Oxidation and free radicals participate in the pathological process of multiple diseases in organisms, and acupuncture shows good effect in antagonizing oxygen stress (OS). This article reviews the effect of acupuncture in antagonizing oxygen stress and the mechanism of its anti-free radical effect in various diseases. The authors hold that acupuncture not only has a chain-blocking effect, but also has preventive and repairing effects of anti-oxidation. And anti-OS action is one of the important mechanisms of acupuncture.
Acupuncture ; Chronic Disease ; therapy ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidative Stress

Objective　To compare the effects of mild hypothe rmic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and moderate hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypas s in pediatric cardiac surgery. Methods　A total of 118 cas es of less than 3 years of age that had undergone open heart surgery were review ed, in which 46 patients received moderate hypothermic CPB(group 1) and 72 patie nts received mild hypothermic CPB(group 2). The CPB duration, incidence of low c ardiac output and postoperative concentration of CK-MK, etc, were compared with each other betwee n the two groups. Results　Duration of bypass and postoperative mechanical respiratory assistance of group 2 was shorter than that of group 1 ( P<0.05). Transfusion requirements, incidence of low cardiac output syndrome, concentration of CK-ME and percentage of metabolic acidosis were lower in grou p 2 than in group 1 (P<0.05), while the index of oxygenation was higher in g roup 2(P<0.05). Conclusion　The mild hypothermic CPB is saf er and more effective and therefore is superior to moderate hypothermic CPB in p ediatric cardiac surgery.

As the main active compound of Stephania tetrandra S. Moore, tetrandrine (TET) has been used to treat silicosis for nearly 50 years. TET has clear therapeutic effect on pulmonary fibrosis and lung cancer. A recent study suggests that TET may inhibit the replication of SARS-CoV-2 by blocking the two-pore channel 2 (TPC2), revealing its potential as a natural medicine to treat COVID-19. To explore the material basis of TET targeting lung efficacy and its potential toxicity, available literatures related to the pharmacological activity on pulmonary, dosage, toxicity and pharmacokinetics of TET are systemically reviewed. The prospect and current problems of TET to be a therapeutic agent for COVID-19 are further investigated on this basis.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficiency of curettage combining circumcision on giant condyloma acuminata(CA) in male external genitalia, the relationship between recurrence and curettage depth, the possibility of HPV infection in PBMC after operation.

METHODSCurettage combining circumcision was carried out on 50 cases with CA. The removed wart and wound surface tissues were examined under light microcope and for HPV-DNA detection by PCR. HPV-DNA was detected in PBMC during < or =1 and > or =2 weeks after operation.

RESULTS(1) 46 cases were cured completely after one treating (once the cure rate is 92%), 4 cases twice(twice the cure rate is 8%); (2) The tissues were proved to be HPV-DNA positive by PCR amplification and CA relapse occurred; (3) HPV-DNA was detected in PBMC only within the week after curettage in the 19 cases.

CONCLUSIONS(1) The clinical efficiency of curettage combining circumcision on giant condyloma acuminata in male external genitalia is sure; (2) Cure rate and relapse rate are related with curettage depth; (3) Transient positive HPV-DNA in PBMC may be detected.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Circumcision, Male ; Condylomata Acuminata ; surgery ; Curettage ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture and moxibustion combined with Chinese herbs on ovarian cysts.

METHODSForty-six cases were randomly divided into a treatment group of 26 cases and a control group of 20 cases. The treatment group were treated with warming acupuncture and moxibustion at Zigong (EX CA 1), Qihai (CV 6), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), etc. and oral administration of Chinese herbs Quyu Decoction, and the control group were treated with Quyu Decoction only. One month later, their therapeutic effects were observed.

RESULTSThe cured rate and the effective rate were 53.8% and 88.4% in the treatment group, and 15.0% and 85.0% in the control group, respectively, the cured rate in the treatment group being significantly better than that in the control group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONWarming acupuncture plus moxibustion combined with oral administration of Quyu Decoction can significantly increase the cured rate for ovarian cysts.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Administration, Oral ; Female ; Humans ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional ; Moxibustion ; Ovarian Cysts

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of Icariin (ICA) on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) in vitro and in vivo.

METHODSAn enzymatic digestion block was used in vitro to culture hPDLSCs, which were separated and purified by limited dilution cloning. The hPDLSCs were identified using cell-surface markers and cocultured with 1 x 10(-7) mol.L-1 ICA solution. The proliferation ability of these cells was determined by thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. After staining with alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteogenesis was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Osteoblast-related genes were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Alizarin red staining was performed to measure the level of calcium deposition. The hPDLSCs were cocultured with 1 x 10(-7) mol.L-1 ICA and nano-hydroxyapatite scaffolds in vivo before transplantation into subcutaneous tissues of nude mice. Osteogenic abilities were histochemically analyzed after 30 days of induction.

RESULTSThe hPDLSCs were affected by 1 x 10(-7) mol.L-1 ICA, and MTT assay showed that the proliferation of the groups treated with ICA in vitro was better than that of the control groups on the second day. The ALP activity of the treated hPDLSCs was significantly enhanced after cell culture for 3, 5, and 7 days. The gene expression of osteoblastic markers was also significantly enhanced after 7 days. The deposition of mineralization after incubation with 1 x 10(-7) mol.L-1 ICA increased compared with the control after cell culture for 14, 21, and 28 days. Furthermore, the bone expression of the treatment groups in vivo was significantly enhanced compared with that of the control groups.

CONCLUSIONTreatment with 1 x 10(-7) mol.L-1 ICA can significantly promote proliferation and differentiation of hPDLSCs in vitro and in vivo. ICA can effectively function as a bioactive growth factor in periodontal tissue engineering to replace traditional growth factors.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Coculture Techniques ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flavonoids ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Periodontal Ligament ; Stem Cells

This study was aimed to investigate the research on pharmacological effects, relevant ideas and methods of Guangdong native heat-clearing and toxin-removing herbs. Literatures on pharmacological effects of Guangdong native heat-clearing and toxin-removing herbs were collected, summarized and analyzed. The results showed that most Guangdong native heat-clearing and toxin-removing herbs had obvious effects of anti-microbial, anti-bacterial endotoxin, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic effect. It also had obvious antivenomous and analgesia effect. Based on research ideas and methods of Guangdong native heat-clearing and toxin-removing herbs, we clarified the confusion species as soon as possible, and adhered to the whole animal experiments in combination with in vitro experiments and computer molecular docking simulations for the complementation of each other. It was concluded that the study on pharmacological effects of Guangdongnative heat-clearing and toxin-removing herbs provided strong support in its clinical application. Ideas and methods provided in this article was the main way to explain pharmacological effects of Guangdong native heat-clearing and toxin-removing herbs.

OBJECTIVETo study and compare the effect of neutrophil elastase inhibitors (GW311616A and sivelestat) on the proliferation and apoptosis of U937 cells.

METHODSInhibitory effects of GW311616A and sivelestat on the proliferation of U937 cells were assayed by MTT assay. The morphologic changes of U937 cells were detected by transmission electron microscope, and apoptosis was observed by AnnexinV-FITC/PI staining. The changes of cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry. The expression of NE in U937 cells was observed by indirect immunofluorescence, the variations of content and activity of NE in U937 cells were measured through ELISA assay and colorimetric method.

RESULTSMTT showed that both NE inhibitors could inhibit the proliferation of U937 cells in a dose dependent manner. The IC50 of GW311616A and sivelestat were 150 and 214 μmol/L respectively. The inhibition effect of GW311616A was significantly higher than of sivelestat (P<0.01). Typical apoptosis morphological changes of U937 cells was observed through electron microscope. AnnexinV-FITC/PI staining showed that U937 cells could be induced to undergo apoptosis by the two inhibitors, the apoptosis ratio of 150μmol/L GW311616A group (13.60%) was significantly higher than that of 150μmol/L sivelestat group (3.69%)(P<0.01). The result of flow cytometry indicated that the apoptosis ratio of 150 μmol/L GW311616A group was 14.61%, U937 cell cycle was mainly blocked in G2/M phase; meanwhile 150 μmol/L sivelestat group as 4.25% with cell cycle in S phase. The fluorescence intensity of GW311616A group obviously decreased than of sivelestat group. And the two inhibitors could reduce the content and activity of NE in U937 cells, but the effect of GW311616A was significantly higher than of sivelestat (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONGW311616A and sivelestat could inhibit the proliferation and cause apoptosis of U937 cells. Furthermore, GW311616A was more effective and harmful to cells than sivelestat.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Glycine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Leukocyte Elastase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Piperidines ; pharmacology ; Proteinase Inhibitory Proteins, Secretory ; pharmacology ; Sulfonamides ; pharmacology ; U937 Cells

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) phosphorylation in HepG(2) cells in relation to HepG(2) cell survival under continuous low dose-rate irradiation.

METHODSHepG(2) cells were exposed to equivalent irradiation doses delivered at either a continuous low dose-rate (7.76 cGy/h) or a high dose-rate (4500 cGy/h), and the phosphorylated ATM proteins and surviving fraction of HepG(2) cells after the exposures were compared.

RESULTSThe phosphorylation of ATM protein was maximal at 0.5 Gy irradiation delivered at either a high doserate or a continuous low doserate. As the radiation dose increased, ATM protein phosphorylation decreased under continuous low dose-rate irradiation, but remained stable under high dose-rate irradiation. With comparable ATM protein phosphorylation induced by continuous low dose-rate irradiation and high dose-rate irradiation, there was no significant difference in the surviving fraction of HepG(2) cells (P>0.05), but at a significantly lower ATM protein phosphorylation level than that induced by high dose-rate irradiation, continuous low dose-rate irradiation resulted in increased cell killing (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONContinuous low dose-rate irradiation increases HepG(2) cells radiosensitivity as compared with high dose-rate irradiation. Increased cell killing following continuous low dose-rate irradiation is associated with reduced phosphorylated ATM protein, and inhibition of ATM phosphorylation may increase the radiosensitivity of HepG(2) cells.

Animals ; Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; radiation effects ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Humans ; Mice ; Phosphorylation ; radiation effects ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Radiation Tolerance ; radiation effects ; Time Factors ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; metabolism