Objective Effect of Zhizhu decoction ( ZD) on mast cells( MC) of colonic mucosa in mice with constipation due to spleen asthenia was observed and the relationship between MC and the immunoreactivity of substance P ( SP) and somatostatin ( SS) was explored to investigate the therapeutic mechanism of ZD.Methods The mice models with constipation due to spleen asthenia were induced by the discordance between starvation and engorgement plus overfatigue. The MC count and SP and SS expression were detected by modified toluidine blue method and LSAB immunohistochemical method respectively, and then analyzed with IMS color image processing system and related software. Results The MC density in the colonic mucosa in the constipated mice was reduced. The MC density was correlated positively with the mean intensity and area of SP immunoreactivity ( r=0.6508, P

Objective To explore the interactive effect of acupuncture and exercise on severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods 120 comatose patients following TBI after routine surgery were equally divided into combined group (acupuncture and exercise), acupuncture group, exercise group, and control group (neither acupuncture, nor exercise). They were assessed with Glasgow coma scale (GCS),Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), modified Brathel index (MBI) and neurological deficit scores (modified Edinburgh-Scandinavia stroke scale, MESSS) before and after the treatment. Results The scores of GCS, FMA, MESSS and MBI improved more in the combined group than in the control group (P<0.05). The scores of GCS and MESSS improved more in the acupuncture group and the exercise group than in the control group (P<0.05). The scores of MESSS improved more in the combined group than in the exercise group (P<0.01). Conclusion Both acupuncture and exercise can synergetically reduce the disability and coma of comatose patients following TBI.

Objective To investigate the effect of hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) on neurogenesis of the dentate gyrus organotypic hippocampal slice cultures after oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD).Methods The 3-day-old Sprague Dawley rats were used to making organotypic hippocampal slices.They were randomly divided into four groups:a blank control group,a saline control group (giving 1 mL normal saline after OGD),a high-dose HSYA group (giving 1 ml,0.072 mg/ml HSYA after OGD),and a low-dose HSYA group (giving 1 ml,0.036 mg/ml HSYA after OGD) (n =6 slices in each group).Nestin and 5-bromo deoxyuridine nucleoside imnune fluorescence method were used to double-label the proliferation of neural stem cell (NSC).Results There were significant differences in NSC numbers among the different time points before and after OGD in slices of each group (all P ＜0.001).After OGD,the proliferation of NSC numbers reduced significantly in each group,cell proliferation increased siginificantly at day 3,and the proliferation of NSC number at day 6 was lower than that at day 3,but they still higher than those before OGD.There were significant differences in the proliferation of NSC numbers among the blank control,the saline control,high-dose HSYA,and low-dose HSYA groups (F =947.077,P ＜0.001).Observing from each time point,in addition to before OGD,the proliferation of NSC numbers at all other time points had the following relations:the blank control Group ＞ the high-dose HSYA group ＞ the low-dose HSYA group ＞ the saline control group (all P＜0.001).Conclusions HSYA may alleviate OGD to the NSC injury and contribute to neurogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Constipation, especially that caused by spleen insufficiency in transportation, often not responses to common purgatives, however,the therapy to strengthen the spleen and regulate qi so as to promote transportation and dredge stasis may be an ideal way to resolve the problem.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of zhizhu decoction, a classic famous prescription, on gastric motility of mice with spleen insufficiency constipationDESIGN: A randomized controlled trial.SETTING: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) of Guangdong Medical College and Spleen-stomach Institute of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.MATERIALS: The experiment was completed from June to December2002 at Spleen-stomach Institute of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Totally 328 NIH mice of general grade were chosen.METHODS: Mouse models with spleen insufficiency constipation were set up by irregular diet and overstrain combined with water deprivation. The influence of zhizhu decoction in large, middle and small doses on defecation in both spleen insufficiency mice and normal mice was investigated, taking Chinese patent drug bianmi tong (bowel-relaxing) as a positive control. In observation of normal mice defecation, there were five groups of large dose,middle dose and small dose of zhizhu decoction, bianmi tong and normal control. In observation of defecation of spleen insufficiency constipation mice, there were six groups: the above five and a natural recovering. In observation of loading mice trial, besides the above five groups, there was an atropine group. After administration, the time when the mice first defecated dark stool, the number of stool grains and the stool quantity were observe;and the percentage of small intestine advance was calculated.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: [1] Observation of the effect of zhizhu decoction on the defecation in both normal and spleen insufficiency mice.[2] The influence of zhizhu decoction on bowel advance in both normal and atropine loading miceRESULTS: Totally 328 mice were involved in the trial and 319 entered into the final result analysis, the other 9 died because of mistake in administration by gavage. The effect of zhizhu decoction on the defecation: [1] For normal mice, compared with the distilled group, in the zhizhu decoction groups of various doses the time when the mice first defecated dark stool was obviously reduced, and the number of stool grains and stool quantity were obviously increased, but the effect in the large and middle dose groups was best. [2] Compared with the normal group, in the model group the time when the mice first defecated dark stool was obviously increased, and the number of stool grains and stool quantity were obviously decreased. Zhizhu decoction in large and middle doses could obviously reduce the time when the mice first defecated dark stool, and increase the number of stool grains and stool quantity, the effect was better than that of the control drug bianmi tong. The influence ofzhizhu decoction on intestinal advance in mice: [1]Zhizhu decoction in various doses could obviously increase the rate of intestinal advance compared with distilled water group for normal mice. [2]Adding atropine load could reduce the rate of intestinal advance compared with the normal control group, and the percentage in all zhizhu decoction groups was obviously increased compared with the atropine group.CONCLUSION: Zhizhu decoction can reduce the time when the mice first defecated dark stool, increase the number of stool grains and stool quantity were obviously increased to both normal mice and mice with spleen insufficiency mice; it can also increase the intestinal advance rate in normal mice, and had a good antagonism against the inhibition of atropine to intestinal advance. In the trials the effect of zhizhu decoction in large and middle doses was more obvious, with a certain dose-effect relationship, the effect was better than that of the control drug bianmi tong.

Background:Tryptophan(TRP)is an essential amino acid,and can produce 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)via 5-HT signal pathway and kynurenine( KYN)metabolic pathway under the catalysis of enzyme,thereby participating in the pathogenesis of visceral hypersensitivity in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome(IBS-D). Aims:To investigate the relationship between visceral sensitivity and TRP metabolic pathway in patients with IBS-D. Methods:Thirty patients with IBS-D and 30 healthy controls from June 2012 to January 2014 at Guangdong Provincial TCM Hospital were enrolled. Score of gastrointestinal symptom rating scale( GSRS)was evaluated. Visceral sensitivity was measured by anorectal manometry. RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect mRNA and protein expressions of colon mucosal IDo, respectively. Serum 5-HT,5-HIAA,TRP,IDo,KYN,KYNA concentrations and IDo activity,KAT activity were determined by high performance liquid chromatography assay. Results:Compared with control group,GSRS score was significantly increased(P < 0. 05),initial perception threshold,defecation threshold,pain threshold were significantly decreased(P < 0. 05),anorectal constriction pressure was significantly increased( P < 0. 05),serum 5-HT,5-HIAA concentrations were significantly increased(P < 0. 05),mRNA and protein expressions of IDo were significantly increased (P < 0. 05),serum KYN was significantly increased(P < 0. 05),KYNA was significantly decreased(P < 0. 01),IDo activity was significantly incseased(P < 0. 01),and KAT activity was significantly decreased in IBS-D group(P < 0. 01). Correlation analysis showed that initial perception threshold,defecation threshold,pain threshold and anorectal constriction pressure were correlated with 5-HT,5-HIAA,TRP,KYN,KYNA,IDo activity and KAT activity in patients with IBS-D (P < 0. 05). Conclusions:TRP metabolic pathway is correlated with visceral hypersensitivity in patients with IBS-D.

Objective To investigate causes and treatments for a fracture of the contralateral femoral neck in the elderly with prosthetic replacement for femoral neck fractures.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 85 cases undergone prosthetic replacement for femoral neck fractures between March 2005 and May 2012,including 12 cases in secondary replacement group due to fractures of the contralateral uninjured femoral neck after primary prosthetic replacement and 73 cases in primary replacement group.Variables were compared between the two groups including causes of injury,age,sex,bone density,complications,quality of life,Harris score of the contralateral hip joint,surgical choice.Refracture reasons were evaluated and treatment plans were proposed.Results Immediate cause of injury in all cases was falling.Primary and secondary replacement groups showed mean age of (68.82 ± 5.18) yearsvs (76.83 ± 3.64) years (P＜0.05),male to female ratio of 0.66:1 vs 0.09:1 (P＜0.05),and bone mineral density of (0.507 ± 0.062) g/cm2 vs (0.461 ± 0.095) g/cm2(P ＜0.05).Moreover,cases in the two groups suffered from the associated complications (hypertension,diabetes mellitus,cataract,stroke,rheumatoid arthritis,and Parkinson' s disease).Except for the diabetes mellitus,incidence of the other five basic diseases presented significance differences between the two groups (P ＜ 0.05).Of primary and secondary replacement groups,quality of life was (76.26 ±14.17) points vs (67.86 ± 16.74) points (P ＜ 0.05) ; Harris score of the contralateral hip was (98.66 ±1.39) points vs (90.75 ± 5.39) points (P ＜ O.05).For treatment choice,32 total hip arthroplasty (THA) and 41 femoral head arthroplasty (FHA) with cement fixation in 44 cases and cementless fixation in 29 cases were performed in primary replacement group; two total hip arthroplasty and 10 femoral head arthroplasty with cement fixation in 11 cases and cementless fixation in one were performed in secondary placement group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Fall remains the immediate cause of the contralateral fractures following prosthetic replacement of femoral neck fractures in the elderly.Aging,females,bone density reduction,high-incidence of complications,decreased quality of life,and joint function impairment after the primary prosthetic replacement are unfavorable factors.Prosthetic replacement is still the preferred choice of treatment and surgical procedure is more likely to be the simple cemented FHA.

Objective To investigate the cytokines levels in peripheral blood of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients at active stage, and to observe the effect of baicalin at various concentrations on the cytokines. Methods Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) assay was used for the detection of interleukin 4 receptor (IL4R), IL6R, IL23R and RAR-related orphan receptor C (RORC) expression in single peripheral mononuclear cell of UC patients. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to examine the serum levels of interferon gamma (IFN-γ), IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) levels in UC patients, and was applied for in-vitro detection of these indicators after baicalin intervention. Results Q-PCR results showed that IL4R, IL6R, IL23R, RORC gene expression levels in UC patients were increased to various degrees as compared to diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) patients and the healthy volunteers, and then the levels were decreased to various degrees after intervention by baicalin at different concentrations, in particular at 20 and 40μmol/L. The results of ELISA showed that serum levels of cytokines of IFN-γ, IL-5, IL-6 in UC patients were increased to various degrees while IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β1 was decreased as compared to IBS-D patients and the healthy volunteers. Baicalin at the concentrations of 20 and 40 μmol/L had an effect on decreasing IFN-γ, IL-5, IL-6 and on increasing IL-4 and IL-10. Conclusion Higher concentrations of baicalin show obvious effect on inhibiting RORC and IL23R expression, on decreasing IFN-γ, IL-5, IL-6 levels, and on increasing IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β1 levels, which indicated that the therapeutic mechanism of baicalin in relieving ulcerative colonic inflammation is related with the regulation of immune function.

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of baicalin on the proportion of Th22 cells and the concentration of IL-22 bothin vivo andin vitro, in order to explore the immune mechanism of baicalin on inflammatory bowel disease mice model. The 3.5% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) was used on C57BL/6 mice for the establishment of colitis mice model. Mice were randomly divided into the blank control group, model group, and baicalin group. Flow cytometry and ELISA were used in the detection of the proportion of Th22 cells and concentration of IL-22 in peripheral blood serum, respectively. The spleen lymphocytes of mice were isolated and cultured by baicalin medium (0, 10, 20, 40μM) for 48 h. Flow cytometry was used in the detection of the proportion of Th22 cells. The results showed that baicalin reduced the proportion of Th22 cells and the expression of IL-22 bothin vivo andin vitro experiments. It was concluded that baicalin can inhibit Th22 cell differentiation and expression of IL-22in vitro and DSS-induced colitis mice. It indicated that baicalin had a good treatment potential in Th22 cell-mediated inflammatory diseases.