Wenjing Zhitong recipe exhibits potential anti-primary dysmenorrhea properties by inhibiting COX2 and PKC signaling pathway in rats induced by estradiol benzoate and oxytocin

Objective:To explore the effect and mechanism of action of the Wenjing Zhitong recipe(WZR)in primary dysmenorrhea(PD)treatment.Methods:Uterine contractions were induced by estradiol benzoate and oxytocin in a PD model and WZR was administrated.The rate of change in uterine contractility and the writhing test were used to evaluate the effects of WZR.The serum levels of prostaglandin F_(2a)(PGF_(2a))and prostaglandin E_2(PGE_2),and the activity of cyclooxygenase-2(COX2)were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The changes in phosphor-phospholipase C(pPLC/PLC),phosphor-protein kinase C(pPKC/PKC),and connexin 43(CX43)expression were detected using immunohistochemistry and western blot.Results:WZR significantly reduced the rate of change in uterine contractility and writhing times in the PD model.WZR treatment inhibited the enzymatic activity of COX2 and reduced the levels of PGF_(2a),PGF_(2a)/PGE2and COX2 in the PD model.WZR also significantly reduced the expression of pPLC/PLC,pPKC/PKC and CX43.Targeting the inhibition of COX2 activity,caffeic acid and 1-acetyl-β-carboline were validated as the active ingredients in WZR responsible for reducing uterine contractions.Conclusion:WZR attenuated PD by inhibiting COX2 activity,downregulating PGF_(2a)/PGE_2 expression,and inhibiting the PKC signaling pathway.

CLINICAL OBSERVATION ON 96 CASES OF PRIMARY DYSMENORRHEA TREATED BY MEDICINE-SEPARATED MOXIBUSTION AND INVESTIGATION ON ITS MECHANISMS

Objective： To observe the therapeutic effect of medicine-separated moxibustion for primary dysmenorrhea and its influence on plasma hormone level. Methods. Ninety-six patients suffering from primary dysmenorrhea were randomly and evenly divided into trealment group treated with medicine-separated moxibustion of Shenque （神阙 CV 8, 3-5 cones every time, beginning 1 week before onset of menstruation and stopping on the 3^rd day after onset, with 10 sessions being a therapeutic oourse, 3 courses all together）, and control group treated with oral administration of Yueyueshu （月月舒 menstruation-smoothing granule, 10 g/time, b.i.d, 3 courses altogether）. Menses prostaglandin E2（PGF2α） and plasma oxytocin （OT） during menstruation were determined by radioimmunoassay. Results; After the treatment, of the two 48 cases in treatment and control groups, 18 and 5 were cured, 24 and 9 had marked improvement in their symptoms, 6 and 26 had improvement, 0 and 8 failed in the treatment, with the total effective rates being 100. 096 and 83.3% respectively, the therapeutic effect of treatment group was markedly superior to that of control group （P〈0.05）. After the treatment, the contents of menses PGF2α in treatment group and plasma OT in both groups were significantly lower than those of pre-treatment （ P〈 0.01 ）. The therapeutic effect of moxibustion was significant- ly better than that of medication in lowering plasma OT. Conclusion： Medicine-separated moxibustion works well in treating primary dysmenorrhea, and moxibustion induced decrease of menses PGF2α and plasma OT may contribute to its effect in relieving dysmenorrhea.

Effect of eye acupuncture on plasma PGF_(2α) in patients of primary dysmenorrhea

Objective To observe the clinical curative effect of eye acupuncture therapy on primary dysmenorrhea and the effect on content of prostaglandin F2α （PGF2α） in peripheral blood of menstrual periods. Methods One hundred and ten cases of primary dysmenorrhea were randomly divided into an eye acupuncture group （60 cases） and a medication group （50 cases）. In the eye acupuncture group, lower-jiao area, liver area, kidney area, heart area and spleen area, etc. were selected according to syndrome differentiation, and the eye acupuncture therapy was applied. In the medication group, 300 mg Ibuprofen sustained release capsule was orally administrated 1–2 days before menstrual onset or when the symptoms appeared, once every 12 hours, for 3–5 days totally, 3 menstrual periods constituting one therapeutic course. The content of PGF2α in peripheral blood, and the curative effects and recurrence 3 and 6 months after treatment were observed. Results Three months after treatment, the cured rate was 55.0% （33/60） and the total effective rate was 95.0% （57/60） in the eye acupuncture group, which were superior to those of 34.0% （17/50） and 82.0% （41/50） in the medication group （both P0.05）. According to the following-up after 6 menstrual cycles, the recurrence rate of 9.1% （3/33） in the acupuncture group was significantly lower than that of 35.3% （6/11） in medication group. The contents of PGF2α in peripheral blood of menstrual periods were reduced after treatment in the two groups （both P0.01）. Conclusion The curative effect of eye acupuncture on primary dysmenorrhea is significant, with the level of PGF2α in peripheral blood of menstrual periods reduced.

原发性闭角型青光眼血管内皮、血小板功能改变及与中医证型关系的研究

目的探讨原发性闭角型青光眼的发病机理。方法将 90例闭角型青光眼患者分为慢闭组、急闭Ⅰ组和急闭Ⅱ组 ,并与 2 4例正常人进行对照 ,对其血管内皮和血小板功能指标的改变及与中医辨证分型的关系进行了研究。结果慢闭组、急闭Ⅱ组与正常组相比 ,血浆血栓素B2 (TXB2 )、血浆 β -血栓球蛋白 ( β -TG)、vonWillebrand因子 (vWF)、6 -酮 -前列环素F1α( 6 -keto-PGF1α)、T K比值均有显著性差异 (P <0 .0 5或P <0 .0 1 ) ;而急闭Ⅰ组与正常组相比 ,各项指标均无显著性差异 (P >0 .0 5 )。闭角型青光眼中医辨证分型各组与正常组比较 ,均表现为TXB2 、β-TG、vWF和T K比值升高 ,6 -keto-PGF1α下降。其中肝郁气滞证和肝阴虚阳亢证组分别与正常组相比 ,TXB2 、β -TG、vWF、6 -keto -PGF1α和T K比值均有显著性差异 (P <0 .0 5或P <0 .0 1 ) ;肝胃虚寒证组与正常组相比 ,T K比值有显著性差异 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;而肝胆火旺证组与正常组相比 ,所有指标均无显著性差异 (P >0 .0 5 )。结论慢性闭角型青光眼患者和急性闭角型青光眼慢性期患者均存在明显的血管内皮细胞受损和血小板聚集性增强 ,血液呈现高凝状态的血瘀病理改变 ,而急性闭角型青光眼急性发作期患者的血瘀改变不明显。在中医证型中 ,这种血瘀病理以肝郁?