ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of yang-supplementing fire moxibustion in treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in stable stage. Method Totally 120 COPD patients of yang deficiency type in stable stage were divided into 3 groups by the random number table, a yang-supplementing fire moxibustion group (yang-supplementing group), a dry mild moxibustion group (mild moxibustion group), and a regular Western medication group (regular group), 40 cases in each group, and 30-day treatment was taken as a course. They were treated and observed for a course, followed by a 3-month follow-up study. The pulmonary function indexes, yang-deficiency signs, quality of life, and comprehensive therapeutic efficacy were observed in the three groups. Result After treatment, the pulmonary function indexes, yang deficiency signs, quality of life, and comprehensive therapeutic efficacy were significantly improved in the three groups (P<0.01); the percent of predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1%) and yang deficiency signs were significantly improved after intervention in the mild moxibustion group (P<0.05); meanwhile, the quality of life was also significantly improved after intervention in the mild moxibustion group and regular group (P<0.01); the therapeutic efficacy of the yang-supplementing group was better than that of the mild moxibustion group and regular group, and the efficacy of the mild moxibustion group was better than that of the regular group. Conclusion Yang-supplementing fire moxibustion can improve the pulmonary function, postpone the progressive decrease of pulmonary function, significantly improve the yang deficiency constitution, enhance the quality of life and comprehensive therapeutic efficacy in treating yang-deficient COPD patients in stable stage.
ABSTRACT
To investigate the neurotoxic effect of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gp120 on cultured dorsal root ganglion (DRG)neurons in vitro, dissociated and organotypic mouse embryo's DRG cell culture models were established. Both dissociated and organotypic DRG cultures were treated with HIV gp120 in different concentration (250 pmol/L and 1 nmol/L, respectively, 2 times/7 days). For dissociated DRG cultural cells, microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) immunofluorescent labeling was processed for observing the changes of neuronal cell body and neurites. The change of the ultrastructure in the organotypic cultured DRG was observed by electron microscopy.The difference of the number and length of neurites between the control group and HIV gp120 treated groups were significant (P＜0.001),whereas there was no significant difference in the diameter of neurons between them (P＞0.05). The ultrastructural changes included the decrease or loss of cristae in mitochondria and accumulation of many high densed particles between the microtubules and the neurofilaments by using both the concentrations of HIV gp120 treatment. The present results indicate that HIV gp120 had a directly neurotoxic effect on the cultured DRG neurons, especially more sensitive to mitochondria.
ABSTRACT
10 ?mol?L -1) increased the binding sites of [ 125I] ?-Bgt significantly (P0.05).Conclusion Chronic treatment of choline, nicotine or methyllycaconitine can upregulate the nicotinic ? 7 receptors at certain doses. The effect of choline on upregulation of ? 7 receptors is different from that of nicotine.
ABSTRACT
Eight adult rats were used in this study. Carbon particles injected into the cortex of cerebellum were found in tho Virchow-Robin space of the adjacent capillaries, and in the adventitia of cerebellar artery, basillar artery and intra-and extraeranial segments of vertebral artery. They were also present in some deep cervical lymph nodes. These findings suggest that the prelymphatic pathway may exist in the brain in the adventitia of supplying arteries.