Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of long-snake moxibustion plus Western medicine for chronic heart failure due to heart-kidney yang deficiency.Methods: A total of 80 patients were randomized into a control group and an observation group, with 40 cases in each group. The control group was treated with routine Western medicine, and the observation group was treated with long-snake moxibustion therapy on the basis of routine Western medicine. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), stroke volume (SV) and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd) were measured before and after treatment, and the heart function was assessed. The serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level was measured, the 6 min walking distance was recorded, and the Minnesota living with heart failure questionnaire (MLHFQ) was assessed and scored. The serum galectin-3 (Gal-3) and soluble growth stimulation expressed gene 2 (sST2) protein levels were measured. Clinical efficacy was evaluated after treatment. Results: The total effective rate of the observation group was higher than that of the control group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). After treatment, LVEF and LVEDd in both groups were significantly improved (all P<0.05), and LVEF, SV and LVEDd in the observation group were superior to those in the control group (all P<0.05). The heart function classification in both groups were improved after treatment (both P<0.05), and the heart function classification in the observation group was superior to that in the control group (P<0.05). The serum BNP level in both groups decreased (both P<0.05), and the serum BNP level in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The 6 min walking distance and MLHFQ scores in both groups were improved (all P<0.05), and the 6 min walking distance and MLHFQ score in the observation group were superior to those in the control group (both P<0.05). The serum Gal-3 and sST2 levels in the observation group decreased significantly (both P<0.05), and all lower than those in the control group (both P<0.05). Conclusion: Long-snake moxibustion plus Western medicine has significant efficacy in treating chronic heart failure due to heart-kidney yang deficiency; it can improve heart function, reduce the serum BNP level, and improve the exercise endurance and quality of life in the patients. This may be related to the down-regulation of serum Gal-3 and sST2 levels.

OBJECTIVEThe present study investigated the effects of rapamycin on Aβ1-42-induced deficits in working memory and synaptic plasticity.

METHODSAfter bilateral hippocampal injection of Aβ1-42 and rapamycinin rats, spontaneous alternation in Y-maze and in vivo hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) of rats were recorded. All data were analized by two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA).

RESULTS(Hippocampal injection of Aβ1-42 alone impaired working memory of rats; (2) Rapamycin did not affect working memory of rats, but alleviated Aβ1-42-induced working memory deficits, compared with Aβ1-42 alone group; (Aβ1-42 remarkably suppressed in vivo hippocampal LTP of fEPSPs in the CA1 region; (4) Pretreatment with rapamycin prevented Aβ1-42-induced suppression of LTP.

CONCLUSIONThese data indicates that rapamycin could protect against Aβ1-42-induced impairments in working memory and synaptic plasticity in rats.

Amyloid beta-Peptides ; adverse effects ; Animals ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; Long-Term Potentiation ; Maze Learning ; Memory, Short-Term ; drug effects ; Neuronal Plasticity ; drug effects ; Peptide Fragments ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Sirolimus ; pharmacology

The meridian research situation and various meridian hypotheses of China in the past sixty years between 1950 and 2013 are summarized in the paper; possible existed problems in the process of current meridian research are analyzed. Based on previous research results, we proposed that the essence of meridian can not be explained by the reductive analysis method, meridian research should be carried out under the guidance of overall concept of Chinese medicine theory. In this paper, combined with coherence theory of biophoton, we put forward the quantum interference hypothesis of meridian, which provides a possible research idea for meridian study.
China ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Meridians ; Models, Theoretical ; Research

A new teaching method was developed in the curriculum of Harmful Microorganisms Control Technology.It is characterized by students’ self-learning followed by student’s instruction.Both students and teacher have succeeded in this model after four stages of practice,in which a pleasant learning atmosphere was created in the classroom.An effective interaction between teacher and students was achieved.Students are viewed as main objects in the classroom and they are encouraged to ask questions,to formulate their own ideas,or to find things out for themselves.Thus,students’ abilities including presentation,communication,competition,and cooperation were enhanced.By adapting their role to the new teaching method,teachers have also improved their teaching skill and strategies.

