[Objective] To observe the effect of spleen-stomach regulating herbal medicine in improving the nutritional status in dystrophic patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis. [ Methods ] Sixty-one dystrophic cases receiving maintenance hemodialysis were randomized into two groups. Group A ( n = 31) and group B ( n = 30) received the same symptomatic treatment and the same maintenance hemodialysis, and group A received spleen-stomach regulating herbal medicine additionally. For those in group A with spleen-stomach deficiency, Liujunzi Decoction was applied; for those with stagnation of phlegm, modified Huanglian Wendan Decoction was used. After treatment, the main symptoms and signs of dystrophy, triceps skin fold (TSF), and middle-arm muscle circumference (MAMC) were observed, as well as serum levels of total protein (TP), albumins (Alb) and transferrin (TRF), hemoglobin (HB), protein catabolic rate (nPCR) and SGA scoring for comprehensively nutritional evaluation. [Results] Compared with group B, symptoms and signs were much improved ( P

To explore the synergistic action of Kangshen Tablet (KT), which has the functions of nourishing kidney, invigorating spleen, eliminating stasis and turbidity, in maintenance hemodialysis for chronic renal failure (CRF).Eighty cases of CRF were randomly allocated to Group A (maintenance hemodialysis alone) and Group B (KT combined with maintenance hemodialysis).Serum creatine (SCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels, average times of hemodialysis per week, adequacy of hemodialysis, nutrition status, cellular immune function, survival rate and serum electrolyte levels were observed.After treatment, SCr and BUN levels were decreased, average times of hemodialysis per week reduced, adequacy of hemodialysis raised, nutrition status improved, cellular immune function promoted, survival rate increased and hyperphospheremia decreased in Group B (P

[Objective] To explore the therapeutic mechanism of modified Zhuling Decoction (MZD) in treating primary mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (PMPG). [Methods] Rat models of PMPG were induced by rabbit type antibody of rat thymocyte (Thy-1). Forty rats were randomized into four groups: A (normal control), B (model), C (treated with heparin) and D (treated with MZD). Biochemical indexes in blood, activities of cytokines such as interleukin-1? (IL-1?), tumor necrosis factor ? (TNF-?) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and mRNA expression of IL-6 were observed. [Results] As compared with group A, serum contents of IL-1?, TNF-? and IL-6 were increased and mRNA expression of IL-6 was promoted in group B (P

【Objective】To observe the therapeutic effect of Qi-strengthening and yin-nourishing,stasis-removing and regeneration-promoting therapy for clinical diabetic nephropathy(CDN)and to explore its mechanism.【Methods】Eighty CDN patients with Qi-yin deficiency and stasis blocking kidney collaterals were randomized into groups A and B at the proportion of 3∶1 by using random number table.Group B(n=20)was given routine western treatment involving decreasing blood glucose,blood pressure and blood lipid,taking good quality diet with low protein,regulating water-electrolyte disturbance and acid-base balance,and preventing and curing complicated infection.Group A(n=60)was treated with Qi-strengthening and yin-nourishing,stasis-removing and regeneration-promoting herbal medicine(mainly composed of Radix Astragali,Fructus Mori,Radix Scrophulariae,Radix Angelicae Sinensis,Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae,Radix et Rhizoma Rhei,Stigma Maydis and Rhizoma Chuanxiong).After treatment,the therapeutic effect was compared in the two groups.Meanwhile,the changes of fasting blood glucose,renal kidney,24-hour urinary protein,blood rheology,blood lipid and fibrinogen(FIB),as well as plasma endothelin 1(ET-1),tumor necrosis factor ?(TNF-?)and interleukin 1(IL-1)were observed.【Results】Qi-strengthening and yin-nourishing,stasis-removing and regeneration-promoting herbal medicine relieved the symptoms and signs of the patients,decreased 24-hour urinary protein content,and improved the renal function parameters in renal compensatory and decompensatory stages.The herbal medicine could also decrease blood lipid and fasting blood glucose levels,improve blood rheology indexes,and decrease serum IL-1 and ET-1 levels(P

Objective To investigate the characteristics of traditional Chinese medical syndromes and syndrome patterns in diabetic nephropathy (DN) from delta regions of pearl river. Methods A cross-section and retrospective trial was carried out in 292 DN inpatients from four hospitals(the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of TCM, Foshan Hospital of TCM, Shenzhen Hospital of TCM, and Zhongshan Hospital of TCM) from January, 2003 to December, 2005. Demographic information, past history, symptoms and laboratory parameters of the patients were collected.Results Of the enrolled 292 patients, there were 14 in the clinical stage Ⅱ, 42 in stage Ⅲ, 210 in stage Ⅳ, and 26 in stage Ⅴ. The manifestations of TCM syndrome were dominated as lassitude and weakness (69.9%), loss of energy (54.1%), dry mouth (49.3%), aching waist (42%), dry mouth and throat (38%), numbness of extremities (69.9%), dry eyes (33.2%) and dry stool (31.5%), but the signs of frequent sighing, night sweating and tidal fever were less found. For the deficiency syndrome patterns, there existed deficiency of kidney (37.7%), spleen (27.7%), heart (8.9%), liver (3.8%) and lung (2.1%) when differentiating the syndromes according the five zang-organs; there was deficiency of yin (32.5%), Qi (19.5%), blood (9.6%) and yang (8.2%) when differentiating the syndromes according to Qi, blood, yin and yang; there were complex deficiency syndromes such as deficiency of Qi and yin (40.4%), deficiency of spleen and kidney Qi (26.4%), deficiency of lung and kidney Qi(4.8%) and deficiency of yin and yang (3.8%). For the excess syndrome patterns, there were blood stasis syndrome (49.7%), damp-heat syndrome (33.2%), water-dampness syndrome (25%), and Qi stagnation syndrome (7.5%). Conclusion The syndrome patterns of DN present the following characteristics: leading deficiency syndromes being kidney deficiency and spleen deficiency when differentiating the syndromes according the five zang-organs, being yin deficiency and Qi deficiency when differentiating the syndromes according to Qi, blood, yin and yang, and complex deficiency syndromes being Qi-yin deficiency and spleen-kidney Qi deficiency. The leading excess syndromes are blood stasis syndrome and damp-heat syndrome. The manifestations of DN are characterized by the concurrence of deficiency and excess, cold and heat. The pathogenesis of DN is classified into deficiency in the root and excess in the branch. The deficiency syndrome mainly involves Qi and yin, and is located in spleen and kidney. The excess syndrome is characterized by blood stasis and damp-heat, and by water-dampness and dampness-turbidity in the late stage of DN. In one word, the pathogenesis of DN is characterized by deficiency of Qi and yin, and blood-stasis blocking kidney collaterals.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the roles of folic acid and beta-carotene in the chemoprevention of gastric and other gastrointestinal (GI) cancers.

METHODSIn a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, a total of 216 patients with atrophic gastritis were randomly assigned to one of the four groups: (1) folate (FA, 20 mg per day plus vitamin B(12) 1 mg, intramuscularly, per month for one year, then 20 mg two times a week plus 1 mg per three months for the next year); (2) natural beta-carotene (N-betaC, 30 mg per day for first year, then 30 mg two times a week for the next); (3) synthetic beta-carotene (S-betaC, administered as in N-betaC); and (4) placebo. Follow-ups continued from 1994 to 2001.

RESULTSA total of 7 new cases of gastrointestinal cancers were diagnosed with 3 stomach, 1 colon and 1 esophageal cancers occurring in the placebo group; 1 stomach cancer in both of the N-betaC and S-betaC groups, and no cancer occurring in FA group. In terms of GI cancers, there was a significant reduction in the FA group, compared with the placebo group (P = 0.04). A similar trend was observed in both N-betaC and S-betaC groups (P = 0.07 - 0.08). Taken together, the three intervention groups displayed a highly significant decrease in occurrence (P = 0.004, vs placebo), and a lower risk for GI cancers (OR = 0.12; 95% confidence interval, 0.03 - 0.51). For development of gastric cancer, any one of the three active-treated groups did not reach statistically significant reduction. The FA group showed obvious improvement of the gastric mucosal lesions with more patients displaying lesions reversed or stable atrophy and inflammation (P = 0.04), reversed intestinal metaplasia (P = 0.06) at the end of follow-up, and reversed displasia (P = 0.017) at 12 months. Two cases of false jaundice were found in beta-carotene groups with no influence on administration, and no side-effects were reported in FA group.

CONCLUSIONSThis trial revealed the interventional effect of folic acid on the development of GI cancers, a similar effect of beta-carotene was also detected. Also, folic acid may be of use to treat atrophic gastritis by preventing or reversing the precancerous lesions.

Adult ; Aged ; Anticarcinogenic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Folic Acid ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Gastric Mucosa ; pathology ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Compliance ; Stomach Neoplasms ; prevention & control ; beta Carotene ; therapeutic use

Objective:To investigate the effect of the virtual simulation system-based teaching method for the experimental course of oral local nerve block anesthesia in improving the effect of traditional teaching methods.Methods:One hundred and eighteen undergraduate dental students were randomly divided into two groups, the experimental group was taught using a virtual simulation-based system, and the control group was taught using traditional teaching. The results of the teaching were comprehensively evaluated through course feedback questionnaires, analysis of theoretical test scores, evaluations of the trainees administering and receiving anesthesia on the current anesthesia, and faculty evaluations of the success of the anesthesia, and t-tests and chi-square tests were performed using SPSS 23.0.Results:There was no significant difference in baseline level between the two groups. The students in the experimental group thought that the learning was more vivid ( t=4.24, P=0.005) and had more self-confidence in local anesthesia ( t=4.99, P<0.001). The students in the experimental group felt less needle tip jitter during injection ( t=2.22, P=0.048) and better contact with the medial surface of the mandible ( t=2.22, P=0.020). The students who received anesthesia reported less pain during injection ( t=1.99, P=0.029) and better anesthesia of the inferior alveolar nerve ( t=3.36, P=0.039) in the experimental group. Teacher assessment revealed that the experimental group had a significantly lower failure rate of inferior alveolar nerve block than the control group ( χ2=4.40, P=0.036). Conclusions:The virtual simulation system can optimize the experimental teaching of oral local nerve block anesthesia and can achieve a satisfactory teaching effect.