OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of Ginkgo biloba exocarp polysaccharides (GBEP) capsule preparation in treating upper digestive tract malignant tumors of middle and late stage. METHODS: Eighty-six patients of the upper digestive tract malignant tumors were treated with GBEP capsule preparation taken orally. The clinical symptoms and the qualities of life of the patients with single GBEP and combined with operation, radiotherapy or intervention chemotherapy were observed. The tumor size was measured by electronic gastroscope before and after treatment with single GBEP. Objective response rate (RR) of the tumor was calculated. The survival period of patient was observed. The changes of blood routine examination in the patients treated with radiotherapy were observed. RESULTS: GBEP preparation could markedly improve the patients'clinical symptoms. Karnofsky scoring of the patients markedly increased after treatment. There were 2 CR (complete response, 6.3%), 22 PR (partial response, 68.8%)and 5 SD (stable disease, 15.6%) of 32 cases with single GBEP preparation. The survival periods of the 32 cases were markedly prolonged. The preparation could relieve the inhibited hematopietic function and the weight loss due to radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: GBEP capsule preparation has some definite therapeutic effects on upper digestive tract malignant tumors of middle and late stage.

In order to explore the differences of chemical constituents of Paeoniae Radix Alba and Paeoniae Radix Rubra, a qualitative analytical method of liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) was developed for identification of multi-constituents and an HPLC-DAD analytical method was developed for simultaneously determining 14 major compounds (gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, paeoniflorin sulfonate, protocatechuic aldehyde, methyl gallate, oxypaeoniflorin, catechin, albiflorin, and paeoniflorin, ethyl gallate, benzoic acid, pentagaloylglucose, benzoyl-paeoniflorin, and paeonol) in Paeoniae Radix Alba and Paeoniae Radix Rubra. Q-TOF/MS qualitative analysis was performed under negative ion mode and inferred 38 components of Paeoniae Radix Alba and 30 components of Paeoniae Radix Rubra. HPLC-DAD quantitative method result showed the contents of 8 ingredients were different between Paeoniae Radix Alba and Paeoniae Radix Rubra. The results indicated that the new approach was applicable in qualitative and quantitative quality control of Paeoniae Radix Alba and Paeoniae Radix Rubra.
Bridged-Ring Compounds ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Monoterpenes ; chemistry ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; classification ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) plays as a double edged sword in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, hinging on its effect on the intracellular energy storage and injury severity, and the prognosis has relationship with intervention timing. During ischemia injury, apoptosis and oncosis are the two main cell death pathway sin the ischemic core. The participation of astrocytes in ischemia-reperfusion induced cell death has triggered more and more attention. Here, we examined the protective effects and intervention timing of the PARP-1 inhibitor PJ34, by using a mixed oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGDR) model of primary rat astrocytes in vitro, which could mimic the ischemia-reperfusion damage in the "ischemic core". Meanwhile, cell death pathways of various PJ34 treated astrocytes were also investigated. Our results showed that PJ34 incubation (10 μmol/L) did not affect release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from astrocytes and cell viability or survival 1 h after OGDR. Interestingly, after 3 or 5 h OGDR, PJ34 significantly reduced LDH release and percentage of PI-positive cells and increased cell viability, and simultaneously increased the caspase-dependent apoptotic rate. The intervention timing study demonstrated that an earlier and longer PJ34 intervention during reperfusion was associated with more apparent protective effects. In conclusion, earlier and longer PJ34 intervention provides remarkable protective effects for astrocytes in the "ischaemic core" mainly by reducing oncosis of the astrocytes, especially following serious OGDR damage.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Astrocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Glucose ; deficiency ; Humans ; Lactate Dehydrogenases ; metabolism ; Male ; Models, Biological ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of interleukin-2(IL-2)on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis(EAE)mice.Methods After establishment of the EAE(experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis) mouse models with MOG35-55 polypeptides,the mice were grouped according to the neurological function score and divided into control group,EAE group and low dose IL-2 treatment group.A double blind method was used to evaluate the neuro-logical impairment in mice.On the 29th day,pathological experiments were carried out in the mice's brain and spinal cord, hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to evaluate the scoring of inflammatory cell infiltration and luxol fast blue staining was used to evaluate the scoring of demyelinating.The proportion of regulatory T cells(Treg)and NK cells(natural killer cell, NK)was detected by flow cytometry,and the immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expressions of glial fibril -lary acidic protein(GFAP)and myelin basic protein(MBP)in the spinal cord.Results Compared with the EAE group, the neurological function score, the inflammatory cell infiltration score and the demyelinating score of the low dose IL-2 treatment group were reduced.The proportion of Treg cells in the low dose IL-2 treatment group was significantly higher than that in the EAE group,and the proportion of NK cells in the low dose IL-2 treatment group was slightly higher than that in the EAE group The expression of GFAP and MBP was detected by immunohistochemistry.The expression level of GFAP in low dose IL-2 treatment group was significantly lower than that in the EAE group,while the expression level of MBP was higher than that in the EAE group.Conclusion Low dose IL-2 has significant therapeutic effect on EAE mice.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effectiveness of psychosocial services provided by social workers in reducing dropout rate and increasing treatment dosage in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) users.

METHODSFrom May in 2009 to April in 2010, 300 MMT users were recruited from three MMT clinics in Guangzhou, and were randomly allocated into the intervention group and the control groups. The control group (152 cases) received standard MMT services while the intervention group (148 cases) received additional services provided by social workers. Methadone dosage, dropout rate, perceptions toward MMT etc. were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe 1-month dropout rate of the control and intervention groups were 19.7% (30/152) and 6.8% (10/148) (P < 0.05) respectively; the 6-month dropout rate of the control and intervention groups were 75.5% (115/152) and 50.7% (75/148) (P < 0.05) respectively. The intervention group had higher average treatment dosage than the control group ((56.0 ± 21.2) vs (64.4 ± 23.1) ml/d, (58.0 ± 24.0) vs (66.1 ± 26.6) ml/d, P < 0.05). At 1-month and 6-month, the intervention group had higher scores of MMT-related perception ((1.26 ± 0.68) vs (1.84 ± 0.95), (1.55 ± 0.83) vs (2.44 ± 1.23), P < 0.05), self-efficacy of maintenance ((3.68 ± 1.33) vs (4.20 ± 1.05), (3.80 ± 1.38) vs (4.43 ± 0.79), P < 0.05) and satisfaction toward MMT((4.08 ± 0.54) vs (4.15 ± 0.60), (4.01 ± 0.67) vs (4.31 ± 0.64), P < 0.05) as compared to the control group. The reverse was true for the score of negative experiences ((1.05 ± 0.86) vs (0.96 ± 0.92), (1.46 ± 0.87) vs (1.11 ± 1.07), P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe psychosocial interventions provided by social workers were effective in reducing dropout rate, increasing treatment dosage and improving cognitions of MMT users.

Adult ; Female ; Heroin Dependence ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Methadone ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Opiate Substitution Treatment ; Patient Compliance ; Social Work ; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of fluid shear stress on the eNOS gene expression and NO production in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs).

METHODSThe peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy volunteers were inducted into EPCs and divided into stationary group (0 dyn/cm(2), 1 dyn/cm(2) = 0.1 Pa), low-flow shear stress group (5 dyn/cm(2)), medium-flow shear stress group (15 dyn/cm(2)) and high-flow shear stress group (25 dyn/cm(2)). The effects of shear stress on the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene expression and nitric oxide (NO) production in human EPCs were measured.

RESULTSTypical "spindle-shaped" appearance was shown in EPCs derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and were positively labeled by acetylated-LDL, lectin, FLK-1 and vWF. After 4 hours treatment with various shear stresses, the ratio of eNOS/beta-actin mRNA expression by human EPCs in low, medium and high-flow shear stress group was 0.364, 0.505 and 0.548 respectively, which was significantly higher than that in stationary group (0.183, all P < 0.05) and the NO secretion in human EPCs in low, medium and high-flow shear stress group was also significantly higher than that in stationary group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONFluid shear stress enhances the eNOS mRNA expression and NO secretion in human EPCs, therefore, shear stress could potentiate the repair efficacy of EPCs for endothelial injury.

Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; secretion ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; genetics ; metabolism ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; secretion ; Stress, Mechanical

OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical experience in repair of deep burn and traumatic wounds with combined transplantation of different types of pedicled skin flaps in lower extremities.

METHODSTwo hundred and thirty-six patients with 271 deep wounds in lower extremities after burn or trauma were repaired with muscular skin flaps, local fascial flaps and island flaps with vascular pedicle (more than 20 types) in our department from Jan. 1998 to Sept. 2008.

