Objective:To observe the effect of wrist-ankle acupuncture combined with electroacupuncture on neurological function and limb motor function in patients with ischemic stroke. Methods:A total of 106 eligible subjects were divided into a treatment group and a control group according to the random number table method,with 53 cases in each group.Patients in the control group were treated with conventional rehabilitation.The treatment group was treated with wrist-ankle acupuncture and electroacupuncture in addition to the treatment used in the control group.The National Institute of Heath stroke scale(NIHSS)score,Fugl-Meyer assessment scale score,Berg balance scale score,lower limb main nerve conduction velocity,and total response rate were compared between the two groups. Results:The total response rate of the treatment group was higher than that of the control group(P<0.05).After treatment,the NIHSS score,Fugl-Meyer assessment scale score,and Berg balance scale score of the two groups were improved compared with those before treatment(P<0.05),and the treatment group was significantly better than the control group(P<0.05).After treatment,only the conduction velocity of femoral nerve in the control group was better than that before treatment(P<0.05),and the conduction velocity of femoral nerve,tibial nerve,sural nerve,and common peroneal nerve in the treatment group was better than that before treatment(P<0.05),and was better than that in the control group(P<0.05). Conclusion:Wrist-ankle acupuncture and electroacupuncture combined with conventional rehabilitation therapy can significantly improve nerve and muscle function and the motor and living ability of patients with ischemic stroke,and its therapeutic effect is superior to that of conventional rehabilitation therapy alone.

Puerariae Lobatae Radix, also known as Gegen, is a root derived from Pueraria lobata. Based on field investigation and the developmental anatomy of root tuber, we have elucidated the relationship between the growth of root tuber and the anomalous structure. The results of analysis showed that the root system of P. lobata was developed from seed and adventitious root and there existed root tuber, adventitious root and conductive root according to morphology and function. The root tuber was developed from adventitious root, its secondary structure conformed to the secondary structure of dicotyledon's root. With the development of root, the secondary phloem of root tuber appeared abnormal vascular tissue, which was distributed like ring in the outside of secondary vascular tissue. The root tuber might have 4-6 concentric circular permutation abnormal vascular tissuelobate, and was formed by the internal development of abnormal vascular tissue. The xylem and phloem of abnormal vascular tissue were the main body of the root tuber. The results reveal the abnormal anatomical structure development of P. lobata, also provides the theoretical basis for reasonable harvest medicinal parts and promoting sustainable utilization of resources of P. lobata.
Plant Roots ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Plant Tubers ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Pueraria ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development

This study is to evaluate the effects of Shenmai injection on the temporal alterations of action potential (AP), early afterdepolarization (EAD) and delayed afterdepolarization (DAD) in papillary muscles. The action potentials were recorded by a glass electrode. APD at 90% repolarization (APD9 ) was measured, and spontaneous EAD and DAD were observed. The results show APD90 was significantly prolonged in model group compared with sham-operated group, whereas it was remained unchanged in Shenmai injec- tion treatment group and amiodarone group. The spontaneous EADs and DADs were frequently visible in model group. In conclusion, EAD, DAD and trigger activities increase gradually during pathological progression of rat cardiac hypertrophy, and Shenmai injection could improve the action potential change in rat cardiac hypertrophy.
Action Potentials ; drug effects ; Animals ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Cardiomegaly ; physiopathology ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Heart Ventricles ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Injections ; Male ; Papillary Muscles ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus and Hedysarum polybotrys belong to different genera, but have similar drug efficacy in traditional Chinese medicine theory, and H. polybotrys was used as the legal A. membranaceus var. mongholicus previously. In this study, similarities and differences between them were analyzed via their ITS/ITS2 fragments information. The ITS (internal transcribed spacer) regions were amplified using polymerase chain reaction and then sequenced in two-way. The alignment lengths of ITS regions were 616 bp, in which 508 loci were consistent, and 103 loci were different, accounting for 82.47% and 16.72% of the total ITS nucleotides in length, respectively. As genotype determines phenotype, 1HNMR-based metabolomic approach was further used to reveal the chemical similarities and differences between them. Thirty-four metabolites were identified in the 1H NMR spectra, and twenty-seven metabolites were the common components. Amino acids, carbohydrates and other primary metabolites were similar, while a large difference existed in the flavonoids and astragalosides. This study suggests that A. membranaceus var. mongholicus and H. polybotrys show similarities and differences from molecular and chemical perspectives, which has laid a foundation for elucidating the effective material basis of drug with similar efficacy and resources utilization.
Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Fabaceae ; chemistry ; genetics ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; Metabolome ; Metabolomics

Purpose To characterize the middle cerebral artery atherosclerotic plaque and investigate its relationship with infarction patterns by using 3.0T high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI).Materials and Methods Forty-nine patients with intracranial atherosclerosis underwent HRMRI.The characteristics of the plaques of middle cerebral artery were investigated,including morphology,distribution and enhancement.Patients were categorized as two groups (strong/mild and none) according to the strength of plaque enhancement,then clinical data were compared between the two groups and the risk factors were investigated.Acute infarction was classified as three subtypes (single/multiple perforating artery occlusion/arterial embolism) basedon diffusion weighted imaging,and the plaque characteristics of each subtype were investigated.Results Sixty-five plaques were identified in middle cerebral artery of 49 patients,62 plaques (95.4％) were eccentric,31 plaques (50.0％) were located at the ventral wall.Patients with low levels of high-density lipoprotein were significantly more prevalent in strong enhancement group (56.7％ vs.26.3％,P＜0.05).The percentage of strong enhancement plaque in arterial embolism group (88.9％) was significantly higher than non-arterial embolism group (36.4％) (P＜0.05).Conclusion Middle cerebral artery plaque distribution is correlated with ischemic stroke,strong enhancement plaque is associated with its vulnerability.HRMRI can provide information to predict the ischemic event and infarction pattern.

Objective To study the percutaneous permeability through mouse skin of lidocaine hydrochloride-loaded destran-based niosomes(LID-HLD-BNs)in vitro and in vivo. Methods HPLC was employed to exam lidocaine hydrochlo?ride. Lidocaine hydro-chloride-loaded conventional liposomes (LID-CLs) and lidocaine hydrochloride injection (LID-IJ) were used as control. Isolated mouse skin was added into Franz diffusion cell to evaluate the permeability of LID-HLD-BNs in vitro. Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy(CLSM)was used to observe the permeation depth of mouse skin in vivo. Re?sults The permeation rate and cumulative permeation amount were significantly higher in LID-HLD-BNs group than those of LID-CLs and LID-IJ groups (P<0.05). CLSM studies also confirmed that HLD-BNs reached deeper layers of the skin. Conclusion LID-HLD-BNs has good transdermal ability.

AIM:To observe the effect of simvastatin on myocardial tissue after renal ischemia-reperfusion in-jury and its mechanism .METHODS:A rat model of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury was prepared by clamping the bilat-eral renal arteries for 45 min.The rats (n=36) were randomly divided into sham operation group , renal ischemia-reperfu-sion (I/R) group and simvastatin group with 12 rats in each group.The content of serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea ni-trogen ( BUN) and myocardial tissue malondialdehyde ( MDA) , the myocardial activity of lactate dehydrogenase ( LDH) , creatine kinase (CK) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the myocardial protein expression of Bcl-2 and Bax were de-tected.RESULTS:Compared with sham operation group , the content of SCr , BUN and myocardial MDA , and the myo-cardial activity of LDH and CK in I/R group were significantly increased (P<0.05), and the activity of SOD was signifi-cantly decreased (P<0.05).Compared with I/R group, the content of SCr, BUN and myocardial MDA, and the myocar-dial activity of LDH and CK in simvastatin group were significantly decreased ( P<0.05 ) , while SOD activity was en-hanced (P<0.05).The protein expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in sham operation group was less than that in I/R group (P<0.05), and the protein level of Bax in simvastatin group was significantly lower than that in I /R group (P<0.05), while the protein level of Bcl-2 was increased (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Simvastatin has a protective effect on the my-ocardium of the rats with renal ischemia-reperfusion injury , and the protective mechanism may be related to the elimination of free radicals by simvastatin , increase in the protein expression of Bcl-2 and decrease in the protein expression of Bax .

