OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of natural moxibustion on regulating immune imbalance in asthma rats.

METHODSSeventy SD male rats were divided into a normal group, a placebo group, a dexamethasone group, a big-cake for long-course moxibustion group, a big-cake for short-course moxibustion group, a small-cake for long-course moxibustion group and a small-cake for short-course moxibustion group, ten rats in each one. The rat model of asthma was established by egg albumen sensitization and stimulation in all the groups except the normal group. The natural moxibustion was used in all moxibustion groups, in which big cake of 1 cmX 1 cm size was used in the big-cake groups and small cake of 0.5 cmX 0. 5 cm size was used in the small cake groups. According to relevant acupoints, the natural moxibustion was performed, 5 h per time, once a day. Four times of treatment was considered one course, and three courses were required in the long-course groups and one course was required in the short-course groups. Intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone was applied in the dexamethasone group, which had the same course as long-course moxibustion group. After the treatment, changes of EOS in peripheral blood of asthma rats were observed; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to test the contents of IgE, IL-4 and IFN-gamma in the lung tissue; real-time Q-PCR method was adopted to measure the expression level of transcription factor T-bet and GATA binding protein 3 (GATA-3) in the lung tissue.

RESULTSCompared with the normal group, the EOS in whole blood as well as IL-4 and IgE in plasma were all increased in the placebo group (all P< 0. 01), IFN-gamma in plasma was obviously decreased (P<0. 01); while the levels of EOS, IgE and IL-4 were significantly reduced (all P<0. 01), the content of IFN-gamma was increased (P<0. 01) in all moxibustion groups and dexametnasone group. Compared with the normal group, the expression of T-bet mRNA in the placebo group was significantly reduced (P<0. 01). Each treatment group could significantly increase the expression of T-bet mRNA and reduce that of GATA-3 mRNA (P<0. 01). Compared with the short-course moxibustion groups, the expression of T-bet mRNA was obviously increased in the long-course moxibustion group and dexamethasone group (both P<0.01), and that of GATA-3 mRNA was reduced (P<0.01). There was no significant difference between long-course moxibustion group and dexamethasone group (P> 0. 05), and also no significant difference could be seen between big-cake moxibustion group and small-cake moxibustion group (P>0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe natural moxibustion could obviously reduce airway inflammation in asthma rats. With time passing, the efficacy is enhanced, indicating evident timeliness, which has no apparent relationship with the size of moxibustion cake.

Animals ; Asthma ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy ; Cytokines ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Moxibustion ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the characteristics and analyze the differences of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) image between exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and central exudative chorioretinopathy (CEC) using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods Twenty-three eyes of 22 patients with exudative AMD and 20 eyes of 19 patients with CEC, which were diagnosed as CNV using fundus fluorescein angiograph (FFA) or indocyanine green angiograph (ICGA), were exami- ned by OCT. The size of CNV and the thickness of retinal neurosensory layer in foveola were measured by OCT software. Results On OCT image, CNV had three main types of morphological features including simple CNV, CNV with serous retinal neurosensory layer detachment and CNV with choroidoretinal exudation. Exudative AMD mainly showed CNV with choroidoretinal exudation (56.52%) and CEC showed simple CNV (90 0%). The thickness of retinal neurosensory layer in foveola of patients with exudative AMD was thicker than that of patients with CEC and the size of CNV of patients with exudative AMD was larger than that of patients with CEC. Negative correlation was found between retinal neurosensory layer thickness in foveola and vision in both groups (?=-0.521, P =0.001). Conclusions There were certain discrepancy in morphology and area involved of CNV between exudative AMD and CEC on OCT images.

Objective To observe effect of corticosteroid and long-acting ?2-agonist seretide to treat patients with moderate asthma who were uncontrolled on existing corticosteroid therapy.Methods From Oct.2005 to Feb.2007,85 asthmatic patients were randomly divided into two groups,treatment group were treated with seretide twice daily and the control group were treated with pulmicort(budesonide)twice daily.The clinical effect index and peak expiratory flow(PEF)were analyzed statistically.Results There were 61 cases in seretide group and 24 cases in pulmicort group who were follow-up examined and evaluated effectively the clinical effect.The treatment period was 1 year,the efficacy were 100% and 75% respectively,there was significant difference between two groups(P

Objective To evaluate the value of peripheral blood neutrophil CD_(64) level for early diagnosis of neonatal septicemia.Methods Thirty-six cases of neonatal septicemia were recruited into the study according to diagnostic criteria for neonatal septicemia:white blood cell count,C-reactive protein(CRP),platelet count,micro-erythrocyte sedimentatio rate(mESR) and blood culture;26 cases of hospitalized neonates with non-infectious diseases were enrolled as controls.The level of peripheral blood neutrophil CD_(64) was measured by flow cytometry.Results The level of peripheral blood neutrophil CD_(64) in septicemia patients were(60.37?22.70)mean fluorescence intensity(MFI),which were significantly higher than that of control group(23.14?5.10)MFI(P

