OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of external application of Zhuangshenling Recipe (ZR) combined with Western medicine (WM) on the heart function of chronic heart failure (CHF) patients of Xin-Shen yang deficiency, interior retention of water-fluid syndrome (XSYDIRWFS).

METHODSTotally 140 CHF patients of XSYDIRWFS were randomly assigned to two groups, the treatment group and the control group, 70 in each group. All patients received WM therapy. Those in the treatment group were applied with ZR at Xinshu (BL15) and Shenshu (BL23), while those in the control group were applied with placebos at Xinshu (BL15) and Shenshu (BL23). The therapeutic course for all was 12 weeks. The integrals of TCM syndrome, grading of cardiac function, brain natriuretic polypeptide (BNP), and 6 min walking distance were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter twelve weeks of treatment, the effective rate of improved grading of cardiac function, the total effective rate of TCM syndrome efficacy, and the BNP level were obviously better in the treatment group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in 6 min walking distance between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONExternal application of ZR combined with WM could improve the heart function of CHF patients of XSYDIRWFS.

Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Yang Deficiency ; drug therapy

Pure culture of Phlebopus portentosus was inoculated in the roots of coffee tree. The results indi-cated that the young fruit bodies would come out around the rhizomes of host tree after inoculation in 30 to 90 days, single or cluster, 3 to 4 days for mature, weight 20.0 g to 62.0 g. Brown rhizomorph and hyphae can be seen on the seedlings`rhizome, main root and side root while nothing is on the tip of the root.It was found that rhizomorph on the surface of roots would die after inoculation in 90 days in pot.

Objective To investigate the antidiabetic effect of Acanthopanax senticosus extracts based on metabonomics by UPLC-MS/MS and to explore its mechanisms. Methods The type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)mouse model was established by inject-ing streptozocin(streptozotocin,STZ)in combination with alloxan. The effect of A. senticosus extracts on the fasting blood glucose of mice was observed. Multivariate statistical analysis was employed to analyze serum metabolites. The differential metabolites were iden-tified by online and self-built databases. MetPA Was employed to analyze the corresponding metabolic pathways. Results The T2DM model was established successfully. Compared with the model group,the fasting blood glucose of mice in the A. senticosus extracts groups decreased significantly. Compared with the normal control group,the level of phenylalanine,LysoPC(16:0,18:0),tyrosine, serine,urea andβ-hydroxybutyric acid inecreased,while the level of alanine,glutamine,leucine,valine and lactic acid decreased significantly in the model group. Pathway enrichment displayed that these metabolites were mainly involved in five metabolic pathways. The above-mentioned metabolites reversed to the normal level in varying degrees after administration of A. senticosus glycosides or poly-saccharoses extracts. Conclusion The extracts of A. senticosus display a significant hypoglycemic effect which might be achieved by regulation of amino acid,energy and lipid metabolism.

Objective To explore the differences in health care quality,scale,output,efficiency,cost and financial condition between freestanding secondary hospitals and system-affiliated secondary hospitals in Shanghai,and analyse the determinants of hospital integration. Methods Eleven upper secondary hospitals in Shanghai integrated between 2000 and 2004 were selected,and another 40 secondary hospitals (including 30 upper secondary hospitals and 10 middle secondary hospitals) without integration were served as controls. Using related data of 1999,Mann-Whitney U test was performed to analyse the differences between these two groups,and Logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the determinants of hospital integration. Results There were significant differences in health care quality,scale,and output between these two groups (P0.05). It was revealed by Logistic regression analysis that health care quality,scale,output,and financial condition were determinants of integration. Conclusion System-affiliated secondary hospitals have advantages over freestanding hospitals in health care quality,scale,output and financial condition,and those with better health care quality,larger scale,larger output and better financial condition are more likely to be integrated by tertiary hospitals.

AlM: To observe retinal hemodynamic influence of compound xueshuantong capsule on nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy ( NPDR) after laser photocoagulation.METHODS:A total of 41 patients (72 eyes) with NPDR after laser photocoagulation were enrolled in this study. They were all given compound xueshuantong capsule, and used color Doppler flow imaging for detection of retinal hemodynamics.
RESULTS: After treatment, patients with retinal blood perfusion significantly improved; central retinal arterial peak systolic velocity ( PSV ) , end - diastolic velocity (EDV) and medial velocity (Vm) were increased, while the resistance index ( Rl) decreased. The difference have statistical significance (P<0. 05). The visual acuity of 61 eyes improved, efficiency was 85%. Visual acuity was related with PSV, Vm and Rl.
CONCLUSlON: Compound xueshuantong capsule can improve retinal blood perfusion for nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy after laser photocoagulation, which is related to improvement of visual prognosis.

Objective To study the life quality of 2 - 3 years old survivors in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Methods Severe neonates were randomly assigned to intervention group (group 1,30 cases) and non- intervention group (group 2,30 cases) depending on the early intervention applied or not,as well as 30 healthy newborns as normal controls. The physical,neurological conditions and intelligence test were taken regularly. To investigate the psychological state, actions, temperament and family conditions when they were2-3 years old.Results Mental development index(MDI) and physical development index(PDI) in early interventional group were significant higher than those in group 2(P

Objective To explore the clinical significances of blood gas and dynamic monitor of respiratory mechanics in respiratory failure children with mechanical ventilation.Methods Sixty-four children who need mechanical ventilation over 24 hours were divided into pulmonary disease group(44 cases) and non-pulmonary disease group(20 cases) in pediatric intensive care unit(PICU),from Jan.2005 to May 2008.By Evita 4 ventilator,dynamic monitor of respiratory mechanics,such as respiratory system compliance(Crs),airway resistance(Raw),mean airway pressue(MAP),minute ventilation(MV),oxgen index(OI),Qs/Qt,respiratory index(RI) and blood gas in these children were determined.Their characteristics and clinical significance were analyzed.Results Many parameters such as Crs,Raw,MAP,MV,Qs/Qt,OI,RI were significantly different between 2 groups(Pa

Objective To investigate the value of ~1H-MRS in the diagnosis and prognosis of diffuse axonal injury(DAI).Methods A prospective imaging study was performed in 63 patients with craniocerebral injury admitted from October 2002 to April 2004.Sixty-three patients were divided into DAI group(27 cases)and Non-DAI group(36 cases)according to the result of the MRI.Then,the ratio of NAA/Cr,Cho/Cr,mINs/Cr,and GIx/Cr at basal ganglia and genu and splenium of corpus callosum was quantified using ~1H-MRS and compared between DAI group and Non-DAI group.Twenty healthy persons were served as control group.The relation between ~1H-MRS indexes and period of primary uneonciousness post-injury was analyzed.Results The results of NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr at genu and splenium of corpus callosum and basal ganglia of control group were 1.19?0.18,1.21?0.24;1.89?0.17,1.84?0.14; 1.57?0.16,1.85?0.25,which of DAI group were 0.83?0.24,2.92?0.78;1.25?0.35,2.54? 0.42;1.33?0.17,2.38?0.44,and those of Non-DAI group were 1.11?0.23,1.61?0.33;1.61? 0.22,1.93?0.26;1.49?0.23,1.89?0.29.The differences between them were statistically significant (P

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of coixenolide on Foxp3+ CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) in collagen induced arthritis (CIA) mice, and to explore its possible mechanism for treating rheumatiol arthritis.

METHODSFive mice were recruited as a normal control group from 25 mice, and the rest 20 were used in CIA modeling. After successful modeling they were randomly divided in the model control group and the coixenolide group, 10 in each group. Coixenolide injection at 25 mL/kg was intraperitoneally injected to mice in the coixenolide group, while normal saline at 25 mL/kg was intraperitoneally injected to mice in the normal control group and the model control group. The injection lasted for 21 days. Scoring for CIA was performed after injection and arthritis index was calculated. The peripheral blood Foxp3+ CD4+ CD25+ Treg ratio was determined by flow cytometry (FCM).

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the arthritis index obviously increased in the model control group (P < 0.01). The arthritis index obviously decreased more in the coixenolide group than in the model control group (P < 0.01). Foxp3+ CD4+ CD25+ Treg levels obviously decreased more in the model control group than in the normal control group (P < 0.01 ). Foxp3+ CD4+ CD25+ Treg levels obviously increased more in the coixenolide control group than in the model control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCoixenolide could up-regulate Foxp3+ CD4+ CD25+ Treg ratios in CIA mice, which might play certain immunoregulation roles in the incidence of CIA.

Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Random Allocation ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; drug effects

The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of six individual strains of fungi on the reduction of gossypol levels and nutritional value during solid substrate fermentation of cottonseed meal (CSM). Six groups of disinfected CSM substrate were incubated for 48 h after inoculation with either of the fungi C. capsuligena ZD-1, C. tropicalis ZD-3, S. cerevisae ZD-5, A. terricola ZD-6, A. oryzae ZD-7, or A. niger ZD-8. One not inoculated group (substrate) was used as a control. Levels of initial and final free gossypol (FG), crude protein (CP), amino acids (AA) and in vitro digestibility were assayed. The experiment was done in triplicate. The experimental results indicated that microbial fermentation could greatly decrease (P<0.05) FG levels in CSM. The detoxification efficiency differed between the species of microorganisms applied. From the perspective of reducing CSM potential toxicity, C. tropicalis ZD-3 was most successful followed by S. cerevisae ZD-5 and A. niger ZD8. They could reduce FG levels of CSM to 29.8, 63.07 and 81.50 mg/kg based on DM (dry matter), respectively, and their detoxification rate were 94.57%, 88.51% and 85.16%, respectively. If crude protein, amino acids content and their in vitro digestibility were also taken into account, A. niger ZD-8 may be the best choice. The CP content of CSM substrate fermented by C. tropicalis ZD-3 and A. niger ZD-8 were improved by 10.76% and 22.24%; the TAA (total amino acids) contents were increased by 7.06% and 11.46%, and the EAA (essential amino acids) were raised by 7.77% and 12.64%, respectively. Especially, the levels of methionine, lysine and threonine were improved greatly (P<0.05). The in vitro CP digestibility of CSM fermented by C. tropicalis ZD-3 and A. niger ZD-8 was improved by 13.42% and 18.22%, the TAA were increased by 17.75% and 22.88%, and the EAA by 16.61% and 21.01%, respectively. In addition, the in vitro digestibility of methionine, lysine and threonine was also improved greatly (P<0.05).
Amino Acids ; analysis ; Cottonseed Oil ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Digestion ; Fermentation ; Fungi ; metabolism ; Gossypol ; analysis ; Nutritive Value ; Plant Proteins ; analysis