Amyloid β protein (Aβ) is closely involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and one of the main strategies for AD treatment is antagonizing the neurotoxicity of Aβ or even clearing the Aβ deposited in the brain. The present study was aimed to observe the effects of intrahippocampal injection of Aβ₃₁₋₃₅ on the spatial learning and memory of rats by using Morris water maze technique, and explore the neuroprotective effects and possible mechanism of [Gly14]-humanin (HNG) against Aβ-induced deficits in learning behavior. The results showed that bilateral intrahippocampal injection of 2.0 nmol Aβ₃₁₋₃₅ significantly increased the mean traveled distance of rats in searching for the hidden underwater platform and decreased the distance percentage in the target quadrant in probe test after withdrawal of platform, whereas pretreatment with HNG (0.2 nmol and 2.0 nmol) suppressed Aβ₃₁₋₃₅-induced increase in the traveled distance and decrease in swimming distance percentage. Application of Genistein (40 nmol), a specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor, almost completely blocked the antagonistic effects of HNG against Aβ₃₁₋₃₅. These results indicate that HNG can dose-dependently prevent against Aβ₃₁₋₃₅-induced impairment in spatial learning and memory of rats, and the neuroprotective effects of HNG might involve the activation of endogenous tyrosine kinase pathway, suggesting that up-regulation of the tyrosine kinase signaling by using HNG might be of great significance for the improvement of cognitive function in AD.
Alzheimer Disease ; physiopathology ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; adverse effects ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; Genistein ; pharmacology ; Memory ; drug effects ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Peptide Fragments ; adverse effects ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Spatial Learning ; drug effects

AIMTo study the feasibility of long-term potentiation(LTP) recording in the CA1 area of the rat in vivo with electrodes-binding technique.

METHODSAnesthetizing Wistar rats with urethane and fixing the animal on the stereotaxic device for acute surgery; implanting cannula into lateral cerebral ventricle; inserting self-made bound stimulating/recording electrodes into hippocampal CA1 area; recording basal field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP) and tetanus-induced long term potentiation (LTP).

RESULTSfEPSPs were reliably induced by using the stimulating/recording electrodes-binding technique, and the appearance rate of fEPSP was nearly 100%; basal fEPSP recording was very stable, lasting for long time enough to finish all experiment; high frequency stimulation (HFS) successfully induced LTP, which maintained more than three hours, the inductivity is about 67%; paired-pulse facilitation (PPF) recording was also stable; intracerebroventricular (i c v) injection of amyloid beta suppressed HFSinduced LTP evidently.

CONCLUSIONThe electrodes-binding technique for recording hippocampal LTP in vivo is quite simple and convenient. The experimental resource can be saved, and the rates of fEPSP appearance and LTP induction are kept high. Therefore, it is promising for this technique to be one electrophysiological auxiliary method in the research of learning and memory.

Animals ; Electric Stimulation ; methods ; Electrodes ; Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials ; physiology ; Feasibility Studies ; Hippocampus ; physiology ; Long-Term Potentiation ; physiology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

AIM: To investigate the clinical features of dry eye with type 2 diabetic patients,and to analyze the correlation between the clinical features of dry eye and the disease condition.METHODS: Retrospective case series study.Dry eye cases with type 2 diabetic were analyzed from March to December in 2016.And the clinical features of patients were summarized.Dry eye examination including tear break-up time (BUT) and Schirmer test (schirmer Ⅰ test,SⅠt).Patients were divided into <60 years and≥60 years group by the age.And patients were divided into <5 group,5-9 years group,≥10 years according to the duration of diabetes.According to the condition of blood glucose,patients were divided into glucose controlled group and the group blood glucose uncontrolled.The results were statistically analyzed with gender,age,duration of diabetes and blood glucose level.RESULTS: There were 178 cases collected.All cases were diagnosed as dry eye both eyes.The patient`s age ranged from 32 to 85 years,with an average 58.41±13.06 years.There were 110 (61.8%) male cases,and 68 (38.2%) female cases.In all cases,the mean value of BUT was 4.52±2.31s,and the mean value of SⅠt was 4.25±1.99mm/5min.The value of women were more than men,but the differences were not significant statistically.Patients of ≥60 group were less than the age group of <60 patients,and the difference was significant statistically (t=4.153,4.021;P<0.01).In different course,all groups were lower than the normal.The value of≥10 years group was the least,<5 years group was the highest,and 5-9 years group was middle one.The differences were statistically significant (F=68.884,60.204;P<0.01).The value of blood glucose controlled group was significantly higher than the group blood glucose uncontrolled,and the difference was statistically significant (t=-6.615,-5.918;P<0.01).CONCLUSION:There were two types dry eye in 2 diabetic patients: the instability of tear-film and the reduction of tear secretion.The clinic features of dry eye were related to age,the course of the disease,and the level of blood glucose.

Objective : To observe the clearance of smear layer on the root canal wall in different action time by scanning electron microscope (SEM), and to determine the optimal amount of time using sonically activated irrigation to wash root canal in clinic. Methods: Fifty-six ex vivo human anterior teeth with single straight root canal were selected. After routine mechanical preparation, they were divided into two experimental groups according to different irrigating agents: saline group and EDTA group. Each group was assisted by VDW sonic activation EDDY. The saline group was divided into three subgroups according to the irrigating time: 5 s, 30 s and 50 s; EDTA group was divided into six subgroups according to the irrigating time: 5 s, 10 s, 20 s, 30 s, 40 s and 50 s. The control group did not undergo root canal irrigation. After irrigation, the root was cut longitudinally. The smear layer of crown, middle and apical of root canal wall was observed by SEM. Results: After irrigating for 30 seconds, there was a significant difference between the normal saline group and the control group and the 5 second group (P<0.05), and there was no difference in the middle and apical part (P>0.05). After 50 seconds, there was a significant difference in the score of the smear layer between the apical area and the other groups (P<0.05). After irrigating for 5 seconds or 10 seconds in EDTA group, there was a significant difference between the scores of the crown and middle area of the root canal and the control group (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the apical area (P>0.05). There was a significant difference between the 20-40 second group and the first two groups (P<0.05). There was a significant difference between the 50 second group and the other groups (P<0.05). Comparing the cleaning effect on the smear layer after 50 seconds of irrigating between the two experimental groups, the whole root canal showed significant statistical difference (P<0.05). Conclusion The EDTA-assisted sonic activated device used for 50 seconds has the best cleaning effect.

Objective Take alkaline ashing method as golden standard to explore the accuracy of chloric acid digestion method in determination of human milk iodine. Methods Sixty one breast milk samples collected in Hexi district of Tianjin was measured by the method for determination of iodine in foodstuff by As3+-Ce4+ catalytic spectrophotometry (referred to as the alkaline ashing method) published in 2008 and the method for determination of iodine in urine by As3+-Ce4+ catalytic spectrophotometry(referred to as acid digestion) published in 1999, respectively. were highly correlated(r = 0.960, t = 26.3, P < 0.01), and the regression equation was (Y) = - 28.1 + 0.808X, in which X was independent variable, that is the results of alkaline ashing method; (Y) was dependent variable, that is the estimated data of chloric acid digestion method. The average difference of the results measured by the two methods was 68.3 μg/L, and the results from chloric acid digestion was 38.9% which lower than that of alkaline samples were diluted by 3,4 and 5-fold and then digested by chloric acid, the liquid clarification rates were 80.3% ashing and chloric acid digestion method were, respectively, 165.4, 110.0 μg/L. Conclusions Compared with alkaline ashing method, the results determined by chloric acid digestion method are significantly lower. It is suggested that there are systemic errors in chloric acid digestion method, which means that alkaline ashing method can not be replaced by the chloric acid digestion method.

The amyloid β-protein (Aβ)-induced disturbance of intracellular calcium homeostasis has been regarded as the final route whereby Aβ insults neurons. However, the mechanism of Aβ-induced Ca(2+) overloading is still unclear so far. Especially, it remains to be clarified whether nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are involved in the Aβ-induced elevation of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)). In the present study, we observed the effects of Aβ fragments 25-35 (Aβ(25-35)) and 31-35 (Aβ(31-35)) on [Ca(2+)](i) in primary cultured rat cortical neurons using laser-scanning confocal calcium imaging technique, and investigated its probable cholinergic mechanism. The results showed that: (1) Both Aβ(25-35) and Aβ(31-35) induced similar and significant [Ca(2+)](i) elevation in a concentration-dependent manner, and no statistical difference was found between the effects of both peptides; (2) The reverse peptide of Aβ(31-35), i.e. Aβ(35-31), had no effect on [Ca(2+)](i) elevation; (3) Mecamylamine (MCA), a non-specific nAChRs antagonist, significantly and dose-dependently blocked the [Ca(2+)](i) elevation induced by Aβ(25-35) or Aβ(31-35) (4) Dihydro-β-erythroidine (D-β-E), a specific α4β2 subtype nAChRs antagonist, also significantly inhibited the [Ca(2+)](i) elevation induced by Aβ(25-35) and Aβ(31-35), but the effect was weaker than the effect of MCA at the same concentration. These results indicate that Aβ(31-35) may be a shorter active sequence in full length of Aβ molecule, and the overactivation of nAChRs, including α4β2 subtype, may be, at least partly, responsible for the Aβ-induced elevation of [Ca(2+)](i) in cultured rat cortical neurons. Thus, the present study suggests a new potential target of Aβ in the brain, and provides a new insight into the mechanisms by which Aβ impairs the cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease.
Amyloid beta-Peptides ; chemistry ; Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Peptide Fragments ; chemistry ; Rats ; Receptors, Nicotinic ; metabolism