The treatments for insomnia after stroke were various in recent years, including acupuncture with its distinguishing feature. It’s reviewed and summarized that experimental researches on Chinese and English databases about acupuncture treatment of insomnia after stroke in recent 10 years. Clinicians had chosen different acupuncture therapies for insomnia after stroke according to yinyang, zangfu, meridians, opening and closing of qi activity. Although those acupuncture therapies had achieved obvious clinical effects, they were deficient in experimental design and methodology.

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of acupuncture combined with estazolam for the treatment of primary insomnia with heart and spleen deficiency type. Methods Seventy qualified patients were randomized into treatment group and control group, 35 in each group. Both groups received oral use of estazolam before bed time for 6 continuous weeks, and acupuncture group was additionally given acupuncture for regulating governor vessel and tranquilizing spirit on acupoints of Baihui(GV20), Yintang(GV29), Shenting(GV25), Anmian (EX-HN22), Shenmen(H7), Sanyinjiao(SP6), 3 times a week and lasting for 6 continuous weeks. The sleep state of the patients was estimated according to Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Athens Insomnia Scale(AIS) before treatment, on the third and the sixth week of treatment, and one month after the completion of treatment. Results (1) Five cases in the treatment group and 3 cases in the control group were dropped out for not completing the treatment timely. In the end , 30 cases in the treatment group and 32 cases in the control group finished the trial. (2) The total effective rate in the treatment group was up to 90.0%, and was 71.9% in control group, the difference being significant(P<0.01).(3) Compared to the control group, the scores of PSQI, ESS and AIS were much decreased in treatment group on the third and the sixth week of treatment , and one month after treatment(P<0 . 05 or P<0 . 01). Conclusion Acupuncture for regulating governor vessel and tranquilizing mind combined with oral use of estazolam exerts certain therapeutic effect for the treatment of heart and spleen deficiency type insomnia, and the effect was superior to that of estazolam alone.

Column chromatography on silica gel was used to study the chemical constituents of traditional Chinese medicine Siegesbeckia pubescens. The chemical structures of the separated compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic data analyses. As a result, eighteen compounds were obtained and identified as 3, 4'-dimethoxy quercetin(1), 3, 3', 4'-trimethoxy quercetin(2), 3, 3'-dimethoxy quercetin(3), 7, 3', 4'-trimethoxy luteolin(4), ursolic acid(5), 2β,19α-dihydroxyursolic acid(6), 2β-hydroxyursolic acid (7), stigmasterol-7-one(8), 5α, 8α-epidioxy-24(R)-methyl-cholesta-6, 22-diene-3β-ol(9), β-sitosterol(10), 2, 6-di(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-3, 7-dioxacyclo [3. 3. 0] octane (11), aurantiamide acetate (12), 3-(m-hydroxyl-p-methoxy)-N-(2'-p-hydroxyl-phenethyl)-2E-acrylamide(13), p-hydroxy benzaldehyde (14), m-hydroxy-p-methoxy benzaldehyde (15), 3, 4, 5-trimethoxybenzoic acid(16), monoethyl malonate(17), and p-hydroxylcinnamic acid(18). Among them, compounds 1-9, 11-18 were isolated from this plant for the first time.
Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Luteolin ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; Quercetin ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Sitosterols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Objective To investigate the possible damaging effect of infrasound on ultrastructure and permeability of rats′ blood retinal barrier (BRB). Methods Twenty mature male rats, averagely divided into 5 groups according to the exposure duration, were exposed to infrasound at a 16 Hz frequency and 130 dB sound pressure level in a pressure chamber for 2 hours per day. After exposed for 0, 1 day, 7, 14, and 21 days respectively, ultrastructural changes of rats′ BRB were observed through injection of lanthanum (La) nitrate solution, which was used as a tracer to demonstrate the breakdown of the BRB. Results With prolonging the duration of infrasound exposure, BRB structure lesion, chondriosome tumefaction, endoplasmic reticulum expandedness, membrane disc damage, retinal pigment epithelial cells distortion and putrescence, karyotheca expandedness, and La leakage on each level of retina aggravated gradually. Conclusion Infrasound may cause the breakdown of BRB, and the lesions aggravated with prolonged infrasound exposure time.

Objective To investigate the effect of isoflurane preconditioning on the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB)activity of leukocytes in patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).Methods Twenty ASAⅡorⅢpatients of both sexes aged 20-60 yrs undergoing cardiac valve replacement under CPB were randomly divided into 2 groups(n=10 each):control group(C)and isoflurane preconditioning group(I).Anesthesia was induced with midazolam 0.08-0.12 mg?kg~(-1),fentanyl 5-10?g?kg~(-1) and vecuronium 0.1 mg?kg~(-1).The patients were mechanically ventilated(FiO_2=100%)after tracheal intubation.Anesthesia was maintained with intermittent i.v.boluses of fentanyl and midazolam in group C or with 2 MAC isoflurane and intermittent i.v.boluses of fentanyl and midazolam in group I before CPB.Systolic BP was kept between 90-120 mm Hg,diastolic BP between 50-80 mm Hg and HR between 60-90 bpm in both groups. Isoflurane was discontinued at the initiation of CPB.Arterial blood samples were taken after tracheal intubation and before inhalation of isoflurane(T_0)at 30 min(T_1),1 h(T_2)and 2 h(T_3)after aortic unclamping for determination of NF-kB activity of leukocytes using electrophoretic mobility shift assay(EMSA).The amount of fentanyl,midazolam,dopamine and sodium nitroprusside(SNP)consumed during operation and the rate of recovery of spontaneous heart beat in both groups were recorded.Results The NF-kB activity was significantly increased after aortic unclamping in C group but there was no significant difference in NF-kB activity before CPB (T_0)and after aortic unclamping(T_(1-3))in I group.The NF-kB activity was significant lower at T_(1-3) in group I than in group C.The total amount of fentanyl consumed was 40-60?g?kg~(-1) in C group and 20-30?g?kg~(-1) in group I. Significantly less amount of dopamine was used in group I than in group C.There was no significant difference in SNP consumption between the 2 groups.The rate of recovery of spontaneous heart beat was significantly higher in group I than in group C(P＜0.01).The amount of dopamine consumed was positively correlated with the highest level of NF-kB activity in both group[r=0.962 in group C;r=0.908 in group I(P＜0.01)].Conclusion Isoflurane preconditioning can attenuate the NF-kB activity of leulocytes in patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement under CPB.

Objective To isolate Fusarium species from Kashin-Beck disease(KBD)area and biosynthesize cnlde T-2 toxin.Methods T-2 toxin.producing Fusarium was isolated from corns produced in KBD area and purifted.The purifted funsi were identified according to the traits of colony,appearance of thallus and characters of conidium and then weIe cultivated in sterile Corn culture media.After extraction with organic solvent and purification by silica gel chromatography column,the quality and quantity of the toxin in the extracts were estimated by thin,Layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography.Results The toxin-producing strain was Fusarium tricinctum. The com cuIture media inoculated with this strain produced about 250 mg of crude T-2 toxin per kg. Conclusions This experiment has indirectly further confirmed pollution of T-2 toxin-producing Fmarium existed in

Objective To discuss the influence of smoking on fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) expression in pa-tients with chronic airway inflammation. Methods According to the clinical history and characteristics of lung function, 206 patients were divided into asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap syndrome (ACOS) group (n=37), COPD group (n=124) and asthma group (n=45). Meanwhile, 40 people accepted healthy physical examination were used as the control group (n=40). Then persons were sub-divided into smokers or nonsmokers according to the situation of smoking. The FeNO value and pulmonary function index were compared between the four groups, and the FeNO value was compared between smokers and nonsmokers respectively. The smoking index and FeNO value of smokers were measured for correlation analysis. Results (1)The FeNO values were significantly higher in ACOS group and asthma group than those of COPD group and the control group (32.6±9.9 and 37.6±10.9 vs 18.7±9.8 and 14.4±4.3,F=68.082,P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in FeNO value between ACOS group and asthma group, and between COPD group and the control group. (2) The FEV1/FVC was significantly lower in ACOS group, COPD group and asthma group than that of control group, while the FEV1/FVC was significantly lower in ACOS group and COPD group than that of asthma group(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in FEV1% between ACOS group, COPD group and asthma group(P>0.05). (3) The Fe-NO value was significantly lower in smokers of COPD group and ACOS group than that of non-smokers(P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in FeNO value between smokers and nonsmokers in asthma group and the control group (P>0.05). (4)The smoking index and FeNO value were negatively correlated in COPD group, but there were no obvious cor-relation in smoking index and FeNO values between other groups. Conclusion Smoking can lead to the reduction of FeNO value in COPD and ACOS patients. The detection of FeNO is helpful for the differentiating COPD combined asthma.

Tripterygium wilfordii has exihibited multiple pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, immune modulation, anti-tumor and anti-fertility. T. wilfordii have been used for the therapy of inflammation and autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, immune complex nephritis and systemic lupus erythematosus clinically. However, it is well known that T. wilfordii has small margin between the therapeutic and toxic doses and could cause serious injury on digestive, reproductive and urogenital systems. Among all the organs, liver is one of the most remarkable targets of T. wilfordii-induced toxicities, and the damage is more serious than others. It is generally accepted that T. wilfordii-induced liver injury is a result of the combined effects of toxic elements of T. wilfordii. It is reported in several studies that the mechanism of T. wilfordii-induced liver injury may be related to lipid peroxidation, cell apoptosis and immune damage, and so on. Licorice is one of the most commonly used Chinese herbal medicine, with effects of heat- clearing and detoxicating, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective, reconciling various drugs, and so on. Licorice often accompany T. wilfordii in clinical application which can significantly reduce the liver injury induced by T. wilfordii. The attenuated effect is exact, but the mechanism is still a lack of in-depth study. This paper reviews the studies on T. wilfordii-induced liver injury and the related mechanism as well as licorice and other traditional Chinese medicine accompany T. wilfordii to reduce the injury in recent years, so as to provide reference for related research in the future.
Animals ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Glycyrrhiza ; Humans ; Inactivation, Metabolic ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Tripterygium

Abnormalities, Multiple ; diagnosis ; genetics ; pathology ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Optic Atrophies, Hereditary ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Radiography ; Septo-Optic Dysplasia ; diagnosis ; genetics ; pathology ; Septum Pellucidum ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology