Adult ; Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; Silicosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

Adult ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; therapy

Objective To explore the quality of life (QOL) and its influential factors among patients with 3 major rheumatic diseases. Methods A total of 216 patients with rheumatic diseases (84 patients with systemic lu- pus erythematosus, SLE, 83 with rheumatoid arthritis, RA, and 49 with ankylosing spondylitis, AS) were recruited. The information with regard to their quality of life, sociopsychological factors and the evaluation of disease activity were obtained by using the medical outcomes study short form-36 (SF-36) and clinic documents. Results Patients with rheumatic diseases scored significantly lower with each subscale of SF-36 as compared to those of a healthy popu- lation in China (P

Objective To investigate status and epidemiological characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection in hospitalized children with respiratory tract infections from 2007 to 2013 in Suzhou region .Methods MP was determined by fluores‐cence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(PCR) in 34 332 sputum specimens of hospitalized children with respiratory tract infec‐tions in the Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University from 2007 to 2013 .Results The total detection rate of MP was 19 .01% in children with respiratory tract infections in Suzhou from 2007 to 2013 .Annual MP infection rates from 2007 to 2013 were 5 .45% ,6 .95% ,14 .06% ,18 .51% ,4 .85% ,25 .94% and 28 .68% respectively ,among which the infection rates of MP in 2012 and 2013 were significantly higher than that in other years (P<0 .05) .The infection rates of MP in female children(21 .01% )was higher than that in male children(17 .81% ) ,there was statistically significant difference(P<0 .05) .The infection rates of MP in children <1 years old ,1- <4 years old ,4- <7 years old and 7-14 years old were 8 .88% ,18 .05% ,35 .28% and 52 .39% respec‐tively ,and significant differences of infection rates of MP were observed among the age groups(P<0 .05) .The infection rates of MP in spring ,summer ,autumn and winter were 15 .96% ,28 .38% ,21 .71% and 11 .01% respectively ,and significant differences of in‐fection rates of MP were observed among the seasons(P<0 .05) .Conclusion MP is one of the most common pathogens responsible for respiratory tract infection in children ,which shows gender ,age and season differences in infection rate .Children aged 7 to 14 years old are susceptible to be infected by MP in summer and autumn ,especially in July and August ,so it is necessary to strengthen the prevention of MP infection .

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) in combination with bicyclol for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B ( CHB ) in seniors.Methods 96 senior patients with CHB were randomly divided into two groups,the treatment group and the control group.On the basis of routine liver protective treatment,patients in the treatment group received ADV (10 mg/d ) and bicyclol tablets( 25mg,tid.)orally,and those in the control group were orally administrated ADV tablets (10 mg/d) only.The treatment course for both groups was 24 weeks. Serum ALT,AST,and alterations of virological parameters were observed before and after the treatment.Results Before and at the end of the 24 weeks treatment,ALT level for the treatment group was (208.44 ± 94.22) and (34.47 ± 12.79) U/L,and those for the control group was ( 205.73 ± 96.48 ) and (44.20 ± 21.96 ) U/L,respectively ( difference between groups P ＜0.01 ).At the end of the 24 weeks treatment,ALT normalization rates for the treatment group and the control group were 76.6％ and 54.5％,respectively,and AST normalization rates for them were 76.6％ and 54.5％,respectively (both differences between groups P ＜ 0.05 ) ; HBV DNA loads for the treatment group and the control group were decreased by (3.1 ± 1.40) lgIU/ml and (2.98 ± 1.17) lgIU/ ml,respectively ( difference between groups P ＞ 0.05 ).The incidence rates of adverse events between two groups were not statistically significant.Conclusion It suggested that the treatment of ADV in combination with bicyclol for senior patients with CHB is effective and safe.

The cupping spot is considered as one kind of skin change due to cupping treatment. With literature regarding cupping spot, the influencing factors and value of cupping spot in clinical diagnosis and treatment were analyzed, which could make a further exploration on the action mechanism of cupping treatment. The literature showed that the formation of cupping spot was related with cupping temperature, pressure, cup-retaining time, cupping area, individual difference and health condition, etc; cupping spot had the ability to assist diagnosis, prevent disease, cure disease and evaluate clinical efficacy. Previous studies on cupping spot have already made some progress, and played a positive significance on finding cupping rule and studying its mechanism. However, the research for this area is still in the primary stage, which needed deeper study to reveal scientific connotations of cupping spot.
Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Skin ; anatomy & histology ; blood supply

Objective To assess the therapeutic effectiveness of monotherapy of adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) and lamivudine (LAM),or ADV administered in combination with LAM,in order to find the effective and secure therapy for decompensated cirrhosis patients following chronic hepatitis B. Methods Totally 64 decompensated cirrhosis patients following chronic hepatitis B were divided into 2 groups by using a prospective randomized grouping method. In group A,patients received the therapy of adefovir dipivoxil (10mg/d) combined with lamivudine (100mg/d); and in group B,a monotherapy of adefovir dipivoxil (10mg/d) was used. The period of treatment was 48 weeks. Levels of serum ALT,HBeAg and HBV-DNA were detected in week 12,24,36 and 48 respectively. The liver function was evaluated with Child scores on these time points. Data were analyzed by a blinded independent investigator. Results After 48 weeks treatment,HBV DNA negative conversion rate of the two groups were 87.1%and 78.8%.The virtual rate were 96.8% and 87.9%;HBeAg negative conversion rate were 83.9%,and 57.6%. HBeAg/anti-HBe seroconversion rates of the two groups were 41.9%and 24.2%. Normalization of serum ALT levels were observed in 96.8% patients of group A and 97.0% of group B. Conclusion The combination therapy of adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) and lamivudine (LAM) could reduce the occurrence of drug resistance,and increase the anti-viral effect. It is a secure management for chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Asphyxia Neonatorum ; blood ; Calcium ; blood ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Parathyroid Hormone ; blood

Ongoing effort to find novel antiasthmatic drugs led to the design and synthesis of a series of compounds bearing phenyl tetrazole group based on the SAR study. The important intermediate 3-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl) benzenamine was synthesized from m-nitroaniline via cyclization and hydrogenation. Followed by amidation, eight new target compounds were obtained. The structures of these compounds were confirmed with 1H NMR, ESI-MS and elemental analysis. Their non-specific and specific anti-histamine effects in the mast cell were determined. Compound NP03 could inhibit non-specific histamine release induced by compound 48/80 in mast cell of SD rats.
Animals ; Anti-Asthmatic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Histamine Release ; drug effects ; Mast Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Tetrazoles ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of Triptolide (TP) on TNFalpha-induced cell proliferation and expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and their inducing products PGE2, NO in human rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts (RASF).

METHODSFibroblasts (RASF) were obtained from synovial tissue of patients with RA and were cultured in vitro. RASF were stimulated with TNFalpha(20 microg/L) in the presence or absence of TP(0 - 100 microg/L) for 20 h. The RASF proliferation was determined by (3)H-TdR incorporation, and the productions of PGE2 and NO in culture supernatants of RASF were detected with competitive ELISA and enzyme reduction of nitrate. Expressions of COX-2 and iNOS mRNA in RASF were analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Expressions of COX-2 and iNOS protein were estimated by Western-blot method and cellular enzyme immunoassay in synovial fibroblasts. NF-kappaB activity in whole-cell extract of RASF was also measured by an ELISA-based method.

RESULTSTP (>20 microg/L) down-regulated markedly TNFalpha-induced COX-2 and iNOS mRNA and protein expression, and their inducing products PGE2 and NO of synovial fibroblasts. This effect was positively correlated with TP concentrations. NF-kappaB activity in TNFalpha-stimulated synovial cells was suppressed profoundly by TP treatment (IC(50) approximately 35microg/L). The activity of NF-kappaB was correlated with the levels of COX-2 and iNOS expression in TNFalpha-stimulated RASF. No change was observed in proliferation of synovial cells after treatment of TP.

CONCLUSIONTP could significantly down-regulate TNFalpha-induced COX-2, iNOS expression and production of PGE2, NO in human RASF, which is associated with the suppression of NF-kappaB activity.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; Epoxy Compounds ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Isoenzymes ; analysis ; genetics ; Membrane Proteins ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; analysis ; genetics ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; analysis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Synovial Membrane ; cytology ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology