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Objective To study the safe dose of Ginseng (Radix et Rhizoma Ginseng) through analysis of literature from Tang dynasty (618 AD) to Republic period(1949 AD).Methods The selection strategy for literature and prescriptions was made to acquire the formulae in need.The authoritative prescription-books from Tang Dynasty to Republic period,or representative books of the renowned doctors who was good at using Ginseng in that period were chosen.From the books above mentioned,prescriptions with Ginseng to tranquilize mind were included,in which insomnia and/or dreaminess were recorded as symptoms or clinical applications.Prescriptions without definite dose or only with dose for children were excluded.All herbal names were standardized according to current TCM terms.Then the maximum,minimum,frequency and 80％ confidence interval of dose were studied.The dose range of Ginseng in deferent dosage form was discussed according to above data.Results Fourteen classical TCM books were included,from which 85 formulae were studied.In the form of root slices decoction,the applied daily dose of Ginseng ranged from 3.73 g to 18.65 g,while in the formulae with symptom of dreaminess,the dose ranged from 7.46 g to 11.19g.In the form of root powder decoction,the single dose range was 0.07 g to 5.16 g,while in the formulae with symptom of dreaminess,the dose range was 1.03 g to 4.45 g.In the form of pill or powder,the single dose range was 0.68 g to 6.54 g,and 12％ to 30％ in total dose of the prescription.Conclusion For the root slices decoction,the favorable dose range of Ginseng is between 7 g and 11 g,but not more than 18.00 g per day.For the root power decoction,the favorable dose range is from 1 g to 4.00 g,and the maximum single dose is 5.00 g.For pill or powder form,the maximum dose is 6.00 g,taking 12％ to 30％ in total prescription.
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<p><b>Background</b>Research on the changes to knee structures in asymptomatic amateur ice hockey players (AAIHPs) has been limited. We aimed to assess the performance of the knees in AAIHPs using 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).</p><p><b>Methods</b>A total of 71 asymptomatic knees (32 AAIHPs and 39 age- and sex-matched controls) were imaged using a 3.0-T MRI scanner at the Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University in April 2017. Two experienced musculoskeletal radiologists were blinded to assess all MRI findings, including bursae around the knee, bone marrow edema (BME), meniscal signal changes, and articular cartilage and ligament damage. Any disagreements were resolved by a third professor of musculoskeletal radiology. Categorical variables were compared using the Chi-square test and continuous variables using the Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U-test.</p><p><b>Results</b>The most common finding was fluid-filled bursae surrounding the knee. In the AAIHP group, which totaled 32 knees and 416 bursae, 155 (37%) fluid-filled bursae were present. In the control group, there were a total of 39 knees and 507 bursae, and 91 (18%) fluid-filled bursae were present. There was a significant difference in the number of fluid-filled bursae between the two groups (P < 0.05). However, in AAIHPs, the prevalence of meniscal signal changes (16 knees, 50%) was higher than in the control group (2 knees, 5%; P < 0.001). Importantly, 15 of the 19 were grade II signals. Other changes were only found in AAIHPs. Articular cartilage lesions were detected in 47% of their knees, predominantly at the patellofemoral joint, and BME was found in 34% of their knees.</p><p><b>Conclusion</b>The MRI findings of knees in AAIHPs mainly manifested as self-protection reaction, and proper ice hockey exercise could be advocated.</p>
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Adolescent , Adult , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Young Adult , Case-Control Studies , Knee Joint , Diagnostic Imaging , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Methods , Meniscus , Diagnostic ImagingABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical application, feasibility and value of 3 T whole-heart contrast enhanced free-breathing navigator-gated three-dimensional coronary magnetic resonance angiography (CE-CMRA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>3 T CE-CMRA was used to examine patients with suspected coronary heart disease (CAD). Gd-BOPTA (0.2 mmol/kg) was injected intravenously with slow infusion rate (0.3 ml/s) to perform enhancement. Data were post-processed to obtain principal branches of coronary artery and picture quality was evaluated. According to results of selective coronary arteriography (SCAG), the diagnostic accuracy of CE-CMRA for diagnosing CAD was judged by means of detecting significant stenosis (> 50%) of the principal branches based on the 9 segments of coronary artery.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twenty-three out of 26 patients successfully completed the examination. The mean scanning time was (10.4 ± 2.1) minutes, 178 out of 202 (88.1%) SCAG demonstrated segments could be evaluated by CE-CMRA. The imaging quality was superior in proximal and middle segments of coronary artery principal branches than in distal segments. Based on patient-level, there were 9 positive cases and 14 negative cases examined by CE-CMRA compared with 11 positive cases and 12 negative cases examined by SCAG, respectively. The whole diagnose accordance rate of CE-CMRA was 91.3% (21/23) compared with SCAG. The sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive values were 81.8% (9/11), 88.5% (169/191) and 98.8% (9/31) respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>3 T CE-CMRA is a feasible non-invasive imaging modality for diagnosing CAD, especially to detect significant stenosis in proximal and middle segments of coronary artery principal branches. However, the detecting efficacy is limited in assessing stenosis of distal segment and small branches of coronary artery.</p>
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Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Coronary Angiography , Methods , Coronary Vessels , Pathology , Heart , Diagnostic Imaging , Imaging, Three-Dimensional , Magnetic Resonance Angiography , MethodsABSTRACT
This study was aimed to explore a novel potential gene target for therapy of malignant tumor. The recombinant expression plasmids of VEGF/VEGFR-2 were designed, constructed and then transfected into A549 cells by using lipofectamine. The expressions of VEGF/VEGFR-2 mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively. The cell proliferation was assayed by CCK-8 and the cell apoptosis was detected using Hoechst Staining. The results indicated that as compared with the blank control, pGenesil-1 and scramble groups, the interference effect of pGenesil-1-vegfr-2-shRNA-1 vector group was more obvious. As the expression of endogenous vegfr-2 mRNA decreased, the expression of VEGFR-2 protein decreased correspondingly. The proliferation of A549 cells was inhibited significantly by RNAi at 72 hours (p<0.01). The apoptosis of A549 cells was induced at 48 hours after being transfected with pGenesil-1-vegfr-2-shRNA-1 and the typical apoptosis morphology could be seen by fluorescence microscopy. It is concluded that the expression of vegfr-2 gene is inhibited effectively by vegfr-2 specific shRNA. The proliferation of A549 cells is inhibited significantly and the apoptosis of cells is induced. This result showed that VEGF/VEGFR-2 signaling pathway can be an effective target for the prevention and treatment of malignant tumor.
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Humans , Apoptosis , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation , Gene Expression , Genetic Vectors , Plasmids , RNA Interference , RNA, Small Interfering , Genetics , Transfection , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 , GeneticsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Focal cerebral ischemia model in rats should be established under drugged state by surgery operation, but anaesthetic drug may influence the outcome of focal cerebral ischemia.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of ketamine anesthesia on the pathological outcome of focal cerebral ischemia model in rats, and perform control with pentobarbital.DESIGN: Randomized controlled animal experiment.SETTING: Center of Experimental Animal and Department of Pathology of Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University.MATERIALS: The experiment was performed in the Center of Experimental Animal and Department of Pathology of Second Affiliated Hospital,School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University from May 2004 to March 2005. Thirty male SD rats were randomly assigned into pentobarbital group and ketamine group with 15 rats in each group.METHODS: The rats in the pentobarbital group and ketamine group were subjected to 40 mg/kg pentobarbital and 60 mg/kg ketamine by abdominal anaesthesia, respectively. The permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was performed in rats by thread embolism in cavity in order to induce cerebral ischemia after abolition of righting reflex.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①A modified Bederson's scoring system was adopted to determine the neurological functional deficit at hour 4 after the MCAO. ②Five rats from each group were selected at hour 24 after MCAO. They were killed and their brain was stained with 20 g/L 2,-3,-5-triphenyltetrazolium hydrochloride (TTC). The infarct volume was determined. ③ MCAO was performed for 72 hours and mortality rate of two groups were recorded. Four rats in each group were re-anesthetized. They were killed and their brain was gained. Survival neurons were detected with toluidine blue staining.RESULTS: Totally 30 rats were involved in the result analysis. ①There was no significant difference in neurological score 4 hours after MCAO between pentobarbital group and ketamine group (1.46±0.98,1.38±0.68 ,P＞0.05). ②The infarct volume in the ketamine group was less than that in the pentobarbital group at hour 24 after MCAO [(28.1±4.11)%,37.8±4.95]%, P＜0.05]. ③The mortality rate 72 hours after ischemia was not significantly different between pentobarbital group and ketamine group (42% vs 33%,P＞0.05). But neuron density in penumbra in the ketamine group was higher than that in the pentobarbital group [(836±15),(740±24) numbers/mm2, P＜0.05].CONCLUSION: ①The ketamine anesthesia induces minor brain injury in setting of the focal cerebral ischemia model in rats. ②When neuroprotective effects of procedures or drugs being studied are evaluated in this focal cerebral ischemia model, they might provide no additional advantage to cerebral ischemia.
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Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) is one of the best characterized angiogenic regulators which has many effects in promoting endotheliocyte proliferation and differentiation,increasing the microvascular permeability,inducing the angiogenesis,triggering the growth,survival and migration of tumor cells by combining its specificity receptor (VEGFR).Dysregulation of VEGF expression and signaling pathways therefore plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis and clinical features of hematologic malignancies,direct and indirect targeting of VEGF and its receptors therefore may provide a potent novel therapeutic approach to overcome bone marrow angiogenesis and multidrug resis-tance thereby improve patient outcome.Recent years,a novel VEGF blockade system using RNA interference attracts more and more people's attention.The small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting VEGF/VEGFR can completely inhibits the expression of VEGF and induce the silence of corresponding genes.
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Objective To investigate the effects of ketamine on the expression of NMDA receptor-1(NRⅠ)in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia and the possible mechanism of the neuroprotection.Methods Forty healthy male SD rats weighing 250-290g were randomly divided into 2 group(n=20 each):groupⅠketamine and groupⅡpentobarbital.The aminals were anesthetized with intraperitoneal ketamine 60 mg?kg~(-1) in groupⅠor pentobarbital 40 mg?kg~(-1) in groupⅡ.Focal cerebral ischemia was produced by permanent middle cerebral artery occludion(MCAO).The animals were killed at 24 h and 72 h of MCAO and their brains removed for determination of infarct size,the number of living neurons in the penumbra and the expression of NRⅠprotein(immuno- histochemistry).Results The infarct size was significantly smaller;the number of living neurons in penumbra significantly larger and NRⅠexpression significantly down-regulated in ketamine group than in pentobarbital group.Conclusion Ketamine can protect the brain against ischemia through downregulation of NMDA receptor-1.