Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect and safety of Yaotongning Capsule in the treatment of lumbar hyperplasia. Methods: A random, double-blind, placebo controlled, multicenter clinical research method was used. The lumbar hyperplasia patients (144 cases) were selected, divided into Yaotongning Capsule group (treatment group) with 72 cases, 72 cases completed; and placebo group (control group) with 72 cases, 70 cases completed. The treatment lasted for 2 weeks. After treatment, the symptom of traditional Chinese medicine and pain relief situation were observed in the two groups. Results: The curative effects of Yaotongning Capsule in the treatment of lumbar hyperplasia disease (cold-dampness stagnation syndrome) were as follows: The control rate in treatment group was 41.5%, and that in the control group was 0.0%, superiority test (P<0.001) was established. Pain relief: the relieve rate in treatment group was 86.1%, and that in the control group was reduced to 45.7%, there was significant difference between the groups (P<0.001). Conclusion: Yaotongning Capsule in the treatment of lumbar hyperplasia (cold-dampness stagnation syndrome) has obviously curative effect, and can effectively reduce the pain caused by lumbar hyperplasia.

Three female patients admitted with elevated creatine kinase,impaired muscle on electromyogram,and positive repetitive nerve stimulation and neostigmine tests were diagnosed as polymyositis (PM) with myasthenia gravis (MG).Twenty five more cases were retrieved by literature search,and the clinical data of total 28 cases were analyzed.There were 10 males and 18 females with an average age of 56 years.The clinical manifestations include dyspnea(43％),dysphagia(43％),ptosis (43％),dysarthria(29％),diplopia(18％),cough after drinking(14％),myalgia(11％).Thirteen out of 26 cases (50％) had positive results in repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) and 10/11 showed positive reaction in neostigmine test.Serum positive anti-acetylcholine receptor was detected in 21 out 23 patients (91％).

[Summary] A total of 352 pregnant women were selected in Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University. Serum levels of TSH and FT4 were determined and pregnancy outcome were observed in all subjects. According to the standard of American Thyroid Association(ATA) published in 2011 and the Chinese Guideline of Gestation Thyroid Disease published in 2012, the subjects were grouped into control(0. 1≤TSH≤2. 5 mIU/ L), observation(2. 55. 17 mIU/ L)during first-trimester(T1)and control(0. 2≤TSH≤3. 0 mIU/ L), observation(3. 05. 22 mIU/ L) during second-trimester(T2). The results showed that the rupture of membranes, preterm labor, and total obstetrical adverse events in the observation group were significantly higher than those in control group during T1(all P<0. 05), no statistical significance between control group and treatment group. The rupture of membrances in the observation group was significantly higher compared with control group during T2 ( P < 0. 05), no significant difference in other adverse pregnancy outcomes between these two groups. Compared with control group during T1, the proportion of adverse pregnancy outcomes in observation group during T1 was significantly increased(P<0. 05). The elevated TSH is one of the risk factors for the increased incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes at the first half of pregnancy, especially during T1. L-T4 treatment reduces the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Objectiye To study the mechanism by which transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) affects cognitive dysfunction in vascular dementia (VD). Methods Thirty-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a control group, a VD group, a low frequency rTMS group and a high frequency rTMS group. Two-vessel occlusion was employed to induce VD models. Low frequency rTMS group rats were given 0.5 Hz rTMS for six weeks. High frequency rTMS group rats were given 5 Hz rTMS for six weeks. Morris' water maze test was used to measure their spatial learning ability and memory. The ultrastructures of the synapses in the four groups were detected with transmission electron microscopy. The expression of synaptophysin (SYN), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and Nmethyl-D-aspartate receptor 1 ( NMDAR1 ) mRNA and protein in the hippocampus were determined by real-time PCR and Western blotting. Results The behavior and morphology of the rats treated with rTMS improved. The average expression of SYN, BDNF and NMDAR1 mRNA and protein in the low frequency rTMS group and the high frequency rTMS group were significantly higher than in the VD group. Conclusion rTMS can provide a rehabilitative effect for VD. The mechanism might be associated with enhancing the expression of SYN, BDNF and NMDAR1 in the hippocampus.

According to the sequence of P450 cDNA of Eleutherococcus senticosus, specific primers were designed. Frokaryotic ex pression vector pET30a-P450 was constructed and the prokaryotic expression conditions were optimized. Results showed that the BL21 after being transformed with the recombinant expression vector accumulated the high amount of recombinant protein. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the recombinant protein was about 53 kDa. The recombinant accumulated the highest amount of recombinant protein af ter IPTG (1 mmol x L(-1)) at 27-37 degrees C for 24 h. Consequently P450 gene of E. senticosus could be expressed successfully by prokaryotic expression vector pET30a-P450. Induction temperature, IPTG concentration, medium type and amount of induction time could all influence the expression of target protein, but the impact strength was different.
Cloning, Molecular ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; genetics ; metabolism ; Eleutherococcus ; enzymology ; genetics ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

Ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one (ergone) is one of main components in many medicinal fungi. Ergone has been reported to possess the activities of diuresis, cytotoxicity, antitumor, immunosuppression, as well as treatment of chronic kidney disease. According to reported literatures, an overview of spectroscopy characteristics, content determination, pharmacological activity and pharmacokinetics, etc. for ergone is presented in this review. Furthermore, the present review can provide a certain reference value for the further study and development of ergone.
Animals ; Cholestenones ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Humans

For the establishment of chemical library of protoberberines provided for the bio-activity screening, the target compounds were synthesized by thermal degradation and nucleophilic substitution reactions with the bio-active alkaloid, palmatine (1), as the raw material, and their structures were identified and conformed by 1H-NMR and MS spectra. Among them, 13 compounds were new.
Berberine Alkaloids ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure

Objective To study the effects of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure on osteoporosis in ovariectomized mice. Methods Sixty 8-week-old female Kunming mice were divided into four groups at random: a sham operation group (group A), an ovariectomized group (group B), an EMF and ovariectomized group (group C) and a nilestriol and ovariectomized group (group D). Bilateral ovariectomies were performed on all mice except those in group A. The mice of group C were exposured to a 15 Hz, 1.0 mT electromagnetic field. The mice of group D were given at nilestriol 1.5 mg/kg/week. The bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar vertebrae was measured before the mice were sacrificed at the 12th week. Blood specimens were collected every two weeks to measure the ac-tivity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and the concentration of bone gamma-carboxyglutamic-acid-containing proteins (BGP), calcium and estradiol in the serum. Histological sections were taken to examine and analyze the changes in bone trabeculae in the lumbar vertebrae after 6 and 12 weeks. Results EMF at 15 Hz and 1.0 mT intensity signifi-cantly increased the activity of ALP and the concentrations of BGP and calcium in the serum. In addition, the absorp-tion of bone trabeculae in the lumbar vertebrae was significantly restrained. Conclusions EMF at 15 Hz and 1.0 mT can restrain the development of osteoporosis in ovariectomized mice.

Objective To study the effects of an electromagnetic field (EMF) on the expression of fibro-blast growth factor (FGF-2) and it' s receptor (FGFR-2) mRNA in rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in vitro. Methods Rat BMSCs were isolated and cultured in vitro. The subcultured cells were divided into different groups to be EMF stimulated at 1.0 mT. The expression of FGF-2 and FGFR-2 mRNA were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results Different frequencies and durations of 1.0 mT EMF exposure induced FGF-2 and FGFR-2 mRNA expression in comparison to blank controls. The expression of FGF-2 mRNA reached a peak after stimulation at 15 Hz for 10 min, 50 Hz for 60 min and 75 Hz for 30 min. And the expression of FGFR-2 mRNA reached a peak after 30 minutes at all frequencies. At 1.0 mT with 30 min exposure, the expression of FGF-2 mRNA peaked after 50 Hz stimulation, and the expression of FGFR-2 mRNA peaked after stimulation at 75 Hz. Conclusions Moderate EMF stimulation can significantly increase the expression of FGF-2 and FGFR-2 mRNA in rat BMSCs in vitro.