Astragalus polysaccharide has been widely used in food and medicinal industry owing to its health-promoting properties. In order to characterize better the relationship among molecular weight, structure-activity and activities, a simple method was used different concentration of ethanol including 30% (PW30), 50% (PW50), 70% (PW70), 75% (PW75), 80% (PW80) and 90% (PW90) to precipitate Astragalus polysaccharides into different molecular weight. As a result, PW90 showed smooth surface and the strongest antioxidant activity among these six fractions (P < 0.05). In conclusion, graded ethanol precipitation was a simple method to separate Astragalus polysaccharides into different molecular weight with different antioxidant activity fractions.
Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Chemical Precipitation ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; pharmacology

Objective To observe the metabolism and distribution of arsenic in liver and brain of offspring rata by exposure to arsenic of pregnant rats or lactation dams and weaned pups,and explore if arsenic could penetrate the placental barrier,lactation barrier and blood brain barrier. Methods The Wistar female rots were randomly divided into four groups according to body weights,12 in each group,and were fed with drinking water that contained arsenic(NaAsO_2) 0,10,50,100 mg/L beginning from the gestafional day 6 until pups 42 days old. Pups were separately sacrificed on postnatal day(PND) 0,15,28,42. Arsenic in liver and brain of offspring rots and in breast milk was examined by atomic absorption speetrophotometer with an arsenic speeiation pretreatment system. Results Concentration of iAs,MMA,DMA of brain in 50,100 mg/L groups were higher than that of 0 mg/L group[0,0,0,(7.3±6.6),0,(44.2±27.4)ng/g]on PND 0,42[iAs: (120.0±46.0),(195.5±125.3),(216.5±278.4),(176.6±151.8) ng/g; M MA: (47.2±18.1),(199.6±389.1),(47.4±55.2),(82.7±79.2) ng/g; DMA: (984.3±377.4),(2222.1±1433.2),(998.1±368.3),(1781.3±715.7)ng/g,all P < 0.05]. Concentration of DMA of brain in 50,100 mg/L groups were higher than that of 0 mg/L group[(13.9±18.1),(50.6±98.3)ng/g]on PND 15,28 [(270.3±73.1),(323.9±72.7),(758.7±245.9),(1020.6±383.6) ng/g,all P < 0.05]. Concentration of iAs,DMA of liver in 10,50,100 mg/L groups were higher than that of 0 mg/L group [(1.4±3.5),(49.7± 47.1),0,(100.4±30.2)ng/g]on PND 28,42 [iAs: (37.5±28.1),(268.8±246.4),(307.2±339.9),(15.4±9.4),(479.1±161.1),(408.4±51.9)ng/g;DMA: (594.5±148.8),(3181.9±519.0),(4834.2±2568.4),(1061.8± 85.2),(3697.1±553.7),(4120.0±732.8) ng/g,all P < 0.05]. Concentration of DMA of liver in 10,50,100 mg/L groups were higher than that of 0 mg/L group[(13.2±20.5)ng/g]on PND 15[(182.0±60,2),(637.6±90.0),(1458.7±196.3)ng/g,all P < 0.05]. Concentration of arsenicals of liver and brain showed a dose-dependent increase. The concentrations of DMA of breast milk in 50,100 mg/L groups were also higher than that of 0 mg/L group[(9.8±13.4),0 ng/g]on PND 0,15 [(182.3±85.9),(372.2±203.9),(124.2±33.1),(244.4±196.5)ng/g,all P < 0.05]. In the analysis of the change of arsenic on different postnatal day,we found the concentration of iAs,MMA,DMA,TMA in liver and brain of pups all decreased on postnatal day 15,and was lower than that on PND 0,28 and 42. Conclusions The distribution of arsenic and methyl-metabolism in liver and brain of pups is related with arsenic exposure dose. Arsenic can penetrate the placenta and blood brain barrier easily and lactation can hinder arsenic intake in some extent.

Adenosine Triphosphate ; Atropine ; Child, Preschool ; Echocardiography, Stress ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Myocardial Ischemia ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo observe different effects of moxibustion on extracellular potassium ion in acupoint under physiological and pathological status and provide experimental evidence for exploring action mechanism of moxibustion on acupoint local.

METHODSForty female SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a blank-moxibustion group, a model group and a model-moxibustion group, 10 cases in each one. The complete Freund's adjuvant(CFA) was adopted to establish model of adjuvant arthritis (AA) in the model group and model-moxibustion group. No treatment was given in the blank group and model group while moxibustion was applied at "Zusan-li" (ST 36) for 30 min in the blank-moxibustion group and model-moxibustion group. The tissue fluid in "Zusanli" (ST 36) was collected with microdialysis and real-time analyzed by electrolytic analyzer. The change of concentration of potassium ion in "Zusanli" (ST 36) was observed.

RESULTS(1) Under physiological status, the concentration of extracellular potassium ion in the blank group was not changed within 150 min (P > 0.05); before the moxibustion, the concentration of extracellular potassium ion in the blank-moxibustion group was (1.21 +/- 0.31) mmol/L, and after treatment it was gradually increased and reached its peak at (2.38 +/- 0.42) mmol/L after 60 min (P < 0.05), then it was reduced. 150 min after the treatment, concentration of potassium ion was slightly higher than that before moxibustion as well as that in the blank group. The concentration in the blank-moxibustion group at 60 min was statistically significant compared with that in the blank group (P < 0.05). (2) Under pathological status, the concentration of extracellular potassium ion in the model group was not changed within 150 min, differences of which at each time point was not statistically significant (all P > 0.05). Before the moxibustion, the concentration of extracellular potassium ion was (1.09 +/- 0.12) mmol/L in the model-moxibustion group, and it was immediately increased to (1.96 +/- 0.18) mmol/L after moxibustion. 60 min and 90 min after the moxibustion, it still maintained a higher level, which was (1.87 +/- 0.29) mmol/L and (1.59 +/- 0.16) mmol/L respectively (both P < 0.05). The differences of each time point after moxibustion in the model-moxibustion group were statistically significant compared with those in the model group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe moxibustion could increase the concentration of potassium ion in rat's acupoint local under physiological status but time of effect is short; with moxibustion at "Zusanli" (ST 36) under pathological status, the concentration of local potassium ion is obviously increased and maintains for a long time.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; metabolism ; therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Potassium ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) expression changes and the impact of ulinastatin (UTI) METHODS: Seventy-two healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: the control group, poisoning group and treatment group, with 24 rats in each group. The model of lung injury was established by intragastric PQ (80 mg/kg) administration in poisoning group and treatment group, and 1 mL saline was administered intragastrically in the control group. The rats in treatment group were injected intraperitoneally with UTI (100 000 U/kg) 30 minutes after PQ administration, and the rats in the control group and poisoning group were intraperitoneally injected with the same volume of saline. After different treatments, the pathological changes and the expression of 4-HNE in lung tissue was detected in 12, 24, and 72 h in three groups.

RESULTSIn the poisoning group and treatment group, the expression of 4-HNE in lung tissue of rats were increased in 12 h after poisoning and reached the peak in 48 h; in 72 h after poisoning, the expression of 4-HNE in lung tissue were decreased, but they were still high. Compared with the control group, the expression of 4-HNE in lung tissue of rats were significantly increased in the poisoning group and treatment group (P < 0.05). And compared with the poisoning group, the expression of 4-HNE in lung tissue of rats were significantly decreased in the treatment group (P < 0.01). The pathological changes were observed, including alveolar capillary expansion, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage and alveolar inflammation cell infiltration, were found in lungs of rats in poisoning group and treatment group. There is no significant change in the control group. Compared with the control group, the expression of 4-HNE in lung tissue significantly increased in poisoning group and treatment group (P < 0.01), but the expression in treatment group was lower than in poisoning group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of 4-HNE increased in PQ intoxicated rats. UTI may reduce the expression of 4-HNE and reduce lung injury in PQ intoxicated rats.

Aldehydes ; metabolism ; Animals ; Glycoproteins ; pharmacology ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung Injury ; metabolism ; pathology ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Adult ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; therapy ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; surgery ; Mesenteric Vascular Occlusion ; therapy ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of buffer on separate capacity of macroporous resin. To evaluate the quality of ferulic acid liposome and determine its entrapment efficiency.

METHODDifferent type of macroporous resin counterpoised by buffer system of Na2 HPO3-NaH2, PO3 was used to separate the free ferulic acid from the preparation and HPLC was used to determine the concentration of the ferulic acid to calculate the entrapment efficiency.

RESULTThis method had good linearity in the range of 0.56 - 2.8 g x mL(-1) (r = 0.999 6). The precision RSD was less than 1.1%. The adsorption effect of macroporous resin on liposome was reduced while it had no effect on the absorption ability of macroporous resin on the ferulic acid by the usage of buffer. The recovery of HPD450 resin on blank liposome was between 97.2% - 100.8%, while the average recovery is 98.1%.

CONCLUSIONBuffer system can enhance the separate ability of macroporous resin on liposome and free drug.

Adsorption ; Buffers ; Coumaric Acids ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; Drug Carriers ; Liposomes ; Quality Control ; Resins, Synthetic

As an important link during the whole operation process of acupuncture, it is very necessary to launch quantity study closely related to acupuncture finger force in the acupuncture quantity study. After retrieval of related literatures on finger force during acupuncture in recent 20 years, it was found out that although some exploration on acupuncture finger force had been made, it was scattered and had no deep research, which pointed out it was a weak link in the acupuncture quantity study. So study of finger force should be paid attention to in acupuncture-moxibustion field, the level of theoretical and experimental research and development of measuring instrument on acupuncture finger force should be strengthened, the application of instrument should be expanded in teaching and scientific research areas, which could promote the modernization and internationalization of acupuncture and moxibustion better and faster.
Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Humans

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Yiqi Fumai and Zixin Yangyin Prescription combined with Captopril for the treatment of children's hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) complicated with viral myocarditis (VMC); To explore the mechanism. Methods Totally 80 cases children with HFMD complicated with VMC were selected and randomly divided into two groups, with 40 cases in each group. Both groups were given conventional low flow oxygen, cardiac function monitoring, ribavirin antiviral, and fructose nutrition, and severe cases were given immune globulin and dexamethasone to relieve symptoms. The control group was given Captopril 0.5 mg/(kg?d), three times a day,orally,on the basis of conventional treatment,and the treatment group was given Yiqi Fumai and Zixin Yangyin Prescription on the basis of control group,one dose a day,decoction 180 mL,6 to 10 times a day,orally. The treatment in both groups lasted for two weeks. Serum hs-CRP, CK, CK-MB and cardiac function change before and after treatment of the two groups were observed. Electrocardiogram curative effect and comprehensive curative effect were evaluated. Results Compared with before treatment, the contents of hs-CRP, CK-MB, and CK in both groups decreased after treatment (P<0.05), and the treatment group was lower than the control group (P<0.05);Compared with before treatment, EF and FS in both groups increased after treatment, and A/E of mitral valve diastolic blood flow velocity peak decreased after treatment, with statistical significance among EF, FS and A/E between the two groups (P<0.05). The total effective rate of electrocardiogram was 92.5% (37/40) in the treatment group and 75.0% (30/40) in the control group, with statistical significance (Z=-2.370, P=0.018). The total effective rate of comprehensive efficacy was 92.5% (37/40) in the treatment group, and 77.5% (31/40) in the control group, with statistical significance (Z=-2.397, P=0.017). Conclusion Yiqi Fumai and Zixin Yangyin Prescription combined with Captopril can improve the clinical symptoms of HFMD complicated with VMC, improve clinical efficacy, whose mechanism may be related to the decrease of contents of hs-CRP, CK and CK-MB and enhancement of cardiac function.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of acupoint Shuigou (GV 26) and non-acupoint on inhibiting the neuronal necrosis induced by the middle cerebral artery obstruction (MCAO) in rats through the morphological observation.

METHODSForty two healthy adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group, false-ope ration group, model control group, non-acupuncture group, Shuigou-acupuncture group and non-acupoint acupuncture group, 7 rats in each group. Besides the normal and false-operation groups, the experimental modal of MCAO was established in the other groups by using the Zea-Longa thread method. Acupoint Shuigou (GV 26) and non-acupoint (below the costal region) were selected respectively in the Shuigou-acupuncture group and non-acupoint acupuncture group for puncturing at 180 times/min for 5 seconds. Its effect was estimated by measuring the rate of the neuronal necrosis at the level of the light microscope and the degree of the neuronal necrosis at the level of the electron microscope.

RESULTS(1) At the level of the light microscope, comparing with the model control group (0.66 +/- 0.18), of the neuronal necrosis there were no significant differences in the rate of neuronal necrosis in the non-acupuncture group (0.67 +/- 0.34) and non-acupoint acupuncture group (0.59 +/- 0.11) (both P > 0.05), while it was significantly decreased in the Shuigou-acupuncture group (0.200 +/- 12) (P < 0.05). It indicates that no intervention and wrong (non-acupoint) intervention could light the damage of the neurons, however, only right intervention (Shuigou, GV 26) can obviously decrease the rate of the neuronal necrosis, showing with the specificity of acupoint. (2) At the level of the electron microscope, the ultrastructure of the involved neurons in the non-acupuncture group and non-acupoint acupuncture group is similar to that of the model control group, showing with the serious edema and structure damage. In contrast, the ultrastructure of the involved neurons in the Shuigou-acupuncture group is similar to that of the normal group and false-operation group, showing with light neuronal damage.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncturing Shuigou (GV 26) could protect the involved neurons and inhibit the neuronal necrosis induced by the MCAO in rats, but acupuncturing the non-acupoint couldn't, which imply that there is the specificity of acupoint in the acupuncture.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; pathology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Male ; Necrosis ; Neurons ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar