1.Effects of rehabilitation training combined with bone marrow mesenchymai stem cell-derived neural stem cells transplantation on the expression of Nogo-A and NgR proteins after spinal cord injury
Zhilai ZHOU ; Anmin JIN ; Yinhai CHEN ; Shaoxiong MIN
Chinese Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2011;33(8):566-570
Objective To study the effects of rehabilitation training combined with the transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells-derived neural stem cells (BMSC-D-NSCs) on the expression of Nogo-A and NgR protein in rats after spinal cord injury (SCI).Methods The spinal cords of eighty Sprague-Dawley rats were injured using a modified Allen′s impactor (H = 25 mm) at T10. The injured rats were randomly divided into a combination therapy group which was given rehabilitation training and cell transplants, a cell graft group, a rehabilitation training group and a control group. At the 7th day post SCI, BMSC-D-NSCs were transplanted into the injured spinal cords of the rats in the combination therapy and cell graft groups. Hindlimb movement was assessed using the BassoBeattie-Bresnahan (BBB) scale every week, and protein was extracted from the injured spinal cord tissue for Nogo-A and NgR determination by Western blotting at the 1st, 3rd and 7th day after cell transplantation.Results The average BBB score of the rats in the combination therapy group was significantly higher than that of the other groups from 2 weeks post transplantation. The scores in the rehabilitation training group were significantly higher than in the control group from the 5th week post transplantation. Western blotting showed high expression of Nogo-A and NgR protein 24 h post surgery, but these declined with time. For Nogo-A there was a significant difference among the groups at all three time points. In the combination therapy group the expression declined to a minimum by the 7th day. For NgR protein there was no significant difference between the 1st and 3rd day in any group.Conclusions Rehabilitation training combined with BMSC-D-NSC transplantation can have a synergistic effect on functional recovery from SCI. It can down regulate the expression of Nogo-A and NgR protein.
2.Difference in blood pressure in left and right extremities
Zhilai CHEN ; Yansong ZHENG ; Minyan LIU ; Hua SHU ; Jianhua HUANG
Chinese Journal of Health Management 2012;06(4):259-263
Objective To explore if there is a difference in blood pressure in left and right extremities.Methods A total of 20164 adults who took part in health check-up at Health Examination Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital between December 2009 and August 2011were enrolled in this study.Age,height and body weight were recorded,and blood pressure in extremities was measured in synchronous way by using an arteriosclerosis detector.Results (1) Blood pressure in upper left extremity was slightly higher than that in upper and lower right extremity ( all P =0.0001).( 2 ) Difference in diastolic blood pressure in upper left and right limbs in females (2.1±6.7) mm Hg(1mm Hg =0.133 kPa) was more significant than that in males (1.4 +6.5 ) mm Hg ( P =0.0000).In males,difference in systolic blood pressure between two lower extremities ( 2.3 ± 9.6 )mm Hg was more significant than that in females (1.9 ±13.4) mm Hg ( P =0.0225 ).( 3 ) The above mentioned differences were found in low or normal weight and over-weight/obesity populations,which was not correlated with body mess index.(4) The difference of diastolic blood pressure in left and right limbs of relatively taller adults ( >170 cm) was more significant than that in shorter populations ( <170 cm ) (P =0.001).Conclusion The differences in blood pressure in left and right extremities do exist.
