Tibetan medicineLiu-Wei Mu-Xiang(LWMX) pill, a traditional compound medicine, has special therapeutic effects in the treatment of gastrointestinal anabrosis, especially chronic gastric ulcer. It has been widely applied in the clinics in Tibetan region. Nevertheless, the current standards for quality control are insufficient and incomplete, which makes it difficult to ensure its quality. This review focused on two closely related perspectives, which were the effective material basis and quality control, to summarize and review the recent advancement in relevant studies. This review also pointed out that the burning questions for Tibetan medicine standards were the origin confusion and“different medicines with the same name”. It offered meaningful suggestions for the consideration to improve its quality standards.

OBJECTIVETo compare the differences in the clinical function and lumbar and abdominal myodynamia in patiants of lumbar disc herniation treated with moxibustion at Dazhui (GV 14) and Guanyuan (CV 4) and acupuncture.

METHODSForty cases were randomized into a moxibustion group and an acupuncture group, 20 cases in each group. In the moxibustion group, the warm moxibustion was applied alternatively at Dazhui (GV 14) and Guanyuan (CV 4) once every other day, 1 h each time, once every day. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied to the corresponding acupoints based on the affected lumbar vertebras, such as Jiaji (EX-B 2), Shens-hu (BL 23), Dachangshu (BL 25) and Huantiao (GB 30), etc. , once evey day 30 min each time. The treatment for 3 weeks was taken as one session in each group. Totally, one session treatment was required. Surface electromyography (SEMG) of bilateral paraspinal muscle and rectus muscle, and JOA score of low back pain were observed in the two groups.

RESULTS(1) JOA score: the score of subjective symptoms, score of activity of daily living (ADL) and total score were improved obviously as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.01, P<0.05). The results of subjective symptoms score, score of ADL and total score in the acupuncture group were superior to those in the moxibustion group after treatment (6.95+/-0.94 vs 5.50 +/-0.89,10. 90+/-1.86 vs 8.90+/- 1. 92,22.50 +/- 2.82 vs 19.35 +/- 2. 70, all P<0. 05). (2) SEMG comparison: root-mean-square value (RMS) was all reduced in SEMG of the anteflexion, rear protraction, orthostatism, bilateral bending and neck and leg rear flexion for strengthening lumbar muscle as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P< 0.05, P<0. 01). RMS of the anteflexion and bilateral bending in the acupunture group were reduced much obviously as compared with the moxibustion group. In terms of sitting position anteflexion, rear protraction, orthostatism, bilateral bending and neck and leg rear flexion for strengthening lumbar muscle, median frequency (MF) after treatment was all improved as compared with that before treatment in the two groups (P<0. 05, P<0. 01). In terms of anteflexion, the electrode MF after treatment was improved much obviously in the acupuncture group(P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONMoxibustion at Dazhui (GV 14) and Guanyuan (CV 4) and conventional acupuncture all improve muscle function, relieve muscle fatigue, increase the ability of anti-muscle fatigue, strengthen lumbar vertebral stability, release subjective symptoms and improve ADL. But, the effects of moxibustion are slightly lower than those of acupuncture.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Electromyography ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the chaotic dynamic process of multiple organs dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and the regulatory effect of Shenqin Liquid (SQL), a Chinese herbal liquid preparation with the action of purging and qi-tonifying.

METHODSEighty SD rats were divided into 4 groups, and were given suspension of zymosan A and paraffine (1 mL/kg) by peritoneal injection except for those in the blank control group to set up the multiple organs dysfunction syndrome (MODS) model. Low and high doses SQL were administered twice at the doses of 30 and 60 g/kg of SQL respectively at an interval of 8 h per day before modeling. Serum concentration of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and nitric oxide (NO) in MODS model animals were tested diachronically, eg. 12, 6 h before modeling, during modeling, 6 and 12 h after modeling, and then the mathematic models were built up with compartment analysis. Lyapunov exponents (LE) of the mathematic models were calculated to evaluate their chaotic characteristics of movement and the degree of chaos was ascertained with the correlation dimension (CD).

