Aim To investigate the protective effect of Jujing formula on retina of mice with dry age-related macular degeneration(AMD).Methods The mouse model of dry AMD was induced by intraperitoneal in-jection of sodium iodate,and the prognosis was given to the Jujing formula.Retinal thickness was detected by optical coherence tomography(OCT),the retinal morphological changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining,and the apoptosis of retinal cells was detected by in situ terminal transferase labeling(TUNEL)staining.Combination of tumor necrosis fac-tor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6)and interleukin-1β(IL-1 β)in eyeballs and serum,superoxide dis-mutase(SOD),glutathione(GSH)and malondialde-hyde(MDA)were evaluated to assess the protective effects of Jujing formula on retinal injury in mice with dry AMD.Results The results of OCT,HE and TUNEL staining showed that Jujing formula significant-ly improved the retinal injury induced by sodium iodate in mice with dry AMD,increased the retinal thickness(P＜0.05),reduced the apoptosis of retinal cells(P＜0.01),and increased the levels of GSH,IL-6 and SOD activity in eyeballs and serum(P＜0.01).The levels of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β and MDA were reduced(P＜0.01).Conclusions Jujing formula has certain therapeutic effects on retinal injury in dry AMD,which may be related to inhibiting inflammatory response and enhancing antioxidant capacity.

Huoluo Xiaoling Dan is a classical prescription commonly used for blood circulation and pain relief in clinic with obvious effects. To make it directly treat lesion and improve the effect, this research optimized the preparation process of Huoluo Xiaoling gel paste and further evaluated its in vitro transdermal absorption performance, so as to provide a scientific basis for its development and utilization. Using primary viscosity, holding viscosity, and sensory score as evaluation indexes, the matrix amount of gel paste was determined by the single factor test and Box-Behnken response surface method. The ultra-performance liquid chromatography(UPLC) method was established to determine the content of eight active ingredients, including Danshensu, ferulic acid, salvianolic acid B, salvianolic acid A, ligustilide, tanshinone Ⅱ_A, 11-keto-β-boswellic(KBA), and 3-acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid(AKBA). A mo-dified Franz diffusion cell method was used to evaluate and compare the absorption properties of the gel paste without volatile oil and with volatile oil microemulsion. The results showed that the optimal prescription for Huoluo Xiaoling gel paste matrix was NP700(1.35 g), glycerol(7.00 g), micropowder silica gel(1.25 g), sodium carboxymethyl cellulose(0.20 g), tartaric acid(0.06 g), and glyceryl aluminum(0.04 g). The mass fractions of eight active ingredients in the paste were successively 0.48, 0.014, 0.95, 0.39, 0.57, 0.055, 0.35, and 0.97 mg·g~(-1). The results of the in vitro transdermal absorption test showed that the addition of the volatile oil or the volatile oil microemulsion promoted the transdermal absorption of the active ingredients, and the law of drug penetration conformed to the zero equation or the Higuchi equation. The gel paste prepared by the optimal prescription has good appearance and adhesion, with no residue, and has the characteristics of skeletal slow-release preparation, which is easy to reduce the number of administration, la-ying a foundation for the development of new external dosage forms of Huoluo Xiaoling Dan.
Administration, Cutaneous ; Skin Absorption ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Oils, Volatile ; Viscosity

Herbal pair is formed based on the experience summary of doctors' deep understanding and perception of the medicinal nature in long-term clinical practice. It gradually becomes the exquisite structural unit for preparing traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) prescriptions, and often plays a core bridge role in the prescription combination. Frankincense and myrrh are raw resin materials of incense abroad, which are subsequently included as Chinese medicinal herbs and endowed with rich medicinal connotation. With the functions of relaxing Zang-fu organs, activating blood and relieving pain, they have definite clinical efficacy. From the perspective of herbal description and clinical application, this study systematically analyzed the combination of frankincense and myrrh as well as their combination proportion, efficacy characterization, diseases and syndromes, effective components and action mechanism. On this basis, the focus of in-depth research of frankincense-myrrh and the application prospects were proposed, in order to further reveal the potential meditation law of this herbal pair, thus contributing to clinical practice and drug innovation of traditional Chinese medicine, and providing reference for understanding of TCM medicinal nature and research of herbal pairs.
Humans ; Frankincense/chemistry* ; Commiphora ; Resins, Plant/chemistry* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of moxibustion at different temperatures (38 ℃ and 45 ℃) on blood lipoids and serum level of oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) and nitric oxide (NO) in rats with hyperlipidemia, and to explore the correlation between regulating blood fat and anti-oxidative stress and protection of vascular endothelium of moxibustion at 45 ℃. METHODS: According to random number table, 60 SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a moxibustion at 38 ℃ group and a moxibustion at 45 ℃ group, 15 rats in each group. The rats in the normal group received no treatment; the rats in the remaining three groups were fed with high-fat diet for 8 weeks to prepare rat models of hyperlipidemia. After successful modeling, the rats in the model group received no treatment; the rats in the moxibustion at 38 ℃ group and moxibustion at 45 ℃ group were treated with moxibustion at "Shenque" (CV 8) and "Zusanli" (ST 36), and the temperature was controlled at (38±1) ℃ and (45±1) ℃, respectively. The moxibustion was given for 10 min at each acupoint, once every two days, and totally 4-week treatment was given. After treatment, the levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured by using biochemical colorimetric method; the levels of ox-LDL and NO were measured by using ELISA method. RESULTS: ① Compared with the normal group, the levels of TC, TG and LDL-C were significantly increased in the model group (all <0.01); compared with the model group and moxibustion at 38 ℃ group, the levels of TC, TG and LDL-C were significantly decreased in the moxibustion at 45 ℃ group (<0.01，<0.05); compared with the model group, the levels of TC, TG and LDL-C were insignificantly decreased in the moxibustion at 38 ℃ group (all >0.05). ② Compared with the normal group, the level of ox-LDL was increased but that of NO was decreased in the model group (both <0.01); compared with the model group and moxibustion at 38 ℃ group, the level of ox-LDL was decreased but that of NO was increased in the moxibustion at 45 ℃ group (<0.01, <0.05); compared with the model group, the level of ox-LDL was decreased but that of NO was increased in the moxibustion at 38 ℃ group (both <0.05). CONCLUSION Moxibustion at 45 ℃ has regulating effects on blood lipid in rats with hyperlipidemia, which can regulate blood lipid through various ways, such as anti-oxidative stress and protection of vascular endothelium.
Animals ; Hyperlipidemias ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; Moxibustion ; Nitric Oxide ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUND: Postoperative anticoagulant therapy after hip and knee arthroplasties has been included in the perioperative management guidelines. However, the application of anticoagulant drugs accompanies with the risk of bleeding. Routine coagulation tests provide limited information about the quality of clots because they identify only the first stage of clotting, while thrombelastography provides a comprehensive assessment of coagulation function. But its practicality remains controversial and the research for bleeding after joint replacement is little reported. OBJECTIVE: To explore the distribution of thrombelastography parameters (time to initial fibrin formation, clotting time, α angle, and maximum amplitude) and to analyze the correlation of the four parameters with postoperative blood loss, thereby providing guidance for improving the safety and effectiveness of anticoagulant therapy. METHODS: Totally 148 patients with detection of thrombelastogram after arthroplasty from August 2015 to March 2017 in Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University were enrolled, including 76 cases of total hip arthroplasty and 72 cases of total knee arthroplasty. Thrombelastography data were collected on day 1 postoperatively, and the perioperative blood loss was calculated. Structural equation modeling of each group was constructed to investigate the relationship of four parameters and total blood loss. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) In the structural equation modeling of hip and knee arthroplasties, the root mean square error of approximation was less than 0.08, goodness-of-fit index, adjusted goodness-of-fit index, normed fit index and comparative fit index was all higher than 0.9, and Parsi-mony goodness-of-fit index was less than 2, so the theoretical model was matched with the data. (2) There was a correlation of postoperative hemorrhage with time to initial fibrin formation, clotting time, α angle, and maximum amplitude. (3) That is to say, thrombelastogram can be used as an efficient tool in predicting bleeding after hip and knee arthroplasties. Future study based on this research will further verify the correlation and provide more information for its clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a common inherited disease with a high morbidity around 1/1000-1/400, characterized by progressive enlargement of fluid-filled cysts derived from renal tubular epithelial cells. Massive cysts gradually compress renal parenchyma destroying normal renal structures and compromising renal functions. Unfortunately, it will cause end-stage renal disease in most of the patients but without effective therapy now, who have to live on hemodialysis or kidney transplantation. Based on this present situation, it is of great significance to find early intervention to inhibit renal cyst development. The projective of this study was to investigate whether Ganoderma triterpenes (GT) can inhibit renal cyst development and study the related mechanism. METHODS and RESULTS First, we used MDCK cyst model, cultivated MDCK cells in vitro to form fluid-filled cysts surrounded by monolayer cells. GT inhibited MDCK cyst formation significantly, and inhibited cyst enlargement dose-dependently proving GT cyst inhibition in vitro. Then we used an embryonic kidney cyst model, wile-type mice kidneys were taken out on embryonic day 13.5 to form renal cysts stimulated with 8-Br-cAMP. GT inhibited embryonic kidney cyst development significantly in a dose-dependent and reversible manner proving GT cyst inhibition at organ level. Furthermore, we used two ADPKD mouse models with severe cystic kidney disease phenotypes. GT dramatically inhibited renal cyst development, decreased ADPKD mouse kidney volume and the cyst index inside proving GT cyst inhibition in vivo. By Western blot, we proved GT down-regulated Ras/MAPK signal pathway without detectable effect on mTOR signal pathway both in MDCK cells and two ADPKD mouse kidneys. CONCLUSION GT retard renal cyst development both in vitro and in vivo significantly. The related mechanisms were involved in GT promoting renal tubular epithelial cell differentiation, down-regulating intracellular cAMP level and Ras/MAPK signal pathway.

Objective To compare the effects of moxibustion at different temperatures on blood lipid and TRPV1 in dorsal root ganglion with hyperlipidemia rats; To verify the correlation between efficacy of adjusting fat of moxibustion with activating of TRPV1. Methods The rat model of hyperlipidemia was made by high fat diet. 60 SD mice were randomly divided into four groups: control group, model control group, the 38 ℃ moxibustion group and the 45 ℃ moxibustion group, with 15 mice in each group. Acupoints Shenque and Zusanli were chosen under moxibustion for 10 minutes each time, once another day, for 4 weeks, in the 38 ℃ moxibustion group and the 45 ℃moxibustion group. Blood was taken after intervention, and blood TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C of the mice were detected by oxidase method; the dorsal root ganglion was taken to detect the expression of TRPV1 mRNA by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Results Compared with model group, blood lipid indexes in moxibustion groups had different changes, with statistical significance compared with 45 ℃ moxibustion group (P<0.05, P<0.01), and there was statistical significance between 38 ℃ moxibustion group and 45 ℃ moxibustion group (P<0.01); there was statistical significance in TRPV1 mRNA of dorsal root ganglion among 45 ℃ moxibustion group and other three groups (P<0.01). Conclusion The correlation between efficacy of adjusting fat of moxibustion with activating of TRPV1 has been confirmed.

To study the liver histopathological features that are distinctive between chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection patients who have normal serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT)/asparatate aminotransferase (AST) and those with mildly elevated serum ALT/AST. One-hundred-and-thrity-four chronic HBV infection patients with normal serum ALT/AST and 165 chronic HBV infection patients with mildly elevated serum ALT/AST were included in the study. Liver biopsies were performed and used to assess the histological changes by hematoxylin-eosin and reticular fiber staining; mild to severe scoring for inflammation was made as grade G0-G4 and for fibrosis stage as S0-S4. HBV DNA levels were detected by fluorescent quantitative PCR. HBV serological markers were examined by chemiluminescence. The mildly elevated serum ALT/AST group had more male patients than the normal serum ALT/AST group. In the normal serum ALT/AST group, 50.0% (67/134) of the patients had moderate histological changes and only 3.0% (4/134) had severe changes (G3-4 and/or S3-4). In the mildly elevated ALT/AST group, 65.7% (174/265) of patients had moderate histological changes and 16.2% (43/265) had severe changes (G3-4 and/or S3-4). Hepatic inflammation and fibrosis were significantly more severe in the mildly elevated serum ALT/AST group than in the normal ALT/AST group (x2 = 26.386, P less than 0.01; x2 = 15.299, P less than 0.01). In the normal ALT/AST group, the severity of inflammation and fibrosis were positively correlated with age (rs = 0.620, P less than 0.01; rs = 0.347, P less than 0.01). In the mildly elevated ALT/AST group, the severity of inflammation and fibrosis were negatively correlated with age (rs = -0.807, P less than 0.01; rs = -0.557, P less than 0.01). In both groups, the severity of inflammation and fibrosis were negatively correlated with HBV DNA levels (rs = -0.215, P less than 0.01, rs = -0.527, P less than 0.01, rs = -0.951, P less than 0.01; rs = -0.715, P less than 0.01) and were not positively correlated with HBeAg. The majority of the chronic HBV infection patients with normal serum ALT/AST and those with mildly elevated serum ALT/AST had moderate liver pathological changes. All patients with low HBV DNA levels were closely followed-up, regardless of HBeAg-positive status.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Biopsy, Needle ; Child ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Fatty Liver ; pathology ; virology ; Female ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; pathology ; virology ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Viral Load ; Young Adult

Objective To study the relationship between liver pathological changes and serum HBeAg and HBV DNA in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Methods Liver puncture biopsy for histopathological examinations were performed in 1057 patients with chronic hepatitis B. The quantitative analysis of serum HBV DNA by fluorogenic quantitative PCR and HBeAg by chemoluminescence were also conducted. Results The inflammatory grade and fibrosis stage were higher in HBeAg-negative paients (G4 and S4 were 7.83% and 12.17%respectively) than in HBeAg-positive patients (G4 and S4 were 3.39% and 5.44% respectively). The inflammatory grade and fibrosis stage were higher in HBeAg-positive patients with low-level HBV DNA( G3G4 was 45.64% and S3S4 was 30.20% for HBV DNA 104-105 ), whereas they were higher in HBeAg-negative patients with high-level HBV DNA(G3G4 was 54.55% for HBV DNA 106-107 and S3S4 was 42.85% for HBV DNA 108-109). Conclusion There were some correlation between the liver pathological changes and serum HBeAg and HBV DNA levels in patients with chronic hepatitis B. It is important to perform the liver pathological examination and antiviral therapy as early as possible in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B.

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical characteristics of the patients with dengue fever (DF) seen from 2002 to 2006 in Guangzhou in order to prevent and treat dengue fever better.

METHODSClinical data from 1342 inpatients with DF seen from 2002 to 2006 were retrospectively analyzed. The dengue virus was isolated by C6/36 cell culture and genotyped by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and gene sequence analysis.

RESULTSThe average age of the patients was 34.4 years, without sex difference in distribution. Most of the patients had obvious toxemic symptoms including fever (100 percent), headache (85.9 percent), myalgia (64.5 percent), bone soreness (46.6 percent) and skin rash (65.9 percent). Leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, elevated alanine aminotransferase, elevated aspartate aminotransferase and hypokalemia were found in 66.0 percent, 61.3 percent, 69.0 percent , 85.7 percent and 28.4 percent of patients, respectively. DF-IgM could be detected in 90 percent of patients. The virus was identified as dengue virus type-I.

CONCLUSIONSThe epidemic of DF was caused by dengue virus- I from 2002 to 2006 in Guangzhou. Most of the patients had classic DF clinical manifestation with high percentage of hepatic injury. Few patients progressed to dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Dengue ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Dengue Virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult