To investigate the effects of Tongxinluo capsule on sciatic nerve apoptosis in spontaneous type II diabetic KK/Upj-Ay mice, in order to explore its mechanism for improving diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). KK/Upj-Ay mice were selected as the DPN animal model and randomly divided into the model, Tongxinluo low, middle and high group (1, 2, 4 g x kg(-1)). C57BL/6 mice were selected as the control group. Mice were given intragastrically for 12 weeks. Paw withdrawal latency, motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) and sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) were detected. Apoptotic rate were detected by FCM. Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3 mRNA and protein expression in sciatic nerve were examined by Real-time PCR and Western blot. p38MAPK, p-p38MAPK expression were examined by Western blot. In this study,the authors found that Tongxinluo capsule could increase paw withdrawal latency, MNCV and SNCV. Apoptotic rate of sciatic, the expression of Bax and caspase-3 were lower, while Bcl-2 expression was higher in Tongxinluo group than those in model mice. The expression of p-p38MAPK significantly decreased in Tongxinluo group. The results showed that Tongxinluo capsule has protective effects on diabetic peripheral neuropathy of mice via inhibiting cell apoptosis and suppressing the expression of p-p38MAPK.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Capsules ; administration & dosage ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Transgenic ; Sciatic Nerve ; cytology ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores in effectiveness evaluation of clinical studies.

METHODSRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) of TCM published in five journals in 2013 were retrieved, including Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine (JTCM), Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine (CJITWM), Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine (CJIM), Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (ECAM), and American Journal of Chinese Medicine (AJCM). The details of TCM syndrome scores and other relevant factors reported in articles were extracted and analyzed. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were used to describe general features of inclusive studies, ratios of reports on CM syndrome scores in each journal, formulated evidence, adopted evaluation rules, important degrees. The difference in the application rate of CM syndrome scores were compared in various diseases, diseases with or without CM syndrome typing, places where clinical studies were implemented, and different journals.

RESULTSA total of 240 RCTs were included, involving 178 published in Chinese version and 62 in English version. CM syndrome scores were used for effectiveness evaluation in 27.1% (65/240) of RCTs, of which, the highest application percentage was 35.3% (18/51) in RCTs published in CJITWM, and the lowest was 0 (0/7) in RCTs published in AJCM. There were 17 methods for grading TCM syndrome scores, of which Guideline for Clinical Research of New Chinese Herbal Medicine was most commonly used. Detailed grading standards for CM syndrome scores were reported in 46 RCTs, and CM syndrome scores were taken as primary or secondary outcomes in 6 RCTs. When describing the percentages of RCTs adopting TCM syndrome score by diseases classification, the lowest was 9.5% (2/21) in mental and behavioral disorders, and the highest was 39.1% (9/23) in endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases. RCTs with TCM syndrome differentiation had a higher percentage of adopting TCM syndrome score than those without TCM syndrome differentiation (P < 0.01). Statistical differences were also found among RCTs published in Chinese core journals (32.0%), domestic science citation index (SCI) journals (28.6%), and overseas SCI journals (4.9%) (χ2 = 12.4593, P < 0.01). For RCTs conducted by Chinese scholars, the percentage of using TCM syndrome score was 32.0% in three journals from China, while 7.1% in two foreign language journals, showing significant difference (χ2 =7.3615, P < 0.01); none of RCTs conducted by foreign scholars used TCM syndrome scores for effectiveness assessment.

CONCLUSIONSThere was a lack of agreeable and universal standards for TCM syndrome scores using in effectiveness evaluation. Therefore, it was not commonly used in domestic CM clinical studies. It was not so favorably agreed in overseas academic circles.

Objective To screen for Kaposi sarcoma (KS)-related genes. Methods Tissue samples were obtained from the lesion and normal skin of a patient with KS in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,and total RNA was extracted from these samples and reverse transcribed into cDNA. Real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) was performed to determine the expression of K8.1, K2 and ORF50 in these samples. The cDNA was labeled with fluorescein and hybridized to a human 35K genome array containing 25 100 genes. Subsequently, the signal images were scanned by a laser scanner and acquired images were analyzed by software. Results RT-qPCR revealed the mRNA expression of K8.1, K2 and ORF50 in the KS tissues but not in the normal skin tissues, indicating that there was no crossed contamination in these specimens. Among the 25 100 genes, 1313 genes were identified to be differentially expressed between KS and normal skin tissues, including 756 up-regulated genes and 557 down-regulated genes. These differentially expressed genes, such as myeloid cell leukemia-1 gene (MCI-1), annexins (ANX) and serine proteinase inhibitor Kazal type 5 (SPINK5), were associated with apoptosis, angiogenesis, cell signaling, protein processing, cell cycle regulation, and so on. Conclusion The differentially expressed genes such as MCI-1 and SPINK5 may be associated with the development of KS.

Objective Adenosine receptor agonist NECA has a certain myocardial protection, but the specific mechanism is not clear.This paper aimed to study the effect and mechanism of NECA inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress to against myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury in rats.Methods 56 Wistar rats of SPF grade were selected and divided into Sham group, I/R group, NECA group and TUDCA group through random number table method.We established the isolated rat heart ischemia reperfusion model by using the Langendorff device.Sham group: heart threaded but not ligated, Kerb-Henseleit buffer continuous infusion 170min;I/R group: heart stability 20min, ischemia 30min, reperfusion 2h;NECA group and TUDCA group: heart stability 20min, ischemia 30min, reperfusion 2h, perfusion solutions containing 0.1μmol/L NECA and 30μmol/L TUDCA were respectively given at 5min before reperfusion, and ended at 30min after reperfusion.Transmission electron microscope was used to evaluate alterations of the myocardial ultrastructures.Western blot analysis was used to detected the expression levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress IREl-XBPl signaling pathway marker protein IRE1α, XBP1s.Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of IRE1α.Results The results of transmission electron microscopy showed that most of the myofilament ruptured, sarcomere contracture deformation, visible mitochondrial vacuoles degeneration in I/R group, and injury in NECA group and TUDCA group were less than the I/R group, appeared as the filaments arranged more neat, sarcoma only had mild contracture.Immunohistochemical results showed that IRE1αpositive staining was not found in the sham group, and the area of positive staining of IRE1α in I/R group was significantly increased, while the NECA group and TUDCA group were significantly decreased.Compared to the Sham group, the expression level of IRE1α and XBP1s was significantly increased in I/R group(P<0.05);but compared with the expression level of IREα and XBP1s in I/R group(1.72±0.27, 0.97±0.19), the NECA group(1.14±0.16, 0.6±0.13) and the TUDCA(1.07±0.27, 0.58±0.15) group were significantly decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion NECA can reduce endoplasmic reticulum stress through inhibiting IREl-XBPl pathway to protect the myocardium.

Objective:To explore the hepatocyte insulin sensitivity of intrauterine growth retardation ( IUGR) rats and establish an insulin resistance cell model in vitro.Methods: An IUGR animal model was established by protein malnutrition during the mother pregnancy .On 60 d and 90 d after birth , the offspring rats were fasted for 12 hours and then their angular vein blood was collected to measure the fasting plasma glucose and fasting serum insulin level , then the insulin resistance index ( HOMA-IR) and insulin sensitivity index ( ISI) were calculated .The insulin sensitivity was evaluated by HOMA-IR and ISI.Primary hepatocytes from each group were respectively isolated by two-step perfusion with collage-nase and were defined as normal hepatocytes group and IUGR hepatocytes group .The normal hepatocyte group was divided into two groups: control group and insulin induction group .Insulin induction group was established by primary cultures of normal hepatocyte incubated with varying dilutions of insulin . CCK-8 was used to detect the viability of the cultured hepatocytes .Glucose oxidase-peroxidase method kit was used to measure glucose consumption of the hepatocytes .Results:HOMA-IR was significantly higher in IUGR rats than in the normal rats at the age of 60 days ( t=-17 .02 , P<0 .05 ) and 90 days ( t=-12.52, P<0.05).ISI was significantly lower than in the normal rats aged 60 days (t=5.61, P<0.05) and 90 days (t=12.42, P<0.05).There were no significant differences in hepatocyte viability among the control group , IUGR group and insulin induction group after incubation of 48 h on day 60 (F=1.34, P=0.29) and day 90 (F=0.22, P=0.81).The glucose consumption of the IUGR group and insulin induction group were significantly decreased compared with the control group on day 60 ( F=9.28, P=0.002) and day 90 (F=56.60, P<0.001), while there was no significant difference be-tween the IUGR group and insulin induction group (P=0.08, P=0.10).Conclusion:The insulin sen-sitivity of hepatocytes of IUGR rats decreased from adolescence to adulthood .High-dilution insulin may induce insulin resistance cell model in vitro.

Adult ; Cell Separation ; methods ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Stem Cells ; cytology

Objective To investigate the roles of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway and its regulatory protein peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR γ) and phosphatase and tension homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) in regulating insulin sensitivity in rats with fetal growth restriction (FGR).Methods Sixteen pregnant rats were randomly divided into two groups including FGR and control groups on the 12th day of pregnancy (eight in each group).The FGR group was given low protein diet (8％ of casein) and restriction diet to establish the neonatal rat model of FGR.All maternal rats after delivery and newborn rats after weaning on 21 days after born were fed with normal diet.Each time blood samples were collected from eight newborn rats of each group to measure levels of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and fasting insulin(FINS) at the time points of 21 days,two and four months after birth.Then insulin resistance index (IRI) and insulin sensitivity index (ISI) were calculated to evaluate insulin sensitivity.Expression of PI3K,AKT,PPAR γγ,PTEN and glucose transporters 4 (GLUT4) in skeletal muscle at mRNA and protein levels were measured at 21 days,two and four months after birth with real time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction and Western blot,respectively.Relationships between the expression of key molecules of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and insulin sensitivity were analyzed.T-test,and Pearson's correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis.Results (1) The average birth weight of newborn rats in the FGR group was lower than that of the control group [(4.37± 0.69) vs (7.03±0.55) g,t=-20.75,P＜0.05].The incidence of FGR in the FGR group was 93.33％ (70/75).(2) Compared with normal offspring,those in the FGR group showed significantly increased FPG [two months after birth:(5.53± 0.58) vs (7.49 ± 0.38) mmol/L,t=8.08;four months afterbirth:(6.35±0.66) vs (8.94±0.90) mmol/L,t=6.58],FINS [two months afterbirth:(9.18±0.66) vs (14.67± 1.90) mU/L,t=7.71;four months after birth:(33.08±2.76) vs (56.33±2.81) mU/L,t=16.71] and IR1 (two months after birth:2.25±0.31 vs 4.90±0.81,t=8.63;four months after birth:9.30±0.90 vs 22.44±3.10,t=1 1.51),but decreased ISI (two months after birth:0.020 ± 0.002 vs 0.009± 0.001,t=-10.1 4;four months after birth:0.005±0.000 vs 0.002 ±0.000,t=-14.91) at two and four months after birth (all P＜0.05).(3) Compared with normal offspring,those in the FGR group showed decreased expression of PI3K (21 days after birth:0.082±0.028 vs 0.019±0.004,t=-6.29;two months after birth:0.020±0.003 vs 0.010±0.005,t=-4.78;four months after birth:0.014±0.004 vs 0.003±0.001,t=-7.87) and GLUT4 (21 days after birth:0.132±0.057 vs 0.041 ±0.019,t=-4.32;two months after birth:0.183±0.084 vs 0.069±0.017,t=-3.74;four months after birth:0.248±0.069 vs 0.113±0.040,t=-4.74) at mRNA level at 21 days,two and four months after birth (all P＜0.05).Compared with normal offspring,decreased expression of PPAR γ (two months after birth:0.028±0.002 vs 0.012±0.005,t=-3.70;four months after birth:0.030±0.008 vs 0.012±0.005,t=-3.80) and increased expression of PTEN (two months after birth:0.020±0.004 vs 0.045±0.014,t=5.09;four months after birth:0.023±0.007 vs 0.034±0.009,t=2.57) at mRNA level were observed in offspring of the FGR group at two and four months after birth (all P＜0.05).(4) Compared with normal offspring,expression of PI3K protein (21 days after birth:0.22±0.01 vs 0.17±0.02,t=-6.62;two months after birth:0.27±0.03 vs 0.16±0.02,t=-7.25;four months after birth:0.18±0.01 vs 0.09±0.02,t=-9.79) and GLUT4 protein (21 days after birth:0.21 ±0.01 vs 0.03±0.01,t=-27.29;two months after birth:0.10±0.01 vs 0.06t±0.01,t=-3.90;four months after birth:0.13 ±0.01 vs 0.08± 0.02,t=-8.10) decreased in offspring in the FGR group at 21 days,two and four months after birth (all P＜0.05).Compared with normal offspring,those in the FGR group showed decreased expression of PPAR γ protein (two months after birth:0.10 ± 0.01 vs 0.07± 0.01,t =-7.29;four months after birth:0.09±0.01 vs 0.08±0.01,t=-2.83),but increased expression of PTEN at protein level (two months after birth:0.10±0.01 vs 0.15±0.02,t=6.01;four months after birth:0.09±±0.01 vs 0.13±0.02,t=5.51) at two and four months after birth (all P＜0.05).(5) The IRI levels in offsprings in the FGR group were negatively correlated with the expression of PI3K,GLUT4 and PPAR γ at protein level (two months after birth:r=-0.90,-0.92 and-0.79;four months after birth:r=-0.92,-0.75 and-0.73,all P＜0.05),but positively correlated with the expression of PTEN at protein level (r=0.87 and 0.86,both P＜0.05) at two and four months after birth.Conclusions The abnormal expression of the key molecules of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway precedes the decrease of insulin sensitivity in newborn rats with FGR and the expression regulatory protein PPAR γ and PTEN are also changed,suggesting that these molecules may induce the impairment of insulin sensitivity in rats with FGR and be involved in the development of insulin resistance.

AIM: To observe the effect of intravenous methylprednisolone combined with peri - orbital injection of triamcinolone acetonide for diffuse - type orbital inflammatory pseudotumor.
METHODS: Diffuse - type orbital inflammatory pseudotumor in 15 cases ( 19 eyes ) were treated. Intravenous implosive methylprednisolone therapy (0. 5g/ d) was used in the first 3d, and 0. 5g once a week in the following 3wk, ended by 0. 25g once a week in the last 6wk, which meant the total dose was 4. 5g and the whole course lasted for 10wk. At the same time, peri - orbital injection of triamcinolone acetonide ( 40mg ) was performed once in every 3wk, totally 2-4 times.
RESULTS: Eight eyes from 7 cases were completely cured, 11 eyes from 8 cases were partly cured. No recurrence and severe complications were observed in the treatment duration.
CONCLUSION: Intravenous methylprednisolone combined with peri - orbital injection of triamcinolone acetonide is effective, safe and feasible in treatment of diffuse type orbital pseudotumor with less complications.

Objective To observe the clinical effect of the treatment of bronchial asthma with the Qingfeiyin and Bailing capsule.Methods 107 cases with bronchial asthma were classified into a control group and a treatment group randomly.The control group was treated with the Ipratropine (40-80 ug for each time)and the treatment group was glven Ipratropine and Qingfeireyin(50ml for each time)plus Bailing Capsule(30pills for each time).One course of treatment was 2months.Results The therapeutic effect of treatment group was significantly better than the control group(P＜0.05).Condusion Qingfeiyin and Bailing capsule has excellent effect in treating bronchial asthma.

Circulating nitric oxide(NO)and endothelin (ET) levels were determined in 30 normal subjects and 63 diabetic patients.The results showed that:serum NO level was significantly higher in DM I group(68.66?12.37?mol/L)and DM Ⅱ group(63.43?11.09?mol/L)than in normal subjects(44. 92?9.04?mol/L,P0.05).Plasma ET level was markedly elevated in DM Ⅰ group(68.92?11.96ng/L,P