Objective To assess the therapeutic effects of Yiqifumai combined with Alprostadil injection on patients with chronic cardiac insufficiency and angina pectoris.Methods One hundred and fifty patients with heart dysfunction (NYHA [Ⅱ-Ⅲ) and angina pectoris were randomly divided into three groups,the control group (n=50),the Yiqifumai group (n=50),and the Yiqifumai plus Alprostadil group (n=50).Parameters including clinical effectiveness,electrocardiograph (ECG),heart function and hemodynamics were evaluated.Results The overall clinical effectiveness rate in the Yiqifumai plus Alprostadil group (94 ％) was higher than those in the Yiqifumai group (78 ％) and the control group (54％) (P＜0.05 for both).The overall effectiveness rate in ECG changes was higher in the Yiqifumai plus Alprostadil group (84％) than in the Yiqifunai group (58％) and the control group (42％) (P＜0.05 for both).While no significant difference in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was found among the three groups before treatment,evident improvement in LVEF was observed in the Yiqifunai group and the Yiqifumai plus Alprostadil group 14 days after treatment,compared with pre-treatment data [(49±9)％ vs.(40±10)％ and (59±9)％ vs.(41±10) ％,respectively; P＜0.05 for both].However,there was no significant difference between the two groups (P＞0.05).There was no improvement in LVEF in the control group after treatment (P ＞0.05).No difference in hemodynamic parameters,including cardiac output,cardiac index and left ventricular stroke work index,was found among the three groups before treatment (P＞0.05),but they showed improvement in the Yiqifunai group and the Yiqifumai plus Alprostadil group after treatment (P＜0.05 for both),with greater improvement in the latter group.The improvement was not significant in the control group before and after treatment (P＞0.05).Conclusions Yiqifumai combined with Alprostadil in the treatment of cardiac insufficiency with unstable angina pectoris has advantages in improving clinical symptoms,heart function and hemodynamics.

Objective To compare short-term therapeutic outcomes and the safety of percutane-ous radiofrequency ablation (PRFA) with left single lung ventilation (LSLV) for liver cancer of the hepatic dome (LCHD) and that of PRFA for right liver carcinoma in favorable location. Methods Thirty one patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (belonging to LCHD) receiving PRFA with LSLV (Group LCHD) between January 2006 and January 2009 in our hospital were selected, and 45 control patients with right lobe HCC ≥1 cm away from the liver capsule, gallbladder, and main portal bran-ches were also included. One month after PRFA, residual tumors were followed up with contrast en-hanced CT and alpha fetal protein and PRFA was repeated in the presence of residual foci. Tumor-free survival time was defined as the duration from complete ablation to diagnosed local tumor progression.The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare age, tumor diameter, and average number of punctures between LCHD patients and controls. A χ2 test was used for comparison of the incidence of complica-tions and incomplete tumor ablation rate. The Kaplan-Meier's method was used for calculation of local tumor-free survival rate compared with a log-rank test. Results The incidence of right shoulder pain was significantly higher in LCHD patients than in controls (87. 1% vs 11. 1%, P<0. 01). LCHD pa-tients showed no difference from controls in the average number of punctures (2. 8±. 5 vs 3. 2±. 5,P>0. 05). Meanwhile, there was no difference between the 2 groups in average duration of treatment and hospitalization, and the complete tumor ablation rate at first PRFA. No differences were observed in the 1-, 2- and 3-year local tumor-free survival rates between LCHD patients (85. 5% , 65. 8% , and 36. 4% ,respectively) and controls (87.7%, 62. 3% , and 34.0% , respectively). Conclusion PRFA with LSLV for LCHD seems to promise comparable short-term outcomes and safety to PRFA for right liver carcinoma of fa-vorable location and should be preferred as one of the therapeutic options for LCHD patients with tumor di-ameters≤5 cm regardless of its unique location.

Many species of the genus Asarum plants are used as Chinese traditional or folk medicines, in Chinese which are known as "Xixin" (Asari Radix et Rhizoma) , "Bei-Xixin" , "Hua-Xixin" and "Nan-Xixin" , etc. In order to get a clear picture of resources distribution and varieties on Chinese markets of the crude drug Xixin and provide scientific basis for their resource conservation and sustainable use, during recent years we conducted field investigations and market researches many times. The results showed that the resources of both official Xixins and non-official Xixins were decreased because of the ecological environment damage and over-digging, especially species whose population size was small. Bei-Xixin derived from A. heterotropoides var. mandshuricum was the most species on the Chinese markets except for a few areas of China. Hua-Xixin derived from A. sieboldii and non-official Xixins were mainly used in their producing areas. Cultivation of Hua-Xixin should be greatly developed, and wild resources of non-official species must be preserved strictly.
China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Data Collection ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; classification ; standards ; supply & distribution ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo assess the anti-nociception and anti-inflammation pharmacodynamics of Asarum heterotropoides var. mandshuricum and A. sieboldii.

METHODBoth the writhing test and hot plate test were conducted to assess the anti-nociceptive effect of Asarum and Xylene-induced mouse ear edema was conducted to assess the anti-inflammatory effect of Asarum.

RESULTTwelve samples of A. heterotropoides var. mandshuricum and A. sieboldii from different producing areas showed anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects. Specifically, 27% to 61% of the seven samples of A. heterotropoides var. mandshuricum showed anti-nociceptive effect and while 34% to 48% of A. sieboldi showed anti-nociceptive effect. The inflammatory inhibition rate of A. heterotropoides var. mandshuricum produced in six producing areas (38%-57%) is higher than that of A. heterotropoides var. mandshuricum produced in five producing areas (34%-48%). The same kind of Asarum produced in different areas showed significant differences. A. heterotropoides var. mandshuricum produced in Jilin province (38%-57%) showed better anti-nociceptive effect than sample produced in Heilongjiang province (34%) in writhing test. A. heterotropoides var. mandshuricum produced in Heilongjiang (43%) province showed a better anti-nociceptive effect than samples produced in Liaoning province (29%-36%) in hot plate test. A. sieboldii produced in Shaanxi province (47%-49%) showed a better anti-nociceptive effect than samples produced in Hubei province (40%) in writhing test. A. sieboldii produced in Shaanxi province (45%-59%) showed better anti-nociceptive effect than samples produced in Chongqing (40%) in hot plate test. A. heterotropoides var. mandshuricum produced in Jilin province (51%-63%) showed better anti-inflammatory effect than samples produced in Heilongjiang province (50%). In totality, the results from analysis of geoherbalism showed that famous-region A. heterotropoides var. mandshuricum and A. sieboldii had a better anti-nociception effect than Asarum produced in other producing areas, famous-region A. heterotropoides var. mandshuricum had a better effect than those produced in other producing areas in anti-inflammation. But famous-region A. sieboldii showed no obvious difference from those produced in other producing areas in anti-inflammation.

CONCLUSIONAll samples of Asarum showed anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects, but with significant differences among Asarum produced in different areas, indicating the eoherbalism to some extent.

Analgesics ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Asarum ; Female ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology

Objective To assess the therapeutic efficacy and safety of CT-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation(PRFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma in the bare area (HCCBA). Methods During the period from April 2000 to June 2009, 26 patients with HCCBA were treated with CTguided PRFA, and 26 other HCC patients were selected as controls, whose lesions were located in the right lobe ≥1.0 cm away from the liver capsule, gallbladder, and main portal branches. One month after PRFA, the residual tumors of each patient were examined by contrast-enhanced CT and alpha-fetoprotein test, and repeated PRFA was undertaken if residual was present. Tumor-free survival was defined as the duration from complete ablation to diagnosed local recurrence. The 2-independent-samples t-test was used to compare tumor diameter between HCCBA patients and controls. The MannWhitney U test was used to compare patient's age, etiologies of liver disease, liver function status,number of needle punctures and the value of AFP. A χ2 test was used for comparison of the complete tumor ablation rate and the cumulative local tumor-free survival rate. Results No significant difference was observed in the incidence of complication between the HCCBA patients and the controls (26. 9% vs 19.2%,P＞0.05). There were no differences between the two groups in the number of needle punctures and the complete tumor ablation rate at first PRFA. Furthermore, no differences were observed in the cumulative 1-,3- and 5-year local tumor-free survival rates between HCCBA patients (88. 5%, 46.2% and 19. 2% respectively) and patients in the control group (92.3%, 53.8% and 15.4% respectively). Conclusion CT-guided PRFA is effective and safe for HCCBA and could be preferred as one therapeutic option for HCCBA.