The traditional Chinese medicinal therapy of the eye acupuncture is one of superior microacupuncture therapies which was invented by famous acupuncture professor Peng Jing-shan. Through needling points around the eye, the treatment can treat the diseases of whole body, especially for curing apoplectic paralysis. This article expounded and analyzed the mechanism of eye acupuncture in treating apoplectic paralysis through medical theory, biological holographic theory, modern nerves anatomy and nerves physiology.

In this paper, the process performance indexes (PPIs) P(p) and P(pk) were introduced and applied to evaluate the process capability and quality consistence of Chinese medicine products. The historical quality analysis data of Qingkailing injection were collected and taken as the research object. The confidence intervals of P(p) and P(pk) were estimated based on the Bootstrap sampling methods. Results showed that the value and width of the confidence interval P(p) of were smaller that of P(pk) suggesting that the P(pk) index was more sensitive than P(p) in process capability analysis. Within the production period concerned, the P(pk) values estimated from different quality indexes of Qingkailing injection, such as baicalin, cholic acid, geniposide and total nitrogen, were 1.122, 2.055, 1.564 and 0.891, respectively. It could be found that the cholic acid had the highest process capability, followed by the geniposide and baicalin. The total nitrogen had the lowest process capability, indicating that it is necessary to reinforce the quality management of total nitrogen related manufacturing processes. The case studies demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of PPIs, which are convenient to be used in production practice of Chinese medicine.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; standards ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; standards ; Injections ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo study the characteristics of dental arches in the patients with facial asymmetry.

METHODS20 facial asymmetrical patients were chosen as the study subjects. They were 8 boys and 12 girls, aged from 12-year to 16-year old. 20 normal occlusion persons without signs of facial asymmetry were chosen as control. Dental casts were measured by 3-dimension measuring machine. Dental arch asymmetry, coordination between upper and lower dental arch, and dental inclination were measured. SAS 6.03 was used in statistical analysis.

RESULTSThe distance from cuspid and the first bicuspid to the median palatal raphe in the side of crossbite was larger than that of contralateral side in maxilla. The distance from cuspid, bicuspids and the first molar to the midline in the side of crossbite was smaller than that of contralateral side in mandible (P < 0.05). The dental arch width of cuspid and first premolar in maxilla was smaller than that of mandible (P < 0.05) . Significant buccal inclination of the maxillary posterior teeth coupled with lingual inclination of the mandibular posterior teeth was found on the crossbite side. In contrast, significant lingual inclination of the maxillary posterior teeth coupled with buccal inclination of the mandibular posterior teeth was found on the contralateral side (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe width of upper anterior dental arch was smaller, and the inclination of upper and lower posterior teeth between crossbite side and counterside was different in facial asymmetry patients.

Bicuspid ; Cuspid ; Dental Arch ; Dental Occlusion ; Face ; abnormalities ; Facial Asymmetry ; congenital ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Male ; Malocclusion ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Molar ; Tooth

OBJECTIVETo study the fractional anisotropy (FA) and the architecture of the optic radiation fiber tracts of normal adults with magnetic resonance (MR) diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

METHODSDiffusion tensor images were obtained from 30 healthy volunteers without any cerebral abnormalities on conventional MRI. FA and the mean diffusivity (MD) of the optic radiation were measured in the directional encoded color (DEC) maps. The architecture of the optic radiation fiber tracts were displayed with the software of diffusion tensor fiber tracking.

RESULTSIn all subjects, the optic radiation could be readily identified in the DEC maps. The FA value was 0.509-/+0.029 in the left and 0.502-/+0.026 in the right, with the MD value of (0.763-/+0.050) x10(-3) and 0.748-/+0.052)x10(-3) mm2/s, respectively. No significant differences were found in the FA or MD value of the bilateral optic radiation (P>0.05). Diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) demonstrated that the 3 bundles of the optic radiation fibers were located in the lateral sagittal stratum, passing from the lateral geniculate body of the thalamus to the primary visual cortex. The dorsal and lateral bundles passed posteriorly to the superior bank of the calcarine cortex, while the ventral bundle passed anteriorly before making a sharp turn, known as the Meyer loop, and subsequently coursed posteriorly to terminate in the inferior margin of the calcarine cortex, which was consistent with the results of classic anatomical studies.

CONCLUSIONAs a novel method to study the relationship between visual function and optic pathway, DTI and DTT can show the FA and architecture of the optic radiation.

Adult ; Anisotropy ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Echo-Planar Imaging ; methods ; Female ; Geniculate Bodies ; anatomy & histology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Models, Anatomic ; Occipital Lobe ; anatomy & histology ; Optic Nerve ; anatomy & histology ; Visual Pathways ; anatomy & histology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo establish a simple but effective method of laser scanning confocal microscopic imaging for Ca2+ oscillations of pancreatic acinar cells in adult mice.

METHODSPancreatic acinar cells from adult Kunming mice were isolated acutely with collagenase, and then loaded with fluo-4-AM, a Ca2+ indicator. A laser scanning confocal microscope armed with 488 nm laser was employed to record the dynamic fluorescent signals in-time and synchronously while acetylcholine (ACh) was added in the pancreatic acinar cells.

RESULTS(1) The classic pancreatic acinar cell Ca2+ oscillations were induced by a certain concentration of ACh (100 nmol/L) successfully and steadily, which could be blocked by atropine completely. (2) Plasmic Ca2+ oscillations from different parts of one acinar cell were usually with different amplitudes and almost the same frequencies. But both of amplitudes and frequencies were different among different cells. (3) The acinar cell Ca2+ oscillations were induced by ACh in a concentration-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONThe laser scanning confocal microscopic imaging for adult mouse pancreatic acinar cell Ca2+ oscillations was established successfully. The features of being easy to use, direct to see lively, high efficiency and good flexibility make it a popular tool for researchers to choose.

Acinar Cells ; chemistry ; Animals ; Calcium ; analysis ; Calcium Signaling ; Cells, Cultured ; Mice ; Microscopy, Confocal ; methods ; Pancreas ; cytology

In the present paper, the basic principles, the device and the analytical method of the hydrodynamic chromatography (HDC) were summarized, which is most widely used in hydrokinetic chromatography. The application of the hydrodynamic chromatography in the determination of the particle size and size distribution of the particulate drug delivery system was also reviewed. The method can determine the particle size of nano- and micron-scale particulate drug delivery systems rapidly. And this method also has the advantages of economic, convenient and no damage to the samples. In summary, there will be a good prospect for the application of HDC in the determination of particle size distribution features of particulate drug delivery systems.
Capsules ; chemistry ; Chromatography ; methods ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Hydrodynamics ; Liposomes ; chemistry ; Microspheres ; Nanoparticles ; chemistry ; Particle Size

The mechanism of biological actions of quercetin was studied by using metabolomic method and biomolecular network. HPLC-MS was used to analyze the serum metabolome in rats of blank group and quercetin administration group rats, and MS data were processed by MATLAB software. With multivariate statistical analysis of serum metabolite profiles, a clear separation among blank group and quercetin administration group was achieved, potential biomarkers were selected according to the parameters of variable importance in the projection (VIP) and identified according to MS information and database retrieval. Four compounds, related enzymes, action targets and metabolic pathways had been confirmed, namely retinoic acid and RARbeta, arachidonate and COX-2, 3, 5-diodotyrosine and TPO, uridine diphosphate glucose and PDEs. The mechanism of quercetin enhancing ability of retinoic acid on the induction of RARbeta, activating TPO, using as COX-2 and PDEs inhibitor was approved by biomolecular network and related literatures. In this study, a mechanism of multiple biological actions of quercetin was evaluated at the level of the biomolecular network, metabolomics and biomolecular network can be used to investigate the biological effects mechanism of quercetin, which provided a new method to further revealing mechanism of drug action.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Mass Spectrometry ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Metabolome ; Metabolomics ; Multivariate Analysis ; Quercetin ; pharmacology ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the blood flow of the exceedingly expanded skin and the viability of the flap.

