Background The early diagnosis and treatment is vital for the age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Previous examining methods were fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA)and optical coherence tomography (OCT).However,a new diagnostic technique,fundus autofluorescence(FAF),is applying in ophthalmology.objective This study was to observe the FAF characteristics of atrophic AMD. Methods Thirty-nine eyes of 28 patients with atrophic AMD were diagnosed and collected in our hospital and classified based on the criteria of Chen Song.FAF was performed by a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope(Heidelberg Retina Angiograph 2,HRA2).Characteristics of FAF images were compared with FFA images or color fundus photographs.Written informed consent was obtained from each patient prior to the examination. Results Areas with abnormal increased or decreased FAF signals were consisted or unconsisted with funduscopically visible alterations.Seven manifestations of FAF were found in the eyes with preatrophic stage of atrophic AMD,including slight change,focal increase pattern,patchy pattern,linear pattern,lacelike pattern,reticular pattern,and speckled pattern.In atrophic stage of atrophic AMD,geographic atrophy showed a well-defined hypoautofluorescence area;while non-geographic atrophy showed a ill-defined hypoautofluorescence area.There were three abnormal FAF patterns(focal,band and diffuse)in the junctional zone of geographic atrophy and diffuse pattern in the junctional zone of non-geographic atrophy. Conclusion FAF imaging is helpful for the diagnosis of atrophic AMD as a new non-invasive technique.

The Hazardous effect of Hippophae Rhamnoides L. juice was studied biologically. The results showed that the Hippophae rhamnoides L. juice has no teratogenic and mutagenic effect on the rat and mice germ cells.

A reasonable and practicable quality standard was developed for mori liquid extract from different sources by TLC, HPLC and fingerprint technology. In TLC method, the compounds were separated on polyamide film using glacial acetic acid-water (1: 3) as mobile phase at a UV wavelength of 365 nm. All qualified samples had the spots of the same color as the control herb and substance. The RP-HPLC method was used to determine the content of mulberroside A with mobile phase of methanol-water (25: 75) at a wave-length of 326 nm. The mulberroside A was in good linear with a regression equation of Y = 46.965X (r = 0.999 6) in the range of 4.6 - 228 mg x L(-1). In 14 batches of samples, the mulberroside A in 4 batches of them was less than 0.5 g x L(-1), and was more than 2.0 g x L(-1) in the other batches. It was suggested that the content limit of mulberroside A should be no less than 1.5 g x L(-1). The HPLC fingerprints were evaluated by the similarities. It has found that the similarities of different mori liquid extracts were very low and the chemical diversity of mori cortex was the major factor of similarity. Moreover, the process impact was minimal. Thus the fingerprint was not included in this quality standard.
China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Disaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; standards ; Morus ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Stilbenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

The relevant literatures of Siwu series decoctions--Taohong Siwu decoction for treating primary dysmenorrea of gynecology blood stasis syndrome were summarized including the clinical application, pharmacological effects, bioactive components and metabolic characteristics. On this basis,research on the bioactive components and formulation rule were discussed, to provide reference for modern traditional Chinese medicine formula study.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Dysmenorrhea ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans

The changes of bioactive constituents were analyzed for Puhuang-Wulingzhi before and after compatibility and the antiplatelet and antithrombin activitives were evaluated in order to elucidate the scientific and reasonable of Puhuang-Wulingzhi compatibility. UPLC-QTOF-MA-Markerlynx, principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis were used for data analysis and tracking changes of chemical composition during the decocting process. In vitro platelet aggregation induced by ADP, thrombin time(TT) and prothrombin time (PT) were investigated for Puhuang-Wulingzhi before and after compatibility. The results showed that significant differences were found between the mixed decoction and codecoction of Wulingzhi and Puhuang. Five compounds changed obviously were identified as typhaneoside, naringenin, isorhamnetin-3-O-ruinoside, quercetin-3-O-neohesperidoside, kaempferol-3-O-neohesperidoside. The codecoction, comparing with the single decoction, was more significant in antiplatelet aggregation and could prolong thrombin time. In the same crude drug dose, the thrombin time (TT) elongation were greater. These data could provide references for elucidation of bioactive components for this herb pair.
Animals ; Antithrombins ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Blood Platelets ; drug effects ; physiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Rabbits ; Thrombin Time

Aim & methods The antagonism of L-dicentrine to contraction of isolated porcine coronary artery strips induced by 5-HT KCl and Ca2+ was observed with U-135 electrophsiological recorder.Results The contractions induced by 5-HT KCl and Ca2+ after high K+ depolarization in the strips of porcine coronary artery were markediy inhibited by L-dicentrine.L-dicentrine significantly depressed maximal response and caused rightward displacement of the dose -response curve. Showing a non-competitive antagonism. In Ca2+ free solution,L-dicentrine inhibited 5-HT-induced contraction of porcine coronary artery,which is dependent on Ca2+ relesed from intracellular store. After Ca2+ concentration in bath solution was restored,L-dicentrine did not influence the contraction of porcine coronary artery depending on extracellular Ca2+.Conclusion L-D have significant relaxation on porcine coronary artery ,which possibly has 5-HT receptor and histamine receptor.

BACKGROUNDFundus autofluorescence (FAF) imaging is a fast and noninvasive technique developed over the last decade. The authors utilized fluorescent properties of lipofuscin to study the health and viability of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-photoreceptor complex. Observing the intensity and distribution of FAF of various retinal diseases is helpful for ascertaining diagnosis and evaluating prognosis. In this study, we described the FAF characteristics of cystoid macular edema (CME).

METHODSSixty-two patients (70 eyes) with CME were subjected to FAF and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) by a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (Heidelberg Retina Angiograph 2 (HRA2)). Characteristics of FAF images were compared with FFA images.

RESULTSFAF intensity in normal subjects was highest at the posterior pole and dipped at the fovea. All cases of CME showed fluorescein dye accumulated into honeycomb-like spaces in macular and formated a typical petaloid pattern or atypical petaloid pattern in the late phases of the angiography. Sixty-one eyes with CME on FAF images showed mild or moderate hyperautofluorescence petaloid pattern in fovea, the FAF patterns of these CME was perfectly corresponding with shape in their FFA images; nine eyes with CME secondary to exudative age related macular degeneration (AMD) showed expansion of the hypoautofluorescence without petaloid pattern in macula.

CONCLUSIONFAF imaging can be used as a new rapid, non-invasive and ancillary technique in the diagnosis of the majority of CME, except for AMD and small part of other fundus diseases.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; methods ; Fluorescence ; Fundus Oculi ; Humans ; Lipofuscin ; metabolism ; Macular Edema ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEIBS-D rat model was established to assess the effect of Shen warming Pi strengthening method (SWPSM) for intervening diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) by observing rats' general state, stool properties, AWR ranking, and histopathological changes.

METHODSTotally 72 rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, i.e. the normal group, the model group, the high, middle, low dose SWPSM groups, and the control group, 12 in each group. The IBS-D rat model was successfully established referring to AL-Chaer ED's modeling method. After modeling high, middle, and low dose SWPS Recipe boil-free granules were given by gastrogavage to rats in corresponding treatment groups. Sishen Pill boil-free granule was given by gastrogavage to those in the control group. Equal volume of normal saline was given by gastrogavage to rats in the model group. The medication lasted for 2 weeks. Rats' general state, stool properties, abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) ranking, and histopathological changes were observed.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the general state of all rats got im- provement to various degrees. The improvement in the high and middle dose SWPS Recipe groups were superior to that in the low dose SWPS Recipe group and the control group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the growth rate between after and before treatment in each group (P > 0.05). Compared with the model group and the low dose SWPS Recipe group, the defecation amount within 4 h was less in the high and middle dose SWPS Recipe groups and the control group (P < 0.05). The Bristol ranking score, average ranking of loose stool, ratio of dry stool and wet stool were lower in the high and middle dose SWPS Recipe groups than in the control group and the low dose SWPS Recipe group (P < 0.05). The AWR ranking score was lower in the high and middle dose SWPS Recipe groups than in the control group when the volume of balloon dilation was 1.5 mL. There was no organic change of histological or morphological observation.

CONCLUSIONSHigh sensitive IBS-D model was proved to be reliable. SWPSM could reduce the quantity of stools, lower Bristol ranking score, average ranking of loose stools as well as ratios of dry stool and wet stool, contributing to reducing the high sensitivity of rats' visceral organs to some extent.

Animals ; Diarrhea ; drug therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; drug therapy ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Angelicae Sinensis Radix-Chuanxiong Rhizoma has the effects of nourishing and tonifying blood, activating blood and dissipating blood stasis, regulating menstruation and analgetic, which is commonly used Chinese medicine pair (CMP) in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinic. It might be an independent formula, and is also usually used in many gynecological formulae and modern TCM prescriptions. This paper mainly analyzed and summarized the compatibility theory, bio-active constituents, compatibility effects and action mechanism, and clinical applications of the CMP, which can provide a basis for the depth research and development of the CMP.
Animals ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Drug Interactions ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods

The total effect of Chinese medicine pair (CMP) was not the simply addition of two single herbs, but the interaction of their different components. Therefore, the research on the bio-active components of CMP is the basis of CMP compatibility study, and has important significance for revealing the compatibility effect and action mechanism, and creating traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) new drugs. This paper summed up the latest research progress of CMP on the basis of the bio-active components variation regularity of CMP from chemical solutions and content changes in vitro and the actions of CMP on bodies in vivo, in order to further drive the modern basic and applied research of CMP, and to reveal the scientific essence of CMP compatibility.
Animals ; Drug Compounding ; Drug Interactions ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Pharmacokinetics