An experiment was conducted using cultivated Glycyrrhiza uralensis in age of one year to study the effects of abscisic acid (ABA) on chemical components content and color of G. uralensis. By using different concentrations of ABA spraying on leaves, the change of the chemical component content was analyzed within 45 d after ABA stimulation, and the effects on quality were studied combined with colorimetric analysis data. It turned out that in some sense the content of glycyrrhizic acid and liquiritin had increased within 45 d, especially for liquiritin. After high concentrations of ABA (3.96 mg · L(-1)) stimulating, the content of glycyrrhizic acid rose 52% while liquiritin up 392% within 30 d. Then they both showed a decline in the content of glycyrrhizic acid and liquiritin on 45 d. Color index values of a* and b* were all significantly higher than that of the control group within 45 d, which meant the color of powders turned toward red and yellow. The conclusion was that ABA (3.96 mg · L(-1)) stimulating could not only improve the quality in the traditional sense through the color of G. uralensis, but also in the modern sense by improving the content of glycyrrhizic acid and liquiritin.
Abscisic Acid ; pharmacology ; Color ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Flavanones ; analysis ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; chemistry ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; analysis ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Zhibai Dihuang Decoction (ZDD) on mRNA and protein expressions of transient receptor potential family vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1) and transient receptor potential family vanilloid subtype 5 (TRPV5) in Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU)-infected rat semens and spermatogenic cells, and to explore the pathomechanism of UU-infected infertility and the intervention of ZDD.

METHODSTotally 45 were randomly selected from 60 4-5 months old SD rats. UU testicular infected animal models were set up after bladder inoculation of UU suspension. The remaining 15 rats were simultaneously injected with normal saline as a normal control group. After a successful modeling, UU infected model rats were randomly divided into the model group, the azithromycin group, and the ZDD group, 15 in each group. Rats in the ZDD group were administered with ZDD at the daily dose of 1 g/kg by gastrogavage. Rats in the azithromycin group were administered with azithromycin suspension at the daily dose of 0. 105 mg/kg by gastrogavage. Equal volume of normal saline was administered to rats in the normal control group and the model group. All medication was performed once daily for 21 successive days. Testes and epididymis were extracted after rats were killed and UU positive rates were compared among all groups. Sperm cells were separated using a mechanical separation technique. Sperm motility parameters were detected using color sperm motion detection system. mRNA and protein expressions of TRPV1 and TRPV5 in spermatogenic cells were determined by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSThe UU positive rate was obviously higher in the model group than in the normal control group [(86.7% (13/15 cases) vs. 0] P < 0.05). It was lower in the ZDD group [33.3% (5/15 cases)] and the azithromycin group [26.7% (4/15 cases)] than in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group, class A and B sperms were reduced, the linear velocity and the average velocity were significantly lowered, mRNA and protein expressions of TRPV1 and TRPV5 in spermated genic cells significantly decreased in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, class A and B sperms were increased, linear and curve velocities and the average velocity were significantly elevated, mRNA and protein expressions of TRPV1 and TRPV5 significantly increased in the ZDD group and the azithromycin group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with azithromycin group, class A and B sperms were increased, the linear velocity and the average velocity were significantly elevated, mRNA and protein expressions of TRPV1 and TRPV5 significantly increased in the ZDD group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONZDD could fight against UU infection and elevate semen quality, which might be associated with up-regulating mRNA and protein expressions of TRPV1 and TRPV5 in spermatogenic cells.

Animals ; Calcium Channels ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Infertility ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; TRPV Cation Channels ; metabolism ; Testis ; Ureaplasma Infections ; Ureaplasma urealyticum

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Zhibai Dihuang Pill (ZBDHP) on urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and sperm quality in ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) infection infertile patients.

METHODSRecruited were 80 infertility patients with Uu infection at Andriatrics Clinics and Department of Reproduction, including 130 cases of positive Uu semen and 50 cases of negative Uu semen. Patients with positive Uu semen were randomly assigned to the observation group (72 cases) and the control group (58 cases) according to the visit sequence. All patients took antibiotics for 2 weeks. Patients in the observation group additionally took ZBDHP, 6 g each time, twice daily. Those in the control group additionally took Vit E (100 mg each time, twice per day) and ATP (40 mg each time, twice per day). The therapeutic course for all was 90 days. Semen parameters and uPA contents of the sperm membrane were detected and comparatively analyzed.

