Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture on the rehabilitation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and level of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β). Methods 140 cases of RA meeting the inclusion criteria were divided into control group and observation group equally according to therapeutic schemes. All the patients accepted medicine and rehabilitation training, while the observation group accepted electroacupuncture in addition. The effective rate and the symptoms were observed, the serum level of rheumatoid factor (RF), antistreptolysin O antibody (ASO), C-reactive protein (CRP), NF-κB, TNF-α and IL-1β were tested before and after treatment. Results The effective rate was 92.8% in the observation group, which was significantly more than that of 80.0% in the control group (P<0.05). The joint pain index, joint tenderness index and joint swollenness index reduced in the observation group compared with those in the control group (P<0.05), as well as the serum level of RF, ASO, CRP, NF-κB, TNF-α and IL-1β (P< 0.05). Conclusion Electroacupuncture may improve the effects of rehabilitation training for RA and inhibit the inflammation, which may associate with the inhibition of activation of NF-κB.

The composition of volatile compounds of soils and that of soil bacterial metabolites were identified by using the SPME-GC/MS method. Results showed that some compounds, trimethylamine, 3-methyl-2-pentanoe, dimethyl disulfide, methyl pyrazine, 2,5-dimethyl-pyrazine, benzaldehyde, N,N-dimethyloctylamine and nonadecane, subsisted commonly in soils and soil bacterial metabolites with strong fungistatic activity. These compounds may be the key antifungal factors in soil fungistasis, especially soil volatile fungistasis. Otherwise, the method used in this study was a good tool for further study of soil volatle fungistasis.

Objective To explore the curative efficacy of astragalus injection on blood lipids and bone mineral density in patients with hemiplegia after ischemic stroke. Methods From January, 2014 to June, 2015, 116 patients with hemiplegia after ischemic stroke were col-lected and radomly divided into control group (n=54) and observation group (n=62). The control group received acupuncture based on con-ventional treatments, while the observation group received astragalus injection in addition. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NI-HSS) and Ability of Daily Living Scale (ADL) were used to assess the neurologic impairment and the ability of daily living. The curative ef-ficacy and the levels of blood lipids and bone mineral density were observed. Results Compared with the control group, the curative efficien-cy increased (χ2=3.960, P<0.05). The score of NIHSS decreased (t=3.490, P=0.001), and the score of ADL increased (t=2.820, P=0.006). The levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol significantly decreased (t>4.190, P<0.001), however, the lev-el of high density lipoprotein cholesterol did not change (P>0.05). The densities in forearm, femur and Ward's area in the hemiplegia side in-creased (t>2.060, P<0.05). Conclusion Astragalus injection is effective on hemiplegia after ischemic stroke, which can increase the curative efficacy, alleviate the neurologic impairment, promote the ability of daily living, improve the blood lipids and increase the bone mineral den-sity.

Good medicinal herbs, good drugs. Good evaluation method and indices are the prerequisite of good medicinal herbs. However, there exist numerous indices for quality evaluation and control in Chinese medicinal materials. However, most of these indices are non-interrelated each other, as well as having little relationship with efficiency and safety. The results of different evaluatior methods may not be consistent, even contradictory. Considering the complex material properties of Chinese medicinal materials, single method and index is difficult to objectively and comprehensively reflect the quality. Therefore, it is essential to explore the integrated evaluation methods. In this paper, oriented by the integrated evaluation strategies for traditional Chinese medicine quality, a new method called integrated quality index (IQI) by the integration of empirical evaluation, chemical evaluation, and biological evaluation was proposed. In addition, a study case of hypertoxic herb Aconitum carmichaelii Debx. was provided to explain this method in detail. The results suggested that in the view of specifications, the average weight of Jiangyou aconite was the greatest, followed by Weishan aconite, Butuo aconite, Hanzhong aconite, and Anxian aconite; from the point of chemical components, Jiangyou aconite had the characteristic with strong efficacy and weak toxicity, next was Hanzhong aconite, Butuo aconite, Weishan aconite, and Anxian aconite; taking toxicity price as the index, Hanzhong aconite and Jiangyou aconite have the lower toxicity, while Butuo aconite, Weishan aconite, and Anxian aconite have the relatively higher one. After the normalization and integration of evaluation results, we calculated the IQI value of Jiangyou aconite, Hanzhong aconite, Butuo aconite, Weishan aconite, and Anxian aconite were 0.842 +/- 0.091, 0.597 +/- 0.047, 0.442 +/- 0.033, 0.454 +/- 0.038, 0.170 +/- 0.021, respectively. The quality of Jiangyou aconite is significantly better than the others (P < 0.05) followed by Hanzhong aconite, which is consistent with the traditional understanding of genuineness. It can be concluded that IQI achieves the integrated control and evaluation for the quality of Chinese medicinal materials, and it is an exploration for building the good medicinal herbs standards. In addition, IQI provides technical supports for the geoherbalism evaluation, selective breeding, the development of precision decoction pieces, high quality and favourable price in market circulation, and rational drug use.
Aconitum ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; standards ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; standards

The stable and controllable quality of decoction pieces is an important factor to ensure the efficacy of clinical medicine. Considering the dilemma that the existing standardization of processing mode cannot effectively eliminate the variability of quality raw ingredients, and ensure the stability between different batches, we first propose a new strategy for Chinese medicine processing technologies that coupled with individuation processed and cybernetics. In order to explain this thinking, an individual study case about different grades aconite is provided. We hope this strategy could better serve for clinical medicine, and promote the inheritance and innovation of Chinese medicine processing skills and theories.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; standards ; Cybernetics ; standards ; Drug Therapy ; standards ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; standards ; toxicity ; Humans ; Quality Control

Quality control is one of the key scientific tissues in the modernization of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM). In order to overcome the deficiencies of assessment indexes, including little systematization and quantification, as well as loose association with clinical efficacy and dosage, a new integrated method named controllability pyramid ( CP) is first proposed in this paper. In addition, some study cases are used to explain how this model is constructed. We hope the establishment of CP could promote the clinical-orien- ted integrated innovation research of TCM, and provide control strategy and technology examples for improving the quality of Chinese medicines and clinical efficacy.
China ; Drug Evaluation ; methods ; standards ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; standards ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; standards ; Quality Control

The specification of decoction pieces and quality uniformity are the important factors to influence the efficacy of clinical medicine. Considering the deficiency of diversity, poor quality uniformity and confusion of decoction pieces specifications, we first propose a new idea of precision decoction pieces (PDP) based on clinical demands and fresh-processed technology. In order to explain the idea, a study case of aconite SUP is provided, including the optimized specification design, processing technology, extraction effects, quality uniformity, and toxic and efficacy variation and so on. The results showed that preparing 5 mm PDP by fresh-cutting is rather simple and practicable, with high efficiency and large yield; then, this technology could significantly decrease the ingredients loss and increase the efficacy components; moreover, it was helpful for achieving the quality uniformity and best extraction effects. This work revealed the quality superiority of PDP, and provided a good strategy and example for the standard of decoction pieces specification and modernization of processing technology.
Aconitum ; chemistry ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Particle Size ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impact of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) combined with hypocaloric nutrition on nitrogen balance and blood glucose in patients after gastrointestinal operation.

METHODSForty-eight patients undergone abdominal operations were randomly divided into either subcutaneous rhGH (0.15 IU/kg) or placebo (menstruum) injection daily for 7 days postoperatively. These two groups had similar nutritional intakes. Body weight, blood cell count, liver and renal function, plasma albumin, prealbumin, transferrin and fibronectin were measured at day 1 before operation as baseline and day 3 and day 10 after operation by standard laboratory techniques. Nitrogen balance and blood glucose were measured from day 3 to day 9 after operation.

RESULTSAt postoperative day 10, the cumulative nitrogen balance and the level of plasma fibronectin were significantly higher in rhGH group [13.21 g,(104.77+/-19.94) mg/L] than those in placebo group [-6.88 g, (93.03+/-16.03) mg/L] (P<0.05). Furthermore, at day 4 and from day 6 to day 9 after operation, daily nitrogen balance was higher in rhGH group than that in control group (P<0.05). Mean blood glucose level was significantly higher in rhGH group from day 3 to day 6 after operation [(7.68+/-2.15) vs (5.95+/-2.34) mmol/L, P<0.05]. But hyperglycemia could be controlled well by insulin treatment.

CONCLUSIONGrowth hormone combined with hypocaloric nutrition is effective and safe in promoting positive nitrogen balance and protein synthesis in post-operative patients, which is also beneficial to the improvement of nutritional status and prognosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Caloric Restriction ; Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; Female ; Human Growth Hormone ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitrogen ; metabolism ; Nutritional Support ; methods ; Postoperative Period ; Recombinant Proteins ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between the expression of galectin- 3 protein and peritoneal metastasis in gastric cancer.

METHODThe expressions of galectin- 3 was detected in matching- samples including primary gastric cancer lesions,lymph node metastases,peritoneal metastases and paratumor normal tissues by immunohistochemistry. All specimens were gained from 35 patients who had synchronous peritoneal metastasis from gastric cancer.

RESULTSThe over- expression of galectin- 3 was observed in 97% (34/35) of the gastric cancer lesions, the peritoneal metastases and the lymph node metastases,whereas in 14% (5/35) of paratumor normal tissues. There were significant differences in the expression of galectin- 3 between paratumor normal tissues and the gastric carcinoma lesions,peritoneal metastases and lymph node metastases (P< 0.05),but there were no significant differences among the gastric cancer lesions,the peritoneal metastases,and the lymph node metastases (P> 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of galectin- 3 in gastric cancer lesions can be used as a biological marker of peritoneal metastasis from gastric cancer before operation and as a prognostic factor of gastric cancer.

Galectin 3 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymph Nodes ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Peritoneal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; secondary ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo measure the iodine nutritional status on adult islanders and to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of iodized salt prophylactic programs.

METHODSA comparative study was carried out in 8 rural townships selected from Dinghai (iodized salt district) and Daishan (non-iodized salt district) of Zhoushan islands by random sampling method. Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the urinary iodine concentration and dietary iodine intake of the two groups. Spearman correlation test was used to look for the correlation of urinary iodine concentration and dietary iodine intake in the two groups respectively.

RESULTSThe amounts of daily iodine intake excluding the iodine intake from iodized salt in the two groups were 128 micro g and 147 micro g respectively but the difference was not statistically significant (u = 1.847, P = 0.065). The urinary iodine concentration of non-iodized salt group was 90 micro g/L, lower than 194 micro g/L in iodized salt group (u = 14.673, P = 0.000). There was no significant correlation between daily iodine intake and urinary iodine concentration (r(s) = 0.052, P = 0.095).

CONCLUSIONSIn Zhoushan islands, the daily iodine intake did not meet the daily need (150 micro g/day) suggesting that iodized salt supplement was necessary. However, side effect due to overdose should be brought into attention.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Goiter ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Iodine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; deficiency ; urine ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sodium Chloride, Dietary ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects