Objective:To observe and compare the therapeutic efficacies of heat-sensitive moxibustion plus Western medication, dry Western medication, and acupuncture plus TDP in treating peripheral facial palsy (FP). Methods:Ninety FP patients were randomized into a Western medication group, a heat-sensitive moxibustion group, and an acupuncture group by using sealed envelope, 30 cases in each group. The Western medication group was intervened by conventional Western medication; the heat-sensitive moxibustion group was by heat-sensitive moxibustion in addition to the same Western medication; the acupuncture group was by the Western medication plus acupuncture and TDP radiation. For the three groups, 6-day treatment was taken as a treatment course, with a 2-day interval between 2 courses, and totally 4 treatment courses were observed. Results: After intervention, the modified Portmann scores were changed significantly in the three groups (P<0.05), and the improvements in the heat-sensitive moxibustion group and the acupuncture group were both superior to that in the Western medication group. The recovery plus markedly effective rate of the acupuncture group was significantly different from that of the Western medication group (P<0.05), and there was a significant difference in comparing the recovery plus markedly effective rate between the heat-sensitive moxibustion group and acupuncture group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Heat-sensitive moxibustion is effective in treatment peripheral facial paralysis, and this method is free of pain, causing no adverse reactions, and worth promotion in clinic.

Objective To investigate the effect of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in rats and on dendritic cells (DCs) in mesenteric lymph nodes.Methods Forty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 11) using simple random sampling: normal control group, TNBS group, APS group, and 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) group.Experimental colitis was induced in rats by TNBS enema in the last three groups.Rats in APS and 5-ASA groups were treated by gavage with APS (0.75 g ? kg-1 ? d-1) and 5-ASA (100 mg ? kg-1 ? d-1) on the 10 consecutive days following TNBS administration.The rats were then sacrificed and the colonic inflammatory scores of rats were measured, including the scores of disease activity index ( DAI) , macroscopic lesions, and histological damages,as well as the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO).The expressions of major histocompatibility complex class Ⅱ(MHC Ⅱ ) and costimulatory molecule CD86 on DCs were determined by flow cytometry.Results Compared with the TNBS group, APS group had significantly decreased scores of DAI ( P = 0.007 ) , macroscopic lesions (P =0.017), and histological damages (P = 0.016).Moreover, its level of the activity of MPO dropped but without statistical significance (P =0.183).TNBS group had significantly higher expressions of MHC Ⅱand CD86 molecules on DCs than the normal control group (P = 0.005, P = 0.008), APS group (P = 0.023, P = 0.018), and 5-ASA group (P = 0.017, P=0.013).Conclusion APS may attenuate TNBS-induced colitis in rats and downregulate the activation of DCs in mesenteric lymph nodes.

Objective To investigate the effects of Astragalus polysaccarides (APS) on 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in rats. Methods Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 8 ): control group, TNBS group, low-dose APS group, high-dose APS group, and prednisone group. Experimental colitis was induced in rats by enema administration of TNBS. Rats in APS and sions and histological damages were determined, and the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) was measured in the excised colonic tissues. Cytokine levels including interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Both macroscopic lesions and histological colonic damages induced by TNBS were reduced by low-dose APS treatment. These were accompanied by significantly attenuated colonic MPO activity (P = 0. 03) and the increase of IL-4 and IL-10 levels. The macroscopic lesions and MPO activities of high-dose APS group were higher than TNBS group, histological damage and level of IL-4 were lower, and level of IL-10 was higher, but all without statistical significance. Levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were lower than those of TNBS group, but there was no significant difference between prednisone group and TNBS group. Levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were significantly lower in prednisone group than in control group ( P = 0. 049, P = 0. 001 ). Conclusions Different doses of APS have different effects on TNBS-induced colitis. Lower dose of APS has the therapeutic potential inexperimental colitis, while higher dose of APS may aggravate the disease.

