Monascus-fermented rice is a natural food and traditional Chinese medicine. Besides its wellknown effectiveness in lowering blood lipids, Monascus-fermented rice is also beneficial for decreasing blood pressure, preventing osteoporosis, and lowering blood sugar. This article reviews recent advances in its non-anti-hyperlipemic effects and their potential mechanisms.

Alpha-lipoic acid is a potent antioxidant.Its protective effects on oxidative stress induced by diabetes and othe factors are mainly achieved via its antioxidant property.Such effects have been observed in cardiovascular system,kidney,and liver.This article reviews the recent advances in the anti-oxidation mechanisms and protective effects of alpha-lipoic acid in peripheral organs.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect and safety of L-carnitine in the treatment of idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia based on current clinical evidence.

METHODSWe searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CNKI, VIP, CBM and Wanfang Database from the establishment to April 2014 for the published literature on the treatment of idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia with L-carnitine. We conducted literature screening, data extraction, and assessment of the methodological quality of the included trials according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, followed by statistical analysis with the RevMan 5. 2 software.

RESULTSSeven randomized controlled trials involving 751 patients with idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia met the inclusion criteria, and 678 of them were included in the meta-analysis. L-carnitine treatment achieved a significantly increased rate of spontaneous pregnancy as compared with the control group (RR = 3.2, 95% CI 1.74 to 5.87, P = 0.0002). After 12-16 and 24-26 weeks of medication, total sperm motility (WMD = 5.21, 95% CI 2.78 to 7.64, P < 0.0001 and WMD = 9.29, 95% CI 1.28 to 17.29, P = 0.02) and the percentage of progressively motile sperm (WMD = 12.44, 95% CI 4.58 to 20.31, P = 0.002 and WMD = 9.76, 95% CI 3.56 to 15.97, P = 0.002) were remarkably higher than those in the control group, but no statistically significant differences were observed in sperm concentration between the two groups (WMD = 4.91, 95% CI -2.63 to 12.45, P = 0.2 and WMD = 0.93, 95% CI -3.48 to 5.34, P = 0.68). After 12-16 weeks of treatment, the percentage of morphologically abnormal sperm was markedly decreased in the L-carnitine group as compared with the control (WMD = -2.48, 95% CI -4.35 to -0.61, P = 0.009), but showed no significant difference from the latter group after 24-26 weeks (WMD = -4.38, 95% CI -9.66 to 0.89, P = 0.1). No statistically significant difference was found in the semen volume between the two groups after 12-16 or 24-26 weeks of medication (WMD = -0.13, 95% CI -0.43 to 0.18, P = 0.42 and WMD = 0.28, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.58, P = 0.07). No serious L-carnitine-related adverse events were reported in 4 of the randomniized controlled trials.

CONCLUSIONThe current evidence indicates that L-carnitine can improve spontaneous pregnancy and semen parameters in the treatment of idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia, with no serious adverse reactions.

Asthenozoospermia ; drug therapy ; Carnitine ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility

BACKGROUND:Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease, is not only a result from the breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bone, but also an imbalance of bone remodeling and crosstalk among tissues in the joints. OBJECTIVE: To review the effect of bone-cartilage crosstalk in the progression of osteoarthritis and its new treatment strategy. METHODS: A computer-based search of PubMed and CNKI databases was performed for relevant literatures about the relationship between the progress of osteoarthritis and the bone-cartilage crosstalk published from 2007 to 2017. The keywords were cartilage, interaction, osteoarthritis, pathogenesis, cytokines, signaling pathway in English and Chinese, respectively. The relationship between the progress of osteoarthritis and the bone-cartilage crosstalk was summarized in views of cytokines, signaling pathway, and new treatment strategy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Totally 169 articles were retrieved, and finally 54 eligible papers were enrolled based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. There is a close physical association between subchondral bone and cartilage, and the bone-cartilage interface is a functioning synergistic unit. Increased vascularization, micro-crack formation and abnormal bone remodeling may accelerate the molecules transporting from cartilage to bone in osteoarthritis. Therefore, the bone-cartilage crosstalk plays a pivotal role in the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis.

Objective To study the risk factors of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in children and adolescents in Xi'an City.Methods HFRS laboratory confirmed cases aged under 16 from January 2013-December 2015 were selected,which were reported by Information System of Disease Prevention and Control of the People's Republic of China.A 1:1 matched case-control study was adopted to retrospective investigate the risk factors.Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze relationships between various factors and HFRS in single factor analysis,the influence factors in the single factor analysis with statistical significances were further analyzed in the multiple factors analysis.Results Eighty-eight matched pairs were investigated.Single factor Logistic regression analysis found that non-nuclear family [odds ratio (OR) =20.25,95％ confidence interval (CI):2.32-76.80],less hand washing frequency before meals (OR =3.67,95％CI:1.40-9.62),the river or pond around the place (OR =1.55,95％CI:1.32-2.94),sit on the hay and play (OR =1.36,95％CI:1.17-1.80),eating in the snack bar (OR =8.33,95％CI:1.78-9.47),do not spray water when sweeping the floor (OR =2.22,95％CI:1.24-4.12),living in the edge of village (OR =1.55,95％CI:1.32-2.94),and keeping pets in the home (OR =12.00,95％CI:1.12-28.84) were associated with HFRS.In multiple factors Logistic regression analysis,risk factors according to the contribution value from high to low in the order were keeping pets in the home (OR =5.40,95％CI:1.78-16.32),less hand washing frequency before meals (OR =3.96,95％CI:1.89-7.23),living in the edge of village (OR =2.42,95％CI:1.82-5.50),and the river or pond around the place (OR =2.21,95％CI:1.86-2.49).Conclusion Risk factors as keeping pets in the home,less hand washing frequency before meals,living in the edge of village,the river or pond around the place are likely risk factors of HFRS.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effect of the sacrococcygeal space injection for the treatment of failed back surgery syndrome.

METHODSFrom July 1998 to October 2012,47 patients with failed back surgery syndrome were treated and included 39 males and 8 females with an average age of 61.5 years old ranging from 35 to 89 years old. Among them,41 patients experienced one time of operation, 6 patients with twice of operation. Forty-one patients underwent single,bilateral fenestration or central laminectomy decompression, discectomy. Six patients underwent total laminectomy discectomy and inter body fusion and pedicle screw fixation. All patients were examined by X-ray plain film, CT or MRI before treatment. The anticoagulation was discontinuation before treatment. The needle was put into the sacrococcygeal gap at prone position in the sense of frustration,suction without cerebrospinal fluid and blood,with injection of Mailuoning (Chinese characters: see text) 15 ml. The pain was assessed by VAS before and after treatment. The Oswestry low back pain disability index and survival quality interference degree were evaluated.

RESULTSAt 1 month after treatment,the pain VAS decreased from 59.24 +/- 17.35 before treatment to 19.19 +/- 11.19 after treatment (P < 0.05); The Oswestry low back pain disability index decreased from (41.35 +/- 9.87)% before treatment to (23.17 +/- 17.56)% after treatment (P < 0.05); The survival quality interference degree decreased from 6.5 +/- 2.2 before treatment to 2.6 +/- 1.4 after treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe sacrococcygeal gap injection for treatment of failed back surgery syndrome has advantages of simple, safe, fewer complications, and low treatment cost.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Failed Back Surgery Syndrome ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Sacrococcygeal Region ; diagnostic imaging

China ; epidemiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Dysentery, Bacillary ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Humans ; Serotyping ; Shigella ; classification ; drug effects ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo investigate apoptosis-inducing effect and its mechanisms of HY-1, a carbazole alkaloid, on human erythroleukemia K562 cells.

METHODSCell proliferation was detected by sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay after treated with HY-1 at indicated doses. Cell cycle analysis was performed by flow cytometry, mitochondria membrane voltage change was assessed by rhodamine 123 staining, annexin V-PI apoptosis detecting kit and DNA agarose gel electrophoresis were used to identify apoptosis-inducing effect of HY-1. The alterations of apoptosis-relating proteins were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSThe IC(50) of HY-1 in K562 cells was (29.05 +/- 0.90) micromol/L by SRB assay. HY-1 had significant apoptotic inducing effect on K562 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner as verified by appearance of Sub-G(1) peak on histogram of flow cytometry analysis, reduction of mitochondria membrane voltage, appearance of double positive cell group in Annexin V-PI apoptosis detecting test, and remarkable DNA ladder. The expression of cytosolic cytochrome c was apparently increased. Pro-caspase-9, pro-caspase-3 and PARP were all cleaved to active segments. There was no change in the expression of caspase-8.

CONCLUSIONHY-1 exerts its anticancer activity through triggering apoptosis of K562 cells by mitochondria-activating pathways.

Alkaloids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carbazoles ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Mitochondria ; metabolism ; Rutaceae ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the ability of pleth variability index (PVI) in predicting fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients under general anesthesia.

METHODSFrom August to November 2009, 25 patients were enclosed in this study following anesthesia induction. PVI was continuously displayed by the Masimo Radical 7. All patients were also monitored with Vigileo/FloTrac system. Haemodynamic data such as cardiac index (CI), stroke volume variability (SVV), mean arterial pressure, heart rate, central venous pressure, PVI, perfusion index were recorded before and after volume expansion (hetastar 6%, 7 ml/kg). Fluid responsiveness was defined as an increase in CI ≥ 15% (ΔCI ≥ 15).

RESULTSSVV and PVI were significantly higher in the responders (16.0% ± 2.6% and 20.5% ± 3.7%) than those in non-responders (11.6% ± 1.4% and 13.8% ± 2.6%) respectively (P < 0.05). The SVV threshold of 13.5% before volume expansion was able to discriminate the responders from the non-responders with a sensitivity of 88.2% and a specificity of 87.5%. The threshold for PVI was 15.5%, the same sensitivity of 88.2% and specificity of 87.5% were obtained. There was a significant relationship between PVI before volume expansion and change in CI after volume expansion (r = 0.683, P < 0.01), the same as the changes of SVV (r = 0.600, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPVI as a new dynamic indices can predict fluid responsiveness non-invasively in mechanically ventilated patients during general anesthesia.

Abdomen ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Anesthesia, General ; Female ; Fluid Therapy ; Hemodynamics ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monitoring, Intraoperative ; Respiration, Artificial

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of serum cytokines concentrations and A- PACHE scores in evaluating the illness state for critical trauma patients.Methods A clinical prospective self-control trial was performed,in which 36 patients admitted to ICU by SIRS were enrolled.Objects were divided into mild and severe trauma group according to APACHE score.The TNF-?and IL-6 concentrations were determined on the 1st, 3rd and 5th day of admission,the APACHE score were assessed at the same time.Statistic analysis was performed according to this group.Results The TNF-?concentrations decreased continuously in the following days while IL-6 decreased from the 7th day in the mild trauma group.In the severe trauma group the TNF-?and IL-6,APACHE score concentrations kept increasing.There was a significant difference of TNF-?and IL-6 concentrations between severe trauma and mild trauma group.Conclusion Dynamic measurement of TNF-?and IL-6 concentrations with APACHE score provide great help to evaluate the illness state and predict the prognosis.