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extracts (GSPE) on advanced glycation end product receptor (RAGE),NF-Κb and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the myoeardium of diabetic rats.MethodsTotal 30 streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats were randomly divided into 2 groups:diabetic group (DM1,n-15) and GSPE (250 mg/ kg,i.g) treated diabetic group (DM2,n= 15).Another two control groups:normal rats(C1,n= 10)and normal rats treated with GSPE (250 mg/kg,i.g) (C2 group,n= 10) were also observed.After 24 weeks,blood was collected to measure fasting plasma glucose (FBG) and RAGE.The protein expression of NF-Κb was determined in myocardial tissue by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot.The protein expressions of RAGE and CTGF were measured by Western blot.Results The levels of FBG and RAGE were significantly higher in diabetic rats than in control rats (P＜0.05).After GSPE treatment,RAGE level significantly reduced (P＜0.05),but FBG had no change in diabetic rats.The protein expressions of RAGE,NF-Κb and CTGF in the myocardial tissue of diabetic rats had marked increase compared with control rats (P＜ 0.05),however,their levels significantly reduced after GSPE treatment (P＜0.05).ConclusionsGSPE may protect diabetic rats against cardiomyopathy,possibly by decreasing the protein expressions of RAGE,NF-Κb and CTGF.

Animals ; Beer ; adverse effects ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; Lipid Metabolism ; Male ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To screen out the polymerase chain reaction ( PCR) primers for specifically identifying Pheretima aspergillum (E. Perrier) , so as to establish a rapid and accurate method to identify the origin of Pheretima aspergillum. Methods Four kinds of earthworms recorded in pharmacopoeia and six kinds of their adulterants commonly seen in the market were collected. The 12SrRNA sequences related to earthworm were downloaded from GenBank database. PCR amplification for ten kinds of samples was performed using the universal primers, and then the products were sequenced. According to the differences between the above sequences, three pairs of specific primers in the non-conservative district were designed for identification of Pheretima aspergillum. Results High-specificity PCR amplification for Pheretima aspergillum with 12St/12Stf primer occurred when the annealing temperature was increased to 64℃, and only Pheretima aspergillum had single amplification strip, while no strips were found in the other adulterants under the same condition. The achieved specific primers could be well verified in 15 kinds of medicinal materials of earthworm purchased in the market, which had the same morphological features showed by the traditional identifying method. Conclusion With 12St/12Stf primer as a specific marker, the identifica tion of Pheretima aspergillum is rapid and accurate in related species of Pheretima aspergillum, and avoids the effect of some factors such as integrity of experimental materials and drying process.

Objective To discuss the characteristics,diagnosis,mechanism and the prognosis of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) induced by accessory pathway (AP).Methods The clinical,electrophysiological and echocardiographic characteristics in four cases,who were diagnosed as AP-induced DCM in the Department of Pediatric Cardiology of Beijing Anzhen Hospital,Capital Medical University from Mar.2011 to Aug.2012,were analyzed before and after ablation.Results The electrocardiograms of the 4 patients all indicated type B ventricular preexcitation.The locations of the APs were the right-sided anteroseptum and the free wall.Dyschronous contractions between posterior wall of left ventricle and interventricular septum were demonstrated by M-Mode echo.The basal segments of the interventricular septum turned thin and moved similar to an aneurysm,with typical bulging during end-systole,which was observed in all cases by two-dimension echo.Dyschronous left ventricular contraction was shown by speckle tracing technique.All patients received successful radio frequency current ablations.Their physical activities and growth improved greatly in the 4 cases.The echocardiographic data demonstrated that their left ventricular contraction recovered to synchrony shortly after the ablation,left ventricular ejection fraction recovered to normal and left ventricular end diastolic diameter decreased to almost normal gradually during the follow-up.Conclusions Overt right-sided APs localized in anteroseptum or free wall may have adverse effects on ventricular wall motion and left ventricular function.They can even result in DCM.Dyssynchronous ventricular contraction induced by right-sided overt accessory pathway may be the vital mechanism.AP-induced DCM is an indication for ablation with good prognosis.

OBJECTIVE:To establish a method for the dissolution determination of Benidipine hydrochloride tablets.METHODS:According to Chinese Pharmacopeia(2005 edition),Benidipine hydrochloride tablets were added into hydrochloride acid 0.1 mo?lL-1 at rotation speed of 50 r?min-1,then samples were obtained after 30 min.The absorbance of samples was detected at detection wavelength of 359 nm and accumulative dissolution was calculated.RESULTS:The linear range of benidipine hydrochloride was 5～30?g?mL-1(r=0.999 9)with an average recovery of 99.76%(RSD=0.47%).The accumulative dissolutions of 3 batches of samples were all above 80%.CONCLUSIONS:Established method is simple and reliable for the dissolution determina-tion of Benidipine hydrochloride tablets.

BACKGROUND: The use of bone graft materials can promote bone fusion and enhance the stability of the spine during the spinal fusion. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s with hydroxyapatite/ tricalcium phosphate in the spinal fusion. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of clinical data of 64 patients with spinal fusion was carried out, and these patients were divided into two groups (n=32 per group): control group undergoing autogenous iliac bone grafting and observation group undergoing autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s combined with hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate. Al patients were fol owed up for 12 months, and their recovery conditions about low back pain, spinal fusion and vertebral reset were assessed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The low-back outcome scale scores and excel ent rate, Lenke grading and Cobb angle had insignificant differences between the two groups after treatment (P > 0.05). No infection, inflammation and skin irritation occurred in the two groups. The coagulation function, renal function and inflammatory factor levels were at normal levels in al the patients, and there was no difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). These findings indicate that autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s combined with hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate can achieve clinical outcomes equivalent to the autologous iliac bone grafting.