Objective: To study the correlation of blood stasis syndrome or its accompanied syndromes with Gensini score in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) in stable condition. Methods: The syndrome types of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and blood stasis score in 131 CHD patients confirmed by coronary angiography were recorded. Gensini score was calculated according to the coronary pathological characteristics showed by angiography. The correlations of blood stasis syndrome and its accompanied syndromes with coronary lesion and Gensini score were analyzed. Results: Among the TCM syndrome types, blood stasis, turbid phlegm and qi deficiency were the most common syndromes, revealed in 85 patients (64.9%), 83 patients (63.4%) and 85 patients (64.9%), respectively. The coronary lesion length and Gensini score in the patients with blood stasis syndrome were much higher than those in the patients with non-blood stasis syndrome (P<0.05 or P<0.01). In the subtypes of blood stasis, the coronary lesion length and Gensini score in the patients with blood stasis accompanied by turbid phlegm syndrome were higher than those in the patients with non-blood stasis syndrome (P<0.05). And in the patients whose blood stasis syndrome score was more than 9 points, the coronary lesion length was higher than that in the patients whose blood stasis syndrome score was less than 9 points (P<0.05). Besides, with bivariate analysis, the blood stasis syndrome score showed no correlation with Gensini score (Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.104, P=0.241). Conclusion: Blood stasis syndrome is the most common TCM syndrome in CHD patients in stable condition. The blood stasis syndrome score is proportional to coronary lesion length, and reflects the severity of coronary lesion.

Calcium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Cerebral Infarction ; drug therapy ; Coronary Disease ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

Objective To estimate the value of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) level for early diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with sepsis.Methods One hundred and twenty-six sepsis patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) in Baoshan Branch Hospital of Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University ofTraditional Chinese Medicine from June 2014 to December 2015 were enrolled, and they were divided into two groups according to whether complication of AKI was present. The levels of urinary NGAL in the two groups of septic patients were evaluated immediately and at 12, 24 and 48 hours after the definite diagnosis, and the levels were compared between the two groups; the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) was performed and the value of urinary NGAL level in early diagnosis of sepsis AKI was evaluated.Results There were 60 septic cases complicated with AKI (AKI group), with the prolongation of time after definite diagnosis, the urinary NGAL (g/L) levels were gradually increased at 12, 24 and 48 hours, the levels were significantly higher than those at the corresponding time points in the group without AKI [non AKI group (66 cases), 12 hours: 178.2±32.8 vs. 53.8±10.4, 24 hours: 228.4±24.6 vs. 54.1±9.0, 48 hours: 186.1±43.6 vs. 52.5±9.4, allP < 0.05]. The area under ROC curve (AUC) of urinary NGAL level at 24 hours after definite diagnosis and 95% confidence interval (CI) were 0.863 (0.766-0.929) and 0.686 (0.466-0.696), respectively, when the cutoff value of urinary NGAL was 65.9μg/L, the sensitivity was 81.9% and specificity 76.1%; when the cutoff value of urinary NGAL was 57.9μg/L, the sensitivity was 70.2% and the specificity 57.2%.Conclusion Urinary NGAL level can be used as a reference marker for the early diagnosis of sepsis concomitant AKI.

According to the basic theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the pathogenetic factors such as platelet activation, adhesion, congregation and thrombosis fall into the category of blood stasis, while the pathological changes such as tissue necrosis, oxidative stress injury and inflammation, etc, are far beyond the etiological category of blood stasis. The toxin or the combination and transformation of toxin and blood stasis of TCM are involved in the pathogenesis of thrombotic cerebro-cardiovascular diseases. It is significant to recognize and stress the combination and transformation of toxin and stasis in pathogenicity so as to enrich TCM etiology and improve TCM clinical efficacy in the treatment of cerebro-cardiovascular and thrombotic diseases.

Objective To study the effects of psychological rehabilitation in the treatment of paraplegic patients with spinal cord injury (SCI).Methods A hundred paraplegic spinal fracture survivors were divided into a research group and a control group with 50 cases in each.Systematic rehabilitation was given to the patients in the control group,while this was combined with individualized psychological rehabilitation protocols for the patients in the research group.The daily treatment lasted 10 weeks,6 days a week.All of the patients were assessed with the Barthel index (BI),a functional independence measure (FIM),the Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) and the Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) pre-treatment and post-treatment.Results Before the intervention there was no significant difference between the 2 groups in any of the assessments.After ten weeks the average BI,FIM,HAMD and HAMA results in the research group were significantly better than those pre-treatment and also significantly better than those in the control group.Conclusions Psychological rehabilitation can distinctly improve the functioning and psychological state of paraplegic patients after SCI.

