OBJECTIVETo study the clinical effect of combination of kurarinone (KR) and interferon a-lb (IFNalpha-1b) in treating chronic hepatitis B.

METHODSOne hundred and forty-six patients with chronic hepatitis B were randomized into four groups. Under the basic conventional treatment, additional KR combined IFNa-lb was given to Group A, IFNa-lb to Group B and KR to Group C while none was given to Group D. The therapeutic course for them was 6 months and succeeded with 6 months of follow-up. Changes in liver histology, expression of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) in liver tissue, and serum levels of TGF-beta, hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), collagen type IV (IVC), precollagen III (PCIII), as well as the negative conversion rate of HBeAg and HBV DNA, and normalization rate of alanine transaminase (ALT) before and after treatment were observed by immuno chemical method, RIA and ELISA.

RESULTSAfter treatment, in Group A, the scores of liver fibrosis and all the above-mentioned indexes significantly lowered, as compared with those in Group B and C, the difference was significant (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The negative conversion rate of TGF-beta in liver tissue was in accordance with the dynamic change of liver fibrosis. Comparison between Group B and C in those aspects showed insignificant difference (P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONKR combined with IFNalpha-1b shows better effect in treating chronic hepatitis B than that of using either of the two alone.

Adult ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Flavonoids ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy

Objective To investigate the apoptosis of T lymphocytes,the expression of Bcl-2, Fas on the peripheral blood T lymphocytes in end stage renal disease patients;and to explore the characteristics of Th1 /Th2 profile and the influence of dialysis membranes with different permeability on the apoptosis of T lymphocytes of maintenance hemodialysis patients.Methods The study included 10 non-dialyszed (ND)patients,45 maintenance hemodialysis patients with cellulose acetate (CA) membranes(13),low-flux polusulfone(PS-LF) membranes(16),high-flux polusulfone (PS-HF) membranes (16) and 8 healthy volunteers (C).The apoptosis of T lymphocytes,expression of Bcl-2,Fas on peripheral blood T lymphocytes cultured with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation for 24 hours were measured by flow cytometry and immunohistochemical.ELISA was performed for detecting the levels of IFN-?and IL-4 in culture supematants.Results In ESRD patients,the apoptosis of T lymphocytes was greater than that of group C.Group CA was greater than group PS-HF and group PS-LF (P＜0.05).The expression of Bcl-2 on T lymphocytes in ESRD patients was lower than that of group C (P＜0.05).There was negative correlation between the T lymphocytes apoptosis and Bcl-2. The expression of Fas on T lymphocytes in ESRD patients was greater than that of group C (P＜0.05), and it was positive correlated with T lymphocytes apoptosis.The level of IFN-?of ESRD patients was decreased significantly compared with that in group C (P＜0.05),and there was negative correlation between T lymphocytes apoptosis and IFN-?.IL-4 was increased in ESRD patients (P＜0.05) and it was positive correlated with T lymphocytes apoptosis.Conclusions The accelerated apoptosis of T lymphocytes in ESRD patients may be related to the expression of Bcl-2 and Fas of T lymphocytes.ESRD patients show a suppressed secretion of IFN-?and an increased secretion of IL-4. T lymphocytes apoptosis of maintenance hemodialysis patients is influenced not only by the biocompatibility but also by the permeability of the dialysis membrane.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of acoustic radiation forcs impulse (ARFI)in quantitative evaluating placental elasticity.Methods The study population included 487 normal pregnant women,and ARFI generated shear wave velocity (SWV)was measured.On the basis of gestational ages, placental sites and sampling depths in region of interest (ROI),the normal population was divided into different groups.One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the discrepancy on the SWV values amomg the nomal placental sites or the sampling depths in ROI.Pearson correlation coefficient were used to assess the possible relationships between the normal placental SWV values and the different gestational ages or the placental grades.A total of 5 1 cases were diagnosed with severe preeclampsia,among them 25 cases were categorized as severe preeclampsia with fetal growth restriction (FGR).The placental SWV values were measured and compared with those of the normal population.The pathological examinations were performed on 50 normal and 5 1 abnormal placentas.Results Basing on the placental sites,the normal population were divided into three groups:anterior wall,lateral wall and posterior wall groups.Compared with the posterior wall group,the placental SWV values in the anterior wall or lateral wall group significantly decreased (P <0.05).No statistical significant difference was found between the anterior wall group and the lateral wall group.Basing on the distance from the sampling depths to the probe (range from 2 to 7.99 cm,and each additional 1 cm corresponding a group),the normal population were divided into six groups.There was statistical significant difference for the placental SWV values between the two groups of distance in the range of 2.0 to 5.99 cm and 6.0 to 7.99 cm (P <0.05).There was no statistical significant difference between the other two groups.The mean SWV value was (0.78±0.08 m/s)in the normal group. No significant relationships were found between the placental SWV values and the gestational ages of the normal population.However the placental SWV values were significantly related to the placental grades.For the placental SWV values,there was statistical significant difference between the normal group and the abnormal group (P <0.05).No statistical significant difference was found between the severe preeclampsia group and the severe preeclampsia with FGR group.The pathological examinations also showed significant changes in the abnormal group.Conclusions ARFI may quantitatively analyze the placental elasticity and make a difference between nomal and abnormal placenta.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the leading causes of death. Safflower attracts great attention owing to its anti-ischemia/reperfusion injury effect. Ninety-three patients with CAD were included and randomized into safflower treatment group, PCI group and control group. Low-dose dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) was performed to measure end-systolic volume (ESV), end-diastolic volume (EDV), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and wall motion score index (WMSI) to determine the recovery of hibernating myocardium and cardiac function in all patients before treatment and after 3-month follow-up. The study was to investigate the effects of safflower on hibernating myocardial revascularization and cardiac function. It was found that LVEF was significantly improved, while the ESV and WMSI were significantly reduced after 2-week treatment in safflower and PCI treatment groups. No significant differences were found between safflower and PCI treatment groups in ESV, EDV, WMSI and LVEF after treatment Safflower injection effectively improved hibernating myocardial function.
Aged ; Carthamus tinctorius ; chemistry ; Coronary Artery Disease ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Heart ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Revascularization ; Myocardial Stunning ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Recovery of Function

Paralytic ileus is one of the post-stroke familiar complications, belonging to the field of TCM"Changjie".Tongyuan Needling is invented by Professor LAI Xin-sheng,including two laws of promoting governor vessel to nourish spirit and leading qi to its origin, which focuses on regulating original qi and views governor and concept vessels as the key of regulating yin and yang, and then to regulate qi activity and hold the essence through leading qi to its origin,and finally to achieve balance between yin and yang.Fuzi Lizhong Decoction mainly consists of Lizhong Pills and Aconiti Lareralis Radix Praeparata, which is composed of processed Aconiti Lareralis Radix Praeparata, Codonopsis Radix, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, Zingiberis Rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, which is an important prescription for warming yang and tonifying kidney, invigorating qi and strengthening the spleen. This article introduced one case adopting the therapy combination of Lai's Tongyuan Needling and Fuzi Lizhong Decoction to treat post-stroke paralytic ileus, and then summarized the experience of clinical acupoint selection and prescription.

Objective To investigate the effect induced by specific inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor 1 400 W on nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE-2 cells lines and its mechanism.Methods CNE-2 cells were treated by different concentrations of 1 400 W,diamminedichloroplatinum (DDP),and both chemicals.Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to examine the viability of cells.Quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was applied to detect the iNOS mRNA expression.Results The expression of iNOS mRNA was down-regulated by 1400W and was positively correlated with inhibitionrate of cell proliferation.1 400 W inhibits proliferation of CNE-2 cell in a concentration-dependent manner.The proliferation inhibition rate of CNE-2 cells treated by 1 400 W combined with DDP was not enhanced.Conclusions Specific inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor 1 400 W can exerts anti-tumor effect though inhibiting the expression of iNOS mRNA;The mechanism of chemosensitization induced by iNOS inhibitor on CNE-2 cells may be closely related level of down-regulation of iNOS expression.

Objective: To explore the relationship between serum levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) and calciifc aortic valve disease (CAVD) in relevant patients.
Methods: A total of 394 patients were enrolled in our study. Based on echocardiography presentation, the patients were divided into 2 groups: CAVD group,n=169 and Non-CAVD group,n=225. Serum levels of IgE were examined by chemiluminescence method. The IgE levels were compared between 2 groups and the relationship between serum IgE level and CAVD was analyzed.
Results: Serum levels of IgE in CAVD group was significantly higher than Non-CAVD group 113.30 IU/ml vs 63.76 IU/ml (P<0.05); multivariate logistic regression analysis conifrmed above difference (P<0.05) and it also indicated that the alteration of surum IgE level is obviously related to CAVD occurrence.
Conclusion: Serum IgE level is obviously increased in CAVD patients. IgE is an independent biochemical indicator of CAVD, it may play the important role in CAVD pathogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have showed that apoptosis of endothelial cells plays a curial role in the progress of sepsis. But the role of simvastatin in apoptosis of endothelial cells induced by sepsis is not clear. The present study aimed to investigate the role of simvastatin in apoptosis of endothelial cells induced by sepsis and its mechanism. METHODS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were randomly divided into three groups: control group, sepsis serum intervention group (sepsis group) and simvastatin+sepsis serum intervention group (simvastatin group). After 24-hour incubation with corresponding culture medium, the relative growth rate of HUVECS in different groups was detected by MTT assay; the apoptosis of HUVECs was detected by Hoechst33258 assay and flow cytometry; and the expression of the Bcl-2 and Bax genes of HUVECs was detected by PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the sepsis group, HUVECs in the simvastatin group had a higher relative growth rate. Apoptotic HUVECs decreased significantly in the simvastatin group in comparison with the sepsis group. Expression of the Bcl-2 gene in HUVECs decreased obviously, but the expression of the Bax gene increased obviously after 24-hour incubation with sepsis serum;however, the expression of the Bcl-2 and Bax genes was just the opposite in the simvastatin group. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that simvastatin can inhibit apoptosis of endothelial cells induced by sepsis through upregulating the expression of Bcl-2 and downregulating Bax. It may be one of the mechanisms for simvastatin to treat sepsis.

Objective To explore the clinical effect of Fu's subcutaneous needling combined with western medicine in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome(IBS).Methods A total of 112 patients with IBS were randomly divided into the observation group and the control group,with 56 patients in each group.The control group was given conventional western medicine treatment,and the observation group was treated with Chinese medicine Fu's subcutaneous needling on the basis of the treatment in the control group.Both groups were treated for 4 consecutive weeks.After 1 month of treatment,the clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated,and the changes in the IBS system severity system(IBS-SSS)scores were observed before and after the treatment,as well as the time of the symptoms of abdominal pain,bloating and diarrhoea subsiding in the two groups,and the changes in the defecation thresholds,pain thresholds,sensory thresholds and the changes in the numbers of intestinal flora such as Bifidobacterium,Lactobacillus,Enterobacteriaceae,and Bacteriodendrobacteriaceae in the two groups were compared.The changes in the levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide,gastric motility and substance P were observed in the two groups.The safety and occurrence of adverse reactions were also evaluated in the two groups.Results(1)The total effective rate of the observation group was 96.43%(54/56),and the control group was 83.93%(47/56).The efficacy of the observation group was superior to that of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).(2)The time for abdominal pain,abdominal distension and diarrhoea to subside was significantly shorter in the observation group than in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant when compared with the control group(P＜0.05).(3)After treatment,the defecation threshold,pain threshold,and sensation threshold of patients in the two groups were significantly improved(P＜0.05),and the observation group was significantly superior to the control group in terms of improving defecation threshold,pain threshold,and sensation threshold,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).(4)After treatment,the numbers of Bifidobacterium,Lactobacillus,Enterobacter,Bacteroides were significantly improved in the two groups(P＜0.05),and the observation group was significantly superior to the control group in terms of improving the numbers of Bifidobacterium,Lactobacillus,Enterobacter and Bacteroides,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).(5)After treatment,the levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide,gastric actin,and substance P of the patients in the two groups were significantly improved(P＜0.05),and the observation group was significantly superior to the control group in improving the levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide,gastric actin,and substance P,and the differences were all statistically significant(P＜0.05).(6)There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion Fu's subcutaneous needling combined with western medicine in the treatment of IBS can significantly shorten the relief time of patients'clinical symptoms,strengthen patients'gastrointestinal function,regulate the number of intestinal flora and improve the function of gastrointestinal mucous membrane barrier,and the therapeutic efficacy is remarkable.

This study using maltodextrin as raw material, 1%-5% polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 as template agent, 1%-5% ammonium bicarbonate as pore-forming agent, curcumin and ibuprofen as model drugs. Porous maltodextrin was prepared by template and pore-forming agent methods, respectively. The structure and drug delivery behavior of porous maltodextrin prepared by different technologies were comprehensively characterized. The results showed that the porous maltodextrin prepared by pore-forming agent method had larger specific surface area (6.449 4 m²·g^-1) and pore size (32.804 2 nm), which was significantly better than that by template agent method (3.670 2 m²·g^-1, 15.278 5 nm). The adsorption kinetics between porous maltodextrin prepared by pore-forming agent method and curcumin were suitable for quasi-first order adsorption kinetic model, and that between porous maltodextrin and ibuprofen were suitable for quasi-second order adsorption kinetic model. While the adsorption kinetics between porous maltodextrin prepared by template agent method and two model drugs were both suitable for the quasi-first order adsorption kinetic model. In addition, the dissolution behavior analysis showed that the porous maltodextrin prepared by the two technologies can significantly improve the dissolution behavior of insoluble drugs, and the drug release was both carried out by diffusion mechanism, which suitable for the Peppas kinetic release model, but the porous maltodextrin prepared by template agent method had a faster release rate. The change of nozzle diameter had no significant effect on the adsorption process and drug release behavior of porous maltodextrin. In conclusion, the porous maltodextrins prepared by two different technologies were both beneficial to the delivery of insoluble drugs, and the template agent method was the best for delivery of insoluble drugs. This study can provide theoretical basis for the preparation of porous particles, promote the application of porous particles in insoluble drugs, and improve the bioavailability of insoluble drugs.