Objective: To study the content of alkaloids in Huanglianjiedu Decoction and its disassemble prescription. Methods: The contents of four alkaloids such as berberine, jatrorrhizine, coptisine, palmatine in Huanglian jiedu Decoction and its disassemble prescription were determined by HPLC. Results: The content of four alkaloids extracted by tranditional decoction had a tendency to low. On the coutrary, when Rhizoma Coptis and Cortex Phellodendri were decocted together the quantity of alkaloids was additive, and when two herbs above decocted with Radix Scutella and Fructus Gardeniae the quantity of alkaloids decreased obviously. Conclusion:This study can provide a basis for establishing rational quanlitative standard for Huanglianjiedu Decoction.

With deep acupuncture at Baliao points (eight sacral foramina) as the core, Professor WANG Ling-ling has treated diseases of urinary, digestive and reproductive systems with superior therapeutic effect. The key for efficacy of Baliao points is deep acupuncture. Only deeply insert into acupoints with long needles and directly stimulate at sacral nerves, could Baliao points play a superior role in treatment effect. Searching acupoints is the basis of deep acupuncture, and superficial anatomy should be combined to summarize the methods of searching Baliao points. The premise of deep acupuncture is needling manipulation. The angles of needles must be adjusted according to morphological features of posterior sacral foramina, or it is hard to practice deep acupuncture into Baliao points. The description of location and manipulation on Baliao points in ancient and modern literature was vague, which restricts clinical application of Baliao points. A lot of research on location, manipulation and clinical application of Baliao points has performed by Professor WANG Ling-ling, and its manipulation and clinical cases are introduced to make a positive effect on its application and popularization.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pelvic Floor Disorders ; therapy ; Postoperative Complications ; therapy ; Urination Disorders ; therapy

WANG Ji's opinion on moxibustion therapy in Questions and answers of acupuncture and moxibustion (Zhenjiu Wendui) was explored and analyzed. With his two contraindications of moxibustion as breakthrough points, the arrangement and discussion was performed. The results showed that based on summary of moxibustion treatment theory before Ming dynasty, WANG Ji could provide characteristic idea, which is of great reference value and guide significance to the inheritance and development of moxibustion.
China ; History, 15th Century ; History, 16th Century ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; history

Objective To discuss clinical features and harmfulness of acid-base imbalance in newborn by investigating the changes in blood gas of cord and artery blood,and to establish more appropriate prevention measures. Methods One hundred and ninety-two cord blood and 113 peripheral artery blood of neonates were measured for blood gas analysis by automatic blood gas analysis instrument from America;meanwhile,the concentrations of K~+,Na~+ and Cl~- were detected by biochemical analyzer.Results Among 192 neonates,179 were normal labor and 13 neonates underwent acidosis of different degrees.The incidence was 79.9%.Among the 13 ca-(ses),2 cases had severe asphyxia and both of them got serious mixed acidosis.For all the neonates, 156 cases got acidosis, 84 neonates underwent respiratory acidosis (43.8%), 47 cases with metabolic acidosis (24.5%) and 25 cases with mixed acidosis (13.0%).The left 113 neonates were abnormal labor.Among them,99 cases had acid-base disturbance of different degrees (87.6%). Among the 99 acid-base disturbance cases, 50 cases were single metabolic acidosis (44.2%) and presented the most common changes; the second was single respiratory acidosis, totally 20 cases (17.7%).The third was metabolic acidosis combined with respiratory alkalosis, totally 16 neonates (14.2%).Eleven cases had mixed acidosis (9.7%) and 2 cases were respiratory alkalosis combined with metabolic alkalosis (1.8%).Conclusions While the normal labor neonates still got acidosis of different degrees,the acid-base imbalance of abnormal labor is much more prominent,and the critical neonates often got mixed acid-base imbalance.Serious acid-base imbalance can cause fatal pathological changes in body.The dangers of acidosis and alkalosis can not ignore either. The condition of acid-base imbalance can be judged more accurately by the combination of blood gas analysis and anion gap.The perinatal health cares are important measures to prevent acid-base imbalance.

OBJECTIVETo observe effects of mild moxibustion and lovastatin on immunologic function in rabbits with chronic hyperlipidaemia and atherosclerosis (AS) to initially explain regulating rules of mild moxibustion on immunologic function.

METHODSAmong thirty-two Japanese male big-ear rabbits, 8 rabbits were randomly selec ted as a blank group, the rest 24 rabbits were fed with method of endothelial injury and high-fat diet to establish AS model. The blank group was raised with normal diet and free water. After ten weeks of model establishment, the rest 24 rabbits were randomly divided into a model group, a moxibustion group and a medicine group, eight rabbits in each one. Moxibustion was applied at "Shenque" (CV 8) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) for 10 min per acupoint per day in the moxibustion group, while intragastric administration of 3.6 mg/kg lovastatin capsule was applied in the medicine group. After treatment, serum was acquired. Spectrophotometry method was adapted to measure cholesterol (TC) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and evaluated atherosclerosis index (AI), while enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method was used to measure interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4).

RESULTS(1) The serum TC and HDL-C in the model group were significantly higher than those in the blank group, moxibustion group and medicine group (all P < 0.01). The mean value of AI was 1.683 +/- 0.486 in the moxibustion group, which was obviously lower than 20.301 +/- 4.022 in the model group (P < 0.01). (2) The ratio of Th1/Th2 was 0.569 +/- 0.143 in the moxibustion group and 0.445 +/- 0.079 in the medicine group, which were significantly lower than 0.917 +/- 0.255 in the model group (both P < 0.01), but there was no statistically significant difference between the moxibustion group and the medicine group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe moxibustion for AS could reduce atherosclerosis index, influence drift and bias of helper T cell and regulate balance between humoral immunity and cellular immunity. As a result, status of relative balance of immunity is acquired, which could slow down the development of atherosclerosis and process of thrombus burst.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; immunology ; therapy ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; immunology ; therapy ; Interferon-gamma ; immunology ; Interleukin-4 ; immunology ; Male ; Moxibustion ; Rabbits ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

Humans ; Liver Diseases ; diagnosis ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the alterations of after depolarization and triggered activity in myocardiac muscle during progression of mouse aortic stenosis.

METHODSAfter the establishment of mouse aortic stenosis model, the heart was collected and intracellular potential was recorded using standard glass microelectrode. After the recording, the action potential (AP), early after depolarization (EAD), delayed after depolarization (DAD) in papillary muscles were analysed.

RESULTS(1) Compared with that of time-matched control mice, there were no changes of the action potoutial duration at 90% repolarization(APD90) in model mice at 2 and 5 weeks, whereas the APD90 was progressively prolonged at 9 and 13 weeks. (2) During the 30 minites of the experiment, spontaneous EADs and DADs were frequently present in medel mice at 9 and 13 weeks, were not in control and model mice at 2 and 5 weeks. (3) Compared with those of control group, EADs and DADs triggered by hypokalaemia or isoproterenol were increased significantly. The incidence rate of triggering EADs and DADs was progressively increased over time.

CONCLUSIONEAD, DAD and trigger activities increase gradually during the process of aortic stenosis, and it suggests that the myocardium electrical-instability is markedly increased in the insult hearts.

Action Potentials ; physiology ; Animals ; Aortic Valve Stenosis ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Mice ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo find the characteristic parameters from electrocardiogram (ECG) which is most related to pathological progress, surface ECG was performed in mice at 2, 5, 9 and 13 week post surgery.

METHODSElectrocardiogram recordings: The mice were anaesthetized with tribromoethanol (250 mg/kg, i.p.). Lead II surface ECG were acquired by using the Biopac System MP150 at a rate of 5 kHz.

RESULTS(1) No arrhythmia was observed in Sham and 2-week Band mice. Spontaneous arrhythmias were observed in ECG recordings, with an incidence of 15%, 28% and 63% in 5-, 9- and 13-week Band mice, respectively. Tachyarrhythmias, such as frequent premature ventricular extrasystole, bigeminy, trigeminy, and paroxysmal tachycardia were found. (2) Analysis of ECG recordings revealed a significant prolongation of QT and QTc intervals. Compared with age-matched Sham mice, the increment in QT and QTc intervals was 20.4%, 32.7%, 49.7%, 61.0% and 27.1%, 32.1%, 43.9%, 59.1% at 2, 5, 9 and 13 week, respectively (P < 0.01). (3) The characteristic change in electrocardiogram was on the J wave. The amplitude of J wave was upward in Sham mice, and it was significantly flattened or inverted in Band mice. (4) Except that RR interval at 2 week showed a slight decrease, there was no significant change in PR interval and RR interval in Band mice.

CONCLUSIONIn the present study, we found that the increase incidence of spontaneous arrhythmias, prologation of QT interval and changes in the amplitude of the J wave in the surface ECG during progression of mouse cardiac hypertrophy and failure, and the progressive pattern indicated that a gradual aggravation of the ventricular repolarization delay in this mouse model.

Animals ; Cardiomegaly ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Electrocardiography ; Male ; Mice

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nervous System Diseases ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Neural Conduction ; Organophosphate Poisoning ; Pesticides ; poisoning ; Young Adult

AIM:Sodium butyrate has antitumor effects on colon cancer cells such as inhibiting cell growth and promoting differentiation and apoptosis.The aim of this study is to investigate whether sodium butyrate induces apoptosis in human colon cancer cell line HT-29 and to examine the intracellular mechanisms involved,especially the role of caspase activation in the process.METHODS:HT-29 cells were cultured to logarithmic phase before treatment with sodium butyrate at concentration of 5.0 mmol/L and caspase inhibitors at the concentration of 20 ?mol/L.The latter were added in the medium ahead of sodium butyrate for 1 h.Then,the staining of Annexin V-FITC and PI were used to analyze HT-29 apoptosis and the dye JC-1 was applied to detect mitochondrial membrane potential by flow cytometry.Caspase activity within the cells was measured respectively using a specific caspase activity assay kit and a microplate reader.RESULTS:Preincubation of HT-29 cells with sodium butyrate significantly increased apoptosis [(35.40?0.70)%] and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential(5.53?0.91).This effect was blocked when pretreatments were enforced with z-VAD-fmk,z-DEVD-fmk and z-LEHD-fmk.The apoptosis percentages were(1.33?0.59)%,(1.40?0.53)% and(1.27?0.91)%,respectively and mitochondrial membrane potentials were 9.80?1.15,10.23?0.50 and 10.33?1.02,respectively.However,the role of reduction by z-IETD-fmk,which presented the apoptosis percentage of(32.10?2.33)% and mitochondrial membrane potential of 5.93?1.31,was not observed.An enhancement of caspase-3 and-9 activities(2-3-fold)but no change of caspase-8 activity was confirmed.CONCLUSION:Apoptosis of HT-29 colon carcinoma cells induced by sodium butyrate is tightly linked to caspase activation via mitochondrial pathway other than tumor necrosis factor-alpha and has the potential to inhibit proliferation and thereby may contribute to the progression of colon cancer.