were intragastrically administrated with nanometer particles at 25 and 100 mg/kg body weight every day for 4 weeks. After exposure, the ability of learning and memory of rats was tested by Morris water maze, and electrophysiological brain stereotactic method was used to test long-tear potentiation (LTP) in dentate gyrus (DG) of the rats.

RESULTSThe increase rate of body weight in H group was reduced significantly compared with C group ( P < 0.05). In the space exploration experiment of Morris water maze test, the escape latency of H group was longer than that of C group (P < 0.05). The rats of H group spent less time in finding the target quadrant (P < 0.05) . The rate of LP induction of H group was significantly lower than that of C group (P < 0.05). After high fre quency stimulation (HFS), The changes of amplitude of population spike (PS) of L group and H group were lower than those of C group significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONNano-SiO₂may result in impairment of spatial learning and memory ability by reducing the rate of LTP induction and the increase of PS in hippocampus.

Animals ; Dentate Gyrus ; drug effects ; Long-Term Potentiation ; drug effects ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Nanoparticles ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Silicon Dioxide ; adverse effects ; Spatial Learning ; drug effects

Objective To discuss the clinical value of 99Tcm-sestamibi(99Tcm-MIBI) myocardial perfusion imaging on detecting myocardial ischemia in children with Kawasaki disease(KD) at convalescence period.Methods Twenty-one children wih KD at convalescence period were divided into 2 groups according to results of echocardiography.Four cases with coronary artery dilation,17 cases without coronary artery dilation.All cases accepted dipyridamole stress myocardial perfusion imaging.These patients who had positive results were given rest myocardial perfusion imaging again next day.Results Among 21 cases,9 cases(42.8%) were positive in perfusion imaging.Four cases with coronary artery dilation showed myocardial ischemia in different degree detected by myocardial perfusion imaging.Among 17 cases without coronary artery dilation,5 cases(29.4%) were positive.Conclusions Compared to echocardiography,99Tcm-MIBI myocardial perfusion imaging can objectively evaluate the location,extent and degree of myocardial ischemia of children with KD.It will be a routine test in observing its phase development.

Objective To summarize the experience of minimally invasive treatment in upper ureteral calculi complicated with urinary tract infection.Methods Retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 40 cases with upper ureteral calculi complicated with urinary tract infection who were treated from December 2009 to December 2013.Results Twenty-one cases were performed with retrograde catheterization at cystoscopy and 11 cases were performed with percutaneous nephrostomy directed by B-ultrasound in the stage Ⅰ,the infection were controlled after operation 2-6 d.These patients were successfully cured by extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL),ureterorenoscope lithotripsy (URL) or percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in the stage Ⅱ].The remaining 8 cases were successfully cured by URL with antiinfection therapy in the stage Ⅰ.All patients had no ureteral perforation,laceration,urine derived sepsis and severe bleeding complications.All of ureteral calculi were drained after 2-10 weeks.The average hospital stay was 13.4 d.Patients were followed up for 1-12 months after the stone expulsion,the average was 6 months.There was 3 patients who with preoperative renal dysfunction had been improved after URL,and other patients' renal function returned to normal.Conclusions The therapy of retrograde catheterization at cystoscopy and percutaneous nephrostomy directed by B-ultrasound in the stage Ⅰ,combined with ESWL,URL or PCNL in the stage Ⅱ in treating upper ureteral calculi complicated with urinary tract infection have more advantage such as less complication,rapid control of infection and complete removal of stones.It is an ideal method.

Psychological suboptimal health status is an intermediate state between mental health and mental disease.Without timely intervention,psychological suboptimal health may develop into serious diseases that pose a threat to human physical and mental health,such as depression,anxiety disorders and high blood pressure.This review summarizes the scientific concepts,diagnostic Criteria,intervention and pharmacological research of psychological suboptimal health from the perspective of both modern medicine and traditional Chinese medicine and proposes possible solutions to existing problems in order to contribute to the identification,diagnosis,prevention and treatment of psychological suboptimal health.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; drug therapy ; etiology ; immunology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of moxibustion at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) on normal process of childbirth and safety of mothers and infants.

METHODSOne hundred and seventy-four cases of singleton primiparas, fetal head position were selected as the subjects and divided into three groups by single-blind randomized method: an acupoint group (n = 59), a non-acupoint group (n = 57) and a blank group (n = 58). When the cervix was dilated by 2 to 3 cm, DAJ-23 type multi-function moxibustion apparatus was used at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) in acupoint group, and at non-acupoint spot (the midpoint from the radial arterial pulse throbbing place on the radial side of the transverse crease of the wrist to the radial end of biceps tendon of the elbow) in non-acupoint group, 30 min for each one. The conventional labor care was adopted in blank group. The differences were observed in the first active stage, the second stage and the third stage of the labor as well as the safety of mothers and infants among three groups.

RESULTSThe durations of the first active stage of labor [(123.05 +/- 96.401) min] and the second stage [(37.407 +/- 22.390) min] in acupoint group were shorter than those [(171.40 +/- 94.339) min, (49.517 +/- 25.373) min] in non-acupoint group, as well as those [(178.79 +/- 97.231) min, (53.684 +/- 20.087) min] in blank group separately (all P < 0.05). It was discovered that the progressions of the first active stage and the second stage of labor were accelerated in acupoint group, and there was no statistically significant difference in the third stage of labor among the three groups (all P > 0.05). Bleeding amount after childbirth in acupoint group was less than those in non-acupoint group and blank group (both P < 0.05), and Apgar scores of newborns in acupoint group and non-acupoint group were higher than that in blank group (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMoxibustion at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) can shorten the process of childbirth, reduce postpartum bleeding and has no harmful impact on mothers and infants.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Labor, Obstetric ; Moxibustion ; Pregnancy ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the interaction between serum melatonin and the status of disease and probe the effect factor of serum melatonin change in asthmatic children.Methods Serum melatonin was measured in asthmatic children with 15 cases of mild persistent asthma,15 cases of moderate persistent asthma,15 cases of severe persistent asthma,15 cases of stable asthma and 15 cases of normal subjects by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results The levels of serum melatonin in the 5 groups of mild persistent asthma,moderate presistent asthma,Severe Persistent asthma,Stable asthma,control subject were(22.76?5.16)ng/L,(16.79?3.35)ng/L,(11.54?1.45)ng/L,(22.06?3.36)ng/L,(28.72?4.32)ng/L,respectively.There were significant differences between any of them(Pa