Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, the major usage of which is purgation, is widely used in clinical therapy among different prescriptions. According to present reports, researches on herbal compatibility mechanism were mainly fo-cused on the comparison of content changes of active ingredients before and after. In oder to provide references, this review was made on researches of compatibility mechanism of prescriptions and paired drugs for ingredients of Radix et Rhizoma Rhei from research actuality.

AIM: To establish the quality standard for Huanglongganzhixiao Granule(Resina Draconis, Radix Astragali, Herba Epimedii, etc.). METHODS: Radix Astragali, Resina Draconis, Herba Epimedii in Huanglongganzhixiao Granule were identified by TLC. The content of loureirin B in this Granule was determined by HPLC. RESULTS: Radix Astragali, Resina Draconis, Herba Epimedii could be identified by TLC. Loureirin B showed a good linear relationship at a range of 0.032～0.096?g, r =0.9997( n =5). The average recovery was 100.1% and RSD was 3.33%. CONCLUSION: The method is simple, accurate and with strong specificity and can be used for the quality control of Huanglongganzhixiao Granule.

The compatibility of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) formulae containing enormous information, is a complex component system. Applications of mathematical statistics methods on the compatibility researches of traditional Chinese medicines formulae have great significance for promoting the modernization of traditional Chinese medicines and improving clinical efficacies and optimizations of formulae. As a tool for quantitative analysis, data inference and exploring inherent rules of substances, the mathematical statistics method can be used to reveal the working mechanisms of the compatibility of traditional Chinese medicines formulae in qualitatively and quantitatively. By reviewing studies based on the applications of mathematical statistics methods, this paper were summarized from perspective of dosages optimization, efficacies and changes of chemical components as well as the rules of incompatibility and contraindication of formulae, will provide the references for further studying and revealing the working mechanisms and the connotations of traditional Chinese medicines.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; statistics & numerical data ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Drug Incompatibility ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Objective:To study the mechanism of moxibustion therapy on diabetic peripheral neuropathy for the peripheral neuroprotection.Methods:The DPN model was induced by intraperitoneal injection with streptozotocin (STZ).The rats were given moxibustion at the acupoint Yishu (Extra) and the acupoint Zusanli (ST 36).The treatment was carried out once a day and 15 minutes per acupoint,lasting for 56 d in total.The clinical effect of moxibustion was evaluated by detecting blood sugar,urine sugar,body weight and dietary intakes,as well as nerve conduction velocity with neuroelectrophysiological method.The structure variation of sciatic nerve was observed by HE staining and light microscopy,and the level of NGF in the sciatic nerve Was determined by ELISA.Results:Compared with the model group,the plasma glucose was significantly lower in the moxibustion group (P＜0.01),with significantly faster nerve conduction velocity (P＜0.01),more notably changes in pathological appearance (P＜0.01) and higher level of nerve growth factor (NGF)(P＜0.01).Conclusion:Moxibustion could improve the symptom and signs of peripheral neuropathy in rat models with DPN,which may relate to the increased NGF and enhanced peripheral nerve protection.

Objective To study compatibility rule of herb-pair in rhubarb after compatibilities with fructus aurantii Immaturus,Chinese goldthread rhizome,moutan cortex,peach seed and kansui radix stir-baked with vinegar, and to observe its anti-inflammation and acute toxicity. Methods Mice were gavaged by 15,30 g?kg-1 rhubarb and rhubarb, rhubarb frutus aurantii immaturus rhizoma coptidis, radix et rhizoma rhei peony, rhubarb, semen persicae and rhubarb extracts from euphorbia kansui, respectively, in the morning and evening once, for 7 d.The effects of five different compatibility of Rhubarb on acute inflammation were observed in the mouse paw swelling induced by carrageenan. The classical method were used to determine acute toxicity of rhubarb and the contents of five different compatibility of rhubarb. Results Compared with the control group, the contents of five different compatibility of rhubarb with high and low dosage groups(30,15 g?kg-1 ) could inhibit the paw edema in mice,reduce NO and MDA production and enhanced activity of SOD in mice inflammatory tissue. The LD50 was not determined. Calculated by crude drug content, the MLD of rhubarb compatibilities with fructus aurantii immaturus, Chinese goldthread rhizome,moutan cortex,peach seed and kansui radix stir-baked with vinegar were 145.33,142.30,117.53,103.45, 113.09,182.36 g?kg-1 respectively, which were respectively equal to 581,569,470,418,452 ,729 times of people, s daily dried medicinal herb dosage. Conclusion The five different herb-pair have anti-inflammation effects after compatibility of Rhubarb, and it got best effects when rhubarb compatibility with kansui radix stir-baked, the next were rhubarb compatibility with Chinese goldthread rhizome and moutan cortex. It was basic security and low toxicity of herb-pair in rhubarb after compatibilities.

