OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of Yangxue Tongluo Recipe (YTR) combined with immunosuppressive agents in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSTotally 88 RA patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group [47 cases, YTR combined Methotrexate (MTX) + Leflunomide (LEF) treatment] and the control group (41 cases, MTX + LEF therapy). All patients received 12-week treatment. Clinical symptoms and signs, laboratory tests [erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), rheumatoid factor (RF), and C reactive protein (CRP)], and adverse reactions were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 91.5% (43/47 cases) in the treatment group, and the total effective rate was 75.6% (31/41 cases) in the control group. There was statistical difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The morning stiffness, the rest pain, the number of tender joints, the number of swollen joints, tender joint index, swollen joint index, ESR, RF, and CRP were significantly improved in the two groups after treatment (P < 0.01). Besides, clinical symptoms and signs, ESR, RF, and CRP were more improved in the treatment group after treatment, when compared with those in the control group (P < 0.05). Gastrointestinal discomfort was the main adverse reaction in the two groups, but the occurrence was lower in the treatment group than in the control group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe clinical efficacy of YTR combined MTX + LEF in the treatment of RA was better than using Western medicine alone. It was more safe with less adverse reactions.

Adult ; Antirheumatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Methotrexate ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To explore the effect of progesterone on the rate of neuronal apoptosis and nitric oxide(NO) level in the cortex and hippocampus tissue of newborn rats with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HIE).Methods Thirty 7-day-old neonatal rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:sham-operated group,hypoxic-ischemic(HI) group and pretreatment group.Rats in HI group and pretreatment group were subjected to left common carotid artery ligation,then were exposed to 80 mL/L oxygen and 920 mL/L nitrogen gas in 37 ℃ closed container for up to 2.5 h to establish HIE model.Progesterone was injected intraperitoneally into rats in the pretreatment group respectively for 30 minutes before hypoxia,and solution was injected into the sham-operated group and HI group.All rats were killed at 24 h after operation.The neuron apoptosis was identified and analyzed by flow cytometry.Nitrate/nitrite was assayed to represent nitric oxide content of brain tissues.Results The ratio of neuronal apoptosis and NO contents in cortex and hippocampus tissue in HI group [(10.09?0.36)%,(12.32?0.28)%,(51.36?9.71) ?mol/L,(52.34?4.26) ?mol/L] were significantly higher than those in sham-operated group [(2.49?0.23)%,(2.58?0.26)%,(18.16?6.24) ?mol/L,(19.28?3.58) ?mol/L)](P_a

As a kind of mature non-invasive brain stimulation technology, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has shown sig-nificance in clinic. Recently, DCS has been applied over the scalp to the spinal cord, named transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS), that may modulate the spinal cord tracts and spinal cord loop electrical activity at segmental level, and may benefit in the treatment of chronic pain and motor dysfunction after injury of nervous system. This paper reviewed physiological effects, safety considerations and potential clinical applications of tsDCS.

Objective To deeply understand the nursing staff education and work status in primary hospital,provide reference for training,health care reform of grassroots in China. Methods A total of 520 nursing in five level two-grade of primary hospital were selected. A questionnaire survey was conducted on the title,education,treatment,job satisfaction,nursing training,editing. Results Primary hospital nursing staff starting education:starting education undergraduate and junior titles accounted for (36.23±9.42)%, intermediate title for (12.43±2.68)%, (3.57±2.38)%, senior titles between group differences statistically significant, P<0.05. Through continuing education after junior titles nursing bachelor degree or above accounted for (84.78±34.13)%, intermediate title to reach (60.73±17.94)%, senior titles to reach 100.00%,the differences were significant, P<0.05; (63.77±19.20)%of junior titles through continuing nursing education degrees, intermediate titles accounted for (72.32±20.62)%, and senior titles accounted for (96.43±37.50)%. Nursing staff salary: junior titles accounted for (1 082 ±258) yuan,intermediate and senior titles advanced to (1 633±426) yuan and (2 864±587) yuan,the differences were significant, P<0.05. Editing: junior titles accounted for (18.84±3.27)%, intermediate title for (56.50±6.58)%, senior titles for (85.71±17.63)%, the differences were significant, P<0.05. Turnover rate:junior titles accounted for (25.36±7.54)%, intermediate title for (-6.50±2.14)%, senior titles for (-3.57±1.53)%, the differences were significant, P<0.05. Job satisfaction survey:junior titles accounted for (26.09±6.32)%, intermediate title for (37.85±5.16)%, senior titles for (57.14±8.49)%,the differences were significant, P<0.05. Conclusions Primary hospital nursing staff starting education level is generally not high, after re-education to achieve higher degree. Job satisfaction is not high, staffing, erosion is serious. Off in the form of health care, nursing education level, the gener-al improvement in quality of care at the same time,improve the economic benefits of the nursing for the development of career of our country basic care not allow to ignore.

