Clinical Efficacy and Mechanism of Modified Erxian Decoction in Treating Osteoporosis with Yang Deficiency / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective::To observe the effect of modified Erxian decoction on the physical condition, pain in the lower back and joints, limb activity, bone density, bone metabolism and biochemical indexes in patients with osteoporosis caused by Yang deficiency, in order to explore the possible mechanism. Method::Totally 100 cases of osteoporosis with Yang deficiency were randomly divided into treatment group and control group, with 50 cases in each group. The control group was treated with basic anti-osteoporosis therapy, and the treatment group was give modified Erxian decoction combined with basic therapy for 6 weeks. Short physical performance battery (SPPB) scores of low back and joint pain and Yang deficiency symptom score before and after treatment were recorded and analyzed. before and after treatment, the changes of blood serum calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), L1-4, femoral neck bone mineral density(BMD), osteocalcin (BGP) and type I collagen peptide amino end level (P1NP) were measured. Result::The scores of lumbar back and joint pain, Yang deficiency symptom score, limb function and activity, lumbar spine 1-4 (L1-4), femoral neck BMD, Ca, P, BGP and P1NP between two groups before treatment had no statistically significant difference. After 6 weeks of treatment, limb activity score, L1-4, femoral neck BMD, serum Ca and P levels in treatment group were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.05). The scores of the pain in the lower back and joints, Yang deficiency symptom score, BGP and P1NP in treatment group were significantly lower than those in control group (P<0.05). Conclusion::Modified Erxian decoction can significantly alleviate the pain in the lower back and joints of patients with osteoporosis caused by Yang deficiency, enhance the limb function and activity status, improve the physical condition and bone density of patients, reduce bone conversion, with a good effect in treating and alleviating symptoms of osteoporosis caused by Yang deficiency.

Traumatic Posterior Fossa Epidural Hematomas in Children : Experience with 48 Cases and a Review of the Literature

OBJECTIVE: Epidural haematoma (EDH) most commonly occurs in the supratentorial area, particularly in the temporal region, of the brain. Posterior fossa epidural haematoma (PFEDH) is less frequently observed, accounting for only 1.2% to 12.9% of all EDH cases. Because of the non-specific symptoms and the potential for rapid and fatal deterioration in children, an early computed tomography (CT) scanning is necessary for all suspicious cases. The aim of the present study was to share the experience of 48 cases and review the literature concerning PFEDH.METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted for 48 paediatric cases diagnosed with PFEDH and admitted to Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from January 2010 to August 2015. The clinical features and outcomes were analyzed and compared with previous literature.RESULTS: Seventeen patients were surgically treated in this series and 31 patients received non-operative treatment. The outcomes were good in 46 patients, evaluated using the Glasgow outcome score (GOS), while mild disability was observed in one patient, and only one case showed severe disability. There were no cases of mortality in this series.CONCLUSION: Posterior fossa epidural haematoma is relatively rare compared with supratentorial epidural haematoma. Early and serial CT scans should be performed for all suspicious cases. The criteria for the surgical treatment of paediatric patients with PFEDH were concluded. The overall prognosis was excellent in paediatric patients.

Traumatic Posterior Fossa Epidural Hematomas in Children : Experience with 48 Cases and a Review of the Literature

OBJECTIVE: Epidural haematoma (EDH) most commonly occurs in the supratentorial area, particularly in the temporal region, of the brain. Posterior fossa epidural haematoma (PFEDH) is less frequently observed, accounting for only 1.2% to 12.9% of all EDH cases. Because of the non-specific symptoms and the potential for rapid and fatal deterioration in children, an early computed tomography (CT) scanning is necessary for all suspicious cases. The aim of the present study was to share the experience of 48 cases and review the literature concerning PFEDH. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted for 48 paediatric cases diagnosed with PFEDH and admitted to Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from January 2010 to August 2015. The clinical features and outcomes were analyzed and compared with previous literature. RESULTS: Seventeen patients were surgically treated in this series and 31 patients received non-operative treatment. The outcomes were good in 46 patients, evaluated using the Glasgow outcome score (GOS), while mild disability was observed in one patient, and only one case showed severe disability. There were no cases of mortality in this series. CONCLUSION: Posterior fossa epidural haematoma is relatively rare compared with supratentorial epidural haematoma. Early and serial CT scans should be performed for all suspicious cases. The criteria for the surgical treatment of paediatric patients with PFEDH were concluded. The overall prognosis was excellent in paediatric patients.

Ginsenoside Rd Attenuates DNA Damage by Increasing Expression of DNA Glycosylase Endonuclease VIII-like Proteins after Focal Cerebral Ischemia / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Ginsenoside Rd (GSRd), one of the main active ingredients in traditional Chinese herbal Panax ginseng, has been found to have therapeutic effects on ischemic stroke. However, the molecular mechanisms of GSRd's neuroprotective function remain unclear. Ischemic stroke-induced oxidative stress results in DNA damage, which triggers cell death and contributes to poor prognosis. Oxidative DNA damage is primarily processed by the base excision repair (BER) pathway. Three of the five major DNA glycosylases that initiate the BER pathway in the event of DNA damage from oxidation are the endonuclease VIII-like (NEIL) proteins. This study aimed to investigate the effect of GSRd on the expression of DNA glycosylases NEILs in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>NEIL expression patterns were evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in both normal and middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat models. Survival rate and Zea-Longa neurological scores were used to assess the effect of GSRd administration on MCAO rats. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and nuclear DNA (nDNA) damages were evaluated by the way of real-time analysis of mutation frequency. NEIL expressions were measured in both messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting analysis. Apoptosis level was quantitated by the expression of cleaved caspase-3 and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP biotin nick end labeling assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>We found that GSRd administration reduced mtDNA and nDNA damages, which contributed to an improvement in survival rate and neurological function; significantly up-regulated NEIL1 and NEIL3 expressions in both mRNA and protein levels of MCAO rats; and reduced cell apoptosis and the expression of cleaved caspase-3 in rats at 7 days after MCAO.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Our results indicated that the neuroprotective function of GSRd for acute ischemic stroke might be partially explained by the up-regulation of NEIL1 and NEIL3 expressions.</p>

A new polyphenol, 1, 3-di-O-caffeoyl-5-O-(1-methoxyl-2-O-caffeoyl-4-maloyl)-quinic acid, isolated from cultured cells of Saussurea involucrata / 中国天然药物

The present study was designed to isolate the polyphenol constituents of cultured cells of Saussurea involucrata. The polyphenol type constituents were isolated using chromatography methods, and then characterized by spectral analysis. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical 2,2-Diphenyl-1-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)-hydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) free radical scavenging were assayed using Vitamin C as the positive control. One new polyphenol 18, 1, 3-di-O-caffeoyl-5-O-(1-methoxyl-2-O-caffeoyl-4-maloyl)-quinic acid, together with 17 known compounds, was isolated and characterized. In conclusion, Compound 18 was a new caffeoyl maloyl quinic acid type polyphenol and showed desired vitro anti-oxidant activity. Compounds 1-5, 9, 10, 14, 15, and 17 were isolated from cultured cells of Saussurea involucrata for the first time.

Synthesis and biological activities of beta-chain fragments of hemoglobin / 药学学报

To investigate the angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity of beta-chain hemoglobin fragments, 17 fragments were synthesized by microwave-assisted solid-phase synthesis method. Wang resin or Trt(2-Cl) resin, Fmoc and HBTU-HOBt were used as solid carrier, N-terminal amino acid protecting groups and coupling reagents, respectively. The ACE inhibitory, alpha-glucosidase inhibitory, antibacterial and antitumor activities of the synthesized fragments were assayed. In vitro, Val-Val-Tyr-Pro-Trp-Thr showed high ACE inhibitory activity (IC50 = 7.42 micromol x L(-1)). The results indicate that there are two active sites in Val-Val-Tyr-Pro-Trp-Thr-Gln-Arg-Phe, one consists of Val-Val-, and the other -Gln-Arg-Phe. Peptides showed high ACE inhibitory activity when the N-terminal was hydrophobic amino acid such as Val and C-terminal tripeptide contained Phe, Trp or Arg. Some of the fragments showed low a-glucosidase inhibitory activity. No antibacterial activity or antitumor activity was detected in vitro. The results indicate that these peptides have a potential antihypertensive effect and possible application in the treatment of hypertension.