The advances in the research on pharmacological activities of aucubin have been summarized in the last ten years. Aucubin is one of active components of Chinese medicinal herbs such as Eucommia ulmoides and has been shown wide pharmacological activities including hepatoproective, antitoxicanti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiaging, antiosteoporosis and neurotrophic and should be further researched and utilized.
Aging ; drug effects ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Eucommiaceae ; chemistry ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Iridoid Glucosides ; Iridoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pyrans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

Total knee replacement surgery is commonly used in end-stage diseases of the knee. It is important for improving surgical efficacy and patient satisfaction by promoting early rehabilitation of patients and improving knee function.

OBJECTIVETo summarize the management of infant vascular tumors with Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon (KMP) and to evaluate the effect of drug combined with sclerotherapy.

METHODSFrom Feb. 2007 to Nov. 2014, 25 cases with KMP, who underwent drug therapy combined with sclerotherapy, were retrospectively studied. Oral corticosteroids (2 mg/kg per day) was used as the first-line therapy on all of the patients and intravenous vincristine (1.5 mg/m2 every week) was added when the platelet counts didn't recover obviously after 2-3 weeks. After the recovery of the platelet counts, the patients were admitted for sclerotherapy (average, 4.56 sessions per case) with 100% alcohol (1-3 ml per session), Lauromacrogol (1.25-5 ml per session) and betamethasone (0.25-1 ml per session). All the patients were followed up for 42 months ( range, 9 months to 6.5 years). Therapeutic outcomes were assessed by evaluating platelet counts, size of lesion, function of trunk and limb.

RESULTSAll the 25 cases got obvious recovery in the platelet counts [average, (94.3 ± 18.5) x 10(9)/L] after drug therapy, of which 16 were treated by single oral corticosteroids for 4-7 weeks and 9 were treated by corticosteroids plus intravenous vincristine for 2-5 weeks. Meantime, 11 cases received platelet transfusions, of which 3 were coupled with gamma globulin intramuscularly. During the first admission, each of the 25 cases received 1-4 sessions of sclerotherapy (average, 2.6 sessions each case). One week after the sclerotherapy, the platelet counts returned to (167-312) x 10(9)/L (average, (258.5 ± 34.4) x 10(9)/L). The hemoglobin and blood coagulation function returned to normal within 1-5 weeks. Meanwhile the mental condition, appetite, body weight, sleeping were greatly improved. The size of the lesions decreased gradually after the combined therapy including 13 cases within 3-12 months and 13 cases within 13-36 months. Long term follow-up indicated that only 1 case need treatment for recurrent decrease of platelet counts, and all of the 25 cases kept the normal weight, height, immunity as well as the growing development.

CONCLUSIONSOral corticosteroids plus intravenous vincristine combined with sclerotherapy is a reliable management with high cure rate, short course and minor side-effect.

Administration, Oral ; Betamethasone ; administration & dosage ; Combined Modality Therapy ; methods ; Ethanol ; administration & dosage ; Glucocorticoids ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Infant ; Injections, Intravenous ; Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome ; blood ; therapy ; Platelet Count ; Polyethylene Glycols ; administration & dosage ; Retrospective Studies ; Sclerotherapy ; methods ; Vincristine ; administration & dosage

Objective To compare the effectiveness of ureteroscopic via urethral Peel-away sheath and transurethral ureteroscopy in treatment of bladder calculi. Methods Clinical data of 76 cases of bladder calculi patients were collected from January 2013 to December 2015. All the patients were randomly divided into two groups: Group A was performed by ureteroscopic lithotripsy via urethral Peel-away sheath (n = 45). Group B was transurethral ureteroscopic lithotripsy (n = 31). Results 76 cases of bladder calculi were successfully treated by one-time lithotripsy. Lithotripsy time: group A was (17.8 ± 5.9) min, group B was (22.7 ± 8.3) min (t = 2.96, P = 0.004); stone clearance time: group A (12.6 ± 4.9) min, group B (24.5 ± 5.3) min (t = 9.90, P = 0.000);Intraoperative urethral mucosa injury : group A (1.0 ± 0.5), group B (2.1 ± 0.4) (t = 9.47, P = 0.000); VAS score:group A (1.9 ± 0.6), group B (2.6 ± 0.6) points (t = 4.72, P = 0.000); indwelling catheter time: group A (1.0 ± 0.2) d, B group (1.4 ± 0.9) d (t = 2.59, P = 0.012); There was no significant difference in hospitalization expense, group A was (7437.4 ± 356.7), group B was (7296.8 ± 333.8) (t = -1.73, P = 0.087). There were no complications such as hemorrhage, perforation and rupture of the 2 groups, without convertion to open surgery either. After the treatment of oral antibiotic, 1 case of postoperative urinary tract infection was cured in group B. In our study, case of postoperative urinary retention was 1 in group A, versus 5 in group B, with statistical difference (χ2 = 6.43, P = 0.011). Follow up: 13 patients were lost to follow-up, the other patients were followed up for 6 ~ 12 months. There was 1 case of elderly male patient with urinary retention due to BPH in each of the 2 groups, the other patients had no recurrence of calculus. By analyzing the statistical results, it was found that the experimental group had obvious advantages over the control group in the lithotripsy time, stone clearance time, urethral mucosa injury, postoperative pain and postoperative indwelling catheter time. Conclusion There is no significant difference in efficacy of the treatment of bladder calculi between ureteroscopic via urethral Peel-away sheath and transurethral ureteroscopy. However, our study shows the Peel-away ureteroscopy has the advantages of shorter lithotripsy time, shorter time of stone clearance and less injury of urethra mucosa menbrane, there was no significant difference in operation cost between two groups. Therefore, Ureteroscopic via urethral Peel-away sheath is an effective method for endoscopic bladder lithotripsy.

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture on rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSIn a randomized and controlled trial, sixty-three cases with RA were randomly divided into an electroacupuncture group (n = 32) and a simple acupuncture group (n = 31). Baihui (GV 20), Fengchi (GB 20), Quchi (LI 11), Waiguan (TE 5), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Zusanli (ST 36) were selected by coordination method combined whole and local acupoints. The electroacupuncture group was treated with electroacupuncture at the local acupoints near painful joints, continuous wave, retaining needle for 30 minutes, and then electroacupuncture at Back-shu acupoints, retaining needle for 15 minutes, and the simple acupuncture group was treated with the same acupoints selection and acupuncture manipulation without electroacupuncture apparatus. They were all treated once every other day for 20 days as one course. After 3 courses, changes of interleukins in peripheral blood and joint fluid of patients were observed.

RESULTSBoth of electroacupuncture and simple acupuncture had significant effect on IL-1, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 in peripheral blood and joint fluid of patients with RA ( P < 0.01, P < 0.05). But after electroacupuncture, the absolute value and improvement value of decreasing IL-1 in peripheral blood and joint fluid were super than those of simple acupuncture (all P < 0.05), and of IL-4 in joint fluid was super than that after simple acupuncture (P < 0.05), and of IL-6 and the absolute value of decreasing IL-10 were almost the same after both treatment (all P > 0.05), and after electroacupuncture, the improvement value of IL-10 in peripheral blood and joint fluid were super than those after simple acupuncture (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture can effectively decrease the proinflammatory cytokine of IL-1 and IL-6 and increase the inhibition cytokine of IL-4 and IL-10 and improve the internal environment of occurrence and progression of RA.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; blood ; immunology ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-1 ; blood ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Interleukins ; blood ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Synovial Fluid ; immunology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo distinguish non involuting congenital hemangioma (NICH) and infantile hemangioma (IH) by comparing the pathological structure and marker antigen expression.

METHODSFrom Jan. 2005 to Aug. 2010, 39 paraffin-embedded samples, including 13 cases of NICH, 13 cases of proliferating IH and 13 cases of involuting IH, were collected from operation. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the pathological structure. Immunohistochemical analysis was also performed to investigate the expression of Glut-1.

RESULTSThe lobules of capillaries were well-defined in NICH. The lobules were surrounded by abundant fibrous tissue. The capillaries were often large and integrity in NICH. There were few mitosis and apoptosis in endothelial cells and stromal cells in NICH. While in IH, the pathologic findings were totally different. Immunochemistry revealed that the Glut-1 was expressed in endothelial cells of IH, but not in NICH.

CONCLUSIONSNICH has a steady histologic structure and low proliferation, while the endothelial cells in proliferative IH has a high proliferation. Glut-1 can be used as the reliable marker antigen for differential diagnosis of NICH and proliferative infantile hemangiomas.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Glucose Transporter Type 1 ; metabolism ; Hemangioma ; congenital ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in peripheral blood and joint synovia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to verify the clinical efficacy of EA.

METHODSAdopting randomized controlled principle, the 63 RA patients enrolled were assigned to two groups, the 32 patients in the EA group were treated with EA, and the 31 patients in the simple needling (SN) group treated with simple needling. According to the integral-local combining method, the acupoints were selected mainly from yang-meridian and local Ashi points (pain-point). EA or SN was applied every other day, 10 times as a course, and each patient received a total of 3 courses of treatment.

RESULTSBlood and synovial levels of TNF-α and VEGF were reduced significantly after treatment in both groups. The lowering (absolute value and difference value) of TNF-α as well as the absolute value of VEGF, either in blood or in synovia, were similar in the two groups (P>0.05); but the lowering of VEGF after treatment was more significant in the EA group than that in the SN group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONEA could effectively lower the contents of TNF-α and VEGF in peripheral blood and joint synovia to improve the internal environment for genesis and development of RA, so as to enhance the clinical therapeutic effectiveness.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; blood ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Joints ; pathology ; Male ; Synovial Fluid ; metabolism ; Treatment Outcome ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate the quality coherence of Trillium tschonoskii Maxim.from different producing areas by HPLC fingerprint and PCA; To provide a method for quality control. Methods Samples were separated by Hibar C18 (4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5 μm) with acetonitrile-water as gradient mobile phase at the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The wavelength was 203 nm and the temperature was 30 ℃. Chromatographic Fingerprint Similarity Evaluation System and PCA were used to analyze the data. Results The results of method validation of HPLC fingerprint met technical standards.15 common peaks was verified and the similarities of 14 batches of Trillium tschonoskii Maxim. from different producing areas were among 0.389–0.979. 3 principal components with the characteristic root cumulative contribution rate reaching 87.674% were screened out by PCA results. The composite score of S2 was the highest (4.926), and the quality was the best. Conclusion The application of HPLC combined with PCA can objectively and effectively evaluate the quality difference of Trillium tschonoskii Maxim.from different producing areas.

OBJECTIVETo explore the actions of electroacupuncture (EA) and the warming needle moxibustion on knee osteoarthritis (KOA) of kidney deficiency and marrow insufficiency pattern/syndrome and compare the clinical effects between these two therapies.

METHODSSeventy-four cases of KOA were randomly divided into an electroacupuncture (EA) group and a warming needle moxibustion (WNM) group, 37 cases in each one. The acupoints were Dubi (ST 35), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Xuehai (SP 10), Zusanli (ST 36), Yanglingquan (GB 34), etc. In EA group, electric stimulation was given, 5 Hz, continuous wave. In the WNM group, warm needling technique was applied, 2 moxa cones on each acupoint in each time, three treatments a week. Totally, 4 weeks of treatment were required. The indicaices such as WOMAC score, illness severity index and systematic efficacy were adopted to evaluate the efficacy before treatment, 1 session and 2 sessions after treatment separately.

RESULTSThe treatment in either group achieved the effectiveness. The cured and markedly effective rate was 64.7% (22/34) in EA group and was 40.0% (14/35) in WNM group, presenting statistically significant difference in comparison (P < 0.05). But the total effective rate did not indicate significance (P > 0.05). In EA group, the releasing effect of joint pain was obvious (P < 0.01). In the WNM group, the treatment was more advantageous at relieving joint stiffness (P < 0.01). There was no difference in the mean curative time between two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture and the warming needle moxibustion have their own advantages in the treatment of KOA of kidney deficiency and marrow insufficiency pattern/syndrome. Electroacupuncture is advantageous at analgesia and the warming needle moxibustion is at relieving joint stiffness. The total efficacy of electroacupuncture is superior to that of the warming needle moxibustion.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Marrow ; physiopathology ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo establish a three-dimentional liver function evaluation system using 99mTc-diethyl iminodiacetic acid (99mTc-EHIDA) scintigraphy based on single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).

METHODSTotally 16 patients with liver lesions were divided into cirrhosis group and non-cirrhosis group. SPECT was performed 2 days before operation and 5 days after operation. Serum liver functions were examined on the same day of scintigraphy. SPECT images of areas of interest of heart and liver were aquired. Time of the peak of EHIDA density in liver (Tpeak), five-minutes heart liver index (HLI5), blood clearance index (HH15), receptor index (LHL15), and the predictive values were calculated.

RESULTSTpeak was not significantly different between two groups, while HLI5, HH15, and LHL15 were significantly different (P = 0.033, P = 0.001, and P = 0.005). HLI, and LHL15 were significantly correlated with preoperative total protein and prealbumin levels (P = 0.003, P = 0.015, P = 0.022, P = 0.038) and post-operative prealbumin (P = 0.037, P = 0.042). The predictive values of HLI5 and LHL15 correlated well with postoperative HLI5 and LHL15 (r = 0.675, P = 0.016; r = 0.629, P = 0.028).

CONCLUSIONThe three-dimentional liver function evaluation system using 99mTc-EHIDA based on liver SPECT may facilitate the further studies of risks of liver surgery.

Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Preoperative Period ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; administration & dosage ; Technetium Tc 99m Diethyl-iminodiacetic Acid ; administration & dosage ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon