To study the compatible mechanisms and compatible proportion of Shaoyao Gancao decoction, the intestinal absorption of main ingredients in Shaoyao Gancao decoction SG11 (Baishao-Zhigancao 1: 1) , SG31 (Baishao-Zhigancao 3: 1), Baishao water decoction S and Zhigancao (G) were investigated and compared using in vitro everted intestinal sac model and in situ single pass intestinal perfusion (SPIP) model. The concentration of paeoniflorin (PF), liquiritin (LQ) and mono-ammonium glycyrrhizinate (GL) in test samples and samples of intestinal sac and intestinal perfusion was determined by HPLC. The intestinal absorptive amount and absorption parameters were calculated. Results showed that in the everted intestinal sac model, three ingredients could be absorbed by duodenum, jejunum and ileum, and the absorption in the jejunum was best for all 3 ingredients. The absorption rate of three ingredients in SG11 was significantly higher than that in single decoction (P < 0.05), but had no significant difference compared with SG31. In SPIP model, the absorption rate constant K(a), the apparent absorption coefficient P(app) and the absorption rate of three ingredients in SG11 were significantly higher than those in single decoction. Parameters of PF and GL in SG11 were significantly higher than those in SG31, but had no differences of LQ. It proved that the compatibility of Baishao and Zhigancao could improve the intestinal absorption of PF, LQ and GL. The absorption of each ingredient in SG11 was better than that in SG31.
Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; Intestinal Absorption ; drug effects ; Intestines ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To study the effect of motor imagery therapy combined with conventional rehabilitation treatment on walking ability in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia.Methods Eighty patients with post-stroke hemiplegia were randomly divided into a treatment group (40 cases) and a control group (40 cases).All the patients in both groups were given basic medication and conventional rehabilitation treatment.In addition,the patients in treatment group were given motor imagery therapy.The 10 m maximum walking speed (10 m MWS),stride length,cadence,Fugl-Meyer motor assessment (lower limb) (FMA-L) and Holden's functional ambulation classification (FAC) were used to evaluate walking ability before the beginning of training and at the end of six weeks of training.Results Before intervention there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of all the assessment (P ＞0.05).At the end of training,all measurements in both groups [the treatment group:10 m MWS (0.53 ± 0.20)m/s,stride length (78.91 ± 20.46) cm,cadence (78.10 ± 12.03) min,FMA-L (24.13 ±5.77),FAC (3.60±1.01);the control group:10 m M WS (0.42 ±0.15)m/s,stride length (69.75 ± 18.31)cm,cadence (71.14±9.29)/min,FMA-L (20.65 ±4.70),FAC (2.93 ±0.89)] were significantly better than those before training (P ＜ 0.05),and the improvements in treatment group were significantly better than those in control group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Motor imagery therapy combined with conventional rehabilitation treatment can distinctly improve the walking ability in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia.

Aim: To explore the apoptosis and mechanisms of human gastric cancer cells MGC-803 induced by RAA-11. Methods: MTT and colony assays were used to detect the survival of MGC-803 cells treated with RAA-11. The effect of RAA-11 on the apoptotic morphology of MGC-803 cells was observed by Hoechst 33258 staining. The effect of RAA-11 on the apoptosis rate of MGC-803 cells was detected with flow cytometry. The effects of RAA-11 on apoptosis related protein expression of caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax as well as pathway proteins ERK and p-ERK in MGC-803 cells were observed by Western blot. Results: MTT assay showed that the proliferation of MGC-803 cells was effectively inhibited in a time- and concentration-dependent manner (P <0. 01). The result of colony suggested that RAA-11 could inhibit the proliferation of MGC-803 cells. Hoechst 33258 staining indicated that the nucleus of MGC-803 cells had a typical apoptotic morphological change after intervention with RAA-11. The result of flow cytometry suggested that RAA-11 had a significant apoptotic effect on MGC-803 cells. The expressions of Bax and caspase-3 were significantly up-regulated (P <0. 01), and the expressions of Bcl-2, ERK and p-ERK were down-regulated (P <0. 01) in MGC- 803 cells treated with RAA-11. Conclusions: RAA-11 inhibits the proliferation and induces apoptosis in MGC-803 cells, which may be related to the inhibition of ERK/MAPK pathway.

