Effect of Modified Cangfu Daotantang on Metabolism and Pregnancy in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To observe the effect of modified Cangfu Daotantang on metabolism and pregnancy in patients with spleen deficiency and phlegm-dampness type polycystic ovary syndrome （PCOS）. Method:One hundred and twelve patients were randomly divided into control group and observation group according to the random number table. Both groups took non-pharmacological interventions， oral metformin hydrochloride， 500mg/time， 3 times/day； oral ethinyl estradiol and cyproterone tablets， 1 tablet/time， 1 time/day， starting from the third to fifth day of menstruation and lasting for twenty-one days， for a total of 3 menstrual cycles. Patients in control group additionally took Erchen pills orally， 10 g/time， 2 times/day， while patients in observation group additionally took modified Cangfu Daotantang orally， 1 dose/day. The course of treatment was six menstrual cycles in both groups （or termination after conception）. The waist-to-hip ratio （WHR）， body mass index （BMI）， insulin resistance index （HOMA-IR）， pancreatic <italic>β</italic>-cell function （HOMA-<italic>β</italic>）， triglycerides （TG）， low-density lipoprotein （LDL） and non-high-density lipoprotein （nHDL） elevation after treatment were compared. The number of ovulation cycles monitored by B-ultrasound （6 menstrual cycles）， ovulation rate， human chorionic gonadotropin （HCG） day endometrial thickness， follicle diameter， cervical mucus score>8 points and endometrial morphology type A rate were measured and recorded. The recovery of menstruation， pregnancy and early miscarriage were recorded. Luteinizing hormone （LH）， estradiol （E₂）， follicle stimulating hormone （FSH）， dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate （DHEAS）， testosterone （T）， anti-Müllerian hormone （AMH） levels， and insulin before and after treatment -Like growth factor-1 （IGF-1）， leptin （LP）， adiponectin （APN）， growth differentiation factor-9 （GDF-9） and tumor necrosis factor-<italic>α</italic> （TNF-<italic>α</italic>） levels were detected. Result:WHR， BMI and HOMA-IR levels of the observation group were lower than those of the control group （<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01）. HOMA-<italic>β</italic> level was higher than that in the control group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. The increase rates of LDL， TG， and nHDL in the observation group were 19.61%（10/51），25.49%（13/51），23.53%（12/51）， respectively， lower than 41.18%（21/51），47.06%（24/51），45.10%（23/51）respectively in the control group （<italic>χ</italic>²=5.607， <italic>χ</italic>²=5.131， <italic>χ</italic>²=5.263， <italic>P</italic><0.05）. The menstrual recovery rate in the observation group was 90.20% （46/51）， higher than 72.55% （37/51） in the control group （<italic>χ</italic>²=5.239，<italic>P</italic><0.05）. The observation group had more ovulation cycles than the control group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. The pregnancy rate in the observation group was 50.98% （26/51）， higher than 31.37% （16/51） in the control group （<italic>χ</italic>²=4.047，<italic>P</italic><0.05）. On HCG day after treatment， the endometrial thickness and follicle diameter in the observation group were better than those in the control group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. The proportion of patients with cervical mucus score> 8 points was 78.43% （40/51） in the observation group， higher than 56.86% （29/51） in the control group （<italic>χ</italic>²=5.420，<italic>P</italic><0.05）. The intimal morphology type A rate in the observation group was 52.94% （27/51）， higher than 31.37% （16/51） in the control group （<italic>χ</italic>²=4.864，<italic>P</italic><0.05）. The levels of AMH， E₂， DHEAS， LH， T ， IGF-1， LP and TNF-<italic>α</italic> in the observation group were lower than those in the control group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， while the APN and GDF-9 levels were superior to those in the control group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Conclusion:On the basis of conventional western medicine intervention， modified Cangfu Daotantang can regulate abnormal metabolism and reproductive endocrine in patients with PCOS， improve conception， and regulate the expression of IGF-1， GDF-9， adipocytokines and inflammatory factors， improve ovulation and improve pregnancy rate.

Investigation on food safety related knowledge and behavior of employees in the farmer markets in Yangpu District of Shanghai / 上海预防医学

Objective To determine the potential sources of food safety risk and food safety related awareness of employees in the farmer markets in Yangpu District of Shanghai, and to provide evidence for food safety management. Methods The investigation on food safety and food-borne disease knowledge were conducted in 13 farmer markets in Yangpu District, and to assess the impact of employees′ behavior on food safety. Results A total of 368 employees in the 13 farmer markets were included in the study.Employees with high school education and above had better knowledge of food safety (P < 0.001).There was significant difference in the physical examination and habit of smoking in public places among the employees with different education levels.In addition, the employees in various positions in the markets differed significantly in the knowledge of food safety and behavior, such as taking physical examination, washing hands before meal and continuing working when feeling sick. Conclusion Food safety related risk in the farmer markets in Yangpu District mainly originates from the inadequate knowledge of the employees with low education levels, which further affects their behavior.Market management should strengthen the training of food safety related knowledge in the employees and advocate healthy behavior, such as taking physical examination and stop smoking, which contributes to creating a healthy work and shopping environment.

Role of prostaglandin E receptor EP4 in the regulation of adipogenesis and adipose metabolism / 生理学报

Adipose tissue is the energy storage organ of the body, and excess energy is stored in adipocytes in the form of lipid droplets. The homeostasis of adipose tissue is the basis for the body to maintain normal metabolic activity. Prostaglandin E (PGE) is an important lipid mediator in the body. It is synthesized in almost all tissues and participates in the regulation of many physiological processes such as blood pressure, glucose and lipid metabolism, and inflammation. PGE is abundant in white adipose tissue, where it is involved in the regulation of fat metabolism. PGE plays its biological role through binding to four G protein coupled receptors (prostaglandin E receptors), including EP-1, -2, -3, and -4. The EP4 subtype has been proved to play an important role in adipogenesis and adipose metabolism: it could inhibit adipogenesis while it was activated, whereas its knockout could promote lipolysis. This review summarized the relationship between EP4 and adipose metabolism, hoping to identify new targets of drug development for metabolic disorders.

Expression of the NMDA receptor in the rat model of orchialgia / 中华男科学杂志

Objective@#To explore the expression of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor in the rat model of orchialgia and its possible mechanisms.@*METHODS@#According to Yoshioka's method, the male rats in the control group were injected with 0.2 ml saline, and those in the experimental group with 0.2 ml 2% acetic acid solution. Then we tested the behavioral responses of the rats and determined the expressions of the subunits NR1 and NR2B of the NMDA receptor in the dorsal root ganglion and spinal dorsal horn by Western blot, RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence staining.@*RESULTS@#The withdrawal latency was decreased in the model rats, reaching the lowest value at 4 hours after modeling, significantly lower than in the controls (［4.15 ± 0.84］ vs ［12.32 ± 1.05］, P 0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The NMDA receptor plays an important role in pathogenesis of orchialgia in rats. In the early stage of pain, upregulating the expression of the subunit NR2B of the NMDA receptor can mediate peripheral hyperalgesia and consequently orchialgia.

Expressions of TRPV1 and TRPA1 in the dorsal root ganglion in the rat model of orchialgia / 中华男科学杂志

Objective@#To explore the expressions of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and TRP ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and their action mechanisms in the rat model of orchialgia.@*METHODS@#The models of orchialgia were established in male SD rats by injection of 2% acetic acid into the testis. Then the number of spontaneous pain responses and withdrawal latency in the model rats were recorded by behavioral tests and the expressions of TRPV1 and TRPA1 in T13－L1 DRGs determined by RT-qPCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence staining.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the normal control rats, the orchialgia models showed a significant increase in the number of spontaneous pain responses (0.13 ± 0.35 vs 22.63 ± 3.42, P<0.01) and a decrease in the withdrawal latency at 4 hours after injection (［12.75 ± 1.50］ vs ［4.85 ± 1.00］ s, P<0.05). The mRNA expressions of both TRPV1 and TRPA1 were observed in the membrane of the neurons in the DRG, the former increased by 1.77 times and the latter by 1.75 times that of the control (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The expressions of TRPV1 and TRPA1 were up-regulated in the DRG of the rat models of orchialgia, which may be involved in the allodynia and hyperalgesia of the rats.

Updated diagnosis and management of chronic orchialgia / 中华男科学杂志

Chronic orchialgia (CO) is a common complaint in urology or andrology. Due to its complicated pathogenesis, the diagnosis and treatment of CO are quite challenging. Based on different etiologies, CO can be idiopathic or secondary. Idiopathic CO accounts for approximately 50% of the cases and is probably associated with Wallerian degeneration in the spermatic cord nerves and peripheral sensitization. Secondary CO can be attributed to direct causes and its treatment focuses on the pathologic condition identified. The main methods for the treatment of CO include conservative and surgical strategies, among which microsurgical spermatic cord denervation ( MSCD) is an effective and minimally invasive option, while orchiectomy is but the last alternative when no other means is left.

Study on composing prescription laws of treating aplastic anemia by Chinese medicine using applying data mining technique / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore composing prescription laws of treating aplastic anemia (AA) by Chinese medicine (CM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The literatures on treating AA by CM were recruited from various medical periodicals at home from 1979 to 2009 including China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP information network, and Wangfang data knowledge service platform. The database correlated to CM features was established using the technique of computer data bank. The data mining (DM) technique was applied to analyze drugs sorts, frequency of drug application, and association degree.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Three hundred and eleven pertinent literatures including 677 prescriptions and 254 Chinese herbs (CHs) were screened. There were 69 CHs for invigorating deficiency, 42 for heat clearing, 20 for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, 16 for arresting bleeding, and 16 for relieving exterior syndrome, which occupied the top 5. The frequency of drug application of 254 CHs amounted to 7 547, in which the frequency of drug application of Mongolian milkvetch root, Rehmannia root, Suberect spatholobus stem, Hairyvein agrimonia herb, and Chinese thorowax root were 379, 248, 167, 85, and 13 respectively, and they occupied the first place of CHs for invigorating deficiency, heat clearing, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, arresting bleeding, and relieving exterior syndrome, respectively. The number of the prescriptions containing 12, 10, and 11 CHs was occupied the top 3. The coverage rate of the prescription including Mongolian milkvetch root and Chinese angelica was 60%, and thus 4 core drugs groups were established covering invigorating qi and enriching the blood, reinforcing Shen and supporting yang, replenishing yin to tonify Shen, tonifying Shen to replenish essence, and invigorating qi and enriching blood respectively. Summarized were six potential composing prescription laws covering invigorating qi and enriching blood, reinforcing Shen and supporting yang, replenishing yin to tonify Shen, strengthening Pi and harmonizing Wei, tonifying the blood and promoting blood circulation, clearing away heat and toxic materials, and removing heat from the blood to stop bleeding.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Applying DM technique, the fundamental core drugs groups consisting of Mongolian milkvetch root and Chinese angelica were discovered. The 4 core drugs groups established were in accordance with the realization of modern CM for the pathomechanism of AA. The 6 composing prescription laws summarized revealed the rules of drug application.</p>

Research progress in chemoresistance mechanism of paclitaxel and the future direction / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To review the chemoresistance mechanism of paclitaxel and the latest relevant researches. METHODS: Based on the newest research reports at home and abroad, the structure, antitumor mechanism and possible resistance mechanisms of paclitaxel were analyzed and summarized. RESULTS: Many influencing factors and mechanisms of paclitaxel resistance were summarized, among which, β-tubulin III and microtubule-associated proteins Tau were laid special stress on. CONCLUSION: Many factors and mechanisms are involved in the resistance of paclitaxel. In order to improve the specificity and accuracy, multiple possible factors and mechanisms should be considered, rather than one factor or one biomarker. Only in this way, can we achieve the individualized treatment of paclitaxel in clinic.