OBJECTIVETo explore the potential effect of Guizhi plus Gegen Decoction (GGD) in improving learning and memory of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) induced neuroinflammatory mice and its possible mechanisms.

METHODSTotally 63 male ICR mice were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e., the normal control (n = 13), the model group (n = 13), the low dose GGD group (n = 10), the high dose GGD group (n = 14), and the positive control group (n = 13). Mice were intraperitoneally injected with LPS (0.33 mg/kg) to induce Alzheimer's disease (AD) model. Mice in the high and the low dose GGD groups were administered with 12 g/kg or 6 g/kg by gastrogavage for 4 successive weeks. Mice in the control group were intraperitoneally injected with minocycline (50 mg/kg) for 3 days. By the end of treatment LPS were injected 4 h before behavior test each day, and then behavior test was conducted in mice of each group. Effect of GGD on learning and memory of AD mice was observed by using open field test, novel object recognition task, and Morris water maze.

RESULTSOpen field test showed there was no statistical difference in the movement time and the movement distance among all groups (P > 0.05), suggesting that LPS and GGD had no effect on locomotor activities of mice. In novel object recognition test, AD mice spent significantly shorter time to explore novel object after they were induced by LPS (P < 0.05), while for AD mice in the low and high dose GGD groups, their capacities for exploration and memory were significantly improved (P < 0. 05, P < 0.01). Results of Morris water maze showed that AD mice exhibited increased escape latency (P < 0.05) and spent much less time in swimming across the original platform (both P < 0.05). However, AD mice in the low and high dose GGD groups had obvious shortened latency and increased time percentage for swimming (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONGGD possessed certain improvement in learning and memory disorder of LPS induced AD mice.

Alzheimer Disease ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Male ; Memory Disorders ; prevention & control ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Neuritis ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Phytotherapy

Objective To evaluate systematically whether or not the treatment of herbs invigorating spleen and removing dampness,blood stasis and toxin with chemotherapy is better than chemotherapy alone for advanced colorectal cancer.Methods The randomized controlled trails (RCT) involving combined treatment of herbs with chemotherapy,published from January 2000 to October 2015,were searched in CBM,CNKI,Wanfang Data,VIP,PubMed,Embase databases.Stata 14.0 software was used to analyze the data.Results 19 RCT containing 941 patients were included in this reta-analysis.Compared with chemotherapy alone,the combined treatment of Chinese herbal medicine and chemotherapy was obviously better in 1-year survival rate (RR =1.28,95 ％ CI 1.14-1.45),2-year survival rate (RR =1.52,95 ％ CI 1.05-2.18),3-year survival rate (RR =2.76,95 ％ CI 1.56-4.88),objective response (RR =1.11,95 ％ CI 1.04-1.19),Karnofsky score (RR =1.46,95 ％ CI 1.27-1.68) and traditional chinese medicine (TCM) symptom score (RR =1.58,95 ％ CI 1.33-1.75).The adverse effect rate was statistically reduced in the combined treatment group:leukopenia (RR =0.59,95 ％ CI 0.40-0.8),nausea and vomiting (RR =0.68,95 ％ CI 0.59-0.79),diarrhea (RR =0.67,95 ％ CI 0.53-0.85),neurotoxicity (RR =0.79,95 ％ CI 0.65-0.96).Conclusion Compared with chemotherapy alone,the treatment of herbs invigorating spleen and removing dampness,blood stasis and toxin combined with chemotherapy for advanced colorectal cancer can significantly increase survival rate and objective response rate,improve the quality of life,and meanwhile decrease the adverse effect rate.

Cordyceps militaris is of significant economic value in medical care and food exploitation because of its many physiological activities. This paper reviews(1) the taxonomic position of its anamorph,(2) interesting culture ways,(3) strain degeneration and genetic variability,and(4) research progress in bioactive compounds and pharmacological functions.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the prognostic factors in treating primary liver cancer (PLC) patients by Pi-strengthening and qi-regulating method (PSQRM), thus providing evidence and optimizing Pi-strengthening and qi-regulating program.