RESULTSThe serum levels of TNF-alpha and NO were significantly higher than those in the bland control group at modeling, 6, and 12 h after modeling (P <0.01), while those in the low and high doses of SQL were significantly lower than the model group (P <0.01). Moreover, the level of NO in the high dose of SQL was significantly lower than that in the low dose group (P <0. 01). CD of TNF-alpha movement in the blank control group was 0.803 with the LE less than zero; those in the model group was 1. 966 and > 0 respectively; in the low dose and high dose SQL treated groups, CD was 0.517 and 0.653 respectively and LE >0. CD of NO movement in the blank control group was 0.670 and with LE < 0; in the model group, 1.242 with LE > 0; in the low dose SQL group, 0.574 and in the high dose SQL group 0.850, and LE <0 in the two groups.

CONCLUSIONUnder the normal physiologic condition, TNF-alpha and NO moved steadily without chaotic properties; while under the pathologic condition of MODS, they manifest relatively complicated chaotic properties. SQL can intervene the movement of TNF-alpha and NO, decrease the complexity of their chaotic movement, and make them return back to a stable state.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Multiple Organ Failure ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the value of permeability surface (PS) in predicting hemorrhagic transformation (HT) in acute ischernic stroke (AIS) using CT peffusion (CTP).Methods The study included 31 consecutive patients who presented symptoms suggestive of an AIS for 3-9 h. All patients underwent CT examination (noncontrast CT,CTP).HT was determined by follow-up CT images.According to presence of HT,the AIS was divided into HT group (PSHT,11 patients) and non-HT group(PSNo-HT,20 patients).PS,cerebral blood flow (CBF),cerebral blood volume (CBV) and mean transit time (MTT) on both sides of brains were measured.The relative PS(rPS),relative CBF (rCBF),relative CBV(rCBV) and relative MTT(rMTT) were obtained by calculating the ratio of the values of bilateral regions.The rPS between PSHT and PSNo-HT was compared with an exact Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The rCBF,rCBV,rMTT and the PS of the ischemic side between PSHr and PSNo-HT were compared with independent-sample t test.Meanwhile,Spearman rank correlation analysis was conducted to analyze the relationship between the CTP parameters and HT.ResultsThe PS value of ischemic side was (1.61±0.77) ml · min - 1 · 100 g-1 for the PSHT group,and the value was (0.91 ± 0.49) ml · min - 1 · 100 g- 1 for the PSNo-HT group.For the PSHT group,rPS,rCBF,rCBV,rMTT were 2.76 ±0.78,0.32 ±0.18,0.66 ±0.31,2.67 ±0.71,and for the PSNo-HT group,rPS,rCBF,rCBV,rMTT were 1.35 ±0.19,0.50±0.21,0.91 ±0.28,2.62 ± 1.31.Compared with PSNo-HT,PSHT had higher rPS and PS value,and there were significant statistical differences (U =0.000,t =3.070,P ＜0.01).But rCBF and rCBV values were lower in the PSHT group compared to the PSNo-HT group,and there were significant statistical differences (trCsF =2.343,trCBV =2.210,P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant statistical difference in rMTT between the two groups(t =0.118,P ＞ 0.05).Significant positive correlations were detected between the rPS and PS with HT(r=0.496,0.821,P ＜0.01).ConclusionsThe value of rPS is helpful in predicting HT in AIS.And it can be used as a predictor in determining clinical personalized treatment and thus reduce the incidence of adverse events.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relation between changes in serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression, especially in relation to metastasis.

METHODSSerum VEGF expression level, measured by quatitative sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA, R&D system), was measured before, 3 days and 4 weeks after TACE in 30 patients with HCC. The development of metastasis was evaluated at the end of the third month after TACE.

RESULTS1. The serum VEGF level in 30 patients was 154.47 +/- 90.17 pg/ml, 2. Post-TACE total serum VEGF level increased as compared with their basal level in 30 patients (P < 0.05) and serum VEGF level had a tendency to increase in patients with heterogeneous uptake of iodized oil and portal vein thrombosis. During the follow-up of 1 - 2 years, metastatic foci were found in 74% (20) patients with SVEGF increase, while none of the patients showing SVEGF decrease developed metastasis.

CONCLUSIONSerum VEGF expression increase is associated with the development of metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma after TACE.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; pathology ; therapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood

OBJECTIVETo compare the anti-fertility effects of the four extracts from the roots of Rhynchosia volubilis Lour on male mice, that is, ethanolic extract, ethyl acetate extract, n-butanol extract and aqueous extract.

METHODSFour extracts from the roots of Rhynchosia volubilis Lour (1%, 0.1 ml/10 g), were administered orally for 11 weeks to adult male mice. The fertility and testicular function of the mice were assessed by mating tests and analyses of sperm motility in cauda epididymides and biochemical and histological indexes in the blood samples and reproductive organs.

RESULTSThe four extracts, especially aqueous extract, gradually decreased the pregnancy rate of the experimental mice from the 77th day of the treatment, with an obvious reduction in the number of spermatozoa. Morphological observation of the reproductive organs by light microscopy showed that the numbers of the secondary spermatocytes and spermatids were decreased in varied degrees, and the seminiferous tubules were disarranged, while the numbers and shapes of and spermatids were decreased in varied degrees, and the seminiferous tubules were disarranged, while the numbers and shapes of spermatogonia, Sertoli cells and Leydig cells remained unchanged.

CONCLUSIONThe four extracts from the roots of Rhynchosia volubilis Lour all have anti-fertility effects on male mice, and that of the aqueous extract is more obvious.

1-Butanol ; Acetates ; Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Epididymis ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology ; Ethanol ; Fabaceae ; chemistry ; Female ; Fertility ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Pregnancy ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Testis ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology ; Water

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Rhynchosia volubilis Lour ethyl acetate extract (RVLEAE) on male mouse procreation and analyse their chemical composition.

METHODWith the method of solvent extraction, RVLEAE was extracted and concentrated. In the experiment of mice, 80 male mice were randomly and equally divided into four groups: Normal Saline control, positive control with 0.1% triperygium wilfordii glycoside, 100 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) RVLEAE and 400 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) RVLEAE. Every mouse was fed with drug 0.01 mL x g(-1), once a day, ig, for eleven consecutive weeks. After two and 10 weeks, male and female mouse naturally mated for one week. The pregnancy rate, number of fetus and nonviable fetus, the viability of spermatozoon in the epididymis cauda, pathological change of testis and epididymis were observed in this experiment. In the analysis of chemical composition, RVLEAE were separated with column chromatography, and chemical compositions were identified with thinlayer chromatography, infrared chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance.

RESULTThe pregnancy rate of mice was markedly decreased. The number and viability of spermatozoon were slightly reduced in I and II after two and 10 weeks, but the pathological changes of testis and epididymis were markedly occurred. Main chemical compositions were identified as saccharide, glycosides especially analog of fucose, alcohols, and phenols.

CONCLUSIONRVLEAE can inhibit the procreation of male mice, and inhibitory target tissue may be the epididymis. Active mechanism of RVLEAE may be that glycosides interfere the maturation of spermatozoon in the epididymis cauda.

Acetates ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Epididymis ; cytology ; drug effects ; Fabaceae ; chemistry ; Female ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Male ; Mice ; Molecular Structure ; Pregnancy ; Random Allocation ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Testis ; cytology ; drug effects ; Testosterone ; blood

BACKGROUNDMelilotus suaveolens Ledeb (M. suaveolens Ledeb) has long been used as a folk medicine in inflammation-related therapy. This study was undertaken to determine the anti-inflammatory effect of the plant.

METHODSPetroleum ether fraction, ethyl acetate fraction, n-butanol fraction, aqueous fraction were obtained from ethanol extract of M. suaveolens Ledeb and evaluated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). While dexamethasone (DM) was used as a positive control, the effects of different solution fractions of ethanol extract on tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) mRNA, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) mRNA, COX-2 and nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) of LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells were studied by real-time PCR, Western blot analysis and immunocytochemical assay, respectively.

RESULTSCoumarin was one of the main ingredients in different solution fractions of ethanol extract except the aqueous fraction with no inflammatory effect. The petroleum ether fraction, ethyl acetate fraction and n-butanol fraction of ethanol extract could inhibit the production of TNF-alpha mRNA, COX-2 mRNA and NF-kappaB to some extent.

CONCLUSIONSDifferent solution fractions of ethanol extract from M. suaveolens Ledeb had similar anti-inflammatory effect as did dexamethasone except the aqueous fraction. Coumarin was likely to be essential to the anti-inflammatory effect, and other ingredients might attribute to their different anti-inflammatory effects from the HPLC fingerprint.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; genetics ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Melilotus ; chemistry ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics

BACKGROUNDSurvivin is a rather specific gene in tumor tissue. We transfected dendritic cells (DCs) with recombinant adenovirus (Ad) containing survivin gene and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) gene and tested the inducing effect of the transfected DCs on cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) to kill leukemic cells.

METHODSAfter derived from the peripheral, DCs was assayed by mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR) tests. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release test was used to evaluate cytotoxicity of CTL.

RESULTSExpression of survivin in transfected DCs was confirmed by Western blotting analysis. GM-CSF expression was confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In MLR assay, DCs coinfected with Ad-survivin and Ad-GM-CSF induced higher allogeneic lymphocyte reaction than control DCs at ratios of 1:5, 1:10, 1:50 and 1:100. DCs coinfected with Ad-survivin and Ad-GM-CSF had much higher activity of CTL to HL-60 cells than DCs infected with Ad-survivin only, Ad-GM-CSF only, or control DCs. Levels of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) in lymphocyte supernatants containing DCs coinfected with Ad-survivin and Ad-GM-CSF were significantly higher than those in the control group.

CONCLUSIONDCs coinfected with Ad-survivin and Ad-GM-CSF induce much higher anti-leukemic response in vitro than those infected with either factor. Therefore, adenovirus vectors containing survivin and GM-CSF genes may be promising vaccine candidates for leukemia therapy.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; Dendritic Cells ; physiology ; ultrastructure ; Genetic Therapy ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; genetics ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Interferon-gamma ; biosynthesis ; Interleukin-12 ; biosynthesis ; Leukemia ; therapy ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence, age and gender distribution and clinical features of HIV/AIDS oral lesions in patients in Guangxi province, and to provide the epidemiological information for prevention and treatment of these diseases in the certain population.

METHODSA total of 64 HIV/AIDS patients were included in this study. All patients HIV serum-status was confirmed in Guangxi Center of Disease Control (GXCDC). Oral examination was carried out by standardized specialists. HIV/AIDS orofacial lesions were recorded and diagnosed using the EC Clearing House Criteria on Oral Problems related to HIV Infection (1992).

RESULTSAmong the total of 64 HIV/AIDS patients included in this study, there were 53 males and 11 females, with mean age of 36.1 years. Candidiasis was the most common lesion with the pseudomembranous type predominating. High prevalences of xerostomia, 11 oral ulceration and 7 HIV related periodontitis were noted. 6 Herpetic stomatitis and 3 herpes zoster, 2 oral hairy leukoplakia and 1 Kaposi's sarcoma and 1 lymphadentitis also were found.

CONCLUSIONThis study shows a high prevalence of candidiasis, salivary gland disease. Maybe oral ulceration prevalence is not increased, but lesion severity is increased with more severe heperiform or major RAU. It suggested that HIV/AIDS usually shows oral lesion and partly can appear in early phase.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Adult ; Candidiasis, Oral ; China ; Female ; HIV Infections ; Humans ; Leukoplakia, Hairy ; Male ; Mouth Diseases ; Periodontitis ; Prevalence ; Sarcoma, Kaposi