ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture-moxibustion plus Zhi Ge Tong Mai granules on the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score, level of homocysteine (Hcy) and nerve conduction in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Method Ninety DPN patients were enrolled and randomized into a control group and an observation group. The control group only received Zhi Ge Tong Mai granules, and the observation group was intervened by acupuncture-moxibustion plus Zhi Ge Tong Mai granules. The clinical efficacy, TCM syndrome score, and levels of Hcy, nerve growth factor (NGF), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and nerve conduction function were observed for the two groups. Result The observation group had a higher total effective rate than the control group (P<0.05); the TCM syndrome score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group after treatment (P<0.05); the levels of Hcy and VEGF in the observation group were lower than those in the control group, and the levels of NGF and IGF-1 in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05); after treatment, the motor and sensory conduction velocities of both left and right tibial nerves in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture-moxibustion plus Zhi Ge Tong Mai granules can boost the clinical efficacy, and improve the TCM syndrome score, and the levels of factors such as Hcy and VEGF in patients with DPN.It can produce better efficacy than Zhi Ge Tong Mai granules alone.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the therapeutic effect of baicalin at different doses administered for different periods of time in the treatment of renal interstitial fibrosis in rats with unliateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and related mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham-operation, model, low-dose baicalin, and high-dose baicalin groups, and each group was further randomly divided into 7-day and 14-day groups (n=8 each). Left ureteral ligation was used to establish the rat model of UUO. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe the pathological changes in the kidney. ELISA was used to measure the serum levels of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), Notch1, and Jagged1. Immunohistochemistry was used to measure the expression of TGF-β1 and Notch1. The Pearson correlation analysis was used for correlation analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed inflammatory cell infiltration and edema in renal interstitium, tubular dilation and structure disorder, degeneration and necrosis of renal tubular epithelial cells, and a basically normal structure of the glomeruli on days 7 and 14 in the model group, and these lesions were alleviated in the low- and high-dose baicalin groups. Compared with the sham-operation group, the model group had a significantly higher serum level of TGF-β1 and a significantly higher number of TGF-β1-positive cells in renal tissues on days 7 and 14 (P<0.05). Compared with the model group at the same time points, the high- and low-dose baicalin groups had a significantly lower serum level of TGF-β1 and a significantly lower number of TGF-β1-positive cells in renal tissues on days 7 and 14 (P<0.05). The serum level of Jagged1 showed no significant differences between any two groups on days 7 and 14 (P>0.05). The serum level of TGF-β1 was positively correlated with that of Notch1 (r=0.650, P<0.01), and the serum level of Notch1 was positively correlated with that of Jagged1 (r=0.727, P<0.01). TGF-β1 level in renal tissues was also positively correlated with the number of Notch1-positive cells (r=0.743, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Baicalin can alleviate renal interstitial fibrosis in UUO rats, probably by inhibiting Notch1 signaling pathway and the expression of TGF-β1.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , Fibrosis , Flavonoids , Therapeutic Uses , Immunohistochemistry , Kidney , Pathology , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Receptor, Notch1 , Transforming Growth Factor beta1 , Ureteral Obstruction , PathologyABSTRACT
Objective To observe the expressions of bone morphogenetic protein-2(BMP-2)and bone morphogenetie protein-7(BMP-7)in the synovial tissue of fluorosis rats and its correlation with pathogenic mechanism of fluorosis arthritis.Methods Thirty-two SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:the control group,low,moderate and high-dose fluoride group.The control group ate commou fodder.The low,moderate and high dose fluoride group were fed with fodder composed of 25%.35%and 68%of corn(containing fluorine of 148.00 mg/kg)in chronic endemic fluorosis region in Guizhou Province.After 140 days,the expressions of BMP-2 and BMP-7 protein were determined by immunohistochemistry and assayed the absorbanee by computer image-pattern analysis system.Light microscope was used to observe the synovial tissue by Hematoxin Eosin,and calculated the pathological integral of synovium according to pathological grade standard.Results The expressions of BMP-2 (32.50±2.73)and BMP-7(38.90±2.56)in the control group was spare.Compared with the control group,the expressions of BMP-2(59.43±5.12,79.82±6.41,101.76±7.56)and BMP-7(55.10±4.82,78.42±5.61,98.46± 6.05)in the synovial tissue was up-regulated in each experimental groups(P＜0.05),especially in the moderate dose and the high-dose groups(P＜0.05).Compared with the control group(0.54±0.21).the pathological integral of synovium increased(P＜0.05)in each experimental groups(1.04±0.98,4.69±1.28,8.60±2.07).The expressions of BMP-2 and BMP-7 in the synovial tissue was found to be positively related with the pathological integral of synovium(r=0.98,0.99,P＜0.05).Conclusion The BMP-2 and BMP-7 play an important role in the development of fluorosis arthritis,probably by affecting osteogenesis.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of retinal injury induced by hyperoxia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty immature Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats born at a gestational age of 21 days, were randomly exposed to room air (air group, n=30) or 95% oxygen (hyperoxia group, n=30) immediately after birth. Plasma 8-iso-prostaglandin F2alpha (8-iso-PGF2alpha) levels were determined by ELISA. The ultrastructures of the retina were observed under a transmission electron microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The plasma 8-iso-PGF2alpha contents of the air group were 19.09 +/-5.57, 18.24+/-5.91 and 17.00 +/- 5.58 pg/mL on the 3rd, 7th and 14th days after birth, respectively (F=1.024, P> 0.05). The plasma 8-iso-PGF2 contents in the hyperoxia group on the 3rd (28.33 +/- 5.59 pg/mL), the 7th day (51.20 +/- 15.01 pg/mL) and 14th day (84.54 +/- 14.85 pg/mL) after birth were significantly higher than those of the air group (t=2.863, P< 0.05; t=5.073, P< 0.01; t=11.006, P< 0.01). Moreover, the plasma 8-iso-PGF2 contents in the hyperoxia group increased with the prolonged hyperoxia exposure (F=150.7, P < 0.01). The ultrastructures of retina in the air group were normal. Hyperoxia exposure resulted in abnormalities of the ultrastructures of retina, manifesting as the membrane discs rarefied, twisted and disrupted and mitochondrial swelling.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Oxidative stress can results in retinal injury in immature rats. An increased plasma level of 8-iso-PGF2alpha is related to the injury degree of retina.</p>