RESULTSComplete necrosis of skin flaps occurred in 1 case, congestion and necrosis over the edge of skin flaps occurred in 3 cases, which were healed after grafting, and other skin flaps survived well with soft texture. Skin flaps were too bulky in 26 cases, among them 17 cases were thinned, and the appearance of other skin flaps were satisfactory. In 68 patients with functional region injury were recovered to certain extent without contracture.

CONCLUSIONSSkin flaps with pedicles, multiple transplantations if necessary, can repair deep wounds satisfactorily in lower extremities after deep burn or trauma injury.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Burns ; surgery ; Buttocks ; surgery ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; injuries ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Skin Transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; Wound Healing ; Young Adult

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is a kind of central nervous system disease that seriously threatens human health and life. Current treatment for AIS is mainly reperfusion. However, the time-sensitive of reperfusion limits its clinical application, and a considerable part of patients within the time window cannot achieve the expected effect after reperfusion; related complications of reperfusion have not been completely solved. So far, some clinical trials have confirmed that neuroprotectants are useful supplements and adjuncts to reperfusion. This paper reviews the recent advance in neuroprotectants combined with reperfusion in AIS to provide references for AIS treatment.

Objective:To analyze the trend of incidence and mortality of thyroid cancer and estimate its age-period-cohort effect in Shandong Province from 2012 to 2022.Methods:The Joinpoint regression was used to analyze the trend of incidence and mortality of thyroid cancer and calculate the average annual percentage change (AAPC) based on the data on thyroid cancer from 2012 to 2022. The age-period-cohort model was used to analyze the age-effect, time-effect and cohort-effect of thyroid cancer risk in the population aged over 20 years.Results:From 2012 to 2022, the incidence of thyroid cancer in Shandong province showed a significant upward trend, with an AAPC of 21.68% (95% CI: 19.14%-24.27%, P<0.001). The incidence of females was higher than that of males, and the incidence of urban areas was higher than that of rural areas. The trend of thyroid cancer mortality was relatively stable with an AAPC of -3.04% (95% CI:-8.81%-3.09%, P=0.323). The age effect of incidence increased with age before 60 years old and decreased with age after 60 years old. The incidence peaked in the age group of 55-59. The period effect increased with time. The cohort effect showed that the cohort born before 1957 had a downward trend over time, while the cohort born after 1957 had an upward trend. Conclusion:The incidence of thyroid cancer in Shandong shows a rising trend from 2012 to 2022. Age is an important factor affecting the risk of thyroid cancer. The mortality of thyroid cancer remains stable.

Objective:We aimed to analyse the trend of incidence and mortality of stomach cancer in Shandong province from 2012 to 2022 and predict the development trend from 2023 to 2030.Methods:Data on incidence and mortality of stomach cancer in Shandong province from 2012 to 2022 were obtained from Shandong Cancer Registry. The incidence, age-specific incidence, mortality and age-specific mortality in different years, sexes and urban and rural areas were calculated, the rates were standardized based on the age composition of the Chinese standard population in 2000. The average annual percent change (AAPC) of incidence and mortality was calculated using Joinpoint software. The Bayesian age-period-cohort model was used to predict the trend of stomach cancer incidence and mortality from 2023 to 2030.Results:From 2012 to 2022, the stomach cancer age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) showed a decreasing trend. The ASIR decreased from 27.47/100 000 in 2012 to 16.06/100 000 in 2022 (AAPC=-5.10%, P＜0.001), and the ASMR decreased from 17.69/100 000 to 11.09/100 000 (AAPC=-5.52%, P＜0.001). The ASIR and ASMR of male, female, urban and rural population also showed downward trends. The incidence and mortality rates of men were always higher than those of women, and the difference between urban and rural areas is gradually narrowing. In 2022, the ASIR (16.09/100 000 in urban and 16.03/100 000 in rural) and the ASMR (11.10/100 000 in urban and 11.08/100 000 in rural) of stomach cancer between urban and rural areas were nearly identical. The Bayesian age-period-cohort model predicted that the ASIR of stomach cancer in Shandong would further decrease from 2023 to 2030 (AAPC=-0.51%, P=0.001), but the change tended to be smooth. The incidences in male (AAPC=-1.46%, P=0.010) and rural areas (AAPC=-1.21%, P＜0.001) were still expected to have a little room for decline. The trend of incidences in female and urban areas were not statistically significant. The trend of mortality was consistent with the incidence. Conclusions:The stomach cancer incidence and mortality in Shandong shows a decreasing trend and it is expected to decrease further by 2030. However, the trend tends to be smooth, and the disease burden should be reduced as early as possible for high-risk population and high-risk factors of stomach cancer.