OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Astragali Radix on the denervated tibial muscle atrophy in rats, and discuss its mechanism.

METHODTotally 60 SPF-grade Sprague-Dawley rats were selected in the common peroneal nerve crush model, and then randomly divided into 6 groups: Astragali Radix high-dose, medium-dose, low-dose groups, the Mecobalamin group, the model group, and the sham operation group. They were administered with drugs after the operation. At 18 d, the pathological section staining and morphological analysis were performed. The wet-weight ratio and section area of tibial muscles were also measured. The real-time fluorescence quantification was adopted to detect the differential expression between Angptl4 and PI3K genes.

RESULT(1) Wet-weight ratio: The wet-weight ratio in Astragali Radix high-dose, medium-dose groups was much higher than that in the model group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). (2) Section area: The sham operation group was higher, with regular morphology; Whereas the model group showed significant decrease, with chaotic structure and obvious connective tissue proliferation; Astragali Radix groups and the mecobalamin group showed relatively small section areas, with chaotic structure and unobvious connective tissue proliferation. Compared with the model group, Astragali Radix groups showed significant increase (P < 0.01). (3) Motor end plate: The sham operation group was in uniform brownish black color and oval or round shape; Astragali Radix medium-dose and high-dose group and the mecobalamin group showed rough line edges; Astragali Radix medium-dose and low-dose groups and the model group showed decline in the number, with irregular morphology, rough line edges and a light color. (4) Angptl4 and PI3K: Compared with the model group, the Astragali Radix high-dose group showed significant increase (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAstragali Radix has a significant effect in preventing and treating denervated tibial muscle atrophy. It may delay the muscle atrophy by increasing Angptl4 and PI3K gene expressions.

Angiopoietin-like 4 Protein ; Angiopoietins ; genetics ; Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Male ; Muscular Atrophy ; drug therapy ; genetics ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tibia

Objective To study whether neuronal injury induced by platelet activating factor (PAF) was involved in NMDA /PSD 93 signaling pathway.Methods Primary cortex neurons culture were from wild type and PSD 93 knockout mice.Then the neurons were pretreated with 0.3 ?mol/L PAF for 24 hours, 5 ?mol/L BN52021, 10 ?mol/L MK-801, or 60 ?mol/L L-NAMA, respectively. The cells were stained with PI/Calcein for apoptosis detection. Varied protein expressions were also observed in the neurons by western blot. Proteins colocalized on neuraxon were detected by cell immunochemistry and confocol microscopy, and cGMP activity was measured by radioimmunoassay.Results (1) PSD 95, NR2A, and nNos except PSD 93 expressed in the cortex neurons from PSD 93 knockout mice. (2) PSD 93, NR2A and nNos colocalized on neurite. (3) Neurotoxicity and cGMP avtivity induced by PAF decreased in PSD 93 knockout cortex neurons.Conclusion NMDA/PSD 93 signaling pathway is involved in neuronal injury induced by PAF.

The severity of ischemic brain injury was closely associated with the mortality and disability of stroke. How to limit ischemic brain injm-y to the greatest extent and promote the recovery of neurological function is one of the most concerned hotspots at present in the field of neuroscience. A large number of studies have shown that a variety of factors involve in the pathological process of ischemic brain injury, in which, the role of T lymphocyte-mediated immune inflammatory response in ischemic brain injury has received increasing attention. This article mainly reviews the role of T cells in ischemic brain injury.

To study the chemical constituents of the methanol portion of the stem of Illicium henryi. The methanol portion was isolated and purified by HP-20, ODS, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, and preparative HPLC. Their structures were elucidated by MS and spectral data(1H, 13C-NMR). Five compounds were isolated from the methanol portion and identified as benzyloxy-1-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), 4-hydroxy-phenethyl alcohol-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), 3-methoxyl-4-hydroxyl-phenpropanol-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), 3-methoxyl-4-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-benzoic acid methyl ester (4), and 4-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-benzoic acid methyl ester (5). All compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Illicium ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Humans ; Klinefelter Syndrome ; complications ; diagnosis ; Male

To study the chemical constituents from the roots of Chirita longgangensis var. hongyao. The methanol extract was isolated and purified by silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and preparative HPLC. Their structures were elucidated by MS and spectral data (1H, 13C-NMR). Seven compounds were isolated and identified as plantainoside A (1), plantainoside B (2), calcedarioside C (3), calcedarioside D (4), platyphylloside (5), hirsutanonol (6), and hirsutanonol-5-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7). Compounds 5-7 were isolated for the first time from the family Gesneriaceae.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Organic Chemicals ; analysis ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Tracheophyta ; chemistry

Objective To investigate clinical and pathological characteristics of acquired digital fibrokeratoma (ADF).Methods Clinical data were collected from 12 patients with ADF,and their clinical manifestations,histopathological features,treatment and prognosis were analyzed retrospectively.Results The mean age at onset of ADF was 39.75 ± 17.69 years (range,17-64.5 years),and the average disease duration was 4.83 ± 5.77 years (range,0.5-20 years).The ratio of male to female was 1.4:1.Most skin.lesions were polymorphic,and mainly involved fingers,toes and nail grooves.Sometimes non-extremity sites are also involved.Histopathological examination of skin lesions showed epidermal hyperkeratosis,acanthosis and broadened dendroid rete ridges.The dermis consisted of mature collagen bundles,fibroblasts and a large number of dilated capillaries.The characteristic manifestation was that most collagen bundles were vertical to the epidermis.Conclusions ADF,a rare benign fibrous tumor with unknown etiology,usually occurs in adults as a solitary lesion on fingers or toes,sometimes in non-extremity sites.Surgery and laser therapy are common treatments for ADF with low recurrence rate.

Chinese herbal nature combination (CHNC) is the particular combination of nature, taste and channel tropism, which can be used to express the effect of Chinese herbal medicine in the clinical application concisely. The complex system model for the relationship between CHNC and viscera was constructed in this paper based on the thinking model of viscera theory. The model is able to reveal the functional features of CHNC. The model will promote research on the relationship between CHNC and viscera and provide new ideas for clinical applications of CHNC.

Introduction: The importance of Paediatric Palliative Care (PPC) is increasingly recognised worldwide, with the World Health Organzsation (WHO) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) endorsing the development and wide availability of PPC. When these children are in the terminal phase of their illness, PPC should be tailored to the different needs and desires of the child and the family, with the goal of providing the best possible quality of life (QOL) for the days that remain. Method: Malaysia has yet to develop a national PPC policy. In anticipation of this, as part of a needs based qualitative study, parents’ views were solicited, as to the unmet needs of their children during the terminal phases of their illness. A purposive sampling was conducted amongst fifteen parents of nine deceased children (ages 2-14 years, eight cancer, one Prader Willi Syndrome) who had received care in the Paediatric Department, Malacca General Hospital, a Malaysian government hospital. Two focus group discussions and three in-depth interviews were conducted, based on a semi-structured interview guideline. The interviews were audiotaped with permission and the tape recordings were transcribed verbatim. The data were managed and analysed by NVivo 9 software using a thematic analysis approach. Results: The frequently emerging themes were the strengths and weaknesses pertaining to the healthcare system, processes within palliative care. These were symptom control, closed communication and lack of support and anticipatory guidance as death approached. Conclusion: Dying Malaysian children and their families deserve to receive care that is more consistent with optimal palliative care.
Quality of Life ; child