OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of Qingre Liqi Granule (QLG) on clinical therapeutic efficacy, electrogastrogram (EGG) and gastric emptying in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD).

METHODSThirty-two FD patients of dyskinesis type enrolled were treated with QLG by oral taking for 6 days. Scoring on 8 kinds of symptoms, including abdominal distension, abdominal pain, morning gastric fullness, belching, regurgitation, nausea, vomiting, and anorexia, fasting EGG and the gastric emptying determination were performed using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe total and individual scores of clinical symptoms, expect that of vomiting, significantly decreased after treatment (P < 0.05), and the percentage of patients with tachygastria and bradygastria significantly decreased (P<0.01) at the same time. EGG after treatment showed significantly elevated rates of normal slow wave dominant power, and nearly normalized dominant frequency. An increased gastric emptying rate at different phases after 75 min (P < 0.05), and significantly shortened gastric emptying half-time (P < 0.01) were shown meanwhile in gastric emptying detection. The improvement of symptom score and gastric emptying half-time showed significant positive linear correlation (r =0.8929, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONQLG can improve symptoms of FD patients by regulating the rhythm and power of gastric electro-wave, increasing gastric motility and enhancing gastric emptying function.

Adult ; Aged ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Dyspepsia ; drug therapy ; Electromyography ; drug effects ; Female ; Gastric Emptying ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myoelectric Complex, Migrating ; drug effects ; Phytotherapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To construct a reverse genetic platform for influenza B virus and to rescue influenza B virus.Methods Eight plasmids carrying the gene segments of B/Florida/4/2006 virus were constructed by using the bidirectional promoter vector pHW2000.293T cells were co-cultured with MadinDarby canine kidney (MDCK) cells and then transfected with the eight plasmids.The supernatants of cell culture and cell debris were collected after transfection and then injected into embryonated chicken eggs and MDCK cells for rescuing the influenza B virus strains.Results This reverse genetic system could be used for the preparation of reassortant influenza B virus strains.The titers of hemagglutination units of the rescued virus achieved 128-256/50μl.Most of the reassortant virus particles were spherical under electron microscope.Conclusion The pHW2000 reverse genetic system could be used for the rescue of influenza B virus.Moreover,it could also be used for the construction of influenza B virus with specific mutations for further in vestigation on the characteristics of influenza B virus and the construction of vaccine strain.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; metabolism ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 7 ; Nuclear Proteins ; metabolism

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptor, Notch1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; physiology ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo compare therapeutic effects of low frequency pulse plus auricular point magnetic therapy and prepulsid on functional dyspepsia (FD).

METHODSFifty cases of FD were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group. The treatment group were treated with low frequency pulse stimulation on Zhongwan (CV 12), Weishu (BL 21), Neiguan (PC 6), Zusanli (ST 36), with Fenglong (ST 40) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) selected according to syndrome differentiation, once a day, 30 min each session. The control group were treated with oral administration of prepulsid. Five days constituted one course. The scores of symptoms and parameters of electrogastrogram (EGG) before and after treatment and the therapeutic effect were investigated.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the symptom scores significantly decreased (P < 0.01), with a significant difference in the decrease of symptom scores between the two groups (P < 0.05); and EGG parameters were improved (P < 0.05). The total effective rate of 93.3% in the treatment group was better than 75.0% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLow frequency pulse plus auricular point magnetic therapy can significantly improve the clinical symptoms and gastric activities in the patient of FD, with a better therapeutic effect than prepulsid.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Dyspepsia ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetics ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stomach ; physiology

Female ; Humans ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic ; enzymology ; etiology ; Male ; NADPH Oxidases ; biosynthesis

Animals ; Brain Edema ; Brain Ischemia ; Cerebral Infarction ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; Rats ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of baicalin on liver fatty acid binding protein in oxidative stress model in vitro.

METHODS(1) Cellular oxidative stress in vitro was induced by incubating cells with 400μmol/L hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) for 20 minutes at 37 degrees C in the dark. After Chang liver cell line was treated with different dose of baicalin for 24, 48 and 72 hours. MTT assay was employed to detect cell viability, and then the hydrogen peroxide (TC50) of the different dose of baicalin was calculated. (2) Based on MTT assay, cells were treated with three different doses of baicalin (25, 50, 100 μmol/L) for 24 and 48 hours before being exposed to 400 μmol/L H₂O₂ for 20 minutes at 37 degrees C. Then, reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay and activity assays of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione hormone (GSH) were evaluated. (3) Realtime PCR and Western blotting were applied to explore the influence of baicalin on the expression level of L-FABP. (4) One-way ANOVA was used for results statistical analysis.

