Analysis of quality marker in Naozhenning Granule based on “five principles” / 中草药

Naozhenning Granule (NG) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription, which can cool and activate blood, resolve stasis and dredge collaterals, enrich blood and tranquilize mind, calm nerves and arrest vomiting. The clinical studies have also confirmed that NG was effective for the treatment of headache, dizziness, irritability, insomnia, forgetfulness, nausea, and vomiting caused by cerebral trauma. The quality markers (Q-markers) of NG are predicted and analyzed based on the “five principles” of Q-markers of Chinese materia medica and the research literatures in the recent years. The modern pharmacological research of the selected Q-markers was reviewed and analyzed. Then the network of “Q-marker, targets, pathway, and disease” was constructed, in order to provide the scientific basis for the quality control study of NG.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms of β-globin gene in β-thalassaemia patients / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to analyze the β-globin gene sequence and single nucleotide polymorphisms of the β-globin gene in β-thalassaemia patients from Shenzhen area, and to explore linkage relationships between β-globin gene mutations and single nucleotide polymorphisms. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral leukocytes in 125 β-thalassaemia patients from Shenzhen population. β-globin gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction, mutations and single nucleotide polymorphisms in the β-globin gene were determined by DNA sequencing. The results indicated 10 types of mutation and 12 single nucleotide polymorphism loci were found in the β-globin gene of 114 β-thalassaemia patients. Linkage disequilibrium between mutations and single nucleotide polymorphisms was found in 6 loci including 6 haplotypes among these single nucleotide polymorphism loci in the β-globin gene. It is concluded that a number of single nucleotide polymorphisms is found in the β-globin gene, where an average of one single nucleotide polymorphism every 230 bp there is. Linkage disequilibrium occurs between β-thalassaemia mutations and some haplotypes in single nucleotide polymorphism loci. This study may be helpful to gene diagnosis for β-thalassaemia patients.

Determination of the trace levels of urinary fibrinopeptides by high-performance capillary electrophoresis / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a high-performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE)-based method for detection of trace amount of urinary fibrinopeptide A and B (FPA and FPB, respectively) as the specific molecular markers of thrombus formation in vivo.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The HPCE system consisted of a 25 cm x 50 microm (inner diameter) coated capillary column, 0.1 mol/L phosphoric acid buffer (pH 2.5) and a UV-detector (wavelength at 190 nm). To improve the sensitivity and reproducibility, solid-phase extraction of FPA and FPB in the urine was performed using a Sep-pak C18 column, with a synthetical fibrinopeptide B-Tyr (FPB-Tyr) as the internal standard.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>With this HPCE method, optimal separations of FPA, FPB and FPB-Tyr was achieved within 16 min, with the migration time of 7.28 min, 14.31 min and 15.22 min, respectively. The adjusted peak area ratios of FPA or FPB and the internal standard showed good linearity with the corresponding concentrations of FPA or FPB spiked in the urine(R>0.99). Under the above chromatography conditions, the minimum detection concentration of FPA and FPB in untreated urine was 30 microg/L and 40 microg/L, respectively, and the assay precision and recovery of FPA and FPB were acceptable.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method we established is reliable and specific for separation and identification of fibrinopeptides and other bioactive peptides.</p>

Effects of Astragaloside Ⅳ on Collagen of Myocardial Fibroblasts in Rats / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To investigate the dose- and time-effects of astragaloside Ⅳ(XGA) on collagen of myocardial fibroblasts in rats.Methods The myocardial fibroblasts of rats were separated by collagenase and trypsinase digestive method,and the cell culture system was established. After XGA in different concentrations and at different time points was administered in fibroblast culture systems,the mRNA expression levels of collagen,matrix metalloproteinases(MMP)-1,-2,-9,tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase(TIMP)-1 and -2 were measured with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) test.Results After XGA administration with different doses and at different time points was adminstered,the gel electrophoresis product of RT-PCR in fibroblast culture system expressed the mRNA of type Ⅰ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ collagens,MMP-1,-2,-9,TIMP-1 and -2;but the mRNA expression levels of type Ⅰ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ collagens,TIMP-1 and -2 decreased and the mRNA expression levels of MMP-1,-2,and -9 increased compared to those before XGA administration;the mRNA expression of type Ⅰ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ collagens,MMP-1,-2,-9,TIMP-1 and -2 decreased or increased gradually with the increase of doses and the prolonged time of XGA use.The mRNA expression levels of type Ⅰ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ collagens,TIMP-1 and -2 were negatively related to the doses and action times of XGA(r=-0.927 to -0.637 P= 0 to 0.024);and the mRNA expression levels of MMP-1,-2 and -9 were positively related to the doses and action times of XGA(r=0.672 to 0.962 P=0 to 0.034).Conclusion XGA can markedly reduce the collagen formation of myocardial fibroblasts in rats,and its mechanisms are related to the inhibiting of collagen synthesis and the increase of collagen degradation.

Clinical application of acupuncture for treatment of heroin withdrawal syndrome / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To make technical standard of acupuncture manipulation for acupuncture treatment of heroin withdrawal syndrome.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two hundred and twenty cases of heroin withdrawal syndrome were randomly divided into an acupuncture group of 111 cases and a control group of 109 cases. They were respectively treated with acupuncture and oral administration of lofexidine hydrochloride, and their therapeutic effects were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The heroin dependence (acute stage) were effectively withdrawn in the two groups. The treatment group in change of total scores for withdrawal symptoms before and after treatment, the total scores for withdrawal symptoms at the 4th and 5th days, treatment of insomnia and the score for self-Hamilton Anxiety Scale and the score after at the 4th day was superior to the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture has a satisfactory, rapid, safe and reliable clinical therapeutic effect.</p>

Dynamics of HBV-DNA level in acute hepatitis B / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To verify the mechanism of the hepatitis B viral clearance using clinical data.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Viral level and HBV marker in serum were analyzed in 12 patients with acute hepatitis B.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The clearance of hepatitis B virus occurred before the patients were hospitalized in 66.7% of patients. The viral level and the A value of HBsAg;HBeAg declined gradually during hospitalization.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In most of patients with acute hepatitis B in the study, the virus was cleared without destruction of infected cells.</p>

Interventional radiologic therapy for arteriovenous malformations in the face / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To introduce the technique of transarterial interventional embolization treating for arteriovenous malformations (AVM) in the face.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From April 1998, 17 patients have been treated with this method. Seldinger's maneuver was used in this series. Of them, 11 cases received only interventional embolization; 6 cases received both interventional embolization and surgical resection.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The interventional embolization was effective in all the 17 cases, which was confirmed by immediate angiography. Their clinical symptoms were gradually relieved. Interventional embolization obviously decreased hemorrhage during surgical resection.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Interventional embolization provides a new way for the treatment of AVM. Preoperative embolization can lower the surgical risk as it obviously decreases hemorrhage during the surgical procedure.</p>