ObjectiveTo explore the possible mechanism of Gengxin Decoction （更欣汤） in the treatment of perimenopausal insomnia from the perspective of the expression of oestrogen receptor and orexin A （OXA） in hypothalamic tuberomammillary nucleus （TMN）. MethodsFemale ICR mice with regular estrous cycle were selected to establish perimenopausal insomnia mice models by injecting 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide （VCD） combined with para-chlorophenylalanine （PCPA） suspension intraperitoneally. After successful modeling， 75 mice models were randomly divided into model group， zopiclone group and low-， middle-， and high-dose Gengxin Decoction， with 15 mice in each group， and 15 normal mice were set as blank group. On the next day after successful modelling， mice in the low-， middle-， and high-dose Gengxin Decoction were given Gengxin Decoction granules 1.15， 2.3 and 4.6 g·kg^-1·d^-1 by gavage at 9：00 AM every day， mice in the zopiclone group were given zopiclone suspension 1.13 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 by gavage at the same time point， and mice in the blank and model groups were given distilled water 1 ml·kg^-1·d^-1 by gavage at the same time point， for 14 days in all groups. During the experimental period， general conditions of the mice in each group， such as daytime activities， mental state， diet and coat colour， were observed； twenty-four hours after the final intervention， the sleep latency and sleep duration of mice were detected by sodium pentobarbital synergy test， and the levels of serum estradiol （E₂）、progesterone （P）、follicle stimulating hormone （FSH） and OXA protein in TMN of hypothalamus were detected by ELISA， and the protein optical density values of estrogen receptor α （ERα）， OXA and ERβ in TMN was detected by immunofluorescence staining. ResultsThe circadian rhythm of mice was regular in the blank group； the circadian rhythm of mice was disordered in the model group， and they remained active during the day and night； the mental state of mice in each group of Gengxin Decoction was improved compared with that before， which showed that the daytime activity was less than before， and the coat color was slightly yellow but shiny， and the mental state of mice was significantly improved in the middle-dose Gengxin Decoction； the zopiclone group was less active during the day than before， had rough， less shiny hair， and was more alert. Compared with the blank group， the sleep latency of mice in the model group prolonged， the sleep duration shortened， serum E₂ and P decreased， serum FSH and the expression of OXA protein in TMN region increased， the optical density of ERα and ERβ in TMN region decreased， and the optical density of OXA increased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared with the model group， the sleep latency of the mice in the low-， middle-， and high-dose Gengxin Decoction groups and the zopiclone group shortened， the sleep duration prolonged （P＜0.01）； the serum E₂ and P in the middle-， and high-dose Gengxin Decoction groups increased， FSH and the expression of OXA protein in TMN area decreased （P＜0.05）； the optical density values of ERα in TMN area increased in the medium-dose group， and the optical density value of OXA decreased in low- and middle-dose Gengxin Decoction groups， and the optical density values of ERβ in TMN area increased in low-， middle-， and high-dose Gengxin Decoction groups and the zopiclone group （P＜0.05 ）. Compared with the zopiclone group， mice in the low-dose Gengxin Decoction group had longer sleep latency and shorter sleep duration， and mice in the middle- and high-dose Gengxin Decoction groups had higher serum E₂ level and ERβ optical density value in the TMN area， and lower serum FSH and OXA level in the TMN area （P＜0.05）. Compared with the low-dose Gengxin Decoction group， the sleep latency of mice in the middle- and high-dose Gengxin Decoction groups shortened， and the serum FSH level reduced （P＜0.01）. ConclusionGengxin Decoction may inhibit arousal and improve perimenopausal insomnia by modulating the distribution of estrogen receptors and OXA in the TMN region， and inhibiting the overactivation of the orexin system in the TMN region.

Background:Rectal cancer is a common malignant tumor of alimentary tract.It has been demonstrated that oxaliplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy is effective for rectal cancer,however,its mechanism is not fully clarified.Aims:To explore the effect of neoadjuvant chemnotherapy with FOLFOX4 (folinic acid,fluorouracil,and oxaliplatin) on expressions of Ki-67,a proliferating cell-associated nuclear antigen,matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2),and Fas,a death receptor in cancerous tissue of patients with rectal cancer.Methods:A total of 104 cases of patients with histologically proven rectal cancer from Aug.2014 to Feb.2016 at Central Hospital of China National Petroleum Corporation were enrolled prospectively and randomly allocated into treatment group (n =58) and control group (n =46).Patients in treatment group finished 6 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with FOLFOX4 before surgery,and those in control group underwent surgery directly.Expressions of Ki-67,MMP-2 and Fas protein in cancerous tissue of surgical specimens were determined immunohistochemically.Results:Immunoreactivity of Ki-67 mainly located in the nucleus of rectal cancer cells,and those of MMP-2 and Fas mainly located in the cytoplasm.Expression rates of Ki-67 and MMP-2 were significantly lower in treatment group than in control group (41.4％ vs.80.4％,P ＜ 0.05;36.2％ vs.73.9％,P ＜ 0.05),while those of Fas was significantly higher in treatment group than in control group (62.1％ vs.32.6％,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions:The therapeutic effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with FOLFOX4 on rectal cancer might be associated with the inhibition of proliferative,invasive and metastatic capacities and induction of apoptosis in cancer cells.

Objective: To study the effects of fortified conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) milk on body fat and plasma lipids in mice.Method:Forty male Kunming mice of 4 w old were randomly divided into four groups and fed diet and milk supplemented with 0%,0.1%,0.5%,1.0% CLA (percent of diet, dry mass) respectively for 4 w.Weight gain,body fat,intra-abdominal fat,feed conversion efficiency and plasma TG, TC, HDL , LPL were measured.Results:At the end of the experiment, all these physiological indices were decreased with increasing CLA in the milk and were lower significantly than that of control group when supplemented with 0.5% CLA in milk. TG , TC and (TC- HDL) / HDL were decreased, but HDL and LPL were increased with increasing CLA amount in the milk. TG,HDL,LPL and (TC- HDL)/ HDL were best when fed the milk supplemented with 1.0% CLA,while TC was the lowest when fed the milk supplemented with 0.5% CLA . Conclusion:The fortified conjugated linoleic acid is effective in lowering body fat and blood lipids.