OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in the clinical efficacy on premature ovarian failure (POF) between the acupoint catgut implantation combined with artifical periodic therapy and the simple artificial periodic therapy and explore its effect mechanism.

METHODSSixty-five patients of POF were randomized into the two groups. In a western medication group, 32 cases were treated with the artificial periodic therapy with the oral administration of medroxyprogesterone acetate tablets. In a catgut implantation + western medication group, 33 cases were treated with the acupoint catgut implantation combined with artificial periodic therapy. The acupoints of Neiguan (PC 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were selected. The treatment was lasted for half a year and the follow-up visit was for another half a year in the two groups. Kupperman index was used to assess the improvements in the clinical symptoms. The levels of serum sexual hormones such as follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2) were evaluated of the patients in the two groups before and after treatment. The efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe scores of the clinical symptoms were all significantly improved after treatment and in the follow-up in the two groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). In the 6-month follow-up visit after treatment, the result in the catgut implantation + western medication group was better than that in the western medication group (8.17 +/- 1.19 vs 13.68 +/- 1.08, P < 0.01). FSH was reduced after treatment in the two groups (all P < 0.01) and E2 was increased (all P < 0.05). The curative and remarkably effective rates were 75.8% (25/33) and 81.8% (27/22) after treatment and in the follow-up visit in the catgut implantation + western medication group, which were better than 67.9% (19/28) and 53.6% (15/28) in the western medication group separately (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe acupoint catgut implantation combined with artificial periodic therapy achieve the remarkable improvements in the clinical symptoms of POF in the patients and the better results as compared with the simple western medication therapy. The combined therapys efficacy is stable and the long-term efficacy is apparently superior. The effect mechanism is related to the improvements in the serum sexual hormone levels.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Catgut ; utilization ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; metabolism ; Humans ; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency ; metabolism ; therapy ; Prostheses and Implants ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects on serum homocysteine(Hcy) level,vascular function and carotid intima-media thickness(IMT) in metformin-treated diabetic patients with or without supplementation with folate and Vitamin B12.MethodsA total of 100 newly diagnosed diabetic type 2patients were divided into two groups by random digits table with 50 cases each,90 patients completed study.Forty-seven participants (control group) received a 6-month course of metformin treatment,43 patients (treatment group) received mefformin,folate and Vitamin B12 treatment.The levels of serum Hcy,endothelin-1 (ET-1),carotid IMT,large or small arterial elasticity index (C1,C2),flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery were evaluated before and after treatment.ResultsThe level of serum Hcy in control group significantly increased compared with before treatment[ (13.4 ± 2.7)μ mol/L vs.(11.1 ± 1.9)μ mol/L],hut the level of serum Hcy in treatment group significantly decreased compared with before treatment [ (9.2 ± 1.8 ) μ mol/L vs. ( 11.3 ± 2.0) μ mol/L ],there was significant difference(P ＜ 0.05 ).A beneficial effect was observed in the serum ET-1,FMD,carotid IMT and C2 in treatment group[ (20.0 ± 6.2)ng/L,( 15.8 ± 7.6)％,(0.8 ± 0.2) mm,(4.1 ± 2.1 ) ml/mm Hg ( 1 mm Hg =0.133 kPa) × 100 vs. (31.3 ±10.1 ) ng/L,(9.7 ± 4.5)％,( 1.1 ± 0.4) mm,(2.3 ± 1.0) ml/mm Hg × 100 ] (P ＜ 0.05).The levels of ET-1,FMD,carotid IMT and C2 after treatment in control group [ (24.8 ± 6.8) ng/L,( 12.9 ± 6.3 )％,(0.9 ± 0.3)mm,(3.0 ± 1.4) ml/mm Hg × 100] had significant difference compared with before treatment [ (30.6 ± 8.7)ng/L,(9.8 ± 4.6)％,( 1.0 ± 0.3) mm,(2.2 ± 0.9) ml/mm Hg × 100](P＜ 0.05).However,the results were improved significantly in treatment group than those in control group (P ＜0.05).In treatment group,significant correlation were detected between changes of Hcy and ET- 1 (r =0.43,P ＜ 0.05 ),carotid IMT(r =0.56,P ＜ 0.05),FMD (r =-0.54,P ＜ 0.05 ),C2 (r =-0.37,P ＜ 0.05 ).ConclusionsAdministration of folate and Vitamin B12 can reduce the levels of serum Hcy and ET-1 in metformin-treated type 2 diabetic patients,which exert beneficial effect on carotid IMT,FMD and C2.