Objective: To study the effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides ( LBP ) on blood indexes and liver tissue morphology in rats with intrahepatic cholestasis. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control group, the model group, and LBP low, medium and high dose group. The rats in the model group and LBP dose groups were given 60 mg/kg alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate ( ANIT ) by gavage every three days of the experiment, and the rats in the control group were given salad oil instead of ANIT. From the third day, the rats in each dose group were given 40, 150 and 600 mg/kg LBP, and the rats in the model group were given distilled water. After four weeks, the blood and urine indexes were measured, and the morphological changes of liver tissue were observed. Results: From the third day of the experiment, the activity of rats in the model group and LBP dose groups decreased, and the color of urine changed to dark yellow. There was no abnormality in the group. In the model group, the levels of serum total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, total bile acid ( TBA ), alkaline phosphatase ( ALP ), γ-glutamyltransferase(γ-GGT), cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase ( ALT ), aspartate aminotransferase ( AST ), white blood cell ( WBC ), percentage of granulocyte, urinary bilirubin, urinary bile acid, liver mass and liver to body ratio were higher than those in the control group, while red blood cell and percentage of lymphocyte were lower than those in the control group ( all P<0.05 ). Pathological changes of liver tissue were observed. The levels of serum TBA, ALP, γ-GGT, ALT, AST, WBC and liver to body ratio in LBP high dose group were lower than those in the model group ( all P<0.05 ). The infiltration of inflammatory cells, proliferation and expansion of bile duct, degeneration and necrosis of liver cells were alleviated. Conclusions LBP can improve the blood indexes and pathological changes of liver tissue in rats with intrahepatic cholestasis at the dosage of 600 mg/kg. Inhibition of inflammatory response and reduction of oxidative stress injury may be the mechanism for alleviating cholestatic liver injury.

Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of serum level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),angiopoietin (Ang)-1 and Ang-2 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods Serum levels of VEGF,Ang-1 and Ang-2 were measured with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Twenty-one healthy subjects,24 osteoarthritis patients and 82 rheumatoid arthritis patients were included.We defined active and inactive group according to RA disease active score,while early active RA and late active RA group were defined on the basis of disease course.There were 28 early active patients,32 late active patients and 22 inactive patients with rheumatoid arthritis.At the same time 29 RA patients were examined with ultrasound.Synovial hypertrophy (US joint count SH,US index SH),synovial fluid(US joint count SF,US index SF),resistance index and power Doppler signal (US joint PD,TSS) were scored.The correlation was analyzed.We also detected the serum levels of VEGF,Ang-1,Ang-2,ESR,CRP and DAS28 in 25patients with active RA after 3 month regular treatment.We used one-way ANOVA to compare the differences between groups,and Wilcoxon test to compare the differences between before and after treatment.We analyzed the correlation with linear correlation or Spearman rank test.Results The serum level of VEGF [(1285 ±272) pg/ml],Ang-1 [(0.55±0.25)ng/ml] in patients with rheumatoid arthritis were higher than osteoarthritis patients [(934±80) pg/ml,(0.32±0.16) ng/ml] and normal controls [(565±115) pg/ml,(0.24±0.21) ng/ml],and the serum level of Ang-2 [(1.36±0.40) ng/ml] was higher than normal controls [(0.52±0.32) ng/ml].The serum level of VEGF [(1355±194) pg/ml] in early active patients was higher than late active patients [(1096±477) pg/ml] and inactive patients [(862±91) pg/ml].The serum level of Ang-1 in early active patients,late active patients and inactive patients with rheumatoid arthritis had no statistically significant differences.The serum level of Ang-2 in inactive patients [(2.0±2.0) ng/ml] was significantly higher than late active patients [0.9±0.8) ng/ml].The serum level of VEGF was positively correlated with US joint SH,US index SH,US joint PD,and TSS.The serum level of Ang-1 was positively correlated with US joint SH,US joint PD,and TSS.The serum level of VEGF and Ang-1 were negatively correlated with RI.The serum level of Ang-2 was not correlated with US joint SH,US index SH,US joint SF,US index SF,US joint PD,TSS and RI.In the active RA patients,the serum level of VEGF,Ang-1 and Ang-2 was positively correlated with each other.In the inactive RA patients,the serum level of VEGF,Ang-1 and Ang-2 was not correlated with each other.The serum level of VEGF and Ang-1 before treatment was slightly higher than that of after treatment,but the difference was not statistically significant.The serum level of Ang-2 after treatment was significantly higher than that before treatment.ESR,CRP and DAS28 of after treatment were lower than those before treatment.Conclusion The serum VEGF and Ang-1 level could be used as useful index to reflect RA synovial thickening and angiogenesis The serum level of Ang-2 could be used as one of the efficacy indices.They may influence each other,and they may be the key factors that mediate the onset and development of RA angiogenesis and synovial inflammation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of different dose compatibility of Scutellaria baicalensis-Rheum palmatum-Coptis chinensis based on Sanhuang Xiexin decoction (shorted for Xiexin decoction) on dissolution rate of baicalin and baicalein, and to provide reference for studying chemical mechanism of TCM compound dose composition compatibility. METHODS: HPLC method was used to determine the contents of baicalin and baicalein. By fixing the dose of S. baicalensis (3 g), using the dose of R. palmatum and C. chinensis as factors, dissolution rate of baicalin and baicalein as response value, two-factor and five-level central composite test was designed. The optimal dose compatibility of S. baicalensis-R. Palmatum-C. chinensis was optimized by response surface method, and compared with the dissolution rate of baicalin and baicalein in classic dose Xiexin decoction (S. baicalensis 3 g, R. Palmatum 6 g, C. chinensis 3 g). RESULTS: When the doses of S. baicalensis, R. palmatum, C. chinensis were 3, 1. 76, 0. 17 g, total dissolution rate of baicalin and baicalein was the highest in extract. The average total dissolution rate of baicalin and baicalein in validation test was 21. 89％ (RSD=0. 46％, n=3),and the relative error was 2. 88％ with the predicted value of 22. 54％. Compared with the classical dose of Xiexin decoction, the total dissolution rate of baicalin and baicalein in the optimum dose of S. baicalensis-R. Palmatum-C. chinensis in extract was increased by 47. 21％. CONCLUSIONS: The different dose compatibility of S. baicalensis-R. Palmatum-C. chinensis based on Xiexin decoction influence the dissolution of baicalin and baicalein to certain extent. When the doses of S. baicalensis, R. palmatum, C. chinensis are 3, 1. 76, 0. 17 g, dissolution rate of baicalin and baicalein are higher than that of classic dose.

Objective To explore the role of transvertebral transposition of the spinal cord in the treatment of the pa?tients suffering from angular kyphoscoliosis with neurologic deficit. Methods Twelve patients with at least 1 year follow?up, in?cluding 5 females and 7 males, suffering from neurologic deficit secondary to angular kyphoscoliosis underwent transvertebral transposition of the spinal cord and posterior correction from January 2005 to June 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. The initial age averaged 21±14 years. The etiologies of deformity were congenital kyphoscoliosis in 9 patients, idiopathic kyphoscoliosis in 3 patients. Preoperative spinal cord function graded by Frankel criteria was 3 cases of grade C and 9 of grade D. The initial major curve was 79.4°±16.2° with a global kyphosis of 68.3°±25.0°. The change of distance between spinal cord and canal on the convex side at the apex was measured on MR images to evaluate the efficacy of transposition;in addition, Cobb angle on coronal and sagit?tal plane was evaluated before surgery, on discharge and at the last follow?up. Results All patients were followed up for 2 years on average (1-5 years). The post operation spinal function evaluated by Frankel criteria were as follow:with grade C of 1 case, grade D of 4 cases and grade E of 7 (7 cases changed one grade, 1 case changed two grades, 4 cases did not change obvious). At the last follow?up, all the cases got obvious recovery of spinal function, with 1 case of grade C and 11 of grade D (10 cases changed one grade, 2 cases changed two grades). The distance between spinal cord and canal on the convex side at the apex changed from 11.9±6.4 mm to 9.8±6.9 mm. After surgery, the major curve improved to 39.3°±15.1° with 50.3%±20.5%correction rate, and the mean loss of correction was 6.1%±7.5%. The mean kyphosis was 41.3°±16.6°, demonstrating a 39.0%±13.0%correction rate im?mediately after operation, and showing 3.1%±4.2%correction loss at the final follow?up. No neurologic complications or no death occurred intra?and post?operatively. No screw or rod fracture, instrumentation loosening and pseudarthrosis were found during fol?low?up. Conclusion Transvertebral transposition of the spinal cord and posterior correction is a useful procedure for the recovery of neurologic deficit secondary to angular kyphoscoliosis, with good results of deformity correction.

Objective To study the diagnosis and treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after liver transplantation. Methods The clinical data of 111 patients who received liver transplantation from November 2000 to December 2007 in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively. The recipients were diagnosed as having CMV infection by the predisposing factors, clinical symptoms and detection of CMV-PP65 and CMV-IgM in peripheral blood specimens in combination with chest X-ray. The treatment of CMV infection was administration of Ganciclovir. Results Five recipients were diagnosed as having CMV infection, with the incidence of 4.5%. Two were diagnosed as having CMV pneumonitis, with the incidence of 1.8% (40% of the recipients having CMV infection). Two were both improved. Three were diagnosed as having CMV active infection. Two of them were cured and one was improved. Conclusion The detection of CMV-PP65 is necessary for early diagnosis and guiding treatment of CMV infection. Ganciclovir can exert significant therapeutic effects on CMV infection.