OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in the clinical efficacy on perennial allergic rhinitis between three nasal points acupuncture therapy and the oral administration of loratadine so as to provide the better acupuncture program in clinical treatment.

METHODSSixty cases were randomized into an acupuncture group (30 cases) and a medication group (30 cases). In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied to three nasal points [Yingxiang (LI 20), Yintang (EX-HN 3), Bitong (Extra)] and acupoints selected by syndrome differentiation. Acupuncture was given once every two days, three times a week, for 4 weeks totally. In the medication group, loratadine was prescribed for oral administration, 10 mg every day, for 4 weeks. The symptom and physical sign scores before and after treatment, as well the short-term and long-term efficacy were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 96.7% (29/30) in the acupuncture group and was 93.3% (28/30) in the medication group after treatment. The efficacy was similar between the two groups (P>0.05). In follow-up, the total effective rate was 86.7% (26/30) in the acupuncture group, which was better than 56.7% (17/30, P<0.05) in the medication group. The scores of symptoms and physical signs after treatment and in follow-up were all reduced apparently as compared with those before treatment in the patients of the two groups (all P<0.05). The scores of symptoms and physical signs were reduced more apparently in the acupuncture group as compared with those in the medication group in follow-up (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe acupuncture at three nasal points and the acupoints selected by syndrome differentiation achieves the similar short-term efficacy on perennial allergic rhinitis as compared with the oral administration of loratadine. The acupuncture therapy presents the obvious advantages on long-term efficacy.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nose ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; therapy ; Young Adult

In this study, the herpetin (HPT) lyophilized liposome was prepared, and its saftey and pharmacodynamics were evaluated. HPT lyophilized liposome was prepared by thin-film ultrasonication method. The lyoprotectant was optimized using particle size and encapsulation efficiency as indexes. Then, the influencing factors of HPT lyophilized liposome were investigated. In addition, preliminary safety and therapy efficiency of HPT lyophilized liposome to liver injury induced by CCl4 in the mice. The optimal lyoprotectant was 5% sucrose plus 5% lactose and the dispersed HPT lyophilized liposomes were spherical with the mean diameter of (107.0 ± 1.2) nm and the mean encapsulation efficiency of (99.7 ± 0.50)%. The lyophilized powder was sensitive to temperature, humidity and illumination. None of hemolysis, hemagglutination and vein irritation was observed after intravenous injection of HPT lyophilized liposomes into rabbits. HPT lyophilized liposome showed obviously therapy efficiency to liver injury induced by CCl4 in the mice. The improvements of ALT, AST and ALP were better than that in HPT free drug. The obtained HPT lyophilized liposome met the standard of CP with fine particle size and encapsulation efficiency after dispersion. The HPT lyophilized liposome showed good safety and enhanced the treatment efficacy of HPT. The HPT lyophilized liposome should be stored in low temperature, sealed condition far away from light.
Animals ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Cucurbitaceae ; chemistry ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Drug Stability ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Liposomes ; chemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Rabbits

Herpetin (HPT) is an active monomer constituent isolated from lignanoid in seeds of Herpetospermum caudigerum. HPT shows inhibitory effects in hepatic injury and HBV-DNA and the replication. In the study, we successfully prepare herpetin liposomes by film dispersion method for the first time. The prescription process was optimized, with the entrapment efficiency as the index. According to the optimized prescription, the mass ratio of HPT: phospholipids: cholesterol was 2.44:78.05: 19.51, the hydration and de-molding process was performed with 0.5% F68 solution at 50 degrees C, and the water-bath ultrasonic time was 20 min. The HPT liposomes prepared by this method showed an average entrapment efficiency of (94.50 +/- 2.15)% and a particle size of (119.2 +/- 10.7) nm, which was consistent with the trial expectations and will lay a solid foundation for the hepatic targeting delivery system in future.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Cholesterol ; chemistry ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Lignans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Liposomes ; chemistry ; Phospholipids ; chemistry ; Ultrasonics

Ischemic stroke is a primary cause of death and long-term disability all over the world. This disease is resulted from ischemia and hypoxia in brain tissues because of insufficient blood supply and causes a series of physiochemical metabolism disorders and physiological dysfunction. Its high disability ratio has bright huge burdens to society, governments and families. However, there is not efficacious medicine to treat it. In this study, a right middle cerebral artery occlusion was established in rats to observe the multi-path and multi-aspect intervention effects of Tibetan patent medicine Ruyi Zhenbao pills in reducing injuries to Nissl bodies, cerebral edema and inflammatory reactions and preventing cellular apoptosis, in order to lay a foundation for defining its therapeutic mechanism in acute ischemic stroke.
Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; NF-kappa B ; physiology ; Patents as Topic ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stroke ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo study the effective fraction of the extract of seeds of Brassica alba, which inhibits experimental mice prostatic hyperplasia.

METHODAn experimental model of prostatic hyperplasia of castrated male mice induced by testosterone propionate was made. Fractions I, II and III were prepared by extracting the seeds of Brassica alba successively with ether, ethanol and water under reflux. Total extract was prepared by extracting the seeds of Brassica alba with 60% ethanol under reflux. The total extract and the three fractions were used to test the activities.

RESULTTotal extract, fractions I and II could not only significantly inhibit mice prostatic hyperplasia induced by testosterone propionate and activity of serum acid phosphatase, but also decrease wet weight of preputial glands, while fraction III is inactive.

CONCLUSIONExtract from seeds of Brassica alba can significantly inhibit mice prostatic hyperplasia induced by exterior hormone, possessing an activity of anti-androgen. Fractions I and II show an equivalent activity of total extract, which indicate that these fractions contain active components of seeds of Brassica alba which can inhibit prostatic hyperplasia.

Acid Phosphatase ; blood ; Animals ; Brassica ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Orchiectomy ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Prostate ; drug effects ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; blood ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Seeds ; chemistry ; Testosterone

OBJECTIVETo study the active components and their functionary mechanism of the extract of Brassica alba seeds, which inhibits experimental mice prostatic hyperplasia.

METHODProstatic hyperplasia of castrated male mice induced by testosterone propionate, the penetrability of capillary vessel of mice skin induced by histamine and the endermic flesh bud of rat induced by filter paper were used as experimental models. Sinalbin and beta-sitosterol separated from seeds of Brassica alba were used to test the activities.

RESULTSinalbin and beta-sitosterol(16.0 mg.kg-1.d-1 and 8.0 mg.kg-1.d-1) could significantly inhibit mice prostatic hyperplasia induced by testosterone propionate and activity of serum acid phosphatase(P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), Sinalbin(16.0 mg.kg-1.d-1)could significantly inhibit the hyperplasia of endermic flesh bud in rat induced by filter paper(P < 0.05), beta-sitosterol(16.0 mg.kg-1.d-1 and 8.0 mg.kg-1.d-1) could significantly decrease the penetrability of capillary vessel of mice skin induced by histamine.

CONCLUSIONSinalbin and beta-sitosterol have anti-androgen and anti-inflammation activities.

Androgen Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; pharmacology ; Capillary Permeability ; drug effects ; Choline ; analogs & derivatives ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Female ; Male ; Mice ; Mustard Plant ; chemistry ; Orchiectomy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; blood ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seeds ; chemistry ; Sitosterols ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Testosterone Propionate

BACKGROUND:Severe spinal angular kyphosis aggravated spinal cord injury and early degeneration, even caused incomplete paralysis or complete paralysis. Surgical treatment is the only solving approaches and method, but it is difficult, exhibits high risk, and easily affects postoperative complications. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the science and effectiveness of posterior vertebral column resection osteotomy combined with step correction in treatment of stiff angular kyphosis based on biomechanical principle. METHODS:A total of 90 cases underwent posterior vertebral column resection osteotomy combined with bilateral pedicle screw spinal cord gradual y shortening echelon tight closure and orthopedic fixation were selected, including 37 males and 52 females, at the average age of 47 years. Kyphotic angle, spinal sagittal imbalance, trunk side offset rate, operation time, intraoperative blood loss were compared and analyzed before and after treatment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The kyphotic angles were 31°-138° (averagely 90.1°) preoperatively and 10°-90° (averagely 41.6°) postoperatively, with an improvement rate of 65%. The distance from C 7 plumb line to the S 1 upper edge was averagely 5.2 mm, with a correction rate of 73%. Intraoperative blood loss was 1 200-6 000 mL, averagely 2 089 mL. Operation time was 212-470 minutes, averagely 326 minutes. The patients were fol owed up for 20 to 35 months after the surgery. Osteotomy segments had achieved bone fusion in al patients, and no complications of spinal cord injury or orthopedic angle loss appeared. These data verified that in the accordance with cellbiomechanics and spinal biomechanical principles, bilateral pedicle screw spinal cord gradual y shortening echelon tight closure and orthopedic fixation protected utmost spinal cord cells against injury in the correction of thoracolumbar angular kyphosis. There is sufficient basis for cellphysiology and it accorded biomechanical and physiological characteristics. During the surgery, we should pay attention to protection and release of nerve root and avoid postoperative corresponding nerve root irritation. Ful fusion ensures kyphosis correction and avoids spine lateral offset, is an effective safeguard for the recovery of spinal function and postoperative orthopedic effect.

Childhood obesity has been rising dramatically in recent years and most patients are insulin resistant. Recent studies have indicated that cell death-inducing DFF45-like effector C (CIDEC) is responsible for the development of insulin resistance. CIDEC regulates adipogenesis, lipid storage and lipolysis, thus protecting insulin target tissues from lipotoxity. This paper reviews current findings on the structure and function of CIDEC, its transcriptional and post-translational regulations, and the underlying mechanism of CIDEC causing insulin resistance. As a novel lipid droplet protein, CIDEC may be a drug target for treatment of insulin resistance and relevant metabolic disorders.
Animals ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate adipokines levels in obese children with acanthosis nigricans (AN) and to explore the relationship between AN and metabolic syndrome (MS).

METHODSA cross-sectional study was performed on 109 obese children and 47 age- and gender-matched normal controls. The obese children were divided into two groups with AN and without AN. Serum levels of adiponectin, leptin, TNF-α and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) were measured using ELISA. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the association of clinical parameters with MS.

RESULTSWaist-hip ratio, systolic blood pressure, triglyceride, fasting insulin and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were significantly higher in obese children with AN than in those without AN and normal controls (P<0.05). The obese children with AN and without AN had lower adiponectin levels than normal controls (P<0.05), on the contrary, the obese children with AN had higher leptin levels than those without AN and normal controls (P<0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that AN (OR=3.469, 95%CI: 1.518-7.929) and BMI (OR=7.108, 95%CI: 2.359-21.416) were independent risk factors for MS.

CONCLUSIONSAs a visible marker of insulin resistance, AN is associated with abnormal adipokines secretion. Reducing the incidence of AN and losing weight may prevent obesity associated MS.

Acanthosis Nigricans ; blood ; etiology ; Adiponectin ; blood ; Adolescent ; Child ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Leptin ; blood ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; blood ; etiology ; Obesity ; complications

BACKGROUND:The treatment difficulties of thoracolumbar angular kyphosis surgery are:low correction rate, hard to rebuild sagittal plane, easily induce neurological complications, postoperative loss of balance, high incidence of pseudarthrosis and postoperative loss of correction degree.
OBJECTIVE:To explore the safety and efficacy of modified posterior vertebral column resection osteotomy and bilateral pedicle screw combined with echelon tight closure spinal cord technique and implant fixation for severe spinal angular kyphosis.
METHODS:A total of 87 severe spinal angular kyphosis patients, 36 males and 51 females, who were treated in the Department of Orthopedics, the 306 Hospital of Chinese PLA from January 2006 to December 2013, were enrol ed in this study. They underwent posterior vertebral column resection, bilateral pedicle screw combined with echelon tight closure spinal cord, and implant fixation. Kyphosis, spinal sagittal imbalance, offset rate towards trunk side, operation time and intraoperative blood loss were observed before and after treatment.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The preoperative average kyphosis was 90.1° (31°-138°). The postoperative average kyphosis was 27.9° (15°-57°). The improvement rate was 76%. The improvement rate of trunk sagittal offset was 76%. Intraoperative blood loss was 800-3 000 mL, and average blood loss was 2 300 mL. The operation time was 5-7 hours, averagely 5.9 hours. Before treatment, two patients affected neurologic symptoms in double lower extremity, and their Frankel classification was grade C and became grade E after treatment. Al patients were fol owed up for 9-57 months. Bony fusion was achieved in al patients. No complications of spinal cord injury appeared, and no orthopedic angle missing occurred. These results indicate that during posterior vertebral column resection for treating severe angular stiffness of the thoracic kyphosis, blood vessels could be maintained greatly. Blood vessel injury-induced ischemic changes in spinal cord and ischemic reperfusion injury could be avoided. To reduce hemorrhage and to keep effective blood volume in patients with low body mass are effective for early recovery after treatment. Bilateral pedicle screw combined with echelon tight closure spinal cord technique greatly protected spinal cord cells against injury. We should pay attention to the protection and loose of nerve root to avoid postoperative nerve root irritation. Sufficient bone fusion ensures kyphosis correction, avoids spine lateral offset, and plays a key role in spinal function and postoperative orthopedic effect.