The concept of modern medicine in treating chronic heart failure (CHF) has changed markedly in recent years. To improve the quality of life and prolong life, the treatment goal is no longer just temporary improvement of symptoms, more importantly, is to prevent and delay the occurrence and development of ventricular remodeling. Long-term chronic over-activation of sympathetic system, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and other neuroendocrine factors promotes myocardial remodeling, increases myocardial injury and deteriorates cardiac function. Despite short-term use can significantly improve the blood flow dynamics, long-term use of beta-adrenergic receptor stimulators and phosphodiesterase inhibitors does not prolong life, but increases the rate of sudden death caused by cardiac arrhythmia. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and beta-blockers have become the preferred drugs in treating chronic heart failure. In fact, after long-term use, beta-blockers can significantly improve ventricular remodeling, enhance ventricular function and reduce the incidence of sudden death of patients with CHF. In traditional Chinese medicine practice, short-term use of drugs for warming yang and reinforcing qi can improve symptoms of CHF, but long-term use may have adverse effects, for these medicines can stimulate sympathetic system. Early treatment with medicines of cold and cool property may be more favorable to patients with CHF, except the advanced patients who need special intervention. Eliminating heat and nourishing yin may play more active role in controlling the occurrence and development of CHF. Drugs with good efficacy and value in treating CHF may be developed from the Chinese herbal medicines with eliminating heat and nourishing yin property.

Objective To summarize the clinical effect of urethroplasty using acellular dermal matrix patch for the treatment of anterior urethral stricture caused by lichen sclerosus.Methods The clinical data was analyzed retrospectively from 15 patients with anterior urethral stricture caused by lichen sclerosus treated with aeellular dermal matrix patch.Results The patients were followed up for 8-40 months.The urethral silicone stent was removed 4 weeks after operation in 15 cases and all the patients voided well 2 months after operation.The urinary peak flow rates ranged from 17.6 to 41.7 ml/s(mean,28.6ml/s).Urethral stricture occurred in 2 patients 3 months after operation undergoing discontinuous dilatation within 3 to 6 months,the patients voided very well.Conclusion It is feasible,safe and relatively simple to use acellular dermal matrix patch for anterior urethral stricture caused by lichen sclerosus.

Objective To explore the manifestations of chest multi-slice spiral CT in patients with initial infection of swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus (S-OIV). Methods The chest multi-slices spirals CT images of 19 firstly diagnosed patients with swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) in our institution were retrospectively studied. CT manifestations were evaluated by three experienced radiologists. Location, appearance of lung abnormalities, abnormal distribution, pleural effusion and others (pericadiaum, lymphadenopathy and pleural thickening) were observed and quantitatively analyzed. The correlation of ground-glass and consolidation CT scores with the fever time was studied. Results The abnormal CT findings were observed bilaterally in 18 of 19 subjects including ground-glass (n= 3), consolidation (n=3 ), consolidation accompanied with ground-glass (n=12). Most of these lesions were distributed diffusively (n=14) while the others located in the middle and low lobes (n= 4). Unilateral (n=3) or bilateral (n=2) pleural effusion were observed. Lymphadenopathy (n=2), effusion of pericadium (n=1), pleural thickening (n=1) and cardiac enlargement (n=2) were also found in patients with H1N1. CT scores of ground-glass were 4. 25(n=2),3.75 (n=1),2.25(n=1),1.75(n=1),1.00(n=6),0.75(n=2), 0.50(n=2),0(n=4).CT scores of consolidation were4.25(n=1),4.00(n=1),3.75 (n=1), 2.75(n=1),1.25(n=3),1.00(n=2),0.75(n=2),0.50(n=1),0.25(n=3),0(n=4). CT scores of ground-glass were significantly correlated with the fever time (r= 0.776, P < 0.01), CT scores of consolidation had no correlation with the fever time(r=0.322,P > 0.01). Conclusions The most common CT findings in patients with S-OIV infection are diffuse distribution of bilateral ground-glass opacities with or without associated focal or multifocal areas of consolidation. The increasing of ground-glass's range could be the marker of progression of H1N1 pulmonary infection at initial stage.

AIM: To investigate the effects of uric acid sodium salt (UANa) as adjuvant on humoral and cellular immune response in BALB/c mice. METHODS: BALB/c mice were immunized with trichosanthin (TCS) as antigen together with UANa suspension as adjuvant. The antibody titers of IgG were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Dendritic cells (DC) were induced in vitro, the phenotypes of DC were analyzed by flow cytometry and the effect of UANa on DC maturity was evaluated. A delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) model was used to analyze the effect of UANa on cellular immune responses in vivo. The in vitro proliferation of lymphocytes was determined by ConA stimulation. RESULTS: Freunds adjuvant greatly enhanced the antibody response of mice to TCS, while UANa adjuvant failed to promote the antibody response but significantly reduced the antibody response as compared to TCS only. No effect of UANa on the expression of CD11c and CD83 in DC was observed by flow cytometry analysis. However, UANa significantly enhanced the expression of MHC II molecule. In the DTH model, UANa enhanced the degree of allergen-induced ear swelling and promoted the ability of lymphocyte proliferation in vitro. CONCLUSION: UANa suspension as adjuvant significantly enhances the cellular immune response but inhibits the humoral immune response to a certain degree, suggesting that UANa has potential application in the vaccine research.

