OBJECTIVETo explore material bases and neurobiological mechanisms of "Shen storing will" by observing learning and memory capacities and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor expressions in Shen deficiency constitution (SDC) rats.

METHODSTotally 40 SD rats were randomly divided into the model group, the Zuogui Pill (ZP) group, the Yougui Pill (YP) group, the blank control group (consisting of normal pregnant rats), 10 in each group. SDC young rat model (inherent deficiency and postnatal malnutrition) was prepared by the classic way of "cat scaring rat". Medication started when they were scared by cat. Rats in the ZP group and the YP group were administered by gastrogavage with ZP suspension 0.1875 g/mL and YP suspension 0.0938 g/mL respectively. Equal volume of normal saline was administered to rats in the blank control group and the model group by gastrogavage. All medication was given once per day, 5 days in a week for 2 consecutive months. Learning and memory capacities were detected by Morris water maze test. Expressions of NMDA receptor subunits NR2A and NR2B in hippocamus were detected by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, the latency period, total distance in Morris water maze test were longer in the model group (P < 0.05). All the aforesaid indices all decreased in the ZP group and the YP group, with statistical difference when compared with the model group (P < 0.05). The protein expressions of NR2A and NR2B in hippocamus were lower in the model group than in the blank control group (P < 0.05). But when compared with the model group, they were obviously higher in the ZP group and the YP group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSDC rats had degenerated learning and memory capacities and lowered NMDA receptor expressions. ZP and YP could up-regulate learning and memory capacities and NMDA receptor expressions, thereby improving deterioration of brain functions in SDC rats.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Learning ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Pregnancy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation

To discuss the protective effect of aralosides (AS) on I/R-induced rat myocardial injury. The adult rat ventricular myocyte ischemia model was established through perfusion with sodium lactate perfusate and reperfusion with Ca(2+) -containing Tyrode's solution simulation. The cell contraction and ion concentration synchronization determination system was applied to detect the effect of AS on single I/R cell contraction and Ca2+ transients. According to the findings, AS could increase resting sarcomere length, contraction amplitude, ± dL/dt(max), calcium transient amplitude and speed of post-reperfusion myocardial cells (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and decrease in time for achieving 90.0% of maximum relaxation, time for achieving peak value, resting calcium ratio, contraction period [Ca2+] i, time for achieving 50.0% of maximum relaxation and attenuation rate of intracellular calcium transient (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Therefore, it is suggested that AS improved the post-reperfusion cell contraction and injury of calcium homeostasis.
Animals ; Aralia ; chemistry ; Biological Transport ; drug effects ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle Contraction ; drug effects ; Myocardial Ischemia ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Myocardial Reperfusion ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Saponins ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Jiawei Yupingfeng Mixture (YPF) on repeated respiratory tract infection (RRTI) and its impacts on T-cell subsets, immunoglobulin and erythrocyte immune.

METHODSTwo hundred children with RRTI were assigned equally to two groups, the test group treated with YPF and the control group treated by transfer factor. The clinical efficacy, and the changes of T-cell subsets, immunoglobulin and erythrocyte immune before and after treatment were observed in 31 patients randomly selected from each group.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the frequency of attacking was reduced and the course of attacking was shortened significantly in the test group as compared with before treatment and also with the control group (P < 0.01); IgG and IgA levels were improved in both groups, but the improvement was more significant in the test group (P<0.01, P<0.05); T-cell subsets indices, including CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+) and CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio, all improved in the test group significantly (P <0.01), while in the control group, significant improvement only showed in rising of CD3(+) and CD4(+) (P <0.05, P <0.01), comparison between groups showed significant difference in terms of CD3(+), CD4(+) and CD8(+); in the control group, levels of C3b, RFER and RFIR were changed significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01), but the improvement of ICR was insignificant, while in the test group, the above indices were significant improved as compared with after treatment of the control group (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONYPF plays a preventive and therapeutic role in children with RRTI by way of regulating the cellular and humoral immune.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Infant ; Male ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; immunology ; prevention & control ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the effects of different doses of pituitary adenylate cyclase- activating polypeptide(PACAP)on the functional and morphological outcome in a mice model of Parkinson' s disease(PD)rendered by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine(MPTP).Methods Male mice were treated with PACAP 0.02, 0.20 or 2.00 ?g by iv bolus for 7 days after MPTP was administered, and were compared with the saline-treated mice.The immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the alterations of PD biomarker including tyrosine hydroxylase(TH), dopamine transporter(DAT)and vesicular monoamine transporter2(VAMT2).In addition, monoamine neurotransmitters in the striatum of mice were measured by the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).Results TH immunohistochemistry indicated that the number of TH-positive neurons in the substantia nigra was increased in all PACAP-treated mice(PACAP(0.02 ?g/d)group was 93.33?4.87, F=85.85,P

