Research Progress on the Mechanism of Single-Chinese Medicinal Herbs in Treating Diabetes Mellitus

Treating diabetes mellitus （DM） with Chinese medicine （CM） has had a few thousands years of history. Past Chinese medical texts had already recorded numerous medicinal herbs as well as recipes for treating DM and accumulated much clinical experience. In the following article, the prevention of DM using CM in the past 5 years is retrospectively studied, and mainly focuses on the usage of simple Chinese herbal extracts or monomers in terms of cellular as well as molecular biology.

Research progress of the central mechanism of acupuncture-moxibustion for simple obesity

Obesity often results when regular caloric intake exceeds the energy expenditure. Hypothalamus is the center that regulates feeding and energy balance inside the body, especially the lateral hypothalamic area（LHA） and ventromedial nucleus（VMN）. Acupuncture-moxibustion has achieved significant progress in treating simple obesity, and the relevant studies have revealed the central action mechanism underlying the treatment. By reviewing the literatures associated with the mechanism studies on acupuncture-moxibustion for simple obesity, this article is going to provide clinical and scientific guidance for the treatment of simple obesity with acupuncture-moxibustion.

Effect of Tangnaikang on TGF-β_1-induced transdifferentiation of human renal tubular epithelial HK-2 cells

OBJECTIVE： To explore the function of Tangnai- kang （TNK） in the prevention and treatment of re- nal interstitial fibrosis through transdifferentiation of the human renal tubular epithelial cell line HK-2 induced bytransforming growth factor-β1 （TGF-β1）. METHODS： HK-2 cells cultured in dulbecco＇s modi- fied eagle medium/F12 （1：1） with 10% fetal calf se- rum were divided into six groups： blank control group, TGF-β1 group （TGF-β1 10 ng/mL）, serum con- trol group （TGF-β1 10 ng/mL ＋ 10% serum）, treat- ment group 1 （TGF-β1 10 ng/mL ＋ 5% TNK serum）, treatment group 2 （TGF-β1 10 ng/mL＋10% TNK se-rum）, and treatment group 3 （TGF-β1 10 ng/mL＋ 20% TNK serum）. Cell proliferation was detected by 4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl）-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliu m bromide assay. Expression of a-smooth muscle ac- tin （a-SMA） and E-cadherin were observed by im- munohistochemical assay. The contents of collagen Ⅰ （Col Ⅰ）, collagen Ⅲ（ColⅢ）, and fibronectin （FN） in the culture medium supernatant were detected by ELISA. RESULTS： E-cadherin was expressed and α-SMA was not expressed in normal HK-2 cells. In HK-2 cells cultured with TGF-β1, α-SMA expression signifi- cantly increased, HK-2 cells significantly proliferat- ed, and secretion of Col Ⅰ, Col Ⅲ, and FN significantly increased compared with the blank control group （all P〈0.05）. In the HK-2 cells cultured with TGF-β1 and TNK serum, the expression of α-SMA signifi- cantly decreased, the expression of E-cadherin sig- nificantly increased, and the cell proliferation and the secretion of Col Ⅰ, Col Ⅲ and FN were significant- ly inhibited compared with the TGF-β1 group （all P〈 0.05. CONCLUSION： TNK can inhibit cell proliferation and reduce secretion of Col Ⅰ, Col Ⅲ, and FN.This in- dicates that TNK can inhibit transdifferentiation of human renal tubular epithelial cells induced by TGF-β1, with the effect of preventing and treating renal interstitial fibrosis.

Effects of Dachengqi Decoction(大承气汤) on Morphological Changes in Enteric Nerve System of Rats with Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome

Objective： To observe the morphological changes in enteric nerve system （ENS） of rats with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome （MODS） treated by Dachengqi Decoction （大承气汤, DCQD）. Methods： Fifty Wistar rats were randomly assigned to the control group, MODS model group and DCQD treated group. The rats in MODS model group and DCQD treated group were injected Escherichia coil （E. coli） suspension into abdominal cavity under sterile condition. The DCQD treated group was gavaged with DCQD 2 days before the E. coil suspension was injected. Twenty-four hours after injection, the proximal segment of intestine was resected and studied by immunohistofluorescence using vesicular acetylcholine transporter, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide （VIP）, substance P （SP） and neuronal nitric oxide synthase （nNOS） antibodies. The whole-mount preparations were observed by laser scanning confocal microscope to detect the changes of quantity and fluorescence integral optical density （IOD） value of intestine enteric nerves. Results： Compared with the control group, the quantity and IOD value of acetylcholine （ACh）, VIP, SP and nitric oxide （NO） nerves of intestine in the MODS group were significantly decreased （P〈0.01）, and the network of enteric nerves was remarkably disrupted. Compared with the MODS group, the quantity and fluorescence IOD value of ACh, VIP, SP and NO nerves in the DCQD group were significantly increased （P〈0.01）, and the network of enteric nerves was remarkably recovered. Conclusions： DCQD can protect and repair damage in the network of ACh, SP, NO and VIP nerves in rats with MODS, which may be one of mechanisms involved in promoting gastrointestinal motility by DCQD.

Effect of Zibu Shenjing Fang(滋补肾精方) on Growth and Development of the Mouse with Kidney-essence Insufficiency and Study on the Mechanism

Objective:To investigate effects of Zibu Shenjing Fang(滋补肾精方) on growth and development of the mouse with insufficiency of kidney-essence and the mechanism.Methods:Total 50 mice were randomly divided into a normal group,a model group,a Jingui Shenqi Wan(金匮肾气丸) group,a Zibu Shenjing Fang high dose group and a Zibu Shenjing Fang low dose group,10 mice in each group.The kidney-essence insufficiency mouse model was established by use of threat-injuring the kidney combined with over-fatigue.At the same time of modeling,the mice in the model group were intragastrically administrated with saline 20 mL·kg-1·d-1,in the Jingui Shenqi Wan group with suspension of the Jingui Shenqi Wan 2.7 g·kg-1·d-1,in the Zibu Shenjing Fang high dose group with Zibu Shenjing Fang 20 g·kg-1·d-1 and in the Zibu Shenjing Fang low dose group with Zibu Shenjing Fang 10 g·kg-1·d-1,for 21 consecutive days.The general state was observed,the body weight was weighted,and serum growth hormone(GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1) contents were detected.Results:Compared with model group,Zibu Shenjing Fang groups and Jingui Shenqi Wan group could improve manifestation of the mouse with kidney-essence insufficiency,increase body weight of the mouse and serum GH and IGF-1 contents,especially in the high dose group.Conclusion:Zibu Shenjing Fang gives play to the function of tonifying the kidney and replenishing essence through regulating GH and IGF-1 levels,so as to influence growth and development of the mouse.

Theoretic analysis of Professor Shao Jing-ming's ‘Three-acupoint and Five-needle Method’ for asthma

＆#39;Three-acupoint and Five-needle Method＆#39; is a summary of Prof. Shao Jing-ming＆#39;s clinical experience in the treatment of asthma for years. It is used to alleviate asthma during seizure and to improve the pulmonary functions, strengthen the body constitution and prevent recurrence in the remission stage. This article introduces the theoretic source and basic principle, and concrete operating method, i.e. puncturing bilateral Feishu （BL 13）, Dazhui （GV 14） and bilateral Fengmen （BL 12）, and adding acupoints based upon pattern identification, in combination of moxibustion and cupping therapy for promoting the clinical application of this method.