Effects of traditional Chinese herbal medicine San-HuangXie-Xin-Tang on gastrointestinal motility in mice

AIM: To investigate the effects of San-Huang-Xie-XinTang(SHXXT), a herbal product used in traditional Chinese medicine, on gastrointestinal(GI) motility in mice.METHODS: The in vivo effects of SHXXT on GI motility were investigated by measuring the intestinal transit rates(ITRs) using Evans blue in normal mice and in mice with experimentally induced GI motility dysfunction(GMD).RESULTS: In normal ICR mice, ITRs were significantly and dose-dependently increased by SHXXT(0.1-1 g/kg). GMD was induced by injecting acetic acid or streptozotocin intraperitoneally. The ITRs of GMD mice were significantly reduced compared to normal mice, and these reductions were significantly and dose-dependently inhibited by SHXXT(0.1-1 g/kg).CONCLUSION: These results suggest that SHXXT is a novel candidate for the development of a prokinetic agent that may prevent or alleviate GMD.     

不同频率冲击波针灸对膝骨性关节炎患者疼痛及功能活动的影响

目的:观察冲击波针灸治疗膝骨性关节炎的临床疗效。方法:选择膝骨性关节炎患者120例,随机分为冲击波针灸低频组、冲击波针灸中频组、冲击波针灸高频组和普通针刺组,每组30人。采用低、中、高频冲击波和普通针刺手法治疗,取患侧血海、梁丘、阳陵泉、膝眼及阿是穴,均隔日治疗1次,共治疗7次。以视觉模拟评分(VAS)法评价得气感与疼痛改善效果,并评价膝关节功能。结果:治疗后各组患者疼痛和功能活动较治疗前均有改善(P0.01),其中冲击波针灸中频组得气感、疼痛和功能活动改善效果较其它3组更佳(P0.05)。结论:中频冲击波针灸治疗膝骨性关节炎疗效更佳,适宜临床推广。     

吸吮棒棒糖对小儿阑尾切除术后胃肠功能影响的对照研究

目的探讨早期吸吮棒棒糖对促进小儿阑尾切除术后胃肠功能恢复的效果。方法采用前瞻性随机对照试验设计,将符合病例入选标准的66例阑尾切除术后患儿随机分为试验组和对照组。两组均采用常规治疗方法,对照组术后6 h麻醉清醒后即开始肢体的被动和主动活动,在病情允许的情况下于术后12 h开始早期下床活动;试验组除上述处理以外,术后6 h开始吸吮草莓味棒棒糖,每4 h吸吮1次,每次20~30 min,直至恢复进食为止。比较两组患儿术后肠鸣音恢复时间及肛门排气、排便时间。采用SPSS17.0软件进行统计学分析。结果两组均顺利完成了临床观察,试验组患儿术后肠鸣音恢复时间及肛门排气、排便时间短于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P值均O.01)。结论阑尾切除术后患儿早期吸吮棒棒糖有助于恢复肠蠕动,缓解术后腹胀,促进胃肠功能恢复。     

Elucidation of the functional role of flagella in virulence and ecological traits of Pseudomonas cichorii using flagella absence (ΔfliJ) and deficiency (ΔfliI) mutants

Understanding the infection mechanisms of pathogens will lead to better management of the associated diseases. The flagella of these pathogens play significant roles not only in bacterial motility, but also in virulence. In the present study, two genes involved in flagella construction, fliJ and fliI of Pseudomonas cichorii, were analyzed. The results revealed that these genes are vital for flagella formation and play significant roles not only in motility, but also in virulence. When we inoculated host plants with fliI- and fliJ-defective mutants (ΔfliJ and ΔfliI) through the dipping method, the degree of disease severity caused by both mutants was significantly reduced compared to those of the wild-type. However, the virulence of ΔfliI was stronger than that of ΔfliJ. Electron microscope observation, and swarming and leaf attachment assays indicated a reduced number of flagella in ΔfliI, but not complete absence, because of the presence of another copy of fliI. Furthermore, a vacuum infiltration assay revealed that flagella are indispensable in the pre- and post-penetration stages for complete virulence. Overall, we created semi-defective (ΔfliI) and completely defective (ΔfliJ) mutants and elucidated the fact that flagella play significant roles in virulence of the pathogen at different stages of the infection process.     

Motility of Campylobacter concisus isolated from saliva,feces, and gut mucosal biopsies

Campylobacter concisus is an emerging pathogen associated with gastrointestinal disorders such as gastroenteritis and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), but the species is also found in healthy subjects. The heterogeneous genome of C. concisus increases the likelihood of varying virulence between strains. Flagella motility is a crucial virulence factor for the well‐recognized Campylobacter jejuni; therefore, this study aimed to analyze the motility of C. concisus isolated from saliva, gut biopsies, and feces of patients with IBD, gastroenteritis, and healthy subjects. The motility zones of 63 isolates from 52 patients were measured after microaerobic growth in soft‐agar plates for 72 hours. The motility of C. concisus was significantly lower than that of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus. The motility of C. concisus varied between isolates (4–22 mm), but there was no statistical significant difference between isolates from IBD patients and healthy subjects (p = 0.14). A tendency of a larger motility zones was observed for IBD gut mucosa isolates, although it did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.13), and no difference was found between oral or fecal isolates between groups. In conclusion, the varying motility of C. concisus could not be related to disease outcome or colonization sites.     

Short abstinence: A potential strategy for the improvement of sperm quality

Objective

To determine the effect of short (4 h) and long (4 days) abstinence periods on sperm quality based on functional and biochemical parameters in a population of normozoospermic men.

Tachykinin NK1 Receptors Mediate Atropine-Resistant Net Aboral Propulsive Complexes in Porcine Ileum

Background: We studied the effects of tachykinin receptor antagonists on fluid-induced, spontaneous net aboral propulsive complexes in isolated, vascularly perfused porcine ileal segments. Methods: Fluid was instilled at a constant rate into the proximal opening of the segment, resulting in regular, rapidly propagating propulsive complexes along the entire ileal segment in the aboral direction. Results: NK1, NK2 or NK3 receptor antagonists (CP99994, SR48968 and SR142801 all at 10 -6 M) had no effect on the frequency of propulsive complexes. Atropine (10 -6 M) abolished the propulsive complexes for 15.0 ± 1.3 min ( n = 18). In spite of continued atropine infusion, the propulsive complexes reappeared. Infusion of the NK1 receptor antagonist CP99994 (10 -6 M) during continued atropine infusion blocked net aboral propulsive complexes in 5 experiments for 12.2 ± 2.4 min and resulted in motor paralysis in 2 experiments. SP release, measured in the venous effluent, was significantly increased in relation to propulsive complexes during atropine infusion. Conclusion: We conclude that, in the porcine ileum, tachykinins mediate atropine-resistant net aboral propulsive complexes acting on NK1 receptors.     

Intolerance to Cereals Is Not Specific for Coeliac Disease

Background: While dyspeptic patients in primary care often receive empirical treatment with antisecretory drugs, a substantial number suffer from motility disturbances which may be associated with their complaints. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of treatment with antisecretory treatment with a prokinetic agent in uninvestigated dyspepsia. Methods: 563 patients presenting dyspeptic complaints to the general practitioner with a low likelihood of organic (ulcer, reflux or malignant) disease, i.e. absence of alarm symptoms or a history of peptic ulcer disease or gastro-oesophageal reflux disease were included. They entered a randomized, double-blind trial of 4 weeks of ranitidine 150 mg bid compared with 4 weeks of cisapride 10 mg bid, with 3 months follow-up. Treatment failure was defined as no response to treatment or a relapse of symptoms within the follow-up period. Also studied were the effect on dyspepsia severity, response to treatment after 4 weeks, and time to relapse. Results: For all randomized patients, the incidence of overall treatment success after 3 months follow-up with antisecretory treatment was 107/271 (39.5%) and with a prokinetic agent 122/282 (43.3%); the risk difference was 3.8% (95% CI-4.4% to 12.0%); the difference in symptom severity score after 4 weeks of treatment was 0.3; 95% CI-0.4% to 1.0%. For patients responding to 4 weeks of treatment, relapsefree time was 86 days in the prokinetic group and 79 days in the acid suppression group (P = 0.005). Conclusions: Antisecretory and prokinetic therapies are equally effective in primary care patients with uninvestigated dyspeptic complaints, though relapse rates are lower in patients treated with prokinetic treatment.