To summarize Professor LIU Feng-bin's clinical experience and theoretical thoughts on chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), the study group designed a retrospective study on his case series and expert interview. First of all, the data of CAG patients treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine between 2009 and 2013, e. g. herbs, diseases, syndrome type, prescription amount and number of herbs, was collected and processed. The statistical description and binary logistic regression were used to determined the syndrome type, initial basic remedy and modification. During the statistics, a complete and sub-group analysis was performed simultaneously. After the expert interview, the syndrome type and medication were finalized. As a result, a total of 228 CAG patients aged at (50.30 ± 10.18) were collected, including 151 males (66.23%). Of them, the TCM diagnosis and syndrome type were extracted from the information of 157 patients, including 115 cases with gastric stuffiness, 23 cases with gastric pain, 19 missing cases, 2 cases with spleen-stomach weakness syndrome, 57 cases with spleen deficiency and dampness-heat syndrome, 18 cases with spleen-stomach disharmony syndrome, 23 cases with syndrome of liver depression syndrome, 21 cases with liver qi invading stomach syndrome and 26 qi and yin deficiency syndrome, respectively. All of the 228 patients used totally 104 herbs, while the subgroups with 157 patients used 94 herbs. The most frequently used 15 herbs used in each groups were analyzed to determine the initial basic remedy and modification. Subsequently, based on the information of the sub-groups with 157 patients, with the syndrome type as the dependent variable, the logistic regression analysis was made on the most frequently used 32 herbs, in order to determined the modification in herbs for different syndrome types. After experts reviewed and modified, they believed the main causes of CAG were dietary irregularities, moodiness and weak constitution; the pathogenesis of CAG was spleen deficiency with qi stagnation, heat depression and blood stasis in the stomach meridian. The above six syndrome types and 12 herbs were determined, including Pseudostellariae Radix, Poria, Atractylodismacrocephalae Rhizoma, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus, Sepiae Endoconcha, Arecae Pericarpium, Aurantii Fructus, Perillae Caulis, Herba Hedyotis Diffusae, Scutellariae Barbatae Herba, Curcumae Rhizoma. This study summarized Professor LIU Feng-bin's clinical experience and theoretical thoughts of chronic atrophic gastritis based on clinical practice data and expert interview, with a rigorous design and good scientificity and practicability.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Gastritis, Atrophic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo summarize the experience of surgical treatment of the hilar cholangiocarcinoma and explore the factors influencing the operative effect.

METHODSFifty-three cases of hilar cholangiocarcinoma performed operation from January 1998 to January 2008 were divided into two groups: Group I included cases treated from January 1998 to December 2002 (totally 22 cases); Group II included cases treated from January 2003 to January 2008 (totally 31 cases). Comparative study was carried out between these two groups.

RESULTSSurgical resection [radical resection (R(0)) + palliative resection (R(1))] rate in group I was lower than that in group II (40.9% vs. 71.0%, P = 0.029). Hepatic lobectomy rate in group I was lower than that in group II (30.0% vs. 64.5%, P = 0.016). The resection rate was positively correlated with the hepatic lobectomy rate (r = 0.985, P < 0.01). The median survival time of the patients underwent R(0) resection was longer than that in the patients underwent R(1) resection and palliative bile duct drainage [(27.0 +/- 4.5) months vs. (10.0 +/- 0.7) months vs. (4.0 +/- 0.5) months, respectively, P < 0.01].

CONCLUSIONSEarly diagnosis and radical resection are important to improve the prognosis for patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma. But for the patients could only receive palliative resection or with positive celiac trunk lymph nodes, combined liver lobe resection could not improve the survival.

Adult ; Aged ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; surgery ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; surgery ; Drainage ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Fractional Flow Reserve, Myocardial ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

Nowadays, the simple combination of Western medicine (WM) and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) cannot resolve all the health problems and various requirements. This article proposed the general integral medicine (GIM) theoretical model, which declares the disease causes analysis, clinical intervention and outcomes assessment should be recognized, managed and evaluated both from physiological, psychological, and spiritual status, and all the four dimensions: orthodox medicine (WM, Chinese medicine, etc.), individual inherent characteristics (emotion, attitude, psychology, etc.), cultural influences (doctors, caregivers, groups care, etc.), and natural environment and social systems (economic status, social security system, environmental pollution, etc). As for health outcomes assessment, a more comprehensive system including biological, doctors, patients, health intimate, social and environmental evaluations were required. The GIM model has individualized, dynamic, standardized, objective, systematic inherent characteristics, and opening and compatible external characteristics. It aims to provide the new theoretical guidance and strategic development direction for complex health interventions, and solve various medical related psychological and social problems.
Complementary Therapies ; Health ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Models, Theoretical

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular subtypes of 73 strains of Yersinia enterocolitica biotype 1A isolated in Shandong province by PFGE, and thereby to analyze the relationship between PFGE typing and biological characteristics.

METHODSSeventy-three strains of Yersinia enterocolitica biotype 1A were isolated from animal feces and meat products in Gaomi city and Wulian county in Shandong province from 2008 to 2009. Motility test, serum agglutination and virulent genes detection by PCR were used to learn the biological characteristics of the isolated strains. The molecular subtypes were determined by PFGE, whose relationships with motility, serotypes and virulent genotypes were also analyzed.

RESULTSOut of the 73 strains of Yersinia enterocolitica, 5 showed medium-active motility while the other 68 showed well-active motility. The dominated serotypes were O:5(17/73) and O:8(14/73), followed by O:9(5/73) and O:7, 8(1/73), and there was no O:3 serotype found. Meanwhile, 36 strains couldn't be serotyped. All the strains were negative with the gene ail, ystA, yadA and virF, yet the positive rate of ystB gene was 72.6% (53/73). The 73 strains of Yersinia enterocolitica isolated could be subtyped into 54 PFGE patterns (K6GN11SD0001-K6GN11SD0054), most of which only had 1 or 2 isolated strains, and no pattern was dominant. The strains in the same or similar cluster were from different hosts; each serotype and toxic genotype scattered in the clustering trees, without specific correlation with PFGE subtypes. 4 out of 5 strains, which showed medium-active motility, belonged to one branch, with the similarity coefficient at 80.9% - 100.0%; while all the toxic genotype belonged to type B.

CONCLUSIONBiotype 1A Yersinia enterocolitica has many clones, whose PFGE types had relations with motility, but no relations with virulent genotype and host.

Bacterial Typing Techniques ; DNA, Bacterial ; genetics ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genotype ; Meat Products ; microbiology ; Yersinia enterocolitica ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification

AIMTo isolate triterpene saponins of polygalacic acid type from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) A. DC and to identify their structures.

METHODSThe compounds were separated by means of extraction, chromatography on silica gel, MPLC and HPLC, and their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analyses (FAB-MS, IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR etc.).

RESULTSThree triterpene saponins were isolated from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum. They were identified as 3-O-beta-D-laminaribiosyl polygalacic acid (I), 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl polygalacic acid (II), polygalacin D (III), separately.

CONCLUSIONCompound I is a new compound, compounds II, III are known triterpene saponins. The compound I and II were isolated from the plant for the first time, which is also the monodesmoside from the plant for the first time.

Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Platycodon ; chemistry ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo study the molecular mechanism of TAp63gamma-induced cell apoptosis.

METHODSTranscription and protein expression of apoptosis inducing factor and p63 were investigated by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR in human esophageal squamous carcinoma cell line EC9706 respectively. Twenty-four hours after transfection with pcDNA3.1-TAp63gamma, the apoptosis and translocation of apoptosis inducing factor in EC9706 cells were studied by flow cytometry, laser confocal microscopy and mitochondrial/cytosol/nuclear extraction analysis respectively. Down-regulation of apoptosis inducing factor protein was achieved by RNAi and pretreatment with caspase inhibitor zVAD.fmk of EC9706 cells.

RESULTSPresence of protein expressions of apoptosis inducing factor and absence of TAp63gamma was observed in the cytoplasm of untransfected cells. RT-PCR verified the subtype of p63 in EC9706 cells was DeltaNp63. After 24 hours of transfection, both nuclear and cytoplasmic expression of apoptosis inducing factor protein were observed in cells transfected with TAp63gamma and p53 expression vectors, but not in cells transfected with control vector. Cell apoptosis rates were 1.37%, 13.64%, 4.52%, 4.03% and 1.91% in the pcDNA3.1 transfection group, pcDNA3.1-TAp63gamma transfection group, apoptosis inducing factor siRNA and pcDNA3.1-TAp63gamma transfection group, zVAD.fmk treatment group, and the group receiving apoptosis inducing factor siRNA, plus zVAD.fmk treatment and pcDNA3.1-TAp63gamma transfection, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSApoptosis inducing factor of EC9706 cells is released from mitochondria into both the cytoplasm and nucleus during TAp63gamma induced apoptosis. Down-regulation of apoptosis inducing factor inhibits TAp63gamma-induced apoptosis. Overall, TAp63gamma-induced apoptosis is dependent on the expression of apoptosis inducing factor and caspase.

Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Inducing Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Caspase Inhibitors ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Nucleus ; metabolism ; Cytoplasm ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Mitochondria ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; Protein Transport ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Trans-Activators ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transcription Factors ; Transfection ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of volume perfusion CT imaging to dynamically monitor and evaluate the response of rabbit VX2 soft-tissue tumor to antiangiogenic treatment.

METHODSTo establish an experimental animal model of VX2 soft tissue tumor on 20 New Zealand white rabbits. Twenty rabbits were randomly divided into 2 groups. The therapy group was treated with recombinant human endostatin (3 mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹) for 7 days, and the control group received saline in the same dose only. Four times of CT volume perfusion scan were performed before treatment and on the second, forth, seventh days of treatment, respectively. The value of blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), mean transit time (MTT), and permeability (PMB) in the VX2 tumors were measured after scanning. The microvessel density (MVD) and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the tumors were determined using immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSThe tumor volume of the therapy group was (1.36 ± 0.73) cm³ on the forth day of treatment and (1.69 ± 0.68) cm³ on the seventh day of the treatment. The tumor volume of the control group was (2.35 ± 0.62) cm³ on the fourth day of treatment and (3.87 ± 0.93) cm³ on the seventh day of the treatment (P < 0.05). On the seventh day of treatment, tumor necrosis ratio of the therapy group and the control group was (25.58 ± 5.51)% and (42.93 ± 4.34)%, respectively (P < 0.05). Comparing the perfusion parameters between the two groups on the same day, and the second, forth, seventh days of treatment, the value of PMB of the therapy group was (70.36 ± 23.46) ml·100 ml⁻¹·min⁻¹, (79.64 ± 13.68) ml·100 ml⁻¹·min⁻¹ and (84.76 ± 3.55) ml·100 ml⁻¹·min⁻¹, respectively, and that in the control group was (26.61 ± 6.47) ml·100 ml⁻¹·min⁻¹, (33.74 ± 16.47) ml·100 ml⁻¹·min⁻¹ and (30.47 ± 10.64) ml·100 ml⁻¹·min⁻¹, respectively (P < 0.05). The value of BF in the therapy group and control group was (71.19 ± 12.21) ml·100 ml⁻¹·min⁻¹ and (43.56 ± 12.21) ml·100 ml⁻¹·min⁻¹, respectively, on the seventh day of treatment (P < 0.05). The parameters on different days in the same group were compared. In the control group, the value of BF on the seventh day of treatment was significantly lower than that before and on the second and forth days of treatment (P < 0.05). However, in the therapy group, the value of PMB on the second, forth, and seventh days of treatment was significantly higher than that before treatment (P < 0.05). MVD of tumor in the control group was increased gradually, whereas increased on the first day and then decreased more in the therapy group. The VEGF expressions did not differ significantly between the experimental and control groups.

CONCLUSIONSVolume perfusion CT is helpful to quantify the tumor perfusion and evaluate the functional changes of tumor vasculature, and then evaluate the early therapeutic effect of antiangiogenic treatment.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Blood Volume ; Capillary Permeability ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; methods ; Endostatins ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Male ; Microvessels ; pathology ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; diagnostic imaging ; Perfusion Imaging ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Regional Blood Flow ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Tumor Burden ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the application of health assessment instruments in Chinese medicine.

METHODSAccording to a pre-defined search strategy, a comprehensive literature search for all articles published in China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases was conducted. The resulting articles that met the defined inclusion and exclusion criteria were used for analysis.

RESULTSA total of 97 instruments for health outcome assessment in Chinese medicine have been used in fundamental and theoretical research, and 14 of these were also used in 29 clinical trials that were randomized controlled trials, or descriptive or cross-sectional studies. In 2 152 Chinese medicine-based studies that used instruments in their methodology, more than 150 questionnaires were identified. Among the identified questionnaires, 51 were used in more than 10 articles (0.5%). Most of these instruments were developed in Western countries and few studies (4%) used the instrument as the primary evidence for their conclusions.

CONCLUSIONUsage of instruments for health outcome assessment in Chinese medicine is increasing rapidly; however, current limitations include selection rationale, result interpretation and standardization, which must be addressed accordingly.

Databases, Factual ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; methods ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Research Design

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of glucocorticoid in the treatment for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

METHODSClinical data of 70 patients with SARS admitted to Youan Hospital in Beijing during March to May, 2003 were analyzed.

RESULTS(1) Sixty-three of 70 cases of SARS recovered and seven cases died, with a case-fatality ratio of 10%. (2) Average length of hospital stay was 16.9 days for the all 70 cases, and 16.8 days for the 11 cases without glucocorticoid treatment, without statistical significance (F = 1.018, P = 0.39). (3) The other 59 cases were administered with 40 mg to 640 mg of methylprednisolone daily. (4) Average hospital stay was 15 days for the 23 cases with lower dose of 40 mg to 80 mg methylprednisolone daily, 18.5 days for the 27 cases with medium dose of 120 mg to 240 mg daily, and 17.9 days for the nine cases with higher dose of 320 mg to 640 mg daily (F = 1.018, P = 0.39).

CONCLUSIONSEarlier use of glucocorticoid therapy with suitable doses could alleviate their clinical symptoms, improve their clinical courses, and promote the absorbance of infiltration in their lungs on chest-X-ray films for the cases with SARS. However, current clinical data showed that glucocorticoid therapy could not shorten the length of hospitalization for the cases with SARS.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Middle Aged ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; drug therapy ; Time Factors