Objective To observe the effect of intrathecal agmatine(AG) at the spinal cord level on morphine tolerance. Methods (1) Twenty-four SD rats were divided into four groups: control group, pure intrathecal injection(i.t.) of saline(15 μL); morphine group, i.t. morphine(15 μg/15 μL); AG group, i.t. AG (12.5 μg/15 μL); and morphine+AG group, i.t. morphine (15 μg/5 μg) and AG (12.5 μg/10 μL). Rats of the four groups were injected with 0.2 mg bee venom subcutaneously in the plantar 5 min after i.t, and the numbers of spontaneous paw withdrawal reflex were recorded within 1 hour. (2) Twenty-four SD rats were divided into three groups: control group, pure intrathecal saline(15 μL); morphine tolerance group, i.t. morphine(15 μg/5 μL) twice a day for 4 consecutive days; and morphine tolerance+AG group, i.t. morphine(15 μg/5 μL)twice a day for 4 consecutive days, on the fourth day the rats also received AG(12.5 μg/10 μL). Half of the rats were examined for thermal paw withdrawal latency and mechanical withdrawal threshold after i.t, and the other half was injected with 0.2 mg bee venom subcutaneously in the plantar 10 min after last dose; the number of spontaneous paw withdrawal reflex were recorded within 1 hour. Results (1)Compared with the control group, the numbers of flinches of intrathecal morphine and AG groups were significantly reduced(P<0.05). (2) In intrathecal morphine tolerance model, the thermal paw withdrawal latency and mechanical withdrawal threshold were significantly increased in the morphine tolerance+AG group compared with the control group (P<0.05);morphine tolerance + AG group had significantly stronger inhibitory effect against spontaneous s.c. BV-induced pain, with the number of spontaneous flinches within 1 hour decreased significantly in the morphine tolerance + AG group(P<0.05). Conclusion Intrathecal AG has synergistic effect with morphine in pain relieving, and it can also reverse the morphine tolerance induced by repeated i.t. injection.

Arnebia euchroma is the main source for medicinal herb Zicao. and its most important component shikonin compounds have high medicinal and industrial value. This research is aimed to build overexpression vectors and RNAi vectors for key secondary metabolism genes of A. euchroma, and bulid platform for constructions of related transgenic lines using GATEWAY technology. To build genetic material based genetic research platform is to provide a great convenience for digging and functional verification of the genes on secondary metabolic pathway, and also to fill the gaps in transgenic research of A. euchroma. This study is also important for the cultivation of shikonin high-yielding strains of A. euchroma.
Boraginaceae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA Interference ; Secondary Metabolism

Agmatine ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Analgesia ; methods ; Animals ; Injections, Spinal ; Male ; Morphine ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in clinical efficacy on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) between electroacupuncture (EA) and dyne-35 and to explore the effect mechanism.

METHODSSixty-five patients were randomized into an EA group (33 cases) and a western medication group (32 cases). In the EA group, the selected acupoints were Danzhong (CV 17), Qimen (LR 14), Zhongwan (CV 12), Tianshu (ST 25), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Zusanli (ST 36) and Taichong (LR 3), etc. After the arrival of qi, electric stimulation was attached to the acupoints for 30 min. The treatment was given 3 times a week. In the western medication group, dyne-35 was prescribed on the 5th day of natural menstruation or withdrawal bleeding, one tablet a day, continuously for 21 days. The treatment cycle was 3 months in the two groups. The menstrual condition, body mass, body mass index (BMI), serum testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and LH/FSH were compared before and after treatment in the two groups. The clinical efficacy was assessed in the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 90.6% (29/32) in the EA group and was 93.3% (28/30) in the western medication group. The efficacy was similar in the two groups (P > 0.05). After treatment, the levels of LH and LH/FSH were all reduced significantly in the two groups (all P < 0.01). After treatment, T level in serum was reduced apparently in the western medication group (P < 0.05). Before and after treatment, the differences in body mass and BMI in the EA group were more significant than those in the western medication group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEA is the effective method for PCOS, similar to that of dyne-35. The effect of it for weight loss is superior to dyne-35 and no apparent adverse reactions happen. The effect mechanism of EA is related to the regulation of serum sexual hormone levels and their ratio, as well as to the regulation of body lipid metabolism.

Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Cyproterone Acetate ; administration & dosage ; Drug Combinations ; Electroacupuncture ; Ethinyl Estradiol ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; blood ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Young Adult

Aim & methods The antagonism of L-dicentrine to contraction of isolated porcine coronary artery strips induced by 5-HT KCl and Ca2+ was observed with U-135 electrophsiological recorder.Results The contractions induced by 5-HT KCl and Ca2+ after high K+ depolarization in the strips of porcine coronary artery were markediy inhibited by L-dicentrine.L-dicentrine significantly depressed maximal response and caused rightward displacement of the dose -response curve. Showing a non-competitive antagonism. In Ca2+ free solution,L-dicentrine inhibited 5-HT-induced contraction of porcine coronary artery,which is dependent on Ca2+ relesed from intracellular store. After Ca2+ concentration in bath solution was restored,L-dicentrine did not influence the contraction of porcine coronary artery depending on extracellular Ca2+.Conclusion L-D have significant relaxation on porcine coronary artery ,which possibly has 5-HT receptor and histamine receptor.

A method of comprehensive chemical pattern recognition of Atractylodis Rhizoma was established by GC-MS fingerprint, principal component analysis, cluster analysis and discriminant analysis. A DB-wax column (0.25 mm x 60 m, 0.25 microm) with El ion source and 70 V electron multiplier were used for GC-MS analysis. Using principal component analysis, cluster analysis, and discriminant analysis, 15 common peaks of sample fingerprints for chemical pattern recognition research were analysed. The same results were obtained from the fingerprint, principal component analysis and cluster analysis, which could use to distinguish genuine Atractylodes lancea, ungenuine A. lancea and A. chinensis. Thus, this method could be used for the quality control and comprehensive evaluation of Atractylodis Rhizoma.
Atractylodes ; chemistry ; China ; Discriminant Analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Qiling Decoction (QD) combined highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) on expression levels of peripheral blood Th17 and Treg cells in HIV/AIDS patients.

METHODSTotally 55 HIV/AIDS patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group (28 cases) and the combination group (27 cases). Besides, 21 HIV negative patients were recruited as the healthy control group. Those in the treatment group received HARRT alone, while those in the combination group received HAART combined QD. The observation lasted for 24 weeks. Meanwhile, according to peripheral blood CD4+ T cell counts before treatment, HIV/AIDS patients were assigned to three subgroups. For patients in subgroup 1, 1 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 100 cells/microL; For patients in subgroup 2, 101 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 200 cells/lL; For patients in subgroup 3, 201 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 350 cells/microL. Expression of peripheral blood Th17 and Treg cells, and number of CD4+ T cell counts were detected using flow cytometry (FCM)in HIV/AIDS patients at the pre-treatment baseline, week 4, 12, and 24, as well as those in the healthy control group.

RESULTSCompared with the healthy control group, CD4+ T cell counts and the baseline expression level of Th17 cells in the peripheral blood of HIV/AIDS patients significantly decreased, the expression level of Treg cells significantly increased P < 0.01). Compared with before treatment in the same group, CD4+ T cell counts all increased at week 4, 12, and 24 in the two treatment groups, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the effective rate at various CD4+ T cell levels between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no statistical difference in expression levels of Th17 and Treg cells between the combination group and the treatment group at any time point (all P >0.05). The Th17/Treg ration significantly increased in the combination group after 24 weeks of treatment, showing statistical difference when compared with the treatment group (U = 2.135, P = 0.038).

CONCLUSIONQD could improve the immune balance of Th17/Treg cells, which might be one of its mechanisms for improving HIV/AIDS patients' immunity.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Adult ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Case-Control Studies ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; cytology ; Th17 Cells ; cytology

Animals ; Chronic Disease ; Diet, High-Fat ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Acupuncture Therapy ; Altitude ; Animals ; Brain Edema ; prevention & control ; Female ; Hypoxia, Brain ; therapy ; Male ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, Adenosine A1 ; metabolism

Objective To explore the correlation between the incidence of abdominal and pelvic artery distortion and age using dig-ital three-dimensional reconstruction,in order to assess risk in uterine artery embolization surgical approach.Methods Collecting the CTA datasets of 475 patients,group A aged 11-27 (n=40),group B aged 28-44(n=218),group C aged 45-61(n=197), group D aged 62-78(n=20).The 3D model of pelvic arteries was reconstructed by mimics software,and the arterial distortion was recorded by rotating and observing the 3D model,which was further classified into three categories.One was the distortion of the aorta only,the second was the distortion of iliac artery,and the third being distortion of both sturctures.the number of cases appeared arterial distortion in every age group was calculated and the ratio of the total cases to each age group was counted.Results There were 128(26.9%)cases appeared arterial distortion,the last 347(73.1%)were not found distortion in any artery.Of the 128 cases,the occurrence rates of arterial distortion in each age group were 2.5%、11.9%、44.7%、65% for group A,B,C and D respec-tively.Pearson linear correlation analysis showed that the incidence of arterial distortion positively correlated with age (r=0.404,help of three-dimensional reconstruction.The occurrence rate of artery distortion is increased with age and the iliac artery distortion occurrence is higher than that of the aorta artery.