Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Endotoxemia ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharide Receptors ; blood ; Lipopolysaccharides ; blood ; Phytotherapy ; Shock, Septic ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology

Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; Occupational Medicine ; standards

Objective To explore the relationship between asthma exacerbation and respiratory tract infections of viruses,Mycoplasma pneumoniae(MP),Chlamydia pneumoniae(CP)in children.Methods Seven viruses including respiratory syncytial virus(RSV),adenovirus(AdV),influenza virus A(IFVA),influenza virus B(IFVB) and parainfluenza virus Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ(PFVⅠ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ) from the nasopharyngeal aspirate of 74 patients with asthma were rapidly diagnosed by direct immunofluorescence assay,as well as the serum MP-IgM,CP-IgM were detected by the granule agglutinating method and indirect solid-phase enzyme immunoassay(EIA),respectively.Results Pathogens were detected in 29 out of 74 cases(39.2%) with asthma exacerbation.Of whom 14 cases(43.8%) were in infant and another 15 cases(18.8%) were in preschool and school children.RSV was the leading pathogen in infant,it was discovered in 6 cases(accounting for 18.8%).The se-cond pathogen was PFVⅢ which was discovered in 4 cases(12.5%).MP,AdV and CP accounted for 6.25%,3.1%,3.1%,respectively.But in preschool and school children,MP was the most common pathogen which were discovered in 9 cases(21.4%),the following pathogen was CP which was discovered in 3 cases(7.1%),PFVⅢ and RSV only accounted for 4.8%,2.4%,respectively.There was significant differences statistically between two groups in viral respiratory tract and atypical-microorganism infections rate(Pa

Objective To investigate the appropriate and pragmatic drainage after the breast cancer by radi- cal surgery.Methods 120 patients treated by the radical surgery from July 2003 to July 2005,were divided into the experimental group(ring-like double tubes with negative pressure drainage) and the control group(armpit single tube drainage with pressure bind).The differences between the two groups were analyzed in the same period,respectively sixty cases.Results The outflow of the first three days after operation in the experimental group was more than that in control group(P0.05).The incidence of sinoma and incision delaying healing in experimental group was lower than that in con- trol group(P

Humans ; Moxibustion ; Depression ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Esophagitis, Peptic

AIMTo explore the effect of platelet-activating factor on long-term potentiation in the CA1 region of rat hippocampal slices.

METHODSWe recorded the excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) and investigated effect of long-term potentiation by PAF in rat hippocampus in vitro.

RESULTSLow doses (1 micromol/L ) of PAF could induce LTP, while higher doses (10-50 micromol/L) of PAF could inhibit induction of LTP. But it couldn't inhibit the LTP induced by subsequent high frequency stimulation and the EPSP of basal. GB of PAF receptor antagonists could prevent the LTP induced by low doses of PAF, and could't inhibit the LTP induced by HFS.

CONCLUSIONHigher doses of PAF is an HIV-1-induced neurotoxin, it may contribute to the HAD pathogenesis by inhibition of LTP.

Animals ; Electric Stimulation ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; physiology ; Long-Term Potentiation ; Male ; Organ Culture Techniques ; Platelet Activating Factor ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy and safety of Yigu capsule (YGC, a Chinese herbal compound preparation) in treating postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) and to explore its possible mechanism.

METHODSThe clinical study was conducted adopting prospective, randomized, double blinded method for 6 months with placebo and positive controls. Two hundred and ten PMO patients with confirmed diagnosis were divided into the YGC group, the osteocalcin group and the placebo group, they were treated with YGC, osteocalcin capsule and placebo capsule, respectively. The symptoms, as new fracture and ostealgia, bone mineral density (BMD) of the 2nd to the 4th lumbar vertebrae (L24) and upper segment of femur, blood and urinary indexes for bone metabolism, sex hormone level and adverse reaction were observed.

RESULTSIn the YGC group, the total effective rate was 95.50%, no new fracture occurred, which was significantly better than that in the other two groups (P < 0.05). The increase of BMD was 9.83% in L2-4, 4.09% in femoral neck, 4.60% in Wards triangle, 3.00% in greater trochanter, which were better than those in the placebo group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). As compared with the placebo group, in the YGC group, levels of urinary oxyproline hydroxyproline/creatinine, urinary calcium/creatinine were lower, serum and bone alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, estradiol, and estradiol/testosterone were higher, but with no difference in level of testosterone. In the observation period, no abnormal findings in blood and urine routine examination as well as in liver and renal function were found. Mild, transient gastro-intestinal response occurred in individual patients but it didn't affect the treatment.

CONCLUSIONYGC could treat PMO effectively, it could obviously increase the BMD of lumbar vertebrae and hip, elevate the alleviating rate of ostealgia and incessant motion time, without new compressive fracture of vertebrae, and without any related adverse reaction. YGC could not only promote the formation, but also inhibit the absorption of bone, and increase the sex hormone level, therefore, it is a pure Chinese herbal compound preparation that worths further deep research and development.

Absorptiometry, Photon ; Bone Density ; Capsules ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Phytotherapy ; Prospective Studies ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo explore the diagnosis and surgical treatment of abdominal cocoon.

METHODSThe clinical data of 16 patients with abdominal cocoon admitted to our hospital between Jun. 1993 and Oct. 2006 were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSPreoperatively, Barium meal X-rays revealed coils of intestine in 8 cases, incomplete intestinal obstruction in 6 cases, and prolonged intestinal transit time in 2 cases. CT scan showed dilated intestine and intestinal loops seemed to be encapsulated in a thickened capsule. After opening the peritoneum, entire or partial intestine encapsulated in thickened membrane encasing were found, including partial intestine encapsulated in 1 cases(Type I), entire intestine encapsulated in 2 cases (Type II), and entire intestine and other organs encapsulated in 12 cases(Type III). All the cases underwent adhesiolysis. Intestinal splint was done in 2 patients, gastrostomy in one patient with chronic pyloric obstruction, radical resection of rectal cancer in one patients and ileocolic resection in one patients with Crohn's disease. All patients were healed by surgical operation and confirmed the diagnosis histopathologically.

CONCLUSIONSAbdominal cocoon is rare. It is difficult to make a right diagnosis preoperatively. Barium meal X-rays and CT scan are useful methods for its diagnosis. For the treatment, attention should be paid on complete resection of fibrous membrane, adhesiolysis and prevent intestinal obstruction.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; prevention & control ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peritoneal Diseases ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; X-Rays ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy and safety of Yigu capsule (YGC), a Chinese herbal compound preparation, in treating postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) and to explore its possible mechanism.

METHODSThe clinical study was conducted in a prospective, randomized, double blinded method lasting for 6 months with placebo and positive control. Two hundred and ten PMO patients with confirmed diagnosis were assigned into the YGC group, the calciferol group and the placebo group. Besides being administered element calcium, they were treated with YGC, calciferol capsule and placebo capsule respectively. And such symptoms as newly found fracture and ostealgia, bone mineral density (BMD) of the 2nd-4th lumbar vertebrae (L(2-4)) and upper femur, blood and urinary indexes for bone metabolism, sex hormone level and adverse reaction that occurred in patients were observed.

RESULTSIn the YGC group, the total effective rate was 95.50%, with no new occurrence of fractures, which was significantly better than that in the other two groups (P < 0.05). Moreover, in the YGC group, the increase rate of BMD was 9.83% in L(2-4), 4.09% in femoral neck, 4.60% in Wards triangle, 3.00% in greater trochanter, which was also better than that in the placebo group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). As compared with the placebo group, levels in the YGC group of urinary oxyproline hydroxyproline/creatinine, urinary calcium/creatinine were significantly lower, serum and bone alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, estradiol and estradiol/testosterone were significantly higher, but no difference was shown in the comparison of testosterone level. In the observation period, no abnormality in blood or urine routine, liver or renal function was found. Only mild, transient gastro-intestinal response occurred in individual patients, but it did not affect the treatment.

CONCLUSIONYGC could treat PMO effectively, as it could obviously increase the BMD of lumbar vertebrae and coxafemoral bone, elevate the alleviating rate of ostealgia and incessant motion time, yet causing no newly found compressive fracture of vertebrae, or and any related adverse reaction. YGC could not only promote the formation, but also inhibit the absorption of bone as well as increase the sex hormone level. Therefore, it is a pure Chinese herbal compound preparation worthy of further research and development.

Administration, Oral ; Aged ; Amidohydrolases ; urine ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Bone and Bones ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Calcium ; administration & dosage ; blood ; urine ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Female ; Fractures, Bone ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; blood ; Humans ; Hydroxyproline ; urine ; Incidence ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Prospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDIncreasing evidence suggests that many neurons may die through apoptosis in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in this process of neuronal cell death. One promising approach for preventing AD is based upon anti-apoptosis to decrease death of nerve cells. In this study, we observed the memory improving properties of curcumin in mice and investigated the neuroprotective effect of curcumin in vitro and in vivo.

METHODSThe mice were given AlCl(3) orally and injections of D-galactose intraperitoneally for 90 days to establish the AD animal model. From day 45, the curcumin group was treated with curcumin for 45 days. Subsequently, the step-through test, neuropathological changes in the hippocampus and the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 were carried out to evaluate the effect of curcumin on the AD model mice. In cultured PC12 cells, AlCl(3) exposure induced apoptosis. The MTT assay was used to measure cell viabilities; flow cytometric analysis to survey the rate of cell apoptosis; DNA-binding fluorochrome Hoechst 33258 to observe nuclei changes in apoptotic cells and Western blot analysis of Bax, Bcl-2 to investigate the mechanisms by which curcumin protects cells from toxicity.

RESULTSCurcumin significantly improved the memory ability of AD mice in the step-through test, as indicated by the reduced number of step-through errors (P < 0.05) and prolonged step-through latency (P < 0.05). Curcumin also attenuated the neuropathological changes in the hippocampus and inhibited apoptosis accompanied by an increase in Bcl-2 level (P < 0.05), but the activity of Bax did not change (P > 0.05). AlCl(3) significantly reduced the viability of PC12 cells (P < 0.01). Curcumin increased cell viability in the presence of AlCl(3) (P < 0.01). The rate of apoptosis decreased significantly in the curcumin group (P < 0.05) when measured by flow cytometric analysis. Curcumin protected cells by increasing Bcl-2 level (P < 0.05), but the level of Bax did not change (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThis study demonstrates that curcumin improves the memory ability of AD mice and inhibits apoptosis in cultured PC12 cells induced by AlCl(3). Its mechanism may involve enhancing the level of Bcl-2.

Aluminum Compounds ; toxicity ; Alzheimer Disease ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chlorides ; toxicity ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Learning ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Mice ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; PC12 Cells ; Rats