OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture at different stages on pseudobulbar palsy. Methods Two hundred and forty cases of pseudobulbar palsy were divided into 4 groups according to different courses of disease, i.e. group I, the course within 10 days; group II, between 10-30 days; group III, between 1-3 months; group IV, between 3-6 months. They were treated with acupuncture at Fengchi (GB 20) for 2 courses, and then their therapeutic effects were ohserved.

RESULTSThe effective rate was 100.0% in the group I, 96.7% in the group II, 83.3% in the group III and 76.7% in the group IV, with a significant difference among the 4 groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at Fengchi (GB 20) at any stage has therapeutic effect on pseudohulbar paisy, hut the earlier treatments, the better the therapeutic effects.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pseudobulbar Palsy ; therapy

In order to explore the effect of VEGF on mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) proliferation and its possible signal transduction mechanism, MSC culture was performed with the classical bone marrow adhering method; characteristics of passage 3 rat MSC (P3MSC) was identified through multi-differentiation and surface marker assay (CD34, CD45, CD90, CD29); P3MSC were treated with 20 ng/ml VEGF, and the effect of VEGF on the MSC proliferation was measured during 12, 36 and 72 hours by MTT assay. Subsequently, P3MSC were treated with extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK1/2) inhibitor PD98059 (50 µmol/L) or p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) inhibitor SB203580 (30 µmol/L) for 30 minutes, the culture medium was replaced with new medium including 20 ng/ml VEGF. After 72 hours, the effect of PD98059 or SB203580 on MSC proliferation mediated by VEGF was measured by MTT assay. The result showed that the cultured MSC expressed PDGFR-α, PDGFR-β and NRP1, but did not express VEGF-R (Flk1 and Flt1). The MSC had the multi-differentiation ability and displayed the characteristics of CD90+ (96.7%), CD29+ (94.6%), CD34- (0.79%) and CD45- (0.84%). The MSC proliferation rate increased gradually with prolonging of the functioning time of 20 ng/ml VEGF, and MSC proliferation rate may reach to maximum value after treating with 20 ng/ml VEGF for 72 hours. The effect of VEGF on MSC proliferation was found to be abolished, even was under level of control group after treating with PD98059 or SB203580 for 30 minutes. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of PD98059 on MSC proliferation was obviously higher than that of SB203580. It is concluded that the VEGF can promote MSC proliferation, and its possible mechanism may relate to ERK1/2 pathway.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; metabolism ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Imidazoles ; pharmacology ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Pyridines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of adenovirus-mediated human stromal cell-derived factor-1alpha (hSDF-1alpha) on ventricular remodeling in rats with myocardial infarction.

METHODSA recombinant adenoviral plasmid containing hSDF-1alpha cDNA was constructed using homologous recombination in bacteria and the recombinant adenovirus particles expressing hSDF-1alpha (AdV-SDF-1) were prepared. In rat models of myocardial infarction induced by left anterior descending artery occlusion, 1x10(10) PFU AdV-SDF-1 or PFU AdV-LacZ were injected at multiple sites into the infarcted myocardium 1 h after the operation, using 200 l cell-free PBS as the control. Four weeks after the injection, the cardiac function of the rats was analyzed, and the heart tissues were taken after the measurement of hemodynamics. On serial frozen sections, histological observation and morphometric measurement were carried out using a microscopic image analysis system, and the expression of hSDF-1alpha was detected by immunocytochemistry.

RESULTSFour weeks after AdV-SDF-1 injection, the myocardium in the infracted area showed significantly higher expression rates of hSDF-1alpha. The injection resulted in a obvious reduction in the infarct size and collagen content and a marked increase in the left ventricle wall, and the rats showed improved cardiac functions.

CONCLUSIONSDF-1alpha can improve the cardiac structure and function in rats with myocardial infarction by inhibiting collagen synthesis and deposition in the infarcted area.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; administration & dosage ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recombinant Proteins ; administration & dosage ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection ; Ventricular Remodeling ; drug effects

OBJECTIVE： To design and optimize the formulation and technology of Theophylline hydrophilic gel matrix sustained-release tablets （self-made sustained-release tablets for short） based on the concept of “Quality by Design” （QbD）. METHODS： Diluent type， tablet diameter， the property of adhesive （ratio of different adhesive types）， the amount of adhesive were regarded as critical process parameters （CPPs）. Similarity factor of dissolution curves of self-made Theophylline sustained-release tablets and reference preparation and its accumulative release rate at different time points were regarded as critical quality attributes （CQAs）. L18（34） orthogonal tablet was adopted for design and trial， and secondary polynomial regression model was established. By using Modde 12.0 software， the design space and its acceptable range （PAR） were calculated through the optimal model. The optimal formulation and technology of Theophylline sustained-release tablets was determined， and validation test and Monte Carlo simulation verification were conducted. RESULTS： The optimal model with good coincidence， accuracy， validity and reproducibility was obtained， which could better fit the relationship between CQAs and CPPs. The design space and PAR value were obtained by further calculation （The optimum value of diluent was lactose； tablet diameter was 9.07-9.33 mm， and the optimal value was 9.20 mm； ratio of HPMC K4M to HPMC was 0.50-0.83， and the optimal value was 0.80； total amount of HPMC was 0.036 0-0.041 3 g per tablet， and the optimal value was 0.038 g per tablet）. The optimal formulation and technology included that ratio of theophylline， HPMC K4M and HPMC K100M were 50％， 15.48％ and 3.87％， respectively； the rest was filled with lactose and the diameter of the tablet was 9.20 mm. The results of validation confirmed that self-made Theophylline sustained-release tablets had similar in vitro release behavior compared with reference preparation. CONCLUSIONS： Based on the concept of QbD， the formulation and technology of Theophylline sustained-release tablets can meet the requirements of design， and the CPPs can be adjusted within the PAR range to meet the requirements of CQAs. This shows that the QbD concept is scientific and effective in the design and optimization of the formulation and technology of sustained and controlled release preparations.