Objective To explore the mechanism of therapeutic effect of Yichantang in the treatment of Parkinson′s disease (PD). Methods A rat model of PD was replicated. The experimental animals were divided into a normal control group,a normal saline control group and a Yichantang group. Changes in the rats' behavior pattern was obrerved. Using the technique of intracerebral dialysis,the content of catecholamine like substances in the nigral extracellular fluid(NECF)was measured by means of high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). Changes in the affinity and quantity of M and DA receptors were determined too. Results Yichantang markedly improved the rats' rotation behavior,and enhanced the Bmax and KD of DA and M receptors in the brain tissues on the side of lesion. The levels of DOPAC,HVA,DA and 5-HT in the NECF of the side of lesion in the Yichantang group were significantly higher than that of the normal saline group ( P

280r/40min). So the PD model was regarded eligible. In the site of lesion in SN, the number and volume of dobaminergic neurons were decreased, and the tissue structure of SN became indistinct, the levels of dopamine (DA), dihydroxyphenylaceticacid (DOPAC), homovanillicacid (HVA) 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleaceticacid (5-HIAA) were more conspicuously reduced than that in uninjured side. TH-immunoreactive cells of substantia nigra compact part were lessened obviously on injured side. The abnormal rotatory behavior of PD rats did not spontaneously disappear during 10 months of continuous observation. Conclusion The PD rat model, which is reproduced by injecting 6-OHDA to selectively destroy dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of rat, is stable and reliable, and demonstrated similar primary pathological changes of PD.

Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) is a flavonoid compound isolated from licorice. It possesses excellent antioxidant and anti-diabetic activities. This study aims to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the alleviatory effect of ISL on energy metabolism imbalance caused by type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). 8-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were used in in vivo experiments. The high-fat-high-glucose diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin was applied to establish T2DM animal model. All animal experiments were performed in accordance with the Institutional Guidelines of Laboratory Animal Administration issued by the Committee of Ethics at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. HepG2 cells were used in in vitro experiments. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to examine the protein and mRNA levels of mitochondrial function-related targets. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in HepG2 cells were measured by the flow cytometry. Additionally, the molecular docking of ISL and key target proteins was analyzed. It was found that ISL significantly inhibited the activity of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I and increased the protein levels of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) in the livers of mice and HepG2 cells. It also obviously decreased the ROS levels and increased the MMP levels in cultured HepG2 cells. In addition, ISL promoted mitochondrial biogenesis by activating proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1α (PGC-1α) and enhanced mitophagy by upregulating Parkin. It also improved mitochondrial fusion by increasing the mRNA and protein levels of mitofusin 2 (MFN2). In conclusion, ISL alleviates energy metabolism imbalance caused by T2DM through suppression of excessive mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and promotion of mitochondrial biogenesis, mitophagy, and fusion.

Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) is an active chalcone compound isolated from licorice. It possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities. In our previous study, we uncovered a great potential of ISL in treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Therefore, this study aims to reveal the mechanism underlying the alleviatory effects of ISL on T2DM-induced glycolipid metabolism disorder. High-fat-high-sugar diet (HFD) combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) were used to establish T2DM mice model. All animal experiments were carried out with approval of the Committee of Ethics at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. HepG2 cells were used in in vitro experiments, and sodium palmitate (SP) was applied to establish insulin resistance (IR) model cells. The effects of ISL on body weight, fasting blood glucose levels, and pathological changes in the livers of mice were examined. Enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were applied to detect the regulatory effects of ISL on key targets involved in glucolipid metabolism. Additionally, molecular docking and analytical dynamics simulation methods were used to analyze the interaction between ISL and key target protein. The results indicate that ISL significantly downregulates the transcriptional levels and inhibits the activities of key enzymes involved in gluconeogenesis, including pyruvate carboxylase (PC), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), and fructose-1, 6-bisphosphatase (FBP). It also downregulates the transcriptional and protein levels of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α) and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB), the two transcriptional factors involved in gluconeogenesis. Thus, ISL inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis in T2DM mice. In addition, ISL reduces total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels in the livers of T2DM mice. Moreover, ISL downregulates the mRNA levels of lipogenesis genes and upregulates those of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation, lipid uptake, and lipid export. In conclusion, ISL suppresses hepatic gluconeogenesis, promotes lipolysis, and restrains lipogenesis in T2DM mice, thereby improving the abnormal glycolipid metabolism caused by T2DM.

Perception, affection and consciousness are basic psychological functions of human being. Affection is the subjective reflection of different kinds of objects. The foundation of human being's thinking is constituted by the three basic functions. Affective computing is an effective tool of revealing the affectiveness of human being in order to understand the world. Our research of affective computing focused on the relation, the generation and the influent factors among different affections. In this paper, the affective mechanism, the basic theory of affective computing, is studied, the method of acquiring and recognition of affective information is discussed, and the application of affective computing is summarized as well, in order to attract more researchers into this working area.
Affect ; Computing Methodologies ; Emotions ; Humans ; Mental Processes

BACKGROUND: Parkinson disease (PD) not only influences motor function, also affects sensation and cognition. Treatment with dopamine can only control symptom and has well side effect; however, yichan tang has great effect on treating PD in clinic.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of yichan tang on praxiological behavior, catecholamines substance in cerebral tissue and substantia nigra nerve cells of PD rats and analyze its effective mechanism.DESIGN: Randomized control animal study and single-blind evaluation.SETTING: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine of General Hospital of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS: A total of 120 female SD rats weighing 180-200 g were selected in this study. Seventy modeling PD rats were randomly divided into saline group (n=30) and yichan tang group (n=40) according to digital table. Another 30 non-modeling rats were regarded as normal control group. Yichan tang was made of 15 g shanyurou, 15 g shichangpu, 10 g xianlingpi, 10 g roucongrong, 15 g gouqizi, 15 g danshen and 8 g wugong,etc., and provided by Dispensary of Chinese herb of General Hospital of Chinese PLA. Drug was decocted for 30 minutes to filter the solution and then concentrated into decoction including 1.0 g/mL raw materials.METHODS: The experiment was carried out at the Animal Laboratory of General Hospital of Chinese PLA from September to December 2001. PD rat model were established with 6-hydroxy-dopa to observe behavior of rats.The administration of rats (body mass/kg) in yichan tang group was 10 times as the administration of the adults (60 kg) (5 g/kg). Rats were perfused once a day and weighted once a week. The dosage of administration was regulated as the body mass changing, and the administration lasted for 8 weeks. Rats in saline group and normal control group were perfused with the same volume of saline as the criteria of body mass. Rotatory behaviors of rats in normal group, saline group (model group before administration)and yichan tang group were observed before administration and at 5, 6, 7 and 8 weeks after administration. Changes of content of catecholamines in extracellular fluid of cerebral tissue were measured with micro-dialysis technique and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), meanwhile, changes of substantia nigra nerve cells on both sides of corpus striatum were observed under 20-time and 40-time optic microscopes.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Effect of yichan tang on medium of cranial nerve of PD rats; changes of substantia nigra nerve cells on both sides of corpus striatum with optic microscope and electron microscope; evaluation of yichan tang.RESULTS: Among 100 rats, 6 rats in yichan tang group died because of failure perfusion, 5 in saline group and 2 in normal control group. Therefore, 87 rats were involved in the final analysis. ① At 5, 6, 7 and 8 weeks after treatment, rotatory times within 40 minutes were all shorter in yichan tang group than those in saline group [(112.34±33.36), (91.16±73.06),(72.05±20.77), (61.63±17.93), (340.90±52.97) times, P ＜ 0.01]. ② Levels of 3,4-dihydroxybenzene acid, homovanilic acid, dopamine and 5-serotonin on the injured side were lower than those on the uninjured side (P ＜ 0.05-0.01). After treatment, levels of mediums mentioned above were higher in yichan tang group than those in saline group (P ＜ 0.05-0.01); however,there were no significant differences of mediums on the uninjured side in the three groups (P ＞ 0.05). ③ Pathological observation: Amount of substantia nigra nerve cells on the injured side was more in yichan tang group than that in saline group; moreover, volume of neurons was full, structure was clear, and values of Golgi complex and mitochondria were close to the normals.CONCLUSION: Yichan tang can relieve injured degrees of substantia nigra nerve cells, facilitate the repair, increase the content of endogenetic catecholamines in cerebral tissue, and improve rotatory behavior of PD rats.

Objective To observe the expressions of efflux pump gene cluster adeAB in acinetobacter baumannii isolated from the burn patients and the expression changes of its upstream regulatory genes adeR and adeS and determine the influence of those genes on drug resistance of acinetobacter baumannii.Methods Nine drug-resistant strains and nine sensitive strains of acinetobacter baumannii isolated from the burn patients treated between June 2012 and March 2013 were used.After strain identification using 16SrDNA sequencing,acinetobacter baumannii standard strain ATCC19606 was employed as the control.mRNA expressions of efllux pump genes adeA and adeB and their upstream regulatory genes adeR and adeS were detected by real-time quantitative PCR.Results (1) adeA and adeB genes presented higher expressions in drug-resistant strains (3.71 ±0.95,76.16 ± 8.75) than in sensitive strains (0.92 ± 0.94,0.72 ± 0.78) (F =38.71,663.65 respectively,both P ＜ 0.05).(2) adeS and adeR genes showed higher expressions in drug resistant strains (18.02 ± 6.71,3.02 ± 2.69) than in sensitive strains (1.64±1.51,0.76±0.61) (F =51.04,5.57 respectively,bothP＜0.05).Conclusions The over-expression of efflux pump gene cluster adeAB induced by the expression alteration of its upstream regulatory genes adeR and adeS is closely associated with the drug resistance of acinetobacter baumannii in the burn patient.Besides,the regulatory genes may depend on adeS to sense the nosocomial environment condition,activate or inactivate adeR and hence regulate efflux pump expression.

Objective To investigate the influence of abaI expression on acinetobacter baumannii biofilm formation.Methods Acinetobacter baumannii strain S isolated from bums patients was collected for the study,while the standard strain ATCC19606 was served as the control.At 6,24 and 48 hours,the gene expressions of abaI,pgaA,pgaB and pgaC were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PT-PCR,secretion of N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) by biological sensor and biofilm formation by MTT method.Results (1) Gene expressions of abaI,pgaA,pgaB and pgaC at 6 hours were 8.63 ±5.93,1.98 ± 1.93,1.01 ± 1.32 and 2.67 ± 3.46 respectively,which showed a quick increase at 24 hours (22.81 ± 17.60,5.13 ± 4.32,5.66 ± 3.97,11.97 ± 7.75 respectively),followed by a rapid decline in 48 hours (3.43 ± 0.88,1.30 ± 0.24,3.01 ± 3.00,3.02 ± 3.29 respectively).Gene expressions of pgaB and pgaC at 6 hours and that of pgaA and pgaC at 48 hours revealed statistically significant differences from those at 24 hours (P ＜ 0.05).(2) AHLs showed a level of 18.49 ± 11.03 at 6 hours,reached a peak of 52.23 ± 15.95 at 24 hours,then descended to 5.53 ± 0.94 at 48 hours.AHLs level at 24 hours showed statistically significant difference from that at 6 hours and 48 hours (P ＜ 0.05).(3)Biofilm formation at 24 hours and 48 hours was 2.83 ±0.44 and 2.71 ±0.15 respectively,far higher than that at 6 hours (0.49 ± 0.11,P ＜ 0.05).(4) In the correlation analysis among AHLs,biofilm formation and gene abaI,pgaA,pgaB and pgaC expressions,significant positive correlation was found between abaI and pgaA and between AHLs and pgaC expression (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Acinetobacter baumannii may regulate gene expressions of pgaA and pgaC responsible for biofilm formation to adjust to the external environment by means of changing abaI gene expression and AHLs secretion.

Three hundred and ninety five patients with bronchial asthma were randomly divided into 4 groups:patients in group A received inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate(BDP)100μg and Zhichuan decoction;patients in group B were given inhaled BDP 200μg;patients in group C took Zhichuan decoction only;patients in group D were given inhaled BDP 100 μg.Methacholine airway reactivity,pulmonary ventilation function,serum acidophilia cationic protein and symptom score were determined before and after treatment.All above indicators were significantly improved in groups A and B,which suggests that Zhichuan decoction could reduce hormone dosage in control of airway chronic inflammation,reduction of airway reactivity and improvement of pulmonary ventilation function of patients with bronchial asthma.

Objectives:To explore the possibility of using experimental animal models as a new means for studying the pathogenesis and symptomatologic development of radiation-induced lung injury,and provide theoretical and experimental evidences for early prevention and treatment with the traditional Chinese medicine.Methods:80 female Wistar rats were divided randomly into the model group and control group with 40 rats in each group respectively.The rats in model group were anesthetized and fixed,and a 2cm?3cm area of the right lungs received 6mV X-ray radiation at 3Gy?2/w and a maximal 10/5w.Eight rats randomly selected from each group were sacrificed at the end of weeks of 3,5,8,12 and 26.Diagnostic techniques of TCM were employed to analyze symptomatological and developmental characteristics of TCM in radiation-induced lung injury during exposure by dynamic examination and comparison of living rats,gross lung samples and tissue sections.Results: Signs and symptoms including redness around nose and eyes,yellowish secretion,tachypnea,dry stool,lethargy,sluggishness, inactiveness were observed in model group in early stage of radiation exposure,which consistent with dominant heat in the interior and primordial qi exhaustion syndrome.Swollen lungs,bright redness on surface and red bleeding patches were observed in early stage of radiation;microscopic examination showed interstitial tissues,and readily visible congestion,hemorrhage and edema of pulmonary interstitial tissues,consistent with damaged blood collaterals by heat and blood escaping circulation syndrome.In the later stage of radiation exposure,the lungs showed dark appearance,apparent purple petechia,hard texture and poor elasticity.Microscopic examination showed remote hemorrhage foci,pulmonary capillary stasis or closure,and focal fibrotic clumps,consistent with obstruction of collaterals by blood stasis syndrome.No abnormal changes were observed in the control group.Conclusions:Animal experiments can redeem the clinical inadequacy of traditional inspection,auscultation and olfaction,interrogation and feeling pulse and palpation diagnostic techniques,modern pathological methods can be utilized to study symptomatology of traditional Chinese medicine.Symptomatological and developmental characteristics of'heat toxin impairment in radiation-induced lung injury characterized by heat damaging pulmonary collateral syndrome in early stage and pulmonary collateral stagnation syndrome in the advanced stage'can be revealed at living organism,gross lung sample and microscopic pulmonary tissue levels,thus providing theoretical basis for early prevention and treatment of radiation-induced lung injury using'cooling blood to remove apthogenic heat'.