Objective To investigate the effect of aerobic exercise combined with routine rehabilitation therapy on cardiorespiratory exercise function and rehabilitation efficacy in stroke patients with hemiplegia.Methods Thirty consecutive stroke patients with the first-ever hemiplegia were enrolled prospectively.They were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=13) or a control group (n=13) according to the random number table (n=15 in each group).Four patients withdrew,and finally 26 patients completed the study (n=13 in each group).The two groups of patients were given routine rehabilitation therapy.On the basis of routine rehabilitation therapy,the experimental group was also treated with aerobic exercise training,once a day,30 min each time for 4 weeks.The evaluations of cardiopulmonary exercise tests were performed on both groups before treatment and after 4 weeks of treatment (peak oxygen uptake [VO2peak]),anaerobic threshold [AT],peak minute ventilation [VEpeak]),and motor function (Fugl-Meyer assessment scale [FMA],activities of daily living (Barthel index [BI]) were performed.The differences between the two groups before and after treatment were compared.Results (1)Cardiopulmonary exercise test results:Compared with before treatment,VO2peak,AT,and VEpeak were increased significantly (16±4 ml/[kg·min] vs.13±3 ml/[kg·min],12.9±2.5 kg·min vs.10.0±2.7 ml/[kg·min],41±12 L/min vs.34±9 L/min,t=9.668,4.328,and 3.662,respectively,all P<0.01).There were no significant differences in VO2peak,AT,and VEpeak (14±4 ml/[kg·min] vs.14±4 ml/[kg·min],11.8±2.6 ml/[kg·min] vs.11.5±2.9 ml/[kg·min],29±8 L/min vs.28±6 L/min) in patients of the control group between before treatment and after treatment.There were no significant differences (t=0.863,0.583,and 0.314,respectively,all P>0.05).The differences in VO2peak,AT,and VEpeak in the patients of the control group before and after treatment were 0.4 (0.2,0.6),0.1 (-0.5,0.7 ml/kg·min) and 0 (-2.5,5.0 L/min),respectively.The differences of VO2peak,AT,and VEpeak in patients of the experimental group before and after treatment were 3.0 (2.2,3.9 ml/[kg·min],2.7 (1.8,5.3 ml/[kg·min],and 7.0 (1.0,13.0 L/min),respectively.There were significant differences in VO2peak,AT,and VEpeak before and after treatment between the two groups (Z=4.287,3.721,and 2.236,respectively,P<0.05).(2) FMA score and BI evaluation results:Compared with before treatment,the FMA score and Barthel index after treatment in patients of the experiment group were 70±24 vs.52±28 and 78±20 vs.60±28 respectively,t=4.076 and 4.239 respectively,P<0.01).Compared with before treatment,the FMA score and BI in the control group after treatment were improved significantly (68±25 vs.60±27 and 69±22 vs.59±26 respectively,t=3.168 and 5.436 respectively,all P<0.05).The FMA score and the difference of BI in the control group before and after treatment were 5.0 (2.0,12.0) and 10.0 (5.0,15.0) respectively,and those of the experimental group before and after treatment were 10.0 (4.5,32.0) and 11.0 (10.0,27.5) respectively,and there were no significant differences between the two groups (Z=1.393,1.352,all P>0.05).Conclusion On the basis of routine rehabilitation therapy,stroke patients with hemiplegia increasing aerobic exercise training may improve their cardiopulmonary exercise function.

OBJECTIVETo describe the distribution changes of the mortality rate for cervical cancer in China between the 1970's and 1990's and provide the scientific evidence for the prevention and control strategies for cervical cancer campaign in China between next century.

METHODSData from two National Surveys for the Causes of Death in 1970's and 1990's in China. The crude and adjusted mortality rates for the cervical cancer and the distributions based on age and area were calculated and described. The comparison of the differences of changes between two mortality rates periods and together with its trends were shown based on the age-standardized.

RESULTSDuring two decades, the mortality rate for cervical cancer was 10.7 per 100,000 in 1970's which declined to 3.89 per 100,000 in 1990's, and from the 3rd ranking among all female malignant tumors to the 6th in 1990's (decreased about 63.64%). But the declination was not evenly. There have still been some high-risk areas, most located in rural countries in the mid-west of China, with rates remain unchanged and even at the highest level in the world, such as Wudu in Gansu and Yangcheng in Shanxi. A big difference was showed between rural country and city, but in both of them, the mortality rates in 1990's were significantly much lower than in 1970's (P = 0.001) at each five-year age group. And in the city, there was a much sharper increased trend in young women in 1990's.