3.H-type hypertension in health check-up populations
Yansong ZHENG ; Fan WANG ; Zhilai CHEN ; Lifeng WANG
Chinese Journal of Health Management 2013;(2):95-98
Objective To explore clinical characteristics of H-type hypertension in health check-up populations so as to provide evidence for stroke prevention.Methods A total of 42 251 health check-up individuals (male 27 746,female 14 505,average age (46 ± 9) years) who visited our center during May,2009 and February,2012 were enrolled and responded to the investigation.In face to face interview,their age,gender,cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption were recorded.Height,body weight and blood pressures were measured.Serum lipid profiles,blood glucose,uric acid (UA),creatinine (Cr),homocysteine and urine albumin creatinine ratio (ACR) were tested.The subjects were then assigned to the H-type hypertension group,common hypertension group,high homocysteine group and control group.Analysis of Variance was used for data analysis.Results Of 42 251 participants,7748 were found to have H-type hypertension (18.34% in whole subjects and 63.95% in hypertensive subjects).Serum level of homocysteine and prevalence of common hypertension and H-type hypertension were significantly higher in males (P < 0.05).Age and body mass index of the H-type hypertension group were significantly increased (P < 0.05).The highest incidence of cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking was found in the homocysteine group (P < 0.05),while the highest serum levels of Hb,UA,high sensitivity-C reactive protein (hs-CRP),and Cr occurred in the H-type hypertension group.Moreover,total cholesterol,triglycide,low-density lipoprotein cholesterol,and microalbumin/creatinine were not significantly different between the common hypertension group and the H-type hypertension group (P > 0.05),although were significantly different between the controls and the H-type hypertensive patients (P < 0.05).Conclusion The prevalence of Htype hypertension may be increased with the increasing serum levels of biological markers for nutritional metabolism.Higher level of homocysteine dose not seem to aggregate lipid disorders and early renal damage.
4.Relationship between the blood test results of thyroid function and intolerance to 14 kinds of foods in physical examination population
Zhilai CHEN ; Zhen HUANG ; Chengwei WANG ; Hongying LIU ; Guixia LIU ; Yansong ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Health Management 2022;16(11):781-786
Objective:To investigate the relationship between the blood test results of seven items of thyroid function and intolerance to 14 kinds of foods in physical examination population.Methods:Total of 45 764 participants who received physical examination and accepted 14-kind food intolerance and 7-item thyroid function detection from August 2016 to September 2019 in Chinese People′s Liberation Army General Hospital were included in this study. The data were analyzed based on age, gender, body mass index, smoking and drinking status, and laboratory test indexes. Chi square test and univariate or multivariate logistic regression were applied to analyze the correlation between food intolerance and thyroid function in the physical examination population.Results:In the subjects, there were 29 361 cases (64.16%) with at least intolerance to one kind of food, and 15 011 (32.80%) were in Grade 1, 9 037 (19.75%) in grade 2 and 5 313 (11.61%) in grade 3. The positive rate of egg intolerance was the highest (34.06%), and that of beef intolerance was the lowest (1.24%). Of the participants, 11 337 (24.77%) had at least one item thyroid dysfunction, among them, the highest abnormal rate was found in thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), followed by anti-thyroglobulin antibodies and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies. The proportion (26.32%) of abnormal thyroid function in the participants with at least intolerance to one kind of food was significantly higher than that (22.00%) in the participants without intolerance to the 14 kinds of foods ( χ2=105.78, P<0.001). After adjusting for other significantly related factors, the positive results of intolerance to 14 kinds of foods was still the significant influencing factor of thyroid function abnormalities ( OR=1.14, Z=5.68, 95% CI: 1.09-1.20, P<0.001). Further analysis showed that, after adjusted for age, gender, smoking and drinking status, intolerance to four kinds of foods (egg, soybean, crab and pork) were the significant influencing factors of abnormal thyroid function. Conclusions:Food intolerance is an independent risk factor of thyroid dysfunction. Among them, egg, soybean, crab and pork may be the most important food varieties should be paid more attention to.
5.Herbal Textual Research on Selaginellae Herba in Famous Classical Formulas
Yinan LU ; Jing MENG ; Yangyang CHEN ; Zhilai ZHAN ; Chengzi YANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(7):31-39
By consulting the ancient Chinese herbal books, medical books and formularies of the past dynasties, and combining with modern research data, this paper makes a systematic textual research on the name, origin, place of origin, traditional quality evaluation, harvesting and processing of Selaginellae Herba, so as to provide a basis for the development and utilization of the relevant famous classical formulas. According to the textual research, Juanbai is the correct name of the herbal medicine in all dynasties, and there are also aliases such as Baozu, Qiugu, Jiaoshi and Jiusi Huanhuncao. The origin of Selaginellae Herba in the ancient herbal books was Selaginella tamariscina in all dynasties. Since the Republic of China, S. pulvinata has been gradually used as another origin of Selaginellae Herba. In ancient times, the producing area of S. tamariscina was mainly in Shandong, Hebei, Henan, Shaanxi, Jiangsu and Sichuan, etc. Nowadays, it is produced all over the country. S. pulvinata is mainly produced in Guangxi, Fujian, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Hebei and so on. Since the recent times, it is concluded that the quality of the green color, complete and unbroken is good. Before the Qing dynasty, it was recorded that the harvesting time of Selaginellae Herba was generally from April to July, and it was expanded to all year round since the Qing dynasty. After harvesting, remove the sediment(sand and mud), cut off the fibrous roots and dry in the shade or in the sun. The processing methods in all dynasties were mainly carbonizing by stir-frying and stir-bake to brown, and some ancient books contained the processing method of brine boiling, which was rarely used in modern times. Based on the results, it is recommended that S. tamariscina should be used as the base material of Selaginellae Herba. Because of more impurities, it should be fully purified to ensure the cleanliness of the herb, and the processing method can be based on the prescription requirements, if the processing requirements are not specified, the raw products can be used, charcoal products is recommended for use as an hemostatic.
6.Herbal Textual Research on Bruceae Fructus in Famous Classical Formulas
Shuiyu XU ; Yixue ZHUANG ; Yiqin ZHANG ; Yichong CHEN ; Yanning CHEN ; Zhilai ZHAN ; Chengzi YANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(7):11-19
Through consulting the ancient herbal books and modern literature, this paper has carried out the textual research on the name, origin, place of origin, harvesting and processing, and other contents of Bruceae Fructus, combed its ancient and modern medicinal history, so as to provide reference for the development of famous classical formulas containing Bruceae Fructus. Through the herbal textual research, It can be verified that, since the Qing dynasty, Bruceae Fructus has been recorded in the materia medica, most of the materia medica in previous dynasties took Bruceae Fructus as its proper name, and Laoyadan, Kushenzi and Yadanzi as the aliases. The main origin of Bruceae Fructus is Brucea javanica, its medicinal part is the fruit, which is harvested from August to October every year, the fruit can be harvested when it is ripe. Bruceae Fructus was first distributed in Fujian, Guangdong and Guangxi, and gradually expanded to the south of China with the change of time. The traditional processing method of Bruceae Fructus is mainly to remove the shell and kernel, and remove the oil by frosting. The 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia stipulates that its processing method is to remove the shell and impurities. Based on the research results, it is suggested that the dried mature fruit of B. javanica should be selected for the development of famous classical formulas containing this herb, and the raw products can be used if the original formula does not specify the processing requirements.
7.Herbal Textual Research on Trichosanthis Fructus and Trichosanthis Radix in Famous Classical Formulas
Zijing XUE ; Guang CHEN ; Dan ZHANG ; Long GUO ; Yuguang ZHENG ; Zhilai ZHAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(17):62-74
Through reviewing the ancient and modern literature, the name, origin, producing area, quality evaluation, harvesting and processing methods of Trichosanthis Fructus(TF) and Trichosanthis Radix(TR) in famous classical formulas were systematically sorted out following the chronological order. The results showed that there were many nicknames of TF and TR, and Gualou and Tianhuafen have become the mainstream names for its fruit and root, respectively. Both of them took Trichosanthes kirilowii as the mainstream base. TF and TR have been used as medicines in the Han dynasty, and since the North and South dynasties, Leigong Paozhilun had been clear that the effects of peels, seeds, stems, roots were different. TF was used as medicine with intact fruits, harvested after maturity from September to October, hung and dried in the shade, and its quality has been summarized in recent times as being best for those who are mature, large, thick and pliable peels, orange-yellow in color, and with sufficient sugary properties. In ancient times, the processing of TR was mostly crushed or shredded with the peels and seeds, or processing for pancakes and creams. TR was used as medicine with the roots, it is harvested from November to December, peeled and dried in the sun, and its quality was best when it was deep in the soil, large, white, powdery, firm and delicate with few muscles and veins, and it was considered to be toxic when it was born in briney land. Processing method of TR was to do powder into the medicine in the Tang dynasty, and gradually evolved into direct slicing use in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Since the modern era, the authentic producing areas of TF and TR were in the vicinity of Lingbao, Henan province, known as Anyang Huafen, and in modern times, there are well-known production areas such as Anguo, which produces Qihuafen, and Jinan, which produces Changqing Gualou. In the Song dynasty, there was a habit of substituting Trichosanthis Semen for the whole herb, which was later corrected by the materia medica in Ming dynasty. Based on the results, It is suggested that T. kirilowii be selected as the basal plant for the development of famous classical formulas involving TR and TF. In Qingjin Huatantang, Trichosanthis Semen is processed by stir-frying method, while TR and TF in other five formulas from the Catalogue of Ancient Famous Classical Formulas(The First Batch) were all used in raw form.
8.Herbal Textual Research on Olibanum in Famous Classical Formulas
Haiyan ZHOU ; Qingqing WANG ; Qi ZHANG ; Suping XIAO ; Meng CHEN ; Jianxin ZHOU ; Yeda ZHANG ; Danyang JIA ; Zhilai ZHAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(4):55-66
By consulting the ancient and moderm literature, this paper makes a textual research on the name, origin, quality evaluation, harvesting and processing of Olibanum, so as to provide a basis for the development of the famous classical formulas containing this medicinal material. According to the herbal textual research, the results showed that Olibanum was first described as a medicinal material by the name of Xunluxiang in Mingyi Bielu(《名医别录》), until Ruxiang had been used as the correct name since Bencao Shiyi(《本草拾遗》) in Tang dynasty. The main origin was Boswellia carterii from Burseraceae family. The mainly producing areas in ancient description were ancient India and Arabia, while the modern producing areas are Somalia, Ethiopia and the southern Arabian Peninsula. The medicinal part of Olibanum in ancient and modern times is the resin exuded from the bark, which has been mainly harvested in spring and summer. It is concluded that the better Olibanum has light yellow, granular, translucent, no impurities such as sand and bark, sticky powder and aromatic smell. There were many processing methods in ancient times, including cleansing(water flying, removing impurities), grinding(wine grinding, rush grinding), frying(stir-frying, rush frying, wine frying), degreasing, vinegar processing, decoction. In modern times, the main processing methods are simplified to cleansing, stir-frying and vinegar processing. Nowadays, the commonly used specifications include raw, fried and vinegar-processed products. Among the three specifications, raw products is the Olibanum after cleansing, fried products is a kind of Olibanum processed by frying method, vinegar-processed products is the processed products of pure frankincense mixed with vinegar. Based on the research results, it is recommended to select the resin exuded from the bark of B. carterii for the famous classical formulas such as Juanbitang containing Olibanum, processing method should be carried out in accordance with the processing requirements of the formulas, otherwise used the raw products if the formulas without clear processing requirements.
9.Effect of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma on Short-chain Fatty Acids and Intestinal Barrier in Mice with Slow-transit Constipation
Kang YIN ; Keli CHEN ; Yanwen LIU ; Songlin LIU ; Zilong HE ; Lichao YANG ; Xin CHEN ; Zhilai ZHAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(6):66-74
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma(AMR) in the treatment of slow-transmission constipation(STC) by observing the effects of AMR on short-chain fatty acids and intestinal barries in STC mice. MethodForty-eight male KM mice were randomly divided into blank group, model group, AMR low-, medium-, high-dose groups(2.5, 5, 10 g·kg-1) and mosapride group(2.5 mg·kg-1). Except for the blank group, all groups were gavaged with loperamide suspension(5 mg·kg-1) twice daily for 14 d to construct the STC mouse model. At the same time, each drug administration group was given the corresponding drug by gavage for consecutive 14 d, the blank and model groups were gavaged with equal volume of distilled water. The effects of the treatment of AMR on body mass, defecation frequency, fecal water content and intestinal propulsion rate of mice were observed, the pathological changes of mouse colon were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and periodic acid-Schiff(PAS) staining, the levels of gastrin(GAS) and motilin(MTL) in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS) was used to detect the contents of short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs) in mouse feces, real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR) and Western blot were used to determine the mRNA and protein expression levels of zonula occludens-1(ZO-1), Occludin, and Claudin-1 in the colon of mice. ResultCompared with the blank group, the body mass, defecation frequency, fecal water content and intestinal propulsion rate of mice in the model group were significantly decreased(P<0.05, P<0.01), the arrangement of colonic tissues was disordered, and the number of goblet cells was reduced, the levels of GAS and MTL in serum were significantly decreased(P<0.01), and the levels of SCFAs in the feces were on a decreasing trend, with the contents of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid and valeric acid were significantly decreased(P<0.05, P<0.01), the mRNA and protein expression levels of ZO-1, Occludin and Claudin-1 in the colonic tissues were significantly decreased(P<0.01). The above results suggested that STC mouse model was successfully constructed. Compared with the model group, the body mass, defecation frequency, fecal water content and intestinal propulsion rate of mice in AMP administration groups all increased significantly(P<0.05, P<0.01), the mucosal layer of the colonic tissues was structurally intact without obvious damage, and the number of goblet cells increased, serum levels of GAS and MTL were significantly increased(P<0.01), the contents of SCFAs in the feces were all on a rising trend, with the contents of acetic, propionic, butyric and isobutyric acids rising significantly(P<0.05, P<0.01), the mRNA and protein expression levels of ZO-1, Occludin and Claudin-1 in the colonic tissues were significantly increased(P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionAMR is able to improve the constipation symptoms in STC mice, and its mechanism may be related to increasing the contents of SCFAs in the intestine as well as promoting the mRNA and protein expression levels of ZO-1, Occludin and Claudin-1 in the colon.
10.Herbal Textual Research on Eucommiae Cortex in Famous Classical Formulas
Qingqing WANG ; Haiyan ZHOU ; Xu ZHOU ; Qi ZHANG ; Danyang JIA ; Xingsong LU ; Suping XIAO ; Jianxin ZHOU ; Meng CHEN ; Zhilai ZHAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(19):88-96
In order to provide the basis for the development of famous classical formulas, the name, origin, quality evaluation, harvesting and processing of Eucommiae Cortex were systematically researched by consulting the ancient herbal and medical books, combining with the modern literature. According to the textual research, materia medica in the past dynasties used Eucommiae Cortex as the correct name. Combined with characteristics, origin and efficacy, Eucommiae Cortex in ancient times to the present is the dry bark of Eucommia ulmoides from family Eucommiaceae. The earliest producing areas of Eucommiae Cortex are Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi and Sichuan. Since the Ming dynasty, the producing areas have expanded to most of the regions in the country, and Sichuan, Shaanxi, Chongqing, Guizhou and Hubei are regarded as the authentic producing areas. It has been concluded that the quality of Eucommiae Cortex is best if the bark has thick body, large block, scraped rough skin, multi silk section and dark purple internal surface. In ancient times, the processing methods of Eucommiae Cortex were mainly included removing rough bark and cutting for raw use, processing with auxiliary materials such as honey, ginger juice, salt water, wine, and so on. While in modern times, the processing methods have become increasingly simplified which are mainly cutting raw materials after cleansing and salt processing. It is need to excavate the connotation of different processed products and restore the traditional main processing methods through standards. Based on the requirement of Eucommiae Cortex in Sanbitang, it is suggested to use ginger-processed products according to the research results, which is used ginger juice as auxiliary material and processed with stir frying method according to the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia.