To observe the pathological changes of vascular aging in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), and the effects of extracts from Panax ginseng, Panax notoginseng (Burk.) and Ligusticum chuanxiong on vascular aging.

Objective To explore the mechanism action of Shoutai Pill in the embryo from the molecular level. Methods The model of normal pregnancy was established with the model of recurrent abortion CBA/J ×DBA/2. The recurrent abortion model CBA/J×DBA/2 in pregnant mice were randomly divided into model group, high-, medium-, low-dose group of Shoutai Pill. From the first day of gestation, mice were given medicine by gavage for 14 d, and then sacrificed. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect differences in protein HSP27,α-enolase, transferrin, annexin A2 protein expression. Results Compared with normal group, decidual HSP27 and α-enolase expression of model group increased significantly, the expression of transferrin and annexin A2 was significantly decreased, with significant differences (P<0.01). Compared with model group, decidual HSP27 andα-enolase expression of Shoutai Pill high and low dose group decreased, annexin A2 expression was increased. Compared with model group, expression of decidual transferrin of Shoutai Pill high dose group increased, with significant differences (P<0.01), decidual transferrin expression of Shoutai Pill medium and low dose group had no significant difference (P>0.05). Conclusion Through the protein expression, Shoutai Pill achieves the maintenance of pregnancy, reducing the rate of embryo resorption, which may be one of the mechanisms of Shoutai Pill preventing miscarriage effect.

Objective To evaluate the effective method for treatment of premacular hemorrhage. Methods In 36 cases (36 eyes) of premacular hemorrhage (2PD),25 cases were treated with medicine, and 11 cases were treated with laser surgery and medicine. Results In 25 patients treated with medicine, the average time of vision recovery was 24 days and the average time of clearance of vitreous hemorrhage was 40 days; in the other 11 patients treated with laser surgery and medicine,10 were treated successfully, and in these 10 patients, the average time of vision recovery were 5 days and the average time of clearance of premacular hemorrhage were 11 days in 10 cases which were operated successfully with laser in 11 cases. Conclusions Laser surgery of inducing preretinal hemorrhage to vitreous body is an effective method for treatment of premacular hemorrhage to relieve the impaired central vision.

In order to realize the seamless connection between superior and inferior medical institutions and simplify the process of patient referral to superior medical hospitals from the community medical institutions,Zhenjiang First People's Hospital designs a two-way referral platform for direct registration to Zhenjiang First People’s Hospital from community medical institutions.The paper introduces the design process,features and realization steps of this platform.The platform can realize the sharing of patient information between the community medical institutions and the hospital,facilitate patients' seeing a doctor and improve medical service level.

BACKGROUND: Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) can promote mitosis and chemotaxis of periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLCs), and help the generation of extracellular matrix and new blood capillaries. But it is easy to degrade,has short half-life, and metabolizes rapidly.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of bFGF/chitosan/polylactic acid scaffolds on PDLCs growth and proliferation.METHODS: Polylactic acid/chitosan composite scaffolds in different proportions (4:1, 3:2, 1:1, 2:3, 1:4) were prepared through freeze-drying method, to study their microstructure, porosity and mechanical strength and then choose the optimal ratio of chitosan/polylactic acid scaffold that was used to prepare the composite scaffolds which contained different concentrations (0, 0.1, 1, 10, 100 μg/L) of bFGF. (1) Cytotoxicity test: PDLCs were cultured with leaching liquid of polylactic acid/chitosan scaffolds which contained different concentrations (0, 0.1, 1, 10, 100 μg/L) of bFGF and DMEM culture medium respectively. The effects on cell proliferation were tested by MTT after 24, 48, 72 hours. Cell cycles were tested using flow cytometry at 5 days of culture. (2) Cytocompatibility test: PDLCs were co-cultured with the polylactic acid/chitosan scaffolds which contained different concentrations (0, 0.1, 1, 10, 100 μg/L) of bFGF. The number of PDLCs was counted at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days. The growing status of PDLCs on the scaffolds was observed by scanning electron microscope at 3 days of culture.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The best mass ratio of polylactic acid and chitosan was 2:3 by test of porosity and mechanical strength. (2) The absorbance value of each group was increased over time. The absorbance values of 0.1, 1, 10, 100 μg/L bFGF groups were higher than that of the control group (0 μg/L bGFG), and the A value of 10 μg/L group was highest in all groups at 48 and 72 hours after co-culture (P < 0.05). (3) Cell percentages at G0/G1 phase of 0.1, 1, 10,100 μg/L bFGF groups were higher than that of the control group, and the percentage of 10 μg/L group was lowest in all groups (P < 0.05). Cell percentage at S phase and G2/M+S of 0.1, 1, 10, 100 μg/L bFGF groups were higher than that of the control group, and the percentage of 10 μg/L group was highest in all groups (P < 0.05). (4) The number of cells in each group was increased with time. The cell number in the 10 μg/L was most in all groups at 3 and 5 days of co-culture (P < 0.05). Observation of scanning electron microscopy showed that PDLCs adhered and grew well on the 10 μg/L bFGF/polylactic acid/chitosan composite scaffold when co-cultured for 3 days. Overall, these findings indicate that the bFGF/polylactic acid/chitosan composite scaffold contributes to PDLCs proliferation.