Objective To discuss the clinical features and possible mechanisms of congenrtal leuleemia spontaneous remission. Methods By means of literature review, 17 cases with spontaneous remission of congenital leukemia were retrospectively analyzed. Results Among the 17 patients, 8 were persistent remission(47%), 9 had late relapses(53%). Neither initial white cell count nor bone marrow involvement was associated with late relapses. 5 cases(29%) had abnormal karyotype and gene rearrangment,11q23 translocation indicated poor prognosis. Conclusions Conservative treatment can be given unless there was evidence of progressive leukemia. Because of occasional late relapses, long term follow-up was recommended. The detection of karyotype and gene rearrangment was a powerful prognostic tool available.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; GATA6 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; drug effects ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; Phenotype ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Simvastatin ; pharmacology

This study was to investigate the chemical constituents from pseudobulbs of Pleione yunnanensis, one of the source of traditional Chinese medicine "Shancigu". The chemical constituents were isolated by various chromatography methods, including silica gel, ODS, Sephadex LH-20, and semi-preparative HPLC. Fourteen compounds were isolated and identified from the EtOAc fraction of 90% ethanol extract, including five dihydrophenanthrenes, four bibenzyls, two triterpenoids, and three phenylacrylic acids. Their structures were identified on the basis of the spectral data as 4, 7-dihydroxy-2-methoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene (1), 4, 7-dihydroxy-1-(p-hydroxybenzyl)-2-methoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene (2), (2,3-trans)-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) -3-hydroxymethyl-10-methoxy-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-phenanthro[2,1-b]furan-7-ol (3), pleionesin B (4), blestriarene A (5), batatasin III (6), 3, 3'-dihydroxy-2-(p-hydroxybenzyl) -5-methoxybibenzyl (7), 3', 5-dihydroxy-2-(p-hydroxybenzyl) -3-methoxybibenzyl (8), 3,3'-dihydroxy-2,6-bis(4-hydroxybenzyl) -5-methoxybibenzyl (9), triphyllol (10), pholidotin (11), (E) -p-hydroxycinnamic acid (12), (E)-ferulic acid (13), and (E)-ferulic acid hexacosyl ester (14). Compounds 5,10-14 were separated from this plant for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Orchidaceae ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Adult ; Coal Mining ; Dermatitis, Occupational ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence

Objective The factors influencing the dose distribution of intracavitary brachytherapy for moderately advanced and advanced uterine cervical cancer was studied.Methods Ninty-five patients with cervical cancerⅡ～Ⅲb who received radical radiation therapy in our department from Aug,2004 to Nov,2005,were treated with after-loading brachytherapy using,first,the self-designed“Mutipurpose Hori- zontal Transit Table”(MPHTT) for locating and treatment before the intracavitaray brachytherapy proper. The deviation of isodose curve based on A-B reference system,and the dose of deviation was defined by measuring in a practical standard phantom.Results There were significant influence on the deviation of i- sodose curve in pathology and para-metrial infiltration of cervical cancer and operating skill,but negative to clinical stage.The degree of deviation of isodose curve could not be lowered with the increase in sessions of intracavitary brachytherapy.Conclusions It is necessary to perform the locating,by use of mphtt,before the proper brachytherapy for patients with cervical cancer,not only for the identification of the deviation of i- sodose curve,but also to provide the evidence for revising the plan for dose adjustment of conformal radiation therapy in the pelvic cavity.

Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase ; Histones ; Humans ; Leukemia ; pathology