Research on syndrome distribution features, etiologies, and pathogeneses of Japanese encephalitis / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore Chinese medical syndrome distribution features of Japanese encephalitis (JE), and to analyze its correlation between syndromes and features of etiologies and pathogeneses.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Recruited were 277 patients with confirmative diagnosis of JE from Wuhan Medical Treatment Center, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University, Fifth People's Hospital of Guiyang City, Hangzhou Sixth People's Hospital, and Chengdu Hospital of Infectious Diseases between July to September 2012. Chinese medical syndrome distribution features were summarized from their general materials and detailed records of clinical data, including medical history, symptoms and signs, tongue fur, and pulse figures.The frequency of symptoms and signs was calculated according to mild, ordinary, severe, extreme severe degrees. The distribution of Chinese medical syndromes was summarized. And its correlation between syndromes and features of etiologies and pathogeneses were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After clustering analysis, Chinese medical syndromes of JE could be categorized as four groups: toxicity accumulation in Fei and Wei syndrome (TAFWS), brain collateral impaired by poison syndrome (BCIPS), depression of toxicity in the pericardium syndrome (DTPS), exhaustion of yin and yang syndrome (EYYS). BCIPS and DTPS were dominated, accounting for 74.0% (205 cases). The main causes covered evil of summer heat [accounting for 92.42% (256/277 cases)], heat [accounting for 87.73% (243/277 cases)], and toxin [accounting for 99.64% (276/277 cases)].</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The four Chinese medical syndrome types of JE met Chinese medical clinical features of encephalitis. It is induced by infestation of dampness-heat, resulting in toxicity accumulation in Fei and Wei, brain collateral impaired by poison, depression of toxicity in the pericardium. Yin fluid and blood is exhausted as time goes by. Qi and yin are impaired to form intermingled deficiency and excess, and finally causing exhaustion of yin and yang.</p>

Treatment of ulcerative colitis with spleen and kidney yang deficiency by kuijiening plaster: a randomized controlled study / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the clinical efficacy of ulcerative colitis with spleen and kidney yang deficiency by kuijiening plaster and the impacts on IFN-gamma and IL-4 contents, as well as make the comparison with oral medication of sulfasalzine (SASP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty patients of ulcerative colitis with spleen and kidney yang deficiency were randomized into a Kuijiening plaster group, a SASP group and a combined therapy group, 20 cases in each one. In the Kuijiening plaster group, Kuijiening plaster and oral administration of placebo SASP were applied. The plaster was used at Shangjuxu (ST 37), Tianshu (ST 25), Zusanli (ST 36), Mingmen (GV 4) and Guanyuan (CV 4). In the SASP group, was applied Kuijiening plaster placebo at the points and SASP oral administration was adopted. In the combined therapy group, Kuijiening plaster and SASP oral administration were given. The duration of treatment was 60 days. The follow-up visit was 2 months after treatment. The comprehensive efficacy, the efficacy on TCM syndrome and the changes in serum IFN-gamma and IL-4 before and after treatment were compared among the three groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The efficacy on TCM syndrome in the Kuijiening plaster was similar to the SASP group [85.0% (17/20) vs 75.0% (15/20), P > 0.05]. The efficacy on TCM syndrome in the Kuijiening plaster group was superior to the western medicine group [80.0% (16/20) vs 60.0% (12/20), P < 0.05]. The total effective rate of the comprehensive efficacy in the combined therapy group was 95.0% (19/20) and that of TCM syndrome efficacy was 90.0% (18/20), which were all superior to the other two groups (all P < 0.05). The differences in serum IFN-gamma and IL-4 were statistically significant before and after treatment in all of the three groups (all P < 0.05). The treatments in the three groups reduced serum IFN-gamma content and increased serum IL-4 content. The results in the Kuijiening plaster group were superior to the SASP group (P < 0.05) and the results in the combined therapy group were superior to the other two groups (all P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Kuijiening plaster is effective in the treatment of ulcerative colitis of spleen and kidney yang deficiency, which is not inferior to that of SASP. The efficacy of kuijiening plaster on relieving TCM syndrome and improving body immunity is much superior to SASP. The effect is much better with SASP combined in the treatment.</p>

Quercetin modulates activities of Taiwan cobra phospholipase A2 via its effects on membrane structure and membrane-bound mode of phospholipase A2.

The goal of the present study is to elucidate the mechanism of quercetin on modulating Naja naja atra phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activities. Sphingomyelin inhibited PLA2 enzymatic activity and membrane-damaging activity against egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (EYPC), while cholesterol and quercetin abrogated the sphingomeyelin inhibitory effect. Quercetin incorporation led to a reduction in PLA2 enzymatic activity and membrane-damaging activity toward EYPC/sphingomyelin/cholesterol vesicles. Both cholesterol and quercetin increased detergent resistance and reduced membrane fluidity of EYPC/sphingomyelin vesicles. Quercetin reduced detergent insolubility but increased ordered lipid packing of EYPC/sphingomyelin/cholesterol vesicles. Acrylamide quenching studies and trinitrophenylation of Lys residues revealed that quercetin altered the membrane-bound mode of PLA2 differently upon absorption onto the membrane bilayers of different lipid compositions. However, 8-anilinonaphthalene sulphonate-binding assay revealed that quercetin marginally affected the interaction between active site of PLA2 with phospholipid vesicles. Collectively, our data indicate that membrane-inserted quercetin modulates PLA2 interfacial activity and membrane-damaging activity via its effects on membrane structure and membrane-bound mode of PLA2.

Expression of TGF?_1 and CTGF mRNA in Liver of Rats with Nonalcoholic Fatty Hepatic Fibrosis Induced by Highly Fat-enriched Diet / 医学研究杂志

Objective To reveal the expression and potential mechanisms of TGF?_1 and CTGF mRNA in liver of rats with nonalcoholic fatty hepatic fibrosis induced by highly fat-enriched diet.Methods The model group(10 rats) was fed with highly fat-enriched diet while the normal control group(10 rats) was raised by standard animal feeds for 24 weeks.Hepatic histopathological changes were evaluated,and RT-PCR method was used to assay TGF?_1 and CTGF mRNA expression levels in the liver.Results The analysis indicated that liver inflammation and fibrosis were apparently present in model rats.RT-PCR analysis revealed that the expression of TGF?_1 and CTGF in hepatic tissue were inreased in the model group as compared with the normal control group.Conclusions The rats model for hepatic fibrosis can be established by feeding with highly fat-enriched diet for 24 weeks.The expression of TGF?_1 and CTGF were enhanced in hepatic liver tissue of fatty hepatic fibrosis rats,and these changes might stimulate the fatty fibrosis.