Objective To establish a method for the determination of berberine hydrochloride and phellodendrine in Lishukang Capsules by HPLC. Methods Waters Symmetry C18 column (4.6 mm× 250 mm, 5μm) was used, the mobile phase was acetonitrile-0.1%phosphoric acid (0.1 g sodidum dodecyl sulfonate in 100 mL water), with the flow rate of 1 mL/min by gradient elution. The detection wavelength was set at 284 nm. Results Berberine hydrochloride showed good linear relationship (r 2=0.999 1) in the range of 403.4-10 084.7 μg, the average recovery rate was 99.8%(RSD=1.7%). Phellodendrine showed good linear relationship (r 2=0.999 2) in the range of 169.137 6-4228.44 μg, the average recovery rate was 95.5%(RSD=3.2%). Conclusion The method is specific, accurate and convenient to be used for the quality control of Lishukang Capsules.

Objective To investigate the clinical effects and significance of different-dose atorvastatin on soluble CD105(sCD105),high sensitive-C reactive protein(hs-CRP)and the parameters of heart rate turbulence in patients with acute coronary syndrome(ACS). Methods One hundred and six ACS patients were divided into three groups by random digits table: control group(30 patients, routine treatment),treatment group Ⅰ(38 patients, routine treatment + atorvastatin 20 mg), and treatment group Ⅱ(38patients, routine treatment + atorvastatin 40 mg). All patients were treated for 4 weeks. The levels of serum sCD105,hs-CRP,and the parameters of heart rate turbulence before and after treatment. Results Before treatment, the levels of turbulence onset(TO), turbulence slope(TS),sCD105 and hs-CRP in three groups had no significant difference(P ＞ 0.05). After treatment, TO,sCD105 and hs-CRP decreased significantly,and TS increased significantly(P＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01). The change amplitude of treatment group Ⅱ was the most obvious, and the levels of above mentioned index showed significantly difference compared with that of treatment group Ⅰ[TO:(0.22 ±0.18)% vs.(0.66 ± 0.23)%;TS:(6.22 ±0.83)ms/RR interval(RRI)vs.(3.90 ±0.73)ms/RRI;sCD105:(1.65 ±0.43)mg/L vs.(2.92 ±0.50)mg/L;hs-CRP:(1.68 ±0.55)mg/L vs.(2.08±0.61)mg/L](P ＜0.01). Correlation analysis showed the levels of sCD105 and hs-CRP had significantly positive correlation with TO(P ＜ 0.01)and had negative correlation with TS(P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions The atorvastatin treatment in patients with ACS may stabilize coronary vascular endothelial cells and atherosclerotic plaque, and improve autonomic nerve function. Larger doses of atorvastatin may get more benefit.

Objective To establish an HPLC method for determining the content of swertiamarin in Gantaishu capsules. Methods Using a Waters Symmetry C18 column (4.6 mm×250 mm, 5μm), the mobile phase was acetonitrile-0.02%phosphoric acid, with flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The detection wavelength was at 250 nm, the column temperature was room temperature. Results The content of swertiamarin showed a good linear relationship in the range of 0.373 556-2.988 448 μg, r 2=1.000 0. The average recovery was 106.81%, and RSD was 3.7%. Conclusion This method is fast, accurate and simple with good reproducibility, which can be applied to the quality control of Gantaishu capsules.

Objective:To establish a content determination method for the decoction pieces of ginseng radix et Rhizoma and investi-gate the quality of the slices by measuring the content of ginsenoside in commercially available crude materials and the decoction pieces. Methods:An HPLC method was used to determine the content of ginsenoside Rb1, Re and Rg1 in the crude materials and decoction pieces of ginseng radix et Rhizoma. Results:Significant difference in ginsenoside content between the medicinal materials and decoction pieces was found, and saponin content in the slices was decreased. Conclusion:The quality of the slices of ginseng radix et Rhizoma is changed significantly, and it is urgent to develop a agreed standard for the quality control of ginseng radix et Rhizoma during the process-ing.