RESULTSThe sperm membrane uPA content, the sperm motility, the sperm viability, and the percentage of normal morphology sperm in Uu positive infected patients were lower than those in Uu negative infected patients with statistical difference (P < 0.05), but with no significant difference in the sperm density between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no statistical difference in pre-treatment sperm membrane uPA contents and sperm parameters between the two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with before treatment in the same group, the sperm membrane uPA content, the sperm motility, the sperm viability, and the percentage of normal morphology sperm obviously increased in the two groups with statistical difference (P < 0.05). After treatment, the sperm membrane uPA content increased more obviously in the observation group, with statistical difference when compared with the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSInfection with Uu leads to decreased uPA content of sperm membrance and the sperm motility. ZBDHP could effectively treat Uu infected infertility possibly through fighting against Uu damaged sperm membrane and make the sperm membrane uPA content return to normal, and elevate the fertilizability of sperms.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Communicable Diseases ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infertility ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; Ureaplasma Infections ; drug therapy ; Ureaplasma urealyticum ; drug effects ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical results after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair using a suture-bridge technique in late middle-aged adults.

METHODSA retrospective analysis of 30 patients with rotator cuff tears, who were treated consecutively between December 2012 and December 2013 at our clinic, was carried out to evaluate the outcome of arthroscopic suture-bridge technique. The visual analogue scale (VAS), the range of motion (ROM), the rating scale of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), and the shoulder index of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) were determined as the evaluation criteria.

RESULTSThe mean follow-up period was 13 months. The follow-up rate was 100%. The study included 0 small, 16 medium, 12 large and 2 massive rotator cuff tears. At the latest follow-up, the VAS score decreased significantly from preoperative 6.3±3.2 to 0.8±1.4 at rest,and from preoperative 7.7±2.1 to 1.7±1.6 during motion. The UCLA score improved significantly from 15.1±4.6 preoperatively to 31.2±5.0 at follow-up. The ASES shoulder index improved significantly from 30.2±16.0 preoperatively to 80.4±13.0 at follow-up. The ROM improved significantly. The satisfactory rate was 94%. There were no complications.

CONCLUSIONThe results of this study indicate that the arthroscopic suture-bridge technique is an effective and reliable treatment for patients with rotator cuff tear in late middle-aged adults.

Age Factors ; Aged ; Arthroscopy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Rotator Cuff ; surgery ; Suture Techniques

To optimize indices of molecular identification for authentication of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Panacis Quinquefolii Radix, four indices, including sequence similarity, specific positions, genetic distance and phylogenetic tree, were compared based on trnL-trnF sequences. Total DNA was extracted from Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Panacis Quinquefolii Radix, and trL-trnF sequences were amplified and sequenced. Sequence similarity was calculated by BLAST analysis. Specific positions were compared by DNAman software. Genetic distance and phylogenetic tree were analyzed by Mega software. The results showed that the inter-specific and intra-specific similarity of P. ginseng and P. quinquefolius respectively was 100% and 99. 6%. There were four specific positions at G153A, T463A, C732G and T818C. The inter-specific genetic distance (0) of trL-trnF sequences was lower than intra-specific genetic distance (0. 004). P. ginseng can be distinguished from P. quinquefolius based on the phylogenetic tree. It is concluded that Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Panacis Quinquefolii Radix can be authenticated by identification indices of sequence similarity, specific positions, genetic distance and phylogenetic tree. Index of specific positions based on trnL-trnF sequences is the most efficient index to authenticate Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Panacis Quinquefolii Radix.
Chloroplasts ; genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; Panax ; classification ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; Rhizome ; classification ; genetics

Objective Base on the neighborhood activation model(NAM), to develop the Mandarin monosyllable lexical neighborhood test(M-LNT-monosyllable), which is expected to be useful for evaluating speech perception performance in children with hearing loss. Methods Test items were based on the lexical characteristics of word frequency and neighborhood density which addressed in the neighborhood activation model (NAM). M-LNT -monosyllable consisted of two parts: Lexically "easy" words with high word frequency, which were low phonemically similar to the target word and lexically "hard" words with low word frequency, which were high phonemically similar to the target word. 34 children of 3～5 year old with normal hearing were choosed as subjects to verify easy word and hard word lists. Results 1 979 words for children contained 487 easy words and 419 hard words. Three easy word lists and three hard word lists were developed to estimate the performance of word recognition among normal- hearing children. There were no differences among scores of three easy words lists(P＞0.05), and no difference among scores of three hard words lists(P＞0.05). But there were significant differences between scores of easy and hard words lists(P＜0.01). Conclusion The development of the lexicon was affected by the lexical characteristics. Normal-hearing children with some lexical techniques were affected by the lexical characteristics when they recognized the spoken words, but children with less lexical technique didn't show the same result because the recognition was processed on the phonetic level.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effect of Dachaihutang on the development of atherosclerosis (AS) in rabbits and its possible mechanism by detecting the expression level of carnitine patmitoyl transferase-1 (CPT-1) in vascular smooth muscle layer of atherosclerotic rabbits, and search the new way and evidence for AS cures.

METHODThirty six male New Zealand white rabbits were divided randomly into control group, model control group, simvastatin group and Chinese traditional medicine dachaihutang group. After 9 weeks and 20 weeks of treatment, serum total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were examined. At the end of 25 th weeks, histological changes in ascending aorta were studied by HE staining and histomorphometric analysis. The gene expression of CPT-1 in vascular smooth muscle layer of thoracic aorta was detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTCompared with model control group, in dachaihutang group serum TC and TG and LDL levels attenuated. Pathomorphology indicated that intima and media (I + M) became thinned, and the ratios of the thickness of intima to media(I/M) and the area of intima to media (SI/SM) were decreased (P < 0.05). Aortic intimal proliferation in Dachaihutang group was associated with a marked increase in CPT-1 expression in vascular smooth muscle layer of thoracic aorta. Compared to simvastatin group, except TG value, other values were higher in Dachaihutang group, however, there were no significant differences between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONThese findings suggest that early treatment with Dachaihutang not only induces a significant regression of arterial lesions of high cholesterol diet rabbits, but also has a crucial inhibited genesis and development of atherosclerosis effect by up-regulating CPT-1 expression in vascular smooth muscle layer.

Animals ; Aorta ; cytology ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation

Objective To investigate the effects of different standard cross sections and angles on the measurement accuracy of induced postnatal fetal long bones. Methods Fetal long bones (femori and humeri) in 30 cases with induced abortion were measured utilizing ultrasound from different angles and /or at different directions. The values measured from different sections and angles with vernier calipers were compared prenatally and postnatally. Results There was no apparent difference between the pre-induced abortion and those of the post-induced abortion. The results in the 30 cases showed that: (1) the values measured from anterior 90 degree, the long bone length would best match with the bare long bone length up to 96.7%, the match rate of other angles and/or directions was up to 80%; (2) no apparent statistical difference was between the length of left and right bone and no difference was found using 4 different directions and 3 different angles; (3)there was no difference between the left and right femuri and humeri.Conclusions Though the measured value from anterior 90 degree direction was the most accurate one, the statistical analtical results showed no difference among 12 values measured from 3 different angles and/or 4 different directions.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy and safety of the Fuzheng Huayu Tablet FZHYT), which is used to reinforce qi and resolve stasis in patients with posthepatitic cirrhosis (PHC).

METHODSA multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted in 180 patients with PHC. The patients were randomly assigned using random numbers to a treatment group treated with FZHYT and a placebo group; the treatment course was 6 months for both groups. Overall response, adverse events (AEs), and the 2-year survival rate were assessed after treatment. Evaluations were made on changes in liver function, liver fibrosis, coagulation, hemodynamics, degrees of esophagogastric varices, ascites, quality of life (QOL), and scores of main symptoms.

RESULTSThe overall response was significantly higher in the treatment group than the placebo group (86.7% vs. 62.2%, P<0.01). Patients in both groups had significant improvements in liver function [total bilirubin (TBIL), albumin (ALB)], liver fibrosis [hyaluronic acid (HA), type IV collagen (CIV)], coagulation [prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen (FIB), and thrombin time (TT)], hemodynamics portal venous flow (PVF), and splenic vein flow (SVF) after treatment. Between-group comparisons showed that compared with the placebo group patients in the treatment group achieved significantly greater improvements in TBIL, ALB, HA, C IV, PT, APTT, PVF, SVF, time to ascites resolution, 2-year survival, QOL, and symptom scores (P<0.05 or P<0.01). There were no significant AEs during the treatment.

CONCLUSIONFZHYT is effective and safe for the treatment of hepatic cirrhosis as it is associated with improved liver function, liver fibrosis, coagulation, portal hypertension state, QOL, 2-year survival rate, and fewer AEs.

Adult ; Aged ; Ascites ; complications ; pathology ; Blood Coagulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; drug effects ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Qi ; Quality of Life ; Survival Analysis ; Tablets ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Acetylcholine ; metabolism ; Animals ; Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Dopamine ; metabolism ; Epinephrine ; metabolism ; Female ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; metabolism ; Norepinephrine ; metabolism ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Synaptic Transmission