Abstract:Objective: Using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to observe the influence of the up-transmitting of acupuncture signal into the brain in health volunteers whose nerve trunk was blocked by anesthetics.Methods: Thirty-one healthy volunteers were divided into two groups, the control group of 20 cases, and the brachial plexus blockade (BPB) group of 11 cases, with supraclavicular BPB route adopted. With the control group 2 acupoints were randomly selected (Hegu and Quchi of both sides), while with the BPB group Hegu and Quchi of anesthetic arm side were selected. Siemens ECAM/ ICON SPECT system was used to conduct brain imaging using double imaging assay before acupuncture and99mTc-ECD imaging agent during acupuncture for cerebral perfusion. The data were quantitatively analyzed by blood functional changing rate (BFCR%) mathematics model.Results: Before acupuncture, the control and BPB groups showed insignificant change by SPECT, but after electro-acupuncture (EA), the control group displayed improved motor and sensory cortex excitability in basal nuclei, contra-lateral thalamus, parietal and frontal lobe; while BPB group was characterized with reduction of the blood perfusion and cell function of contra-lateral thalamus of anesthetized arm. The difference between the two groups was significant (P<0.01).Conclusion: (1) After BPB, the up-transmitting of the acupuncture signal via upper limb into the brain, and its strength was impaired or blocked; (2) After BPB, the effect of acupuncture on cerebral perfusion and brain cell function of contra-lateral thalamus was impaired or blocked.  
Abstract:Objective: To study the relationship between the activity changes of angiotensin II (Ang II) in plasma, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the pathophysiology of vascular dementia (VD) on the one hand and the therapeutic effects of ligustrazine (LIG) on VD and its mechanisms on the other hand.Methods: Case grouping: VD group with 50 cases (26 VD patients treated with LIG and 24 with Ginaton); cerebral infarction (CI) group with 62 cases (routine therapy was given) and control group (without organic disease in central nervous system) with 26 cases. Investigation method: To test cognitive function by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ), Hachinski Ischemic Scale (HIS) and P300 peak latency (P300PL). To measure the concentration of Ang II by radioimmunoassay (RIA) technology.Results: As compared with CI recovery phase or with control group, Ang II levels in CSF were markedly increased in VD group (P<0. 01), MMSE scores was significantly lowered (P<0. 01), P300PL was markedly prolonged (P<0.01). In VD group, after treatment with LIG or Ginaton, levels of Ang II in plasma or CSF were markedly lowered (P0.05).Conclusion: Ang II activity changes plays an important role in pathophysiological process of VD. LIG can improve cognitive function in VD. It may be correlated with improving of the disorders of Ang II in central nervous system.  
Abstract:Objective: To observe the effect of Xueshuantong injection (XST, with its ingredient as Notoginseng saponin, on acute cerebral infarction (ACI) and on blood coagulation and fibrinolysis, so as to comprehensively analyse the mechanism of XST.Methods: Fifty ACI patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, and XST group (30 patients) was treated with XST, and the control group (20 patients) given low molecular dextrose, as well as low molecular heparin calcium. The course of treatment for both groups was 15 days. The changes of effective rate, score of neurologic impairment, tissuetype plasminogen activator (tPA), inhibitor of plasminogen activator (PAI), D-D dimmer, antithrombinIII (AT-III), and fibrinogen (Fbg) were all observed.Results: The total effective rate of XST group was 73.33%, that of the control group 65. 00%. After the therapy, plasma level of tPA, ratio of tPA/PAI, and AT-III content were increased obviously, while the plasma level of PAI and D-D dimmer were decreased significantly (all P<0.01). But there was only insignificant difference between the 2 groups (P> 0.05).Conclusion: XST injection could be effective to ACI, the mechanism of which is probably related to improving the balance between plasminogen activator and its inhibitory factor, increasing the activity of fibrinolysin, inactivating thrombin, inhibiting platelet aggregation induced by thrombin, and decreasing blood coagulation.  
Keywords:Xueshuantong;acute cerebral infarction;tissue type plasminogen;plasminogen inhibitor;D-D dimmer;antithrombin-III;Fibrinogen
Abstract:Objective:To observe the clinical effect and protection of vascular endothelium of Zhixinkang Capsule (ZXKC) in middle-aged and old people with unstable effort angina and hyperlipidemia.Methods: Sixty-five patients with unstable effort angina were randomly divided into ZXKC group (34 cases) and control group (31 cases). Conventional western medical therapy was given to both groups, with ZXKC group receiving additional ZXKC treatment. Data of 20 healthy persons were taken as normal group. Forty-eight patients with hyperlipidemia were divided into ZXKC group treated with ZXKC (31 cases) and control group treated with Yixintong (17 cases). The changes of clinical symptoms and laboratory indexes in all the patients were observed before and after treatment.Results: In patients with unstable effort angina, the efficacy of treatment of ZXKC, the withdrawal rate of nitroglycerin, the relieving of symptoms, the improvement of the electrocardiogram, the counts of circulating endothelial cells, the content of platelet P-selectin, the content of plasma endothelin (ET), the activity of Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the activity of malonyldialdehyde (MDA) were all better than those in the control group. In patients with hyperlipidemia, there was no significant difference in lipids reduction between ZXKC group and the control group. In both groups, the total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], ET, oxidized low density lipoprotein, MDA, arteriosclerotic index (AI) all lowered obviously, while the SOD, HDL-C and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were all elevated markedly. In the ZXKC group, the nitric oxide (NO) increased significantly whereas the ET/CGRP and ET/NO decreased markedly. The total effective rate in symptom relieving, the markedly effective rate, the reduction of TC, ET and ET/CGRP, and the elevation of SOD in ZXKC group were all superior to those in the control group.Conclusion: ZXKC could effectively resist myocardial ischemia, relieve angina, reduce blood lipids, protect vascular endothelial cells, inhibit the activation of platelets, and resist lipid peroxidation.  
Keywords:unstable effort angina;hyperlipidemia;Zhixinkang capsule;protection of vascular endothelium;therapy of traditional Chinese medicine
Abstract:Objective: To compare the safety and efficacy of two compounds of dihydroartemisinin (DHA)—Artekin and Artekin (T) in the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria.Methods: The regimen of 8-tablet for 2 days of Artekin and Artekin (T) were applied to 100 patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria, who were randomly divided into two groups. Each group contained 50 cases. The cure rate, the mean parasites clearance time, the mean fever clearance and side-effects were observed to assess the safety and efficacy of the compounds used.Results: The mean parasites clearance time was 31.7±9.0 hours in the Artekin group and 32.8±8.8 hours in Artekin (T) group respectively; the mean fever clearance time was 12. 7±7. 2 hours in Artekin group and 16. 5±7. 9 hours in Artekin (T) group; there were no recrudescence case in both groups within the 28 days of follow-up, the cure rates in Artekin group and Artekin (T) groups were 100%. It indicated that the tolerability of both compounds were very good, the side-effects such as nausea, abdominal pain were mild and self-limited.Conclusion: The study preliminarily indicated that the DHA and PQ compounds were of high efficacy, rapid acting and low toxicity. Artekin is very promising as a cheap, simple, effective treatment for multi-resistance malaria in Cambodia.  
Abstract:Objective:To investigate the effect of prepared rhubarb on insulin resistance in patients with pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) and its mechanism.Methods: All the 92 patients accepted 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and insulin release test before and after treatment. These patients were divided into two groups (treated group and control group). Prepared rhubarb and nifedipine were given to the treated group, while nifedipine was given to the control group alone. Circulating endothelial cell (CEC), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured and glucose area under curve (GAUC), insulin area under curve (IAUC), insulin sensitivity index (ISI) were calculated. And 30 normal pregnant women were selected as the healthy group.Results: CEC, TNF-α, IL-6, GAUC and IAUC of PIH patients were significantly higher than those of the normal healthy group; while ISI of PIH patients was significantly lower than that of the healthy group. ISI was significantly negatively correlated to CEC, TNF-α and IL-6. After treatment, CEC, TNF-α, IL-6, GAUC decreased and ISI increased significantly in the treated group; while in the control group, all above-mentioned parameters showed no change.Conclusion: Prepared rhubarb can improve insulin resistance of PIH by reducing vascular endothelial cell’s damage.  
Abstract:Objective:In comparison with chemotherapy, to evaluate therapeutic effects on advanced pancreatic cancer treated by integrative Chinese and western medicine (ICWM) therapies.Methods: Based on the retrospective study of 56 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, life table was applied to the analysis of patients’ survival rate and χ2 test to the comparison of therapeutic response between ICWM and chemotherapy groups.Results: The results showed that 1-year survival rate in the ICWM group was 55. 37%±3.24%; 2-year survival rate 34. 61%±16. 31%; 3-year survival rate 25. 96%±24. 64%; 5-year survival rate 2596%±24.64%; and median survival period 16.3 months. However 1-year survival rate in the chemotherapy group was 21. 95%±27. 54%; 2-year survival rate 7. 31%±27. 54%; 3-year survival rate 0%; and median survival period 7. 5 months. The therapeutic effects between two groups were significantly different (P=0. 004). Further analysis suggested that the reduction of cancer mass in the ICWM group was more than that in chemotherapy group (P=0.049) and the improvement of advanced pancreatic cancer related-symptoms better than that of chemotherapy group (P = 0. 002).Conclusion: The ICWM comprehensive therapy is of important value in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer.  
Keywords:advanced pancreatic cancer;integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine;Clinical Study
Abstract:Objective: To observe the effect of Tiaoxin Recipe (TXR) on the spatial memory, brain mitochondrial energy metabolism of oxidation injured Alzheimer’s disease (AD) rats, and to explore the mechanism of TXR in treating AD.Methods: Eighty-eight SD rats were randomly divided into five groups (normal group, operative group, “AD” model group, TXR group and Aricept group). An oxygen free radical generation system (dihydroxy fumaric acid-trichloroferric-adenosine diphosphate, DHF-FeCl3-ADP) was used to create oxidation injured rat models mimic to AD; spatial learning and memory impairment (Morris water maze method), the activity of Succinate-oxidase, NADH-oxidase, CytC-oxidase (Clark oxygen electrode method) and the expression of cytochrome oxidase (CO) II mRNA (in situ hybridization method) were observed.Results: Compared with the normal group, the spatial memory, activity of CytCoxidase and COII mRNA expression of oxidation injured “AD” rats were obviously decreased; TXR, however, could improve these functions in “AD” rat models obviously.Conclusion: The mechanism of the action of TXR in treating AD was partly related to its effect on anti-oxidation which could improve brain mitochondrial energy metabolism.  
Abstract:Objective: To observe and elucidate the neuroprotective effect of Xingnaojing (XNJ) injection on hippocampal N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors of focal cerebral ischemia in rats.Methods: Cerebral ischemia was established by occluding the middle cerebral artery with an intraluminal suture technique in rats. Neurological deficit score, infarct volume and quantity of NMDA receptors were estimated in all groups and compared.Results: After being treated with XNJ, the score decreased in the initial 6 hours and infarct volume decreased in 24 hours. And within 24 hours, the quantity of NMDA receptors obviously decreased compared with the model group (P<0. 01). It indicated that XNJ could ameliorate neurological behavior of middle cerebral artery occlusion rats and down-regulate the expression of hippocampal NMDA receptors.Conclusion: The neuroprotective effect of XNJ on focal cerebral ischemia is possibly related to down-regulating the expression of NMDA receptors in rats.  
Abstract:Objective:To study the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) on pathomorphological changes of joints in rat model of chronic adjuvant arthritis.Methods: The rat chronic adjuvant arthritis model was established by subcutaneous injection of 0.1 ml of complete Freund’s adjuvant to the left hind sole. Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into the model group, the low frequency (2 Hz) EA group, the high frequency EA (100 Hz) group and the body acupuncture group. After being modeled except the model group, the other three groups were treated with EA or body acupuncture in Yanglingquan points (bilateral) for 3 weeks, the left ankle joints and metatarsal joints of rats were taken for pathological examination by fixing with 10% formalin and embedding in paraffin, sectioning and staining with HE.Results: Obvious inflammatory cell infiltration, loosened synovial tissue, damage of articular cartilage and proliferation of synovial cells and granulation tissue were observed in the sections of joints in model rats. These pathological changes were significantly improved after treatment, and the effect in the high frequency EA group were significantly superior to that in the low frequency EA and body acupuncture group.Conclusion: High frequency EA could significantly improve the pathomorphological changes of joints in chronic adjuvant arthritis rat models.  
Abstract:Objective: To study the effects of Dachengqi Tang (DCQT) granule on the proliferation of the intestinal epithelial cells in rats with experimental intestinal obstruction.Methods: Experimental intestinal obstruction models were established in rats and autoradiography with3 H-TdR was used to determine3H-TdR labeling counts of intestinal epithelial cells in rats.Results: DCQT granule had no effects on3H-TdR labeling counts of intestinal epithelial cells in normal rats. DCQT granule obviously increases the rate of renovation in intestinal epithelial cells of the intestinal obstruction rats.Conclusion: DCQT granule could reinforce the intestinal mucosa’s defensive function by means of increasing the proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells.