BACKGROUND:After cerebral tissue ischemia and anoxia in young rats,the cerebral edema gets serious, and the levels of nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) decrease. Radix Astagali seu Hedysari has the pharmacological effects of enhancing immunity, anti-anoxia and improving myocardial ischemic reinfusion injury.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influences of Radix Astagali seu Hedysari (huangqi) on contents of NO and MDA in brain tissue of young rats with cerebral injury after cerebral ischemia and anoxia.DESIGN:A randomized and controlled trial.SETTING: Department of Pediatrics, Second Hospital, Hebei Medical University; Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hebei Medical University; Department of Pathophysiology, Hebei Medical UniversityMATERIALS:The experiment was conducted from January to April 2004at Department of Pathophysiology, Hebei Medical University. Total 40 SD rats, 7-day old, were at random divided as normal control group, model group, humgqi low-dose group and huangqi high-dose group, with 10 rats in each group. Huangqi injection (The content in 10 mL injection is consistent with 20 g raw drug) was provided by Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Hebei Medical University (produced in Chengdu Di'ou Jiuhong Pharmaceutical Factory, Batch No. 0005028).METHODS:Except rats in normal group, those in the rest groups, under conscious and local anesthesia, were all given common carotid artery ligation, establishing cerebral injury model due to ischemia and anoxia. Rats in normal group were intraperitoneally injected 0.1 mL normal saline; rats in model group were intraperitoneally injected 9 g/L normal saline, 0.1 mL each day; rats in huangqi low-dose group and huangqi high-dose group were respectively given 0.1mL, 0.5 mL huangqi injection, once a day, intraperitoneally. Cerebral blood flow was detected immediately, 2 and 4days after injection. Then the rats were decapitated for collecting the brains to measure the water content in brain, the contents of NO and MDA.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: [1] Water contents in brains of rats in every group. [2] Cerebral blood flow, and the contents of NO and MDA.RESULTS:Totally 40 rats were involved in the trial and all entered in the final result analysis. [1] The water content in brain of each group: Compared with normal group, the content in model group was increased immediately after model establishment [(87.316±0.275)%, (88.259±0.297)% ,P ＜ 0.05 ],and did not return to the normal level at the second day [(86.973±0.265)%,(88.173±0.445)%,P ＜ 0.05]; compared with model group, the content in huangqi high-dose group was obviously decreased at second day[(88.173±0.445)%, (86.542±0.141)% ,P ＜ 0.05]. [2] Measurement of cerebral blood flow: compared with control group, the blood flow in model group was obviously decreased immediately after model establishment[(231.88±13.33), (139.54±10.58)mV,P＜ 0.05], and did not return to normal level till the 4th day [(234.57±14.38), (145.38±13.33)mV,P ＜ 0.05];compared with model group, the blood flow in huangqi low-dose group and huangqi high-dose group, at day 4, was obviously increased [(145.38±13.33),(288.45±12.89), (313.82±21.74)mV,P ＜ 0.01]. [3] The contents of NO and MDA: The contents in model group, immediately after model establishment, were obviously higher than those in normal control group [(26.55±5.23 ), ( 19.67±7.17 )μmol/L,P ＜ 0.05; (7.88±2.55), (4.22±0.12) μmol/L, P＜ 0.01], and at day 4, were significantly higher than those in normal control group [(48.65±17.06), (18.65±2.12)μmol/L,P ＜ 0.01; (5.29±0.68),(4.06±0.39)μmol/L,P ＜ 0.05]; compared with model group, the contents in huangqi low-dose group and huangqi high-dose group were obviously decreased at day 4 [(48.65±17.06), (23.77±12.79), (24.67±11.54)μ mol/L,P＜ 0.01; (5.29±0.68), (4.51±2.30), (3.68±0.39)μmol/L,P ＜ 0.01].CONCLUSION:Huangqi could obviously reduce cerebral edema from ischemia and anoxia, increase cerebral blood flow. It could decrease the contents of NO and MDA that is metabolite of free radical injury, thus playing its role to inhibit lipid peroxidation injury.

Biopsy ; Cryopreservation ; Frozen Sections ; Humans ; Kidney ; pathology ; Kidney Diseases ; pathology ; Paraffin Embedding ; methods

Adolescent ; Apolipoproteins E ; blood ; Humans ; Hyperlipoproteinemias ; complications ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Kidney Diseases ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Kidney Glomerulus ; blood supply ; pathology ; Male ; Thrombosis ; pathology

Aneurysm, False ; etiology ; surgery ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Carcinoma ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; etiology ; surgery ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Rupture

OBJECTIVETo observe clinical therapeutic effects of acupuncture for pattern of liver-stagnation and spleen-deficiency in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS) and its impact on cell factors.

METHODSForty cases were selected and divided into an acupuncture group (21 cases) in which acupuncture was applied and a medicine group (19 cases) in which oral administration of dicetel and bifidobacterium lactobacillus triple viable capsules were applied. The symptom scores, level of Th1-type cytokine (IFN-gamma, IL-2) and Th2-type cytokine (IL-4, IL-10) and ratio of IFN-gamma to IL-4 were compared in two groups before and after treatment to analyze acupuncture effect.

RESULTSThe clinical symptoms were improved after one-week treatment in the acupuncture group (P<0.05), which had faster onset than the medicine group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 90.48% (19/21) in the acupuncture group, which was superior to 78.95% (15/19) in the medicine group (P<0.05). Compared with medicine treatment, imbalanced condition of Th1/Th2 was turning towards the direction of Th2 after acupuncture, indicating a tendency to recover the balance.

CONCLUSIONThe clinical efficacy of acupuncture for D-IBS has close relationship with effectively improving balance of Th1/Th2 in patients with liver-stagnation and spleen-deficiency.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Cytokines ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; immunology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spleen ; physiopathology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of ghrelin on the proliferation and differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte, and study the possible mechanisms.

METHODS3T3-L1 preadipocytes were cultured in vitro. The proliferation potentials of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes that were treated with different concentrations of ghrelin were evaluated by MTT methods. The levels of c-myc and thymidine kinase mRNA were detected using RT-PCR. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were differentiated into the matured adipocytes with insulin (INS) or ghrelin. The morphological changes of 3T3-L1 adipocytes were observed and the differentiation rate was assayed by oil-red O staining. Total RNA was extracted from adipocytes at various times, and the levels of peroxisome proliferation activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) and CAAT/enhancer binding protein(C/EBPalpha) mRNA expressions were detected using RT-PCR.

RESULTSGhrelin at concentrations of 10(-7) to 10(-15) mol/L significantly stimulated preadipocyte proliferation (p<0.05). The levels of c-myc and thymidine kinase mRNA significantly increased in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes with 10(-9) mol/L and 10(-11) mol/L ghrelin treatment (p<0.01). The 3T3-L1 preadipocytes treated with 10(-11) mol/L ghrelin had lots of lipid droplets in the cytoplasma, but the differentiation rate was lower than those treated with INS. Ghrelin of 10(-11) mol/L significantly increased the mRNA expression of PPARgamma and C/EBPalpha in the course of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation, compared with the normal control group (p<0.05). The PPARgamma and C/EBPalpha mRNA expression increased with the prolonged differentiation of preadipocytes induced by ghrelin or INS. There were significant differences in the levels of PPARgamma and C/EBPalpha mRNA expression between the 2nd and 8th days of differentiation(p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSGhrelin promotes the proliferation and differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The proliferation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes induced by ghrelin may be associated with increased c-myc levels. Ghrelin may promote differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes by increasing mRNA expression of PPARgamma and C/EBPalpha, thus enhances the sensitivity of adipocytes to INS.

3T3-L1 Cells ; Adipocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Animals ; CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha ; genetics ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Genes, myc ; Ghrelin ; pharmacology ; Mice ; PPAR gamma ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Thymidine Kinase ; genetics

Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence rate of abdominal obesity and to explore the associated risk factors in rural communities from Hanzhong area,Shaanxi province,and to providc baseline data for further targeted intervention programs.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among all the participants with questionnaires,interview and physical examination.Nine townships were selected in Hanzhong area,followed by one village randomly chosen from the selected township,using the stratified random sampling method.Results There were 3030 participants in this survey,among which 3021 samples were valid,including 1048 males and 1973 females.The overall prevalence rate of abdominal obesity was 38.9％(standardized rate as 33.4％ ) in rural communities of Hanzhong,and the prevalence rate on males abdominal obesity(35.0％ ) was significantly lower than that of females (40.9％).It was found that following factors as:being male,married,having more household wealth,frequent consumption of fried food,non-engagement of agricultural labor work,being nonsmoker or ex-smoker,spending longer time on watching-TV etc.were positively associated with the biggerr odds of having abdominal obesity when using the logistic regression analysis.Meanwhile,data from this study indicated that fctors as:at younger age,frequent participation in agricultural labor,under artificial feeding,with more years of education,less frequency of pregnancy etc.were negatively related to the prevalence of female abdominal obesity.Conclusion The prevalence rate of abdominal obesity in Hanzhong area,Shaanxi province was significantly higher than the national average level which called for the development of related intervention programs to prevent chronic diseases associated with gender related-obesity in Hanzhong.

Objective To compare the effects of oral use of Compound Danshen Dripping Pills and Mecobalamin Tablets on hemorheology and nerve conduction velocity of diabetic peripheral neuropathy patients. Methods A total of 70 diabetic peripheral neuropathy patients were randomized into treatment group and control group, 35 cases in each group. Both groups were given fundamental treatment for controlling blood glucose, blood lipids and blood pressure, and additionally the treatment group was treated with Compound Danshen Dripping Pills orally and the control group was treated with Mecobalamin Tablets orally. The treatment for the two groups lasted 3 continuous months. The changes of hemorheology and nerve conduction velocity of the two groups were observed before and after treatment. Results After treatment, indexes of hemorheology and nerve conduction velocity of the two groups were much improved(P<0.05 compared with those before treatment). The improvement of hemorheology indexes in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group (P < 0.05), but the difference of improvement of nerve conduction velocity was insignificant between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion The effects of oral use of Compound Danshen Dripping Pills on the nerve conduction velocity of diabetic peripheral neuropathy patients are similar to those of Mecobalamin Tablets, but the pills have better effects on improving hemorheology than the tablets. The results indicated that Compound Danshen Dripping Pills are effective on improving blood flow and nerve conduction velocity of the limbs of the patients.

Objective To explore the effect of associated deficiency of selenium,protein and vitamin E(VE)on the thyroid iniury and thyroid hormone metabolism of the rats in a long-term.Methods The Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups:Group A with selenium deficiency and low protein and VE;Group B with selenium deficiency,low protein but adequate VE;Group C,adequate selenium and protein but low VE;Group D,adequate selenium.protein and VE.The rats were killed at the end of 26th week.Glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)activity in the rat blood and type I 5'-deiodinase activity of the rat liver were determined.The content of triiodothyronine(T3),tetraiodothyronine(T4),thyrotropic-stimulating hormone(TSH),activated oxygen(ROS)and malonaldehyde(MDA)were detected in serum. The changes of thyroid histopathology were observed under light microscope.Results ①The interactive effect of selenium+protein and VE was not significant on GSH-Px and ID I activity(F=0.003,0.871,P＞0.05),but it was significant on MDA and ROS content(F=13.057,6.706,P＜0.05 or＜0.01). ②Selenium+protein and VE could influence T3 and T4 content(F=431.977,28.271,6.570,41.419,P＜0.05).The interactive effect of selenium±protein and VE was not significant on T3 and T4 content(F=0.871,0.136,P＞0.05).Whether in the condition of low selenium and protein or supplementary,T4 contents of supplementary VE group[(79.095±12.199),(64.392±6.261)μg/L]were respectively higher than the low VE group[(61.068±6.648),(44.176±7.090)μg/L],the difference being statistically significant(t = 3.670,6.045, P ＜ 0.01). In the condition of low VE, T3[(0.718 ± 0.079)μg/L] and T4[(44.176 ±7.090)μg/L] content of supplementary selenium and protein group was lower than that in the low selenium and protein group[ (0.966 ± 0.156), (61.068 ± 6.648)μg/L], the difference being statistically significant (t = 4.568,4.916, P ＜0.01 ). With supplementary VE, T4 content of supplementary selenium and protein group[ (64.392 ± 6.261 )μg/L] was lower than that in the low selenium and protein group [(79.095 ± 12.199)μg/L], the difference being statistically significant (t = 3.033, P ＜ 0.01 ). ③Degeneration and necrosis of follicular epithelial cell were induced by diet of low selenium, protein and VE, which could be relieved by supplymentary VE. The sparseness of intracavitary glue was observed occationally in the supplementary selenium and protein but low VE group. Conclusions Long-term deficiency of selenium, protein and VE results in the decrease of the selenoenzymes of rats, which causes accumulation of the oxidative products, as well as thyroid pathological injury and thyroid hormone metabolism disorder, but supplement of adequate VE can reduce the oxidative damage in rats having low selenium and protein diet.

OBJECTIVETo develop the characteristic chromatographic profile of Sarcandra glabra by HPLC for its quality control.

METHODThe HPLC analysis was performed on an Agilent Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C18 column (4. 6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) with column temperature at 40 degree C. The mobile phase was consisted of water containing 0. 5% formic acid and acetonitrile to methanol (1:9) in gradient mode, and the detection wavelength was set at 344 nm.

RESULTA common mode of the HPLC characteristic chromatographic profile has been establised. There were 20 common peaks , seven of which were identified, and 46 samples from different habitats were classified into five groups based on principal component cluster analysis.

CONCLUSIONThe method was time-saving and can represent the chemical information and provide a scientific basis for quality control of S. glabra.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cluster Analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; standards ; Ferns ; chemistry ; Organic Chemicals ; analysis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Quality Control