OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy difference among acupuncture smoothing-liver and regulating-spleen method, regulating Governor Vessel method and oral administration of western medicine for menopausal insomnia.

METHODSOne hundred and fifty-six cases of menopausal insomnia were randomized into a smoothing-liver and regulating-spleen group (group A), a regulating Governor Vessel group (group B) and a medication group (group C), 52 cases in each one. Acupuncture at Zhongwan (CV 12), Daheng (SP 15), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Taichong (LR 3), etc. was applied in the group A; acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Fengfu (GV 16), Shenting (GV 24) and Yintang (GV 29), etc. was used in the group B; oral administration of estazolam tablets (1 mg each-day) was adapted in the group C, all once a day for totally 30 days. The each item score and total score in Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) were evaluated before and after treatment in each group, also the efficacy in each group was assessed.

RESULTSAfter the treatment, the sleeping rate in the group A and B was significantly higher than that in the group C (both P < 0.05); the total effective rate in the Group A and B was also significantly higher than that in the group C [86.5% (45/52) and 82.7% (43/52) vs 63.5% (33/52), both P < 0.05; the total cured rate in the group A was significantly higher than those in the group B and C [48.1% (25/52) vs 23.1% (12/52) and 25.0% (13/52), both P < 0.05]. Each item score and total score of PSQI were all improved after treatment in the group A and B (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), while only sleeping time, sleeping efficiency and total score were improved in the group C (all P < 0.05). The sleeping quality, sleeping time, sleeping difficulty and daytime dysfunction in the group A were all lower than those in the group C (all P < 0.05). The sleeping quality, sleeping time and daytime dysfunction in the goup B were all lower than those in the group C (all P < 0.05). The total score in the group A was significantly lower than that in the group B and C (both P < 05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture has better effect for menopausal insomnia than estazolam. Between the two acupuncture methods, the acupuncture method of smoothing-liver and regulating-spleen has a better effect.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Menopause ; physiology ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Spleen ; physiopathology

AIMTo study the possibility that responses of fever and discharge of neurons in PVN to intraperitoneal administration of LPS are mediated by vagal afferents.

METHODSRectal temperature of rat was detected by digital temperature detecting instrument. Glass micropipette placed in PVN was used to record unit discharges of neurons in it, before and after LPS was injected into PVN in normal rats and vagotomy rats.

RESULTSThe rectal temperature change value in vagotomy LPS group was significantly decreased compared with that in sham LPS group, and there was striking difference between them (P < 0.05). The discharges of neurons in PVN was increased in the normal rat in response to LPS. The discharges of neurons in PVN had no significant change in the vagotomy rats in response to LPS.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicate that vagus nerve may be one of the pathways of peripheral LPS signal communicating to CNS.

Animals ; Diaphragm ; innervation ; Fever ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Male ; Neurons ; physiology ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Vagotomy, Truncal

The origin of 5-HMF (5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde) in a Shengmaiyin decoction was investigated by the RP-HPLC method below. A C(18) column (250 mm x 4.6 mm, i.d. 5 microm) with a column temperature of 25 degrees C was used. The mobile phase was a mixture of ultra-pure water-acetonitrile (95:5, V/V) and the flow rate was 1.0 ml/min. The detection wavelength was 280 nm. The injection volume was 1 microl and the running time was about 20 min. The addition of Schisandra was regulated to assess the contribution of an acid environment to the production of 5-HMF. In order to confirm the role of saccharides in the production of 5-HMF, different amount of fructose was used. The 5-HMF level in decoctions of processed and unprocessed Schisandra was investigated in order to determine the origin of 5-HMF. The results showed that 5-HMF was derived mainly from the decoction of Schisandra only and not the mixed decoction of Ophionpogon and Schisandra. The appearance of 5-HMF is not simply the result of the decomposition of saccharides under the acid environment created by Schisandra, but the processing procedure plays an important role in the production of 5-HMF.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Fructose ; metabolism ; Furaldehyde ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Schisandra ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the neurodevelopmental outcomes and its risk factors of very low birth weight infant (VLBWI) and extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWI).Methods Data of 85 VLBWI and ELBWI hospitalized in Children's Hospital of Fudan University from October 2005 to November 2009 who had finished infant development test of Baley Scales of Infant Development Ⅱ (Bayley Ⅱ) for neurological development at corrected gestational age between 18 to 42 months were retrospectively reviewed.Twelve infants who accepted treatment in other hospital over 10 days were excluded; the rest 73 infants were divided into normal (neurodevelopment) group or abnormal group according to the definition of neurodevelopmental impairment reported by National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Neonatal Network.Potential risk factors of neurodevelopmental impairment were analyzed with Logistic stepwise regression.Results The mean gestational age of 73 infants was (30.4±2.3) weeks; among which 13 were smaller than 28 weeks,42 between 28 and 32 weeks,and 18 older than 32 weeks.The mean birth weight was (1208.0±208.5) g; among which 15 (20.6％) ＜1000 g,and 58 (79.4％) were between 1000 g and 1500 g.Four babies (5.5％) were diagnosed as movement retardation,and neurodevelopmental impairment occurred in 16 cases (21.9 ％),psychomotor developmental index ＜70 occurred in 6 cases (8.2％,one case complicating with cerebral palsy); mental developmental index ＜70 occurred in 2 cases (2.7％); both psychomotor developmental index and mental developmental index ＜70 occurred in 7 cases (9.6 ％,two cases complicating with cerebral palsy),and one case (1.4 ％) was cerebral palsy only.Blind in either eyes and hearing impairment requiring deaf-aid were not found in any of the 73 babies.Logistic stepwise regression showed that use of mechanical ventilation was related to neurodevelopmental impairment (OR =6.183,95％ CI:1.664-22.983,P =0.003).Psychomotor developmental index of infants who needed mechanical ventilation (77.5±15.1) was lower than that of infants did not need (87.3±15.1)(t=2.646,P=0.010).Conclusions VLBWI and ELBWI are in high risk of neurodevelopmental impairment,especially those who need mechanical ventilation.

Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Occupational Health ; Reward ; Stress, Psychological ; physiopathology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Workload

The content of gamma-aminobutyric acid in the aerial part of Panax notoginseng in different productive area was determined by using high performance liquid chromatography. HPLC analysis was made on a C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm,5 microm) with acetonitrile and water containing 4.1 g x L(-1) sodium acetate as mobile phase. The detection wavelength was 254 nm. The HPLC method showed good linearity within the range of 0.01 - 1.03 g x L(-1). The average recovery of GABA in the stems and leaves of P. notoginseng and the flowers of P. notoginseng was 101.7% (RSD 1.1%, n = 3) and 97.3% (RSD 0.38%, n = 3), respectively. The contents of GABA in the samples of different productive areas were not significant different, and the average contents of GABA in the stems and leaves of P. notoginseng and the flowers of P. notoginseng were 0.49% and 0.53%. This method was simple and reliable, and it was suitable for the determination of gamma-aminobutyric acid in the aerial part of P. notoginseng.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Lignum Sappan (LS) containing serum on the proliferation cycle arrest of human lung cancer cell line PG and its molecular mechanism.

METHODSThe lung cancer PG cells were divided into four groups, i.e., the blank control group, the LS group, the LS plus cisplatin group, and the cisplatin group. They were cultured by RPMI-1640 with 20% blank serum, RPMI-1640 with 20% LS containing serum, RPMI-1640 with 20% LS containing serum plus 1 microg/mL cisplatin, and RPMI-1640 with 20% blank serum plus 1 microg/mL cisplatin, respectively. The morphology of PG cells was observed using light microscope and laser scanning confocal microscope in each group. The cell cycle arrest was observed using flow cytometry. The expression of P16 and Rb1 mRNA was tested by PCR method.

RESULTSUnder the light microscope and laser scanning confocal microscope, the apoptosis degree of PG cells in the LS group was significant, but less than that of the LS plus cisplatin group as well as the cisplatin group. Compared with the blank control group, the proportion of PG cells increased at G0/ G1 and S phases (P < 0.05) and decreased at G2/M phase (P < 0.01) in the LS group; The proportion of PG cells increased at G2/M and S phases (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and decreased at G0/G1 phase (P < 0.01) in the LS plus cisplatin group as well as the cisplatin group. Compared with the LS group, the proportion of PG cells increased at G2/M and S phases (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and decreased at G0/G1 phase (P < 0.01) in the LS plus cisplatin group as well as the cisplatin group. There was no statistical difference in PG cells at each phase between the cisplatin group and the LS plus cisplatin group (P > 0.05). The expression of P16 and Rb1 mRNA increased in the LS group, when compared with the blank control group. They also increased in the cisplatin group and the LS plus cisplatin group, higher than that of the LS group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the expression of P16 and Rb1 mRNA between the cisplatin group and the LS plus cisplatin group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLS containing serum induced PG cell apoptosis by up-regulating the mRNA transcription levels of P16 and Rb1, thus resulting in PG cell arrest at G0/G1 and S phases, which was different from the manner of cisplatin (achieved by arresting PG cells at G2/M and S phases through regulating cyclinB1 mRNA transcription).

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology

Objective:To show whether the Fas Ligand gene induces mast cells apoptosis.Methods:RT-PCR was used to amplify the gene of rat Fas ligand extracelluar domain and transmembrane domain and cloned it into eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA3.1.Transcent transfect RBL-2H3,the expression of Fas ligand RBL-2H3 was detected by RT-PCR、Western blot.The Annexin V FCM was used to detect the RBL-2H3 apoptosis after the transfection of Fas Ligand.Results:It is successful to obtain the gene of rat Fas Ligand extracellular domain and transmembrane segment,cloning it into pcDNA3.1,FasL was expressed on the surface of RBL-2H3 and it's supernatant after the transfection of pcDNA3.1/FasL.The cell start to be apoptosis.Conclusion:Our study reveals that Fas Ligand gene transfection in RBL-2H3 can effectively induced apoptosis.It is a promising strategy for Fas Ligand to be used in the therapy of allergic disease. [

Objective:To investigate the effects of 125I radioactive particle implantation in the treatment of maxillofacial malignancy. Methods:43 patients with maxillofacial malignancy were treated with 125I radioactive particle implantation.The procedure was carried out according to the treatment planning system(TPS),with the particles spaced uniformly at 1 cm intervals and with the activity of 0.7 m Ciby 41 particles per case on a verage.All patients were followed up for 6-60 months.Results:The whole treatment procedurewas successful,and no particle displaced.The follow-up rate was 93.02% and treatment effective rate(CR+PR) was 90.70%.Norecur-rence was foundinall target areas.The mortality due to tumor was 9.30%and total survival rate was 74.43%.The cumulative survival rate of the patients in 0.5,1,2,3 and 5 years was 93.0%,85.7%,79.3,69.8% and 56.9% respectively.Survival periodon aver-age was 36.06-50.04 months,with the median of 43.05 months.The longest tumor-free survival period was 60 months.Radiation in-jury rate was 20.93% and only level 1 radiation injury was observedinall the cases.Facial nerve dys function was found in 2 cases and recovered after treatment.Conclusion:Treatment of maxillofacial malignancy by implantation of 125I particles is convenient and mini-mally invasive.The treatment canincrease survival rate of the patients and guaran tee the oropharynxes' function.

High temperature liquid water (HTLW) has drawn increasing attention as an environmentally benign medium for organic chemical reactions, especially acid-/base-catalyzed reactions. Non-catalyzed hydrolyses of gallotannin and tara tannin in HTLW for the simultaneous preparation of gallic acid (GA) and pyrogallol (PY) are under investigation in our laboratory. In this study, the hydrolysis kinetics of gallotannin and tara tannin were determined. The reaction is indicated to be a typical consecutive first-order one in which GA has formed as a main intermediate and PY as the final product. Selective decomposition of tannin in HTLW was proved to be possible by adjusting reaction temperature and time. The present results provide an important basic data and reference for the green preparation of GA and PY.
Catalysis ; Hydrolysis ; Kinetics ; Tannins ; chemistry ; Temperature