Objective To investigate the effects of proprioceptive training on lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Methods 50 patients with LDH were divided into experimental group (n=25) and control group (n=25). Both groups received physiotherapy and core stability exercise, and the experimental group received proprioceptive training with BIODEX Balanced System in addition. They were assessed with the Visual Analogous Scale (VAS) of pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and posture stability and limits of stability of BIODEX Balanced System. The incidence of relapse was followed up in a year. Results The scores of VAS, ODI, posture stability and limits of stability improved in both groups after treatment (P<0.05), and the ODI, posture stability and limits of stability improved more in the experimental group than in the control group (P<0.05). There were 5 cases relapsed in the control group, and 2 cases in the experimental group. Conclusion The proprioceptive training may further improve the function of lower back, and motor control in patients with LDH, and prevent the relapse.

Objective To study the effect of different psychological rehabilitation time on patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods 80 patients with SCI caused by spinal fracture were divided into early psychological rehabilitation group (n=40) and late psychological rehabilitation group (n=40). The routine treatment was administered to both groups, and psychological rehabilitative therapy was also administered immediately and 3 weeks after admission respectively. Their function, psychological state and quality of life were evaluated. Results The scores of modified Barthel index (MBI), Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and psychology, independence, social relations and the total score in World Health Organizations Quality of Life (WHOQOL-100) were higher, and the scores of Hamilton Self-rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) and Hamilton Self-rating Scale for Anxiety (HAMA) were lower in the early psychological rehabilitation group than in the late psychological rehabilitation group (P<0.05). Conclusion Early psychological rehabilitation is beneficial for functional and psychological state recovery in patients with SCI.

Contemporary Chinese medicine supposes that the blood stasis is a pivotal pathogenic mechanism of coronary heart disease (CHD). The presentation and pathological changes in acute cardiovascular events of CHD, however, seem to exceed the etiological category of blood stasis. The toxin or the combination and transformation of toxin and blood stasis of Chinese medicine are involved in the pathogenesis of CHD according to the basic theory of Chinese medicine. Therefore, to establish a criterion of differentiation and diagnosis for stable CHD caused by etiological toxin of Chinese medicine applying clinical epidemiological method, which is correlated to concept of evidence based medicine, is significant in early recognizing high risk patients and improving treatment of CHD.
Coronary Disease ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the protective effects of punicosides on alcohol induced acute liver injury in mice and its possible mechanisms as well.

METHODThe 60 mice were randomly divided into normal control, model group, three dose groups of punicosides with low, medium and high, then there is silibinin group. Three dose groups of punicosides and silibinin were given in advance by gavage for 4 weeks, then the mouse model of alcoholic acute liver injury was established. The serum levels of ALT, AST and TG were determined, and the mice were killed to calculate somatic index of liver, thymus as well as spleen. MDA, SOD, GSH-Px and GSH-ST were detected in the liver homogenate. Histopathological changes of the liver were observed by HE staining. The expression of MCP-1 and NF-kappaB in the liver tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTMid and high dose of punicosides reduced the liver index in mice significantly, improved liver steatosis, decreased the level of ALT, AST and TG in serum and the content of MDA in liver homogenate, furthermore the two dose groups increased the activity of SOD, GSH-Px and GSH-ST, inhibited the expression of MCP-1 and NF-kappaB in liver tissue.

CONCLUSIONPunicosides can protect the acute liver damage induced by alcohol.

Alcohols ; adverse effects ; Animals ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; blood ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Chemokine CCL2 ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Xiongshao Capsule (XSC) on blood vessel collagenase gene expression in experimental rabbits with arterial restenosis, and to probe its mechanisms for preventing restenosis.

METHODSRestenosis rabbit model was established by injuring endothelium of abdominal aorta by balloon dilation and feeding with high fatty diet for 6 weeks. Eighty rabbits were randomly allocated into 8 groups, Group A, normal rabbit for control; Group B, rabbit with simple injured arterial endothelium; Group C, model rabbits at different times after modeling (3 days for Group C1, 2 weeks for Group C2, and 6 weeks for Group C3); Group D, model rabbit treated with Probucol for 6 weeks; Group E and F, model rabbit treated with small and large dose of XSC respectively. The effect of XSC on collagenase gene expression during the course of restenosis was observed adopting RT-PCR method and computer image analyzer, and its mechanisms in preventing RS were probed by combined analyzing the change of collagen and patho-morphological examination.

RESULTSCompensatory dilation of lumens appeared at the end of the 2nd week; while 6 weeks after modeling, the diameters of lumens obviously diminished with an apparently increased proliferation index. The cell proliferation inhibiting effect in Group D and F was significant. The total amount of collagen increased and reached the peak at the 2nd week but without conspicuous accumulation on intima, which increased gradually and reached its peak at the 6th week. In Group D-F, especially in Group F, the amount of collagen in vascular wall (intima, media and externa) was lesser than that in Groups C. MMP-1 mRNA showed weak expression in Group A and Group C1-C3; significant difference only existed in comparing Group F with C3 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONXSC could markedly increase the MMP-1 mRNA expression in injured portion of vessels, suggesting that its action in preventing RS might be related with the up-regulating of MMP-1 mRNA expression, increasing collagen degradation and reducing collagen deposition in vascular wall.

Animals ; Aorta, Abdominal ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Aortic Valve Stenosis ; enzymology ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Capsules ; Catheterization ; adverse effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; drug effects ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction