Clinical effect is of great importance to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and the rigorous and scientific methods for clinical effect assessment should be highly stressed in the clinical research of TCM. In this article, the authors analyzed the current status of the effect assessment of TCM and proposed some measures to improve the current effect assessment of TCM, in the hope of establishing an internationally accepted system of effect assessment reflecting the superiority and characteristics of TCM therapies.

Objective To assess the diagnostic accuracy of NT-proBNP in hypertension patients by observing the effect of decreased GFR on N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentration in patients with different cardiac function.Methods Eighty-nine hypertension patients were divided into two groups based on the results of UCG.Forty-three patients had normal left ventricular function and 46 patients had dysfunction.GFR,NT-proBNP and other biochemical markers of cardiac and renal function were measured.The factors affecting the NT-proBNP concentration under normal left ventricular function were analyzed,and the diagnostic value of NT-proBNP affected by normal or decreased GFR(＞ 80 ml/min or ≤80 ml/min) under different left ventricular functions were further assessed.The two-sample t test,rank sum test and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze their statistical difference and relationship.Results In patients with normal left ventricular function,GFR (β =-0.361,P ＜ 0.05) and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD,β =0.385,P ＜ 0.05) were significant factors to NT-proBNP level.They were both meaningful compared with LVEF (β =0.189,P ＞0.05) and septal thickness (β =0.003,P ＞ 0.05).The median concentration of NT-proBNP was 13.18 and 24.14 μg/L in patients with normal left ventricular function and dysfunction,respectively (Z =-3.19,P ＜ 0.01).While in patients with decreased GFR,6 cases with normal left ventricular function and 19 cases with dysfunction had a median concentration of NT-proBNP of 38.45 and 44.20 μg/L,respectively (Z =-0.45,P ＞ 0.05).In patients with normal GFR,37 cases with normal left ventricular function and 27 cases with dysfunction had a median concentration of NT-proBNP of 12.51 and 20.31 μg/L,which was lower than that of patients with decreased GFR (Z =-2.76,both P ＜ 0.05).The NT-proBNP concentration had no significant difference between patients of normal left ventricular function with decreased GFR and patients of dysfunction with normal GFR (38.45 and20.31 μg/L,Z=-2.18,P＞0.05).Conclusion In hypertension patients,the effect of decreased GFR on assessing the diagnostic accuracy of NT-proBNP for left ventricular dysfunction should be considered.

Objective To integrate a real-time remote monitoring device for movement and heart rate load during rehabilitation exercis-es. Methods Polar heart rate sensor was used, and assisted with a wireless relay to transmit the heat rate signals to 100 meters away. The vid-eo overlay device combined and superimposed the synchronized movement video to heart rate data. It completed the simultaneous acquisi-tion of heat rate signal and movement video, as well as the real-time recording and analysis of data and images with a customized software. Results and Conclusion This system provides a platform for the real-time movement and heart rate monitoring and analysis of rehabilita-tion exercise on the Windows.

Objective:To explore the clinical diagnosis and treatment methods for nasal septum malignancies. Methods:A retrospective study of seven cases of primary nasal septum malignancy was conducted. These cases were treated at the Tianjin First Central Hospital between February 1993 and October 2009. Results:Among the seven cases, one was reported malignant lymphoma, which underwent chemotherapy and radiation therapy;the other six malignant tumors included three cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma, one malignant melanoma, one chondrosarcoma, and one papilloma. Patients were treated by nasal endoscopy, external approach, lip midline incision, overturned facial surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. During follow-up, which lasted for 2 years to 16 years from time of surgery, two fatalities resulting from recurrence or metastasis were recorded. One of these fatalities occurred after 2 years, and the other was recorded at 3 years and 4 months after surgery. Four patients survived without recurrence. Conclusion:The key treatment for nasal septum malignancies was one-time radical resection. Combined postoperative treatment and follow-up should be conducted.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Qinggan Huoxue Recipe (QGHXR), a compound Chinese herbal medicine, and its decomposed formulas Qinggan Recipe (QGR) and Huoxue Recipe (HXR) on expressions of CD14, Toll like receptor 4 (TLR(4)) and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in Kupffer cells. METHODS: The isolated primary rat Kupffer cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for a certain period of time, a series of concentrations of drug-containing serums of QGHXR and its decomposed formulas were added, the expressions of NF-kappaB, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), CD14, and TLR(4) of the Kupffer cells were detected in different culture conditions by using Western blot, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and ELISA methods respectively. RESULTS: QGR could down-regulate the expression of membrane receptor CD14, but the expression of NF-kappaB and TNF-alpha were not significantly decreased after QGR treatment. HXR could down-regulate the expression of membrane receptor TLR4 and inhibit the expressions of NF-kappaB and TNF-alpha. QGHXR could down regulate the expressions of membrane receptors CD14 and TLR(4) and inhibit the expressions of NF-kappaB and TNF-alpha. CONCLUSION: QGHXR can protect liver cells by down regulating the expressions of CD14, TLR(4) and NF-kappaB and inhibiting TNF-alpha expression.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a model of alcoholic liver fibrosis (ALF) in rats induced by complex factors. METHODS: Forty-seven healthy male rats were divided into three groups: normal control group (n=12), minor CCl4 group (n=12) and complex factors group (n=27). The rats in the complex factors group were fed a complex diet including alcohol, corn oil and pyrazole, and administered with intraperitoneal injection of minor CCl4 to induce ALF. During induction process, the histopathological changes of liver tissue and the values of liver-to-body weight ratio were both observed regularly. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GT) in these three groups were all examined at the 12th week of the induction process. RESULTS: At the 12th week of the induction process, the model of ALF induced by complex factors was successfully established in rats, and the histopathological presentations showed alcoholic fatty liver, hepatitis and liver fibrosis in a sequence along with the induction process. The value of liver-to-body weight ratio and the serum levels of ALT, AST and gamma-GT of rats in the complex factors group were all significantly different from those in the other two groups. CONCLUSION: It is a steady and effective way to induce ALF in rats with complex diet and minor CCI4 injection.

