Objective: To study the scientific connotation "carbonizing retains characteristics" of Platycladi Cacumen (PC). Methods: Chemical constituents of PC and Platycladi Cacumen Carbonisata (PCC) of different carbonizing degree were compared by HPLC characteristic chromatogram, and the chromatographic peaks were assigned; PC and PCC of different carbonizing degree and the characteristic components changed before and after being carbonized were used to compare the impact to hemostasis in vitro and inhibition of zebrafish cerebral hemorrhage. Results: Chemical compositions of PC were affected by different carbonizing degree, when carbonizing degree is moderate, the content of myricitrin, quercitroside, isoquercitroside, amentoflavone and hinokiflavone original in PC were significantly reduced and the amount of quercetin and kaempferol which were newly produced were higher. In vitro hemostatic experiments showed that compared with the blank group, the APTT and FIB of PC which was carbonized moderately were significantly different (P < 0.01) and TT was significantly different (P < 0.05). It also had obvious inhibition effect on zebrafish cerebral hemorrhage when the concentration of PC carbonized moderately was 50 μg/mL (P < 0.01). The enhanced hemostasis was significantly related to newly produced compositions quercetin and kaempferol. Conclusion: Chemical compositions of PC changed significantly after being carbonized and the hemostatic effect was enhanced,which were related to the processing degree. The scientific connotation and traditional processing requirements of "carbonizing retains characteristics" was preliminarily analyzed when the carbon medicine was processed by this study, which provides a certain idea for the research on traditional processing theory of carbon medicine.

The main problems and solutions of mineral drugs in clinical use were studied based on the investigation on the quality of Haematitum and Fluoritum pieces in venalicium. The outward appearance and intrinsic quality of Haematitum and Fluoritum pieces in venalicium were studied by the requires which were in the first part of Chinese Pharmacopoeia published in 2010. The outward appearance and intrinsic quality of mineral drugs had large differences, the disqualification rate was 41.67% in 12 batches of Haematitum pieces and the disqualification rate was 53.85% in 13 batches of Fluoritum pieces. The crushing granularity of mineral drugs should be defined, the quality standards should be further improved. The drug adiministration ought to strengthen inspection and supervision in order to ensure the stability and reliability of the clinical efficacy.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; standards ; Minerals ; standards ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the curative effect of Danxiaoling Pill (DXLP), a Chinese herbal preparation, in treating intrahepatic cholestasis in pregnancy (ICP).

METHODSFifty-eight cases of ICP were divided randomly into two groups and treated by DXLP and Composite Yiganling as control respectively with the other identical conventional treatment. The changes of clinical symptoms, related laboratory parameters after treatment and the condition of labor were observed.

RESULTSThe total effective rate in both groups was 100%, but the markedly effective rate in the DXLP treated group was higher than that in control group (P < 0.01). Levels of blood cholyglycine acid (CGA), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total bilirubin, total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein were all decreased in both groups after treatment, but DXL showed a better efficacy in decreasing CGA, ALT and AST than that of Yiganling. Moreover, the amniotic fluid meconium contaminated rate, premature delivery occurrence in the DXLP group were lower than those in the control group, while the weight of newborn baby was higher in the former than in the latter.

CONCLUSIONDXLP could effectively lower the serum bile acid and improve liver function in treating ICP.

Adult ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic ; blood ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Glycocholic Acid ; blood ; Humans ; Phytotherapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; blood ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the curative effect of Wuling pill (WLP), a traditional Chinese patent medicine, in treating gestation period intrahepatic cholestasis (GPI).

METHODSIn the clinical study, 90 GPI patients were divided into the treated group treated by conventional therapy plus WLP and the control group treated by conventional therapy plus compound Yiganling (YGL) with a ratio of 2:1. Clinical symptoms and accouchement condition were observed. Levels of cholyglycine acid (CGA), total and direct bilirubin (TB and DB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were detected before and after treatment. For the experimental study, GPI rat model was induced by injecting estradiol benzoate to pregnant Wistar rats. The model rats in the treated group were administrated with WLP by gastro-perfusion and those in the control group, were administrated with YGL. Levels of CGA,TB,DB, ALT, AST and ALP in the mother and fetal rats, as well as in the amnionic fluid were determined. Besides, the volume of bile excreted by the mother rats was observed.

RESULTSIn clinical trials, the markedly effective rate in the treated group (47 cases, 78.3% ) was higher than that in the control group (15 cases, 50%, chi2 = 7.17286, P < 0.01). Levels of blood CGA, TB, ALT and AST were all decreased in both groups after treatment, but WLP showed a better efficacy than YGL (P < 0.05) in lowering CGA, ALT and AST. Moreover, the occurrence of meconium contaminated amnionic fluid and premature delivery were lower, while weight and Apgar grade of newborn babies were higher in the treated group than those in the control group. In animal experiment, WLP showed significant effects in decreasing CGA level in amniotic fluid, and in blood of the mother and fetal rats. In addition, it could also decrease the levels of bilirubin, ALT and AST, and promote the bile excretion to reduce CGA concentration in bile. All the above effects showed a dose-dependent pattern.

CONCLUSIONWLP could effectively lower the serum bile acid, improve the hepatic function and better the pregnant outcome in treating GPI.

Adult ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Bilirubin ; blood ; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Glycocholic Acid ; blood ; Humans ; Phytotherapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; drug therapy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of taurine in diet on the expression of type I and III collagen and collagen ratio at different time points in rats lung by image process technology.

METHODSWistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: the saline instilled with a control diet (the saline treated group); silica instilled with a control diet (the silica treated group); and silica instilled with a diet containing 2.5% taurine (the taurine treated group). Animal models were established by the direct tracheal instillation of silica into rat lungs exposed surgically. The taurine concentration of serum was analyzed by means of HPLC. Paraffin embedded lung sections were stained with Sirius red. Polarization microscopy and Image Pro Plus Version 4.5 for windows were used for detecting type I and III collagen.

RESULTSThe concentration of taurine in serum of the taurine treated group was significantly elevated compared to the saline treated and silica treated group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Sirius red polarization microscopy showed that type I and III collagen positive area percentage were elevated in the silica treated rats compared with the saline treated group. On the 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th day after silica instillation type I collagen positive area percentage was increased by 3.84, 3.77, 3.73, 9.83 respectively (P < 0.01), and type III collagen positive area percentage were elevated by a little in the silica treated rats compared with saline treated group. The taurine treatment significantly decreased elevation of silica type I collagen positive area percentage of lung by 2.39, 1.62, 7.13 at the 7th, 21st, 28th day respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and type III collagen positive area percentage of lung by 2.62 at the 28th day (P < 0.05) compared with the silica treated group. The ratio of type I to III collagen was increased from the 7th day to 28th day after silica instillation, and reached 1.87 at the 28th day with the maximal ratio in the silica-treated group.

CONCLUSIONTreatment with taurine can effectively attenuate type I and III collagen expression in the rat lung induced by silica particles at different time points in our study.

Animals ; Collagen Type I ; biosynthesis ; Collagen Type III ; biosynthesis ; Female ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Silicon Dioxide ; toxicity ; Taurine ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses and administrators) to adverse drug reactions (ADR) in Wuhan city and to identify the reasons for under-reporting.

METHODSStructured interviews were carried out in Wuhan, Hubei province. Questionnaire survey to approximately 15% of the medical practitioners selected from 16 hospitals, was conducted during the period from February to March 2003.

RESULTSOnly 2.7% of the interviewees knew the definition of adverse drug reactions. 61.7% of the doctors, 62.7% of the nurses and 61.1% of the administrators had ever encountered an ADR during their practices, but did not report to the national monitoring center or other centers. The major reasons for not reporting included: ignorant about the requirement and the reporting process of ADR (71.4%); address of the reporting agency and Forms unavailable (67.9%, 60.4%); unaware of the existence of a national ADR reporting system (52.2%); needless to report as the ADR being too well known (44.1%). They mainly reported an ADR to the hospital pharmacy or other departments, or to the pharmaceutical administration. Education, training and developing new institutions were ways to improve the reporting system.

CONCLUSIONSOur results showed that healthcare professionals had little knowledge on the basic ADR knowledge. The main reasons for underreporting were related to factors on reporting process, address of related centers and unavailable of the Forms. Education and training to doctors and nurses to enhance the awareness of administrators were the ways to improve the reporting system.

Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems ; Attitude of Health Personnel ; China ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Practice Patterns, Physicians' ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUNDA voluntary procedure for reporting adverse drug reactions (ADRs) was formally put in place in 1989. However, only a small proportion of ADR reports are actually forwarded to the national monitoring center. To identify the reasons for underreporting, the authors investigated the awareness and attitudes of healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, and administrators) toward the ADR system in China. In addition, the authors sought to formulate approaches to improve the current ADR reporting system.

METHODSStructured interviews were carried out in 16 hospitals selected from 27 municipal hospitals in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. A questionnaire survey of a stratified random sample of approximately 15% of healthcare professionals in each selected hospital was conducted during February to March 2003.

RESULTSThe response rate of this survey was 85%. One thousand six hundred and fifty-three questionnaires were used in the final analysis. Only 2.7% of the healthcare professionals had a correct understanding to the definition of ADR. Eighty-nine point two percent of the healthcare professionals had encountered ADRs. Ninety-four percent of them were aware of the need to report these to the ADR monitoring center. However, only 28.5% of doctors, 22.8% of nurses, and 29.7% of administrators actually submitted a report. For the most part, they reported ADRs to the hospital pharmacy (66.0%), to other departments in the hospital (72.5%), and to the pharmaceutical industry (23.0%), rather than to the national monitoring center (2.9%) or regional monitoring center (9.5%). Severe or rare ADRs and ADRs to new products were generally perceived to be significant enough to report. Sixty-two point one percent of the healthcare professionals had encountered ADRs, yet not reported them to anybody. The major reasons for not reporting included no knowledge of the reporting procedure (71.4%), unavailability of the reporting center mailing address (67.9%), unavailability of the ADR report form (60.4%), lack of knowledge of the existence of a national ADR reporting system (52.2%), and belief that the ADR in question was already well known (44.1%).

CONCLUSIONSHealthcare professionals in Wuhan, China have little basic knowledge of ADR and of the voluntary reporting system. The main reasons for underreporting were lack of basic knowledge about ADRs and the voluntary reporting procedure. Education and training of healthcare professionals is needed to improve the current ADR reporting system.

Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems ; trends ; Attitude of Health Personnel ; China ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Hospital Administrators ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Nurses ; Physicians ; Surveys and Questionnaires

This study was aimed to investigate the protective effects of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) combined with trehalose on the cryopreserved platelets. The platelets were preserved at -80 degrees C. The experiments were divided into 5 groups: blank control group composed of apheresis platelet suspension; trehalose group composed of apheresis platelet suspension and 0.25 mol/L trehalose; DMSO group composed of apheresis platelet suspension and 5% DMSO; 5% combined group composed of apheresis platelet suspension, 5% DMSO and 0.25 mol/L trehalose; 2.5% combined group composed of apheresis platelet suspension, 2.5% DMSO and 0.25 mol/L trehalose. All the groups were thawed at 37 degrees C in a waterbath. The recovery rate of platelets and mean platelet volume (MPV) were assayed by using hemocytometer; the ultrastructural changes were examined by electron microscopy; the expressions of CD41, CD42b, CD61 and CD62p on platelets were detected by flow cytometry. The results indicated that single use of trehalose had no strong effect in increasing the recovery rate of platelets, but the morphology of platelets was close to normal. The DMSO showed significant effect in increasing the recovery rate of platelets and maintaining the intact property of platelets, however, the shape of platelets tended to sealing, and partial platelets still displayed heteromorphic changes. The combination of DMSO and trehalose revealed the protective effect on the external morphology and internal structure of platelets to be close to the normal homeostasis, and ensured an ideal recovery rate of the cryopreserved platelets and higher expression levels of CD41, CD42b, CD61 and CD62p in the same time. It is concluded that the combined use of DMSO and trehalose possesses the synergistic protective effect on the cryopreserved platelets, therefore, the combined use of both as the protective agent is hopeful to further raise the effectiveness of clinical infusion of the cryopreserved platelets.
Blood Platelets ; drug effects ; Blood Preservation ; methods ; Cryopreservation ; methods ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Platelet Count ; Trehalose ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the value of high-frequency ultrasound in the diagnosis of duchenne muscular dystrophy diseases (DMD) in children.

METHODSEight children with DMD were enrolled as DMD group and 10 healthy children as the control group. The echogenicity of the rectus femoris muscle and the gap between the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles in the two groups were detected by high-frequency ultrasound.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, rectus femoris and gastrocnemius muscles in the DMD group showed increased echogenicity and their muscle fibers were arranged irregularly, and the gap between the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles became wilder (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSHigh-frequency ultrasound is valuable in the diagnosis of DMD.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Living Donors ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nephrectomy ; methods