Purpose: To investigate a clinical treatment for allergic asthma. Method: Acupoint application was used, and its effect was compared with that of Western medicine to evaluate the results. Results and Conclusion: It was found that the long-tern effect of acupoint application was significantly better than that of aminophylline; acupoint application had obviously different effects on different types of asthma based on TCM differentiation of syndromes; its short-term effect was not significantly related to the course and condition of the disease. It is indicated that acupoint application is an effective, convenient and safe treatment with little side effect for asthma.

Objective To investigate the effect of acupuncture at the primary points of the three yin meridians of the foot on blood pressure in an animal model of high/low blood pressure and explore the specific effect of the meridian points-the primary points of the three yin meridians of the foot.Methods The study included the parts of hypertension and hypotenstion. Both parts were allocated to the primary points of the three yin meridians of the foot, non-acupoint, model and blank groups, six rats each. Except the model and blank groups, all the groups were given acupuncture treatment for seven consecutive days. Blood pressure was measured after the completion of treatment. Five consecutive measurements were made in each rat. Mean values of blood pressure were taken.Results For the part of hypertension, blood pressure at each time point was higher in the acupuncture groups than in the blank control group and lower than in the model group, and there were statistically significant differences (P<0.05), indicating that acupuncture at the primary points of the three yin meridians of the foot has a hypotensive effect. The hypotensive effects of Taichong and Taixi were better than those of Taibai and the non-acupoint (P<0.05). The hypotensive effects of Taichong and Taixi were equal (P>0.05). The hypotensive effect of Taibai was equal to that of the non-acupoint (P>0.05). For the part of hypotension, blood pressure at each time point was lower in the acupuncture groups than in the blank control group and higher than in the model group, and there were statistically significant differences (P<0.05), indicating that acupuncture at the primary points of the three yin meridians of the foot has a pressor effect. The pressor effect was worse in the the non-acupoint group than in the primary points of the three yin meridians of the foot group (P<0.05). The pressor effects of Taibai and Taixi were equal but worse than that of Taichong (P<0.05).Conclusions Acupuncture at the primary points of the three yin meridians of the foot has a specific bidirectional regulating effect on blood pressure. Of them, point Taichong produces a best bidirectional regulating effect on blood pressure.

Objective To sum up the experience on diagnosis and treatment of Hashimoto disease and its concurrent thyropathy. Methods Clinical data were analyzed on 52 cases of Hashimoto disease(HD) surgically found to have concurrent thyropathy from Jan 1984 to Jun 2001 out of 138 HD cases undergoing surgery. Results Thyroid nodules were found in all 52 HD cases, among which 17 were with thyroid cancer, 2 with malignant lymphoma, 5 with thyroid adenoma, 2 with hyperthyroidism, and 26 with nodular goiter. Thyroidectomy of different extent was performed. Postoperatively all cases were given thyroxine. On follow-up a patient with malignant lymphoma died, and one patient suffered hypothyroidism. Conclusion HD is a ubiquitous disease. The clinical diagnosis of is still difficult. HD cases complicated with thyroid nodules should be treated surgically to exclude malignant tumors. Intraoperative frozen section is a reliable diagnostic method and may guide the surgical modality.

BACKGROUND: The mRNA expression of α1 chain of type I collagen (COL- Iα1)in rat osteosarcoma (ROS17/2.8) induced by bone morphogenetic protein-2(BMP-2)was reduced under simulated weightlessness. The protein kinase MEK1 in the signal pathway of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) plays an important role in the expression of COL- I αl mRNA regulated by BMP-2. But there was no report on the kinase activity of MEK1 under simulated weightlessness.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of simulated weightlessness on the activity of MEK1 induced by BMP-2 in ROS17/2.8 cells.DESIGN: A non-randomly control study was conducted.SETTING: Department of Aerospace Biodynamics, Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLAMATERIALS: Rat osteosarcoma osteoblast-like cell METHODS: This experiment was conducted at the Laboratory of Aerospace cells and Molecular Biology Laboratory , Institute of Space Medico-Engineering between August 2002 and January 2003. ROS17/2.8 cells were cultured in 1 G control and rotating clinostat simulated weightlessness for 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours. The cells were divided into 7 groups as follows: Group 1 was blank control group in which ROS17/2.8 cells were cultured in 1 G condition without BMP2; Group 2, cells were cultured in 1 G for 24 hours;Group 3,in weightlessness for 24 hours; Group 4, in 1 G for 48 hours; Group 5, in weightlessness for 48 hours;Group 6,in 1 G for 72 hours;Group 7,in weightlessness for 72 hours. Cells in Group 2 to Group 7 were all cultured with BMP-2. BMP-2 (500 mg/L) was added into the medium 1 hou before the culture ended. Then the total protein of cells was extracted and the kinase activity of MEK1 was detected by means of Western Blotting.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The content of total ERK1/2 and phosphated-ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2) protein in the cells RESULTS: ①Total ERK1/2 expression induced by BMP-2 in ROS17/2.8 cells under simulated weightlessness: The total ERK1/2 expression induced by BMP-2 in cells in all the groups showed no significant differences ② Phosphated-ERK1/2 expression induced by BMP-2 in ROS17/2.8 .cells under simulated weightlessness: There was little protein of p-ERK1/2 in ROS17/2.8 cells in Group 1 cultured without BMP-2 in 1 G for 24 hours. The content of p-ERK1/2 in ROS17/2.8 cells in Group 2 cultured with BMP-2 in 1 G for 24 hours was much more than that in Group 1 (P ＜ 0.01). The level of p-ERK1/2 was much lower in simulated weightlessness groups than that in 1 G control groups at the same time point. In other words, the content of p-ERK1/2 in Groups 3, 5 and 7 was respectively lower than that in Groups 2, 4 and 6 (P ＜ 0.01).The expression of p-ERK1/2 showed-a tendency of gradually decreasing in Groups 3, 5 and 7 with the prolongation of time of simulated weightlessness(P ＜ 0.01 ).CONCLUSION: The kinase activity of MEK1 in MAPK signal pathway induced by BMP-2 is reduced under simulated weightlessness.

Objective To explore the action mechanism of shenxiong glucose injection in treatment of acute spinal cord injury(SCI) through observing its effects on the recovery of motor function and the expression of aquaporin-4(AQP-4) in SCI rats.Methods Totally 90 healthy,aduh,Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group (n=30),aSCI group (n=30) and a drug group (n=30).The SCI rat models in both the SCI group and the drup group were established aecording to the modified Allen's method,while the sham operation group was only given laminectomy.After the operation,the drug group was given intraperitoneal shenxiong glucose injection of 30 rnl/kg a day,while the other two groups were injected in the same way with normal saline.The neural function recovery,the pathological changes after SCI and the expressions of AQP-4 were observed 1,3,7,14 and 21 d after the operation using the Tarlov score,the hematoxylin and eosin staining,as well as immunofluorescence techniques and Western blotting.And the correlation of Tarlov scores with AQP-4 expressions was analyzed.Results No significant changes in Tarlov scores were observed in the sham operation group (P ＞ 0.05),while in the SCI group and the drug group,postoperative Tarlov scores decreased significantly.The hindlimb nerve function recovered to some degree with time in the SCI group and drug group.At 3,7,14 and 21 days after the operation,the Tarlov scores in the drug group were significantly higher than the SCI group (P ＜ 0.05).The drug group showed less severe pathological changes,with more residual neurons still visible of nucleoli than the SCI group 21 days after the operation.Compared with the sham operation group,the expression levels of AQP-4 were significantly higher in the SCI group and drug group at all the time points (P ＜ 0.05).However,the expression levels of AQP-4 in the drug group were significantly lower than the SCI group accordingly (P ＜ 0.05).The Tarlov scores were found to be significantly and negatively related to the AQP-4 protein expression levels 3 days(r =-0.523,P =0.003),7 days(r =-0.437,P=0.016),14 days(r=-0.417,P=0.022) and 21 days(r=-0.377,P=0.040)after the operation.Conclusion Injecting shenxiong with glucose can effectively promote the recovery of motor function after SCI,at least in rats.And its mechanism may be that the development of spinal cord edema is prevented and the secondary spinal cord injury alleviated by restraining the expressions of AQ P-4 in the injured areas.

Purpose　The aim is to investigate the effects of BSP on immunological function in normal and immunosuppressed mices.Methods　Thymus and spleen indexes, peripheral blood WBC number,the lymphocyte proliferation response, IL-2 production and serum and splenocyte hemolysin contents were measured after intraperitoneal injection of BSP in normal and immunosuppressed mices.Results　(1)BSP 100 mg/（kg*d）×10d significantly increased the thymus and spleen indexes and peripheral blood WBC number in immunosuppressed mice.The thymus and spleen indexes in normal mice was also increased. In addition,BSP markedly improved T,B lymphocyte proliferation responses and IL-2 production in normal and immunosupressed mices.(2) BSP improved the serum and splenocyte hemolysin contents in normal and immunosuppressed mice. Conclusion　It was suggested that BSP was a kind of immunomodulator, and could improve the immunological function of normal and immunosuppressed mices.

Eight active compounds were isolated from Bugula neritina Linnaeus collected off Dapen Bay in Guandong province, guided by P 388 bioassay system by a combination of successive chromatographies and preparative HPLC. By intensive analysis of the data of high resolution 2D NMR spectrum and ESI MS, their structures were elucidated as known bryostatins--bryostatin 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 16 and 18, among which bryostatin 8 and 16 were for the first time obtained from this animal in South China Sea and they showed significant antineoplastic activities in vitro.

Objective: To investigate the effects of BSP on lymphocyte function and cytokines production in normal and immunosuppressed mice.Methods: The lymphocyte proliferation response, T lymphocyte subpopulations and IL 2 production were measured after intraperitoneal injection of BSP in normal and immunosuppressed mice, and the activity of IL 1 and TNF secreted by mouse peritoneal macrophages were detected after BSP supplementation in vitro.Results: (1)BSP〔(100 mg/(kg?d)?10 d)〕markedly improved T,B lymphocyte proliferation responses and IL 2 production in normal and immunosuppressed mice, and significantly increased the number of L 3T + 4 cells in thymus and spleen of immunosuppressed mice, and the ratio of L 3T + 4/Lyt 2 + cells was also increased.(2)BSP distinctly enhanced the activity of IL 1 and TNF production by mouse peritoneal macrophages in vitro.Conclusion: BSP can improve the immunological function of normal and immunosuppressed mice.

Objective To investigate the relationship between tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in ischemic brain tissue and bran edema after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats.Methods Eighty four male SD rats were randomly assigned to either a cerebral ischemia reperfusion group (n =44) or a sham-operation group (n =40). A model of middle cerebral artery occlusion for 120 minutes followed by reperfusion was induced in rats using the suture method. The infarct size was determined by 2, 3, 5-triphenyi terazoloride (TTC) staining at 6 h,24 h, 3 d, and 7 d respectively after the reperfusion. Dry-wet weight method was used to measure brain water content and evaluate the extent of brain edema. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the concentration of TNF-α in ischemic brain tissue. Results TNF-α level in ischemic brain tissue was increased at 6 h (445.8 ±91.7 pg/ml) after the reperfusion, and reached the peak at day 3 (715.5 ±121.3 pg/ml). There were significant differences compared to the sham-operation group and other time points (all P＜0.001). After that, it was decreased gradually, but it was still higher than that in the shamoperation group at day 7 (478.1 ± 145.5 pg/ml vs. 148.5 ± 101.7 pg/ml, P＜0.005). The initial change of the water content in brain tissue lagged behind the increased TNF-α. It did not increase significantly until 24 h after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (P ＜0.001). It reached the peak at day 3 (P ＜0.001), and it was still higher than that in the control group at day 7 (P ＜0.05). The evolution of cerebral infarct volume was in accordance with the changes of TNF-α level. Conclusions TNF-α is associated with the changes of brain edema and infarct volume,and it is harmful to brain tissue.

Objective To analyze the adverse drug reactions(ADRs)of edaravone in treatment of patients with acute cerebral infarction(ACI)by reviewing Chinese medical literature and to evaluate safety of edaravone treatment in ACI.Methods Publications from Pubmed and Chinese Biomedical Literature Datababe(CBMdisc)were reviewed and the ADR of edaravone was analyzed among the published 8645 cases.Literatures about randomed-control clinical trails(RCTs)on security of edaravone for treating ACI Was analyzed by meta-analysis.Results Abnormal hepatic function,especially mild elevation of aminotransferase,renal dysfunction and skin rash induced by edaravone were tIle most common ADRs.Among 8645 patients,ADRs were reported in 283(3.27 % ).The meta-analysis in RCTs showed that between the group treated with a combination of edaravone and routine and the group treated with routine treatment only,there was no significant difference in the occurrence rate of ADRs(OR=1.18,95 % CI0.70-2.00,P=0.536),elevation of aminotransferase(OR=1.23,95 % CI 0.57-2.68,P=0.595)or renal dysfunction including albuminutia,increased level of serum ereatinine and nitrogen(OR=1.65.95 % CI0.57- 4.79.P=0.353).Conclusion Edaravone has a low ADRs OCCurrence rate and iS safely used in cerebral infarction treatment.