OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of melatonin (MT) on bone mass and serum inflammatory factors in rats received ovariectomy (OVX) and to investigate the effects of MT on the levels of inflammatory factors in culture medium and osteogenic ability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) stimulated by lipopolysaccharide. METHODS: Fifteen 12-week-old Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 3 groups. The rats in Sham group only received bilateral lateral abdominal incision and suture, the rats in OVX group received bilateral OVX, and the rats in OVX+MT group received 100 mg/(kg·d) MT oral intervention after bilateral OVX. After 8 weeks, the levels of serum inflammatory factors [interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)] were detected using ELISA assay. Besides, the distal femurs were detected by Micro-CT to observe changes in bone mass and microstructure, and quantitatively measured bone volume fraction, trabecular thickness, and trabecular number. The BMSCs were extracted from the femurs of three 3-week-old SD rats using whole bone marrow culture method and passaged. The 3rd-5th passage BMSCs were cultured with different concentrations of MT (0, 1, 10, 100, 1 000 µmol/L), and the cell viability was then detected using cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) to select the optimal concentration of MT for subsequent experiments. Cells were devided into osteogenic induction group (group A) and osteogenic induction+1/5/10 μg/mL lipopolysaccharide group (group B-D). The levels of inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) in cell culture medium were detected using ELISA assay after corresponding intervention. According to the results of CCK-8 method and ELISA detection, the cells were intervened with the most significant concentration of lipopolysaccharide for stimulating inflammation and the optimal concentration of MT with osteogenic induction, defining as group E, and the cell culture medium was collected to detect the levels of inflammatory factors by ELISA assay. After that, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and alizarin red staining were performed respectively in groups A, D, and E, and the expression levels of osteogenic related genes [collagen type Ⅰ alpha 1 chain (Col1a1) and RUNX family transcription factor 2 (Runx2)] were also detected by real time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). RESULTS: ELISA and Micro-CT assays showed that compared with Sham group, the bone mass of the rats in the OVX group significantly decreased, and the expression levels of serum inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) in OVX group significantly increased (P<0.05). Significantly, the above indicators in OVX+MT group were all improved (P<0.05). Rat BMSCs were successfully extracted, and CCK-8 assay showed that 100 µmol/L was the maximum concentration of MT that did not cause a decrease in cell viability, and it was used in subsequent experiments. ELISA assays showed that compared with group A, the expression levels of inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) in the cell culture medium of groups B-D were significantly increased after lipopolysaccharide stimulation (P<0.05), and in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, the expression levels of inflammatory factors in group D were significantly higher than those in groups B and C (P<0.05). After MT intervention, the expression levels of inflammatory factors in group E were significantly lower than those in group D (P<0.05). ALP staining, alizarin red staining, and RT-qPCR assays showed that compared with group A, the percentage of positive area of ALP and alizarin red and the relative mRNA expressions of Col1a1 and Runx2 in group D significantly decreased, while the above indicators in group E significantly improved after MT intervention (P<0.05). CONCLUSION MT may affect the bone mass of postmenopausal osteoporosis by reducing inflammation in rats; MT can reduce the inflammation of BMSCs stimulated by lipopolysaccharide and weaken its inhibition of osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.
Female ; Rats ; Animals ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Osteogenesis ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit ; Melatonin/pharmacology* ; Interleukin-6/genetics* ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology* ; Coloring Agents ; Inflammation

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Astragalin （AST） on apoptosis of cerebral cortex neurons in APP/PS1 transgenic mice. MethodsEighteen six-month-old male APP/PS1 transgenic mice were randomly divided into APP/PS1 group， APP/PS1+ 40 mg/kg AST group and APP/PS1+ 20 mg/kg Donepezil （DNP） group， with six mice in each group. At the same time， six male C57BL/6 mice were selected as the normal control group. After intraperitoneal injection of AST once a day and continuous administration for one month， we used Tunel staining to detect the apoptosis of neurons in the cerebral cortex of APP/PS1 mice； immunofluorescent staining to examine the expression of apoptosis-related proteins Bax， Bcl-2， Caspase9 and Cleaved-Caspase3 in the cerebral cortex neurons of APP/PS1 mice； Western blot method to evaluate the changes of the expression of Bax， Bcl-2， Caspase9 and Caspase3. ResultsTunel staining showed that 40 mg/kg AST and 20 mg/kg DNP both reduced the apoptosis of neurons in the cerebral cortex of APP/PS1 mice， AST with more significant inhibition effect. Immunofluorescent staining revealed that 40 mg/kg AST and 20 mg/kg DNP both inhibited the expression of Bax， Caspase9， and Cleaved-Caspase3， and icreased the expression of Bcl-2 in the cerebral cortex neurons of APP/PS1 mice. Western blot results further confirmed that 40 mg/kg AST and 20 mg/kg DNP both down-regulated the expression of Bax （P < 0.05， P < 0.05）， Caspase9 （P < 0.005， P < 0.05） and Caspase3 （P < 0.0001， P < 0.0001） ， and up-regulated the expresstion of Bcl-2 （P < 0.05， P < 0.05） in the cerebral cortex neurons of APP/PS1 mice. ConclusionsAST can inhibit the apoptosis of cerebral cortex neurons in APP/PS1 mice.

Objective To investigate the influence of volatile oil from Acori graminei Rhizoma (VOA) on expressions of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), c-Jun N-terminal protein kainse (JNK) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the spinal cord dorsal horn of imflammatory pain rats. Methods Totally 36 male SD rats were randomly divided into control group (control), sham-operated group (sham), complete Freund' s adjuvant group (CFA), 5 g/(kg·d) low dose VOA+CFA group (VOA-L+CFA), 10 g/(kg·d) medium dose VOA + CFA group (VOA-M+CFA) and 20 g/(kg·d) high dose VOA + CFA group (VOA-H+CFA). All animals were sacrificed immediately after continuous gavage administration for 22 days. The expressions of GFAP, JNK and TNF-α in the spinal cord dorsal horn of rats in each group were detected by immunofluorescence and Western blotting methods. Results The present results showed that the positive expressions of GFAP, JNK and TNF-α in the spinal cord dorsal horn of rats increased significantly in the CFA group, when compared to the control and sham groups (P < 0. 01). The expressions of GFAP, JNK and TNF-α in the spinal cord dorsal horn of rats with VOA treatment reduced in the dose-dependent manner, when compared to the CFA group, the positive expressions of GFAP, JNK and TNF-α reduced significantly in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord of the VOA-H+CFA group (P<0. 05, P<0. 01). Conclusion VOA reduces the expressions of GFAP, JNK and TNF-α in the spinal cord dorsal horn of rats of CFA-induced inflammatory pain.

Objective    To evaluate the effect of perioperative nebulization of ipratropium bromide on preoperative pulmonary function and incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications as well as safety in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients who underwent lung resection in thoracic surgery. Methods    During November 18, 2013 to August 12, 2015, 192 COPD patients with a necessity of selective surgical procedures of lobectomy or right bilobectomy or segmentectomy under general anaesthesia in 10 centers were 1 : 1 randomized to an ipratropium bromide group (96 patients) and a placebo group (96 patients), to compare the effect on preoperative pulmonary function and incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications. The average age of treated patients was 62.90±6.50 years, with 168 male patients and 22 female patients. Results     The demographic and baseline characteristics were well-balanced between the two groups. The adjusted mean increase of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) in the ipratropium bromide group was significantly higher than that in the placebo group (169.90±29.07 mL vs. 15.00±29.35 mL, P<0.05). The perioperative use of ipratropium bromide significantly decreased incidence of postoperative pneumonia (2.6% vs. 14.1%, P<0.05). There was no ipratropium bromide related adverse event (AE) observed in this trial. Conclusion    This trial indicates that perioperative nebulization of ipratropium bromide significantly improves preoperative lung function and reduces postoperative pneumonia in COPD patients undergoing lung resection in thoracic surgery, and has good safety profile.

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of astragalin （AST） on neurons and Aβ plaques in the cortex of APP/PS1 transgenic mice. MethodsTwenty-four 8-month-old male APP/PS1 transgenic mice were randomly divided into APP/PS1 group， 10 mg/kg AST （APP/PS1+AST 10） group， and 20 mg/kg AST （APP/PS1+AST 20） group， 40 mg/kg AST （APP/PS1+AST 40） group， with 6 mice in each group. Six C57BL/6 male mice of the same age served as the control group （WT group）. AST drugs were continuously injected intraperitoneally for one month. Then Immunofluorescent staining was used to observe the deposition of Aβ plaques in the cortex. Nissl staining was used to observe the number and morphological changes of neurons in the cortex， and immunofluorescent multiple staining methods were used to observe the co-expression of LC3B， p62 and NeuN in the cortex. Then the expressions of NeuN， LC3B， and p62 protein were detected by Western blot method. ResultsImmunofluorescent staining results showed 20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg AST reduced Aβ plaques deposition in the cortex of APP/PS1 mice （P < 0.000 1； P < 0.000 1）. Western blot analysis showed both 20 and 40 mg/kg AST increased the expression of NeuN protein in the cortex of APP/PS1 mice （P = 0.012 1； P < 0.000 1）. Immunofluorescent multiplex staining showed co-expression of LC3B， p62， and NeuN in the cortex of APP/PS1 mice. Western blot analysis showed AST increased the expression of LC3B （P = 0.007， P < 0.000 1） and decreased the expression of p62 （P < 0.000 1， P < 0.000 1） in the cortex of APP/PS1 mice. ConclusionsAST reduces neuronal damage and Aβ plaques deposition in the cortex of APP/PS1 mice by activating autophagy.

Aortic Valve/surgery* ; Aortic Valve Stenosis/surgery* ; China/epidemiology* ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; Humans ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome

A questionnaire survey of 1 000 clinicians having experience in treating uncomplicated lower urinary tract infections from different levels of hospitals was conducted to mainly evaluate the applicability and effectiveness of clinical application of clinical practice guideline on traditional Chinese medicine therapy alone or combined with antibiotics for uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection(hereinafter referred to as Guideline). The research was conducted with the three-level quality control strictly throughout the process, and the data was real and reliable. The survey's results showed that: most clinicians considered that the Guideline had good clinical applicability. The availability and price of the recommended medicine were moderate. Traditional Chinese medicine had obvious features and advantages in treating lower urinary tract infection for it could reduce the usage of antibiotics and shorten the course of antibiotic application. In the recommendation section, clinicians proposed increasing medication guidance, updating the Guideline timely, as well as increasing treating methods and techniques, strengthen propaganda and promotion, and improve the use of evidence-based methods. In the evaluation of effectiveness, the majority of clinicians agreed that the definition in both traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine and differential diagnosis in the Guideline were accurately described and the basic principle of treatment as well as the treating method of TCM were recommended appropriately. The TCM formulas and Chinese patent medicine had good effect. Some clinicians suggested refining the syndrome differentiation of stranguria. Some clinicians considered that the formulas and herbs recommended in Guideline didn't have obvious effect and some had doubts about the manipulation of fumigation and washing in the part of other methods recommended in Guideline. Moreover, specification and procedure of manipulation of fumigation and washing using herbs and the acupuncture included in characteristic TCM therapy treating uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection remained to be developed.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Urinary Tract Infections

Application of a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, macroporous adsorbent resin, and reversed-phase HPLC, led to the isolation of 173 compounds including irdidoids, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, lignans, flavonoids, and simple aromatic derivatives from the ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of the whole plants of Valeriana jatamansi(Valerianaceae), and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1D, 2D NMR UV, IR, and MS techniques. Among them, 77 compounds were new. In previous reports, we have described the isolation, structure elucidation, and bioactivities of 68 new and 25 known compounds. As a consequence, we herein reported the isolation and structure elucidation of the remaining 9 new and 71 known compounds, the structure revision of valeriotriate A(8a), as well as cytotoxicity of some compounds.
Acetates ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; Iridoids ; analysis ; Lignans ; analysis ; Molecular Structure ; Monoterpenes ; analysis ; Phytochemicals ; analysis ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Sesquiterpenes ; analysis ; Triterpenes ; analysis ; Valerian ; chemistry

Objective: To study the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) in the treatment of asthenozoospermia. METHODS: We randomly divided 72 asthenozoospermia patients into a 2 Hz TEAS (n = 29), a 100 Hz TEAS (n = 20), and a blank control group (n = 23), those in the former two groups treated by 30 minutes of TEAS at 2 Hz and 100 Hz respectively, applied to the acupoints of bilateral Shenshu, left Zusanli, and Guanyuan, once a day for 60 days, while those in the blank control group left untreated. Using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA), we examined sperm concentration and motility as well as the percentages of grade a and grade a+b sperm in different groups of the patients. RESULTS: Compared with the baseline, 2 Hz TEAS significantly increased sperm motility (［12.76 ± 1.39］ vs ［18.89 ± 2.46］%, P<0.05) and the percentage of grade a+b sperm ( ［10.68 ± 1.22］ vs ［16.32 ± 2.10］%, P<0.05) in the asthenozoospermic patients, while 100 Hz TEAS improved not only sperm motility (［12.32 ± 2.21］ vs ［23.81 ± 3.42］%, P<0.01) and the percentage of grade a+b sperm (［10.45 ± 1.98］ vs ［20.25 ± 2.82 ］%, P<0.01), but also the percentage of grade a sperm (［6.44 ± 1.16］ vs ［13.31 ± 2.30］%, P<0.05). Moreover, in comparison with the blank control group, 2 Hz TEAS also remarkably increased sperm motility (［9.57 ± 1.60］ vs ［18.89 ± 2.46］%, P<0.05) and the percentage of grade a+b sperm (［7.81 ± 1.31］ vs ［16.32 ± 2.10］%, P<0.05) in the asthenozoosperma patients, while 100 Hz TEAS improved not only sperm motility (［9.57 ± 1.60］ vs ［23.81 ± 3.42］%, P<0.01) and the percentage of grade a+b sperm (［7.81 ± 1.31］ vs ［20.25 ± 2.82］%, P<0.01) but also the percentage of grade a sperm (［4.87 ± 1.01］ vs ［13.31 ± 2.30］%, P<0.01). Meanwhile, the rate of clinical effectiveness was significantly higher in the 100 Hz TEASthan in the blank control group either in intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis (100% vs 18.18%) orper-protocol (PP) analysis (90% vs 0%), and so was it than in the 2 Hz TEAS group based on the data of ITT (100% vs 33.33%). CONCLUSIONS Both 2 Hz and 100 Hz TEAS are effective for the treatment of asthenozoospermia by improving sperm motility and vitality.
Acupuncture Points ; Asthenozoospermia ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Sperm Count ; methods ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of Zanthoxylum nitidum.

METHODColumn chromatography on Silica gel and Sephadex LH - 20, and recrystallization were applied for the isolation and purification of the constituents. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis, chemical evidences and by comparison with the data reported in literature.

RESULTFrom the CHCl3 fraction and n-butanol fraction of the EtOH extract of the roots of Z. nitidum, 10 compounds were isolated and identified as 2, 4-dihydroxypyrimidine (1), syringic acid (2) , 2, 6-dimethoxy-1, 4-benzoquinone (3) , 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4), ethylparaben (5), (Z)-3-(2, 3, 4-trimethoxyphenyl) acrylic acid (6), 5, 6, 7-trimethoxycoumarin (7), stigmast-9 (11) -en-3-ol (8), daucosterol (9), beta-sitosterol (10).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1-9 were isolated and identified from the roots of Z. nitidum for the first time. Furthermore, we note here the first isolation of compound 6 as a natural product.

Acrylates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Gallic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Parabens ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Zanthoxylum ; chemistry