OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Buyang Huanwu Decoction ([Chinese characters: see text]) on promoting functional recovery of crushed common peroneal nerve in rats.

METHODSThirty Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to produce common peroneal nerve injuries model,and the length of injury was 5 mm. All the rats were divided into 3 groups: BYHWD group, mecobalamin group and model group. The drugs were given by gavage daily for 18 days. Footprint test was performed at the 18th day after surgery to evaluate toe spread function (TSF). Electrophysiology was performed at the 18th day after operation to determine the nerve conduct velocity (NCV). The wet weight ratio and section area of tibial muscle were also measured.

RESULTS(TSF:At the 18th day after operation, the TSF in BYHWD group (-0.15 +/- 0.07) increased significantly compared with that of model group (-0.25 +/- 0.07) (P < 0.01); the TSF in mecobalamin group (-0.17 +/- 0.08) also increased notably compared with that of model group (P < 0.01).(2) NCV: the NCV in BYHWD group [(18.36 +/- 2.74) m/s] (P < 0.01l) and in mecobalamin group [(16.32 +/- 3.54) m/s] (P < 0.05) also increased significantly compared with that of model group [(9.08 +/- 2.56) m/s]; there was striking variation between model group and mecobalamin group (P < 0.05). (3) Wet weight ratio: the wet weight ratio in BYHWD group [(64.21 +/- 2.92)%] (P < 0.01)and in mecobalamin group [(62.43 +/- 3.21)%] (P < 0.01) all increased significantly compared with that of model group [(54.27 +/- 2.05)%]. (4) The section area of tibial muscle: the section area of tibial muscle in BYHWD group [(654.21 +/- 42.92) cm2] (P < 0.01) and in mecobalamin group [(638.43 +/- 93.21) cm2] (P < 0.01) all increased significantly compared with that of model group [(574.27 +/- 52.05) cm2]; there was also striking variation between model group and mecobalamin group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBYHWD can promotes functional recovery of crushed nerve as a result of accelerating recovery of TSF, raising NCV and delaying the decrease of tibial muscle section area and wet weight ratio.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; drug effects ; Male ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Peroneal Nerve ; drug effects ; injuries ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recovery of Function ; drug effects ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVEDiscuss the therapeutic effect of Bailing capsule and the medical gymnastics (MG) to chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) in paracmasis.

METHODAdopt prospective study method that we divide 50 COPD patients into two group in random, the contrast group (25 patients) to treat by routine western medicine. The therapeutic group (25 patients) to treat by the Bailing capsule and the lung recovery medical gymnastics. After 6 months, we observe the patients' condition of lung ventilation, dyspneic respiration and disease resistance.

RESULTThe therapeutic group is better than the contrast group obviously, the patients' condition of dyspneic respiration are improved, the descent rate of the average level of dyspneic respiration. The therapeutic group was 24.53%, the contrast group was 3.7%. The index of lung ventilation is all improved obviously (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The disease resistance of the therapeutic group is improved after the treat (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONIt is a good method to cure COPD in paracmasis by the traditional Chinese medicine Bailing capsule and the medical gymnastics, to the patients of insufficiency of QI of the lung and kidney especially, the method can improve the disease resistance and lung ventilation.

Aged ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; drug effects ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Physical Therapy Modalities ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; drug therapy ; immunology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Recovery of Function ; drug effects ; Respiration ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Chinese herbs during the perioperative period of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).

METHODSThree hundred and sixty patients of chronic lithic cholecystitis (LCCT) were randomly assigned to two groups by lottery, 180 patients in each group. During the peri-operative period, the control group was treated with conventional Western medicine and placebo. The treated group was given the same conventional Western medicine and Chinese herbal decoctions, with Shitong mixture No. 1 added before LC, and Liujunzi decoction added after LC for three days. The operation time, body temperature after LC, white blood cell count, wind-breaking time after operation, as well as the changes of tongue coating in the first three post-operative days were recorded.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference between the two groups in operation time (P>0.05), while the improvement in body temperature recovery, wind-breaking time and changes of tongue coating in the treated group were better than those in the control group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONApplying Chinese herbs during perioperative period of LC could effectively benefit early recovery in such patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Body Temperature ; drug effects ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; adverse effects ; Cholecystitis ; surgery ; Chronic Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Flatulence ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perioperative Care ; Postoperative Period ; Recovery of Function ; Time Factors ; Tongue ; drug effects ; pathology

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of erythropoietin (EPO) on histological brain injury, subventricular zone (SVZ) expansion, and sensorimotor function deficits induced by hypoxia-ischemia (HI) in newborn rat pups. Seven-day-old male rat pups were divided into six groups: normoxia control, normoxia EPO, hypoxia control, hypoxia EPO, HI control, and HI EPO group. Sham surgery or HI was performed in all animals. HI was induced by ligation of the right common carotid artery followed by 90 min of hypoxia with 8% oxygen. Recombinant human EPO 3 U/g or saline was administered intraperitoneally, immediately, at 24- and 48-hr after insult. At two weeks after insult, animals were challenged with cylinder-rearing test for evaluating forelimb asymmetry to determine sensorimotor function. All animals were then sacrificed for volumetric analysis of the cerebral hemispheres and the SVZ. The saline-treated HI rats showed marked asymmetry by preferential use of the non-impaired, ipsilateral paw in the cylinder-rearing test. Volumetric analysis of brains revealed significantly decreased preserved ipsilateral hemispheric volume and increased ipsilateral SVZ volume compared with the sham-operated animals. Treatment of EPO significantly improved forelimb asymmetry and preserved ipsilateral hemispheric volume along with decreased expansion of ipsilateral SVZ following HI compared to the saline-treated HI rats. These results support the use of EPO as a candidate drug for treatment of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Cerebral Ventricles/*pathology ; Erythropoietin, Recombinant/*pharmacology ; Female ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain/*drug therapy/*pathology ; Ligation ; Male ; Motor Activity/drug effects ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recovery of Function/drug effects

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect and the influences of Shuxuetong injection on serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) level, the neurological deficit and activities of daily living in patients with acute cerebral infarction.

METHODThe 80 patients with acute cerebral infarction were randomly divided into Shuxuetong treatment group (40 cases) and routine control group (40 cases), both received routine treatment, while Shuxuetong injection was given additionally to treatment group. The serum NSE level, the National Insitute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores and the clinical effect were observed pre-and post-treatment. The Barthel Index (BI) was evaluated after one month.

RESULTThe serum NSE level and NIHSS scores in two groups of post-treatment decreased obviously than those of pre-treatment, and after treatment in Shuxuetong treatment group the serum NSE level and NIHSS scores were significantly lower than those in control group, the differences were significant (P<0.05). Effective rate of Shuxuetong treatment group was 87.5%, and control group was 65%, the difference of the clinical effect between the two groups was significance (P<0.05). After one month BI of post-treatment in two groups improved than those of pre-treatment, and Shuxuetong treatment group was significantly better compared with control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONShuxuetong injection has the remarkable neuronal protective effect, can decrease the serum level of NSE after acute cerebral infarction, promote recovery of nerve function, reduce disability rate, and improve quality of life and prognosis of patients with acute cerebral infarction.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cerebral Infarction ; blood ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Injections ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; blood ; drug effects ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Recovery of Function ; drug effects ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Rg1-induced NSCs in treatment of neonatal rat model with hypoxiaischemia.

METHODThe neonatal rat model of HIE was established and assessed by using TTC staining and behavioral observation, then Rg1-induced NSCs was transplanted into the neonatal rat of HIE by lateral ventricle injection. Water maze test and somatosensory evoked potential were detected to observe brain function and the immunohistochemistry was done to assess growth and differentiation about transplanted NSCs a month after transplanted.

RESULTThe transplantation of Rg1-induced NSCs could significantly shorten incubation period, swimming distance, exploration time of target quadrants of water maze test and incubation period and amplitude of somatosensory evoked potentials. Additionally, the concentrated expression appeared in the hippocampus and grew around the ischemic injury area in transplantation group.

CONCLUSIONTransplantation of Rg1-induced NSCs play a better role in the treatment of neonatal HIE rats.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Evoked Potentials ; Female ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; pathology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Male ; Maze Learning ; Neural Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; transplantation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recovery of Function ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) after tractive spinal cord injury in rats and to explore the recovery of spinal cord function.

METHODSThe rats were subjected to tractive spinal cord injury at T13-L2. Cortical somatosensory-evoked potential (CSEP) was closely monitored and when P1-N1 wave amplitude decreased to 70% of that before operation, a small-bore catheter was inserted below the injured plane through subarachnoid cavity. In the treatment groups, 20 microl of bFGF solution (containing 20 microg of bFGF) was injected through the catheter right after the operation and 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h postoperatively. In the control group, same volume of normal saline was injected and every four rats were killed at 1, 4, 7, 14 and 21 d after the operation. Combined behavior score (CBS) and electro-physiological examination were adopted to evaluate function recovery. Expression of GFAP was observed by immuno-histochemical staining and was analyzed quantitatively by computer image analysis.

RESULTSThere was statistically significant difference in GFAP-positive cells between bFGF treatment group and the control group (P<0.01). Similar tendency was indicated by the results of CBS and CSEP.

CONCLUSIONSbFGF can induce large expression of GFAP after tractive spinal cord injury in rats and promote spinal function recovery, which is highly important for spinal cord regeneration.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory ; drug effects ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; pharmacology ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recovery of Function ; Reference Values ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Traction

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the leading causes of death. Safflower attracts great attention owing to its anti-ischemia/reperfusion injury effect. Ninety-three patients with CAD were included and randomized into safflower treatment group, PCI group and control group. Low-dose dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) was performed to measure end-systolic volume (ESV), end-diastolic volume (EDV), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and wall motion score index (WMSI) to determine the recovery of hibernating myocardium and cardiac function in all patients before treatment and after 3-month follow-up. The study was to investigate the effects of safflower on hibernating myocardial revascularization and cardiac function. It was found that LVEF was significantly improved, while the ESV and WMSI were significantly reduced after 2-week treatment in safflower and PCI treatment groups. No significant differences were found between safflower and PCI treatment groups in ESV, EDV, WMSI and LVEF after treatment Safflower injection effectively improved hibernating myocardial function.
Aged ; Carthamus tinctorius ; chemistry ; Coronary Artery Disease ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Heart ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Revascularization ; Myocardial Stunning ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Recovery of Function

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of combination therapy with methylprednisolone (MP) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on axonal remyelination and functional recovery after spinal cord injury in rats.

METHODSForty-five rats were randomly divided into three groups: Group A received MP and BDNF; group B received MP and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF); and group C received CSF only. Contusion injury to adult rat spinal cord was produced at the T(10) vertebra level followed by immediate intravenous MP or CSF, and was thereafter infused intrathecally with BDNF or CSF for 6 weeks. Axonal remyelination and functional recovery was observed using RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and open field locomotion.

RESULTSAn increase of 28.4% +/- 2.3% in the expression of proteolipid protein (PLP) gene, an endogenous indicator of axonal remyelination, was demonstrated in group A 24 hours after injury. Ten weeks later, there were significant decreases in hematogenous inflammatory cellular infiltration in groups A and B compared to C (P < 0.05). Concomitantly, a significant amount of axonal remyelination was observed in group A compared to groups B and C (P < 0.05). Furthermore, combination therapy using MP and BDNF in group A resulted in stimulation of hindlimb activity as well as improvement in the rate of functional recovery in open field locomotion (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCombined therapy of MP and BDNF can improve functional recovery through mechanisms that include attenuating inflammatory cellular infiltration and enhancing axonal remyelination at the injury site. Such a combination may be an effective approach for treatment of spinal cord injury.

Animals ; Axons ; physiology ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; administration & dosage ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Methylprednisolone ; administration & dosage ; Myelin Proteolipid Protein ; genetics ; Nerve Regeneration ; drug effects ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recovery of Function ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study was designed to evaluate the dose-effect relationship of statins in patients with ischemic congestive heart failure (CHF), since the role of statins in CHF remains unclear. METHODS: The South koreAn Pitavastatin Heart FaIluRE (SAPHIRE) study was designed to randomize patients with ischemic CHF into daily treatments of 10 mg pravastatin or 4 mg pitavastatin. RESULTS: The low density lipoprotein cholesterol level decreased by 30% in the pitavastatin group compared with 12% in the pravastatin (p < 0.05) group. Left ventricular systolic dimensions decreased significantly by 9% in the pitavastatin group and by 5% in the pravastatin group. Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) improved significantly from 37% to 42% in the pitavastatin group and from 35% to 39% in the pravastatin group. Although the extent of the EF change was greater in the pitavastatin group (16% vs. 11%) than that in the pravastatin group, no significant difference was observed between the groups (p = 0.386). Exercise capacity, evaluated by the 6-min walking test, improved significantly in the pravastatin group (p < 0.001), but no change was observed in the pitavastatin group (p = 0.371). CONCLUSIONS: Very low dose/low potency pravastatin and high dose/high potency pitavastatin had a beneficial effect on cardiac reverse remodeling and improved systolic function in patients with ischemic CHF. However, only pravastatin significantly improved exercise capacity. These findings suggest that lowering cholesterol too much may not be beneficial for patients with CHF.
Aged ; Biological Markers/blood ; Cholesterol, LDL/*blood ; Down-Regulation ; Dyslipidemias/blood/diagnosis/*drug therapy/epidemiology ; Exercise Tolerance/drug effects ; Female ; Heart Failure/diagnosis/*drug therapy/epidemiology/physiopathology ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors/*administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Ischemia/diagnosis/*drug therapy/epidemiology/physiopathology ; Pravastatin/*administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Prospective Studies ; Quinolines/*administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Recovery of Function ; Republic of Korea ; Stroke Volume/drug effects ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Ventricular Function, Left/drug effects ; Ventricular Remodeling/drug effects