AIM: To observe the effects of sera containing Kang xian ling (a traditional Chinese medicine) on c-Met and its downstream MAPK signal molecules in HK-2 cells treated with transforming growth factor-β_1(TGF-β_1), so as to further explore the effective mechanism of anti-renal fibrosis of the traditional Chinese medicine. METHODS: Rat sera containing herbs were collected after rats were intragastrically administered with the herbs. HK-2 cells activated by TGF-β_1 were incubated with different heat-inactivated sera. The proliferation and expression of MAPK and the phosphorylation of MAPK in HK-2 cells were detected by Alarm blue and immunoblotting. RESULTS: No significant difference of cell proliferation between any two groups was observed. C-Met and the phosphorylation of its downstream molecules were also observed after incubated with different sera. CONCLUSION: The receptor c-Met of hepatocyte growth factor, and the phosphorylation of its downstream MAPK molecules can be regulated by the sera containing Kang xian ling.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy of allergen blocking nasal spray (ABNS) , combined with seawater spray (SS) and myrtol standardized capsules (MSS), in patients with rhinitis sicca. METHOD: Patients diagnosed as rhinitis sicca were randomly divided into 2 groups: ABNS+SS group and SS group. In ABNS+SS group, patients used ABNS and SS four times per day and MSS twice per day. In SS group, patients used the same medicine except ABNS. Both group were observed for 14 days. The visual analog scale (VAS) of dryness, the endoscopy evaluation score (EES) and the tolerability of the spray were compared between the 2 groups. RESULT: There were 30 patients included in each group. The VAS and EES were improved in both groups after 2 weeks' treatment. The improvement of VAS and EES in ABNS+SS group was significantly superior to SS group (VAS: P < 0.01, EES: P < 0.05). There were only 2 patients complaint of slight discomfort when using ABNS, which did not disturb the treatment. CONCLUSION There is good efficacy of allergen blocking nasal spray (ABNS), combined with seawater spray (SS) and myrtol standardized capsules (MSS), in patients with rhinitis sicca.
Allergens ; Chronic Disease ; Drug Combinations ; Endoscopy ; Humans ; Monoterpenes ; therapeutic use ; Nasal Sprays ; Rhinitis ; drug therapy ; Sodium Chloride

Objective To observe the cognitive function and its related factors in patients with essential epilepsy.Methods The cognitive function of 70 essential epilepsy patients (epilepsy group) and 40 healthy controls(control group) were evaluated by means of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Adult-Chinese (WAIS-RC).The relation between the cognitive dysfunction and its related factors were analyzed.Results The scores of performance intelligence quotient,verbal intelligence quotient,full intelligence quotient in epilepsy group were significantly lower than those in control group [(98.06 ± 15.24) scores vs.(113.80 ± 12.14) scores,(98.09 ± 16.06) scores vs.(120.65 ± 11.28) scores,(98.06 ± 15.80) scores vs.(119.42 ± 11.85) scores] (P ＜ 0.01).The scores of 11 numbers of rating scales were significantly lower than those in control group (P ＜ 0.01).The factors related to the cognitive function were education level,age numbers,duration of the disease,frequency of seizures attack before medication,the duration of seizures and the quantity of antiepileptics.Conclusions Many of the essential epilepsy patients have cognitive function deficit.The cognitive condition of essential epilepsy patients should be pay more attention and reduce the dangerous factors in order to improve the life quality.

Background:Chronic constipation is a major cause of impaired quality of life in modern society. Reasonable and effective management of chronic constipation could be achieved based on the principle of evidence-based medicine and the modern concept of constipation,and this is a challenge facing the clinicians. Aims:To investigate the role of barium-based colonic transit detection in diagnosis and treatment of chronic constipation. Methods:Fifty patients with chronic constipation from Apr. 2013 to Oct. 2014 at the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University were recruited and randomly allocated into two groups,control group and individualized treatment group. Patients in individualized treatment group received 20 barium markers orally and abdominal plain radiography was performed 48 and 72 hours later,respectively for calculating the colonic transit index. According to the type of colonic transition and the characteristics of colonic motility estimated by colonic transit index and clinical manifestations,an individualized therapeutic regimen was formulated and the efficacy was evaluated. Patients in control group were treated empirically according to the clinical manifestations. Results:Mosapride and lactulose or polyethylene glycol were administered orally in control group;when abdominal pain or abdominal distension was predominant,pinaverium bromide or trimebutine was used respectively instead of mosapride. Barium-based colonic transit detection revealed that 9 patients in individualized treatment group were slow transit constipation,6 were outlet obstructive constipation and 8 were the mixed type. After 2 weeks of empirical or individualized treatment,the defecation rates of the two groups were 24. 0%(6 / 25)and 52. 2%(12 / 23)within 24 hours and 64. 0%(16 / 25)and 87. 0%(20 / 23)within 48 hours,respectively(P all < 0. 05). Conclusions:Barium-based colonic transit detection is a simple,economical and practical modality for guiding the individualized treatment in patients with chronic constipation.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of specific immunotherapy (SIT) with standardized dermatophagoides pteronyssinus extract for allergic rhinitis (AR)accompanied with asthma.Method:One hundred and fifty-five patients(40 AR with asthma, AR & asthma) in accordance with the inclusion criteria of SIT, were allocated to receive standardized Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus extract (SIT group, n=89) or medical treatment(control group, n=66). AR with or without asthma was observed separately. Symptom and medicine scores, quality of life were recorded and analyzed before and after 1 year treatment. Side effects were registered. Subjective evaluation of symptoms was made by the patients.Result:Rhinitis and asthma symptom scores, medicine scores and quality of life were greatly improved in SIT group of AR & asthma after 1 year, which were not significant changed in control group except for medicine scores. The subjective evaluation of symptoms was also significantly improved in SIT group. In patients of AR without asthma, the symptom scores, medicine scores and quality of life were both improved. The SIT group improved greater than that of control group.Conclusion:The clinical efficacy of patients with AR & asthma was not good with simple medical treatment, while great clinical efficacy could be acquired with SIT.

AIM: To study the effect of Kang Xianling decoction,comprised of dahuang,danshen,taoren,niuxi and danggui,on TGF-?1-Smad pathway in unilateral ureteral obstruction rat model.METHODS: Eighteen male SD rats were divided into 3 groups,sham group,model group and model group treated with Kang Xianling decoction randomly.Renal interstitial fibrosis model was established in rats by unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO).After treatment for additional 14 d,parameters of hydroxyproline in obstructed kidney from 3 groups were analyzed.Rats were sacrificed and the pathological statuses of their kidneys were checked by HE staining and electron microscopy.Transforming growth factor-?1(TGF-?1) mRNA in kidney tissue was determined by RT-PCR.TGF-?1 receptor Ⅰ(T?RⅠ),TGF-?1 receptorⅡ(T?RⅡ),phosphorylated Smad2 and Smad2 protein were determined by Western blotting.RESULTS: Parameters of hydroxyproline in animals of model group were significantly increased than those in sham operation group(P

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of polysaccharide nucleic acid-fraction (BCG-PSN) in the treatment of vasomotor rhinitis. METHOD: Sixty patients were randomly divided into BCG-PSN group (n = 30) and control group (n = 30). The patients in BCG-PSN group were administered with BCG-PSN 1.0 mg twice a week for two months, and intranasal azelastine was used if needed. The patients in control group were administered with intranasal azelastine solely twice a day, which could be decreased with the symptom relief. Follow-up was 6 months. Symptom and medication scores were recorded. Side effects were registered. RESULT: The symptom and medication scores of BCG-PSN group were significantly lower than that of control group (P < 0.01) after BCG-PSN treatment. There was no significant difference in symptom score between the two groups at 6 months after BCG-PSN treatment (P > 0.05), while the medication score of BCG-PSN group was still much lower than that of control group (P < 0.01). No serious adverse events were reported in BCG-PSN group except for local pain on the injection place in one patient. CONCLUSION BCG-PSN is effective and safe in the treatment of vasomotor rhinitis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; BCG Vaccine ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rhinitis, Vasomotor ; drug therapy ; Single-Blind Method ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To study the role of serum IL-10, 12, 13, 16 in patients with allergic rhinitis and vasomotor rhinitis. METHOD: The serum levels of IL-10, 12, 13, 16 were measured by ELISA in 30 cases of allergic rhinitis, 25 cases of vasomotor rhinitis and 20 healthy people. RESULT: The level of IL-12 in allergic rhinitis was (170.33 +/- 90.58) ng/L, which was significantly lower than that of normal controls [(376.69 +/- 140.70) ng/L, P < 0.01]. The levels of IL-13 and IL-16 in allergic rhinitis were (408.51 +/- 189.68) ng/L and (151.53 +/- 63.56) ng/L, which were significantly higher than those of normal controls [(151.92 +/- 85.08) ng/L, (60.65 +/- 32.45) ng/L, P < 0.01]. There were no significant difference of levels of IL-10, 13, 16 between vasomotor rhinitis and normal controls, while the level of IL-12 in vasomotor rhinitis was lower than that of normal controls [(196.03 +/- 96.31) ng/L vs. (376.69 +/- 140.70) ng/L, P < 0.01]. It was suggested that IL-10 had positive correlation with IL-12 (r = 0.73, P < 0.01), and IL-13 had positive correlation with IL-16 (r = 0.94, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION The imbalance of IL-12, IL-13 and IL-16 play crucial roles of regulation in the onset and developing of allergic rhinitis. Further research is needed on the role of IL-12 in vasomotor rhinitis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-12 ; blood ; Interleukin-13 ; blood ; Interleukin-16 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; blood ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; blood ; Rhinitis, Vasomotor ; blood ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate the effect of targeted monitoring and comprehensive intervention measures on reducing the occurrence of catheter-associated urinary tract infection(CAUTI)in patients in non-intensive care unit(Non-ICU).Methods In quarter 4 of 2015,patients with indwelling urinary catheter in clinical departments were conducted a baseline survey(before intervention),risk factors for CAUTI in patients were analyzed,targeted monitoring programmes and comprehensive intervention measures were initiated in 2016(after intervention),incidence of CAUTI before and after intervention was compared.Results After taking intervention measures,hand hygiene compliance rate increased from 78.51%in quarter 4 of 2015 to 92.99%in quarter 3 of 2016 and 90.73%in quarter 4 of 2016(x2=7.342,3.998,respectively,both P<0.05),the correct disposal rate of patients' urinary catheterization system increased from 72.83%in quarter 4 of 2015 to 95.44%in quarter 4 of 2016(x2=30.267,P<0.05).A total of 12 067 patients with indwelling urinary catheter were monitored,incidence of CAUTI dropped from 1.03%(24/23 313)in quarter 4 of 2015(before intervention)to 0.53%(14/26 595)in quarter 4 of 2016(after intervention),difference was statistically significant(x2=4.126,P=0.042).Conclusion Improving the quality of urinary catheterization system in patients with indwelling catheter through targeted monitoring can effectively reduce the incidence of CAUTI in patients in Non-ICU.

As adult stem cells, human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have the potential for self-replication, renewal, and multidirection differentiation. Their unique biological function determines their wide clinical indications. Researchers can define the quality attributes of hMSCs according to clinical expectations. The quality study of hMSCs should consider microbiological safety, biological safety, cell biological properties, and biological effectiveness. Quality evaluation is a common physical, chemical, and biological evaluation method for hMSCs. Traditional product safety evaluation strategies cannot fully adapt to current technology and product usage characteristics. Researchers have developed new, effective evaluation methods based on current technology. In terms of product efficacy evaluation strategies, an efficacy evaluation system has been gradually established and standardized according to the intended clinical use and based on quality studies, which can enable researchers to evaluate hMSCs products more comprehensively at different stages and processes. In this paper, the progress of quality research and evaluation of human mesenchymal stem cells was reviewed to provide a reference for the utilization of stem cells in the field of regenerative medicine.