METHODSClinical data of 151 PLC patients treated by PSQRM at Oncology Department, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from May 2007 to March 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. The univariate analysis was determined to analyze possible prognostic factors. Selected key factors were introduced into the COX proportional hazard model, and multivariate analysis was carried out.

RESULTSThe 1-year survival rate was 21.85%, the median survival time was 6.80 months, and the mean survival time was 8.98 months. The univariate analysis showed that Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome types, clinical symptoms at the initial diagnosis, ascites, tumor types, ratios of foci, portal vein tumor thrombus, intrahepatic metastasis, a-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, total bilirubin classification, albumin classification, Child-Pugh classification, and domestic staging of liver cancer were significant prognostic factors (P < 0.05). The statistic data of multivariate analysis indicated that CM syndrome types, ascites, tumor types, portal vein tumor thrombus, AFP levels, Child-Pugh classification, and domestic staging of liver cancer were independent factors influencing prognosis (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe prognosis of PLC treated with PSQRM is determined by multiple factors including CM syndrome types, ascites, tumor types, portal vein tumor thrombus, AFP levels, Child-Pugh classification, and domestic staging of liver cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical features of invasive fungal infections (IFI) in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and, to provide a basis for the effective prevention and treatment of IFI.

METHODSRetrospective analysis was performed on the clinical features and treatment outcomes of 38 children with IFI who were admitted to the PICU of Wuhan Children's Hospital between January 2009 and August 2012.

RESULTSPulmonary fungal infection (89%) was the most common among the 38 cases. Before diagnosis of IFI, all patients had severe underlying diseases and received several broad-spectrum antibiotics, including carbapenems, which were used in 95% of cases; 47% of all cases had been treated with corticosteroids systemically; all patients had received invasive operations, and 47% of them had undergone endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. None of these cases had either typical clinical symptoms and signs or specific imaging findings. Fifty-six strains of fungi were isolated, with Candida albicans (41%), Aspergilli (25%), and Mucor (20%) being the most common ones. All patients received timely antifungal therapies, 15 cases were cured and 16 cases showed improvements, with a response rate of 82%, and the rate of adverse events was 16%.

CONCLUSIONSIn the PICU, the respiratory tract is the most common site of IFI infection, and Candida albicans is the leading pathogen. Severe underlying diseases, use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and corticosteroids, and invasive operations are the main risk factors for IFI in the PICU. Early diagnosis and timely treatment with high-performance antifungal drugs can improve the prognosis in children with IFI.

Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Intensive Care Units, Pediatric ; Male ; Mycoses ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: We sought to determine the association between chronic pain and participating in routine health screening in a low socioeconomic-status (SES) rental-flat community in Singapore. In Singapore, ≥ 85% own homes; public rental flats are reserved for those with low-income. METHODS: Chronic pain was defined as pain ≥ 3 months. From 2009−2014, residents aged 40−60 years in five public rental-flat enclaves were surveyed for chronic pain; participation in health screening was also measured. We compared them to residents staying in adjacent owner-occupied public housing. We also conducted a qualitative study to better understand the relationship between chronic pain and health screening participation amongst residents in these low-SES enclaves. RESULTS: In the rental-flat population, chronic pain was associated with higher participation in screening for diabetes (aOR = 2.11, CI = 1.36−3.27, P < 0.001), dyslipidemia (aOR = 2.06, CI = 1.25−3.39, P = 0.005), colorectal cancer (aOR = 2.28, CI = 1.18−4.40, P = 0.014), cervical cancer (aOR = 2.65, CI = 1.34−5.23, P = 0.005) and breast cancer (aOR = 3.52, CI = 1.94−6.41, P < 0.001); this association was not present in the owner-occupied population. Three main themes emerged from our qualitative analysis of the link between chronic pain and screening participation: pain as an association of “major illness”; screening as a search for answers to pain; and labelling pain as an end in itself. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic pain was associated with higher cardiovascular and cancer screening participation in the low-SES population. In low-SES populations with limited access to pain management services, chronic pain issues may surface during routine health screening.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Breast Neoplasms ; Chronic Pain* ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Dyslipidemias ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Humans ; Mass Screening* ; Pain Management ; Public Housing ; Singapore ; Social Class* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Objective To investigate the protection mechanism of dexmedetomidine against retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury (RIRI) in mice.Methods Forty-eight male C57BL/6 mice born 8 weeks were randomly into sham group,model group and experimental group.Each group had 16 mice.Mice model of RIRI were prepared.Before modeling 15 min,dexmedetomidine 25 μg · L-1 was injected into the abdominal cavity in experimental group,and the same dose of 0.9％ normal saline was injected into the abdominal cavity in sham group and model group.The RIRI model was established successfully then these mice were killed after reperfusion 24 h.The superoxide dismutase (SOD) was detected by WST-1 method,the malondialdehyde (MDA) was detected by TBA method,and the glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) was determined by colorimetry.The tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α),interleukin-6 (IL-6),1-methylcyclopropene (MCP-1) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were detected by ELISA.Results Compared with the sham group,the levels of SOD (45.47 ± 8.16) U · mg-1 and GSH-PX (264.64 ± 27.31) U · mg-1 in the retinal tissue of the model group were decreased significantly (P ＜ 0.05).While MDA (1.56±0.41) nmol · mg-1,TNF-α (2.67±0.23) ng · mL-1,IL-6 (2.84±0.34) ng · mL-1,MCP-1 (0.68 ±0.06) ng · mL-1 and IL-10 (0.21 ±0.02) ng · mL-1 in the retinal tissue of the model group were decreased significantly (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the model group,the levels of SOD (71.05 ± 9.34) U · mg-1,GSH-PX (382.20 ±31.56) U · mg-1 and IL-10 (0.44 ±0.07) ng · mL-1 in the retina tissue of the experimental group were decreased significantly (P ＜ 0.05).while MDA (1.02 ± 0.23) nmol · mg-1,TNF-α (1.53 ± 0.20)ng· mL-1,IL-6 (1.6 ±0.07) ng · mL-1 and MCP-1 (0.41 ±0.07) ng · mL-1 of the experimental group experimental group were decreased significantly (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Dexmedetomidine can significantly reduce RIRI,the mechanism may be related to inhibit oxygen free radical-induced lipid peroxidation injury and inhibit the secretion of inflammatory cytokines.

OBJECTIVETo explore the pattern of lymph node metastasis and its influence on the prognosis of early gastric cancer(EGC).

METHODSThe pattern of lymph node metastasis and the 3-,5-year survival rates in 157 EGC patients undergone surgery from October 1995 to October 2005 were analyzed retrospectively. The SPSS 11.5 statistics software was used to perform univariate and multivariate analysis.

RESULTSTwenty-two cases had lymph node metastasis among 157 EGC patients(14%). Two mucous cancers(2.4%) and 20 submucosal tumors(27.0%) had lymph node metastases (P<0.01). Lymph node metastasis was not seen in minute gastric cancer(diameter < or =0.5 cm). Lymph node metastasis rates were 6.4% in the cancers with diameter 1.1-2.0 cm and 21.5% in the cancers with the diameter >2.0 cm(P<0.01). Besides, lymph node metastasis rate of well-differentiated EGC was 0, of moderate differentiated EGC 11.1%, and poor-differentiated EGC 0.9%(P<0.01). Of 9 cases with vascular cancer embolus, 4 had lymph node metastases. Logistic regression analysis showed that tumor size, vascular cancer embolus, histopathological type and depth of invasion were independent factors of lymph node metastasis in EGC. The 3- and 5-year survival rates of EGC patients with lymph node metastasis were 81.6 % and 79.5% respectively, which were much lower than those without lymph node metastasis(95.7% and 93.2%, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSLymph node metastasis in EGC is mainly correlated with depth of infiltration, tumor size, vascular cancer embolus and differentiation. For EGC treatment, choice should be made reasonably based on the risk of lymph node metastasis.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo establish a novel model of lumbar disc degeneration on the early stage in the rhesus monkey using percutaneous needle puncture guided by CT.

METHODS(1) Thirteen rhesus monkeys aged from 4 to 7 years, female 7 and male 6 were selected for establishing a model of the early stage of lumbar disc degeneration. (2)13 monkeys, 91 discs were divided into 3 groups: 64 discs from L1/2 to L5/6 were percutaneous punctured with a needle 20G as experimental group and 1 disc with a needle 15G as puncture control group and 26 discs were not be punctured from L6,7 to L7-S1 as control group. (3) Lumbar disc localization for needle puncture was guided by CT. All discs were examined by MRI, the HE, Masson's trichrome, Safranine-O and immunohistochemical staining of type II collagen before disc puncture and after puncture at 4, 8 and 12 weeks.

RESULTSMRI: (1) Experimental group: Pfirmann's Grade I was shown at postoperation 4, 8 and 12 weeks; (2) Puncture control group: Grade III was shown at postoperation 4 weeks and Grade IV at 8 weeks; (3) CONTROL GROUP: Grade I was shown at postoperation 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Histological examination: (1) In experimental group, there was no any change at postoperation 4 weeks, and the cell population of the nucleus was decreased at 8 weeks and more decreased at 12 weeks in HE. (2) There was no any change at postoperation 4 weeks, the clefts among the lamellae of the annulus fibrosus (AF) were shown at 8 weeks and more wider of the clefts of AF at 12 weeks in Masson's trichrome. (3) No any change was shown at postoperation 4 weeks, proteoglycan were progressively decreased at 8 and 12 weeks in Safranine-O. (4) No statistically significant difference in positive rate was observed at 4 and 8 weeks compared with control group in immunohistochemical staining of type II collagen. There was statistical difference at 12 weeks compared with control group (P<0.05). In puncture control group postoperation 8 weeks, the morphology of cell of nucleus pulposus was not clear in HE. The wider clefts of lamellae of the AF were shown in Masson's trichrome. The proteoglycan was obviously decreased in Safranine-O. Immunohistochemical staining collagen II synthesized was decreased. In normal control group, no any change was shown at 4, 8 and 12 weeks.

CONCLUSIONSThe degeneration of lumbar intervertebral disc on the early stage could be induced by the percutaneous needle puncture (20G) to the annulus fibrosus. The assessment of disc degeneration on early stage is not shown on MRI and only confirmed by histological examination.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Intervertebral Disc ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Macaca mulatta ; Male ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Random Allocation

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical characteristics, surgical procedures and correlated prognostic factors of the cases with subglottic carcinoma; to seek for the optimal surgical treatment for the patients suffering from subglottic carcinoma.

METHODSTwenty-four cases with subglottic carcinoma were retrospectively reviewed, the disease-free survival rates of the patients at 3 years were analyzed according to the different T N phases and the surgical modalities.

RESULTSThe free-disease survival rate at 3 years was 50.0% (12/24) for 24 cases with subglottic carcinoma. The survival rates of 19 cases with total laryngectomy was 47.4% (9/19), and the survival rates in T2, T3, T4 phases were respectively 1/1, 6/11, 2/7. The survival rates of 5 cases with partial laryngectomy was 3/5, the survival rates in T2, T3 phases were respectively 3/4, 0/1, and the surgical margins were verified to be positive in 2 of 5 cases being performed partial laryngectomy. The metastasis rate of lymph nodes was 33.3% (8/24). The survival rates of patients with N0, N1, N2 disease were respectively 10/16, 1/4, 1/4. The positive lymph nodes were verified in the neck regions of II-VI and superior mediastinum.

CONCLUSIONSPrognoses of the cases with subglottic carcinoma were poor, early treatment could result in good effect. Until now total laryngectomy still the mainly treatment of subglottic carcinoma. Only the patients with earlier subglottic carcinoma are amenable to partial laryngectomy and should be given postoperative irradiation. Lymph node metastasis was a very important prognostic factor. Paratracheal lymph nodes are the sentinel nodes for subglottic carcinoma, and it is reasonable to probe the nodes. Once verifying positive lymph node, the typical neck dissection involving I-VI regions and superior mediastinum should be performed.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; mortality ; surgery ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Glottis ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; mortality ; surgery ; Laryngectomy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck Dissection ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies