OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of preconditioning acupuncture (PA) on the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.

METHODSEighty patients suffered from primary dysmenorrhea were randomly assigned on the ratio of 1:1:2 into three groups, 20 in Group A, 20 in Group B, and 40 in Group C. Group A and B were treated with PA and immediate acupuncture (IA), respectively, while Group C received no acupuncture treatment and be taken as a blank control. The treatment was lasted for three menstrual cycles. The therapeutic effects were observed and compared.

RESULTSComparing the scores of the symptoms in the different groups, the therapeutic effect in different groups showed that the symptom scores in Group A at the second and third cycle of treatment, as well as at the first and third cycle of follow-up, were significantly lower than the scores in Group B, respectively (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the duration of symptoms was shorter in Group A than in Group B at the third cycle of treatment and the first and third cycle of follow-up (P<0.05). Symptom scores in Groups A and B in the treatment and follow-up periods were all lowered as compared to those before treatment (P<0.01), and the scores were also lower than those in Group C measured at corresponding times (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of PA, either the short-term or the long-term effect, was superior to that of IA in treating dysmenorrhea.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Age of Onset ; Dysmenorrhea ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; pathology ; therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Research Design ; Severity of Illness Index ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate whether and how candesartan treatment can attenuate the deleterious influence of hyperglycemia in diabetic(db/db) mice.Methods Eight-week-old db/db mice were randomized into candesartan eilexetil (1 mg/kg) or placebo group via gavage for 6 weeks.Their age-matched nondiabetie littermates db/m mice were treated with placebo and acted as non-diabetic control group.After 6 weeks' treatment, intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test,immunohistochemical stainings of oxidative stress markers [8-(OH) dG,4- HNE,NADPH oxidase],insulin,CD31,Azan staining and electron microscopy observation of islet?-cells were perfermed.Results As compared with placebo group,the improvement in glucose tolerance and marked saving of islet?-cell mass with candesartan for 6 weeks were noted.There were also notably decreased staining intensity in oxidative stress markers,such as 8-(OH) dG,4-HNE,p22~(phox),gp91~(phox),as well as attenuated intra-islet Azan staining and enhanced endothelium marker CD31 staining in islet.Under electron microscope,candesartan-treated mice showed significantly increased granulation of insulin and ameliorated proliferations of endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi bodies.Furthermore,swelling of mitochondria was relieved to nearly normal.Conclusion After diabetic onset,candesartan treatment does not reverse the state of diabetes but may effectively improve glucose tolerance and protect?-cell function by attenuating oxidative stress,islet fibrosis,sparsity of blood supply and uhrastructure disruption,and thus delays the?-cell failure.

OBJECTIVETo study the changes of metalloproteinases 1, 2, 13 in granulation wound after the treatment of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC).

METHODSThe chronic wounds in 5 patients were treated with VAC. The expressions of MMP-1, 2, 13 in the granulation tissues of the chronic wounds were determined and quantified using RT-PCR technique before and at 1, 4, 7 days after the treatment.

RESULTSThe MMP-1, 13 mRNA showed obvious decrease, with the steepest variation of MMP-13. The MMP-2 mRNA also showed a decreased tendency, though in an undulatory fashion.

CONCLUSIONVAC can promote healing of chronic wounds through depressing the expressions of MMP-1, 2, 13 mRNA and protein synthesis, depressing the degradations of collagen and gelatin.

Collagen ; metabolism ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Time Factors ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of VAC on starting the process of wound healing and decreasing apoptosis.

METHODSTo examine the variations in expression of proto-oncogenes c-myc, c-jun and Bcl-2 in pig wound model with acute full-thickness skin defect and human chronic wounds by immunohistochemistry, calculate the numbers of expressive positive cells and the labelling index (LI), and observe the process of wound healing.

RESULTS(1) In pig experiment, the wound in experimental group was very clean and without obvious exudates, many neoepiderm and granulation tissue rapidly appeared or formed after 6 days, and healed completely by the 25th day. On the contrary, in the wound of control group, more exudates and blood crust could be seen and fewer neoepiderm and granulation tissue appeared after 6 days and was healed by 30th day. Immediately after the wound was created, the expression of c-myc, c-jun and Bcl-2 was lower and mainly situated in nucleus or cytoplasma of the basilar cells. After the wound was created in control group, or after starting the VAC treatment in experimental group, their expression rapidly and obviously increased, the distribution of the positive cells also became enlarged, but the amount of expression decreased rapidly after the expressive peak have reached. In the successive 12 days following the wound was created, the expression of c-myc, c-jun and Bcl-2 in the experimental group was constantly higher than that of the control group. (2) In human chronic wounds, there wasn't obvious secretions and more healthy granulation tissue was rapidly formed after VAC treatment. The expression of c-jun was mainly located in cytoplasma of basilar cells of epithelium, dermal fibroblasts and inflammatory cells, and the positive cell and labelling index obviously decreased. The expression of c-myc and Bcl-2 was mainly in cytoplasma of basilar cells, but the amount of expression and the labelling index became obviously increased after VAC treatment.

CONCLUSIONSVAC could rapidly start the healing course of the pig' s acute skin wound and human chronic wound, decrease apoptosis of the reparative cells, so as to accelerate wound healing.

Adult ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogenes ; Swine ; Wound Healing

Objective To evaluate the role of cerebral state index(CSI),burst suppression (BS)and electromyograph(EMG)in monitoring coma/consciousness depth and damage degree of brain. Methods CSM was done in 50 cases with brain injury and coma to analyze its relation with physical reflection,auditory evoked potential(AEP),Glasgow coma score(GCS)and Glasgow outcome scale (GOS).Results As scale range meaning from consciousness to deep coma and to brain death,CSI 0- 100 was positively correlated with coma depth,coma score of GCS and physical reflection.CSI changes under invariable ache stimulation in combination with BS and EMG can accurately estimate prognosis and quantify changes of brain function.Conclusions The quantifiable digit of coma/consciousness depth and damage degree in brain function by CSM can attain real time judgment of dynamic evolvement course of coma and objective guide clinical therapy and assure prognosis,as will change absolutely scoring coma/ consciousness depth and prognosis under current state of artificial diversity and lacking objective evi- dences.

Receptors play a crucial role in determining the host specificity and tissue tropism of virus. Foot-and-mouth disease virus(FMDV)has been showed to use four integrins, ?v?1, ?v?3, ?v?6 and ?v?8 as receptors to initiate infection and ?v?6 functions as the major receptor.The cDNA encoding bactrian camel integrin ?6 from the lung tissue was cloned and sequenced. The 2367bp cDNA of bactrian camel integrin ?6 encodes a polypeptide of 788 amino acids consisting of a 26-residue putative signal peptide, a 681-residue ectodomain with 8 potential N-linked glycosylation sites and 58 cysteine residues, a 29-residue transmembrane domain, and a 52-residue cytoplasmic domain with a NPLY motif and 1 potential N-linked glycosylation site. The nucleotide sequence similarity of integrin ?6 between bactrian camel and cattle, pig, sheep, human, mouse, Norway rat is 91.1%、91.8%、90.6%、90.5%、83.7%、84.1%, and the amino acid sequence similarity is 94.3%、93.4%、93.4%、93.7%、88.7%、88.6%, respectively. The bactrian camel ?6 gene exhibited the higher sequence homology with the ?6 gene of cattle, pig and sheep, indicating their close genetic relationships. It is possible that host tropism of FMDV may related to divergence in ?6 receptors among different species.

Quercetin has a variety of biological activities and pharmacological effects, but its clinical application is limited due to its low water solubility, low bioavailability and poor chemical stability. In order to overcome the above shortcomings of quercetin and achieve better clinical efficacy, many new drug delivery systems have been studied and developed in recent years, of which nano drug delivery system has become a research hotspot. Nano drug delivery system includes nanoparticles, nanocapsules, nanoliposomes, nanomicelles, nanosuspensions and nanoemulsions, with the advantages of reducing particle size, enlarging surface area, increasing drug permeability, improving intracorporeal circulation and distribution of the drug, enhancing drug targeting and so on. This article reviewed the latest progress at home and abroad about the studies and application of quercetin in nano drug delivery system, such as increasing solubility and dissolution, elevating bioavailability, raising drug stability, delaying drug release, enhancing skin permeability, promoting antioxidant capacity and improving therapeutic effect, in the hope of providing references for further research of quercetin preparations.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Chinese medicine (CM) Schisandra chinensis on interleukin (IL), glucose metabolism, and pituitary-adrenal and gonadal axis of rats after strenuous navigation and exercise.

METHODSA total of 45 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into the quiet control group, the stress group, and the CM group (15 in each group). The CM group received 2.5 g/kg of Schisandra chinensis twice per day for one week before modeling. Except the quiet controls, rats were trained using the Bedford mode for 10 days. On the 11th day, they performed 3 h of stressful experimental navigation and 3 h of strenuous treadmill exercise. The levels of serum testosterone (T), cortisol (CORT), luteinizing hormone (LH), IL-1, IL-2, and IL-6 were tested by radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The adrenal cortex ultrastructure was observed using electron microscopy.

RESULTSCompared with the quiet control group, after navigation and strenuous exercise, blood glucose was increased, and T level was decreased in the stress group (both P<0.01). The blood glucose, CORT, IL-1 and IL-2 levels were significantly reduced in the CM group (P<0.05 or P<0.01) as compared with the stress group. Electron microscopy revealed that the rats in the CM group had a smaller decrease in adrenal intracellular lipid droplets and higher levels of apoptosis than those in the stress group.

CONCLUSIONSSchisandra chinensis can reduce serum CORT and blood glucose levels in stressed rats. It appears to protect the cell structure of the adrenal cortex, and offset the negative effects of psychological stress and strenuous exercise related to immune dysfunction. Schisandra chinensis plays a regulatory role in immune function, and can decrease the influence of stress in rats.

Adrenal Cortex ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Gonads ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Hydrocortisone ; blood ; Interleukin-1 ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Interleukins ; blood ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; Pituitary-Adrenal System ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Schisandra ; chemistry ; Swimming ; physiology ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of atorfastatin on the cognitive function of patients with vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) and different apolipoprotein E genotypes.

METHODSThe ApoE polymorphism was genotyped by PCR sequencing and the patients were divided into Eepsilon4 carrier (epsilon4+) group (n=24) and epsilon4- group (n=51). All the patients were given 20 mg oral atorfastatin every evening. The indices of TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, as well as the scores of MMSE and clock-drawing test were compared between the two groups before and 24 weeks after the treatment.

RESULTSCompared with those without epsilon4 allele, epsilon4+ patients had obviously increased plasma LDL level and lowered scores of MMSE. Plasma TC, TG and LDL-C were decreased significantly in the two groups after the treatment, and the improvement of TC was greater in patients without epsilon4 allele. The scores of MMSE increased significantly in patients with epsilon4 allele. The improvement in the scores of MMSE and clock-drawing test was greater in epsilon4+ group than in epsilon4- group.

CONCLUSIONAtorfastatin may improve the cognitive function in patients with VCI carrying epsilon4 allele, the effect of which may not be related to lowed blood lipids.

Aged ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; Atorvastatin Calcium ; Cognition Disorders ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Dementia, Vascular ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Heptanoic Acids ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuroprotective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Pyrroles ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the hypoglycemic action of rhein (4,5-dihydroxyanthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid), one of the anthraquinone derivatives isolated from rhubarb, and study its effects on pancreatic beta-cells in db/db mice.

METHODSThirty 4-week-old db/db mice were randomized for an 8-week treatment with intragastric administration of rhein (120 mg/kg, n=15) or placebo (1% natrium cellulose solution, n=15). After the treatment, intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) was performed and the area under curve (AUC) of insulin levels in IPGTT was calculated to evaluate insulin secretory function. The AUC(INS0-30) was calculated to evaluate the early-phase insulin secretion. Immunohistochemical staining for insulin was performed to estimate the beta-cell mass, and beta-cell apoptosis was detected using TUNEL assay.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, rhein-treated group showed significantly reduced blood glucose concentrations at 0, 30, 60 and 120 min after glucose load with significantly higher insulin levels at 30, 60 and 120 min. The early-phase insulin secretion was also obviously increased. The beta-cell mass was obviously rescued by the 8-week treatment with rhein, which also notably improved the staining intensity of insulin and suppressed beta-cell apoptosis compared with the control.

CONCLUSIONSEarly rhein treatment significantly improves glucose tolerance by restoring the early-phase insulin secretion in db/db mice and inhibiting the apoptosis of the beta-cells, suggesting the potential of rhein as a novel therapeutic agent for type 2 diabetes.

Animals ; Anthraquinones ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; blood ; drug therapy ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; drug therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Insulin ; secretion ; Insulin-Secreting Cells ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice