Effect of triptolide on the expression of RANTES in the renal tissue of diabetic nephropathy rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of triptolide (TPL) on the renal tissue of diabetic rats and its possible mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>SD rats were randomly divided into the normal control group (as the normal group), the diabetic model group (the model group), the low dose TPL treatment group (the low dose TPL group, TPL 0.2 mg/kg by gastrogavage), the high dose TPL treatment group (the high dose TPL group, TPL 0.4 mg/kg by gastrogavage). Equal volume of normal saline was given to rats in the normal group and the model group. Five rats were randomly selected from each group at week 4, 8, and 12 of the experiment to detect body weight, kidney weight, 24 h urinary albumin (24 h UAL), plasma glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), total triglyeride (TG), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), white blood cell (WBC), and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). The mRNA and protein expression of regulated upon activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) in the renal tissue was assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The renal tissue was pathologically stained by HE, PAS, and Masson staining. The glomerular and renal tubular interstitial lesions were observed at each time point. The glomerular sclerosis index (GSI) was observed by PAS staining, and the renal interstitial filrosis index (RIFI) was calcutated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the same group at week 4, the expression of 24 h UAL, RANTES, GSI, and RIFI at week 12 significantly decreased in two TPL groups (P <0.01). Compared with the same group at week 8, the expression of 24 h UAL, RANTES, GSI, and RIFI at week 12 also significantly decreased in the two TPL groups (P <0. 05, P <0.01). Compared with the normal group, body weight and the kidney weight obviously decreased at week 4, 8, and 12 in the model group (P <0. 01); 24 h UAL, FBG, TG, TC, HbA1c, RANTES, GSI, and RIFI were obviously elevated (P <0.01). Compared with the model group, 24 h UAL, RANTES, GSI, and RIFI also decreased in the two TPL treatment groups (P <0.01). Compared with the low dose TPL group, they were attenuated in the high dose TPL group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TPL could not only inhibit the over-expression of RANTES, but also improve the glomerular sclerosis and renal interstitial fibrosis in the renal tissue of diabetic rats.</p>

Clinical observation on effect of auricular acupoint pressing in treating sleep apnea syndrome / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinical effect and mechanism of auricular acupoint pressing (AAP) in treating sleep apnea syndrome (SAS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-five patients with SAS were randomly divided in to the AAP group (30 patients) and the control group (15 patients) to observe the changes of clinical symptoms, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), apnea index (AI), hypopnea index (HI) and minimum blood oxygen saturation (mSaO2) in night before and after treatment by multiple channel polysomnography (PSG).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Clinical symptoms were significantly alleviated in the AAP group after treatment, with improvement in various parameters monitored by PSG (P < 0.01), showing significantly reduced AHI, AI and HI and increased mSaO2 (P < 0.01). While in the control group, no improvement was found either in clinical symptom or in PSG parameters (P > 0.05). Comparison between the two groups showed significant difference (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>AAP is an effective treatment of SAS, it provides a facilitate, economic and safe therapy for early prevention and treatment to SAS.</p>