AIM: To observe the effects of Yangxue qingnao-containing serum on rat vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation induced by lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). METHODS: The [ 3H]-TdR incorporation and mitogen-activated protein kinasc (MAPK) activity were measured in cultured VSMC. End product of lipid peroxidation-MDA levels were also detected. RESULTS: 1?10 -9 ,1?10 -8 and 1?10 -7 mol/L LPA enhanced the cultured VSMC [ 3H]-TdR incorporation, increased MAPK activity and MDA content in a concentration-dependent manner. 5%, 10% and 15% Yangxue qingnao-containing serum concentration-dependently inhibited the increase in VSMC [ 3H]-TdR incorporation, MAPK activity and MDA content induced by LPA. CONCLUSIONS: LPA has a stimulating effect on VSMC proliferation. The LPA-induced intracellular signal transduction may be related to MAPK activity. Yangxue qingnao can efficiently inhibit LPA -induced VSMC proliferation,MAPK activity and lipid peroxidation. [

Humans ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; Societies, Medical ; United States

OBJECTIVETo assess the efficacy of Yishen Jiejing Decoction (YJD) in treating poststroke shoulder-hand syndrome (SHS) patients of yin deficiency yang hyperactivity with blood stasis stagnation collaterals syndrome.

METHODSTotally 60 SHS patients of yin deficiency yang hyperactivity with blood stasis stagnation collaterals syndrome were randomly assigned to two groups, the treatment group and the control group, 30 cases in each group. Conventional rehabilitation training and therapeutics were applied in all patients. Besides, patients in the treatment group took 50 mL YJD, twice a day. One month without interruption consisted of one course of treatment. The curative effects of each group were evaluated respectively before treatment and at one month after treatment. The neurologic impairment, TCM syndrome, and the improvement of upper limbs movement were assessed by the neurologic impairment integral, scoring for TCM syndrome diagnostics, Fugl-Meyer Assessment (U-FMA). Adverse reactions were observed at the same time.

RESULTSThe effective rate of stroke was 86.67% and the effective rate of SHS was 90.00% in the treatment group, higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). Both groups got improvement in neurologic impairment, stroke induced blood stasis syndrome, yin deficiency yang hyperactivity syndrome, and the improvement of upper limbs movement after treatment (all P < 0.05). Besides, all the improvement was obviously superior in the treatment group (P < 0. 05). No adverse reaction occurred during the course of treatment.

CONCLUSIONThe curative effect of YJD combined with conventional rehabilitation training was confirmative and superior to the control group.

Aged ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy ; drug therapy ; etiology ; rehabilitation ; Stroke ; complications ; Treatment Outcome ; Yin Deficiency ; drug therapy ; Yin-Yang

Objective To investigate the effectsof quercetin on human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC)-12 undergoing endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) induced by TGF-β1; To discuss its mechanism of action. Methods Cell activity of intervening by quercetin with different concentrations and TGF-β1 for 72 h was detected by CCK-8 method;RT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining were used to detect the transition of endothelial and stromal markers; Western blot was used to detect the signal transduction pathway; RT-PCR was performed to detect the transcription factors that play crucial roles in the process of transformation. Results The results of RT-PCR and immunofluorescence double staining showed that TGF-β1 (10 ng/mL) stimulated HUVEC-12 cells for 72 h to induce fibroblast phenotype, showing more interstitial markers and less endothelial markers;Western blot and RT-PCR results showed that quercetin inhibited the phosphorylation of smad2/3 in a concentration-dependent manner;After TGF-β1 stimulation, the downstream transcription factors EndMT of snail1, twist1, twist2, ZEB1, and ZEB2 significantly increased, while 100 μmol/L quercetin could down-regulate the five downstream transcription factors. Conclusion Quercetin has anti-fibrosis effects through inhibiting HUVEC-12 cells undergoing EndMT.

Objective To evaluate four tumor markers of insulin-like growth factor 1((IGF-1), CEA, cytokeratin fragment antigen 21-1 (CYFRA21-1), neuron-specific enolase (NSE) for the diagnosis and prediction of treatment response in human lung cancer. Methods Serum samples were taken from three groups: 91 patients with lung cancer, 30 healthy adults and 15 patients with benign pulmonary diseases. Serum IGF-1 was assayed by radioimmunoassay and CEA, CYFRA21-1, and NSE by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. The differences among the three groups were determined by Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and with Mann-Whitney rank-sum test. Diagnostic efficacy was evaluated by ROC curves. Results The four serum tumor marker levels were significantly higher in lung cancer group, as compared with the benign and the healthy (IGF-1:χ2=26.95,P<0.001, CEA:χ2=49.11,P<0.001; CYFRA21-1:χ2=40.63,P<0.001; NSE:χ2=14.76;P<0.001). The diagnostic sensitivities of IGF-1, CEA, CYFRA21-1 and NSE was 75.6% (34/45), 53.3% (24/45), 66.7% (30/45) and 42.2% (19/45) respectively for lung cancer. The diagnostic sensitivity of IGF-1 combined with CYFRA21-1 was 95.5 %( 43/45) and that of IGF-1 combined with CEA and CYFRA21-1was 97.8%(44/45). Only IGF-1 and CYFRA21-1 showed significant changes before and after treatment (IGF-1: χ2=5.99,P=0.014; CYFRA21-1:χ2=4.99, P=0.025) in cancer group. Conclusions Serum IGF-1, CEA, CYFRA21-1 and NSE are all valuable for lung cancer diagnosis and the combination of those parameters can enhance the diagnostic efficiency. Serum IGF-1 and CYFRA21-1 may also be useful for evaluating the treatment response in lung cancer.

[Objective] To observe the reversal action of acupuncture on experimental rats with insulin resistance. [Methods] Twenty-four rats were randomized into normal group, control group and treatment group. Each group had 8 rats. Rat models with insulin resistance were induced by feeding of high-carbonhydrate forage. Fasting blood-glucose (FBG) and plasma insulin (PI) levels and insulin sensitivity index ( ISI) were examined after acupuncture of Neiguan ( PC6 ) , Zusanli ( ST36) , Sanyinjiao (SP6) and Shenshu (BL23). [Results] FBG and PI levels were increased and ISI decreased in model group as compared with those in normal group ( P

0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture has an effect on I/O curve amplitude of EPSP and PS,and on LTP induction of PS of dentate gyrus(DG) in rats after cerebral ischemia.However,the difference of effect of acupuncture at different doses on LTP induction is insignificant.

Objective To investigate the incidence of dental fluorosis,urinary fluoride level and intelligence of children who lived in the coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis areas and to reveal the effects of comprehensive control measures on intelligence of children in this area.Methods Children aged 8-12 who lived in coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis areas in Bijie City of Guizhou Province were selected and divided into two groups according to the duration of comprehensive treatments given:long treatment group (Xiaba Village and Zhongtun Village,furnace stovewas changed and comprehensive control measure of health education was carried out for more than 3 years) and short treatment group(Chadi Village and Maoliping Village,stoves were improved and health education time ＜ 1 year).The children who lived in a non-fluorosis area were selected as controls in 2012.Dental fluorosis was diagnosed by the method of Dean; urinary fluoride was analyzed by the method of fluoride-ion selective electrode; and the intelligence quotient (IQ) was measured by Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices Test.Results The number of children surveyed in control group was 104,long treatment group was 298,short treatment group was 339,and the incidence rates of dental fluorosis were 0 (0/104),725％(216/298) and 85.2％ (289/339),respectively,and the incidence rates of dental fluorosis in children lived in the endemic fluorosis areas were significantly increased compared with that of control group; the difference of incidence rates between long treatment group and short treatment group was statistically significantly(x2 =15.736,P ＜ 0.01).Urinary fluoride content were (2.33 ± 0.18) and (3.03 ± 0.16)mg/L,respectively,compared with the control group[(1.34 ± 0.64) mg/L],the values in endemic fluorosis areas were significantly higher(F =306.53,P ＜ 0.01).Above average IQ of children in the control group was 97.1％ (101/104),which was significantly higher than that of long and short treatment groups; after a lengthy treatment,mental retardation detection rate was significantly lower in the low-age group,8-10 year-old ehildren(x2 =7.542,P ＜ 0.01).Urinary fluoride content was negatively correlated with the level of IQ (r =-0.553,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions The intelligence development of children in coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis area is significantly delayed.After a certain period of comprehensive treatment,the decreased level of cognition is inhibited and the mental retardation in the low-age group is improved.

Objective:To compare the drug release of nifedipine sustained-release tablets from four manufacturers to evaluate the intrinsic quality. Methods:The drug release rate was determined by UV respectively with pH 1. 2 HCl solution, pH 4. 0 sodium ace-tate buffer, pH 6. 8 phosphate buffer and water as the dissolution medium. The dissolution curves were compared by f2 factor. Results:The drug release rate of nifedipine sustained-release tablets from the four manufacturers all met quality standard of our country, al-though the dissolution curves in the different dissolution medium was various. Conclusion:There are differences in intrinsic quality a-mong the nifedipine sustained-release tablets from the four manufacturers. The dissolution examination standard should be improved fur-ther.

Pulse-taking, as one of the four diagnostic methods of inspection, auscultation and olfaction, inquiry and pulse-taking, can fully embodies the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine. Pulse-taking is the teaching key point for the international students. However, because the pulsetheory and literature is quite profound and abstract and there is a long distance between the class teaching and clinical practice, the teaching of pulse-taking is also the difficult point for the international students. Therefore, the pulse-taking teaching should focus on the interesting teaching, the culture of traditional Chinese medicine of pulse, image teaching and practice training.