Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on uterine prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in rats with primary dysmenorrhea (PD) and to discuss the possible mechanism in EA intervening PD. Methods: Forty Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, an EA group and an ibuprofen group, with 10 rats in each group. The PD model was established using estradiol benzoate combined with oxytocin in the model group, EA group and ibuprofen group. At the same time of modeling, rats in the EA group were given EA at Guanyuan (CV 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) once a day for 20 min each time for 10 consecutive days. Ibuprofen was intragastrically administered once a day for 10 consecutive days in the ibuprofen group. The same amount of normal saline was intragastrically administered once a day for 10 consecutive days in the blank group and model group. The number of writhing of rats in each group within 30 min was compared on the 11th day just after the interventions. The uterine homogenate supernatant was separated and the PGF2α level was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Western blot was applied for the detection of the expression levels of COX-2, phospho-NF-κB p65 and NF-κB p65 proteins in uterine tissues. Results: Compared with the blank group, the number of writhing in the model group increased significantly (P<0.01), and the expression levels of PGF2α, COX-2, phospho-NF-κB p65 and NF-κB p65 proteins in uterine tissues were significantly increased (all P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the number of writhing in the EA group and ibuprofen group were significantly reduced (both P<0.01), and the expression levels of PGF2α and COX-2 protein in uterine tissues were significantly reduced (both P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the phospho-NF-κB p65 level in uterine tissues in the EA group was significantly reduced (P<0.01). Compared with the ibuprofen group, the phospho-NF-κB p65 level in the EA group was significantly reduced (P<0.01). Conclusion: The mechanism of EA for PD rats may be related to inhibiting the phosphorylation of NF-κB and reducing the levels of COX-2 and PGF2α in uterine tissues.

BACKGROUND:The rabbits were widely used as experimental animal models in the research on etiology and pathological mechanism of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head. It is stil a valuable and realistic research topic to improve and to innovate the modeling technology nowadays. OBJECTIVE:To improve the modeling technology on osteonecrosis of the femoral head in rabbits induced by glucocorticoid combined with lipopolysaccharide, with the focus on its reduced mortality and the guaranteed successful rate of modeling. METHODS:A total of 28 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into the control group (n=10) and improvement group (n=18). Models of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head were established according to different methods. In the improvement group, rabbits were injected with sodium penicilin (5.0 mg/kg) and amikacin sulfate (1.63×104 U/kg) in the left gluteus muscle. Twenty-four hours later, al rabbits were injected with prednisolone acetate (20 mg/kg) in the right gluteus muscle. Forty-eighthours later, 5.0 μg/kg of lipopolysaccharide was intravenously injectedvia the ear. From then on, two injections of prednisolone acetate (20 mg/kg) were respectively performed alternately in the left and right gluteal muscle at an interval of each 24 hours. Sodium penicilin (5.0 mg/kg) and amikacin sulfate (1.63×104 U/kg) were intraperitonealy injected for 2 consecutiveweeks. In the control group, 10 μg/kg lipopolysaccharide was injectedvia the ear vein of rabbit. From then on, prednisolone acetate (20 mg/kg) was intramuscularly injected at an interval of each 24 hours, totaly three times. Benzylpenicilin sodium 20×104 U/rabbit was intramuscularly injected once a week. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Rabbit models of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head were successfuly established in both groups. Compared with the control group, the mortality was significantly reduced after model establishment in the improvement group, and the bone lacuna and osteonecrosis of the femoral head were apparent. These findings indicated that the improved technology of model establishment of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head could be used to aleviate the damage degree on the gluteal muscles, to guarantee the successful rate of modeling, and to noticeably reduce the mortality of rabbits.

Objective:To investigate frequencies of microsatellite instability(MSI)and loss of heterozygosity(LOH)in renal ceil carcinoma(RCC),and to discuss the relationship of clinicopathological characteristics of RCC with MSI and LOH. Methods:Twelve microsatellite markers located at chromosomes 3p,9p and 14q were selected to investigate microsatellite alterations(MSI and LOH)in 31 RCC specimens and their paired metastasis specimens by polymerase chain reaction- polyacrylamide gel elect rophoresis-ethylene dibromide(PCR-PAGE-EB)staining and sequencing.Results:The frequency of MSI could reached 61.3% and that of LOH could reach 54.8%.The highest frequency of MSI was at locus of D9S168(32.3%);the highest frequency of LOH was at locus of D3S1289(21.4%).No correlation was found between MSI or LOH and the patients' age,sex,pathology type and metastastis,except that MSI was correlated with TNM stage of RCC(P

Acupuncture Therapy ; Massage

On account of the dense cuticles of the fresh stem and the light, hard and pliable texture of the dried stem, Dendrobii Caulis is difficult to dry or pulverize. So, it is very important to the ancient doctors that Dendrobii Caulis should be properly treated and applied to keep or evoke its medicinal effects. The current textual research results about the preliminary processing, processing and usage methods of Dendrobii Caulis showed that: (1) In history the clinical use of fresh or processed Dendrobii Caulis as teas and tinctures were very common. (2) Its roots and rhizomes would be removed before using. (3) Some ancillary approaches were applied to shorten drying times, such as rinsing with boiling mulberry-ash soup, washing or soaking with liquor, mixing with rice pulp and then basking, etc. (4) According to the ancients knowledge, the sufficient pulverization, by means of slicing, rasping, hitting or pestling techniques, was necessary for Dendrobii Caulis to take its effects. (5) The heat processing methods for Dendrobii Caulis included stir-baking, stir-frying, steaming, decocting and stewing techniques, usually with liquor as an auxiliary material. Among above mentioned, steaming by pretreating with liquor was most commonly used, and this scheme was colorfully drawn in Bu Yi Lei Gong Pao Zhi Bian Lan (Ming Dynasty, 1591 CE) ; moreover, decocting in advance or long-time simmering so as to prepare paste products were recommended in the Qing Dynasty. (6) Some different processing programs involving stir-baking with grit, air-tightly baking with ondol (Kangs), fumigating with sulfur, which appeared in modern times and brought attractive outward appearance of the drug, went against ancients original intentions of ensuring drug efficacy.
Dendrobium ; History, Ancient ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; history ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; history

In this paper, based on the special influence of supramolecular chemistry on the basic theory of Chinese medicines ( CM) , the authors further analyzed the history of meridian tropism and natural origins of CM organisms and explained CM ingredients and the universal regularity of the automatic action of the supramolecular "imprinting templates" hole channel structure. After entering human bodies, CMs, as the aggregation of supramolecular "imprinting templates" , automatically seek supramolecular subjects that are matched with their "imprinting templates" in human meridians and organs for the purpose of self-recognition, self-organization, self-assembly and self-replication, so as to generate specific efficacy in meridians and organs, which is reflected as the meridian tropism phenomena at macro level. This regularity can be studied by in vitro and in vivo experimental studies. In vitro methods are mostly supra molecular structure analysis and kinetic and thermodynamic parameter calculation; Whereas in vivo methods are dominated by the analysis on object component distribution, chromatopharmacodynamic parameters and network chromatopharmacodynamic parameters; Particularly, the acupoint-medicine method can simplify to study the supramolecular subject-object relations. Consequently, CM's'meridian tropism reveals the universal regularity for interactions of macromolecular and micromolecular "imprinting templates" of subjects and objects in natural organisms. As the first barrier for the material base of the CM theory and breakthrough in the modernization of the basic CM theory, meridian tropism plays an important role in studies on basic theories of the basic CM theory.
Acupuncture Points ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Meridians

Objective To improve the level of early detection and treatment of pyonephrosis. Methods This study included 41 cases(17 men and 24 women;mean age,49 years)of pyonephrosis.A variety of examinations,including urinary analysis,blood analysis,kidney nuclear medicine scan,ultrasonog- raphy,intravenous urography(IVU),and CT were used for the early diagnosis of pyonephrosis.Pereutaneous nephrostomy(PCN)drainage was done for the interim management of pyonephrosis,then phase 2 operation was performed in 28 cases.The double-J tube was placed in ureter by ureteroscope for drainage,and then phase 2 operation was done in 2 cases.Emergency operation was done in 10 cases.The remaining 1 case un- derwent ESWL after anti-infective therapy.Results Definite diagnosis of pyonephrosis before operation was made by invasive examinations in 31 cases(75.6%),and by percutaneous drainage in 4 cases;the other 6 cases were detected during operation.Only 6 cases(14.6%)underwent nephrectomy;the other 35 cases (85.4%)underwent kidney-sparing operation.Follow-up of 3 months to 9 years was available in 37 cases. No nephrectomy was needed in 33 cases with spared kidney.Serum creatinine was normal in the 4 cases un- dergoing nephrectomy.Conclusions The key to the treatment of pyonephrosis by kidney-sparing surgery is early diagnosis,timely drainage and relief of obstruction.Ultrasonography plays an important role in the early diagnosis of pyonephrosis,and CT has a high sensibility in the diagnosis.Pereutaneons nephrolithotomy (PCNL)secondary to drainage through pereutaneous nephrostomy was beneficial to the patients with kidney stones or upper ureter stones.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the antitumor effect of apigenin on human lung cancer cells.

METHODSThe anti-proliferation and sensitization effects of apigenin on human lung cancer cells was accessed by counting cells after Trypan blue staining and MTS assay.

RESULTS(1) Apigenin significantly suppressed the proliferation of four types of human lung cancer cells (A549:P=0.041, H460:P=0.050, LTEP-a2:P=0.039, H292:P=0.016); (2) Apigenin significantly increased the susceptibility of human lung cancer cells to antitumor drugs (P<0.05 or P<0.01) in a synergistic way (almost all of the combination index values are less than 1).

CONCLUSIONApigenin widely inhibits cell proliferation of various lung cancer cell lines in a dose-dependent manner and the combination treatment of apigenin and antitumor drugs is very effective in human lung cancer cells, and Nrf2-ARE pathway may contribute to the mechanism.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apigenin ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drug Synergism ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology

Objective To investigate whether non-critical coronary stenosis can be detected by coherent contrast imaging(CCI) at rest without stress.Methods Three degrees of stenosis were made in left anterior descending of 12 dogs.Myocardial contrast echocardiography(MCE) was performed with CCI and the correlation among the variables of MCE curve and the degrees of stenosis were analyzed by cubic regression.Results The time to peak was significantly prolonged with progressive coronary stenosis (P＜0.01) and related to the degree of stenosis (R~2=0.991,P＜0.001).Conclusions CCI could be used to detected non-critical coronary stenosis at rest without stress.