OBJECTIVE: To examine and determine the contents of endothelin (ET) and nitric oxide (NO) in plasma, and to observe the effects of gastrodin injection on blood pressure, ET and NO levels in old patients with refractory hypertension. METHODS: A total of 63 old patients with refractory hypertension, 30 patients with common hypertension and 30 healthy people were included. The contents of ET and NO in plasma of patients in different groups and healthy people were examined and analyzed. The old patients with refractory hypertension were randomly divided into two groups: gastrodin-treated and routine treatment groups. Besides conventional hypotensive drugs, intravenous drip infusion of 1 000 mg gastrodin was administered to the patients in gastrodin-treated group for two courses (4 weeks), while the patients in routine treatment group were treated only with conventional hypotensive drugs. The changes of blood pressure, ET and NO levels before and after treatment in different groups were measured. RESULTS: The plasma level of ET in refractory hypertension group was higher than that in common hypertension group (t=3.27, P=0.008), while the level of NO was lower (t=-3.81, P=0.002). The systolic pressure and pulse pressure difference in gastrodin-treated group were decreased significantly after one course of treatment (t=1.85, P=0.03; t=1.74, P=0.04). The level of ET in gastrodin-treated group decreased gradually after treatment, but there were no significant difference between before treatment and two courses of treatment, while the level of NO in gastrodin-treated group was increased after treatment (t=-2.70; P=0.04). CONCLUSION: Gastrodin injection is beneficial to old patients with refractory hypertension, and can improve the balance of ET and NO levels in plasma.

To investigate effects of rhIL-17 on growth and development of mouse bone marrow progenitors andhuman cord blood LD34~+ stem cells. Methods: Mouse bone marrow progenitors were isolated by routine protocol, and CD34~+ stem cells were isolated from normal human cord blood by Mini-MACS, then cultured with rhIL-17 and/or GM-CSF/IL-4. The phenotypes of the cells were analyzed by FACS, IL-12 level was analyzed by ELISA and T cell stimulating activity in allo-MLR was determined by [~3H]-TdR incorporation. Results: Expression of MHC class II molecules and B7-2 on the surface of immature DC derived from mouse bone marrow progenitors was up-regulated by IL-17. The capacity of the cells to secrete IL-12 and their T cell stimulating activity were also enhanced. The cells showed the characteristics of mature DC. After cultured with IL-17 for 9 days, the number of CD34~+ stem cells increased by 2 times. The phenotypes of some cells were CDla~(high), B7-2~(high), and HLA-DR~(lwo). The cells could stimulate allo geneic T cells to proliferate but their capacity was lower than that of the cells cultured with IL-17 combined with GM-CSF. The cells cultured with IL-17 and GM-CSF proliferated markedly and the rate of CDla~+ and B7-2~+ cells increased significantly. The T cell stimulating activity of cells was also augmented. Conclusion: IL-17 could promote DC derived from mouse bone marrow progenitors to mature. When combined with GM-CSF, IL-17 could induce human CD34~+ stem cells not only to proliferate markedly but also to show characteristics of DC, indicating that CD34~+ stem cells might differentiate to DC by IL-17.

OBJECTIVETo investigate short term clinical therapeutic effect of fupiyiwei decoction (FPYWD) combined with chemotherapy in treating postoperational large intestine carcinoma and the effect on immune function.

METHODThe 58 cases of postoperational large intestine carcinoma were randomly divided into the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) group (33 cases) and the control group (25 cases). The toxic and adverse reaction, Karnofsky score and clinical therapeutic effect during chemotherapy were observed, and the level of subgroup of T cells CD3, CD4, CD8 and NK cells were detected. Before and after treatment 28 healthy adult were regarded as normal group.

RESULTThere was no significant difference in clinic therapeutic effect between the TCM group and the control group after 12 chemotherapy treatment courses. But the quality of life the TCM group remarkably better than in the control group (P < 0.05), while the incidence rate of toxic and adverse reaction of chemotherapy in the former group was lower than in the latter (P < 0.05). The level of CD3+, CD4+ T cell and the viability of NK cells in all patients decreased during the chemotherapy treatment course while the level of CD8+ T cell increased, the level of CD3+ T cell and NK cells in peripheral blood in patients increased after treatment, but was lower than in normal group. The level of CD8+ T cell was decreased and was lower than in normal group. There was no significant difference (P < 0.05). The level of CD4 T cell after TCM group, there was significant different in CD4+ T cell between TCM group and control group, normal group (P < 0.05). The viability of NK cell increased but there was no significant difference between the two group.

CONCLUSIONFupiyiwei decoction (FPYWD) is effective in prevention and treatment of the toxic and adverse effects of chemotherapy of postoperational large intestine carcinoma, and can improve quality of life and immune function of patients. increase the effective of chemotherapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Phytotherapy ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology