BACKGROUND: Wulong Dan, a clinical prescription designed by Professor Zang Kun-tang, has been used to treat ischemic encephalopathies including cerebral infarction, transient ischemic attack, convalescent stage of cerebral hemorrhage and cervical spondylosis, showing overt curative efficacy and safety.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effect of Chinese herbal compound combined with electrical pulse on hemorrheology and the underlying mechanism.METHODS: Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into normal, treatment and model groups (n=8 per group). The models of cervical spondylosis induced by unbalanced dynamic and static forces were established in the rats in the latter two groups. At 3 days after modeling, the rats in the treatment group received Chinese herbal compound combined with electrical pulse: a damp-dry cotton cloth after immersed in Chinese herbal was put on the rat neck which was then covered with two electrode plates and fixed for electrical pulse therapy, 20 minutes daily, 20 days a course. The model group was given no treatment. The whole blood viscosity and plasma viscosity were detected using blood viscosity tester; the maximum erythrocyte deformation index was detected by erythrocyte detector; the hematocrit was detected using high speed centrifugation.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the normal group, the whole blood viscosity at shear rates of 1, 5, 30 and 150 s-1 was significantly increased in the model group, and the whole blood viscosity in the model group was significantly higher than that in the treatment group (P < 0.01-0.05). Compared with the normal and treatment groups,the plasma viscosity was significantly increased in the model group (P < 0.01). There was significantly elevated erythrocyte aggregation in the model and treatment groups compared with the normal group (P < 0.01), but there was no significant difference in the erythrocyte aggregation between model and treatment groups. The hematocrit in the treatment group was significantly improved compared with the model group, but it was still significantly higher than that in the normal group. The order of platelet aggregation rate was as follows: the model group > treatment group > normal group (P < 0.01). These results suggest that Chinese herbal compound combined with electrical pulse can significantly improve microcirculation by aggregating red blood cells and depolymerizing palates in a rat model of cervical spondylosis.

Objective To evaluate the possible molecular pathogenesis of intractable temporal lobe epilepsy. The potassium ion channel gene KCNJ4 encodes one of the subfamilies of Kir channels, Kir2.3 subunit, which may play an important role in modulating neuronal excitation. Interference in the function or expression of this gene would cause disturbance of ionic concentrations, thus leading to seizure activity. Methods Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western-blot analysis were used to measure the expression alterations of KCNJ4 mRNA as well as its protein product Kir2.3 channel in temporal cortex samples from patients who had undergone temporal lobectomy for intractable epilepsy (n=12). Tissue from 10 subjects who did not have epilepsy served as controls. Results The expression of KCNJ4 mRNA (0.438?0.178) and its protein Kir2.3 (M 50=0.063) were significantly decreased in epileptic brain compared with the controls (P

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux ; diagnosis ; therapy

Objective To investigate the protective effect of dexamethasone on stress response induced by intraute-rine balloon aortic valvuloplasty (IUBAV) in a fetal lamb model. Methods Twenty-four near term twin pregnant goats were randomly assigned to control group (n=12) and dexamethasone group (intracardiac injection of dexamethasone) (n=12). Ultrasound guided IUBAV model was established. According to the combination of treatment and operation, 48 fetal lambs were divided into four groups. The following parameters were dynamically monitored by ultrasound, which were fetal and neonatal heart rate (HR), cardiac rhythm, aortic resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI). On established IUBAV model, blood samples and liver tissue specimens were taken from fetal/neonatal goats for detection of blood glucose (Glu), lactate acid (LA), plasma epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE), cortisol (Cort), hepatic glycogen staining. Results IUBAV resulted in increased values of Glu, LA, E, NE and Cort levels, and decreased pH value, there were significant differences between pre-and 3h-post procedure (P<0.05), and significant differences were also existed in these values between pre-and 3d-post procedure (P<0.05). After administrating dexamethasone, the changes of Glu, LA, E, NE, Cort and pH levels were suppressed effectively. Fetal hepatic glycogen was consumed in large amounts due to IUBAV while recovered 3 days after IUBAV by glycogen staining. After administrating dexamethasone, hepatic glycogen consumption related to IUBAV was obviously inhibited. After IUBAV, fetal aortic RI was increased, and there was significant differences compared with pre-procedure (P<0.05). Up to 3d-post procedure, the values of RI recovered to some extent, but statistical difference was exist-ed compared with pre-procedure (P<0.05). After administrating of dexamethasone, increased aortic RI was effectively sup-pressed. Conclusions IUBAV could lead to reversible stress response and increased aortic RI in a fetal lamb model which could be alleviated by dexamethasone.