BACKGROUND:Huperzine A is a reversible choline enzyme(CHE) inhibitor initially developed in China,which has favorable therapeutic effectiveness in benign memory dysfunction,and could significantly promote the learning process and memory reappearance in rodent animals. OBJECTIVE:To comprehend the impacts of Huperzine A on the enhancement of learning, memory and behavior in platform and maze experiments in D Galoctose(Gal) induced senile mouse model. DESIGN:A randomized and controlled trial. SETTING:Institute of Pharmaceuticals of Xinxiang Medical College. MATERIALS:Study was performed in the Laboratory of Physiology and the Institute of Pharmaceuticals of Xinxiang Medical College from January to December in 2002.A total of 100 healthy Kunming mice were selected for platform and electric maze experiments with 50 mice in each experiment.Huperzine A tablet was obtained from Henan Zhulin Zhongsheng Pharmaceutical Company Limited(batch number:031001).D Gal is the product of Shanghai No.2 Reagent Factory. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:The latency in the safe area on the platform and the times of electric shock occurred within 5 minutes were observed in mice in platform experiment;the times of the mice mistakenly escaping to the right electric attacking area were observed in mice in electric maze experiment. CONCLUSION:Huperzine A can effectively improve the learning and memory ability of D Gal induced senile mice, and there is dose effect relationship within certain range. Qiu PY,Chen ZY,Wang YX,Zhang JX,Wu ZZ.Effects of Huperzine A on the memory and behavior in D galactose induced senile mice.Zhongguo Linchuang Kangfu 2005;9(4):247- 9(China) [www.zglckf.com]

ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence of syphilis among outpatients in sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics in Guangxi Zhnang Autonomous Region,and to assess the socioeconomic and behavioral factors associated with the infection.MethodsThe outpatients to 14 STD clinics in 8 cities of Guangxi Zhnang Autonomous Region were investigated with questionnaires by their doctors at the first visit.Venous blood samples were obtained from these outpatients and subjected to toludine red unheated serum test (TRUST) to screen for syphilis.Treponema pollidum particle agglutination (TPPA) was performed for TRUSTpositive samples.The epidemiological data were collected by using EpiData software,statistically analyzed by using SPSS13.0 software package.ResultsA total of 10 930 STD outpatients were recruited in the study,and 1297 samples were confirmed to be both TRUST and TPPA positive.The prevalence of syphilis was 11.9％ in all of the outpatients,14.3％ in female outpatients and 10.3％ in male outpatients,13.3％ in the outpatients of Zhuang nationality,and 11.4％ in those of Han nationalily.Multivariate analysis showed that syphilis was independently related to female sex[odds ratio(OR) 2.23,95％ confidence interval(CI) 1.69 - 3.00,P＜0.01 ],low educaiion level (middle school:OR 1.70,95％ CI 1.11 - 2.62,P ＜ 0.05; primary school or illiteracy,OR 1.98,95％ CI 1.13 - 3.46,P＜0.05),annual income of more than 30000 Yuan (OR 1.91,95％ CI 1.18 -3.10,P ＜ 0.01 ),commercial sex workers or having multiple sexual partners(OR 1.54,95％ CI 1.16 - 2.06,P ＜0.01 ).ConclusionsSyphilis serology should be the routine test in STD clinical settings in Guangxi region,and the intervention should be enhanced to control the prevalence of syphilis in high-risk populations.

To study the action mechanisms of Qinggan Huoxue Recipe (QGHXR), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, and its separated recipes by observing their effects on expressions of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in rats with alcoholic liver fibrosis (ALF).