Herba Cistanche includes a variety of chemical constituents, such as phenylethanoid glycosides, iridoid glycosides and so on. Its effective constituents can inhibit the neuronal apoptosis, reduce ischemic brain injury, treat Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, vascular dementia, and improve the function of learning and memory. Its effective constituents play an important role in nervous system, which has received more and more attention of scholars both at home and abroad. This article reviewed the effects of effective constituents in Herba Cistanche on nervous system.

Ischemic stroke is one of the main diseases which harm the health of the elderly. To promote angiogenesis is of great significance for treating ischemic stroke. In recent years, treatment by TCM based on therapeutic angiogenesis intervention for ischemic stroke has achieved great development. Pharmacological and clinical studies have shown that TCM can promote angiogenesis, thereby improving cerebral ischemia and neurological function. This article reviewed the current situation in this field and provided references for clinical treatment of ischemic stroke.

The main active ingredients of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma are water-soluble ingredients and fat-soluble components. Its active ingredients can inhibit the neuronal apoptosis, improve cerebral ischemia, reduce cerebral infarction, and treat Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, etc. Its active ingredients play an important role in nervous system, which has attracted more and more attention of scholars both at home and abroad. This article reviewed the roles of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and its active ingredients in nervous system, which can provide references for relevant research.

Rupture of vulnerable plaque of carotid artery is closely related to the occurrence of cerebral vascular accidents. Stabilization of vulnerable plaque of carotid artery has significant influence on the prevention and treatment of cerebrovascular accidents. Animal experiments and clinical studies show that Chinese medicine has good stabilizing effect on vulnerable plaque of carotid artery. This article reviewed TCM etiology and pathogenesis, treatment prescriptions and mechanism of vulnerable plaque of carotid artery.

Objective To investigate the Tiaogan Yunpi Decoction on the region of interest regional encephalic activation MR signal intensity variation among diarrhea type irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) patients.Method Adopting self-paired collated method,functional fMRI was used to observe the regional interest MR signal variation of anterior cingulate cortex(ACC),island cortex(IC),prefrontal cortex(PFC),hypothalamus(THAL) before and after the treatment,as well as after the controlled treatment using placebo among 18 diarrhea dominant IBS patients when they were rectum stimulated.Results After the treatment,when the injected gas reached 90 mL,the change of MR signal variation of IC was signifycantly decreased compared with that before the treatment(P

Objective To evaluate the function of p27 gene on the neointimal formation after balloon injury in rabbit carotid artery. Methods The cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were infected with Adp27. Using MTT assay we measured the proliferation of VSMCs. Balloon injured rabbit carotid arteries were also infected with Adp27, and then we evaluated the ratio of intima to media. Results MTT assay of rabbit VSMCs proliferation demonstrated an obvious inhibition in Adp27 treated group. And p27 overexpression had an effect on the cell cycle. It could induce cell cycle arrest in G1 phase and reduce the cells in S phase. Overexpression of p27 could also reduce the neointimal hyperplasia by 27.43%. Conclusion The p27 gene can reduce the neointimal formation after balloon injury in rabbit carotid artery effectively.

Objective To evaluate the influence of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on NT-proBNP and Hs-CRP level of the elderly with coronary heart disease. Methods Twenty-four patients who underwent PCI, and thirty patients who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) were enrolled in this study. Plasma NT-proBNP and Hs-CRP concentrations before and at 0, 1 h, 24 h and 72 h after PCI were assayed in all patients. Results There were no significant difference in plasma NT-proBNP level at baseline level between the PCI and CAG group, and also no significant change in the CAG group after the procedure. Plasma NT-proBNP level was increased significantly from 231.31?233.52 pg/mL to the peak concentration of 663.75?614.93 pg/mL at 24 h after PCI. Statistical differences were observed between the baseline levels and at 24 h as well as 72 h after the operation in the PCI group. Plasma NT-proBNP concentrations also showed significant differences between the PCI and CAG group at each time point after the procedures. Remarkable elevation in plasma Hs-CRP level was observed at 72 h after procedure in all patients. Conclusion Elevation of plasma NT-proBNP concontrations might be induced by transient myocardial ischemia in PCI. NT-proBNP may be a marker of myocardial ischemia and may be useful to detect untypical ischemia in the elderly. Plasma Hs-CRP increased at 72 h after PCI and CAG, which may be related to inflammation reaction induced by vessel puncture.

Objective To observe the effect of Wenxiao Granule on the expression of MCP-1 and TNF-? in experimental atherosclerosis rabbit, and explore its mechanism in treating atherosclerosis. Methods Thirty-six New Zealand rabbits were randomized to four groups: control group, Wenxiao granule group, Simvastatin group. They were fed a high-fat diet except normal group until the mature atherosclerotic plaques formed. The rabbits in two drug-treated groups were treated with respective drug for 8 weeks. All rabbits were sacrificed. The morphology and composition of atherosclerotic plaques in aortic roots were examined. The expression of MCP-1 and TNF-? were determined by immunohistochemical staining. Results The expression of MCP-1 and TNF-? in plaque of Wenxiao Granule group and simvastatin group were significantly dereased compared with the model group (P 0.05). Conclusion Wenxiao Granule can inhibit the expression of MCP-1 and TNF-?, which may stabilize plaque of atherosclerosis.

Objective To observe the effect of Wenxiao Decoction in treating the patients with carotid atherosclerostic (CAS) plaque and assess the safety. Methods Sixty patients with CAS plaque were randomly allocated to treatment group (33 cases) and control group (27 cases). The control group was given routine therapy, and the treatment group was given Wenxiao Decoction additionally. And they were further divided into half-year treatment group and half-year control group, 1-year treatment group and 1-year control group. Carotid artery color Doppler ultrasound and hepatorenal function were examined before and after treatment. Results Compared with the control groups after therapy, the average numbers of plaques, maximal plaque thickness, Crouse plaque integral were decreased both in 1-year and half-year treatment groups (P<0.05, P<0.01). The plaque stability of 1-year treatment group was better than that of half-year treatment group. The average numbers of plaques, plaques size and Crouse plaque integral increased in control groups after routine therapy (P<0.05, P<0.01). Bilateral common carotid artery diameter, intima-medial thickness (IMT) and hepatorenal function had no statistical difference between before and after treatment both in treatment and control groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Wenxiao Decoction is effective and safe in treatment of CAS plaque, and plaque stability is more obvious with the extension of treatment time.