OBJECTIVE: To examine the characteristics of the evidence-based clinical literatures regarding the Chinese patent medicines on the National Essential Medicine List of China (2009 Edition) so as to lay a foundation for the establishment of an evidence-based pharmaceutical review system for the Chinese patent medicines oriented at treating TCM-syndromes. METHODS: The evidence-based literatures on Chinese patent medicines were categorized, and their characteristics were analyzed concerning the distribution of the literatures according to the five levels of evidence, the concentration of the diseases under treatment, and chronological changes; in accordance with the Drug Registration Regulation, the differences among these literatures were explored. RESULTS: With regard to the literatures on some Chinese patent medicines, there were a large proportion of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), with a rapid increase in the number of the literatures in recent years and a clear focus on certain diseases. By contrast, some other Chinese patent medicines had a high proportion of before-after studies and empirical introductions as well as a low concentration of diseases under treatment. CONCLUSION: The Chinese patent medicines can be divided into two categories, namely, the modern branch and the traditional branch. While the disease-oriented evidence-based review system can be applied to the evaluation of the literatures on some patent medicines in the modern branch, it does not fit the traditional branch. Therefore, in order to reflect the characteristics of the Chinese patent medicines, a TCM-syndrome-oriented evidence-based review system has to be established. Copyright 2012 by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.

Objective To establish a new processing method for gait data on Matlab to evaluate the hindlimbs behavior of non-human primates. Methods Gait analysis was tested on three rhesus monkeys 6 weeks after spinal cord injury, and kinematics data of hindlimbs were obtained using the VICON system. The raw data of kinematics were filtered and extracted, which were achieved through VICON 3D motion capture system with the Excel link combining Matlab with Microsoft Excel, and calculated in the Matlab environment. Results The kinematic parameters such as step length, step height, knee joint angle, and malleolus joint angle were gained by calculating. The mean values of step length (F=2.869, P=0.088) and step height (F=1.148, P=0.344) showed no significant difference at three speeds, which implied a higher repeatability of the data model. Angle-time curve reflected the joint function and movement. This system initially described the foot gait trajectory which could be used in gait repetitive analysis, and also generated the gait 2D/3D trajectories of hindlimbs. Conclusion The implement of these functions makes the post-processing of data more flexible and open whitout VICON system, and the calculated parameters and space tracing of gait trajectory basically meet the need of hindlimb behavior evaluation for nonhuman primate.

Objective To study the pathological characteristics of leukocyte myeloperoxidase (MPO) deficiency and clinical laboratory diagnostic strategy for this disease. Methods The Bayer ADVIA 120 blood cell analyzer differentiate leukocyte and detect myeloperoxidase index (MPXI) . The leukocyte morphology and differentiating count on blood smear by Wright’s stain were finished. The peroxidase positive cell percentage and score were counted by peroxidase stain. The expressive levels of leukocyte MPO antigen were measured by flow cytometric monoclonal antibodies method.Results The prevalence of mild neutrophil MPO deficiencies was 2.61%, and partial neutrophil MPO deficiencies was 0.39% in 5 761 in-patients. The significant changes in the dot plot from ADVIA 120 blood cell analyzer were seen in 3 patients with MPO deficiencies, and MPXI,MPO activities and MPO antigen levels of the patient’s neutrophils and monocytes decteased remarkably,but there were normal levels in eosinophils.Conclusion Neutrophil MPO deficiencies were not a rare disorder,but the mild deficiency cases were seen usually.The low activity of MPO is an important evidence for MPO deficiencies diagnosis.The Bayer ADVIA 120 blood cell analyzer can be used simply and fleetly for screening MPO deficiencies in routine hematology laboratory.The peroxidase stain of blood smear is an improtant diagnostic method for MPO deficiencies.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the imaging and hemodynamical features of pulmonary artery branches in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH).

METHODSCT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) with ECG-gating was performed in 13 patients with clinical diagnosed COPD and 25 normal subjects. The thin-slice multiple plane reconstruction in systole and diastole phase was conducted, which in turn was used to generate the InSpace reconstructed images with reference frame of the main pulmonary artery and the first two grades branches, the contour of the branches was depicted. On the base of coordinates, the GAMBIT was used to generate nodes and furthermore meshes, then the software Fluent was used for numerical calculation and flow simulation. The velocity and pressure changes in the main pulmonary artery and the first two grades branches during different periods of cardiac cycle were observed in both groups.

RESULTCTPA showed that the diameter of the main pulmonary before bifurcate and proximal of the first two branches was larger in systole period than that in diastole period. The diameter of the second segmental artery of right upper lobe was larger during diastole period. The length of the main pulmonary and the first two branches showed no significant difference in both diastole and systole periods. There was no significant difference in length of pulmonary arteries between COPD and normal groups. The main pulmonary to distal right pulmonary artery appeared larger in diastole period. Compared with normal, in COPD group several arteries increased in diameter including proximal and distal of the proximal right pulmonary artery and the proximal right pulmonary artery during systole and diastole periods. In systole period only the diameter of the main pulmonary before bifurcate got larger and the back basic segmental artery of both lower lobe show smaller than normal. The flow condition analysis in COPD and normal groups suggested higher pressure in pulmonary arteries during systole period than that in diastole period, both groups showed high pressure area below the branching point. In COPD patients the right lower lobe artery endured the most significant pressure fall during the two periods and high pressure distributed larger area than normal. Flow velocity in main branch was faster than lower grade branches and that in systole period was faster than that in diastole period. The trend of diffusion of high pressure area was more prominent in diastole period than normal and the influence more prominent.

CONCLUSIONThe distal part of right pulmonary artery to lower lobe artery may be affected earlier when the pulmonary pressure increased. It is feasible to study the changes of flow condition in pulmonary artery branches though the combination of CTPA image and relevant software.

Adult ; Angiography ; methods ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Artery ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; complications ; physiopathology ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

The objective of this paper is to develop a fast analysis method to determine fingerprints of Radix Glycyrrhizae from different areas of China for identification and quality control. The experiments were carried out under following conditions: Agilent Eclipse Plus C18 (4.6 mm x 50 mm, 1.8 microm) column, acetonitrile and 0. 05% phosphoric acid solution as the mobile phases with gradient elution, flow rate 1.0 mL x min(-1), analysis time 11 min. The run time of the method was obviously decreased from 36 minutes to 11 minutes compared with routine HPLC method. The cluster analyses of the fingerprints of the 70 samples were performed by SPSS. The results showed that all samples were classified into 2 groups, 59 Glycyrrhiza uralensis as well as 11 G. inflata. Three compounds, liquiritin apioside, liquiritin and glycyrrhiza acid should be considered as effective references for quality control of Radix Glycyrrhizae. This method can be used widely for identification and quality control of Radix Glycyrrhizae.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Flavanones ; analysis ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; analysis ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVETo study the interspecies allelopathy of Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Caragana microphylla and reveal the relationship between different interactions and provided the theory reference for their application of compounding planting pattern in practice.

METHODWater extracts of G. uralensis and C. microphylla root, stem and leaf were used to dispose mutual seeds, young seedlings and transplants.

RESULTThe germination of G. uralensis seed wasn't restrained significantly by the water extract of C. microphylla root, stem and leaf (1-50 g x L(-1)). However, the inhibitory effect of a high concentration water extract of C. microphylla stem and leaf (50 g x L(-1) was stronger. There wasnt significant difference in the effect of the water extract of C. microphylla cast, root and stem on the growth and quality of G. uralensis transplant. Moreover, the water extract of G. uralensis root, stem and leaf can improve the germination of C. microphylla seeds and the growth of seedlings, while its effective extent didn't reach an obvious different level.

CONCLUSIONThere exists no significant difference between the interspecies allelopathy of G. uralensis and C. microphylla.

Caragana ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Germination ; drug effects ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; chemistry ; Seedlings ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Seeds ; drug effects ; physiology

The reconstruction of tactile function during the repair of skin damage caused by factors including burns is inseparable from the functional regeneration of tactile receptor Merkel cells. Merkel cells mainly exist in the basal layer of the epidermis and are closely connected with nerves to form Merkel cell-nerve complexes, which play an important role in biological organisms. A large number of studies have shown that Merkel cells conduct precise transmission of mechanical force stimuli through the mechanically gated ion channels PIEZO2, and perform the function of tactile receptors. In this paper, we discussed the characteristics of Merkel cells and analyzed the different subgroups that may possibly exist in this type of cells and their functions, at the same time, we investigated the animal model research of touch-related diseases and the clinical diseases related to touch, revealing the importance of Merkel cell function research.
Animals ; Ion Channels/metabolism* ; Mechanotransduction, Cellular/physiology* ; Merkel Cells/physiology* ; Skin/metabolism* ; Touch/physiology*

OBJECTIVE: To assess the predictive value of myocardial scar mass in malignant ventricular arrhythmia (MVA) after myocardial infarction. METHODS: Thirty myocardial infarction patients with complete electrophysiology and cardiac MRI data admitted from January 2012 to August 2017 were enrolled in the study. According to the results of intracavitary electrophysiological study, MVA developed in 16 patients (MVA group) and not developed in 14 patients (non-MVA group). The qualitative and quantitative analysis of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVFE) and scar mass was performed with CV post-processing software and predictive value of myocardial scar and LVEF for MVA after myocardial infarction was analyzed using ROC curves. RESULTS: LVEF in MVA group was significantly lower than that in non-MVA group, and scar mass in MVA group was significantly higher than that in non-MVA group (all <0.05). Regression analysis showed that LVEF (=1.580) and scar mass (=6.270) were risk factors for MVA after myocardial infarction. For predicting MVA, the area under ROC curve () of LVEF was 0.696 with a sensitivity of 0.786 and the specificity of 0.685; the of the scar mass was 0.839 with a sensitivity was 0.618 and the specificity of 0.929; the of LVEF combined with scar mass was 0.848 with a sensitivity of 0.688 and specificity of 0.857. CONCLUSIONS Myocardial scar assessed by late gadolinium enhancement MRI is more effective than LVEF in predicting MVA after myocardial infarction.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; diagnosis ; Cicatrix ; diagnostic imaging ; Contrast Media ; Gadolinium ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Ventricular Function, Left

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) in breast cancer and its correlation with clinicopathologic factors and prognosis.

METHODSThe expression of IDO, CD31, CD105 proteins in 40 specimens of breast cancer were assessed by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe overexpression rate of IDO in breast cancer was 67.5% (27/40), and expression of IDO was closely associated with clinical stage and lymph nodes metastasis. The disease-free survival rate in patients with IDO overexpression was not significantly lower than that in patients with negative or low expression of IDO (P > 0.05). Moreover, the expression of IDO was positively correlated with CD105-labeled microvessel density (r = 0.659, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSExpression of IDO is associated with clinical stage and lymph nodes metastasis, and microvessel densitty. IDO expression may promote the growth and metastasis of breast cancer, probably via the increased agiogenesis. A larger sample study is needed to verify whether the prognosis of beast cancer is significantly correlated with IDO expression.

Adenocarcinoma ; enzymology ; immunology ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Breast Neoplasms ; enzymology ; immunology ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; enzymology ; immunology ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Medullary ; enzymology ; immunology ; pathology ; Disease-Free Survival ; Endoglin ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase ; metabolism ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Microvessels ; enzymology ; immunology ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; metabolism ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo perform meta-analyses evaluating the efficacy of adding Liuwei Dihuang Pills (, LDP) to Western medicine in improving treatment outcomes for type 2 diabetes.

METHODSMedline, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Chinese databases, including the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched to identify eligible studies; i.e., if the study involved a randomized clinical trial in which the experimental group combined LDP with Western drugs and the control group used the corresponding Western drugs alone to treat type 2 diabetes. Outcomes were measured in terms of fasting blood glucose (FBG), postprandial blood glucose (2hPG) and HbA1c level. Efficacy was also measured by using control and response rates. The combined odds ratio (OR), mean difference (MD), and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated.

RESULTSStudies included in the analysis were less adequate than expected in terms of methodological quality. A total of 1,609 patients from 18 studies were included. We found that adding LDP can lower patients' FBG (MD=0.54 mmol/L, 95% CI [0.15, 0.93], P=0.007), 2hPG (MD=1.05 mmol/L, 95% CI [0.29, 1.81], P<0.01) and HbA1c (MD=0.23, 95% CI [0.02, 0.45], P=0.008). There were also improvements in treatment response rates (OR=3.41, 95% CI [2.38, 4.90], P<0.01) and control rates (OR=2.47, 95% CI [1.91, 3.20], P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONAdding LDP to Western medicine might improve treatment outcomes of diabetes, including FBG, 2hPG, response rates and control rates.

Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Fasting ; blood ; Gliclazide ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Glycated Hemoglobin A ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Metformin ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Publication Bias ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Treatment Outcome ; Western World