Objective To clarify the clinical features,therapeutic strategy and prognosis of lipid storage myopathy (LSM).Methods The clinical data and therapeutic effects of 42 LSM patients were summarized retrospectively.All patients were followed up to evaluate their prognosis.Results Data of short-term therapeutic results of all the 42 patients were available.Thirty-three cases were placed in low- doses prednisone and 9 cases in riboflavin.All patients showed marked and quick improvement of symptoms within one month.Among thirty-two patients followed up for more than one year,26 cases had a full recovery and 6 remained to have intolerance to heavy exercise.Thirteen patients had relapses of muscle weakness in various degrees and most of which were induced by exertion,exposure to coldness and upper respiratory tract infection.In 5 patients the symptoms were recurred for more than one time.Among 13 cases with relapses, 7 had family history.Conclusions Our data suggest that LSM is a treatable disease and well responsive to low-doses prednisone.The disease tends to recur,especially in patients with family history.Glutaric aciduria type Ⅱ should be considered in LSM patients who are responsive well to riboflavin,indicating drug therapeutic strategy for LSM should be based on the etiology of the disease.

Objective To investigate the clinical,neuroimaging and myopathological features of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes(MELAS).Methods The clinical manifestations,neuroimaging and myopathological features of 31 patients with MELAS diagnosed in our Neuromuscular Center in the recent 7 years were retrospectively analyzed.A3243G point mutations were analyzed by RFLP method in 10 patients.Results ①Clinical features:There were 18 male patients and 13 female patients.The age of onset ranged from 3 to 43 years,averaging 21.9 years.The averaged duration was 4.9 years.Thirteen patients in this group had family history of maternal inheritance pattern.The main clinical manifestations included short stature(26 patients),recurrent headache and vomiting(24 patients), muscle weakness(22 patients),epileptic seizure(21 patients),cognitive decline(19 patients),visual disturbance(17 patients),sensorineural deafness(16 patients),ataxia(6 patients),psychiatric symptom (8 patients),external ophathalmoplegia(2 patients)and diabetes mellitus(9 patients).The serum CK level was slightly elevated in 6 patients,and the fasting blood lactic acid was increased in 15 of the 18 detected patients.②Neuroimaging features:The stroke-like lesions were mostly confined to cerebral cortex, including temporal lobe(24 patients),occipital lobe(21 patients),parietal lobe(12 patients)and frontal lobe(4 patients).Three patients had deep white matter involvement.Migrating stroke-like lesions were confirmed in 4 patients by repeated cranial CT/MRI examination.In addition,cerebral atrophy(17 patients)and bilateral basilar ganglion calcification(11 patients)were found.③Myopathological features: Scattered ragged red fibers(RRF)in various number were found in all the patients by MGT staining.Other founding included strongly SDH-reactive blood vessel(27 patients),COX enzyme deficiency(19 patients), and mild to moderate lipid storage in RRF(20 patients).④MtDNA analysis showed 9 patients with A3243G point mutation in all the detected 13 patients.Conclusion The clinical and neuroimaging features may offer important clue to the diagnosis of MELAS,but a definite diagnosis of MELAS relies on the myopathology and mtDNA mutation analysis.

Abstract: Mycobacterium senegalense is one of the major pathogens causing bovine farcy, and reports of its infection in human are rare. Here is a report on a woman who had been taking hormones and immunosuppressants for a long time for SLE and underwent abdominal soft tissue infection with Mycobacterium senegalense after abdominal liposuction, to provide reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment. The patient, female, 32 years old, has a history of SLE for more than 2 years, and currently takes "methylprednisolone, hydroxychloroquine, and mycophenolate mofetil" regularly. Nine months before the patient was admitted to the hospital, she once performed abdominal, waist and buttock liposuction in a medical beauty institution. One month after the operation, several masses gradually appeared on the abdominal wall, accompanied by tenderness, one of the masses had obvious fluctuation on palpation and purulent fluid could be drawn out. The location of the abdominal wall mass was consistent with the insertion site of the liposuction needle. After the onset of the disease, the patient went to the medical beauty institution for puncture of the abdominal wall mass, and 5 mL of purulent fluid was pierced and sent for bacterial culture, and cultured "Mycobacterium Senegalense", after 3 days of treatment with "cephalosporin" antibiotics (specifically unknown), the symptoms did not improve, so she went to the second affiliated hospital of hainan medical college. After completing the relevant examinations during the hospitalization in our hospital, in order to clarify the etiology, another abdominal puncture to extract pus was performed, the mycobacterial culture + identification results: Mycobacterium senegalense. Consistent with the out-of-hospital results, the diagnosis of Mycobacterium senegalense infection was confirmed. After 3 months of treatment with "cefoxitin, azithromycin, amikacin, and levofloxacin", the patient's abdominal wall soft tissue infection was cured. Trauma or invasive procedures can lead to skin, muscle, or bone infection with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), which can manifest as chronic painless nodules that progress to purulent folliculitis and abscesses. NTM infection should be suspected when the patient's wound has been exposed to water, there is a history of surgery, and empirical anti-infection is ineffective. This is the first case of Mycobacterium senegalense infection caused by medical beauty, which tell people that they should be cautious when choosing medical aesthetic projects and medical aesthetic institutions.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Concanavalin A ; toxicity ; Liver ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of astragalus on tubulointerstitial lesions in rats with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and to explore the possible mechanism.

METHODSTwenty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to three groups. The rat model of IgA nephropathy was induced by intragastric administration of bovine serum albumin and injections of LPS and CC14. Six weeks later, the rats with IgAN were randomly treated with oral astragalus (3 g/kg/d, for 6 weeks) or normal saline. Normal control rats which were not subjected to IgAN were treated with normal saline. The number of urinary erythrocytes and urinary protein and B-D-N-Acetyl glucosaminidase (NAG) contents were determined by Pan-automatic biochemistry analyzing meter. Expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) in tubulointerstitial tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. A semiquantitative score was used to evaluate the degree of renal pathologic lesions.

RESULTSThe number of urinary erythrocytes (74.02+/-16.58 / microL vs 383.23+/-4.94 /microL) and urinary protein (13.88+/-4.94 vs 59.82+/-14.73 mg/L) and NAG contents (2.84+/-0.31 vs 5.24+/-0.80 U/L) in the astragalus-treated IgAN rats decreased remarkably compared with those in the IgAN rats without astragalus treatment (P<0.01). Expression of the NF-kappaB and MCP-1 in the renal tissues in the IgAN rats without astragalus treatment was significantly higher than that in the astragalus-treated IgAN rats and normal control rats (P<0.01). There were significant differences in the scores of renal pathologic lesions between the IgAN rats with or without astragalus treatment (6.03+/-0.46 vs 10.57+/-1.23; P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSAstragalus can decrease the number of urinary erythrocytes and urinary protein and NAG contents, and relieves tubulointerstitial lesions, possibly through the down-regulation of NF-kappaB and MCP-1 expression in rats with IgAN.

Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; Chemokine CCL2 ; analysis ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney Tubules ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transcription Factor RelA ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo observe and compare the influence of pre- and post-exercise manipulation and natural recovery without any intervention on delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) after eccentric exercise and to explore the manipulation therapeutic mechanism on the metabolism of oxygen free radical (OFR).

METHODSThe study was carried on during Apr. to Jul. in 2008 at Nanjing University of TCM. The 30 healthy male students were divided into 3 groups randomly according to condition-equivalence principle including control group (C), pre-exercise manipulation group (A), post-exercise manipulation group (B). Before exercise, group A were intervened by manipulation for 30 minutes, which was followed by exercise 5 minutes later. While 30 minutes after exercise, group B accepted manipulation for 30 minutes and continued manipulation once a day for consecutive 3 days. Group C were not intervened by any approaches before or after exercise. The clinical manifestations, which include soreness intensity and lasting time, maximal isometric strength, arm girth, elbow range of motion, were evaluated at the 1st hour before exercise, immediately, 24th, 48th and 72th hours after exercise. Meanwhile, serum creatine kinase (CK), serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), serum malonaldehyde (MDA) were determined at the 1st hour before exercise, immediately, 24th and 48th hours after exercise.

RESULTSCompared to group C, group A and B were manifested by significantly lower peak soreness (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), significantly better recovery of elbow flexing degree at the 72th hour after exercise (P < 0.05) and significantly lower rising range of serum CK at the 48th hour after exercise (P < 0.01). Comparing to group C, group A was manifested by significantly shorter lasting time of muscle soreness (P < 0.01) and significantly better recovery of maximal isometric strength of the 72th hour after exercise (P < 0.01). Compared to group C, group B was manifested by significantly better recovery of elbow extending degree at the 72 th hour after exercise (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the change of arm girth among the three groups. The level of Serum SOD, MDA and SOD/MDA at the 48th hour after exercise in group A and B were significantly different from those in group C (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThrough improving the metabolism of OFR, pre-exercise and post-exercise manipulation can partially prevent and treat DOMS respectively. In addition, preventive effect by pre-exercise manipulation is better than curing effect by post-exercise manipulation, which proves the TCM thought, that is, prevention superior to treatment.

Adolescent ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Exercise ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Muscle Fatigue ; physiology ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; Young Adult