Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy

Biomarkers ; blood ; Biopsy, Needle ; utilization ; Hepatitis C ; complications ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; diagnosis ; pathology

Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lipoma ; complications ; Pharyngeal Neoplasms ; complications ; Polysomnography ; methods ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; etiology

Objective To investigate the value of radiofrequency catheter ablation(RFCA) on idiopathic ventricular tachycardia(IVT) in children.Methods The treatment efficiency of 35 patients accepting RFCA from March 2000 to February 2006 was analyzed,which was divided into control group and study group,randomly.The target site of IVT was localized by routine mapping in control group,and study group was localized by routine mapping combining doppler tissue imaging(DTI) on the basic treatment.Results Numbers of discharge,X-ray exposure time in study group were shorter than that in control group.There were no significance of radiofrequency energy,achievement rates and relapse rates between two groups.Conclusions RFCA is a safe and effective method on IVT.Children are localized combined with DTI shall decrease numbers of discharge and X-ray exposure time.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of herbal compound 861 (HB861) on expression and activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in hepatic stellate cells (HSC), and to explore the feasibility of its application in preventing and treating the early portal hypertension.

METHODSHSC of HSC-T6 cell line (1 x 10(5)/ml) were cultured in dish with 95% O2 plus 5% CO2 under 37 degrees C for 24 hrs, then divided into 5 groups, 6 dishes in each group. Group A was the blank control group. To Group B-E, HB861 2 mg/ml, HB861 4 mg/ml, HB861 8 mg/ml, HB861 4 mg/ml + NW-Nitro-L-Arginine Methyl Ester (L-NAME)4 mg/ml were added separately, and continuously cultured for 24 hrs. NOS activity was measured using colorimetry, NO level was determined by nitrate reductase technique. The cells were fixed by 4% paraformaldehyde for 2 hrs for test HSC-T6 iNOS expression by immunocyto-chemical method.

RESULTSHB861 in 2 mg/ml, 4 mg/ml and 8 mg/ml could increase HSC-T6 NOS activity from 1.7 +/- 0.1 to 2.5 +/- 0.3, 3.5 +/- 0.4 and 3.7 +/- 0.9 respectively (P < 0.01), the NO levels in supernatant were increased in parallel from 56.1 +/- 4.8 to 90.7 +/- 4.6, 99.7 +/- 4.1 and 109.0 +/- 2.7 respectively (P < 0.01). L-NAME could not inhibit the effect of HB861 in increasing the synthesis and secretion of NO by activated HSC-T6. Immuno-cyto-chemical study showed that there was iNOS expression in cytoplasm, and which could be increased by HB861.

CONCLUSIONThe activated HSC-T6 showed positive iNOS expression, suggesting it could produce NO. HB861 could markedly increase HSC-T6 iNOS expression and NOS activity, enhance the NO synthesis and secretion, it also could inhibit the contractility of activated HSC by way of increase HSC to secrete NO, so as to lower the resistance in hepatic sinusoid, therefore would play important role in preventing and treating of early portal hypertension.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hepatocytes ; enzymology ; Hypertension, Portal ; prevention & control ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; biosynthesis ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; classification ; pathology ; Pathology, Clinical ; Terminology as Topic

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of integrative Chinese and western medicine (ICWM) in treating severe a cute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

METHODSSixty SARS patients were diagnosed and observed according to the universal standard, and divided into the ICWM group (n = 31, treated with ICWM) and the control group (n = 29, treated by conventional western medicine alone).

RESULTSICWM showed better effect than that of western medicine alone in improving clinical symptoms, promoting the absorption of inflammation in lung, increased oxygen saturation (P < 0.01) and decreased the dosage of corticoid used (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe effect of ICWM is better than that of simple western medicine in treating SARS.

Adult ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Ribavirin ; therapeutic use ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Single-Blind Method

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Astragalus membranaceus extract (AME) in regulating the immune function of human peripheral blood immune cells (PBIC) in vitro.

METHODSEffects of AME on the proliferation activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and the tumor cell phagocytosis of peripheral blood adherent monocytes (PBAM) were measured by using 3H-TdR incorporation. Effect of the tumor-killing activity of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) was determined by using 51Cr-releasing assay. Effects on production of IgG by peripheral blood B cells (PBBC) and IL-6 by PBAM were tested by means of ELISA, and effect on production of TNF-alpha by PBAM was studied by means of biological method. Besides, the protein elements of AME were analysed by SDS-PAGE.

RESULTSAME could promote the proliferation of human PBMC, elevate the tumor cell-killing activity of CTL, strengthen the tumor cell phagocytosis and cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-6) production of PBAM, and promote the IgG production of PBBC. AME contained multiple protein elements.

CONCLUSIONAME has effect in enhancing human immuno-function and anti-tumor activity, it could be applied in clinical practice for immuno-modulation and tumor treatment.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; immunology ; Phagocytosis ; drug effects ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo compare the complication rates induced by three liver biopsy methods.

METHODSOne thousand five hundred fifty-seven liver biopsies were performed from 1995 to 2006 by the senior author of the present article. The patients were grouped into a non-ultrasound-guided biopsy group (783 cases), a partially ultrasound-guided group (485 cases) and an ultrasound-guided group (289 cases). The observed complications such as death, hemorrhage, pneumothorax, pain, choleperitoneum and vasovagal syncope were compared between these three groups.

RESULTSOnly 1 patient in the non-ultrasound-guided group died. Seven patients (45%), 4 in non-ultrasound-guided group, 2 in partially ultrasound-guided group and 1 in ultrasound-guided group, had hemorrhage complications. The hemorrhage complication rates between partially ultrasound-guided group and ultrasound-guided group had no significant differences and both were lower than those of the non-ultrasound-guided group. Thirty-five patients, 23 in non-ultrasound-guided group and 12 in partially ultrasound-guided group, suffered from pneumothorax; but the rates between the two groups were not significantly different. Forty-eight patients (45%), 28 in non-ultrasound-guided group, 17 in partially ultrasound-guided group and 3 in ultrasound-guided group, had severe pain and the rate in the ultrasound-guided group was significantly lower than those of the other two groups.

CONCLUSIONLiver biopsy performed under ultrasound guidance is the safest and most reliable way to do the procedure. It should be recommended in clinical practices.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Child ; Humans ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the intestinal mucosal barrier protective effect of herbal medicine Compound Tongfu Granule (CTG) in patients with liver cirrhosis of decompensation stage.

METHODSFifty patients enrolled were randomly assigned to the control group (26 cases) and the CTG group (24 cases), and 30 healthy adults were set up as normal control. After 2-week treatment, the intestinal permeability (IP, represented by urinary lactulose/mannitol excretion rate), plasma endotoxin (EDT) level, and change of enteric bacteria (EB) in patients were observed before and after treatment, and compared with those in the normal control.

RESULTSBefore treatment, cirrhotic patients showed significantly higher levels of IP, EDT, and intestinal bacilli, but a lower amount of enteric bifidobacteria as compared with those the normal control. After 2-week treatment, levels of EDT and urinary excretion rate of lactulose in the CTG group were lowered more significantly than those in the control group (P < 0.05), while the amount of bifidobacteria in the CTG group increased accompanied with intestinal bacilli significantly lowered to near the levels in the normal control (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCTG can improve the intestinal barrier function, correct the intestinal bacteria disturbance, and significantly reduce the entero-derived endotoxemia in cirrhotic patients of decompensation stage.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bifidobacterium ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Cell Membrane Permeability ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Endotoxins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; metabolism ; microbiology ; pathology ; Lactulose ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; microbiology ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome