The academic thoughts of Lingnan acupuncture and moxibustion have been an essential part of Lingnan medicine. By exploration and arrangement of Lingnan medicine and books, journals and literatures regarding acupuncture and moxibustion, the ancient and modern acupuncturists and their academic contributions in Lingnan area were reviewed. As a result, the number of Lingnan acupuncturists and their works was low before Qing Dynasty, while from the Republic of China era to People's Republic of China, a considerable amount of acupuncturists emerged with quite a lot of works. By exploration and arrangement of Lingnan acupuncturists and their works and academic opinion, the acupuncture-moxibustion school characterized by Lingnan could be formed and developed.
Acupuncture ; education ; history ; manpower ; Acupuncture Therapy ; history ; China ; History, 17th Century ; History, 18th Century ; History, 19th Century ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; history ; Physicians ; history

OBJECTIVETo explore the expression of p-p38 MAPK protein and the number of astrocytes expressing p-p38 MAPK in CA1 hippocampus in rats during the induction of brain ischemic tolerance induced by intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (IH) preconditioning.

METHODSThirty healthy adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n = 5 in each group): sham 0 min group, IH + sham 0 min group, sham 7 d group, IH + sham 7 d group, Ischemia (Is) 7 d group, and IH + Is 7 d group. Neuropathological evaluation was performed by thionine staining in CA1 hippocampus in rats. The expression of p-p38 MAPK in CA1 hippocampus was observed by immunohistochemical staining. And the number of astrocytes expressing p-p38 MAPK was observed by immunofluorescent double labeling.

RESULTSThe results showed that IH preconditioning induced brain ischemic tolerance successfully. At the same time, IH preconditioning obviously up-regulated the expression of p-p38 MAPK protein in CA1 hippocampus, and also increased the number of astrocytes expressing p-p38 MAPK.

CONCLUSIONIt might be concluded that IH preconditioning induced brain ischemic tolerance by up-regulating the expression of p-p38 MAPK protein in pyramidal neurones and astrocytes.

Animals ; Astrocytes ; enzymology ; pathology ; Brain Ischemia ; enzymology ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hippocampus ; enzymology ; Hypoxia ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; methods ; Male ; Phosphorylation ; Pressure ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

The rate of corneal graft rejection is still high for high-risk keratoplasty although immune suppression drug is routinely used.The role of traditional Chinese medicine in corneal transplantation is concerned gradually.Heijingpaichitang on the prevention and treatment of rats with high-risk corneal allograft rejection needs further study.Objective This study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of heijingpaichitang on high-risk corneal transplantation immune rejection in rats.Methods Sixteen female SD rats were used as the donors and 32female Wistar rats were served as recipients.The high-risk corneal trasplantation models were established by corneal suture in 32 Wistar rats,and then homogeneity variant SD-Wistar corneal transplantation was performed.The recipients were randomized into model control group,cyclosporinc A (CsA)group,heijingpaichitang group and CsA +heijingpaichitang group.CsA,heijingpaichitang and CsA + heijingpaichitang was orally administered 4 days after operation once per day for 15 days,and normal saline solution was used at the same way in the model control group.Ocular anterior segment reaction was examined under the slit lamp and corneal opacification,edema and neovasculation were scored based on Larkin' s criteria.Rejection index of the corneal graft was recorded and the graft survival time was calculated.The pathological examination of the corneal graft was carried out in all rats,and the inflammatory cells in the corneas and CD4+ cells in the periphery blood were assayed using flow cytometry.The use of the animals complied with ARVO Statement.Results Corneal graft rejection occurred in 10 days after operation in the model control group,12-13 days in the CsA group and heijingpaichitang group and 22 days in the CsA +heijingpaichitang group.Compared with model control group,the scores of the corneal opacification,corneal edema and neovascularization were significantly lower in the CsA group,heijingpaichitang group and CsA+heijingpaichitang group (P＜0.05),and all the scores were declined in the CsA+ heijingpaichitang group compared with CsA group and heijingpaichitang group(P＜0.01),but no significant differences were seen in the scores between the CsA group and heijingpaichitang group(P＞0.05).The mean survival time of grafts was (10.38 ±1.69)days in the model control group,(22.50 ± 3.07) days in the CsA + heijingpaichitang group,with the significant difference (t =-9.790,P =0.000).The pathological examination of graft showed that the lymphocytes and new blood vessels were less in the CsA+heijingpaichitang group compared with CsA group and heijingpaichitang group 15 days after operation.Flow cytometry verified that the number of lymphocytes in graft,CD4+cells and CD4+/CD8+ in periphery blood were significantly lower in the heijingpaichitang group,CsA group and CsA+heijingpaichitang group compared with model control group (P＜0.05).Conclusions Heijingpaichitang can inhibit immune rejection to certain extent in high-risk corneal transplantation rat and has a similar effect to 0.1％ CsA.Heijingpaichitang and 0.1％ CsA have a synergistic effect.

Objective To explore the risk factors in elderly type 2 diabetes mellitus with cerebral infarction. Methods Retrospective investigarion was performed on 148 elderly hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes.The patients were classified based on the presence or absence of cerebral infarction and compared with 60 controls.Logis- tic regression analysis was used to reveal the risk factors for cerebral infarction.Results The levels of systolic blood pressure(SBP),body mass index (BMI),fasting blood glucose (FBG),total cholesterol (TC),triglyceride (TG) and plasma fibrinogen(Fg) were higher in the patients with cerebral infarction[141.15?17.46)mmHg,(23.81?3.53)kg/m~2,(8.82?2.81)mmol/L,(5.69?1.15)mmol/L,(2.08?0.75)mmol/L and (4.08?0.65)g/L] than those without cerebral infarction[(129.78?14.65) mmHg,(22.18?3.22)kg/m~2,(7.06?1.72 )mmol/L,(5.09?1.12)mmol/L,(1.62?0.43)mmol/L and (3.48?0.58)g/L].The logistic analysis showed COUR,SBP,FBG, TC,TG and Fg were the independent risk factors for cerebral infarction.Conclusion Early intervention of the inde- pendent risk factors including SBP,FBG,TC,TG and Fg in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes was important for reduction and postponement of cerebral infarction.

Objective To study the relationship between the levels of uric acid in type 2 diabetic patients aged over forty years and lower extremity arterial disease(LEAD).Methods Lower extremities of 212 patients with type 2 diabetes were detected by high resolution color Doppler ultrasonography,and the levels of uric acid,fasting blood glucose and serum lipid were examined,which were applied to anylaze the relationship with diversity process of lower extremity arterial disease.Results The uric acid,low-density lipoproteins cholesterol(LDL-C),body mass in- dex(BMI),age and course in lower extremity arterial disease group was significantly higher than those without LEAD group(P

A series of cycloberberine derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their anti-cancer activities in vitro. Among these analogs, compounds 6c, 6e and 6g showed strong inhibition on human HepG2 cells. They afforded a potent effect against DOX-resistant MCF-7 breast cells as well. The primary mechanism showed that cell cycle was blocked at G2/M phase of HepG2 cells treated with 6g using flow cytometry assay. It significantly inhibited the activity of DNA Top I at the concentration of 0.1 mg mL-1. Our results provided a basis for the development of this kind of compounds as novel anti-cancer agents.
Antineoplastic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Berberine ; analogs & derivatives ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; DNA Topoisomerases, Type I ; metabolism ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; Molecular Structure ; Structure-Activity Relationship

OBJECTIVETo study therapeutic effects of patella and femur fixation combined with percutaneous suture in the treatment of patellar fractures.

METHODSIn the study,23 patients with patellar fractures were treated with percutaneous Kirschner-pin transfixation and percutaneous suture after Kirschner pins transfixation of superior pole of patellar and condyle of femur. Among the patients, 17 patients were male and 6 patients were female, ranging in age from 18 to 73 years (mean 32.4 years). The therapeutic effects were evaluated according to Bistman criterion for patellar fracture.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up and ranged from 6 to 38 months (mean 11 months). All the fractures were anatomically reduction or near-anatomical reduction. According to Böstman criterion for patellar fracture, 20 were excellent and 3 good.

CONCLUSIONThe method of patella and femur fixation combined with suture for patellar fractures has such advantages as smaller invasion, less complication or sequel, fine reduction of fracture, good restoration of joint function and none operative cicatrix.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patella ; injuries ; surgery ; Suture Techniques ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on airway inflammation, airway remodeling and the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) mRNA in asthmatic rats.

METHODSTwenty-four SPF level SD rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 6): control group, low dose of LPS group, high dose of LPS group and asthma group. Using ovalbumin (OVA) to sensitize and challenge to establish asthmatic rat model. Observed pathological changes of lung tissue by HE staining, inflammatory cell infiltration was observed by airway wall eosinophils (EOS) counts; airway resistance was determined; image analysis software was used to determine the thickness of airway wall, detected airway smooth muscle TLR4 expression levels by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe rat airway resistance and the EOS number of airway wall and the thickness of airway wall in asthma group, low dose of LPS group and high dose of LPS group were significantly higher than those in control group (P < 0.01). The above-mentioned parameters of high dose of LPS group showed significantly lower than those in asthma group and low dose of LPS group (P < 0.05). The expression of rat airway smooth muscle TLR4 mRNA in low dose of LPS group and high dose of LPS group were significantly higher than those in asthma group (P < 0.01). And the expression of rat airway smooth muscle TLR4 mRNA in high dose of LPS group was significantly higher than that in low dose of LPS group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTLR4 plays an important role in asthmatic airway inflammation and airway remodeling, LPS may play double-sided regulation in asthmatic airway inflammation and airway remodeling by activated TLR4.

Airway Remodeling ; drug effects ; Animals ; Asthma ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Inflammation ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Lung ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of actovegin (Nycomed, deproteinized hemoderivative of calf blood injection) on intestinal mucosa in rats with acute radiation enteritis, and observe the changes of expression of apoptosis-related bcl-2/bax genes.

METHODSAn abdominal irradiation in a dose of 9.0 Gy X-ray of linear accelerator was performed once on a group of Wistar rats to establish a model of acute intestinal radiation enteritis. The experimental rats were randomly divided into five groups. Group 1 was normal control group; group 2 was model control group; groups 3, 4 and 5 were treated with low, middle and high dose of actovegin, respectively. After the model was established, actovegin injection was given intraperitoneally for successive 4 days. Corresponding intestinal tissues were taken for morphological examination with an image analysis system. The expression of apoptosis related bax and bcl-2 protein in the intestinal mucosal epithelial cells was determined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe groups 4 and 5 had significantly higher height of intestinal villi, the depth of crypt, the thickness of the mucosa and entire wall (254.66/261.71 microm, 166.47/165.41 microm, 510.44/511.71 microm, 610.38/608.98 microm), compared with those of the model control group (239.12 microm, 151.45 microm, 420.27 microm and 579.32 microm), respectively (P < 0.05). Treatment with middle and high doses of actovegin also significantly down-regulated the expression of activating apoptosis protein bax (24.54/23.24) compared with that of model control group (59.32) (P < 0.05) and up-regulated the expression of inhibiting apoptosis protein bcl-2 (55.54/52.21) compared with that of model control group (20.32) (P < 0.05). The ratio of bcl-2/bax was significantly higher in the groups 4 and 5 (2.2632, 2.1275) compared with that in the model control group (0.3425) (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONActovegin accelerates the recovery of the acute radiation-injured intestinal mucosal epithelium by decreasing apoptosis via down-regulation of the expression of activating apoptosis protein bax and up-regulation of inhibiting apoptosis protein bcl-2.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Enteritis ; etiology ; metabolism ; Heme ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Jejunum ; pathology ; radiation effects ; Male ; Particle Accelerators ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Radiation Injuries ; complications ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of 17beta-estradiol (17beta-E(2)) on the structure and relaxation and contraction activity of thoracic aortas in ovariectomized rats with insulin resistance induced by fructose. Ovariectomized mature female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with high fructose diet for 8 weeks to induce insulin resistance. Physiological dose of 17beta-E(2) (30 mug/kg) was injected subcutaneously every day for 8 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured by use of tail-cuff. Serum nitric oxide (NO), estradiol (E(2)), fasting blood sugar (FBS) and fasting serum insulin (FSI) were measured respectively in each group. The insulin sensitive index (ISI) was calculated. The thoracic aortas were fixed in formalin, sliced and HE dyed. The structure of thoracic aortas, lumen breadth, media thickness, media thickness/lumen breadth ratio and media cross-section area were measured. The contraction response of thoracic aorta rings induced by L-phenylephrine (PE) and the relaxation response of thoracic aorta rings induced by ACh and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were measured. To explore the mechanism, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) was used. The results obtained are as follows: (1) 17beta-E(2) protected against the effect of high fructose diet, which caused an increase in SBP, hyperinsulinemia and a decrease in ISI in ovariectomized rats. (2) The structure of thoracic aortas had no significant difference among the groups. (3) Compared with the ovariectomized group (OVX) or fructose fed group (F), serum nitric oxide was significantly reduced, the contraction response of thoracic aorta rings to PE was enhanced and the relaxation response to ACh was depressed significantly in ovariectomized+fructose fed group (OVX+F). The effect of high fructose was reversed by 17beta-E(2). After pretreatment with L-NAME, the effect of 17beta-E(2), which enhanced the relaxation response of thoracic aorta rings to ACh in ovariectomized+fructose+17beta-E(2) group (OVX+F+E(2)), was partly blocked. (4) The relaxation response of thoracic aorta rings to SNP had no significant difference among the groups. (5) The contraction response of thoracic aorta rings without endothelium to PE had no significant difference among the groups. These findings suggest that 17beta-E(2) may provide protection against the effect of high fructose diet, which causes hypertension, dysfunction of endothelial cells and insulin resistance. The mechanism of this effect of 17beta-E(2) could be partly associated with the increase of NO by NOS pathway, or associated with the decrease in the level of systolic blood pressure and serum insulin, and the improvement of insulin resistance.
Animals ; Aorta ; physiology ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; Female ; Fructose ; Insulin Resistance ; physiology ; Ovariectomy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vasoconstriction ; drug effects ; Vasodilation ; drug effects ; Vasomotor System ; drug effects