Objective To observe the clinical effects of Bufei Yishen treatment on quality of life of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in stable period. Methods Sixty-four patients were randomly divided into two groups, the control group (32 cases) received Atrovent metered dose inhaling and Mucosolvan po. The treatment group (32 cases) received the fluid extract of Bufei Yishen besides the routine treatment. Both groups were treated for three months. The changes of scores of TCM syndrome and cardinal symptom, quality of life (QOL), lung function were observed before and after the treatment. Results The scores of TCM syndrome and cardinal symptom, quality of life of the treatment group were significantly higher than the control group (P0.05). Conclusion Bufei Yishen treatment has significantly effect on quality of life of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in stable period.

To observe the effects of icariin, psoralen and oleanolic acid, the three active ingredients of Yinyanghuo (Herba Epimedii Brevicornus), Buguzhi (Fructus Psoraleae) and Nuzhenzi (Fructus Ligustri Lucidi), respectively, on gene expression profile of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) from rats with corticosterone-induced osteoporosis.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics,3-month outcome and predictive factors in the very elderly patients with ischemic stroke.MethodsA total of 305 acute ischemic patients aged 65 years and over were enrolled in the study.They were divided into two subgroups by age:80 years old and over(n =78),65-79 years old(n =227).The clinical outcome was assessed by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) on (90 ± 7 ) days after stroke,and categorized as good ( scoring 0-2 ) or poor( scoring 3-6) outcome.Results Significantly lower BMI [ ( 23.62 ± 4.92 ) kg/m2 vs ( 25.08 ± 3.69 ) kg/m2,P =0.005],lower frequency of dyslipidemia(56.41％ vs 71.13％,P =0.006) and alcohol intake (0％ vs 6.61％,P =0.043 )were found in the very elderly group.The rates of poor functional outcome in the ≥ 80years group and the 65-79 years old group were 56.41％ (44/76) and 41.40％ (94/224) respectively,with a P value of 0.015.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that higher National Institute of Health stroke scale (NItISS) total score (OR 1.48,95％ CI 1.19-1.83 ) and lower albumin level (OR 0.73,95 ％ CI 0.55 -0.95 ) were associated with poor outcome in ≥ 80 year old,whereas higher NIHSS total score ( OR 1.38,95％ CI 1.24-1.53) and complications during hospital stay ( OR 2.58,95％ CI 1.07-6.19 ) were predictive factors in the 65-79 years old group.ConclusionOur study suggests that NIHSS scores,albumin level and complications during hospitalization are useful predictive factors for the short-term poor functional outcome in the patients of ≥65 years old and ≥80 years old patients have a worse prognosis.

To observe the effects of Qishe Pill, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on lumbar vertebral bone formation induced by long-time upright posture in rats and to investigate the potential mechanism.

OBJECTIVE: To set up a natural degeneration model of chondrocytes derived from endplate of intervertebral discs of rats in order to offer an appropriate carrier for the study on mechanism of intervertebral disc degeneration. METHODS: The method of enzyme digestion combined with natural subculture was used to set up the in vitro natural degeneration model of chondrocytes derived from the endplate of intervertebral disc of rats. The morphological appearances and microstructures of the chondrocytes of different generations were observed. The expression of collagen II in chondrocytes was detected by immunocytochemical method. RESULTS: The chondrocytes derived from the endplate of intervertebral disc expressed collagen II. After 13 days of culture, the chondrocytes of generation III showed that the ability of cell division descended, the nucleoli became unclear, the cells deformed obviously, fusiform shape with weak optical activity appeared, and the intercellular space was enlarged. There were vacuoles and lipid droplets in cytoplasm. The synthesis of collagen II, as well as the cell proliferation rate, descended notably. All results showed the natural degeneration process of the chondrocytes. CONCLUSION: The in vitro natural degeneration model of chondrocytes derived from endplate of intervertebral discs of rats was successfully established. This can offer the cytological basis for study on the mechanism of intervertebral disc degeneration.

To study the efficacy and possible mechanism of Yiqi Huayu Recipe (YQHYR), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, in preventing and treating degeneration of the articular cartilage in rats with osteoarthritis (OA).

To research the action mechanism of Yiqi Huayu Bushen Recipe (YHBR), a compound of traditional Chinese herbal medicine, in treating cervical syndrome (CS) with kidney deficiency in rats.

To explore the mechanism of Yiqi Huayu Bushen Recipe (YHBR), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, in treating cervical syndrome (CS) with qi deficiency, blood stasis and kidney deficiency in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a rat model of cervical syndrome (CS) with kidney deficiency. METHODS: A group of 30 three-month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control group, CS group and CS with kidney deficiency group (combined group), with 10 rats in each group. Rats in the normal control group received no treatment, rats in the CS group underwent only resection of cervical muscles and ligaments as unbalanced dynamic and static animal model, and rats in combined group underwent resection of both cervical muscles and ovaries as kidney deficiency model. Serum and cervical intervertebral discs were collected. Kidney deficiency was determined by observing the morphologic changes of uterus and appendages, detecting the weight of uterus and appendages and the content of serum estradiol (E(2)). The degeneration of intervertebral discs was determined by detecting the histopathology, the expressions of type II collagen and type X collagen proteins, and the expressions of aggrecan-1 (Agc1), type II procollagen gene (Col2a1), matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) mRNAs. RESULTS: Compared with those in the normal control group and CS group, the rats in the combined group were noted with the uterus atrophied, the caliber of oviduct thinned, the weight of uterus and appendages diminished obviously, the content of serum E(2) decreased, cervical intervertebral disc degenerated more seriously, type II collagen protein expression decreased, type X collagen protein expression increased, Agc1 and Col2a1 mRNA expressions in intervertebral disc decreased, and the MMP-13 mRNA expression increased. CONCLUSION: The rat model of CS with kidney deficiency is established. Kidney deficiency can aggravate cervical intervertebral disc degeneration.