RESULT(1) MTT assay showed baicalin treatment at 25, 50, 100 μmol/L for 24 and 48 hours was feasible (83.60% ± 3.47%, 72.36% ± 2.18%, 70.16% ± 2.04% for 24 hours; 84.93% ± 3.11%, 76.16% ± 2.45%, 72.72% ± 2.31% for 48 hours, P > 0.05, F = 386.24, 475.92 respectively). Meanwhile, we found by the linear regression model that the median toxic concentration of baicalin for 48 hours was 170.6 μmol/L, and the median toxic concentration of baicalin for 24 hours was 153.2 μmol/L. (2) ROS assay showed dichlorofluorescin in all baicalin-treated cells after stress was significantly reduced (37.0 ± 3.30, 22.90 ± 3.84, 29.60 ± 2.52 for 24 hours respectively, P < 0.05, F = 70.06; 35.77 ± 2.35, 21.80 ± 3.10, 23.87 ± 1.98 for 48 hours respectively, P < 0.05, F = 110.92) as compared with the H₂O₂-treated cells. Moreover, 50 μmol/L baicalin treatment for 48 hours was the optimal condition against ROS generation (21.80 ± 3.10, P < 0.01, F = 110.92). Furthermore, the activities of intracellular SOD and GSH was increased significantly (51.53 ± 1.91 μg/mg for SOD, P < 0.05, F = 93.81; 49.85 ± 1.45 U/mg for GSH, P < 0.05, F = 92.51). (3) Although realtime PCR analysis indicated 50 μmol/L baicalin treatment for 48 hours could have no changes of the level of L-FABP expression under the oxidative stress condition, western blotting analysis indicated 50 μmol/L baicalin treatment for 48 hours could increase up to about 80% for the level of L-FABP expression.

CONCLUSIONBaicalin was suggested to be able to enhance both L-FABP expression and activity of intracellular SOD and GSH, and therefore protected hepatocytes from oxidative stress.

Catalase ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

The modulation of ACh on delayed rectifier-like potassium currents (I(K)) was studied in freshly dissociated cerebral cortical neurons using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Wistar rats between 10- and 14-day old of both sexes were used. After rats were decapitated, their brains were quickly removed, iced, and then manually cut into 400 mum slices. Slices were then incubated for 0.5 h at 32 degrees C in a buffered artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) bubbled with 95% O2, 5% CO2. Slices were then removed into buffered ACSF containing protease (0.5 mg/ml) at 32 degrees C. After 30 min of enzyme digestion, tissue was rinsed three times in the buffered saline. Then the enzyme-treated slices were mechanically dissociated with a graded series of fire-polished Pasteur pipettes. The cell suspension was then plated into a 35 mm dish and placed on the stage of a Olympus inverted microscope. For whole-cell recordings of currents, standard voltage-clamp techniques were used. Neurons were held at -80 mV, and the I(K) was evoked by 2 000 ms depolarizing voltage commands to potential between -40 mV and +60 mV in 10 mV steps applied at a frequency of 0.5 Hz. It was found that the inhibitory effect of ACh (0.1, 1, 10, 100 mumol/L) on I(K) was dose-dependent. It was also found that ACh affected the activation process of I(K) significantly, i.e., the activation curve of I(K) was characterized by half-activation potential of (-41.8+/-9.7) mV and a slope factor of (30.7+/-7.2) mV in the cortical neurons and they were changed to (-122.4+/-38.6) mV and (42.4+/-7.0) mV, respectively, after giving ACh (10 mumol/L). Tubocurarine (100 mumol/L) antagonized the inhibitory effect of ACh on I(K), and the drop of currents varied from the control value of (36.5+/-7..8)% to (16.9+/-13.8)% (n=8, P<0.01). 4-DAMP (10 mumol/L) blocked the inhibitory effect of ACh on I(K), and the currents reduced from the control value of (36.5+/-7.8)% to (26.8+/-4.7) % (n=6, P<0.05). Pirenzepin did not antagonize the inhibition of ACh on I(K) (n=7, P>0.05). Chelerythrine (20 mumol/L) blocked the inhibitory effect of ACh on I(K) and the currents reduced from the control value of (36.5+/-7.8)% to (11.7+/-17.3)% (n=6, P<0.05). On the contrary, PDBu (10 mumol/L) strengthened the inhibition of ACh on I(K) and the drop of currents changed from the control value of (36.5+/-7.8)% to (59.2+/-14.0)% (n=5, P<0.05). PDBu abolished the antagonism of chelerythrine on ACh in cortical neurons. It is suggested that the ACh-induced depolarization of neurons in the cortex is attributed to the inhibition of I(K) that is most likely evoked by the activation of nicotinic ACh receptors and muscarinic M3 receptor via protein kinase C (PKC) signal transduction pathway.
Acetylcholine ; physiology ; Animals ; Cell Separation ; Delayed Rectifier Potassium Channels ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Female ; Male ; Neurons ; metabolism ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Protein Kinase C ; metabolism ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptor, Muscarinic M3 ; metabolism ; Receptors, Nicotinic ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; physiology ; Somatosensory Cortex ; cytology ; physiology

Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Smad Proteins ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism