Wake-Promoting Effect of Bloodletting Puncture at Hand Twelve Jing-Well Points in Acute Stroke Patients: A Multi-center Randomized Controlled Trial / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To assess the effect and safety of bloodletting puncture at hand twelve Jing-Well points (HTWPs) in acute stroke patients with conscious disturbance.@*METHODS@#In this multi-center and randomized controlled trial, 360 patients suffered from ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke with conscious disturbance within 48 h from the onset of symptom were divided into bloodletting (180 cases) and control (180 cases) groups using a block randomization. Patients in both groups received routine Western medicine, and patients in the bloodletting group received additional bloodletting puncture at HTWPs on admission immediately before conventional treatment. The primary outcome measure was Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score and the secondary outcomes included blood pressure, respiratory rate and pulse rate. All variables were evaluated at baseline (before bloodletting), 0 (after bloodletting immediately), 15, 30, 50 and 80 min post bloodletting.@*RESULTS@#At 80 min post bloodletting, the proportion of patients with improved consciousness in the bloodletting group was greater than the control group (P0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The bloodletting puncture at HTWPs was safe and could improve conscious levels of ischemic stroke patients, highlighting a first-aid intervention for acute stroke. (Registration No. ChiCTR-INR-16009530).

Effects of Exendin-4 on the differentiation of neural stem cells from subventricular zone of adult mice in vitro / 中国应用生理学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the effect of exendin-4(Ex-4) on the differentiation of neural stem cells(NSCs) in adult mouse subventricular zone(SVZ)and its mechanism .@*METHODS@#NSCs in the SVZ were derived from 5-week C57BL/6J mice and the expression of nestin was detected by immunofluorescence. The cell morphology was observed after the cells treatmed with 100 nmol/L Ex-4 for 14 days.The expressions of nestin and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) were detected by immunofluorescence. GLP-1R was knocked down by using shRNA and the study was divided into four groups: control group, Ex-4 group, GLP-1R knockdown group, GLP-1R knockdown + Ex-4 group. After treatment with 100 nmol/L Ex-4 for 14 d, β-tublin III and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were labeled by immunofluorescence and then the proportion of β-tublin III positive cells were counted. Western blot was used to detect the activation of cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) in NSCs. In order to further study the effects of Ex-4 on mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-hydroxy kinase (PI3K) pathways, the cells were pretreated with MAPK inhibitor U0126 at a concentration of 0.07 μmol/L for 30 min or PI3K inhibitor LY294002 at 50 μmol for 2 h, respectively. The study was divided into six groups: control group, Ex-4 group, U0126 group, U0126 + Ex-4 group, LY294002 group, LY294002 + Ex-4 group. The activation of CREB in each group was detected by Western blot. The experiment was repeated three times independently.@*RESULTS@#NSCs were successfully extracted from SVZ of C57BL/6J mice. Immunofluorescence showed that nestin and GLP-1R were positive in NSCs. Compared with the control group, the proportion of neurons differentiated from Ex-4 group was higher. The percentage of neurons in GLP-1R knockdown + Ex-4 group was basically the same as that in control group (P＜0.01). The positive cells of beta-tublin III showed positive activation of GLP-1R and CREB. Western blot showed that CREB was significantly activated in the Ex-4 group, and knockdown of GLP-1R abolished its activation (P＜0.01). U0126 did not affect Ex-4-mediated CERB activation, and LY294002 significantly reduced Ex-4-mediated CREB activation (P＜0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#Ex-4 promotes the differentiation of NSCs into neurons in SVZ of adult mice through GLP-1R receptor, which may be achieved through PI3K/CREB pathway.

L-VDCC autoregulation abnormality contributes to calcium overload in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury / 生理学报

Calcium overload is a vital mechanism of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, which is a hot therapeutic target in cardiovascular research. It has been well recognized that the dysfunction of calcium relevant proteins, including L-type voltage- dependent calcium channel (L-VDCC), sarco/endoplasmic reticulum ATPase 2a (SERCA2a)/phospholamban (PLB), RyR2, Na/Caexchanger, Na/Hexchanger, etc. contributes to calcium overload in cardiomyocytes during ischemia-reperfusion injury, in which the diastolic calcium concentration is increased and the amplitude of calcium transients is decreased. There are two phases in calcium increase. The early phase is partially mediated by calcium channels, and the latter one is mainly mediated by Na/Caexchanger. L-VDCC, a main subtype of calcium channels in myocardium, is involved in calcium overload, but the underlying molecular mechanism is not well elucidated yet. L-VDCC is regulated by intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. PKG and PKA as extrinsic regulators are not proper candidates to increase L-VDCC activity of cardiomyocyte in vitro, whereas the myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury is highly possible to enhance L-VDCC activity by delaying calcium-dependent inactivation (CDI), advancing calcium-dependent facilitation (CDF), and weakening distal carboxy terminus (DCT) inhibition. Therefore, it is rational to propose that the L-VDCC autoregulation abnormality may play an important role in calcium overload during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Effects of Exogenous Carbon Monoxide Releasing Molecules on the Development of Zebrafish Embryos and Larvae / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

The use of exogenous carbon monoxide releasing molecules (CORMs) provides promise for clinical application; however, the hazard potential of CORMs in vivo remains poorly understood. The developmental toxicity of CORM-3 was investigated by exposure to concentrations ranging from 6.25 to 400 μmol/L during 4-144 h post fertilization. Toxicity endpoints of mortality, spontaneous movement, heart rate, hatching rate, malformation, body length, and larval behavior were measured. CORM-3 disrupted the progression of zebrafish larval development at concentrations exceeding 50 μmol/L, resulting in embryonic developmental toxicity.

Protective effects of shikonin on brain injury induced by carbon ion beam irradiation in mice / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

Radiation encephalopathy is the main complication of cranial radiotherapy. It can cause necrosis of brain tissue and cognitive dysfunction. Our previous work had proved that a natural antioxidant shikonin possessed protective effect on cerebral ischemic injury. Here we investigated the effects of shikonin on carbon ion beam induced radiation brain injury in mice. Pretreatment with shikonin significantly increased the SOD and CAT activities and the ratio of GSH/GSSG in mouse brain tissues compared with irradiated group (P<0.01), while obviously reduced the MDA and PCO contents and the ROS levels derived from of the brain mitochondria. The shikonin also noticeably improved the spatial memory deficits caused by carbon ion beam irradiation. All results demonstrated that shikonin could improve the irradiated brain injury which might resulted from its modulation effects on the oxidative stress induced by the 12C6+ ion beam.

Toxicity of Graphene Quantum Dots in Zebrafish Embryo / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the bio-safety of graphene quantum dots (GQDs), we studied its effects on the embryonic development of zebrafish.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In vivo, biodistribution and the developmental toxicity of GQDs were investigated in embryonic zebrafish at exposure concentrations ranging from 12.5-200 μg/mL for 4-96 h post-fertilization (hpf). The mortality, hatch rate, malformation, heart rate, GQDs uptake, spontaneous movement, and larval behavior were examined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The fluorescence of GQDs was mainly localized in the intestines and heart. As the exposure concentration increased, the hatch and heart rate decreased, accompanied by an increase in mortality. Exposure to a high level of GQDs (200 μg/mL) resulted in various embryonic malformations including pericardial edema, vitelline cyst, bent spine, and bent tail. The spontaneous movement significantly decreased after exposure to GQDs at concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 μg/mL. The larval behavior testing (visible light test) showed that the total swimming distance and speed decreased dose-dependently. Embryos exposed to 12.5 μg/mL showed hyperactivity while exposure to higher concentrations (25, 50, 100, and 200 μg/mL) caused remarkable hypoactivity in the light-dark test.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Low concentrations of GQDs were relatively non-toxic. However, GQDs disrupt the progression of embryonic development at concentrations exceeding 50 μg/mL.</p>

Effect of 5 warm-hot nature Chinese drugs for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis on 5-HT, NE, and endocrine hormones of rats of cold coagulation and blood stasis syndrome / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the mechanism of warm-hot nature Chinese drugs (WHNCD) for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis (PBCRBS) for intervening model rats of cold coagulation and blood stasis syndrome (CCBSS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>CCBSS rat model was set up in outbred SD rats using ice water immersion method. Totally 300 successfully modeled CCBSS rats were randomly divided into 5 groups according to the principle of balance weight, 60 in each group. Contents of triothyrone (T3), tetraiodothyroine (T4), progesterone (P), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and noradrenalin (NE) were paralleledly detected in all groups. Then rats in each group were subdivided into 6 subgroups as the model group, the curcuma group, the Ligsticum Chuanxiong group, the safflower group, the Rhizoma Corydalis group, and the Olibanumg group. Besides, 5 normal control groups were set up for 5 indices, 50 rats in total. We need 70 rats (7 groups) to finish observing 1 index, 350 rats in total for 5 indices. Except those in the model group and the normal control group, rats were administered with corresponding decoction at 20 g crude drugs/kg body weight by gastrogavage, 3 mL each time, once daily for 7 successive days. Equal volume of normal saline was given to rats in the normal control group and the model group. Contents of T3, T4, P, 5-HT, and NE were detected before treatment and 1 week after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with before treatment in the same group, T3 increased in the Ligsticum Chuanxiong group and the Olibanumg group, 5-HT increased in the Ligsticum Chuanxiong group, T4, NE, and P increased in all medicated groups (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group, contents of T3, T4, 5-HT, NE, and P in the model group decreased (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, contents of T3, T4, 5-HT, and NE increased in each medicated group (P < 0.05). There was statistical difference in contents of P between the Ligsticum Chuanxiong group and the Olibanumg group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>WHNCD for PBCRBS had regulatory roles in serum contents of T3, T4, P, and NE in modeled rats of CCBSS. They could promote the thyroid gland-gonadal axis function, enhance the function of the endocrine system, which might be one of the pharmacodynamic mechanism of WHNCD for PBCRBS in intervening CCBSS.</p>

Study of the distribution patterns of the constituent herbs in classical Chinese medicine prescriptions treating respiratory disease by data mining methods / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To provide the distribution pattern and compatibility laws of the constituent herbs in prescriptions, for doctor's convenience to make decision in choosing correct herbs and prescriptions for treating respiratory disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Classical prescriptions treating respiratory disease were selected from authoritative prescription books. Data mining methods (frequent itemsets and association rules) were used to analyze the regular patterns and compatibility laws of the constituent herbs in the selected prescriptions.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 562 prescriptions were selected to be studied. The result exhibited that, Radix glycyrrhizae was the most frequently used in 47.2% prescriptions, other frequently used were Semen armeniacae amarum, Fructus schisandrae Chinese, Herba ephedrae, and Radix ginseng. Herbal ephedrae was always coupled with Semen armeniacae amarum with the confidence of 73.3%, and many herbs were always accompanied by Radix glycyrrhizae with high confidence. More over, Fructus schisandrae Chinese, Herba ephedrae and Rhizoma pinelliae was most commonly used to treat cough, dyspnoea and associated sputum respectively besides Radix glycyrrhizae and Semen armeniacae amarum. The prescriptions treating dyspnoea often used double herb group of Herba ephedrae & Radix glycyrrhizae, while prescriptions treating sputum often used double herb group of Rhizoma pinelliae & Radix glycyrrhizae and Rhizoma pinelliae & Semen armeniacae amarum, triple herb groups of Rhizoma pinelliae & Semen armeniacae amarum & Radix glycyrrhizae and Pericarpium citri reticulatae & Rhizoma pinelliae & Radix glycyrrhizae.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The prescriptions treating respiratory disease showed common compatibility laws in using herbs and special compatibility laws for treating different respiratory symptoms. These principle patterns and special compatibility laws reported here could be useful for doctors to choose correct herbs and prescriptions in treating respiratory disease.</p>

Study on the networks of "Nature-Family-Component" of Chinese medicinal herbs based on association rules mining / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore appropriate methods for the research of the theory of Chinese medicine nature property and find the relationship between Nature-Family-Component of Chinese herbs.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From perspective of systems biology, we used Associate Network to identify useful relationships among "Nature-Family-Component" of Herbs. In this work, Associate Network combines association rules mining method and network construction method to evaluate the complicate relationship among "Nature-Family-Component" of herbs screened.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results of association rules mining showed that the families had a close relationship with nature properties of herbs. For example, the families of Magnoliaceae, Araceae had a close relationship with hot nature with confidence of 100%, the families of Cucurbitaceae has a close relationship to cold nature with confidence of 90.91%. Moreover, the results of constructed Associate Network implied that herbs belonging to the same families generally had the same natures. In addition, some herbs belonging to different families may also have same natures when they contain the same main components.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These results implied that the main components of herbs might affect their natures; the relationships between families and natures were based on the main compounds of herbs.</p>

Expression and clinical significance of nuclear matrix protein 22 and cytokeratin 18 in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the expression and clinical significance of urinary nuclear matrix protein (NMP22) and cytokeratin 18 (CK18) for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Urinary NMP22 and CK18 levels of 293 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, 400 patients with non-transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, and 105 bladder benign disease were analysed by enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The levels of urinary NMP22 and CK18 in the patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (M = 17.3 U/ml, M(CK18) = 484.2 U/L) were significantly higher than those in the non-transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (M = 6.8 U/ml, M(CK18) = 156.0 U/L) and the benign disease group (M(NMP22) = 2.3 U/ml, M(CK18) = 66.6 U/L) (P < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of urinary NMP22 and CK18 were 79.2%, 88.6% and 78.2%, 82.9%, respectively, for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder before any treatment. The joint sensitivity of the two markers was 91.7%. The NMP22 and CK18 levels were significantly lower in the recovered patients after surgical operation (P < 0.01), while in patients with recurrence or metastasis the levels of the markers were significantly higher (P < 0.01). There was a significant relationship between NMP22 and CK18, (r = 0.689, P < 0.01). The levels of urinary nmp22 and CK18 were significantly different among pathological grade G1, G2, G3, and stage Ta, T1, T2, T3 (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>NMP22 and CK18 are useful tumor marker for diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and for monitoring the state of illness. The joint use of the two markers can improve the sensitivity of cancer detection. NMP22 and CK18 may become a new class of tumor markers, and to be the basis for development of a new assay with an increased efficacy for the detection and treatment of bladder cancer.</p>

Research progress on effect of coumarins compounds in anti-tumor / 中国中药杂志

Coumarins are a group of important natural compounds, and have been found to have multi-biological activities such as anti-HIV, anti-tumor, anti-hypertension, anti-arrhythmia, anti-osteoporosis, assuaging pain, preventing asthma and antisepsis. One of which is its anti-tumor effect and that is a research focus on. Therefore, we believe that it is necessaryto carry out further studies on the effect of coumarins compounds in anti-tumor. Investigation should emphasize on improving techniques for extraction and separation, searching the effective precursory compound, and synthesizing and screening out courmarin derivatives with high activity and low toxicity. Here the recent research progress in anti-tumor effect of coumarins compounds is reviewed.

Postburn change in the plasma level of neuron specific enolase in burned patients with cerebral malfunction / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationship between the change in neuron specific enolase (NSE) and brain malfunction in burned patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The serum samples of 11 burned patients with brain dysfunction were collected for the development of the serum level of neuron specific enolase with radioimmunoassay, and the correlation between condition of systemic inflammation and the levels of neuron specific enolase was assessed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The level of NSE in burn patients with cerebral malfunction was obviously higher than that in control, and the level was correlated with the systemic inflammation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The change in the level of serum NSE could reflect the damage degree of central nervous system to some extent.</p>