Adult ; Eye Injuries ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; surgery ; Vitrectomy

The adverse reaction monitoring is important in warning the risks of traditional Chinese medicines at an early stage, finding potential quality problems and ensuring the safe clinical medication. In the study, efforts were made to investigate the risk signal mining techniques in line with the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicines, particularly the complexity in component, processing, compatibility, preparation and clinical medication, find early risk signals of traditional Chinese medicines and establish a traditional Chinese medicine safety evaluation system based on adverse reaction risk signals, in order to improve the target studies on traditional Chinese medicine safety, effective and timely control risks and solve the existing frequent safety issue in traditional Chinese medicines.
China ; epidemiology ; Drug Evaluation ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Product Surveillance, Postmarketing

Post-marketing evaluation is a process which evaluate the risks and benefits of drug clinical application comprehensively and systematically, scientific and systematic results of post-marketing evaluation not only can provide data support for clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine, but also can be a reliable basis for the supervision department to develop risk control measures. With the increasing demands for treatment and prevention of disease, traditional Chinese medicine has been widely used, and security issues are also exposed. How to find risk signal of traditional Chinese medicine in the early stages, carry out targeted evaluation work and control risk timely have become challenges in the development of traditional Chinese medicine industry.
Drug Evaluation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Traditional Chinese medicine Polygoni Multiflori Radix is dried roots of Polygonaceae Polygortum multiflorum Thunb. Its clinical application records were first discovered in literatures of the Tang dynasty. The origins, efficacy, toxicity, processing and taboos of Polygoni Multiflori Radix have been discussed in many ancient herb literatures. In recent years, with the increase in the public awareness in health, Polygoni Multiflori Radix admits preparations have been more widely applied in the treatment and prevention of diseases. However, there have been more and more reports about Polygoni Multiflori Radix induced liver injury, the safety of Polygoni Multiflori Radix has increasingly attracted attention of the society. In this paper, the authors summarized and analyzed the toxicity and medication risk factors of Polygoni Multiflori Radix recorded in ancient herb literatures, and proposed that more attention shall be given to the effect of the planting and processing methods on the components and toxicity of Polygoni Multiflori Radix in safety studies, which provides clues for the further studies.
China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; history ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine in Literature ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; history ; Polygonum ; adverse effects ; Risk Assessment

The renal toxicity and mutagenicity of aristolochic acid (AA) as well as its carcinogenicity on upper urinary tract transitional epithelial cells have been widely known. Since 2003, drug regulatory departments have successively cancelled the quality standards for AA-containing medicines such as Aristolochiae Radix, Aristolochiae Manshuriensis Caulis and Aristolchiae Fangchi Radix, and adopted measures for strengthening regulation and revising package insert or quality standards for other AA-containing medicines, including Aristolochia Cinnabarina Radix, Aristolochiae Fructus, Aristolochiae Mollissimae Herba, in order to control its safety risk. In recent years, domestic and foreign studies on AA have mainly involved action mechanism and clinical performance of AA toxicity, early-stage diagnosis and treatment method. In this paper, authors gave a brief summary and evaluation on risk factors for using AA-containing medicines, and offered measures and suggestions for preventing and controlling AA toxicity.
Animals ; Aristolochia ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; Aristolochic Acids ; analysis ; therapeutic use ; toxicity ; Drug Therapy ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; therapeutic use ; toxicity ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo observe the change of urinary monocyte chemottractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN), and to explore the therapeutic effect and mechanism of triptolide (TL) in treating DN.

METHODSThirty-five patients in the treated group were treated with TL plus benazepril and thirty two patients in the control group were treated with benazepril alone for six months. The change of urinary MCP-1 was measured before and after treatment.

RESULTSLevel of urinary MCP-1 in DN patients was significantly higher than that in healthy subjects (P < 0.01), but it could be significantly decreased after TL treatment, showing significant difference as compared with that in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDetermination of urinary MCP-1 level is beneficial to know the degree of kidney inflammation in DN patients. TL can inhibit inflammatory reaction to decrease the level of urinary MCP-1, and thus improve the renal function.

Adult ; Aged ; Chemokine CCL2 ; urine ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; urine ; Diterpenes ; therapeutic use ; Epoxy Compounds ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phenanthrenes ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Prospective Studies

Objective To assess the functional role of TH 17 cells in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allyHSCT).Methods Bone marrow monocytes and splenic T cells were enriched from C57/BL6 donors.Recipient Balb/c mice were irradiated with 7.5 Gy total body irradiation (TBI) and injected with 5 105 splenic T cells and 5 106 bone marrow monocytes.Survival was monitored daily,clinical graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was assayed three times a week,and detailed histopathologic analyses of lung were performed at day six after Allo-HSCT.Flow cytometry analysis was performed using CD3-FITC,CD4-PE,CD45-PerCP-CyS.5 monoclonal antibodies.Cells were stained for intracellular cytokines using mouse TH 1/TH2/TH 17 cytokine kit.Results All the experimental animals showed GVHD manifestations on the day 6 after transplantation.Animals from BMT and HF groups were scarified and histological analysis of lung was performed.Absence of TH 17 cells induced severe pathologic pulmonary lesions.The histopathology of the lung tissue was characterized by disorganization,epithelia cell damage,interstitial fibroplasias,and monocytes infiltration.The proportion of TH1 and TH 17 in BMT group was (5.53 ± 0.11 ) ％ and ( 1.04 ± 0.34)％ respectively,both significantly different from that in HF group.The levels of IL-17A and IFN-γin BMT group were (2.81 ±0.19) and (42.97 ± 0.23) pg/mL respectively.IL-17A could not be detected in HF group,yet the level of IFN-y was only (9.89 ± 0.51 ) pg/mL.IL-10 in both HF and BMT groups was not detectable.Conclusion Lung is on target of aGVHD.IL-17A may play a key role in the lung injury after transplantation.

Objective To assess the continent diversion results of sigma rectum pouch after radical cystectomy. Methods The reconstruction of bladder with sigmoid was modified for treatment of 18 cases of bladder tumor.The intestine was incised over a length of 20～24 cm with the junction of sigmoid colon and rectum as the midpoint so as to create a low pressure reservoir for urine and side-to-side anastomosis was performed on the posterior borders of the rectosigmoid wall.Submucosal tunnel modified technique was em- ployed in antireflux urethral implantation,Urination has been controlled by anal sphincter.Results About 80 minutes was spent to finish a new low pressure pouch after radical cystectomy.Among 18 patients with this op- eration,the controlled emiction were good after pull out the anal duct and"J"stent in 1 week to 2 months.Af- ter 2 months,the times of urination is stable,4～5 times in daytime and 1～3 times during nighttime.Two pa- tients had nocturnal enuresis and the symptom vanished after 2 months. One patient had adhesive ileus, two patients had hyperchloremia acidosis and kaliopenia,one patient had urethral stump cancer.There is no com- plication as anastomotic block,renal function lesion and severe upper urinary tract infection. Conclusion This operative method was easy,emiction control was well,and with higher quality of life for patients.It is al- so a better alternative diversion procedure that would be easily accepted.