Poon Wing-sem. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 163-171). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT I-IV --- p.I-IV / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS V --- p.V / TABLE OF CONTENT --- p.VI-VIII / LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES --- p.IX-XI / LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS --- p.XII / Chapter CHAPTER ONE --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Rutaceae --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- taxonomy of Rutaceae --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Controversial taxonomic issues --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.3.1 --- Subfamilies Rutoideae and Toddalioideae --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.3.2 --- "Euodia, Melicope and Tetradium" --- p.7 / Chapter 1.1.3.2.1 --- History --- p.7 / Chapter 1.1.3.2.2 --- Arguments based on morphology --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2 --- Molecular Approach --- p.12 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Introduction to molecular systematics --- p.12 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- DNA sequence markers --- p.14 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Applications --- p.18 / Chapter 1.3 --- Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) --- p.21 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Introduction --- p.21 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Fructus Evodiae --- p.22 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Functional chemicals and pharmacological effects of Fructus Evodiae --- p.23 / Chapter 1.3.4 --- Problem in authentication --- p.25 / Chapter 1.4 --- Objectives --- p.27 / Chapter CHAPTER TWO --- METHODOLOGY AND MATERIALS --- p.29 / Chapter 2.1 --- Plant and Herb Materials --- p.29 / Chapter 2.2 --- DNA extraction --- p.44 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Modified cetyltriethylammonium bromide (CTAB) extraction --- p.44 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Kit extraction --- p.45 / Chapter 2.2.2.1 --- DNeasy® Plant MiniKit of Qiagen --- p.45 / Chapter 2.2.2.2 --- GenElute´ёØ Plant Genomic DNA Miniprep Kit of Sigma® --- p.46 / Chapter 2.3 --- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) reaction --- p.47 / Chapter 2.4 --- DNA gel electrophoresis --- p.49 / Chapter 2.5 --- PCR product purification --- p.49 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Rapid Gel Extraction System of Marligen Biosciences INC --- p.50 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Gel-M´ёØ Gel Extraction System --- p.50 / Chapter 2.6 --- Ligation and transformation --- p.51 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Ligation and transformation --- p.51 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Cell culture --- p.52 / Chapter 2.6.3 --- Plasmid extraction --- p.52 / Chapter 2.7 --- Determination of DNA concentration --- p.54 / Chapter 2.8 --- Cycle Sequencing --- p.54 / Chapter 2.9 --- Sequence Analysis --- p.55 / Chapter 2.10 --- Materials --- p.56 / Chapter CHAPTER THREE --- MOLECULAR AUTHENTICATION OF FRUCTUSEVODIAE --- p.60 / Chapter 3.1 --- Results and data analysis --- p.60 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Authentication based on ITS-1 region --- p.60 / Chapter 3.1.1.1 --- Phylogram study --- p.60 / Chapter 3.1.1.2 --- Sequence alignment --- p.65 / Chapter 3.1.1.3 --- ITS-1 region nucleotide differences significant in authentication of Fructus Evodiae --- p.71 / Chapter 3.1.1.4 --- Comparison of sequences --- p.74 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Authentication based on ITS-2 region --- p.78 / Chapter 3.1.2.1 --- Phylogram study --- p.78 / Chapter 3.1.2.2 --- Sequence alignment --- p.82 / Chapter 3.1.2.3 --- ITS-2 region nucleotide differences significant inauthentication of Fructus Evodiae --- p.86 / Chapter 3.1.2.4 --- Comparison of sequences --- p.89 / Chapter 3.2 --- Discussion --- p.93 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Molecular markers --- p.93 / Chapter CHAPTER FOUR --- PHYLOGENETIC STUDIES ON RUTACEAE --- p.96 / Chapter 4.1 --- Results and data analysis --- p.96 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Chloroplast trnL intron region --- p.96 / Chapter 4.1.1.1 --- Sequence alignment --- p.96 / Chapter 4.1.1.2 --- Phylogenetic analysis --- p.107 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Chloroplast trnL-F intergenic spacer region --- p.116 / Chapter 4.1.2.1 --- Sequence alignment --- p.116 / Chapter 4.1.2.2 --- Phylogenetic analysis --- p.126 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Nuclear ITS-1 region --- p.132 / Chapter 4.1.3.1 --- Sequence alignment --- p.132 / Chapter 4.1.3.2 --- Phylogenetic analysis --- p.143 / Chapter 4.2 --- Discussion --- p.152 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- "Euodia, Melicope and Tetradium" --- p.152 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Tetradium --- p.153 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Tetradium and Phellodendron --- p.155 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Zanthoxylum and Toddalia --- p.156 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Rutoideae and Toddalioideae --- p.156 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Tree constructing methods --- p.158 / Chapter CHAPTER FIVE --- CONCLUSION --- p.161 / REFERENCES --- p.163

Both SM and ST reduced ALT elevation in rats in the prevention study. In the treatment study, ALT of all rats was resolved. Only ST reduced the fibrosis in both prevention and treatment studies. Maximum reduction of fibrosis compared to control was 44.12% in the prevention group and 56.83% in the treatment group. Activated HSC was decreased and apoptosis increased in rats with improved fibrosis. / Conclusion. ST prevented formation of liver fibrosis and promoted resolution of established fibrosis in the rat model. These effects were mediated through induction of HSC apoptosis in the liver. (Abstract shortened by UMI.) / Hepatic fibrosis results from the wound healing response to prolonged liver insult such as chronic hepatitis. It represents an imbalance of fibrogenesis and fibrolysis, causing formation of scars. Activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) is a key to fibrogenesis while apoptosis of HSC is associated with resolution of fibrosis. / Intense efforts are currently underway to evaluate potential anti-fibrotic agents in herbal medicine. The study hypothesized that herbs may resolve hepatic fibrosis through induction of apoptosis of HSC. In this study, the anti-fibrotic potentials of fourteen commonly used herbs were examined. The anti-fibrotic effect and the underlying mechanism of two herbs were further investigated in an animal model. / Method. Fourteen herbs including Angelica sinensis(AS), Astragalus membranaceus(AM), Cordyceps sinensis(CS), Curcuma wenyujin(CW), Carthamus tinctorius(CT), Curcuma kwangsinensis(CK), Bupleurum chinensis(BC), Ligusticum chuanxiong(LC), Paeconia lactiflora(PL), Prunus persiea(PP), Poria cocos(PC), Salvia miltorrhiza(SM), Schisandra chinensis(SC) and Stephania tetrandra(ST) were selected for screening based on documented safety and effectiveness, and availability in commercial extracts. These two herbs were also authenticated by chemical profiling using HPLC. / Result. For in vitro bioassay, five herbs, namely Angelica sinensis (AS), Carthamus tinctorius (CT), Ligusticum chuanxiong(LC), Salvia miltiorrhiza(SM) and Stephania tetrandra(ST) demonstrated both anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic activities in T6. SM and ST showed highest potencies with 51.63% and 44.52% of T6 cells showing apoptotsis respectively. Fas and Bax expression was up-regulated and BclxL expression decreased in HSC after incubation with SM and ST. Fas ligand and Bcl2 expression remained unchanged. / Treatment of chronic liver disease with herbal medicine has been documented in ancient China. Nowadays, practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) also use herbs to treat chronic liver disease and it is conceivable that such herbs redress the imbalance between fibrogenesis and fibrolysis. / Chor Sin Yee. / "July 2005." / Adviser: Joseph J. Y. Sung. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-01, Section: B, page: 0172. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 196-217). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Lun Samantha Wei Man. / "August 2006." / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 181-206). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

Ng, Chor Fung. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 130-144). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT (ENGLISH VERSION) --- p.i / ABSTRACT (CHINESE VERSION) --- p.iv / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.vi / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.viii / LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES --- p.xii / ABBREVIATIONS --- p.xiv / Chapter CHAPTER 1. --- GENERAL INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Definition of asthma --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Asthma epidemiology --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Pathogenesis of Asthma --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Gene-environment interaction --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Allergens and atopic sensitization --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Other environmental factors --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4 --- House dust mite (HDM) --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Characteristics of HDM allergens --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- HDM and asthma --- p.6 / Chapter 1.5 --- Pathophysiology of asthma --- p.8 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Airway inflammation --- p.8 / Chapter 1.5.1.1 --- Cellular mechanism --- p.8 / Chapter 1.5.1.2 --- Characteristics of chronic inflammation --- p.9 / Chapter 1.5.1.3 --- Inflammatory cells in airway inflammation --- p.10 / Chapter 1.5.1.3.1 --- Mast cell --- p.10 / Chapter 1.5.1.3.2 --- Macrophages --- p.11 / Chapter 1.5.1.3.3 --- T lymphocytes --- p.12 / Chapter 1.5.1.3.4 --- Eosinophils --- p.12 / Chapter 1.5.1.3.5 --- Epithelial cells --- p.13 / Chapter 1.5.1.4 --- Cytokines in asthma --- p.14 / Chapter 1.5.1.4.1 --- Inflammatory cytokines --- p.14 / Chapter 1.5.1.4.1.1 --- Interleukin-4 --- p.14 / Chapter 1.5.1.4.1.2 --- Interleukin-5 --- p.14 / Chapter 1 5.1.4.1.3 --- Interleukin-6 --- p.15 / Chapter 1.5.1.4.1.4 --- Granulocyte Monocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF) --- p.15 / Chapter 1.5.1.4.1.5 --- Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) --- p.16 / Chapter 1.5.1.4.2 --- Anti-inflammatory cytokines --- p.17 / Chapter 1.5.1.4.2.1 --- Interleukin-10 --- p.17 / Chapter 1.5.1.4.2.2 --- Interferon-γ(IFN-γ) --- p.17 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) --- p.18 / Chapter 1.5.3 --- A irway remodeling --- p.19 / Chapter 1.6 --- Asthma therapy --- p.21 / Chapter 1.6.1 --- β2-agonists --- p.21 / Chapter 1.6.2 --- Cromolyn and nedocromil --- p.21 / Chapter 1.6.3 --- Theophylline --- p.22 / Chapter 1.6.4 --- Leukotriene modifiers --- p.22 / Chapter 1.6.5 --- Corticosteroids --- p.23 / Chapter 1.7 --- Traditional Chinese Medicine --- p.24 / Chapter 1.7.1 --- Introduction --- p.24 / Chapter 1.7.2 --- Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) --- p.24 / Chapter 1.7.3 --- "Chinese herbal formula, CU Formula 2 (CUF2) and Kuan Dong Hua" --- p.26 / Chapter 1.8 --- Objectives of our studies --- p.28 / Chapter CHAPTER 2. --- ESTABLISHMENT OF A HDM-INDUCED ASTHMATIC ANIMAL MODEL IN SD RATS --- p.32 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Buffers and solutions --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Animals --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Preparation of aluminum hydroxide gel --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- HDMAllergen --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Sensitization Procedure --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Intratracheal instillation challenge --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2.7 --- Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and BAL Cell counting --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.8 --- Lung Histopathological Analysis --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.9 --- Measurement of cytokine and chemokine by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2.10 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.40 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results --- p.41 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Cellular Analysis of BALF --- p.41 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Histopathology --- p.42 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Cytokine and chemokine --- p.43 / Chapter 2.4 --- Discussion --- p.44 / Chapter CHAPTER 3. --- IMMUNOMODULATORY EFFECT OF CUF2 AND KUAN DONG HUA IN A RAT MODEL OF HDM-INDUCED ASTHMA --- p.65 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.65 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.67 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Herbal materials and extraction method --- p.67 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- "Antigen sensitization, challenge, and treatment" --- p.68 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Bronchoalveolar lavage and cell differential counts --- p.69 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Histological Studies --- p.69 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Measurement of BALF cytokines and chemokines --- p.70 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- "Body weight, thymus index and spleen index" --- p.70 / Chapter 3.2.7 --- Statistical analysis --- p.70 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.71 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Effect of herbs and DXA on total cells and eosinophils in BALF --- p.71 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Effect of herb and DXA on lung histology --- p.72 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Effect of herbs and DXA on cytokine and chemokine level in BALF --- p.73 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- "Effect of herb and DXA on body weight, thymus index and spleen index" --- p.75 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.77 / Chapter CHAPTER 4. --- IMMUNOMODULATORY EFFECT OF KUAN DONG HUA ON HUMAN MAST CELLS (HMC-1) --- p.109 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.109 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.110 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Reagents --- p.110 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Cell line and Cell Culture --- p.111 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Herb and extraction procedure --- p.111 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Cell Viability Assay --- p.112 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Assay of cytokine secretion --- p.113 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Quantitative Analysis of cytokines --- p.113 / Chapter 4.2.7 --- Bacterial endotoxin contamination --- p.114 / Chapter 4.2.8 --- Statistical analysis --- p.115 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.116 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Effect of Kuan Dong Hua on cell viability of HMC-I --- p.116 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Effect of Kuan Dong Hua on cytokine release from HMC-I --- p.116 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Effect of endotoxin contamination in the extract --- p.117 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.118 / Chapter CHAPTER 5. --- GENERAL CONCLUSION --- p.125 / Chapter 5.1 --- Conclusion --- p.125 / Chapter 5.2 --- Limitations of this study and Future work --- p.128 / REFERENCES --- p.130 / APPENDICES --- p.145 / Appendix A. Wright-Giemsa Stain for cytospin preparations --- p.145 / Appendix B. Hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) staining --- p.145 / Appendix C. Congo Red staining --- p.146 / Appendix D. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining --- p.146

Research suggests acupuncture is potentially an effective treatment for osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip or knee. Essential for the evaluation of Chinese acupuncture treatment is the availability of a reliable and valid measurement. However, currently there is no appropriate measurement instrument validated within traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) concepts and frameworks. Objective is to develop and validate a TCM questionnaire as a health status instrument for TCM assessment in patients with OA of the hip and knee. Methods The TCM questionnaire was developed from TCM theory and clinical experience. The questionnaire was examined by experts, for content and faces validity and pre-tested on a volunteer sample of three subjects. The developed questionnaire was validated on a convenience sample of ten subjects from six different clinical settings in Auckland region. The practitioner or receptionist from the selected clinical sites handed out the questionnaire package to their patients who fulfilled the study criteria. Each patient (subject) completed the questionnaire on their arrival and the re-testing questionnaire at a two-week interval. The reliability of the questionnaire was estimated by examining the internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha statistic) and test-retest reliability (Intra-class correlation coefficients). The content validity of the questionnaire was examined by literature review, interviews with patients, and experts' judgement. The construct validity was estimated by the methods of known groups, correlations between scales, and correlations with the SF-36 health survey. The success of the grouping or scaling of the questionnaire was estimated by examining the item (i.e. question) internal consistency and item (i.e. question) discriminant validity. Results The TCM questionnaire scales corresponded to the "eight principal syndromes", "ten questions", and "eight patterns of OA" within TCM concepts and frameworks. Internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha) was above .70 for all scales on both occasions of the first test and the second test. Test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient) for each scale was also above .70 for all scales, except the exterior (EXT) scale, which was .44. Moderate associations were found between the age of subjects and the scores of the interior (INT) scale and summary (SUM) scale. There was a significant difference between the groups of use and non-use of on-going medication in the EXT scale scores on the first test, p = .012. However, this significant difference was not found on the second test. As expected, strong or moderate associations were found between the TCM questionnaire and SF-36 comparable scales. Conclusions The TCM questionnaire was developed within TCM concepts and frameworks. The questionnaire contains 23 items with two main scales (the EXT scale and the INT scale) and one additional scale (the SUM scale). It takes approximately five minutes to complete and is entirely self-administered. Results from this pilot study indicate that this TCM questionnaire might have adequate reliability and validity. Therefore, the questionnaire has potential usage as an outcome measurement instrument for the assessment of TCM in the patients with OA of the hip or knee. For this application to be possible, the questionnaire needs further development and validation with a larger sample of patients who have a variety of OA conditions.

published_or_final_version / Medicine / Master / Doctor of Medicine

Research suggests acupuncture is potentially an effective treatment for osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip or knee. Essential for the evaluation of Chinese acupuncture treatment is the availability of a reliable and valid measurement. However, currently there is no appropriate measurement instrument validated within traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) concepts and frameworks. Objective is to develop and validate a TCM questionnaire as a health status instrument for TCM assessment in patients with OA of the hip and knee. Methods The TCM questionnaire was developed from TCM theory and clinical experience. The questionnaire was examined by experts, for content and faces validity and pre-tested on a volunteer sample of three subjects. The developed questionnaire was validated on a convenience sample of ten subjects from six different clinical settings in Auckland region. The practitioner or receptionist from the selected clinical sites handed out the questionnaire package to their patients who fulfilled the study criteria. Each patient (subject) completed the questionnaire on their arrival and the re-testing questionnaire at a two-week interval. The reliability of the questionnaire was estimated by examining the internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha statistic) and test-retest reliability (Intra-class correlation coefficients). The content validity of the questionnaire was examined by literature review, interviews with patients, and experts' judgement. The construct validity was estimated by the methods of known groups, correlations between scales, and correlations with the SF-36 health survey. The success of the grouping or scaling of the questionnaire was estimated by examining the item (i.e. question) internal consistency and item (i.e. question) discriminant validity. Results The TCM questionnaire scales corresponded to the "eight principal syndromes", "ten questions", and "eight patterns of OA" within TCM concepts and frameworks. Internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha) was above .70 for all scales on both occasions of the first test and the second test. Test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient) for each scale was also above .70 for all scales, except the exterior (EXT) scale, which was .44. Moderate associations were found between the age of subjects and the scores of the interior (INT) scale and summary (SUM) scale. There was a significant difference between the groups of use and non-use of on-going medication in the EXT scale scores on the first test, p = .012. However, this significant difference was not found on the second test. As expected, strong or moderate associations were found between the TCM questionnaire and SF-36 comparable scales. Conclusions The TCM questionnaire was developed within TCM concepts and frameworks. The questionnaire contains 23 items with two main scales (the EXT scale and the INT scale) and one additional scale (the SUM scale). It takes approximately five minutes to complete and is entirely self-administered. Results from this pilot study indicate that this TCM questionnaire might have adequate reliability and validity. Therefore, the questionnaire has potential usage as an outcome measurement instrument for the assessment of TCM in the patients with OA of the hip or knee. For this application to be possible, the questionnaire needs further development and validation with a larger sample of patients who have a variety of OA conditions.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Dentistry / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Zoology / Master / Master of Philosophy