Objective To explore the effects of blood-circulation promoting and phlegm removing treatment on the structure, activity of Ca 2+ -Mg 2+ ATPase and malondialdehyde(MDA) content of mitochondria membrane in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR). Methods Spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR) were classified into 14-week-old model group(Group C),28-week-old model group(Group D) and treatment group (treated with blood-circulation promoting and phlegm removing Chinese herbal medicine,Group E).Normal Wistar rats 14 weeks old (Group A)and 28 weeks old(Group B) served as the controls.The structure of myocardial mitochondria membrane were analyzed quantitatively by transmission electron microscope,and the activity of Ca 2+ -Mg 2+ ATPase and MDA content were also detected. Results Specific surface area of mitochondria was smaller, the activity of Ca 2+ -Mg 2+ ATPase was lower and MDA content was higher in SHR than the controls.MDA content increased as the duration of disease prolonged. Chinese herbal medicine could counteract the above changes. Conclusion Blood-circulation promoting and phlegm removing herbs can partially counteract the progress of left ventricular hypertrophy in SHR.

Bibenzyl is a type of active compounds abundant in Dendrobium. In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of six bibenzyls isolated from Dendrobium species on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced tube formation in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). All those bibenzyls inhibited VEGF-induced tube formation at 10 micromol x L(-1) except tristin, and of which moscatilin was found to have the strongest activity at the same concentration. The lowest effective concentration of moscatilin was 1 micromol x L(-1). Further results showed that moscatilin inhibited VEGF-induced capillary-like tube formation on HUVECs in a concentration-dependent manner. Western blotting results showed that moscatilin also inhibited VEGF-induced phosphorylation of VEGFR2 (Flk-1/KDR) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). Further results showed that moscatilin inhibited VEGF-induced activation of c-Raf and MEK1/2, which are both upstream signals of ERK1/2. Taken together, results presented here demonstrated that moscatilin inhibited angiogenesis via blocking the activation of VEGFR2 (Flk-1/KDR) and c-Raf-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 signals.

OBJECTIVETo explore the auricular point specificity of the electric determination in stroke so as to provide the evidence for the objective study on the auricular point diagnosis in stroke.

METHODSThirty patients of stroke were selected in an observation group; 30 patients of non-stroke internal medicine disorder were in a control group A; 30 persons of healthy examination were in a control group B. In the observation group.and the control group A, beside the conventional treatment, acupuncture was applied to all the cases. In the observation group, Jianyu (LI 15), Quchi (LI 11), Shousanili (LI 10), Hegu (LI 4), Waiguan (TE 5), Liangqiu (ST 34), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Taichong (LR 3) were selected on the affected side. In the control group A, Yin-tang (GV 29), Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Fengfu (GV 16), Dazhui (GV 14), Fengchi (GB 20), Tianzhu (BL 10), Jiaji (EX-B 2) C4-C7 were selected. Acupuncture was given once a day in the two groups. The; treatment of one week made one session, and continuously 2 sessions were required. In the control group B, the convention physical examination was provided without any medication and acupuncture involved. The CLRH-A auricular point detector was used to detect the entire auricular point area in the subjects and the positive reaction sites of auricular points in the subjects of each group before and after treatment separately. The auricular point positive detecting score and positive point frequency were observed in the subjects.

RESULTSBefore treatment, the auricular points detecting score in the observation group was obviously higher than that in the control group A and control group B (both P<0. 05). The difference in the score between the control groups was not significant in' comparison (P>0. 05). In two weeks of treatment, the auricular points detecting score in the observation group was reduced apparently (P<0. 05). The difference was not significant before and after treatment in either the control grolip A or the control group B (both P>0.05). In the observation group, the first 15 points with high frequencies of positive reaction were naogan (AT3,4i), pizhixia (AT4), e (AT1), xin (CO15), gan (CO12), nie (AT2), zhen (AT3), shen (CO10), jiaogan (AH6a), pi (CO13) shenmen (TF4), wei (CO4), neifenmi (CO18), shenshangxian (TG2p) and erjian (HX6,7i). The differences were significant in the frequencies of positive reaction at 9 auricular points as compared with the control group A and the control group B respectively, named naogan (AT3,4i), pizhixia (AT4), e (AT1), xin (CO15), gan (CO12), nie (AT2), zhen (AT3), shen (CO10) and jiaogan (AH6a) (all P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe pathological degree of positive reaction about auricular points in stroke patients is higher than those in the patients of non-stroke internal medicine disease and the healthy people. It is verified that the auricular diagnostic method is specific in stroke. naogan (AT3,4i), pizhixia (AT4), e (AT1), xin (C15), gan (GO12), nie (AT2), zhen (AT3), shen (CO10) and jiaogan (AH6a) are correlative with stroke.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture, Ear ; Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: To identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and normal liver tissues by bioinformatic methods, and to explore the intrinsic mechanism of these candidate genes involving in the occurrence and development of HCC from transcriptome level as well as the clinical significance of their associations with the prognosis of HCC patients. Methods: Gene expression profiles of GSE45267, GSE64041, GSE84402 and TCGA were downloaded from GEO (Gene Expression Omnibus) and TCGA(The Cancer GenomeAtlas), respectively. R software and Bioconductor packages were used to identify the DEGs between HCC tissues and para-cancer tissues, and then Gene Ontology (GO) Enrichment analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network analysis and survival analysis were performed. Results: Forty-six up-regulated genes and 154 down-regulated genes were screened out,and GO enrichment analysis showed that these DEGs were mainly related to cell division, proliferation, cycle regulation, oxidation-reduction process and certain metabolic pathways. KEGG pathway analysis revealed that DEGs were mainly involved in tryptophan metabolism, retinol metabolism and other metabolic pathways as well as p53 pathway. Over-expression of a panel of up-regulated genes (CCNA2, CDK1, DLGAP5, KIF20A, KPNA2 and MELK) was shown to be significantly negatively correlated with the prognosis of HCC patients in the TCGA dataset (all P<0.01). Conclusion: A set of up-regulated hub genes that are negatively correlated with prognosis will provide potential guiding value for the clinical research on the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the formula and preparation technology of gel-matrix sustained release tablet of nicotinic acid(GSTNA).METHODS: The formula of GSTNA was optimized by orthogonal experiment with the amount of hydrophilic gel-matrix material HPMC(K15M,E15-LV) and that of adjuvant calcium hydrogen phosphate(CHP) as factors and with the in vitro release rates as index.Meanwhile,the verification test on the intra-and inter-batch release rates of the samples was performed.RESULTS: The optimum formula could be seen as follows: the ratios of HPMC(K15M,E15-LV) and CHP were 4%,40% and 25% respectively.The GSTNA prepared in this formula achieved a sustained drug release of up to 12 h,and both the intra-batch homogenicity and the inter-batch reproducibility were satisfactory.CONCLUSION: The GSTNA is reasonable in formula and simple in preparation technology.