OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of total flavones of Epimedium leptorrhizum (YYH-C) on osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats.

METHODOvariectomized female rats were randomly divided into the model group, YYH-C lower, middle and high dose (0.7, 1.4, 2.8 g x kg(-1)) groups, the positive drug Bujiale (0.15 mg x kg(-1)) group, and the sham group. The rats were orally ad-ministrated with drugs for three months. Parathyroid hormone (PTH), procollagen I N-terminal peptide (PINP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), calcium (Ca) and phosphrous (P) in serum were detected. Femur bones and vertebrae bones of left side were collected to determined bone metrological indexes, including bone mineral density (BMD), bone Ca, and bone ash weight/dry weight percentage. Femur bones of right side were collected to for a morphological observation of bone.

RESULTCompared with the sham group, the model group showed significantly higher PTH and ALP content but obviously lower PINP and Ca content. The three YYH-C 3 groups could resist the decrease of PINP. Specifically, low and middle dose groups could remarkably inhibit the increase of PTH, and the high dose group could increase the Ca content in serum, but without significant effect on the rise in ALP. There was no significant difference in P content in serum in each group. BMD, ash weight/dry weight percentage, Ca and P content of the model group were significantly lower than those in the sham group. The high dose YYH-C group could significantly increase BMD. All of the three YYH-C groups could notably increase ash weight/dry weight percentage and Ca, P content in femur bones and vertebrae bones. YYH-C could significantly increase average thickness, area, area percentage of bony trabeculae, cortical bone area percentage of femoral shaft and the number of osteoblasts on the surface of bony trabeculae, and decrease the number of osteoclasts.

CONCLUSIONYYH-C can effectively control the bone mass loss of rats with ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis, prevent the changes in bone microstructure, and inhibit bone absorption, so as to resist high turn-over osteoporosis after ovariectomy. [Key words] total flavones of Epimedium leptorrhizum; ovariectomized rat; osteoporosis

Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Female ; Flavones ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Ovariectomy ; Parathyroid Hormone ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Humans are exposed to the ubiquitous radiofrequency (RF, 100 kHz-300 GHz) electromagnetic fields because of the mushroom development of wireless communications,raising concerns over the possible hazards of RF radiations.Epidemiological investigation has showed that chronic use of cellphones increases the risk of brain tumors.Since genetic damage is closely related to tumors, researchers have been trying to find out whether cellphones and other RF devices are genotoxic.However, the investigations have yielded both negative and positive results.This review summarized the recent in vitro and in vivo researches about genotoxicity of RF radiations and proposed a possible mechanism by which of RF radiations cause genetic damage.

Steroidal saponins have a wide range of pharmacological effects and biological activities, such as anti-tumor, antifungal, hypoglycemic, immune regulation, insecticides, etc. In the last ten years, some new structures of steroidal saponins compounds were found from natural plants, they have some new and different activities. In order to accelerate the research on the drug innovation of steroidal saponins, we summarized the new progress of the research on such compounds.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Antifungal Agents ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Steroids ; pharmacology

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Hexanones ; urine ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity

To investigate the effect of acid and alkali stress on ginsenoside content of Panax ginseng, adventitious roots culture in bioreactors were incubated for 30 d and pH value was adjusted. Ginsenoside content increased by reducing or raising the pH in culture medium, the muxium ginsenoside content was determined on the 5th days after acid treatment and on the 7th days after alkali treatment. The result of histochemical localization of ginsenoside revealed that the red color from light to dark were found in the adventitious root tissue, and ginsenoside mainly located in the pericycle cells where appeared the dark red color.
Ginsenosides ; metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Panax ; metabolism ; physiology ; Plant Roots ; metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; Time Factors

To improve cell suspension culture system of Panax ginseng, the dynamic of cell growth and medium consumption were studied, and the effects of filter on the culture vessel, revolution number, and inoculation density on cell growth and ginsenoside accumulation were also investigated. The maximum cell growth and ginsenoside accumulation was found on the 20th days of suspension culture, therefore, 20 days were confirmed as a suitable culture period for mass production of ginsenoside. Cell growth and ginsenoside content were promoted when the culture vessel had a ventilated filter. Revolution speed during suspension culture affected cell growth, but not ginsenoside content, a peak of ginsenoside productivity was found in the treatment of 120 r x min(-1). Inoculation density also influenced cell growth and ginsenoside accumulation, inoculation density of 6 g was better than other inoculation densities, the ginsenoside content and productivity were up to 12.8 mg x g(-1) DW and 146.6 mg x L(-1), respectively.
Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Proliferation ; Culture Media ; chemistry ; Ginsenosides ; metabolism ; Panax ; cytology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Suspensions

In clinical teaching practice of over 30 years, professor LIAN Yu-lin combines physiological, pathological and anatomic knowledge with TCM treatment based on syndrome differentiation, forming own unique theoretical system. This paper introduces LIAN's experience on treatment of cervical spondylosis in detail, and location of cervical vertebra three lines and determination of needling depth and reinforcing-reducing manipulation based on clinical manifestations of various types of cervical spondylosis, and combination of long needle with short needle, deep needling with superficially needling, stressing the main point and having a definite object. This is an effective pathway for treatment of cervical spondylosis.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Osteophytosis ; classification ; therapy

Objective To investigate the status of foot care behavior and related knowledge of patients with type 2 diabetes in suburbs of Beijing, and analyze their possible influencing factors. Methods A convenient sample of 108 patients with type 2 diabetes was surveyed using questionnaire. Results The patients'average scores of daily foot care behaviors were (4.85 ± 4.48 ), among 10 behaviors, the correct rate of "checking feet" and "trimming nails" were lower. Average scores of related knowledge about foot care were (14.03 ±4.46), among 20 items, the correct rate of "shoes with bootlace and velcro should be chosen "、"diabetic foot was related to misfeasance in wearing socks and lightish socks was suitable for patients with diabetes" were lower. By multiple stepwise regression analysis, scores of the behaviors were related to the patients' identity level with preventability of diabetic foot, and scores of the related knowledge were related to patients' identity with importance of foot care and patients' course of disease. Conclusions The behaviors and related knowledge about foot care of suburban patients with type 2 diabetes should be improved.

Objective To study the interobserver variabilities and the differential diagnosis value of Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System-Ultrasound (BI-RADS-US) lexicon for small ( ≤ 2 cm) breast nodules. Methods Between January 2009 and December 2011, 289 patients with small (≤2 cm) breast nodules (n=317) were included. According to sizes, the lesions were divided into two groups, i.e., 0-1 cm (n=160) group and 1-2 cm (n=157)group. Each lesion was described independently by 3 radiologists using BI-RADS-US lexicon. Interobserver variabilities were assessed by Kappa test. Chi-square test was used to compare the frequency difference of the descriptors between malignant and benign lesions. Sensitivity, speciifcity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negtive predictive value were calculated. Results (1)Moderate agreements were obtained for lesion shape, orientation, margin, echo pattern, surrounding tissue and calciifcations (κ=0.44, 0.57, 0.48, 0.43, 0.51 and 0.57) in 0-1 cm group. Substantial agreements were obtained for lesion shape, orientation, margin and echo pattern (κ=0.65, 0.61, 0.64 and 0.63) in 1-2 cm group. (2)Irregular shape, non-parallel orientation, non-circumscribed margin, echogenic halo and microcalciifcations were more frequently found in malignant nodules than in benign nodules in 0-1 cm group [52.3% (34/65) vs 20.0% (19/95), 38.5%(25/65) vs 13.7%(13/95), 75.4%(49/65) vs 32.6%(31/95), 18.6%(12/65) vs 0 (0/95) and 10.8%(7/65) vs 2.1%(2/95);χ2=18.19, 13.08, 28.22, 16.39 and 3.95;P=0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000 and 0.047]. Similarly, irregular shape, non-parallel orientation, non-circumscribed margin, echogenic halo, shadowing, changes of Cooper′s ligament and microcalciifcations were signiifcantly more frequent found in malignant nodules than in benign nodules in 1-2 cm group [74.2%(49/66) vs 12.1%(11/91), 36.3%(24/66) vs 5.5%(5/91), 93.9%(62/66) vs 22.0%(20/91), 37.9%(25/66) vs 3.3%(3/91), 30.3%(20/66) vs 7.7%(7/91), 15.2%(10/66) vs 0 (0/91) and 16.7%(11/66) vs 4.4%(4/91);χ2=62.59, 24.21, 79.40, 31.22, 13.73, 12.30 and 6.67;P=0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000 and 0.010]. (3)In both groups, a good sensitivity was demonstrated (75.4%&93.9%) when using the non-circumscribed margin as a criterion for malignancy, and high speciifcity was achieved in two groups (80.0%-100%and 87.9%-100%) when other descriptors including irregular shape, non-parallel orientation, echogenic halo, shadowing, changes of Cooper′s ligament and microcalciifcations were used as differentiation criteria. Conclusions Good interobserver agreement can be achieved using the BI-RADS-US lexicon in the diagnosis of small breast nodules. Non-circumscribed margin are proved as the most valuable sign for screening malignant breast lesions ≤ 2 cm. High speciifcity was found for irregular shape, nonparallel orientation, echogenic halo, shadowing, Cooper′s ligament changes and microcalciifcations, which can help biopsy and preoperative diagnosis.