Application and Effectiveness of Chinese Medicine in Regulating Immune Checkpoint Pathways.

Immunotherapy targeting immune checkpoint molecules has emerged as a key approach in cancer treatment, representing the forefront of antitumor research. However, studies on immune checkpoint molecules have mainly focused on targeted therapies. Chinese medicine (CM) research as a complementary medicine has revealed that immune checkpoint molecules also undergo disease-specific changes in the context of autoimmune diseases. This review article presents a comprehensive analysis of CM studies on immune checkpoint molecules in the last 5 years, with a focus on their role in different diseases and treatment modalities. CM research predominantly utilizes oral administration of herbal plant extracts or acupuncture techniques, which stimulate the immune system by activating specific acupoints through temperature and needling. In this study, we analyzed the modulation and mechanisms of immune checkpoint molecules associated with different coinhibitory and costimulatory molecules, and reviewed the immune functions of related molecules and CM studies in treating autoimmune diseases and tumors. By summarizing the characteristics and research value of CM in regulating immune checkpoint molecules, this review aims to provide a useful reference for future studies in this field.

[Effects of herbal cake separated moxibustion on Tim-4 and ubiquitination of PD-1 in rabbits with immunosuppression].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of herbal cake separated moxibustion on macrophage effector molecule T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-4 (Tim-4) and ubiquitination of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) in rabbits with immunosuppression, and to explore the possible mechanism on herbal cake separated moxibustion in improving immunosuppression. METHODS: Thirty-two big-ear white rabbits were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a moxa stick moxibustion group and a herbal cake separated moxibustion group, 8 rabbits in each group. Except the normal group, the immunosuppression model was established by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide of60 mg/kg in the other 3 groups. "Shenque" (CV 8), "Shenshu" (BL 23), "Zusanli" (ST 36), etc. were selected in both the moxa stick moxibustion group and the herbal cake separated moxibustion group. Moxa stick moxibustion was applied in the moxa stick moxibustion group, one cone at each acupoint; herbal cake separated moxibustion was applied in the herbal cake separated moxibustion group, 5 cones at each acupoint. The intervention was given once every other day for 10 times in both groups. Leukocyte content in peripheral blood was detected by blood cell analyzer; the positive expression of PD-1 in CD+4 T lymphocytes, CD+8T lymphocytes and CD+68 macrophages in peripheral blood was measured by flow cytometry, the serum levels of interleukin 2 (IL-2), CD8, CD68 and Tim-4 were detected by ELISA, and the expression of Tim-4 and F-box only protein 38 (FBXO38) in the liver and spleen tissues was measured by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, in the model group, white blood cell count (WBC) and percentage of neutrophils (NEU%) were decreased while percentage of lymphocyte (LYM%) was increased (P<0.01) in peripheral blood; the positive expression rates of PD-1 in CD+4 T lymphocytes, CD+8T lymphocytes and CD+68 macrophages in peripheral blood were increased (P<0.01); the serum levels of IL-2, CD68 and Tim-4 were increased (P<0.01), the serum level of CD8 was decreased (P<0.01); the average optical density (AOD) of Tim-4 in the liver tissue and FBXO38 in the liver and spleen tissues was increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, in the moxa stick moxibustion group and the herbal cake separated moxibustion group, WBC and NEU% were increased (P<0.01); the positive expression rates of PD-1 in CD+4 T lymphocytes, CD+8T lymphocytes and CD+68 macrophages in peripheral blood were decreased (P<0.01); the serum levels of IL-2, CD68 and Tim-4 were decreased (P<0.01), the serum levels of CD8 were increased (P<0.01); the AOD of Tim-4 and FBXO38 in the liver tissue and FBXO38 in the spleen tissue was decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the moxa stick moxibustion group, in the herbal cake separated moxibustion group, the positive expression rate of PD-1 in CD+68 macrophages in peripheral blood was increased (P<0.05); serum level of Tim-4 was increased (P<0.01); AOD of Tim-4 in the liver tissue was decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Herbal cake separated moxibustion can improve immunosuppression by regulating the expression of macrophage effector molecule Tim-4 and the FBXO38 mediated ubiquitination of PD-1, Tim-4 may be one of the specific indexes of immunomodulation involving with herbal cake separated moxibustion.

[Effect of herbal cake-separated moxibustion on behavioral stress reactions and blood lactic acid level and muscular AMPK/PGC-1α signaling in rats with chronic fatigue syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of herbal cake-separated moxibustion (HCSM) on serum lactic acid (BLA) level and AMPK/PGC-1α signaling pathway in the quadriceps femoris in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) rats, so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of CFS. METHODS: According to the random number table, 50 SD rats were divided into blank control, model, HCSM, sham HCSM and medication (herbal medicine gavage) groups, with 10 rats in each group. The CFS model was established by using chronic restraint and exhaustive swimming, alternately, once daily for 21 days. The herbal cake was made of Xiaoyao Powder (Mental Ease Powder, composed of [Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), Baishao (Radix Paeoniae Alba), Chaihu (Radix Bupleuri), Fuling (Poria), Baizhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis, Macrocephalae), etc.]. The HCSM was applied to "Shenque" (CV8), "Guanyuan "(CV4), bilateral "Zusanli" (ST36) and "Qimen" (LR14), 5 moxa-cones for each acupoint, once daily for 10 days. For sham HCSM, the excipient was instead of herbal cake, and the same 5 moxa-cones was given as the HCSM group. Rats of the medication group received gavage of Xiaoyao Powder suspension (60 mg·kg-1), once daily for 10 days. The open field test and tail suspension test were conducted for determining the animals' locomotor activity. The blood sample was taken from the abdominal aorta under anesthesia for assaying the levels of serum BLA, chemokine ligand CXCL9 and ß-endorphin (EP) by ELISA. Bilateral quadriceps femoris were sampled for observing histopathological changes after staining with conventional H.E. technique, and for detecting the expression levels of phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) by using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared with the blank control group, the number of rearing and horizontal grid-crossing times, struggling times of tail suspension test were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the immobility time was obviously prolonged (P<0.05) in the model group. Compared with the model group, both HCSM and medication groups had a significant increase of rearing, horizontal grid-crossing times and struggling times (P<0.05), and the immobility time had a significant decrease (P<0.05). But there were no significant differences in the total movement distance among the 5 groups (P>0.05), and in the 5 indexes of behavioral measurements between the HCSM and medication groups (P>0.05). The sham HCSM could also evidently increase the struggling times and reduce the immobility time (P<0.05). The contents of serum BLA, CXCL9 and ß-EP were obviously higher in the model group than in the blank control group (P<0.05), as well as remarkably lower in the HCSM and medication groups than in the model group (P<0.05). Whereas the expression levels of muscular p-AMPK and PGC-1α were considerably lower in the model group than in the blank control group (P<0.05), and significantly increased in both HCSM and medication groups relevant to the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the sham HCSM group, the contents of BLA, CXCL9 and ß-EP in serum of the HCSM group and contents of CXCL9, ß-EP in medication group were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the protein expressions of p-AMPK and PGC-1α in quadriceps femoris in both HCSM and medication groups were significantly increased (P<0.05). H.E. staining showed smaller intercellular space, uneven cytoplasmic staining in some muscle fibers, nucleus pyknosis and condensation, and inflammatory cell infiltration in the model group, which was milder in both HCSM and medication groups. CONCLUSION: HCSM can mitigate the stress behavioral state in CFS rats, which may be related with its functions in lowering the levels of serum BLA, CXCL9 and ß-EP, and activating AMPK/PGC-1α signaling pathway (balancing energy metabolism) in the quadriceps femoris.

Luteimonas gilva sp. nov., isolated from farmland soil.

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, strain H23T, was isolated from farmland soil sampled in Enshi City, Hubei Province, PR China. The isolate grew optimally at 28-32 °C, pH 8.0 and with 0.5 % (w/v) NaCl. Based on the results of 16S rRNA gene sequence and phylogenetic analyses, strain H23T belonged to the genus Luteimonas with the highest degree of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Luteimonas cucumeris Y4T (97.41 %). The DNA G+C content was 65.88 mol%. The average nucleotide identity and the Genome-to-Genome Distance Calculator results also showed low relatedness (below 95 and 70 %, respectively) between strain H23T and type strains in the genus Luteimonas. Ubiquinone-8 was the predominant quinone. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 and iso-C17 : 1 ω9c. Polar lipids were dominated by diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and unidentified phospholipids. Low digital DNA-DNA hybridization values, as well as physiological and biochemical differences, such as no casein hydrolysis, being catalase-negative, and tesing positive for cystine arylamidase, α-chymotrypsin and N-acetyl-ß-glucosaminidase, could distinguish strain H23T from its closely related species. Strain H23T is considered to represent a novel species in the genus Luteimonas, for which the name Luteimonas gilva sp. nov. is proposed, with strain H23T (=CCTCC AB 2019255T=KCTC 72593T) as the type strain.

Application of virtual laboratory in infectious disease teaching of medical students / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Objective:To explore the influence of virtual simulation experiment project on the experimental teaching effect of infectious diseases.Methods:Ten experimental contents were selected, including 3 703 students majoring in clinical five-year program, eight-year program, anesthesia, psychiatry and other majors of Medicine School of Central South University. The teaching effect and students' satisfaction were evaluated through examination and personal questionnaire survey. The measurement data was expressed by (mean ± standard deviation), the counting data was illustrated by percentage. The rate is compared by Chi-square test, and the difference is statistically significant when P<0.05. Results:All the students took part in the examination of 10 items. Except for item 8, the scores of students in all items had a large variance, with almost same number of high score students and low score students. Learning attitude is closely related to learning effect. Among the students who think it's necessary to learn, 20.5% and 53% have excellent learning effect and good learning effect, respectively. Compared with offline experiment teaching, virtual simulation teaching has both advantages and disadvantages, and needs to further improve the satisfaction of students.Conclusion:Virtual simulation teaching of infectious diseases is unable to completely replace offline teaching, and the combination of virtual and reality is more conducive to improving the quality of medical students.

Comparison of neuropsychological characteristics inpatients with amnestic and vascular mild cognitive impairment / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective To identify the differences inneuropsychological characteristics between amnestic(AMCI)and vascular mild cognitive impairment(VMCI).Methods Totally 297 old community residents with mild cognitive impairment(MCI)were divided into amnestic MCI(AMCI)and vascular MCI(VMCI)subgroup from Guangzhou MCI prevalence survey.The elderly with MCI were interviewed and tested with the Chinese version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA),the Mini-Mental state examination(MMSE),Auditory Verbal Learning Test(AVLT),the Clinical Dementia Rating scale(CDR),Functional Activity Questionnaire(FAQ),the Modified Hachinski Ischemic Scale(M-HIS),Center for Epidemiologic Studies(CES-DC)to evaluate neuropsychological characteristics.Results AMCI versus VMCI group showed that the total scores of MoCA were(9.63±5.17 vs.9.98±6.02),total scores of MMSE were(16.90±4.84 vs.16.90±6.19),AVLT immediate memory was(2.35±1.39 vs.2.91±1.84),AVLT delayed recall was(2.23±2.09 vs.2.47±2.20),AVLT delayed recognition was(7.33±3.98 vs.6.85±4.02)and total scores of CDR(0.5 vs.0.5),with no differences between the 2 groups(all P>0.05).Based on MoCA survey,AMCI versus VMCI group showed statistically significant differences(all P<0.05)in parameters of visual space and execution(0.71±1.02 vs.0.92±1.26),language function(0.34±0.56 vs.0.50±0.80)and abstract thinking(0.25±0.49 vs.0.15±0.43),but based on MMSE survey,no difference was found in the various cognitive domains between the two groups.The AMCI versus VMCI group showed statistically significant differences(all P<0.05)in parameters of CES-DC scale(1.75±4.27 vs.2.76±6.72),FAQ scale(4.42±4.66 vs.8.71±7.03),M-HIS scale(0.40±0.64 vs.7.59±3.53).Conclusions There is no significant difference in general cognitive impairment between AMCI and VMCI,but the visual space and execution,language function are more impaired in AMCI than VMCI,and the abstract thinking,social function are more impaired with more depressive symptoms in VMCI than in AMCI.

Genotoxicity and reduced heat shock protein 70 in human airway smooth muscle cells exposed to cigarette smoke extract / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Cigarette smoke is associated with the development of several diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The purpose of this study was to investigate genotoxicity and heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) in human airway smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE). HASMCs was exposed to CSE with different doses for 24 h. The level of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) was determined by using HPLC-ECD, the DNA damage was analyzed by using comet assay, and apoptosis was examined by using Annexin-FITC/PI staining. The production of Hsp70 after CSE stimulation was tested. Results indicated that CSE significantly increased the level of 8-OHdG, DNA damage and cell apoptosis, and reduced the production of Hsp70. In particular, levels of Hsp70 were inversely correlated with 8-OHdG, DNA damage and cell apoptosis. It was concluded that cigarette smoke induced genotoxicity and decreased the production of cell protective protein Hsp70, which may contribute to the development of some airway diseases.

Genotoxicity and reduced heat shock protein 70 in human airway smooth muscle cells exposed to cigarette smoke extract / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Cigarette smoke is associated with the development of several diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The purpose of this study was to investigate genotoxicity and heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) in human airway smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE). HASMCs was exposed to CSE with different doses for 24 h. The level of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) was determined by using HPLC-ECD, the DNA damage was analyzed by using comet assay, and apoptosis was examined by using Annexin-FITC/PI staining. The production of Hsp70 after CSE stimulation was tested. Results indicated that CSE significantly increased the level of 8-OHdG, DNA damage and cell apoptosis, and reduced the production of Hsp70. In particular, levels of Hsp70 were inversely correlated with 8-OHdG, DNA damage and cell apoptosis. It was concluded that cigarette smoke induced genotoxicity and decreased the production of cell protective protein Hsp70, which may contribute to the development of some airway diseases.

Impact of aging on the secretion of insulin-like growth factor-1 in the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells of rats in vitro / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the secretion of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells (CCSMCs) in rats of different ages and explore the possible relationship of IGF-1 with aging-related erectile dysfunction (ED).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We primarily cultured CCSMCs of rats aged 4, 12 and 24 months, and identified them by immunohistochemistry. We quantitatively cultured the CCSMCs in 6-well culture plates, determined the levels of IGF-1 secreted from the CCSMCs by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and analyzed the effect of age on the IGF-1 level.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CCSMCs were successfully cultured in vitro. The level of IGF-1 secreted from the CCSMCs was decreased with the increase of age, with 7.1 ng/10(5) cells in the 4-month-old group, 2.2 ng/10(5) cells in the 12-month group, and 1.9 ng/10(5) cells in the 24-month group, with statistically significant differences among the three groups (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The secretion of IGF-1 is reduced with the increase of age, and the decreased expression of IGF-1 might be associated with aging-related ED.</p>

Seed germination and young seedling propagation of Anoectochilus roxburghii / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of different media on seed germination and young seedling propagation of Anoectochilus roxburghii. METHODS: A. roxburghii seeds were cultured in 6 basal media for 12 weeks, and germination rates were calculated; orthogonal design was used to study the effects of NAA and 6-BA on the propagation of young seedlings of A. roxburghii. After 4 months, the leaf number, stem internode number, root number, the length of root, plant height, and fresh mass were measured respectively. RESULTS: The effects of different media on seed germination and protocorm differentiation of A. roxburghii were different. Germination rate was the highest on MS medium, which was 60.38%, and protocorm differentiation was optimal on half-strength MS medium. Different combinations of NAA and 6-BA didn't show significant difference on the growth of young seedlings of A. roxburghii, and the appropriate medium was 1/2MS + NAA 1.0 g · L-1 + 6-BA 2.0 mg · L-1. CONCLUSION: The optimization of culture medium can stimulate seed germination and young seedling propagation of A. roxburghii. Copyright 2012 by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.