Objective To learn the existing state of Keshan disease and its trend in Baoji City,and to provide a scientific basis for control of the disease.Methods Feng,Qianyang,Linyou and Long Counties,the Keshan disease affected areas were selected to carry out the case study,and Keshan cases were searched from all registered cases of myocardial patients of the past three years at county-level medical institutions and hospitals of townships(towns).Thirteen villages affected by Keshan disease in Qianyang,Fengxiang,Feng,Linyou and Long Counties were selected as monitoring points to carry out a intensified monitoring.All subjects were surveyed by comprehensive clinical physical examination and 12-lead ECG tracings,and they were diagnosed according to the Keshan disease diagnostic criteria.Ten households were selected randomly in each monitoring point(village),and self-produced wheat samples and adult subject's occipital hair samples were collected for detecting selenium levels.Results Seven hundred and forty-six cardiac cases which containing 17 cases of chronic Keshan disease were discovered in 32 medical institutions,and there were no acute and subacute type of Keshan disease patients.Five thousand seven hundred and twenty-three subjects were examined in the 13 monitoring sites,and 65 cases of Keshan disease were diagnosed which including 17 cases of slow and 48 cases of potential Keshan disease,and no acute or subacute case was found.The total detection rate was 1.14％,and the detection rate ranged from 0 to 2.86％.Hair selenium mean was 0.420 mg/kg; wheat selenium mean was 0.079 mg/kg.Conclusions The Keshan disease detection rate of Baoji City is at a low level.The selenium level of local residents has reached the level of non-endemic area.Constant detection of patient with Keshan disease means various control measures should be reinforced.The comprehensive monitoring program,such as monitoring people's in vivo and in vitro selenium level and others,should be established as soon as possible.

BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide in the central nervous system is involved in controlling the sympathetic outflow. The authors' recent data show that the reduction of nitric oxide in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM)enhanced the cardiac sympathetic afferent reflex (CSAR) evoked by stimulating the cardiac sympathetic afferent nerves in rats with chronic heart failure (CHF).OBJECTIVE: To further investigate the effect of nitric oxide in the RVLM on modulating the CSAR evoked by epicardial chemical stimulation in rats with CHF.DESIGN: Randomized controlled experiment.SETTING: Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, and Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Nebraska College of Medicine.MATERIALS: This study was carried out in the Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University from July 2003 to May 2004. A total of 52male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 360-420 g were used, and were randomly divided into chronic heart failure group and control group with 23 in each group.METHODS: The rats were carried out either sham surgery or the left coronary artery ligation. Six to eight weeks later, all rats were anesthetized with α-chloralose and urethane and baroreceptor denervated and vagotomized. The CSAR was evoked by epicardial application of bradykinin (BK, 0.04 μg and 0.4 μg in 2.0 μL) to mimic the effect of chemical stimulation on the heart in the CHF state. The renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded at baseline and during elicitation of the CSAR. Cannulae were inserted into the RVLM for microinjections.croinjection of MeTC, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, into the RVLM on Effects of epicardial pretreatment with lidocaine on the CSAR in CHF rats.infarction of (30.6±2.0) % of the left ventricular (LV) surface. The systolic arterial pressure, pulse pressure, left ventricle peak systolic pressure and maximum of the first differentiation of left ventricular pressure were decreased and the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure was significantly ininto the RVLM had no significant effects on the CSAR in rats with CHF,of SNAP (50 nmol) into the RVLM inhibited the CSAR in both sham rats ventricle abolished the CSAR evoked by epicardial application ofBK on the same area.CONCLUSION: Nitric oxide in the RVLM inhibits the CSAR evoked by epicardial application of BK in normal rats and CHF rats, and the reduction of nitric oxide in the RVLM led to the augmentation of the CSAR in CHF rats.

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether there are beta-amyloid protein (Abeta) binding elements in heart-beneficial recipe (HBR, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine), which can ameliorate the cytotoxicity of Abeta. METHODS: The extract of HBR and Abeta(1-40) were co-precipitated, and the Abeta(1-40) in pellets was detected by immunoblotting. Affi-gel-Abeta(1-40) was constructed, and Affi-gel-Abeta(1-40) affinity elements from the extract of HBR were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The assay of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) release from the primary cultured rat cortex neurons was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of Abeta(1-42), and the protection effects of the HBR serum and the Affi-gel-Abeta(1-40) treated HBR serum. RESULTS: Immunoblotting examination showed Abeta(1-40) could be co-precipitated with components of HBR following co-incubation, and the amount of Abeta(1-40) within pellets decreased when the HBR extract was diluted. Abeta(1-40) affinity elements from the extract of HBR, eluted from Affi-gel-Abeta(1-40) by glycine solution (pH=2.5), could be detected by HPLC-fluorescent detector system. The analysis of LDH release showed that exposure of neurons to 5 micromol/L Abeta(1-42) for 48 h caused a significant increase of LDH release in either a serum free or 10% serum contained culture condition (P<0.01). The rat HBR serum was able to suppress Abeta(1-42) induced LDH release (P<0.05), whereas Affi-gel-Abeta(1-40) treated HBR serum still maintained the ability to attenuate Abeta(1-42) induced LDH release although the effect was somewhat decreased compared with Affi-gel treated HBR serum. CONCLUSION: There are Abeta affinity components in HBR, which could not increase the Abeta cytotoxicity, but might be able to inhibit the cytotoxicity of Abeta. The results implied that the exploration of Abeta affinity elements from Chinese medicinal recipe which is effective for Alzheimer disease, might be an important direction in Alzheimer disease therapeutic research area.

To screen potential hamster chymase 2 inhibitors, a high-throughput screening (HTS) model was established. Recombinant hamster chymase 2 with active form was cloned and expressed in E. coli. The HTS model with total volume of 50 microL in 384-well microplate was based on fluorescence analysis and was proved sensitive as well as specific (Z' = 0.84). A total of 40 080 samples (including 28 060 compounds and 12 020 natural products) were screened, and 613 samples with inhibition greater than 90% were selected for further rescreening. Finally, compounds J16647 and J16648 were identified with high inhibitory activity on chymase 2, and whose IC50 values were 0.823 and 0.690 micromol x L(-1), respectively.

Objective To assess the nutritional risk of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).Methods The nutritional status of 112 IBD patients from PUMC Hospital were evaluated by Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002).Using Chinese standard,a body mass index (BMI) that was lowered than 18.5 kg/m~2 according to clinical material was regarded as malnutrition,and the score was recorded as 3.The se-verity of ulcerative colitis (UC) was evaluated using True-Love criteria as mild,moderate,and severe.Crohn's disease (CD) was evaluated using Harvey-Bradshaw Index as in remission stage (≤4),moderately active stage (4-8),and severely actively stage (≥9).Results All these 112 patients,including 70 UC cases and 42 CD cases,were evaluated by NRS2002.Forty-five patients (40.2%) were judged as at the risk of malnutrition.The incidence of malnutrition was significantly higher in CD patients than in UC patients (52.4% vs.32.9%,P<0.05).It was also significantly correlated with the severity of disease.In patients with severe IBD,the rate of mal-nutrition evaluated by BMI according to clinical material was significantly lower than the rate of nutritional risk.Con-clusions The risk of malnutrition is high in IBD patients.NRS 2002 can be used for nutritional risk screening.

Animals ; Area Postrema ; physiology ; Blood Pressure ; Electric Stimulation ; Electrocardiography ; Male ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Peroneal Nerve ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

A total of 120 medical students were surveyed to investigate the current status of communication between medical students and old patients and the awareness of medical laws. The questionnaire shows many students don't have enough knowledge of communication skills and medical laws. Furthermore, the most important reason of the medical disputes is the lack of communication between doctors and patients so the cultivation of communication skills and legal knowledge should be strengthened.