Effect and mechanisms of wenyang yiqi huoxue recipe on the apoptosis of photoreceptor cells in retinal degeneration slow mice / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Wenyang Yiqi Huoxue Recipe (WYHR) on the apoptosis of photoreceptor cells in retinal degeneration slow (RDS) mice, and to investigate its molecular mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>RDS mice were randomly divided into the model group and the Chinese medicine group,and C57BL/6J mice were selected as the normal control group. Each group consisted of 4 female mice and 2 male mice. Mice in the Chinese medicine group were administered with WYHR (10 mg/g) by gastrogavage since mating. Baby mice drunk WYHR decoction instead of drinking water once they were born. The offspring were administrated with low dose WYHR decoction by gastrogavage from the 7th postnatal day, and the dose was increased to that for adult mice from the 21st postnatal day. Physiological saline was administrated to mice in the model group and the normal control group by gastrogavage. At 18, 28 and 48 postnatal days, electroretinogram (ERG) was used to evaluate the retina functional variation, and the apoptotic rate of photoreceptor cells was determined by TUNEL staining. HE staining was performed. The number of photoreceptor cells of the outer nuclear layer was calculated. Furthermore, effect of WYHR on Rhodopsin and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) expression was examined using immunochemical assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the model group, a- and b-wave latency and amplitude, as well as the bFGF expression sharply increased in the Max-ERG of the Chinese medicine group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) at 18 postnatal days. At 28 and 48 postnatal days, a- and b-wave latency and amplitude sharply increased, photoreceptor cell layer numbers of the outer nuclear layer obviously increased, the apoptosis rate of retinal photoreceptor cells obviously decreased, expressions of Rhodopsin and bFGF in the Chinese medicine group significantly increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>WYHR could effectively inhibit the apoptosis of photoreceptor cells in RDS mice, which might be attributed to up-regulating bFGF expression.</p>

Study on acting mechanism of shenqi yiqi drop pill for intervening irido-microangiopathy in diabetic rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Use laser confocal microscopy overspeed camera technique and fluorescence albumin labeling to study the acting mechanism of Qishen Yiqi Drop Pill (QYDP) for intervening irido-microangiopathy (IMAP) in diabetic rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rat model of diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM1) was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin (STZ). The model rats were randomly divided into three groups, the treatment group, the model group and the control group. At the same time a normal control group was set up. The treatment group was medicated with QYDP (prepared into liquid form), and the control group with Duobeisi liquor (1 g/kg per day) for 10 months. The dynamic state of iris microcirculation in rats was observed using laser confocal microscopy overspeed camera.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the treatment group, blood flow in iris of model rats was slower significantly (P < 0.01); the fluorescence density and leakage area of inside and outside iris vessels, and the iris vascular diameter were significantly higher in the model group than those in the treatment group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>QYDP has definite effect in improving iris microcirculation, which can accelerate the blood flow, inhibit the abnormal expansion of vessels and improve the increased iris micro-vascular permeability.</p>

Treatment of choroidal neovascularization with Chinese medicine huangban bianxing recipe / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the efficacy of Chinese medicine Huangban Bianxing Recipe (HBR) for treatment of choroidal neovascularization (CNV).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty patients (97 eyes) suffered from CNV were assigned to two groups, the treated group treated by HBR orally taken one dose every day and the control group treated with ginkgo leaf tablet 1 tablet (19.2 mg) thrice a day, all for 3 months. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus hemorrhagic area were measured; the neo-genetic vascular leakage area determined by fluorescent fundus angiography (FFA); and the out-layer high reflective band thickness (OHRBT) estimated by optical coherent tomography (OCT) were recorded before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, in the treated group, BCVA was improved, with an effective rate of 67.12%, while in the control group, it was 33.33%, the former was better than the latter significantly (P < 0.05). The effective rate in reducing fundus hemorrhagic area in the two groups (85.11% vs 47.62%) and that in the CNV closure showed by FFA (67.50% vs 37.50%) were also superior in the treated group (P < 0.05). Besides, OCT showed that the OHRBT reduced significantly after treatment in the treated group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HBR can improve the vision, reduce the CNV leakage in the macular region, and advance the absorption of fundus hemorrhage in CNV patients.</p>