METHODSThe piglets were set up as the animal model. They were divided into 7 groups according to different injection volume of the tissue expander, i. e. injection to 1/2 content, 3/4 content, full content, 50% over content, 100% over content, sham-operation control and normal control. At different stages of expansion, the blood flow and the amplitude of the expanded skin were examined by laser Doppler. The survival length of the expanded flap was measured. Furthermore, statistical analysis was performed.

RESULTSAs the expansion volume increasing, the blood flow and the amplitude of the expanded skin increased, the survival length of the expanded flap increased also. In the meantime, the amplitude instability and vessel permeability increased. When the injection volume exceeded to 100%, the blood flow and the survival length of the expanded flap decreased.

CONCLUSIONSIn soft tissue and skin expansion, increasing injection volume could increase the survival length of the expanded flap, while over-expansion to 100% content may cause blood flow disturbance.

Animals ; Graft Survival ; Models, Animal ; Skin ; blood supply ; Skin Transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; Tissue Expansion Devices

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of action of tanshinone II A for liver protection in hepatic fibrotic mice by observing its effects on signaling pathway of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) and TGFbeta1/Smad3.

METHODSHepatic fibrosis model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of thioacetamide (TAA). Thirty-six male Kunming mice were divided into five groups: the normal control group (N), the 4-week model group (A), the 4-week tanshinone II A prevented group (B), the 6-week model group (C) and the 3-week tanshinone II A treated group (D). Changes of serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), histopathology of liver (HE staining), area density of collagen in liver (Masson staining), expressions of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), collagen I , fibronectin (FN), transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), Smad3 and IGFBP7 in liver (by immunohiStochemistry), liver content of FN, Smad3 and IGFBP7 (by Western blot), and the hepatocyte apoptosis (by TUNEL) were observed.

RESULTSThe serum levels of ALT and LDH, the expressions of alpha-SMA, collagen I , TGF-beta1 in liver, expressions and contents of FN, Smad3 and IGFBP7 in liver were significantly lower; the liver damage and the hepatic apoptosis index were lesser in Group B than in Group A, also in Group D than in Group C, respectively, all showing statistical significance (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTanshinone II A could improve liver function, inhibit the activation of hepatic stellate cells, reduce the production of extracellular matrix, and protect the hepatocytes, and its of mechanisms of actions might be related with blocking TGF-beta1/Smad3 signaling pathway and down-regulating the expression of IGFBP7 in liver.

Animals ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; pharmacology ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Signal Transduction ; Smad3 Protein ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

The association rate constant and dissociation rate constant are important parameters of the drug-cyclodextrin supermolecule systems, which determine the dissociation of drugs from the complex and the further in vivo absorption of drugs. However, the current studies of drug-cyclodextrin interactions mostly focus on the thermodynamic parameter of equilibrium constants (K). In this paper, a method based on quantitative high performance affinity chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry was developed to determine the apparent dissociation rate constant (k(off,app)) of drug-cyclodextrin supermolecule systems. This method was employed to measure the k(off,app) of meloxicam and acetaminophen. Firstly, chromatographic peaks of drugs and non-retained solute (uracil) on β-cyclodextrin column at different flow rates were acquired, and the retention time and variance values were obtained via the fitting the peaks. Then, the plate heights of drugs (H(R)) and uracil (H(M,C)) were calculated. The plate height of theoretical non-retained solute (H(M,T)) was calculated based on the differences of diffusion coefficient and the stagnant mobile phase mass transfer between drugs and uracil. Finally, the k(off,app) was calculated from the slope of the regression equation between (H(R)-H(M,T)) and uk/(1+k)2, (0.13 ± 0.00) s(-1) and (4.83 ± 0.10) s(-1) for meloxicam and acetaminophen (control drug), respectively. In addition, the apparent association rate constant (k(on,app)) was also calculated through the product of K (12.53 L x mol(-1)) and k(off,app). In summary, it has been proved that the method established in our study was simple, efficiently fast and reproducible for investigation on the kinetics of drug-cyclodextrin interactions.
Acetaminophen ; chemistry ; Chromatography, Affinity ; Drug Interactions ; Kinetics ; Mass Spectrometry ; Thermodynamics ; Thiazines ; chemistry ; Thiazoles ; chemistry ; beta-Cyclodextrins ; chemistry