The chemical constituents of Rehmanniae Radix Preparatawere prepared according to the traditional method of "jiu zheng jiu shai" and investigated using multiple chromatographic methods. Six alkaloids were isolated and their structures were elucidated from spectral data and physicochemical properties, as follows: rehmanniae alkaloid A (4-{[(5-O-á-D-galactopyranosyloxy)methyl]-1H-pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde-1-yl}butyric acidmethyl ester) (1), baimantuoluoamide B (2), capparisine C (3), harman-3-carboxylic acid (4), (2S)-1-[2-(furan-2-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylate (5), and 1-[2-(furan-2-yl)-2-oxoethyl]pyrrolidin-2-one (6). Among them, compound 1 is a new alkaloid. Compounds 2-6 were newly isolated from Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch.The effect of compounds 1-6 on NRK-52e cell injury induced by LPS was investigated. The results show that compounds 1-3 exhibit protective effects against LPS-induced damage to NRK-52e cells.

Objective To explore the relationship between sleep duration and different ischemic stroke (IS) subtypes. Methods Participants in the study were recruited from rural communities in Beijing. The survey questionnaires, physical examination and biochemical tests were performed. Sleep duration was categorized into 5 groups, namely ≤5 hours/day, 6 hours/day (5.5-6.5 h/d), 7 hours/day (6.5-7.5 h/d), 8 hours/day (7.5-8.5 h/d) and ≥9 hours/day(≥8.5 h/d). Classification of ischemic stroke was based on Trial of org 10172 in acute stroke treatment(TOAST)classification. Logistic models were used to evaluate the associations between sleep duration and different IS subtypes. Results A total of 6 370 participants were recruited. The average age was (58.34±9.37) years old. Logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for age, sex, behavioral lifestyle, socioeconomic status and health status, compared to subjects with 7 hours/day, subjects with sleep duration ≤5 hours/day was significantly associated with increased risk of IS (OR=1.75, 95% CI: 1.42-2.15, P<0.001), large-artery atherosclerosis (OR=1.98, 95% CI:1.46-2.70, P<0.001), small-artery occlusion lacunar (OR=5.73, 95% CI:3.34-9.83, P<0.001) and stroke of undetermined etiology (OR=4.43, 95% CI:1.86-10.53, P=0.001). Subjects with sleep duration 8 hours/day and ≥9 hours/day was only found to be significantly associated with IS and large-artery atherosclerosis (P<0.05). Conclusions Short sleep duration is associated with increased risk of IS, large-artery atherosclerosis, small-artery occlusion lacunar and stroke of undetermined etiology. But long sleep duration is only associated with increased risk of IS and large-artery atherosclerosis.

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate associations of overall obesity (OO) and abdominal obesity (AO) with brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) among type 2 diabetes(T2DM) patients. Methods A community-based study for T2DM patients was conducted in rural communities in Beijing．Every patient completed a questionnaire to collect demography, lifestyle and diseases history, and underwent physical examinations, baPWV assessments and blood biochemical tests. Multivariate linear regression was used to assess the relationship between obesity index and baPWV. Abnormal baPWV was defined as patients with baPWV≥1,700 cm/s. Logistic regression model was performed to explore the risk of abnormal baPWV after adjusting for poetential confounders step by step. Results A total of 2 048 T2DM patients were recruited. The average age was (59.2±8.3) years and total prevalence of abnormal baPWV was 49.7%. After multivariable adjustment, linear regression showed that there was a negative correlation between body mass index(BMI) and baPWV and a positive correlation between waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and baPWV. Compared to normal weight group, those with BMI≥28 kg/m2 had lower risk of abnormal baPWV (OR=0.59, 95% CI: 0.44-0.78，P<0.001), but there was an increased risk of 46% among patients with obesity in WHR (OR=1.46, 95% CI:1.07-2.00，P=0.018). Compared to those without OO and AO, patients without OO but with AO had a 1.67-fold increasesd risk of abnormal baPWV (OR=1.67, 95% CI: 1.19-2.35，P=0.003). Conclusions Abdominal obesity is related with arterial stiffnening among T2DM patients, and it is critical to evaluate arterial stiffness of T2DM patients with abdmonal obesity and normal BMI in order to reduce future risk of cardiovascular diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effect and mechanism of acupoint catgut embedding for chloasma in premenopausal women with liver stagnation. METHODS: A total of 92 patients of chloasma in premenopausal women with liver stagnation were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 46 cases in each one.In the observation group, acupoint catgut embedding was applied at Ganshu (BL 18), Pishu (BL 20), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), also the surrounding acupuncture was performed at facial part, once a week. In the control group, vitamin C (200 mg per time, 3 times a day) and vitamin E (100 mg per time, once a day) were prescribed for oral administration. Both of the two groups were given treatment for 12 weeks. The score of chloasma area and severity index (MASI), the serum levels of follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), leuteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E) before and after treatment were observed in the two groups, and the clinical effect of the two groups were compared after 3 months of treatment. RESULTS: Finally, 44 cases in the observation group and 43 cases in the control group completed the study. The effective rate in the observation group was 88.6% (39/44), which was higher than 55.8% (24/43) in the control group (<0.01). Compared before treatment, the MASI scores after treatment were reduced in the two groups (<0.01, <0.05), the MASI score in follow-up in the observation group was reduced as compared with after treatment (<0.01), and the MASI scores after treatment and in follow-up in the observation group were lower than the control group (<0.01). Compared before treatment, the levels of FSH and LH in follow-up were reduced (<0.01), there was no significant difference between before treatment and in follow-up in the level of E in the observation group (>0.05). There was no significant difference between before treatment and in follow-up in the levels of FSH, LH and E in the control group (>0.05). In follow-up, the levels of FSH and LH in the observation group were lower than the control group (<0.01, <0.05), there was no significant difference in the level of E between the two groups (>0.05). CONCLUSION Acupoint catgut embedding can improve the clinical symptoms of chloasma in premenopausal women with liver stagnation, the mechanism may be related to regulate the serum level of sex hormone to reduce high sensitivity of melanocytes to estrogen.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Catgut ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; Melanosis ; therapy ; Qi

Glyphosate is widely used in agricultural production as an efficient herbicide.At the same time,the residual problems of glyphosate and its potential harm are gradually attracting people′s close attention.In recent years,glyphosate residue detection method has become a research hotspot,fluorescence immunoassay,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunosensor are developed rapidly by sensitive,specific and fast characteristics.This paper reviews the immunoassay techniques of glyphosate residue and provides a reference for the rapid detection of glyphosate residue.

AIM:To analyze the imageological changes of acute and chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) by 2 types of optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS:A retrospective analysis was performed, inclu-ding data of 60 eyes from 56 patients with CSC diagnosed by conventional eye examination, fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), which were divided into acute group (28 eyes of 28 patients) and chronic group (32 eyes of 28 patients) according to imageological examinations and duration (6 months). Optical coher-ence tomography angiography (OCTA) and spectral domain optical coherence tomography ( SD-OCT) were performed to study the vessel density of the chorioretinal leyers and the integrity of the outer retinal structure. RESULTS:In the pa-tients with chronic CSC, OCTA in 4 eyes ( 12.50% ) revealed the presence of a distinct choroidal neovascularization (CNV), while no evidence of CNV in ICGA was observed. However, no sign of CNV in acute CSC group both on OCTA and ICGA was found. The occurrence of 'dark areas' in chronic CSC was much higher than that in acute CSC ( P <0.01). In addition, the integrity of the outer retinal structure (defined as tissue between external limiting membrane and retinal pigment epithelium) in acute group was significantly better than that in chronic group ( P <0.01). CONCLU-SION:Our study demonstrates the existing secondary CNV that is not demonstrated by ICGA in the chronic CSC patients, and the different characteristics of retinochoroid structures between acute and chronic CSC in OCTA and SD-OCT are ob- served. Chronic CSC has more severe structural changes.

Objective The mechanism of luteal phase defect remains unclear. To investigate the mechanism of BuShen ZhuYun Decoction on the gonadotropin secretion in the pituitary gland, we observed the effects of medicated serum of BuShen ZhuYun Decotion on the secretion of gonadotropin-follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteotropic hormone (LH) in rat pituitary cells.Methods The BuShen ZhuYun Decotion was administered to the female SD rats by gavage to prepare the serum containing BuShen ZhuYun Decoction. The CCK-8 method was used to detect the effect of cetrorelix acetate powder for injection, medicated serum and gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) on cell activity. In the maximum non-toxic concentration, we used cetrorelix acetate powder for injection to block the GnRH receptor (GnRHR) in pituitary cells and established the GnRHR antagonistic model. Then we treat the model group with medicated serum (model group). Moreover, we established the blank group (normal pituitary cells), the cetrorelix group (intervented with cetrorelix for 6 hours), and medicated serum group (intervented with medicated serum for 24 hours). 20nmol/L GnRH was used to stimulate cells for 6h. The contents of FSH and LH in the supernatant of each group and the mRNA expression of FSHβ, LHβ and GnRHR were detected.Results Compared with that of the blank group, the supernatant levels of FSH and LH in the Cetrorelix group decreased significantly \[(3.91±0.36) mIU/mL vs (2.26±0.22) mIU/mL, (8.94±0.57) mIU/mL vs (3.35±0.59) mIU/mL, P<0.05)\]. In contrast, the levels of LH significantly increased \[(8.94±0.57) mIU/mL vs (10.79±0.60) mIU/mL, P<0.05)\]; Compared with the cetrorelix group, the levels of FSH and LH in both medicated serum group and model group increased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, the mRNA level of FSH and LH in the cetrorelix group decreased significantly \[(0.95±0.23) mIU/mL vs (0.58±0.12) mIU/mL, (0.98±0.14) mIU/mL vs (0.27±0.21) mIU/mL, P<0.01) \], and the mRNA expression of GnRHR increased in the cetrorelix group \[(0.97±0.13) mIU/mL vs (1.77±0.26) mIU/mL, P<0.01) \]; The mRNA levels of FSH and LH in the medicated serum group were increased (P<0.05). Compared with the cetrorelix group, the mRNA expression of FSHβ mRNA and LHβ were both increased in the medicated serum group and model group (P<0.05), the mRNA expression of GnRHR decreased (P<0.01).Conclusion It is suggested that the therapeutic mechanism of BuShen ZhuYun Decotion may be related to the improvement of GnRH receptor expression.

Objective In vitro isolation of adenohypophyseal mainly includes enzymatic digestion and mechanical methods.But there is no relevant report about which method is better.In this paper,several mainstream methods of the vitro isolation of adenohypophysis cells in rats are compared and the identification of gonadotropin secretory cells is carried out to figure out which preparation method is more convenient and efficient.Methods 48 mature female SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:trypsin group (0.25％ trypsin EDTA digestion),Ⅳ-type collagen enzyme group (Ⅳ type collagen enzyme digestion),mechanical separation group (200 mesh cell sieves grinding) and trypsin digestion plus mechanical separation group (0.25％ trypsin EDTA digestion plus 200 mesh cell sieves grinding).12 rats in each group.The effect of these 4 methods was evaluated.Secondly,the primary cells of each group were cultured.We dynamically observed the vitro growth of cells in each group.Finally,the cells were identified by using the immunocytochemi-cal staining technique Results Compared with the mechanical separation group and-ⅣV type collagen enzyme group [(90.2 ± 0.96) ％,(93.32± 1.77)％],Cell viability of trypsin group and trypsin digestion plus mechanical separation group was elevated [(94.11 ± 1.71) ％,(94.92± 1.92) ％] (P＜0.05).Morphological observation:The pituitary ceils prepared by each methods were all round with strong refraction and clear edges and began to partly adhere to the wall after cultured for 16-24 hours.Then most of the cells adhered to wall after 48-72 hours,while the early glandular ceils were still round.But the volume was smaller than before.Also,a small amount of large cells were scattered among them.7 days later,the cells began to become polygonal or spindle shaped and were connected to pieces.Till around 10 days,the fibrosis gradually became obvious;Immunocytochemical staining:It is indicated that FSH positive cells were larger in volume while less in number and scattered in the cytoplasm.And the positive products,showing blue,were located in the cytoplasm;The Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the supematant of cells and confirmed that the cells in vitro still had hormone secretion functions.Conclusion Compared with the single cell preparation method,the trypsin digestion plus mechanical separation method has certain advantages;The anterior pituitary cells vitro cultured are in good health conditions and still have secrete functions.They are tested to be competent for related scientific experiments.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of abdominal acupuncture for adhesion-stage shoulder periarthritis.

METHODSOne hundred and fifty-seven cases of shoulder periarthritis were randomly divided into an abdominal acupuncture group (79 cases) and a body acupuncture group (78 cases). The abdominal acupuncture was applied at Zhongwan (CV 12), Shangqu (KI 17) and Huaroumen (ST 24) in the abdominal acupuncture group while conventional acupuncture was applied at Jianyu (LI 15), Jianliao (TE 14) and Jianzhen (SI 9) in the body acupuncture group. The treatment was given three times a week for both groups and ten times made an observation course. Before and after treatment, visual analogue scale (VAS) was adopted for pain assessment and functional activity score (Mallet score) was used for shoulder joint function assessment for all the patients. Also the efficacy of both groups was compared.

RESULTSThe total effective rate in the abdominal acupuncture group was 92.4% (73/79), which was superior to 71.8% (56/78) in the body acupuncture group. The score of VAS after the treatment was 2.58 +/- 1.64 in the abdominal acupuncture group while 3.12 +/- 1.93 in the body acupuncture group, which had no statistical significance between each other (P > 0.05). The functional activity score after the treatment was 8.34 +/- 3.02 in the abdominal acupuncture group while 7.49 +/- 3.36 in the body acupuncture group, which had no statistical significance between each other (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe abdominal acupuncture is an ideal treatment for adhesion-stage shoulder periarthritis, which has better total efficacy than conventional acupuncture. It achieves the same effect in relieving pain and improving functional activity as conventional acupuncture, but also has an advantage at fast selection of acupoint and less discomfort of needling sensation.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Periarthritis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Shoulder ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVEType 2 diabetes has been recently recognized as an important risk factor for cognitive decline of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). But the roles of hyperinsulinemia (HI) and insulin resistance (IR) in the development of AD are still controversial. This study was designed to evaluate whether HI or IR influenced the cognitive functions of older cohort.

METHODSThe cognitive functions of 328 consecutive elderly patients were evaluated with a battery of cognitive rating scales. Their fasting blood glucose (FBG) and fasting insulin (FINS) were analyzed and IR was calculated with modified-Homa. The cognitive scores in different groups and the correlation of cognitive functions with HI or IR were analyzed.

RESULTSIn our study, there were 180 participants with HI and 148 without HI, and 192 with IR and 136 without IR. The participants with HI showed worse cognitive functions than those without HI in MMSE, MOCA, CDR, orientation, delayed memory, and attention/calculation domains. Similarly, the elderly with IR had lower cognitive scores than those without IR in MMSE, MOCA, CDR, GDS, orientation, delayed memory, and attention/calculation domains. The insulin levels and Homa IR had negative correlation with the scores of MMSE and delayed memory, not only in the model 1 adjusted for FBG and diabetes history, but also in the model 2 adjusted for all nine demographic characteristics.

CONCLUSIONHI and IR are important risk factors for cognitive decline of the elderly, especially for the dysfunctions in delayed memory domains.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cognition ; Cognition Disorders ; blood ; etiology ; Female ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Hyperinsulinism ; blood ; complications ; psychology ; Insulin ; blood ; Insulin Resistance ; Male