Traditional Chinese medicine Curcuma Zedoary ( E'Zhu) contains essential oil, curcuminoid and other effective constituents, with such pharmacological actions as anti-platelet aggregation, lowing blood lipid, anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation. In recent years, studies have showed that certain extracts and chemical components of E'Zhu could mitigate myocardial cell mitochondria injury and protect vascular endothelium by enhancing heme oxygenase-1 activity, inhibit nuclear factor NF-kappaB, target genes interleukin-associated kinase-1 (IRAK-1), tumor necrosis factor receptor-6 (TRAF-6) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), reduce inflammatory infiltration, and inhibit growth factor-induced smooth muscle cells (SMCs) proliferation and migration by impacting oxidation of cellular phosphatases. Due to its different functions in vascular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells, E'Zhu has been applied in drug-eluting stents, with a potential effect in preventing in-stent restenosis and thrombogenesis. In this paper, studies on pharmacological effects and mechanisms of extracts and main chemical constituents from E'Zhu in preventing vascular restenosis were summarized.
Animals ; Constriction, Pathologic ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; surgery ; Curcuma ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; Humans ; Stents

AIMTo investigate the in vitro recovery and influencing factors of ketoprofen in microdialysis probe, and study the pharmacokinetic of unbound ketoprofen in rat after iv administration.

METHODSThe recovery of ketoprofen was detected by a concentration difference method. After microdialysis probe was inserted into the jugular vein of male Wistar rats, the probe was infused with various concentrations perfusate. The in vivo recovery and the pharmacokinetics of unbound ketoprofen in rat were investigated. Dialysate samples were determined by HPLC.

RESULTSThe recovery detected by gain was as the same as that by loss; the recovery was independent of the drug concentration surrounding the probe. The in vitro recovery was 28.75% by concentration difference method and the in vivo recovery was (40.3 +/- 2.7) % by retrodialysis method. After i.v. administration of ketoprofen in rat, T 1/2, AUC and CL of unbound ketoprofen were (181 +/- 16) min, (112 +/- 27) microg x min x mL(-1) and (0.22 +/- 0.05) L x min(-1), respectively.

CONCLUSIONMicrodialysis sampling can be used for the pharmacokinetic study of unbound ketoprofen in rat.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Area Under Curve ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Injections, Intravenous ; Ketoprofen ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Microdialysis ; methods ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Based on the wavelet transform, the ways and process of wavelet de-noising are presented in the paper. The detail experimental results show that wavelet de-noising is better than traditional filtering ways, and the soft-threshold denoising is obviously better than the hard- threshold denoising.
Algorithms ; Artifacts ; Electrocardiography ; methods ; Humans ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Wavelet Analysis

BACKGROUNDOne stage transanal Soave pull-through procedure (TSPP) is a recent popular operation in the treatment of Hirschsprung's disease (HD). With no visible scar and a short hospital stay, it is well accepted by surgeons and mothers. In the conventional Soave procedure, a long rectal muscular cuff left for anocolic anastomosis might increase the incidence of postoperative enterocolitis and constipation. This study presents a modified transanal Soave pull-through procedure (MTSPP) which includes an oblique mucosectomy and an oblique anastomosis with a short split muscular cuff.

METHODSA review of two groups of HD patients was made: 112 underwent conventional transanal Soave procedure from 1999 to 2001 (group 1) and 140 underwent modified transanal Soave procedure from 2002 to 2004 (group 2). A comparison was made between the two groups on operative data and postoperative complications. The data included: age at the operation, operating time, blood loss, time to feeds and hospital stay, occurrence of postoperative enterocolitis or constipation, need for anal dilatation, postoperative bowel function and perianal skin problems.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference between two groups with respect to age, gender, length of colon resected, operating time, blood loss and hospital stay. However occurrence of postoperative enterocolitis, constipation, anastomotic stricture and time needed for anal dilatation were evidently less in group 2 (MTSPP). The mean operating time in group 1 was (106 +/- 39) minutes with a range of 60 to 170 minutes; in group 2 was (101 +/- 36) minutes with a range of 66 to 190 minutes. The average length of the bowel resected in group 1 was (24 +/- 7) cm, range 15 to 58 cm; in group 2 was (26 +/- 8) cm, range 15 to 70 cm. Two patients, one in each group, required laparoscopic assistance because of long aganglionic colon. Another patient in group 2 required laparotomy because of total colonic aganglionosis. Postoperative complications in group 1 included: temporary perianal excoriation in 34 patients (26 were < 3 months of age), enterocolitis in 21, anastomotic stricture in 11, recurrent constipation in 12, cuff abscess in 1, anastomosis leak in 1, soiling in 3 and rectal prolapse in 1. In group 2 post operative complications included: transient perianal excoriation in 37 patients (30 were < 3 months of age), enterocolitis in 13, anastomotic stricture in 5, recurrent constipation in 6, anastomotic leak in 1, adhesive bowel obstruction in 1 and soiling in 4. Complete bowel continence was found in 97 children (86.6%) in group 1 and in 129 children (92.1%) in group 2 at one year followup after operation.

CONCLUSIONSModified transanal Soave pull-through procedure for HD with oblique mucosectomy and anastomosis and a short split muscular cuff is a safe and feasible operation with low incidence of postoperative complication. It is an encouraging improvement of the conventional transanal Soave pull-through procedure. MTSPP is a preferable choice in the surgery of HD.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Enterocolitis ; etiology ; Female ; Hirschsprung Disease ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate effects of hydroxyapatite (HA) and porous tricalcium phosphate/hydroxyapatite (TCP/HA)-coating titanium on the adhesion behavior of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs).

METHODSCoatings of HA and duplex phases TCP/HA on titanium (Ti) were formed by ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD) method. Attachment, spreading, extracellular matrix (ECM) production, and focal adhesion plaque formation of HGFs were investigated on commercially pure (CP) titanium, HA-coated CP titanium and porous TCP/HA-coated CP titanium. After incubation of HGFs on these substrates, the number of attached cell, the area of cell spreading, immunostained ECM including fibronectin (FN) and type I collage, and vinculin (presenting the formation of focal adhesion plaque) were quantified by morphometric analysis using immunofluorescence microscope.

RESULTSTCP/HA and HA coatings exhibited that the attached cell number and cell spreading area were greater than those of CP titanium (P < 0.05), and the formation of focal adhesion plaque was earlier than that of uncoated substrate (P < 0.05). The number of attached cell and the formation of type I collagen on TCP/HA were more than those on Ti and HA. After 24-hour incubation on TCP/HA surface, the number of attached cell was 198.1 +/- 27.7 and the fluorescent intensity of type I collagen was 154.10 +/- 31.56. While under the same condition, the corresponding numbers for the CP titanium were 125.1 +/- 29.9 and 132.63 +/- 35.26. The differences between the two groups were significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIn this study, the porous TCP/HA coating significantly facilitated the adherence of human gingival fibroblasts to Ti surface and could improve the biocompatibility of titanium.

Calcium Phosphates ; pharmacology ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Coated Materials, Biocompatible ; chemistry ; Durapatite ; pharmacology ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; Gingiva ; cytology ; Humans ; Materials Testing ; Titanium ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo assess the efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion for asthma by meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials.

METHODSA literature search in VIP, CNKI, PubMed and HighWire was performed to retrieve clinic trials documents about acupuncture for asthma from 2000 to 2009. The meta-analysis was conducted on RCT and CCT documents that meet the enrolling requirements.

RESULTSTwenty-two trials including 3058 cases of asthma patients were included in this study. The findings indicates that the total effective rate in acupuncture group was significantly superior to control group [OR 4.18, 95% CI (3.36, 5.20), Z = 12.85, P < 0.00001]; there was no significant difference in FEV1 measurements between two groups [OR = 0.20, 95% CI (-0.37, 0.76), Z = 0.68, P = 0.50]; there was profound significant difference in PEFR measurements between two groups [OR = 0.42, 95% CI (0.22, 0.62), Z = 4.06, P < 0.0001]; there was profound significant difference in FVC measurements between two groups [OR = 0.45, 95% CI (0.17, 0.72), Z = 3.22, P = 0. 001]; there was profound significant difference in FEV1/FVC measurements between two groups [OR = 9.58, 95% CI (8.14, 11.02), Z = 13.03, P < 0.00001].

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture and moxibustion therapy can significantly improve the total effective rate of acupuncture for asthma. PEFR, FVC, FEV1 /FVC can be used as effectiveness indicators for evaluating the treatment for asthma. The FEV1 measurements did not have statistic significance. Due to the small number of RCT/CCT documents, the bias of the literatures and the lack of high-quality, large sample and multi-center reports, further studies are needed to explore the evidence of the findings.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Asthma ; therapy ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Treatment Outcome

Male hypogonadism is a group of syndromes in clinic andrology characterized by complete or partial androgen deficiency. It can be divided into primary and secondary hypogonadism. Besides the etiological treatment, androgen replacement therapy should be adopted in all patients of primary hypogonadism and patients of secondary hypogonadism who do not have the need of having a child. For patient's benefits, androgen should be used and selected properly as there are so many androgen preparation at present.
Androgens ; administration & dosage ; deficiency ; therapeutic use ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; drug therapy ; Male

OBJECTIVETo investigate the time trends of cancer mortality among residents in Kaifeng county, Henan province.

METHODSData on cancer mortality from the vital registration system in Kaifeng county from 1988 to 2005 was analyzed. A total of 9543 death records (5974 males and 3567 females) due to malignant tumors were studied. A two-year-period age-specified standardized mortality rates were directly adjusted by the world standard population, and the annual percentage change (APC) of mortality were estimated by a linear logarithm regression.

RESULTSThe crude cancer death rate for male was 95.09/100,000 and its age-standardized death rate was 117.41/100,000. While, the crude cancer death rate for female was 59.13/100,000 and the age-standardized death rate was 57.15/100,000. There was a significant growth tread for lung cancer (APC: 6.54%), liver cancer (5.07%) in males and breast cancer (7.04%) in females in the groups aged over 18. On the contrary, the decreasing treads for esophageal cancer in both of sexes (-7.09%, -13.53%) were also observed in this study. Meanwhile, there was no other significant changes in the trend, either in the tumor sites or mortality, was observed.

CONCLUSIONIn the past two decades, there has been a significant increasing trend for cancer mortality in Kaifeng county, of Henan Province. Hence, it is necessary to enhance epidemiological survey to identify risk factors at the earlier stages.

China ; epidemiology ; Death Certificates ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mortality ; trends ; Neoplasms ; mortality ; Rural Population

Objective To investigate the expression and clinical value of immunohistochemistry in endometrial stromal tumors.Methods Immunohistochemical technique(Envision method)was applied to de- tect the expression of CD_(10),SM-MHC,h-caldesmon,AE1/3,CD_(99),Ki-67,CD_(34),c-kit,ER and PR in 15 cases of endomertrial stromal sarcoma and 3 metastases.The clinical pathological data,including the histological characteristics,histochemical and immunohistochemical staining features,complication,differential diagnosis and prognosis of endometrial stromal tumours were analyzed.Results Among the 18 cases of endometrial stromal tumor,17 cases had shown positive for CD_(10),including 13 cases diffuse positive and 4 muitifocal,7 cases with smooth muscle differentiation,3 cases with epithelial differentiation,7 cases with sex-cord differ- entiation.13 cases of ER and 16 cases of PR were positive expression in endometrial stromal sarcoma.Ki-67 in range 36 %～78 %.Conclusion Endometrial stromal tumour can display multi-differentiation.They show various pathomorphological features,Smooth muscle and sex-coed differentiation,the most common types. CD_(10) can be expressed consistently in endometrial stromal tumors.CD_(10) with h-caldesmon and SM-MHC can be used to make differential diagnosis between the endometrial stromal tumors and cellular leiomy0ma.ER and PR should be routinely estimated and be a prognostic predictor for endometrial stromal sarcoma.

Objective To determine the efficacy and tolerability of docetaxel plus capecitabine as first-line treatment for breast cancer with liver metastases(BCLM).Methods Forty-two patients with BCLM received oral capecitabine 1900 mg/m~2/d(950 mg/m~2 twice daily)on days 1 through 14 and intravenous infu- sion of Docetaxel at 75 mg/m~2 on day 1 of each 21-day treatment cycle.Patients were evaluated for the re- sponse after two cycles.Results Among these 42 patients,the overall response rate was 54.76% with 4 CR, 19 PR, 9 SD and 6 PD.The clinical benefit rate was 64.28% and the median overall survival time was 17.5 months.The most common treatment-related adverse events were leukopenia(76.1%),neutropenia(71.4%), hand-foot syndrome(45.2%),nausea and vomiting(52.3%),which were mainly gradeⅠ～Ⅱ.Conclusion The combination of docetaxel plus capocitabine is a highly active and generally well-tolerated regimen for first-line treatment of BCLM.