OBJECTIVE:To establish a method for the simultaneous determination of curdione,germacrone and furanodiene of zedoray turmeric oil in Ruxiankang injection. METHODS:HPLC was performed on the column of Zorbax SB-C18 with mobile phase of acetonitrile-water (gradient elution) at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min,detection wavelength was 216 nm,column temperature was 30℃,and the injection volume was 10 μl. RESULTS:The linear range was 60-480 μg/ml for curdione(r=0.999 0),40-320 μg/ml for germacrone(r=0.999 0)and 40-320 μg/ml(r=0.999 0);RSDs of precision,stability and reproducibility tests were lower than 2.0%;recoveries were 95.21%-99.89%(RSD=1.6%,n=6),102.33%-104.89%(RSD=1.0%,n=6)and 97.38%-99.06%(RSD=0.7%,n=6),respectively. CONCLUSIONS:The method is simple and accurate,and can be used for simultaneous contents deter-mination of curdione,germacrone and furanodiene of zedoray turmeric oil in Ruxiankang injection.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of levosimendan applied in patients with chronic heart failure combined with acute ST -elevation myocardium after direct percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods Using the random number table method,95 patients with heart failure combined with acute ST -elevation myocardium after direct PCI were randomly divided into two groups:the general treatment group and the levosimendan group.The levels of serum NT -proBNP,LVSD,LVEF before and after 24h,one week treatment were examined.After the experiment,clinical assessment was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of levosimendan.Results The resuits of NT -proBNP,LVEF and LVSD in the general group before treatment were (5 908.1 ±33.2)ng/L, (36.7 ±4.3)% and (6.1 ±0.6)cm,while those were (3 478.5 ±19.3)ng/L,(45.0 ±6.3)%,(5.9 ±0.3)cm, (3 375.2 ±32.1)ng/L,(48.3 ±5.4)% and (5.8 ±1.1)cm after 24h and 1 week treatment.The level of serum NT-proBNP decreased,while the LVEF increased in general treatment group after 24h treatment(t =3.86,4.11,P =0.021,0.015).The same results happened after 1 week treatment(compared with before treatment,t =4.13,5.06, P =0.016,0.013,compared with 24 hours after treatment,t =3.96,4.77,P =0.021,0.015).But the level of the LVSD had no differences before and after 24h,1 week treatment(P >0.05).The results of NT -proBNP,LVEF and LVSD in the levosimendan group before treatment were (3 340.5 ±19.2)ng/L,(43.3 ±3.9)%,(5.3 ±0.7)cm, (2 938.3 ±12.8)ng/L,(52.7 ±8.2)% and (4.6 ±0.2)cm after 24h and 1 week treatment.The levels of serum NT -proBNP,LVSD decreased,while the LVEF increased in the levosimendan group after 24h,1 week treatment(t =6.07,6.49,5.73,P =0.010,0.008,0.011.t =6.55,7.05,5.33,P =0.009,0.007,0.012).Compared with the general treatment group,the levels of serum NT -proBNP,LVEF showed no differences(all P >0.05),but the level of the LVSD decreased after 24h treatment(t =4.84,P =0.015)in the levosimendan group.The levels of serum NT -proBNP,LVSD decreased,while the LVEF increased in the levosimendan group after 1 week treatment compared with the general treatment group(t =6.60,7.01,5.40,P =0.007,0.007,0.011 ).After one week treatment,the effective and beneficial rates of the levosimendan group were 66.6% and 95.6%,while those were 59.6% and 89.5% in the general treatment group.The therapeutic effects of levosimendan group were more effective than the general treatment group after 1 week treatment(χ2 =9.72,15.63,P =0.015,0.008),but had no statistical differ-ences between the two groups after 24h treatment(P >0.05).There was no statistical differences between the two groups in the rate of adverse reactions.Conclusion Levosimendan has very favorable efficacy and safety for patients with chronic heart failure combined with acute ST -elevation myocardium infarction after direct PCI.

Objective To explore the anticancer mechanism of esophageal cancer vaccines and clinical effect.Methods Esophagus cancer cells (Eca109) were cultured and the soluble antigen were extracted from the cells.Esophagus cancer vaccine was constructed with the antigen and superantigen SEC.Lymphocytes were isolated from peripheral blood and then stimulated with the vaccine in vitro.Phenotypes of the cells were checked by FCM and killing activity was tested with cytotoxic assays.One hundred and six early esophageal cancer patients were selected after surgery,who were divided into the observation group of 53 cases with esophageal cancer vaccine therapy and 53 cases in the control group with conventional treatment.Then clinical effect was observated and 3 year follow-up survival rate was observed of the of two groups of patients.Results Proliferation of vaccine stimulated lymphocyte group was the strongest,and high peaked at 72 h (A =0.22),and raise CD8+ T cell populations of CTLs.The killing activity of lymphocyte group stimulated by the vaccine against target cells was significantly higher than that of lymphocyte group ((97.36±2.11) ％) vs.(79.27±5.57) ％,F =38.62,P＜0.01).Three years follow up shows that the survival rates of experiment group were 48.27％ (male) and 45.83％ (female) respectively,and control group were 21.43％ (male) and 24.00％ (female),and the difference was significant (x2 =5.06,6.28,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The tumor vaccine constructed with esophagus cancer antigen and superantigen SEC can induce PBMC to activate and proliferate into CD8+ CTL with specific cytotoxicity against the cells which the antigen comes from.The vaccine may raise the survival rate of the patients with Esophagus cancer.

BACKGROUND: Hyperbaric oxygen(HBO) is the first choice in the treatment of acute carbon monoxide(CO) poisoning. However,the mechanism of HBO in the treatment of CO poisoning,especially the mechanism in the treatmentof CO poisoning-induced delayed encephalopathy,is unclear at present.OBJECTIVE: To observe the pathological changes of hippocampal neurons in rats after acute CO poisoning to investigate the impacts of HBO therapy on Bcl-2 protein expression in hippocampal neurons in rats after CO poisoning.DESIGN: A completely randomized controlled experimental study based on the experimental animals.SETTING: Emergency department in a military medical university of Chinese PLA affiliated hospital,department of laboratory medicine in a municipal hospital,and the center of HBO therapy in a military medical university of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS: The study was conducted in the Laboratory of HBO Therapy Center,Faculty of Aerospace Medicine,the Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA. Sixty male SD rats were selected.INTERVENTIONS: Sixty rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: normal control group(control group),CO poisoning group(CO group),and HBO therapy group(HBO group) with 20 rats each. Rats of each group were exposed under air or CO gas(volume fraction was 3.2 × 10-3) respectively for 60 minutes,and rats of CO-HBO group were treated by HBO. Cerebral pathological slices of hippocampus were prepared for routine HE and Bcl-2 staining to observe the characteristics of the changes of hippocampal neuronal injury and the Bcl-2protein expression on the 1st,3rd,5th and 7th day after CO poisoning.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes of pathomorphology and Bcl-2protein expressionRESULTS: It could be seen lot of degenerated and necrotic neurons in hippocampus of rats in CO group. Degenerated and necrotic neurons decreased and the expression of Bcl-2 protein increased in CO-HBO group,especially on the 3rd and 5th day after poisoning( P ＜ 0. 05).CONCLUSION: HBO therapy can promote Bcl-2 protein expression in hippocampus after acute CO poisoning,so it can protect neurons.

Objective:To analyze the effects of the clinical applications of vaccine for esophageal cancer to provide treatment ba-sis. Methods:Tumor-soluble antigen was extracted from clinical samples of esophageal cancer tissue. Vaccine for esophageal cancer was prepared using antigen and superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin C (SEC). One group of patients with esophageal cancer was treated with vaccine after surgery (treatment group). Another group of patients with esophageal cancer was treated using routine meth-ods (control group). After five years, the patients were followed up to analyze survival. Results:After five years of follow up, the sur-vival rates of treatment and control groups were 173/328 (49.71%) and 67/326 (20.55%), respectively. Survival rates significantly dif-fered between the two groups (P<0.05). Furthermore, the survival rates of the female patients were higher than those of the male pa-tients (P<0.05). In the treatment group, the survival rates of patients with low-differentiation cancer were higher than those of patients with high-differentiation cancer (P<0.05). In the control group, the survival rates of patients with low-differentiation cancer were lower than those of patients with high-differentiation cancer (P<0.05). Conclusion:Tumor vaccine prepared with esophageal cancer antigen and superantigen SEC could increase the survival rate of patients with esophageal cancer, particularly female patients and those with low-differentiation cancer.

Objective To improve the recognition of Pancreatitis, Panniculitis, and Polyarthritis syndrome (PPP syndrome). Methods We described the diagnosis and treatment of a patient with PPP syndrome, including the clinical, radiological, and pathological features. Results Here we report a 67-year-old man with chronic calcified pancreatitis with multiple subcutaneous nodules and polyarthritis, but without any abdominal pain or other abdominal symptoms. His serum pancreatic amylase and lipase were markedly elevated. Abdomen CT scan showed features of chronic calcified pancreatitis. MR imaging of ankle revealed intramedullary fat necrosis. Biopsy from subcutaneous swellings revealed fat necrosis without vasculitis and typical "ghost-like cells". He failed to response to corticosteroids therapy. When the diagnosis of pancreatitis was confirmed, he was managed conservatively with supportive measures, and recovered. Conclusion The diagnosis of PPP syndrome is often difficult when abdominal symptoms are absent, be aware the association between panniculitis and polyarthritis with pancreatic disease may lead to a prompt diagnosis and management.