[Clinical trials of treatment of post-stroke foot drop by fire-needling plus stuck-needle-stretching].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effect of fire-needling plus stuck-needle-stretching and conventional acupuncture for post-stroke foot drop, so as to provide a reference foundation for optimizing clinical treatment regimen. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with post-stroke foot drop were equally randomized into a treatment group and a control group. In the treatment group, fire-needling plus stuck-needle-stretching was applied to acupoint pairs Jiexi (ST41)-Taichong (LR3), Xiajuxu (ST39)-ST41, Fenglong (ST40)-ST39, shangjuxu (ST37)-ST40, Zusanli (ST36)-ST37, Dubi (ST35)-ST36, Xuanzhong (GB39)-Qiuxu (GB40) on the affected side, and Chengshan (BL57) and Ashi points were swiftly pricked with red-hot filiform needle without needle retaining. In the conventional acupuncture group, the same acupoints were needled with filiform needles, and the treatment for both groups was given once a day, 6 times a week, for consecutive 4 weeks. The spasm severity of posterior triceps of the lower leg was evaluated using modified Ashworth scale, the tibial anterior muscle strength was measured using Lovett' and Martin's methods, the activities of daily living were assessed using modified Barthel's index, the walking ability was evaluated using Holden walking rating scale and the lower limb motor function assessed using Fugl-Meyer assessment scale, and the severity of foot drop was assessed in reference to Garceau criteria. RESULTS: After the treatment, the score of the modified Ashworth scale was significantly reduced (P<0.01), and those of Lovett muscle strength scale, Barthel index, Holden walking rating scale and Fugl-Meyer lower limb motor function scale were considerably increased in both groups versus their own pre-treatment (P<0.01). The therapeutic effect of the treatment group was significantly superior to that of the control group in reducing Ashworth scale score and in increasing the scores of Lovett muscle strength test, Barthel index, Holden walking function scale and Fugl-Meyer lower limb motor function scale (P<0.01). Of the two 30 cases in the control and treatment groups, 10(33.33%)and 14(46.67%) experienced a remarkable improvement, 10(33.33%)and 12(40.00%)were improved, 7(23.33%)and 3(10.00%)had a mild progress, 3(10.00%) and 1(3.33%) failed, with the excellent plus good effective rates being 66.67% and 86.67%, respectively, but without significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Both fire-needling plus stuck-needle-stretching and conventional acupuncture are effective in the treatment of post-stroke foot drop, but the former is relatively better.

Bioactive glycosides from the roots of Ilex asprella.

Context The roots of Ilex asprella (Hook. et Arn.) Champ. ex Benth. (Aquifoliaceae) are widely used in Chinese medicine to treat influenza, amygdalitis, pertussis, etc. Their mechanism of action is still unknown, which raises the need to identify new bioactive compounds in this plant. Objective In this study, we isolated a novel saponin containing sulphonic groups, namely, asprellcoside A (1) and a known phenolic glycoside compound (2) from the roots of Ilex asprella and evaluated their bioactivities. Materials and methods Molecular structures were elucidated by analysing their spectral and chemical properties. The viability of A549 cells was tested using a MTT assay. Ability of the compounds to inhibit viruses was determined using the neuraminidase activity assay. Their anti-inflammatory effects were tested using the IP-10 activity assay using various concentrations (compound 1: 0.6, 0.2, 0.6, 1.70, 5.00 and 15.00 µM; compound 2: 0.4, 1.2, 3.6, 11.0, 33.0 and 100 µM). Their inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) in rabbit plasma was determined at 60 and 80 µM. Results Both compounds inhibit influenza virus strain A/PuertoRico/8/1934 (H1N1) strongly with EC50 values of 4.1 and 1.7 µM, respectively. Both compounds inhibit the secretion of IP-10 with EC50 values of 6.6 and 2.5 µM, respectively. Compound 1 alone inhibited platelet aggregation significantly, with the rate of suppression being 47 ± 8 and 38 ± 3%, at 60 and 80 µM, respectively. Conclusions The results suggest that both compounds may be valid therapeutics against influenza virus infection and that compound 1 may be a novel agent for treating thrombosis.

Inhibitory activities of some traditional Chinese herbs against testosterone 5α-reductase and effects of Cacumen platycladi on hair re-growth in testosterone-treated mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Many traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) have been used for hundreds of years for hair blackening and hair nourishing, and now many of them are commonly used in Chinese herbal shampoo to nourish the hair and promote hair growth. AIMS OF THE STUDY: The present study was performed to screen 5α-reductase (5αR) inhibitors from traditional Chinese medicines, evaluate its hair growth promoting activity in vivo, and further investigate its effects on androgen metabolism and the expression of 5αR II in hair follicles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine TCM which were dried, ground and extracted by maceration with 75% ethanol or distilled water were used for screening 5αR inhibitors, and enzymes were extracted from the rat epididymis. The leaves of Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco was used to evaluate the in vivo anti-androgenic activity. Skin color was observed daily and the hair re-growth was assessed by assigning the hair growth score. The longitudinal sections of hair follicles were used for observing follicle morphology, classifying of distinct stages of hair follicle morphogenesis and calculate the average score. The transverse sections were used for determination of hair follicle counts. Testosterone (T), Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and Estradiol (E2) levels in serum and skin tissue were detected by ELISA kits. The immunofluorescence assay was used to detect the influence of CP-ext on 5αR expression in dorsal skin. RESULTS: We found the extract of Ganoderma lucidum (GL-ext), Polygonum multiflori (PM-ext), Cacumen platycladi (CP-ext) and Cynomorium songaricum (CS-ext) showed stronger 5αR inhibitory activity. CP-ext (5mg and 2mg/mouse/day) could significantly shorten the time of the dorsal skin darkening and got longhaired (P<0.01), and showed high hair re-growth promoting activity. Furthermore the histological data of hair follicles in each group showed that CP-ext could promote the growth of hair follicle and slowed down hair follicles enter the telogen. What's more CP-ext significantly reduced DHT levels and down-regulated the expression of 5αRⅡin skin (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: GL-ext, PM-ext, CP-ext and CS-ext showed strong 5αR inhibitory activity. CP-ext possesses high hair growth promoting activity in the in vivo androgen-sensitive mouse model via inhibiting the 5αR activity, decreasing the DHT levels and in turn suppressing the expression of 5αR. Our study may contribute to the development of a new generation of herbal supplements with clearer material basis of pharmacodynamic for treating androgenic alopecia (AGA).

[Pharmacokinetic study of six aconitine alkaloids in aconiti lateralis radix praeparata in beagle dogs].

OBJECTIVE: To study the pharmacokinetics characteristics of six Aconitum alkaloids aconitine (AC), mesaconitine (MA), hypaconitine (HA), benzoylaconine (BAC), benzoylmesaconine (BMA) and benzoylhypaconine (BHA) in beagle dogs. METHODS: An ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed for simultaneous quantitation of six Aconitum alkaloids in beagle dog plasma after oral administration of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata decoction. UPLC/MS/MS system coupled with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source was performed in multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. Sample preparation was performed with solid-phase extraction(SPE) on a 3 mL HLB cartridge before the analysis. The separation was applied on a Waters C8 column (100 mm x 2.1 mm, 1.7 microm) and a gradient elution of methanol and 0.2% formic acid-water was used as mobile phase. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by the results of the analysis through the DAS 2. 1 software (Drug and Statistics for Windows). RESULTS: The results showed that the fitting model for the six Aconitum alkaloids was the one-compartment model pharmacokinetics. CONCLUSION: The method is successfully used for the pharmacokinetic evaluation of the six Aconitum alkaloids in beagle dog plasma, it can help monitor the ADME/Tox process when taking Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata by observing the pharmacokinetic process. The results provide a good reference for clinical treatment and safe application of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata.

[Study on effect of heavy metal cadmium ions on the ultramicrostructure damage of Pheretima aspergillum gastrointestinal epithelial cells].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of cadmium ions of different concentrations on gastrointestinal epithelial cells structure of Pheretima aspegillum (PA). METHODS: PA were contaminated with cadmium ions of different concentrations,and the structure of the body skin was observed, under light microscope and transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: With the increasing of cadmium ions concentration, a large number of lysosomal hyperplasia could be seen in the PA intestinal epithelial cells, the Golgi complex distributed around, and some Golgi complex hyperplasiaed, extended to a large bubble, microvilli, cilia arranged in irregular, disordered. While in the group contaminated with the high concentration cadmium ions, such as 30 mg/kg, the microvilli of the PA intestinal epithelial cells contracted, necrotic ulcer lesions occurred in the ciliated cells. CONCLUSION: The ultrastructure damage extent of PA gastrointestinal epithelial cells is dependent on the amount of the heavy metal contamination. PA with lower concentration Cd contamination shows mainly lysosomal proliferation, indicating heavy metal accumulation in lysosomes to eliminate toxic substances as a responsible reaction, this kind of damage is reversible. However, PA with higher concentration Cd contamination shows mainly microvilli and mitochondrial damage, nuclear membrane disintegration, nucleoplasm spillover, leading to necrosis, irreversible damage, indicating heavy metal accumulation of PA is related to this trait of intestinal epithelial cells.

[Study on the quantitative change of anthraquinonoids of Rhei in the preparation of dachengqi].

OBJECTIVE: To study the scientific evidence of the traditional preparation of Dachengqi: "Boiling Aurantii Immaturus and Magnoliae Officinalis first, and then adding Rhei to decoct together. Discarding the dregs, adding Natrii Sulfas into the decoction and drinking the upper solution when the Natrii Sulfas has dissolved completely". METHOD: The concentrations of free and combined anthraquinonoids(emodin, rhein, chrysophanol, physcion) in different decoctions were determined with HPLC method respectively. RESULT: When Natrii Sulfas, Aurantii Immaturus and Magnolias Officinalis are decocted with Rhei in different schemes, the concentrations of anthraquinonoids were changed regularly. CONCLUSION: The scientific evidence of traditional preparation method greatly increased the concentrations of the active components in Dachengqi.