Objective To investigate the preventive effect of intrarectal application of indomethacin on hyperamylasemia and acute pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography ( ERCP ) .Methods 180 patients who underwent ERCP were randomly divided into the indomethacin group, somatostatin group and control group.The serum amylase levels were measured before ERCP, 3 and 24 hours after the drug application.The incidences of post-ERCP hyperamylasemia and pancreatitis were observed.Results Serum amylase levels before and 3h after ERCP of three groups had no differences.The serm amylase levels of control group 24 h after ERCP (228.50 ±121.72) U/L was significantly higher than that of indomethacin group (94.09 ±68.45) U/L (P <0.01) and somatostatin group (76.53 ±74.47) U/L (P <0.05), while there was no difference between indomethacin group and somatostatin group.Compared with before ERCP, the serum amylase levels significantly increased in both control group 3 and 24h after ERCP (P <0.01), as well as in both indomethacin group and somatostatin group 3h after ERCP (P <0.05), but there were no apparent differences between pre-ERCP and 24 h after ERCP in both indomethacin group and somatostatin group.The incidences of post-ERCP hyperamylasemia in both indomethacin group and somatostatin group ( 10.00%, 11.67%) respectively was much lower than that in control groups (35.00%, P<0.01).The incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis in indomethacin group (3.33%) was also lower than that in control group (15.00%, P<0.05), whlie there was no difference between indomethacin group and somatostatin group (5.00%).Conclusion The intrarectal application of indomethacin can effectively prevent acute pancreatitis after ERCP, which has the same effect as intravenous application of somatostatin.It is also convenient, economic and safe.

AIM:To investigate the effects of uric acid sodium salt (UANa) as adjuvant on humoral and cellular immune response in BALB/c mice. METHODS:BALB/c mice were immunized with trichosanthin (TCS) as antigen together with UANa suspension as adjuvant. The antibody titers of IgG were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Dendritic cells (DC) were induced in vitro,the phenotypes of DC were analyzed by flow cytometry and the effect of UANa on DC maturity was evaluated. A delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) model was used to analyze the effect of UANa on cellular immune responses in vivo. The in vitro proliferation of lymphocytes was determined by ConA stimulation. RESULTS:Freund's adjuvant greatly enhanced the antibody response of mice to TCS,while UANa adjuvant failed to promote the antibody response but significantly reduced the antibody response as compared to TCS only. No effect of UANa on the expression of CD11c and CD83 in DC was observed by flow cytometry analysis. However,UANa significantly enhanced the expression of MHC II molecule. In the DTH model,UANa enhanced the degree of allergen-induced ear swelling and promoted the ability of lymphocyte proliferation in vitro. CONCLUSION:UANa suspension as adjuvant significantly enhances the cellular immune response but inhibits the humoral immune response to a certain degree,suggesting that UANa has potential application in the vaccine research.

OBJECTIVE:To observe the therapeutic effect of Tanreqing injection in combination with Piperacillin sodium and Amikacin sulfate for hospital-acquired pneumonia.METHODS:104 cases of hospital-acquired pneumonia were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive Tanreqing Injection+Piperacillin Sodium+Amikacin Sulfate(treatment group,n=52) or Piperacillin Sodium+Amikacin sulfate(control group,n=52) for 7～10days.The clinical indexes including the total effective effect,cardinal symptoms,physical signs,and chest X-ray film in two groups after treatment were observed.RESULTS:The total effective rate in the treatment group was 86.54% as compared 67.31% in control group(P

Digoxin ; poisoning ; Heart Aneurysm ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rupture ; chemically induced

AIMTo investigate whether free fatty acid impair insulin signaling proteins to inhibit insulin action in rat islet cells.

METHODSAfter rat islet cells were incubated with palmitate (0.25 mmol/L) or oleate (0.125 mmol/L) for 12 hours, 24 hours and 36 hours, western bolt was used to assess the protein abundance of cPKCalpha, Grb2 and FERK2.

RESULTSThe protein content of cPKCalpha were significantly upregulated and the protein abundance of Grb2 and ERK2 was decreased comparing with control in rat islet cells after incubated with free fatty acids.

CONCLUSIONSFree fatty acids may inhibit insulin activity in rat islet cells through up-regulating the expression of cPKCalpha or down-regulating the expression of Grb2 and ERK2.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; blood ; GRB2 Adaptor Protein ; metabolism ; Insulin ; metabolism ; Islets of Langerhans ; metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 ; metabolism ; Protein Kinase C-alpha ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction

To investigate formation mechanism of secologanic acid sulfonates in sulfur-fumigated buds of Lonicera japonica, secologanic acid was enriched and purified from the sun-dried buds of L. japonica by various column chromatography on macroporus resin HPD-100, silica gel and ODS. The stimulation experiments of sulfur-fumigation process were carried out using secologanic acid reacted with SO2 in the aqueous solution. The reaction mechanism could be involved in the esterification or addition reaction. The present investigation provides substantial evidences for interpreting formation pathway of secologanic acid sulfonates in sulfur-fumigated buds of L. japonica.
Alkanesulfonates ; chemistry ; Carboxylic Acids ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Flowers ; chemistry ; drug effects ; Lonicera ; chemistry ; drug effects ; Models, Chemical ; Molecular Structure ; Sulfur ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Sulfur Dioxide ; chemistry ; Water ; chemistry