In recent years, root rot diseases of Chinese herbal medicine have been posing grave threat to the development of the traditional Chinese medicine industry. This article presents a review on the occurring situation of the root rot disease, including the occurrence of the disease, the diversity of the pathogens, the regional difference in dominant pathogens,and the complexity of symptoms and a survey of the progress in bio-control of the disease using antagonistic microorganisms. The paper also discusses the existing problems and future prospects in the research.
Animals ; Antibiosis ; Bacteria ; growth & development ; Fungi ; physiology ; Nematoda ; growth & development ; Pest Control, Biological ; methods ; Plant Diseases ; microbiology ; parasitology ; prevention & control ; Plant Roots ; microbiology ; parasitology ; Plants, Medicinal ; microbiology ; parasitology

Objective To explore the safety and the efficacy of the two-stage sedation administration method for the elderly in gastroscopic examination. Methods 128 elderly patients were divided into two groups according to age and body mass index (BMI), and were given sedation treatment before gastroscopic examination by two-stage administration method(group TSAM, n= 64)and continual administration method (group CAM, n= 64) of analgesics respectively. The following major data were recorded : ( 1 ) mean artery pressure (MAP) ;( 2 ) Blood oxygen saturation ( SpO2 ) ;(3)sedation level;(4) recovery time;(5) the amount of propofol used for sedation;(6) electrocardiogram (ECG) ;(7)the degree of pharyngeal malaise;(8) the oblivion degree of malaise. Results There was no significant difference in MAP alteration between two methods(P>0. 05). Compared with group CAM, the decreased degree of SpO2 was slighter and no patient's SpO2 was lower than 90% in group TSAM (P<0. 05). Fifty-seven patients in group TSAM fell into sedative state for gastroscopy with OAA/S score 2, while sixty patients in group CAM with OAA/S score 2, which represented a deeper sedation level in group CAM (P<0. 01). The recovery time was shorter and the amount of propofol used was significantly less in group TSAM than in group CAM (P<0. 01). During the process of gastroscopic exmaination, ST-T change and arrhythmia in ECG were not seen in either of these two groups. The pharyngeal malaise of patients in group TSAM was more severe than in group CAM (P<0. 01). However, there was no difference in the oblivion degree of malaise between two methods(P>0.05). Conclusions The two-stage sedative administration method is safer and more effective for gastroscopic examination for the elderly.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type III ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nephrosis, Lipoid ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of SS8, a monomer extracted from Spatholobus suberectus Dunn used for invigorating the circulation of blood, on proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells in mice with bone marrow depression.

METHODThe method of semi-solid culture with methylcellulose of CFU-GM, CFU-E, BFU-E, CFU-Meg was adopted in bone marrow depressed mice which were treated with SS8 for a long time.

RESULTThe experimental data demonstrated that the numbers of CFU-GM, CFU-E, BFU-E, CFU-Meg in bone marrow depressed mice were raised distinctly under the control of SS8 as compared with those of contrast group. The effect of SS8 became stronger as time went on and the dosage rose.

CONCLUSIONSS8 can distinctly stimulate the proliferation of hematopoietec progenitor cells in mice with bone marrow depression in a time-and-dosagedependent manner.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; radiation effects ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Erythroid Precursor Cells ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Fabaceae ; chemistry ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Male ; Mice ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Whole-Body Irradiation

The paper is to report the development of a high-performance liquid chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method for the determination of icaritin (ICT) in rat plasma. After precipitated with acetonitrile from the plasma, ICT was isolated chromatographically on a Dikma C18 column. The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-water-acetic acid (72 : 28 : 1.5, v/v/v). Electrospray ionization (ESI) source was applied and operated in the positive ion mode. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode with the transitions of m/z 387 --> m/z 313 and m/z 331 --> m/z 315 were used to quantify ICT and the internal standard, respectively. The linear calibration curve was obtained in the concentration range of 2.5-1,000 ng x mL(-1). The lower limit of quantification was 2.5 ng x mL(-1). The inter- and intra-day precision (RSD) were less than 9.63%, and the accuracy (relative error) was within +/-7.42%. The method was proved to be suitable for the pharmacokinetics of ICT, which offers advantages of high sensitivity and selectivity.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Female ; Flavonoids ; administration & dosage ; blood ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; methods ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods

OBJECTIVETo observe and compare the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Sanyinjiso" (SP 6), "Hegu" (LI 4) and "Xuehai" (SP 10) in dysmenorrhea rats so as to investigate the functional specificity of acupoint.

METHODSOne hundred SD female rats aged three-month-old in the diestrus examined by the vaginal smear screening were randomly divided into a saline group, a model group, a Sanyinjiao (SF 6) group, a Hegu (LI 4) group and a Xuehai (SF 10) group, 20 rats in each group. The rats in the last four groups were given Estradiol Benzoate combined with Oxytocin to prepare the models of dysmenorrhea and in the saline group were given the same dose of saline. Last three groups were treated with electroacupuncture (EA) at Sanyinjiao" (SF 6), "Hegu" (LI 4) and 'Xuehai" (SF 10) respectively. The writhing behaviors of the rats in each group were observed within 20 min performing electroacupuncture from the start of the pain and the waveforms of uterine contraction were recorded.

RESULTSIn terms of the writhing behaviors, the writhing latency in the Hegu (LI 4) group was extended significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and the writhing numbers in the Hegu (LI 4) group were decreased significantly (both P < 0.05) as compared with those in the Sanyinjiao (SF 6) group and in the Xuehai (SF 10) group. In terms of the waveforms of uterine contraction, compared with that in the model group, the amplitude and the activity of uterine contraction in both Sanyinjiao (SF 6) group and Hegu (LI 4) group were decreased significantly (all P < 0.05), and with no significant difference between the Xuehai (SF 10) and the model group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONFor comprehensive assessment of the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture at different acupoints by using the writhing behaviors and the waveforms of uterine contraction, "Hegu" (LI 4) is the best, "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) is the next and "Xuehai" (SP 10) is the third. showing a relatively functional specificity of the acupoint.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dysmenorrhea ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of auricular point pricking-bloodletting plus auricular point sticking therapy for acne vulgaris. Methods: A total of 66 patients with acne vulgaris were randomized into an observation group and a control group by the random number table, with 33 cases in each group. The observation group was treated with auricular point pricking-bloodletting plus auricular point sticking therapy, and the control group was treated only with auricular point sticking therapy. The treatments of both groups were performed twice a week, 4 weeks as a course of treatment, for 3 courses in total. The scores of skin lesions and dermatology life quality index (DLQI) scores were recorded before and after treatment to assess the clinical efficacy. Results: During the trial, there were 3 cases of drop-out both in the observation group and the control group. After 3 courses of treatment, the total effective rate of the observation group was 96.7％, while that of the control group was 76.7％. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). The intra-group comparison showed that the scores of skin lesion and DLQI were both decreased with the increase of treatment times, that was, the scores were lower than those at the previous time point (allP<0.05). After 1, 2, and 3 courses of treatment, the scores of skin lesion and DLQI of both groups were statistically different from those of the same group before treatment (allP<0.05). At every time point during the treatment, the scores of skin lesion and DLQI of the observation group were lower than those of the control group, and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Auricular point pricking-bloodletting plus auricular point sticking has a better curative effect than auricular point sticking therapy alone in the treatment of acne vulgaris, and has a time-effect correlation.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of umbilical cord blood monocytes (UCBMC) transplantation on erythropoietin (EPO) protein and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in hypoxia-ischemia (HI) neonatal rats.

METHODSForty seven-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control (N), HI, UCBMC and HI+UCBMC groups (n=10 each). Hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) model was prepared according to the Rice method. Twenty-four hours after hypoxia, the N and HI groups were injected with 2 μL phosphate buffered saline (PBS), and the UCBMC and HI+UCBMC groups were injected with 3×10(6) UCBMC via the lateral ventricle. EPO protein and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in the subventricular zone of the injured brain were observed by EPO/DAPI and NG2/DAPI immunofluorescence double staining, and their correlation was analyzed.

RESULTSSeven days after transplantation, there were more NG2(+)DAPI(+) and EPO(+)DAPI(+) cells in the HI+UCBMC group than in the UCBMC (P<0.05), N and HI groups (P<0.01). More NG2(+)DAPI(+) and EPO(+)DAPI(+) cells were observed in the UCBMC group compared with the N and HI groups (P<0.01). There were more NG2(+)DAPI(+) cells in the N group than in the HI group (P<0.01). The number of NG2(+)DAPI(+) cells was correlated with the number of EPO(+)DAPI(+) cells in the HI+UCBMC group (r=0.898, β=1.4604, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSUCBMC can promote expression of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, which is correlated with an increase in EPO protein and thus repairs brain white matter damage in neonatal rats with HIBD.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Erythropoietin ; analysis ; biosynthesis ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Monocytes ; transplantation ; Oligodendroglia ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stem Cells ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the changes to surfactant proteins in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) of children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) and their significance.

METHODSSelf-control method was used in the study. Forty-seven MPP children were divided into single lung infected (n=32) and bilateral lung infected groups (n=15) according to lung CT results. Surfactant proteins SP-A, B, C and D were measured using ELISA in the serum and BALF in the two groups. The correlations between SP-A, B, C and D content in the serum and BALF were evaluated by Spearman correlation analysis.

RESULTSSP-A, B, C and D content in BALF from the majorly infected or infected lung were significantly higher than from the opposite lung and serum (P<0.01). SP-A, B and C content in serum was significantly lower than in BALF from the non-infected lung in the single-side infected lung group (P<0.01 or 0.05), but there was no significant difference between serum SP-D content and BALF SP-D content from the non-infected lung. There were no significant differences in SP-A, B, C and D content in serum and BALF from the minorly infected lung in the bilateral lung infected group. Serum SP-D content was positively correlated with BALF SP-D content from the majorly infected lung in the bilateral lung infected group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSSerum SP-D content may serve as a biomarker for evaluating the severity of pulmonary infection in children with community-acquired pneumonia.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Surfactants ; analysis ; blood

OBJECTIVE: To explore the value of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in transcatheter closure of atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) combined with secoundum-type atrial septal defect (ASD). METHODS: Fourteen patients (3 males and 11 females) who had ASA combined with secoundum-type ASD were diagnosed by TTE or transesophageal echocardiography. The ASA projected to the right atrium in all patients. The width of basilar part was 13 approximately 24 (18.5+/-3.9) mm, and the vertical extent was 7 approximately 11(9.7+/-1.8) mm. Ten patients combined with single hole ASD and 4 patients with multiple hole ASD. Blood shifting from the left atrium to the right atrium was displayed in color Doppler in all patients. All patients were treated by transcatheter closure under the guiding of X fluoroscopy and TTE, and examined with TTE during the follow-up. RESULTS: Transcatheter closure was successfully performed by 14 occluders in all patients. No residual shunt was detected immediately by TTE after the procedure in all patients. During the 6 approximately 12 month follow-up, no residual shunt or occluder shifting was found, the dimensions of the heart became normal in 11 patients (79%) and were significantly decreased in 4. CONCLUSION Transcatheter closure is feasible in patients with ASA combined with secoundum-type ASD, and extra attention must be paid to the specialty. TTE is very important in case selection before transcatheter closure, and it may be used to monitor and guide the procedure during transcatheter closure.
Adult ; Atrial Septum ; Balloon Occlusion ; methods ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Aneurysm ; complications ; therapy ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; complications ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography, Interventional ; Young Adult