Objective: To observe the effect of muscle regions of meridians warm needling method plus pricking Jing-Well points for blood-letting in improving nail fold microcirculation in the patients with shoulder-hand syndrome (SHS) after stroke, and the effects on hemorrheology, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and serum substance P (SP). Methods: A total of 72 patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group by the random number table method, with 36 cases in each group. The control group was treated with physical rehabilitation training, and the observation group was treated with additional muscle regions of meridians warm needling method plus pricking Jing-Well points for blood-letting treatment. The treatment course lasted for 4 weeks. After treatment, the clinical efficacy of the two groups was compared. The changes in shoulder-hand syndrome scale (SHSS), simplified Fugl-Meyer assessment-upper extremity (FMA-UE), visual analog scale (VAS), activities of daily living (ADL), traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score, nail fold microcirculation hemorheology indictors [whole blood viscosity (high-shear, low-shear), hematocrit, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)], CGRP and SP levels were observed. Results: The total effective rate in the observation group was 86.1％, higher than 63.9％ in the control group (P<0.05). The overall curative effect in the observation group was better than that in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the scores of pain sensation, edema, external turn and rotation of the arm in SHSS, and the total score were significantly decreased in both groups (all P<0.05), and each score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (all P<0.05). After treatment, the scores of VAS and TCM syndrome in both groups decreased significantly (all P<0.05), and the scores of FMA-UE and ADL increased significantly (all P<0.05). The scores of VAS and TCM syndrome in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (both P<0.05), and the scores of FMA-UE and ADL were higher than those in the control group (both P<0.05). After treatment, the whole blood viscosity (high-shear and low-shear) and hematocrit in both groups decreased obviously (all P<0.05), and ESR increased obviously (both P<0.05), and the whole blood viscosity (high-shear and low-shear) and hematocrit in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (all P<0.05), and ESR was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the peritubular state, loop shape, blood flow and total score of nail fold microcirculation in both groups decreased significantly (all P<0.05), and each score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (all P<0.05). After treatment, SP in both groups decreased obviously (both P<0.05), CGRP increased obviously (both P<0.05), and SP in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05), CGRP was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Compared with conventional physical rehabilitation training, muscle regions of meridians warm needling method plus pricking Jing-Well points for blood-letting treatment can significantly reduce the clinical symptoms of SHS, promote the recovery of physical functions, improve the nail fold microcirculation and hemorrheology indictors, and regulate the serum cytokine levels such as CGRP and SP.

Amyloid beta-Peptides ; analysis ; Animals ; Frontal Lobe ; drug effects ; physiology ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; physiology ; Learning ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sodium Azide ; pharmacology ; Space Perception

Objective To examine the role of noggin on the expression of nestin and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the hippocampus of adult rats. Methods Antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ASODN) technique was employed to inhibit endogenous noggin expression and immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of Nestin and GFAP in the hippocampus of adult rats. Results It was observed that the number of nestin and GFAP immunoreactive cells in the dentate gyrus (DG) of hippocampus was increased in adult rats treated with antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to noggin. Moreover, the number of GFAP immunoreactive cells was increased in the subventricular zone of the rats treated with antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to noggin. Conclusion The results in the present study indicates that noggin may play a role in the differentiation of neural stem cells in the adult hippocampus, and it promotes the differentiation of neural stem cells in the DG to neuronal fate.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of peimine on excision repair cross-complementation 1 (ERCC1) mRNA and lung resistant protein (LRP) expressions in A549/cisplatin (DDP) multidrug resistance (MDR) cell line.

METHODSLung cancer A549/DDP cells were cultured in vitro.Cells at logarithmic growth phase were divided into 4 groups, i.e., the blank control group, the DDP group, the ligustrazine group (DDP+ligustrazine), the peimine group (DDP + peimine). After 48-h drug action, ERCC1 mRNA expression was detected by RT-PCR and LRP expression detected by cell immunofluorescence.

RESULTSThere was no statistical difference in expression levels of ERCC1 mRNA and LRP between the DDP group and the blank control group (P > 0.05). Compared with the DDP group, expression levels of ERCC1 mRNA and LRP obviously decreased in the ligustrazine group and the peimine group (P < 0.05). They were obviously lower in the peimine group than in the ligustrazine group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPeimine could reverse MDR of A549/DDP cell line. Its mechanism might be associated with down-regulating ERCC1 mRNA and LRP expression levels.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Cevanes ; pharmacology ; Cisplatin ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Down-Regulation ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Endonucleases ; genetics ; Humans ; Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-1 ; genetics ; Lung Neoplasms ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in the clinical efficacy on posterior circulation ischemia between acupuncture at stellate ganglion and conventional acupuncture as well as the impacts on blood pressure.

METHODSEighty cases of posterior circulation ischemia were randomized into an observation group (40 cases) and a control group (40 cases). In the observation group, acupuncture was applied to the bilateral stellate ganglions on the neck, stimulated with reinforcing technique by rotating the needles. In the control group, the acupuncture of reducing technique was applied to Fengchi (GB 20), Baihui (GV 20), Neiguan (PC 6) and Taichong (LR 3) in the excess syndrome. The even needling or reinforcing technique was applied to Fengchi (GB 20), Baihui (GV 20), Ganshu (BL 18), Shenshu (BL 23) and Zusanli (ST 36) for the deficiency syndrome. The treatment was given once every 3 days and 4 treatments were required totally in the two groups. The changes in total syndrome score, peak Systolic blood flow velocity (Vp) of vertebral artery and basilar artery, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were compared before and after treatment in the two groups. The clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe total syndrome score was reduced apparently after treatment compared with that before treatment in the two groups (P < 0.01), and the reducing was more obvious in the observation group as compared with that in the control group (P < 0.01). The total effective rate was 87.5% (35/40) in the observation group, higher than 67.5% (27/40, P < 0.05) in the control group. After treatment, the reduced Vp of vertebral artery was not improved apparently as compared with that before treatment in the control group, Vp in blood velocity abnormality (including vascular spasm, stenosis or reduced velocity) of vertebral artery and basilar artery was all improved as compared with that before treatment in the two groups (P < 0.01), and the improvements in the observation group were more obvious than those in the control group (P < 0.01). After treatment, the systolic and diastolic pressures were reduced as compared with those before treatment in the two groups, and the reduced systolic and diastolic pressures in the observation group were more apparent than those in the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at stellate ganglion achieves the satisfactory efficacy in the treatment of posterior circulation ischemia and the significant efficacy of reducing blood pressure, more advanced than the conventional acupuncture.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; Brain Infarction ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stellate Ganglion ; physiopathology ; Treatment Outcome

The content of benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) which as the enzymatic hydrolysis product of benzyl glucosinolate through thioglucosidase was determined by HPLC. The content of benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) which as the enzymatic hydrolysis product of benzyl glucosinolate through thioglucosidase was determined by HPLC. The chromatography condition was as follows: Kaseisorb LC ODS 2000 (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 min) column with the mobile phase of acetonitrile(A)-water( B) under gradient elution (0-5 min, 3%-8% A; 5-9 min, 8%-48% A; 9-23 min, 48%-62% A; 23-28 min, 62%-99% A); the flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1) with 10 microL injection volume; detection wavelength was 246 nm and temperature of column was 40 degrees C. The content of benzyl glucosinolate was in the range of 10.76-17.91 g x L(-1). The method is simple, accurate and good reproducibility which can be used for the determination of benzyl glucosinolate in Lepidium meyenii, effectively.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Glucosinolates ; analysis ; Lepidium ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of melatonin on residual hair follicle cells of scald rats at early stage.

METHODSEighteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into scald group, treatment group, sham group , with 6 rats in each group. The rats in scald group and treatment group were subjected to 30% TBSA partial thickness scald on the back, and were resuscitated with balanced solution after 1 hour, while those in sham group were immersed in water at 37 degrees C for 25 s to simulate scald, and did not receive fluid replacement. Rats in treatment group were intraperitoneally injected with 10 mg/kg melatonin solution at 1 minute, 8 hours and 12 hours after scald, while those in sham group and scald group were given equal volume of 1% alcohol sodium-isotonic saline instead. Tissue samples were harvested at 6, 12 and 24 post scald hours (PSH) for determination of MDA and GSH levels. Apoptosis of residul hair follicle was detected by TUNEL method and immunohistochemistry of caspase-3.

RESULTSThe level of MDA in scald group at each time point was much higher than that in sham group (P < 0.01) and treatment group (P < 0.05), and it peaked at 12 PSH. The changes in GSH were just opposite to that of MDA. Under fluorescence microscope, the residual hair follicle cells were blue, and the apoptotic cells appeared green. The apoptosis rate in scald group at 6, 12, 24 PSH was obviously higher than that in sham (P < 0.01) and treatment groups (P < 0.05), which was (20.2 +/- 3.4)% vs (4.3 +/- 2.3)% vs (10.9 +/- 3.2)%, (31.2 +/- 3.6)% vs (5.1 +/- 2.5)% vs (19.1 +/- 3.7)%, (22.4 +/- 2.7)% vs (4.1 +/- 2.4)% vs (13.1 +/- 3.4)%, respectively. The score of caspase-3 positive cell in scald group was higher than those in sham group (P < 0.01) and treatment group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere is obvious correlation between oxidative stress and apoptosis rate of hair follicle cells in rats with partial thickness scald. Early administration of melatonin may have anti-apoptosis ability for residual hair follicle cells by attenuation of oxidative stress.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Burns ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Hair Follicle ; cytology ; metabolism ; Male ; Melatonin ; therapeutic use ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the value of ~1H-MRS in the diagnosis and prognosis of diffuse axonal injury(DAI).Methods A prospective imaging study was performed in 63 patients with craniocerebral injury admitted from October 2002 to April 2004.Sixty-three patients were divided into DAI group(27 cases)and Non-DAI group(36 cases)according to the result of the MRI.Then,the ratio of NAA/Cr,Cho/Cr,mINs/Cr,and GIx/Cr at basal ganglia and genu and splenium of corpus callosum was quantified using ~1H-MRS and compared between DAI group and Non-DAI group.Twenty healthy persons were served as control group.The relation between ~1H-MRS indexes and period of primary uneonciousness post-injury was analyzed.Results The results of NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr at genu and splenium of corpus callosum and basal ganglia of control group were 1.19?0.18,1.21?0.24;1.89?0.17,1.84?0.14; 1.57?0.16,1.85?0.25,which of DAI group were 0.83?0.24,2.92?0.78;1.25?0.35,2.54? 0.42;1.33?0.17,2.38?0.44,and those of Non-DAI group were 1.11?0.23,1.61?0.33;1.61? 0.22,1.93?0.26;1.49?0.23,1.89?0.29.The differences between them were statistically significant (P

To investigate the feasibility to produce crocetin in tobacco plants.The coding region of zeaxanthin cleavage dioxygenase (CSzCD) gene from Crocus sativus L. was inserted into the downstream of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter of a binary vector pBI121, and integrated into the genome of Nicotiana tabacum L. Twenty-one transgenic lines were identified by genomic southern blotting analysis. Western blotting and HPLC analysis of the leaf extracts of transgenic tobacco showed that crocetin was produced in CSzCD gene-transformed plants, while no crocetin was found in the untransformed tobacco.

Objective To study the changes of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase D (PC-PLD) enzyme activity of glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs) in high glucose and the effect of PLD on cytoskeleton. Methods Rats GMCs were cultured in high glucose(30 mmol/L) for 48 hours. PLD enzyme activity was measured by enzyme coupled colorimetry. PKC activity was measured by substrate phosphorylation, and fluorescence intensity of F-actin was observed by FITC-labeled antibody and laser scan cofocal microscopy (LSCM) . Results In high glucose, PLD and PKC activities were obviously elevated, but fluorescence intensity of F-actin was decreased and its cytoskeletal pattern was disassembly. After treatment with inhibtor of PLD, PKC activity was significantly decreased, and intensity and organization of F-actin were recovered. Conclusion Elevation of PLD activity induced by high glucose may influence the cytoskeleton and contraction of CMC through PKC pathway.