OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanisms of the volatiles of Wendan granule for the treatment of senile dementia,network pharmacology method integrating absorption,distribution,metab-olism, and excretion (ADME) screening, target fishing, network constructing, pathway analyzing, and correlated diseases prediction was applied. METHODS Twelve small molecular compounds of WDG were selected as the objects from 74 volatiles with the relative abundances above 2%,and their ADME parameters were collected from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology platform (TCMSP), and then the corresponding targets, genes, pathways and diseases were predicted according to the data provided by TCMSP,DrugBank,Uniport and the Database for Annotation,Visualization and Integrated Discovery(DAVID).The related pathways and correlation analysis were explored by the Kyoto Encyclo-pedia and Genomes (KEGG) database. Finally, the networks of compound-target, target-pathway and pathway-disease of WDG were constructed by Cytoscape software. RESULTS Twelve compounds interacted with 49 targets, of which top three targets were Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit alpha-1 (GABRA1), Prostaglandin G/H synthase 2 (PGHS-2) and Sodium-dependent noradrenaline transporter.Interestingly,these targets were highly associated with depression,insomnia and Alzheimer′s disease that mainly corresponded to mental and emotional illnesses. CONCLUSION The integrated network pharmacology method provides precise probe to illuminate the molecular mechanisms of volatiles of WDG for relieving senile dementia related syndromes,which will also facilitate the application of traditional Chinese medicine in modern medicine,as well as follow-up studies such as upgrading the quality stan-dard of clinical medicine and novel drug development.

Animals ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Soybeans ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo assess the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy (VATS) for the treatment of congenital long QT syndrome.

METHODSUnder general anaesthesia, pleural cavity was entered via two or three small incisions in the left intercostal space. The left thoracic sympathetic chain was identified and resected from T2 approximately T5. The lower one at the third of the left stellate ganglion was also resected.

RESULTSVATS resulted in a significant shortening in corrected QT intervals in three patients. The average QT interval of the four patients was 537.5 ms before VATS and 512.5 ms after VATS. The heart rate of the patients remained unchanged. There were no major peri-operative complications apart from mild ptosis of the left upper eyelid in one patient who recovered in the following days. The syndrome recurred in one patient in syncopal events in four months after VATS.

CONCLUSIONVATS is a safe as well as an effective technique for the treatment of congenital long QT syndromes.

Adult ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Long QT Syndrome ; congenital ; surgery ; Male ; Sympathectomy ; methods ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; methods

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, case control evaluation of 86 patients who underwent microendoscopic discectomy (MED) and percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED) for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH). PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and the outcomes of MED and PTED for the treatment of LDH. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: MED and PTED are minimally invasive surgical techniques for lower back pain. Studies to date have shown that MED and PTED are safe and effective treatment modalities for LDH. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed in patients with LDH treated with MED (n=50) and transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED; n=36) in our hospital. All patients were followed-up with self-evaluation questionnaires, Oswestry disability index (ODI), medical outcomes study 36-item short form health survey and MacNab criteria. All the patients in both groups were followed up to 12 months after the operation. RESULTS: ODI questionnaire responses were not statistically different between the MED and PTED groups (53.00 vs. 48.72) before treatment. Average scores and minimal disability after 5 days to 12 months of follow-up were 4.96 in the MED group and 3.61 in the PTED group. According to MacNab criteria, 92.0% of the MED group and 94.4% of the PTED group had excellent or good results with no significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference between MED and PTED outcomes. Further large-scale, randomized studies with long-term follow-up are needed.
Case-Control Studies ; Diagnostic Self Evaluation ; Diskectomy* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Low Back Pain ; Retrospective Studies* ; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive

OBJECTIVETo study transfection efficiency of Ad5F11p-GFP and its influence on biological characteristics of CIK and NK-92 cells in order to predict the application of Ad5F11p vector in immunotherapy.

METHODSTwo kinds of immune cells, cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells and natural-killer (NK) cell line NK-92 cells, were transfected by Ad5F11p-GFP at different multiplicity of transfection (MOI), and untransfected immune cells were used as negative control. GFP expression was determined by flow cytometry, the cell morphology was observed with microscope, the cell proliferation was analyzed by trypan blue staining, specific cytotoxicity of NK-92 cells was determined by LDH assay.

RESULTSAbout 90% of transfection efficiency for NK-92 cells could be achieved at a MOI of 25, while the transfection efficiency for CIK was less than 40% at a MOI of 200. In addition, the transfection efficiency basically unchanged at the same MOI for 48 h and 96 h, and the immune cells transfected with the virus trended to form agglomeration, displaying slower proliferation, increase of IFN-γ release and enhancement of tumor killing activity.

CONCLUSIONAd5F11p- modified NK-92 shows a good prospect for adoptive immunotherapy.

Adenoviridae ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells ; cytology ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; Genetic Vectors ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunotherapy, Adoptive ; Killer Cells, Natural ; cytology ; Neoplasms ; therapy ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf hydroethanolic extract (PHE) against nephrotic syndrome (NS) in rats and to identify the potential active components from PHE.

METHODSThe high content compounds were isolated and purified by using column chromatography followed by preparative highperformance liquid chromatography (p-HPLC). Forty male Wistar rats with adriamycin (ADR)-induced NS were randomly divided into 5 groups, 8 in each group: model control group, positive control group (with prednisone treatment), PHE low-dose group, PHE middle-dose group and PHE high-dose group. Another 8 rats were recruited as vehicle control group. All rats received the intragastric administration of corresponding drugs or saline for 30 days. During the experimental period, rats' behavior and appearance were observed and recorded daily, and their body weights were recorded weekly. After treatment, 24-h urine samples were collected to evaluate the urine protein and urine creatinine (Ucr); then the rats were sacrificed to collect carotid blood and to determine the levels of serum total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), globulin (Glo), total cholesterol (TC) and cytokine interlukin-4 (IL-4).

RESULTSSix acidic components were isolated and identified from the PHE section: pachymic acid, 15α-hydroxydehydrotumulosic acid, trametenolic acid, dehydropachymic acid, 3β-hydroxy-lanosta-7,9(11), 24-trien-21-oic-acid and dehydroeburicoic acid. Compared with the model control group, the urine protein content were significantly decreased in the PHE treatment groups and positive control group (P<0.05), especially PHE middle-dose group (P<0.01). The Ucr values and serum levels of TP, Glo, TC and IL-4 in PHE low- and middle-dose groups were also presented obvious recover tendency as compared with the model control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). However, positive control group and all PHE groups indicated no significant therapeutic effect on raising Alb value, although PHE low- and middle-dose treatment groups showed better outcomes than positive control group (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPHE showed an encouraging therapeutic effect against ADR-induced NS in a rat model. PHE might be a group of effective substances for the treatment of NS.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical results of locking compression plate combined with autologous iliac bone graft in the treatment of aseptic ulnar nonunion. METHODS: From March 2009 to July 2017, 22 patients with aseptic ulnar diaphyseal nonunion with complete follow-up data were treated with surgery, including 12 males and 10 females, aged from 16 to 58 (39.7±9.9) years old and ranging in course of disease from 10 to 192 (39.4±55.7) months. There were 15 atrophic nonunions, 5 hypertrophic nonunions and 2 synovial pseudo-articular nonunions. After debridement of the nonunion, locking compression plate was used to fix the nonunion and autogenous iliac bone graft was given. Bone healing rate, surgical complications and clinical results were evaluated. RESULTS: All the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 13 to 42 months, with a mean of (22.5±8.2) months, and 1 patient did not heal. Visual analogue pain scores ranged from 0 to 3 (0.9±0.9). Pronation of forearm was 47 to 86 (69.0±14.7) degrees, supination was 35 to 85 (63.0±9.4) degrees, wrist flexion was 20 to 80 (51.0±10.2) degrees, wrist flexion was 32 to 88 (71.0±11.7) degrees, elbow flexion contracture was 0 to 25 (9.0±5.6) degrees, further flexion was 105 to 150 (134.0±13.9) degrees, and grip strength was 87% on the opposite side. According to the Anderson scoring system, 8 cases were excellent, 11 were satisfied, 2 were not satisfied, and 1 was failed. CONCLUSIONS LCP combined with autologous iliac bone graft can effectively treat aseptic ulna diaphyseal nonunion.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Plates ; Bone Transplantation ; Diaphyses ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fractures, Ununited ; surgery ; Humans ; Ilium ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Ulna ; Young Adult

Humans ; Consensus ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/therapy* ; Neuroendocrine Tumors/therapy*

Humans ; Vascular Stiffness ; Coal Mining ; Occupational Diseases/epidemiology* ; Risk Factors ; Coal ; Miners