Pharmacokinetic study on glycyrrhetinic acid in rats ig administrated by Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle Decoction / 中草药

Objective: To establish an LC-MS/MS method for determination of glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) in plasma after ig administration of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle (Zhigancao) Decoction in rats in vivo. Methods: Treating plasma with ethyl acetate protein precipitation and taking reseveratrol was used as the internal standard (IS), the residues were analyzed with LC-MS/MS system (Agilent ORBAX SB-C18 RP column, 50 mm x 2.1 mm, 1.8 μm) with the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-water (80 : 20, 0.2% formic acid), flow-rate of 0.2 mL/min, and column temperature of 30 °C. Agilent 6410 triple quad mass spectrometer system with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source and negative ion mode was used as the detector in this study. Multi-reaction monitoring (MRM) was used to detect GA by using ion combinations of m/z 469.4→425.4 for GA and 227.1→143.0 for IS. Results: The calibration curve showed good linear regression (R2 = 0.997 1) within measurement ranges (33.4-8 560.0 ng/mL). Both the intra- and inter-day precision and variation RSD were less than 10%. The average recovery rates at low, medium, and high concentrations of GA were 75.3%, 78.2%, and 78.5%, respectively. Under these conditions, the pharmacokinetic parameters of GA in plasma of rats after ig administration of Zhigancao Decoction were t max (8.00 ± 1.13) h, Cmax (811.02 ± 300.25) ng/mL, and AUC0.24 (11 439.21 ± 3 367.36) ng/mL·h. Conclusion: The method provides a sensitive, accurate, precise, and reliable analytical procedure for detecting GA in rat plasma and studying its pharmacokinetics.

Association of snoring with metabolic syndrome in different ethnical populations in Xinjiang Boertala region / 中华全科医师杂志

ssociation of snoring with metabolic syndrome in the four ethnic populations in Boertala region of Xinjiang.

Pulmonary function testing in Chinese patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the diagnostic value of pulmonary function testing in Chinese patients with known pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) without history of lung/heart valve diseases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Pulmonary function testing was performed in 41 PAH patients diagnosed by right heart catheterization and in 17 healthy controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Normal pulmonary function testing results were found in 5 PAH patients (12.2%). Total lung capacity, vital capacity and FEV1 were significantly decreased in PAH patients [(80.27 +/- 11.46)% vs. (94.24 +/- 6.82)%; (79.09 +/- 14.89)% vs. (97.35 +/- 9.51)%; (75.40 +/- 16.58)% vs. (95.12 +/- 12.01)%, respectively, all P < 0.001], the ratio of residual volume/total lung capacity was significantly increased [(117.67 +/- 25.73)% vs. (93.39 +/- 10.87)%, P < 0.001]; FEV1/FVC and maximal expiratory flow of 25% to 75% tended to be lower (-6.0% and -19.4%, P = 0.21 and 0.09) while DLCO and DLCO/VA were significantly decreased by 36.6% and 29.8% (P < 0.001) compared with healthy controls.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Increased peripheral airway obstruction and normal lung resistance were found in these PAH patients. Normal pulmonary function testing results could not rule out the diagnosis of PAH.</p>

Effect of hepatitis B virus C protein on function of natural killer cell in NK-92 cells / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influence of hepatitis B virus C protein on the function of natural killer cell.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid pHBI-CMV-HBC was constructed and confirmed by double restrictive enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing analysis. Then the recombinant plasmid was transfected into NK-92 cells with lipofectamine encapsuled. The transfected NK-92 cells containing expressive HBV C protein was confirmed by Western Blot analysis. ELISA was employed to determine the IFN-gamma level secreted by NK-92 cells. And finally the cytotoxicities of NK cells were analysed by MTT colorimetry, with the hepatoblastoma cell line (HepG2) as target cell.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Western blotting confirmed the expression of HBV C protein in the NK-92 cells transfected with pHBI-CMV-HBC. NK cytotoxicities and IFN-gamma secretion level of NK-92 cells transfected with recombinant plasmid significantly increased compared to control NK-92 cells transfected with blank plasmid (P < 0.01) and untransfected NK-92 cells(P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Transient expression of HBC can increase IFN-gamma secretion and cytotoxicities of NK-92 cells.</p>

Clinical characteristics of bocavirus infection among children / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinical characteristics of human bocavirus (HBoV) among children and to understand the association of HBoV with human diseases.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Totally 148 nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) samples were collect from hospitalized children with acute respiratory infection during Oct. 2005 to Feb. 2006. Two serum samples were obtained from HBoV positive patients. PCR was used to assay all these samples and PCR products were sequenced.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>HBoV was positive in 11 of 148 NPA samples. The positive rate was 7.4 percent. The serum samples of HBoV infected patients showed that serum contained HBoV by PCR assay. All these HBoV positive patients had the clinical symptoms of bronchitis, bronchopneumonia and pneumonia. Some patients had diarrhea.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>All patients infected with HBoV had upper and lower respiratory tract infections. HBoV is a probable important pathogen of upper and lower respiratory tract infection. The HBoV could cause viremia. In addition, some HBoV patients had diarrhea. HBoV infection probably could also result in intestinal disease and other related symptoms.</p>

Improvement in erectile dysfunction after insulin-like growth factor-1 gene therapy in diabetic rats / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To determine whether adenoviral gene transfer of insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) to the penis of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats could improve erectile capacity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>THE STZ diabetic rats were transfected with AdCMV-betagal or AdCMV-IGF-1. These rats underwent cavernous nerve stimulation to assess erectile function and their responses were compared with those of age-matched control rats 1 to 2 days after transfection. In control and transfected STZ diabetic rats, IGF-1 expression were examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot and histology. The penis beta-galactosidase activity and localization of the STZ diabetic rats were also determined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>One to two days after transfection, the beta-galactosidase was found in the smooth muscle cells of the diabetic rat penis transfected with AdCMV-betagal. One to 2 days after administration of AdCMV-IGF-1, the cavernosal pressure, as determined by the ratio of maximal intracavernous pressure-to-mean arterial pressure (ICP/MAP) and total intracavernous pressure (ICP), was increased in response to cavernous nerve stimulation. Transgene expression was confirmed by RT-PCR, Western blot and histology.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Gene transfer of IGF-1 significantly increased erectile function in the STZ diabetic rats. These results suggest that in vivo gene transfer of IGF-1 might be a new therapeutic intervention for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in the STZ diabetic rats.</p>

Effects of acupoint catgut embedding therapy and complex prescription in TCM on blood vessel endothelial function and insulin sensitivity in diabetic rats / 中华中医药杂志

Objective: To approach the mechanisms of prevention and treatment of diabetic microangiopathy(DMAP) by observing the effect of acupoint catgut embedding therapy(ACET) and complex prescription in TCM(CPTCM) on blood vessel endothelial function and insulin sensitivity(ISI).Methods: To establish model rats by abdominal cavity injecting alloxan.After being treated respectively with ACET,CPTCM for 16 weeks,plasma endothelins(ET),serum nitric oxide(NO),urinary albumin excretion(UAE),ISI were detected.Results: Compared with normal control group,the content of ET and UAE in model group increased,but ISI and NO decreased remarkably.After being treated,ET and UAE decreased remarkably,NO and ISI increased notably(P