CONCLUSIONSThe mortality rate for cervical cancer campaign in China has been substantially declined during past twenty years, but it's still a major health problem for women, especially in rural China. The focus of the prevention and control for the cervical cancer in the next century should put on rural areas, especially in mid-west of China and young women in the city.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Cause of Death ; trends ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Rural Health ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; mortality ; prevention & control

Objective To compare the efficacy of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration(US-FNA)biopsy in diagnosing solid and complex thyroid nodules with different size. Methods One hundred and seventy-five thyroid FNA biopsies were prospectively performed on 168 patients ranging from 4 to 75 years of age. Sixty-three nodules were surgically excised and the others were clinically followed-up. The cytology diagnoses were categorized into four groups: benign, malignant, suspicious and unsatisfactory. Results There was no significant complication in the all 115 solid and 60 complex thyroid lesions and there were 36and 3 malignant nodules respectively in solid and complex thyroid nodules. The nondiagnostic rates of solid and complex nodules were 7％ and 8％. The accuracy of US-FNA in diagnosing complex thyroid nodules was comparatively equal to that of in solid thyroid nodules. In solid thyroid nodules, the sensitivity and accuracy in ≤1 cm group were similar to that of in ＞1 cm group. Conclusions US-FNA was an accurate and reliable method to diagnose thyroid solid and complex lesions.

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of unsaponifiable matter from the seed oil of Momordica cochinchinensis.

METHODThe fatty oil from the seeds of M. cochinchinensis was extracted with petroleum ether, and the saponification was carried out with potassium hydroxide. The unsaponifiable matter was isolated and purified by silica gel column chromatography, and the structures of their constituents were elucidated by means of IR, MS, 1H-NMR, and authentic chemicals.

RESULTKarounidiol (1), isokarounidiol (2), 5-dehydrokarounidiol (3), 7-oxodihydrokarounidiol (4), beta-sitosterol (5), stigmast-7-en-3beta-ol (6), and stigmast-7,22-dien-3beta-ol (7) were elucidated.

CONCLUSIONThese compounds were found in this plant for the first time.

Molecular Structure ; Momordica ; chemistry ; Oleanolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Oils ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Seeds ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical effect of segmental resection of the liver using Glissonean pedicle transection for primary liver cancer.

METHODSThe clinical data of 55 primary liver cancer patients admitted from January 2006 to October 2008 were analyzed retrospectively. Twenty-five of the patients underwent segmental resection of the liver by Glissonean pedicle transection (group A), and 30 underwent routine hepatectomy (group B). The positivity rate of the resection margin, micrometastasis in the hepatic parenchyma surrounding the lesions and postoperative recurrence rates were investigated.

RESULTSThe positivity rate of the resection margin was 4.0% in group A, significantly lower than that of group B. The number of histological micrometastasis was significantly higher in group A than in group B (16 vs 8). The median distance of histological micrometastasis was 6.8 mm (2.7-25.6 mm) in group A and 4.2 mm (2.4-9.0 mm) in group B. The one-year recurrence rate was significantly lower in group A than in group B (16% vs 26.7%).

CONCLUSIONGlissonean pedicle transection for segmental liver resection is a simpler procedure than routine hepatectomy for primary liver cancer and can reduce the number of histological micrometastasis and recurrence rate.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood supply ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Hepatectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood supply ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; prevention & control ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, S-methyl thiocarbamate (SMT), on proteoglycan metabolism in repaired articular cartilage in rabbits.

METHODSTwenty-four male New Zealand white rabbits, aged 8 months and weighing 2.5 kg+/-0.2 kg, were used in this study. Cartilage defects in full thickness were created on the intercondylar articular surface of bilateral femurs of all the rabbits. Then the rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=8 in each group). The defects in one group were filled with fibrin glue impregnated with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2, BMP group), in one group with fibrin glue impregnated with rhBMP-2 and hypodermic injection with SMT (SMT group) and in the other group with nothing (control group). All the animals were killed at one year postoperatively. The tissue sections were stained with safranine O-fast green and analyzed by Quantiment 500 system to determine the content of glycosaminoglycan through measuring the percentage of safranine O-stained area, the thickness of cartilages and the mean gray scale (average stain intensity). Radiolabelled sodium sulphate (Na(2)(35)SO(4)) was used to assess the proteoglycan synthesis.

RESULTSAt one year postoperatively, the percentage of safranine O-stained area, the mean gray scale and the cartilage thickness of the repaired tissues in SMT group were significantly higher than those of BMP group (P<0.01) and the control group (P<0.05). Result of incorporation of Na(2)(35)SO(4) showed that the proteoglycan synthesis in SMT group was higher than those of BMP group and the control group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSSMT, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, can significantly increase the content of glycosaminoglycan and proteoglycan synthesis, and computer-based image analysis is a reliable method for evaluating proteoglycan metabolism.

Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Biopsy, Needle ; Cartilage Diseases ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Cartilage, Articular ; drug effects ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Immunohistochemistry ; Isothiuronium ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Probability ; Proteoglycans ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Reference Values ; Sensitivity and Specificity