[Discussion on published in ].

Professor ' team from Chengdu University of TCM published in on July 29, 2019, which demonstrates that acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy is safety and effective for mild and moderate chronic stable angina. Sixteen experts at home and abroad conducted serious discussions on the research design, evaluation methods, principles and mechanisms, clinical significance and enlightenment of future acupuncture research, and provided practical suggestions for acupuncture and moxibustion to go global and gain international recognition.

[Evidence-based medicine research on low-back pain with sham-acupuncture controlled design and the analysis on dynamic acupoint positioning].

To explore the positioning of acupoints, a research was done with PubMed for system reviews and clinical trials on treatment of low-back pain with sham-acupuncture controlled design from January 1, 2010 to October 27, 2017. Six system reviews and 12 sham-controlled acupuncture random trials were found. The statistical difference was not found in all the 6 trials with standard acupoint compared with the sham-acupuncture among the 8 penetrating skin sham-control trials.

[Effects of berberine on expression of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha and glucokinase activity in mouse primary hepatocytes].

Objective: To observe the expression of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha (HNF4alpha) and the activity of key enzyme glucokinase (GK) in glucose metabolism, and further to investigate the possible mechanism of berberine in treating type 2 diabetes.

Method: Mouse primary hepatocytes were isolated by an improved single two-step perfusion method. The murine hepatocytes were cultured and incubated with berberine (0, 1, 3, 10, 30, 100 micromol x L(-1)) and 1 mmol x L(-1) metformin for 24 h respectively.

Facilitating effects of berberine on rat pancreatic islets through modulating hepatic nuclear factor 4 alpha expression and glucokinase activity.

Aim: To observe the effect of berberine on insulin secretion in rat pancreatic islets and to explore its possible molecular mechanism.

Methods: Primary rat islets were isolated from male Sprague-Dawley rats by collagenase digestion and treated with different concentrations (1, 3, 10 and 30 micromol/L) of berberine or 1 micromol/L Glibenclamide (GB) for 24 h. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) assay was conducted and insulin was determined by radioimmunoassay.

[Protective effects of Huanglian Jiedu decoction on vascular endothelial function in type 2 diabetic rats].

Objective: To investigate the effects of Huanglian Jiedu (HLJD) decoction on vascular endothelial function in type 2 diabetic rats and explore the prophylactic and therapeutic significance and pharmacological mechanism of HLJD decoction in type 2 diabetic angiopathic complication.

Method: The murine type 2 diabetes models were induced by the intravenous injection of a small dose of streptozotocin plus high fat and high caloric laboratory chow. Then modeled diabetic animals were divided into model group, HLJD group, and aspirin group.

Induction of pancreatic duct cells of neonatal rats into insulin-producing cells with fetal bovine serum: a natural protocol and its use for patch clamp experiments.

Aim: To induce the pancreatic duct cells into endocrine cells with a new natural protocol for electrophysiological study.

Methods: The pancreatic duct cells of neonatal rats were isolated, cultured and induced into endocrine cells with 15% fetal bovine serum for a period of 20 d. During this period, insulin secretion, MTT value, and morphological change of neonatal and adult pancreatic islet cells were comparatively investigated.

Therapeutic effects of berberine in impaired glucose tolerance rats and its influence on insulin secretion.

Aim: To explore the anti-diabetic effects of berberine and its influence on insulin secretion.

Methods: Impaired glucose tolerance rats induced by iv injection of streptozotocin 30 mg/kg were treated with berberine 187.5 and 562.