ABSTRACT
Alzheimer' s disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease, which is seriously affecting people' s lives. Until now, the pathogenesis of AD is still unknown which result in its worldwide difficulties in prevention and treatment. Some studies have shown that AD might be a metabolic disease associated with glucose, lipid and energy metabolisms. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) believes that the spleen is acquired foundation and the origination of Qi and blood. The function of spleen is not only closely related to the metabolism of substance and energy, but also related to the aging of human body. In this article, we summarized and analyzed the interrelationship of metabolism, AD and spleen, as well as the effect of spleen-invigorating prescription on AD. The purpose of the paper is to analyze the possible mechanism of TCM treating AD from the perspective of regulating metabolism, explore the potential value of spleen-strengthening TCM in the treatment or prevention of AD, and provide new ideas for exploring the drug development and TCM therapy of AD.
ABSTRACT
Objective To compare the chemical composition and antibacterial activity of the volatile oils from Forsythiae Fructus (FF), Schizonepetae Herba (SH), Menthae Haplocalycis Herba (MH), and their compatibility, and to explore the influence of different extraction methods on components and antibacterial activity of volatile oil. Methods GC-MS was employed to analyze the composition of the volatile oil from FF, SH, and MH extracted separately, and their mixture extracted, as well as physical mixing volatile oil of FF, SH, and MH extracted separately. The diameter of the inhibition zone and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were measured using the paper agar diffusion method and micro dilution method. The antibacterial activities of volatile oil on four common pathogens of respiratory tract were evaluated. Results When FF, SH, and MH were mixed and extracted, the main obtained components and contents of volatile oil changed. Compared to separately extracted volatile oil, eight new components emerged, seven components from FF and seven components from SH disappeared in FF and SH mixture extracted volatile oil. In FF and MH mixture extracted volatile oil, compared with separately extracted, six components from FF and eight components from MH disappeared, and eight new components emerged. As to SH and MH mixture extracted volatile oil, four components from SH and seven components from MH disappeared, and seven new components emerged. In the three herbs mixture extracted volatile oil, six components from FF, four components from SH, and two components from MH disappeared, one commom component of FF and MH, two common components of SH and MH disappeared, however, nine new components emerged. The content of pulegone significantly decreased in the three herbs mixture extracted volatile oil compared with that in separately extracted. The antibacterial experiments showed that the antibacterial effects of the volatile oils obtained by different extraction methods were different. The antibacterial effects of volatile oil extracted separately and their physical mixing volatile oil on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans were better than that from mixture extracted. Conclusion Volatile oil is an important effective component of Chinese patent medicines with relieving exterior syndrome function. Different extraction methods have a certain influence on the yield and composition of volatile oil, which ultimately affects the efficacy of drugs. Therefore, we should pay more attention to extraction method and process of volatile oil in these prescriptions.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate diagnostic histopathology and ultrastructure features of primary pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data and pathologic findings of 27 cases of PC were retrospectively reviewed, light and electron microscopic evaluations and histochemistry stain studies were performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The specimens consisted of 2 fine-needle aspiration lung biopsies and 25 cases of open lung biopsies. Cryptococcosis granuloma formation was identifiable by histopathological examination in 25 of 27 cases, with gum-like lesion and fungi in the remaining 2 cases. The detection rates of cryptococcus neoformans (CN) by mucicarmine (MC), periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), alcian blue (AB) and Grocott methenamine-silver (GMS) were 87.0% (20/23), 100% (27/27), 66.7% (18/27), and 100% (23/23) respectively. Under the electron microscope, most CN had a simple structure with a few organelles. The capsule was seen in all organisms. A percentage of the organisms showed nuclei, nucleoli, mitochondria and vacuoles. The detection rate of CN by EM was 91.7% (11/12).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The clinical manifestation and imaging of PC are nonspecific for PC. Lung biopsy is the major diagnostic modality. The detection rate by electron microscopy was quite high. Therefore, a correct diagnosis of pulmonary cyrptococcosis should rely on the combination of histopathological evaluation, histochemistry staining and/or electron microscopic examination.</p>