The molecular mechanism of interaction of trivalent dimethylarsinous acid (DMA(III)) binding to rat hemoglobin / 药学学报

In our previous work, we found that trivalent dimethylarsinous acid (DMA(III)) have high affinity binding to cysteine residue 13 of rat hemoglobin. However, it is still unknown why arsenic intermediate metabolite DMA(III) has high binding affinity for Cysl3 but not for other cysteine residues 93, 140, 111 and 125. In order to better understand the molecular mechanism of DMA(III) with rat hemoglobin, we have done current study. So, SD rats were divided into control and arsenic-treated groups randomly. Arsenic species in lysate of red blood cells were analyzed by HPLC-ICP-MS, and then determined by a hybrid quadrupole TOF MS. In addition, trivalent DMA(III) binds to different cysteine residues in rat hemoglobin alpha and beta chains were also simulated by Molecular Docking. Only Cys13 in alpha chain is able to bind to DMA(III) from the experiment results. Cys13 of alpha chain in rat hemoglobin is a specific binding site for DMA(III), and we found that amino acids compose pockets structure and surround Cys13 (but not other cysteine residues), make DMA(III) much easy to bind cysteine 13. Taken together, the DMA(III) specific binding to Cys13 is related to spatial structure of Cys13.

Treatment of hypomenorrhea by acupoint catgut embedding / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe therapeutic effect of acupoint catgut embedding on hypomenorrhea.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The patients were divided into an acupoint catgut embedding group and an electroacupuncture group. They were treated respectively by acupoint catgut embedding and electroacupuncture at Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Ciliao (BL 32) , etc. The effects of the two therapies on the menses amount in different therapeutic periods were compared and their therapeutic effects were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 100.0% in the acupoint catgut embedding group and 95.0% in the electroacupuncture group with no significant difference. One month and two months after treatment, the acupoint catgut embedding group in improving degree of the menses amount was better than the electroacupuncture group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both acupoint catgut embedding and electroacupuncture can effectively treat hypomenorrhea, but the former more rapidly produces the effect and has a better short-term therapeutic effect.</p>

Effect of Gengnianchun Recipe on bone mineral density, bone biomechanical parameters and serum lipid level in ovariectomized rats / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Gengnianchun Recipe (GNC) on bone mineral density (BMD), bone biomechanical parameters and serum lipid level in the bilaterally ovariectomized (OVX) rats and to explore the prophylactic and therapeutic action of GNC on ovariectomy induced osteoporosis and hyperlipidemia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>OVX SD rats, 10 - 12 months old, were divided into different groups and fed with GNC 2 g/d, GNC 1 g/d and Nilestriol 0.125 mg/week, respectively for 4 months to observe the change of BMD and bone biomechanical parameters of the lumbar vertebrae, and the serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and to compare the effect of the two drugs on the morphology of the uterus.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was marked reduction in BMD and biomechanical parameters in lumbar vertebrae (P < 0.01) and increase of serum TC and LDL-C levels (P < 0.01) in rats after OVX. GNC or Nilestriol significantly improved the decreased BMD and biomechanical parameters of the lumbar vertebrae (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and reduced the serum TC and LDL-C levels (P < 0.01). In the Nilestriol group, the wet weight of uterus got increased obviously (P < 0.01), the number of uterine glands increased, uterine columnar epithelium thickened, and the mitotic figures in the epithelial stroma and myointimal cells augmented. But no such effect in wet weight and morphology of uterus was found in the GNC group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GNC could increase the BMD and biomechanical parameters of the lumbar vertebrae, reduce the serum TC and LDL-C levels, yet produce no adverse reaction in stimulating proliferation and hypertrophy of uterus.</p>