Forty one patients with esophageal carcinoma (T3N1 M0 or less) underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in prone position for esophagectomy from September 2006 to September 2010.The postoperative outcome and survival of patients were retrospectively analyzed.The results confirmed the feasibility and safety of this minimally invasive esophagectomy performed by thoracoscopy in the prone position for patients with esophageal carcinoma.

To develop an ophthalmic preparation of Shedan, an in situ forming gel was prepared with the formulation containing 18% of poloxamer 407 and 5% of poloxamer 188 by response surface designs plus central composite designs. The rheology results showed that LVE range gamma should limited within 0.5%, Shedan high-frequency region, and the thixotropy recovery time is less than 5 seconds. The phase transition temperature was 33.25 °C according to curve of storage modulus and loss modulus determined by temperature scanning. Surface tension and osmometer of it determined by surface tension meter and dew point osmometer were 36.43 mN · m(-1), and 320.6 mOsm · kg(-1), respectively. Fluorescein sodium was selected as the marker to monitor the corneal residence time, and the results showed that Shedan gel could prolong drug residence for 180 min. In line with zero-order kinetics, releases of muscone and salvianolic acid B in vitro depends on gels erosion. The results of rabbit ocular irritation experiments suggested that Shedan in situ forming gel was biocompatible and nonirritant. In conclusion, a novel Shedan in situ forming gel was developed and characterized for potential drug treatment of retinal vein occlusion.
Animals ; Benzofurans ; chemistry ; Cycloparaffins ; chemistry ; Female ; Gels ; chemistry ; Male ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Poloxamer ; chemistry ; Rabbits ; Retinal Vein Occlusion ; drug therapy ; Viscosity

GJ-4 is crocin enrichments extracted from Gardenia jasminoides J. Ellis, and our previous studies have shown that GJ-4 significantly improved learning and memory impairment induced by Aβ in mice. Herein, a memory deficit model was developed by injecting okadaic acid (OA) into the lateral ventricle of mice, and the neuroprotection and underlying mechanism of GJ-4 on neuronal injury caused by Tau hyperphosphorylation were investigated. The Animal Care & Welfare Committee, Institute of Materia Medica, CAMS & PUMC has approved all procedures (No.00000318). GJ-4 at different doses was intragastric administration to mice for 16 days. Step-down test and Morris water maze test showed that GJ-4 could significantly improve OA-induced memory impairment in mice, and reduced the loss of Nissl bodies in the hippocampus of mice. GJ-4 could also decrease the phosphorylation level of Tau protein at Ser396, Thr231 and Ser404 via increasing protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity and inhibiting glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) activity. Besides, further researches indicated that GJ-4 could inhibit the level of oxidative stress in the brain of OA mice, reduce neuronal apoptosis and inhibit the neuroinflammation mediated by activation of astrocytes in the hippocampus of mice, and eventually achieve its effects in improving learning and memory impairment in mice. According to these findings, we anticipated that GJ-4 might be a potential therapeutic drug for Alzheimer's disease.

Acetylcholine ; metabolism ; Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Female ; Gardenia ; chemistry ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Ovariectomy ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Thuja ; chemistry ; Ziziphus ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the preventive and therapeutic effects of Xiaobanxia Fuling Decoction (XBFD) on cisplatin-induced pica rats and to study its mechanism.

METHODSForty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the following 7 groups, i.e., the blank control group, the model group, the high-, middle-, and low-dose XBFD groups (at the daily dose of 30, 15, and 7. 5 g/kg, respectively), the aprepitant (at the daily dose of 13 mg/kg), and pure Chinese medicine group (at the daily dose of XBFD 15 g/kg), 6 in each group. On the 3rd day of this study, 3 mg/kg cisplatin was intraperitoneally injected to rats except the blank control group and the model group to establish the pica rat model. The consumptions of kaolin, food, and the general situation of rats were observed. The protein and mRNA expressions of neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) in both the medulla oblongata and the gastric antrum were measured by immunohistochemical assay and Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR respectively on the sixth day of this study.

RESULTSOn the third, fourth, and fifth day of this study, the consumption of kaolin of rats significantly increased when compared with the blank control group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the consumption of kaolin significantly decreased in the high-, middle-, and low-dose XBFD groups on the third, fourth, and fifth day of this study (P<0.05). The food intake of rats in the high-dose XBFD groups significantly increased when compared with the model group on the third day of this study (P<0.05). The protein and mRNA expressions of NK, R in the medulla oblongata and the gastric antrum significantly decreased in the high- and middle-dose XBFD groups when compared with the model group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSXBFD could prevent and treat cisplatin-induced pica in rats. Its effect might be correlated with decreasing expressions of NK, R in the medulla oblongata and the gastric antrum.

Animals ; Cisplatin ; adverse effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Pica ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Neurokinin-1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo probe into eliminating action of mild moxibustion combined with cupping therapy on athletic fatigue.

METHODSObserve changes of serum creatine kinase activity in gym-athletes with once great intensity training or periodic great intensity training, and the interfering effect of mild moxibustion combined with cupping therapy.

RESULTSThe mild moxibustion combined with cupping therapy has a significant promoting action on recovery of the increased serum creatine kinase activity induced by once great intensity training or periodic great intensity training in gym-athletes.

CONCLUSIONThe method has a better action of eliminating athletic fatigue.

Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Child ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Female ; Gymnastics ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Moxibustion

OBJECTIVETo find the best condition of the preparation technology of Flos Magnoliae essential oil-beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complex.

METHODL9(3(4)) table was used to examine the effects of 4 factors, and the inclusion rate of each test was determined of orthogonal test.

RESULTThe best condition was:oil:beta-cyclodextrin:water = 1:8:60 (mL:g:mL), stirring for 1 hour at 80 degrees C.

CONCLUSIONThe complex prepared on the condition aforementioned is stable and stirring has a highest inclusion rate.

Cyclodextrins ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Stability ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Magnolia ; chemistry ; Oils, Volatile ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; beta-Cyclodextrins

Ursolic acid (UA) is a sort of pentacyclic triterpenoid carboxylic acid purified from natural plant. UA has a series of biological effects such as sedative, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-diabetic, antiulcer, etc. It is discovered that UA has a broad-spectrum anti-tumor effect in recent years, which has attracted more and more scholars' attention. This review explained anti-tumor actions of UA, including (1) the protection of cells' DNA from different damages; (2) the anti-tumor cell proliferation by the inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor/mitogen-activated protein kinase signal or of FoxM1 transcription factors, respectively; (3) antiangiogenesis, (4) the immunological surveillance to tumors; (5) the inhibition of tumor cell migration and invasion; (6) the effect of UA on caspase, cytochromes C, nuclear factor kappa B, cyclooxygenase, tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) or mammalian target of rapamycin signal to induce tumor cell apoptosis respectively, and etc. Moreover, UA has selective toxicity to tumor cells, basically no effect on normal cells. With further studies, UA would be one of the potential anti-tumor agents.
Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Humans ; Immunologic Surveillance ; drug effects ; Neoplasms ; blood supply ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo optimize the process of extracting effective constituents from lotus leaf.

METHODIndependent variables were ethanol concentration reflux time and solvent fold, dependent variables were extraction rates of nuciferine and flavone in lotus leaf, central composite design and response surface methodology were used for optimization of extraction of lotus leaf.

RESULTThe optimum conditions of extraction process were 75% -80% ethanol, 2-3 hours for reflux, 20-25 fold solvent and 2 times for extraction. Bias between observed and predicted of rates of nuciferine and flavone values were 5.53%, -6.02%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe values observed and predicted were close to each other, which proved that the optimization of of extraction of lotus leaf by central composite design and response surface methodology was reasonable and successful.

Aporphines ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavones ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Loteae ; chemistry ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Reproducibility of Results

BACKGROUNDCoflex, a type of interspinous process implant, can provide intervertebral dynamic stability for surgical segments and effectively relieve lumbocrural pain. However, few studies have described therapeutic strategies and the avoidance of Coflex implant complications.

METHODSCoflex implant complications in this study included intraoperative or postoperative spinous process fracture, aggravated postoperative lumbocrural pain, dislodgment and malposition. The complications were analyzed, and therapeutic strategies were applied according to the specific complication. The Visual Analogue Scale and Oswestry Disability Index scores were evaluated by using the paired-samples test from SPSS 12.0.

RESULTSConservative treatment was provided to seven patients who experienced aggravated lumbocrural pain even though their devices remained in the correct position, and pedicle screw treatment was used as an alternative in four cases. The Visual Analogue Scale and Oswestry Disability Index scores showed evident improvement in these patients. The Visual Analogue Scale and Oswestry Disability Index scores of two patients who underwent revision were also improved.

CONCLUSIONSCoflex implants should be avoided in patients with osteoporosis, a narrow interspinous space and intervertebral coronal spondylolysis, or sagittal instability. Furthermore the device choice, depth of implantation, and clamping intensity should be appropriate. Conservative treatment can be provided to patients with symptoms if the device remains in the correct position; however, revisions and salvages should be undertaken with internal fixation of pedicle screws for patients with device malposition, intraoperative implantation failure, or device intolerance.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostheses and Implants ; adverse effects ; Visual Analog Scale