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of the Trp-p8 protein in the prostate tissue of the PSA "grey zone" with different PSA density of the transition zone (PSADTZ) and explore the value of determining Trp-p8 expression and PSADTZ in the early diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa).

METHODSThis study involved 30 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and another 30 cases of PCa with different PSADTZ values. Using a data imaging and analysis system, we determined the expression levels of Trp-p8 in BPH and PCa tissues and analyzed their correlation with PSADTZ.

RESULTSThe expression of Trp-p8 was weak or negative in the BPH but strong in the PCa tissue and even stronger in the PCa tissue with high PSADTZ (F = 34. 05, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe Trp-p8 protein is expressed differently in BPH and PCa tissues of the PSA " grey zone" and its expression is positively correlated with PSADTZ. Determination of the Trp-p8 expression and PSADTZ contributes to the early diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Early Detection of Cancer ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate ; metabolism ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; metabolism ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; TRPM Cation Channels ; metabolism

Myeloid differentiation factor MyD88 is a critical adaptor molecule that integrates and transduces intracellular signals in inducing the differentiation of dendritic cells (DCs).The domain regions within MyD88 was searched,it could potentially affect the function of dendritic cells and found that MyD88 aa155-171 motif not only regulate the activity of transcription factor NF-?B, but also control the production of cytokines and expression of costimulatory molecules. Indeed, aa155-171 motif deleted type MyD88 (MyD88155-171) transfected RAW264.7 cells exhibited the reduced NF-?B and AP-1 activity and interrupted the expression of CD86 and B7H1. Meanwhile, lower level expression of cytokines such as IL-12,IFN-? were also observed by means of cytokine array in MyD88-/-DC trasfected with MyD88155-171 as compared to the MyD88 transfected cells. Thus, aa155-171 motif inside MyD88 could affect the expression of costimulatory molecules, production of cytokines and transduction of Toll like receptor signal pathway, suggesting that this motif may play an important role in regulating responses of innate immune system.

Objective To explore the relationship between placental thickness,MRI signs and postpartum hemorrhage in placenta accreta(PA)patients.Methods 28 PA patients with postpartum hemorrhage and 3 9 PA patients without postpartum hemorrhage were analyzed retrospectively.We compared the clinical features and MRI signs between the two groups,and analyzed the correlation between placental thickness and PA related postpartum hemorrhage.Results The mean placental thickness was significantly higher in the hemorrhage patients (62.04±13.826)mm than that in the patients without hemorrhage (39.72±11.362)mm.Among the clinical features, there were no correlations between age,previous intrauterine operation history,previous cesarean section history and occurrence of the PA related postpartum hemorrhage.The following MRI signs were related to the occurrence of the PA related postpartum hemorrhage,including placenta previa,local bulging of the uterine,heterogeneous signal intensity in the placenta,intraplacental hypointensity bands,intraplacental abnormal vascularity,scar covered by placenta,abnormal signal intensity around the cervix,thinning of myometrium.Conclusion Measurement of placental thickness by MRI combined with placenta previa,local bulging of the uterine,heterogeneous signal intensity in the placenta,intraplacental hypointensity bands,intraplacental abnormal vascularity,scar covered by placenta,heterogeneous signal intensity around the cervix, thinning of myometrium are valuable in predicting PA related postpartum hemorrhage.