Aim: To explore the effects of RAA-11 on the growth and migration of human gastric cancer cells MGC-803 via the EGFR-JNK pathway. Methods: The effect of RAA-11 on the activity of human gastric mucosa cells GES-1 and human gastric cancer cells MGC- 803 was observed by MTT assay. The effect of RAA-11 on the migration in human gastric cancer MGC-803 cells was detected by scratch test. The effect of RAA- 11 on EGFR mRNA expression in human gastric cancer MGC-803 cells was detected by qRT-PCR. The changes of apoptosis-related proteins caspase-3, Bcl-2, Bax as well as pathway proteins EGFR, JNK, and p-JNK expression in human gastric cancer MGC-803 cells were assessed by Western blot. Results: MTT results indicated that RAA-11 significantly inhibited the proliferation of MGC-803 cells in human gastric cancer compared with human gastric mucosa GES-1 cells (P < 0. 01), suggesting that RAA-11 had a selective effect on MGC-803 cells. The scratch result suggested that RAA-11 could suppress the migration of MGC-803 cells. The results of qRT-PCR indicated that RAA-11 decreased the expression level of EGFR mRNA in human gastric cancer MGC-803 cells. Western blot results suggested that RAA-11 up-regulated apoptosisrelated proteins caspase-3 and Bax in human gastric cancer MGC-803 cells, promoted the expression of pathway proteins JNK and p-JNK (P < 0. 01), downregulated the expression of apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2, and reduced the expression level of pathway protein EGFR (P < 0. 01). Conclusions: RAA-11 can inhibit the proliferation and migration and induce apoptosis of human gastric cancer MGC-803 cells by the EGFR-JNK pathway.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of herb-partitioned spreading moxibustion at Baliao points plus climen for diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). Methods: A total of 60 patients with DOR were randomized into a spreading moxibustion group and a Western medicine group by the random number table method, with 30 cases in each group. The Western medicine group was treated with climen, starting from the 5th day of the menstrual cycle for 21 d. The spreading moxibustion group was treated with herb-partitioned spreading moxibustion at Baliao points on the basis of the medication in the Western medicine group, 1 h per time, once a week. The treatment was performed for 1 month as one treatment course in both groups, for 3 courses in total. The serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E2) in the patients were measured before and after treatment. The peak systolic velocity (PSV) and resistance index (RI) were also detected. The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom score was evaluated. The clinical efficacy was evaluated after treatment. Results: The total effective rate in the spreading moxibustion group was 93.3％, which was significantly higher than 80.0％ in the Western medicine group, and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). After treatment, the TCM symptom scores, the serum FSH levels, FSH/LH ratios and RI in both groups decreased, and the intra-group differences were all statistically significant (all P<0.05). The serum E2 level and PSV increased compared with those in the same group before treatment, and the intra-group differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). After treatment, the TCM symptom score, the serum FSH level, FSH/LH ratio and RI in the spreading moxibustion group were lower than those in the Western medicine group, while the serum E2 level and PSV were higher than those in the Western medicine group, and the differences between the groups were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Herb-partitioned spreading moxibustion at Baliao points plus climen can produce valid therapeutic efficacy for DOR. It can improve the clinical symptoms, regulate serum hormone levels and increase ovarian blood perfusion, thus improving ovarian reserve function, producing more significant efficacy than climen alone.

OBJECTIVETo explore the changes in the expressions of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and growth- associated protein-43 (GAP-43) in retinal ganglial cells after neural transplantation.

METHODSThirty-nine rats were randomized into normal control group, nerve amputation group and nerve amputation with peripheral nerve transplantation group. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the changes in the expressions of GFAP and GAP-43 at different time points after the operations, and real-time PCR was employed to detect the mRNA expressions of 13 genes in the retinal ganglial cells of the rats.

RESULTSImmunohistochemistry showed obviously increased GFAP expressions in the retina following the nerve amputation. GFAP expression was down-regulated while GAP-43 expression upregulated in the retinal ganglial cells after peripheral nerve transplantation. Real-time PCR results showed that 5 days after the operations, retinal GFAP and GAP-43 expressions increased significantly in the nerve amputation group and peripheral nerve transplantation groups as compared with those in the control group, but GAP-43 expression decreased significantly in the former two groups afterwards.

CONCLUSIONThe regenerated retina may adjust the production of GFAP. The retinal ganglial cells express GAP-43 during retinal regeneration. Up-regulation of the expression of GAP-43 provides the evidence for nerve regeneration following the nerve transplantation.

Animals ; Axons ; Female ; GAP-43 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Nerve Regeneration ; genetics ; Optic Nerve ; transplantation ; Optic Nerve Injuries ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Retinal Ganglion Cells ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of kallikrein-binding protein (KPB) in protecting retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and promoting axonal regeneration following optical nerve injury in rats.

METHODSCrush injury of the optic nerve at 0.5-1.0 mm from the eyeball was induced in rats, which received subsequent KBP injection into the vitreous cavity (experimental group) and PBS injection (control group). At 7, 14 and 21 days after the injury, the rats were sacrificed and frozen sections of the eyeball were prepared to observe the structure and thickness of the retina and count the number of survival RGCs with HE staining. The optic nerves were collected for Western blotting to assess the effect of KBP on the RGCs and axonal regeneration.

RESULTSRGC counts and retinal thickness showed significant differences between the two groups. Western blotting also demonstrated a significant difference in the expression of the nerve regeneration marker protein GAP-43 between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONKBP offers protection on RGCs and promotes regeneration of the optic nerve axons after optic nerve injury in rats.

Animals ; Axons ; physiology ; Female ; GAP-43 Protein ; metabolism ; Nerve Regeneration ; drug effects ; physiology ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Optic Nerve Injuries ; drug therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Retinal Ganglion Cells ; drug effects ; physiology ; Serpins ; pharmacology

Flavonol synthase (FLS) is one of the key enzymes in flavonoids metabolic pathways. In this study, middle sequence was obtained from Carthamus tinctorius transcriptome sequencing results. Full-length cDNAs of FLS was cloned from petals of C. tinctorius to FLS by using RT-PCR and RACE technology. Its full-length cDNA was 1,201 bp, with an open reading frame of 1,101 bp and 336 encoded amino acids. The phylogenetic analysis showed that, FLS gene encoded amino acids in C. tinctorius were highly homologous with amino acids in congeneric Compositae species, especially Rudbeckia laciniata. The pBASTA-FLS plant expression vector was successfully built by the molecular biology method, which lays a foundation for further studying biology functions of the gene and biosynthesis mechanism of flavonoids.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Carthamus tinctorius ; classification ; enzymology ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Open Reading Frames ; Oxidoreductases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective:To observe the changes of vessel densities (VD) in the macula and optic disc and its correlation with axial length (AL) in pathological myopia (PM).Methods:A retrospective clinical study. A total of 171 eyes from 171 patients admitted to Department of Ophthalmology of Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University from June 2019 to December 2019 were included in this study. Among them, there were 72 males and 99 females; age was 35.0±10.8 years old. The patients were divided into PM group, high myopia (HM) group and non-HM group, 51 cases with 51 eyes, 70 cases with 70 eyes, and 50 cases with 50 eyes, respectively. Optical coherence tomography angiography was used to scan the macular and optic disc areas of all the examined eyes in the range of 6 mm×6 mm. According to the early treatment of diabetic retinopathy study, the 6 mm macular and optic disc scan range was centered on the macular fovea and optic disc, respectively, then divided into two concentric circles with diameters of 1 mm of central area, an annulus between 1-3 mm circles of paracentral area. The paracentral area was divided into superior, inferior, nasal, temporal four quadrants by 2 radiation lines. The VD of superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP), outer retina, and choriocapillaris layer were calculated in the central, superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal areas, respectively. The VD of PM, HM and non-HM groups were compared. The variance analysis was used to compare the VD among the three groups; Pearson’s correlation was used to assess the correlation between VD and AL.Results:The perifoveal VD of the SCP, outer retina and choriocapillaris layers were all lower in the PM than those of HM and non-HM group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The VD of DCP macular central was higher in the PM than in the HM group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P=0.020). In the optic disc, the VD were lower in the PM group than in the non-HM group except for the area of DCP superior, inferior, temporal, outer retinal center, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The results of correlation analysis showed that the VD in the DCP macular central, ONH superior and the choriocapillaris ONH central were not correlated with AL ( P=0.647, 0.688, 0.146), and the other VDs were negatively correlated with AL ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared with HM and non-HM groups, the majority of VDs in macular and ONH are lower in participants with PM.

OBJECTIVETo find the major risk factors associated with gastric cardia cancer.

METHODSWe selected five high incidence areas of esophageal cancer and gastric cancer which have cancer registration system, i.e. Cixian and Shexian of Hebei Province, Linxian of Henan Province, Feicheng of Shandong Province and Zhuanghe of Liaoning Province. Fifty newly diagnosed cases of cardiac cancer after January 1, 2008 were selected from each cancer registration database. A uniform questionnaire, which was fully consulted by experts, was used. Population-based 1:3 case-control study was conducted in those areas. The study recruited 250 cases of cardiac cancer and 750 matched controls, which were investigated with the uniform questionnaire. The data were statistically analyzed by fitting-conditional Logistic analysis.

RESULTSSmoking, passive smoking, alcohol drinking, irregular meal, improper dining posture, heavy taste, dried food, pickled food, fried food, hot food, gastrointestinal history, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can increase the risk of cardiac cancer. To eat more bean and high BMI are protective factors of the single factor logistic analysis. Gastrointestinal history (OR = 42.899), dried food (OR = 5.932), irregular meal (OR = 4.911), hot food (OR = 4.144), pickled food (OR = 3.287), passive smoking (OR = 2.355), and GERD (OR = 1.930) can increase the risk of cardiac cancer, eat more bean (OR = 0.254) and BMI ≥ 25 (OR = 0.492) are protective factors of the mixture factors logistic analysis.

CONCLUSIONSGastric cardia cancer is caused by environmental risk factors and genetic factors. Health education in high cardiac cancer incidence areas and primary prevention popularized into people's daily life will be beneficial to decreasing the incidence of gastric cardia cancer.

Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; Body Mass Index ; Cardia ; pathology ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Diet ; adverse effects ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; complications ; Humans ; Life Style ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; Stomach Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires