ObjectiveTo observe the effects of scalp moxibustion combined with treadmill training on the learning and memory function, and oxidative stress in rats with vascular dementia (VaD). MethodsA total of 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group (n = 10), model group (n = 10), acupuncture-rehabilitation group (n = 10) and moxibustion-rehabilitation group (n = 10). The latter three groups were induced VaD with 2 vessels occlusion. Eight rats with obvious cognitive impairment were selected from the model groups six weeks after modeling, according to the results of Morris Water Maze; and random eight rats in the sham group were selected. The acupuncture-rehabilitation group accepted scalp acupuncture combined with treadmill training, while the moxibustion-rehabilitation group accepted scalp moxibustion combined with treadmill training. All the rats were tested with Morris Water Maze after four weeks of intervention, and measured the levels of maleic dialdehyde (MDA), superoxide orgotein dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase reductase (GSH-Px) of hippocampus. ResultsCompared with the sham group, escape latency increased in the model group, and the number of crossing platforms and the stay time in the target quadrant decreased (P < 0.001); while the levels of SOD, GSH and GSH-Px decreased, and the level of MDA increased (P < 0.001). Compared with the model group, escape latency decreased in the acupuncture- and moxibustion-rehabilitation groups (P < 0.001), the number of crossing platforms and the stay time in the target quadrant increased (P < 0.001) from the third day; while the levels of SOD, GSH and GSH-Px increased, and the level of MDA decreased (P < 0.001); all the indexes imporved more in the moxibustion-rehabilitation group than in the acupuncture-rehabilitation group (P < 0.001). ConclusionScalp moxibustion combined with treadmill training can further relieve the oxidative stress in the hippocampus of VaD rats, to improve the learning and memory function compared with the acupuncture-rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the variations in taste， aroma and volatile organic compounds of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma decoction pieces derived from different sources， and to identify their origins. METHODS The flavor， odor and volatile organic compounds of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma decoction pieces from different sources were compared and analyzed by using electronic tongue， electronic nose， and gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry （GC-IMS）. Principal component analysis （PCA）， partial least squares-discriminant analysis （PLS-DA）， orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis （OPLS-DA） and Fisher discriminant analysis were employed to identify the origins of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma decoction pieces and establish the basis discrimination criteria. RESULTS The differences in taste of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma decoction pieces from 3 origins were primarily characterized by bitterness， astringency， and bitter-astringent aftertaste. In terms of smell， variations were mainly observed in inorganic sulfides， organic sulfides containing aromatic components， methane and other short-chain alkanes， alcohols， ethers， aldehydes and ketones， as well as nitrogen oxides. Differentially volatile organic compounds mainly consisted of alcohols， aldehydes and ketones. Furthermore， the samples from 8 batches could be effectively classified into 3 categories.Three types of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma decoction pieces can be effectivily identified based on the peak intensity ratio between volatile substances. For example， when the peak intensity of 2-acetylfuran was 3-19 times that of isobutyric acid [dimer]， it was considered as Rheum officinale Baill. CONCLUSIONS The discriminant models established in this study， along with the criteria for determining the origins based on the peak intensity ofcharacteristic volatile compounds， can be utilized for the identification of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma decoction pieces.

To analyze the effectiveness and safety of bisphosphonates in the treatment of patients with calcification defense.