Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; drug therapy ; Rheum ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

Objective To evaluate the effect of transitional care on the quality of life in patients with maintenance hemodialysis (MHD).Methods 101 MHD patients with symptoms of kidney ＜ 80 points were assigned into the interventional group (47 of 51 cases completed the study) and the control group (45 of 50 cases completed the study) by random number table method.The patients in the interventional group received transitional care for 6 months,while control group received routine care.The effects on function index,satisfaction index and clinical index were evaluated at the 3rd month and 6th month after intervention.Results 6 months after intervention,the scores of physical composite,mental composite,burden of kidney disease,symptoms/problems list,effects of kidney disease in the interventional group were 51.78±5.91,55.32±5.36,29.79±17.64,79.39±6.73,68.02±11.38,while the scores of the control group were 38.22±9.46,42.03±8.32,19.58±17.25,69.49±10.10,52.09±16.78,and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (t=5.308-9.063,Z=-3.07,P ＜ 0.01).The scores of self-management behavior,health locus of control in the interventional group were 71.30-±5.42,25.74±2.42,while the scores of the control group were 65.0±8.74,22.47±3.97 (t=4.132,4.759,P ＜ 0.01).The nursing satisfaction in the interventional group scored 91.06±7.29,which was significantly higher than the control group scored 86.22±10.72 (Z=-2.45,P＜ 0.05).The level of serum phosphorus (PO4),Ca × PO4 products,parathormone (PTH) in the interventional group were (1.76±0.35) mmol/L,(51.02±10.04) mg2/dl2,464.56 ng/L,which were significanlty lower than (2.01±0.54) mmol/L,(57.41±17.38) mg2/dl2,625.78 ng/L in the control group (t=-2.691,-2.167,-2.000 in tum,P ＜ 0.01 or 0.05).Conclusions Transitional care achieves good effectiveness on the quality of life in patients with MHD.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy of Shugan Yiyang Capsules in the treatment of asthenospermia and its action mechanisms.

METHODSWe randomly assigned 135 asthenospermia patients to groups A (n = 47), B (n = 45), and C (n = 43) to be treated with Shugan Yiyang Capsules, oral levocarnitine, or combination of the two. We observed sperm quality and the level of α-glucosidase in the seminal plasma before and after medication.

RESULTSThe total effectiveness rate was 70.21% in group A (markedly effective in 16 cases and effective in 17), 68.89% in group B (markedly effective in 15 cases and effective in 16), and 83.72% in group C (markedly effective in 16 cases and effective in 20), significantly higher in C than in A and B (P < 0.05). Both sperm quality and the level of α-glucosidase in the seminal plasma were improved in the three groups of patients, most obviously in group C.

CONCLUSIONShugan Yiyang Capsules can be used for the treatment of asthenospermia, and its effect can be enhanced in combination with oral levocarnitine.

Asthenozoospermia ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; Biomedical Research ; Capsules ; Carnitine ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Semen ; enzymology ; Spermatozoa ; alpha-Glucosidases ; analysis

Background Sirius system,a new Scheimpflug camera combined with Placido topography,improved the capability of imaging the anterior eye segment significantly.However,the study of assessing the repeatability and agreement between Sirius and Pentacam is still lack up to now.Objective This study was to evaluate the repeatability and agreement of the anterior ocular segment measuring parameters by Sirius and Pentacam in myopia received laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).Methods Thirty-five myopic eyes of 35 patients received LASIK were included in School of Optometry and Ophthalmology Eye Hospital from 2010 May through 2010 July.Corneal power flat keratometry (Kf),step keratometry (Ks),mean keratometry (Km),thinnest corneal thickness(TCT),the location of TCT,anterior chamber depth (ACD) and anterior chamber volume (ACV) were measured by Sirius and Pentacam in all the eyes,respectively.The repeatability of the measuring results were evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Cronbach's coefficient alpha (CoA),and the agreement of measuring parameters between Sirius and Pentacam was analyzed using Bland-Altman plot.Results Both Sirius and Pentacam demonstrated high intraobserver repeatability,with all ICC and CoA more than 0.90.No significant differences were found in Kf values and Ks values between the two methods (t =-1.533,-1.750,P＞0.05).Km value was (39.14 ± 1.95) D by Sirius measurement,which was sígnificantly higher than (39.05 ± 1.91) D by Pentacam measurement (t =3.572,P =0.001).The TCT was (457.6 ± 40.9) μm by Sirius method,showing a significant reduce in comparison with (465.4±37.5) μm of Pentacam method (t =-6.689,P＜0.001).A positive correlation was seen in the TCT between the two methods (r=0.988,P＜0.001).The Bland-Alrman plots showed the 95％ CI-21 μm to 6 pm in the TCT value between the two devices.Pairwise comparison of the location of TCT measurements showed significant differences between the two devices (t =-4.132,-5.696,P＜0.001),with a good correlation (r=0.751,0.775) and the 95％ CI (-0.36-0.17 mm,-0.35-0.12 mm).A very good agreement was seen in ACD between the two devices (-0.02-0.12 mm),but the agreement result was not very well in the ACV between the two devices with the 95％ CI (-27.70-6.20 mm3).Conclusions Sirius and Pentacam measurements for anterior ocular segment parameters have a very good repeatability in post-LASIK eyes.In addition,good agreement results are exhibited in corneal power,TCT and ACD between Sirius and Pentacam with an acceptable maximal different value between them.Sirius and Pentacam can be used interchangeably in clinical examination.However,the two devices can not interchangeably for ACV measurement and TCT location.

Growth patterns of trichome and contaminative bacteria in Spirulina sp. liquid culture were observed, and it was found that the number of neutral and alkalophilic bacteria was always 105～106 times of that of Spirulina sp. trichome. It would be very difficult to get real pure Spirulina sp. strain by classical methods of dilution plate, capillary and single trichome selecting methods. A great deal of contaminative bacteria was washed out by two pretreatment processes. Low speed centrifugation was designed to wash the strains which usually deposit at bottom, and filtration method was designed to treat the strains usually floating at surface. Sandwich plate and dilution plate were designed for the purification of the mobile strains and non-mobile strains, respectively. A lot of strains were purified by the above processes and pure single trichome formed pure colonies on plates.

Objective To investigate the immunological properties of Rv1009 domain. Methods BALB/c mice were immunized with Rv1009 domain three times at 2-week interval. ELISA was used to detect the antiRv1009 domain antibody titer in the sera of immunized mice sera. The spleen lymphocytes of the immunized mice were separated and the stimulation index (SI) was measured by MTT colorimetry. Levels of secreted IFN-γ, IL-10 and IL-12 upon specific antigen stimulation were detected by ELISA. The BALB/c mice immunized with Rv1009 domain were intravenously infected with MTB H37Rv. Four weeks after the final injection, the number of CFU in spleens was determined. Results The titer of the specific antibody in sera of the immunized BALB/c mice was 1:12 800. The SI of Rv1009 domain immunized group (2. 40±0. 18) was significantly higher than that of saline immunized group (0.90±0.21). The IFN-γ,IL-10 and IL-12 levels in culture supematant of spleen lymphecytes from the fusion proteins immunized mice was (1 432±30) ng/L, (503±11) ng/L and (311±11) ng/L respectively, significant different from that of saline immunized group[(256±20) ng/L, (76±6) ng/L and(56±8) ng/L,P<0.01]. Four weeks after the final injection,compared with normal saline immunized mice (6.64±0.13), dramatic reduction in MTB replication was observed in the spleen (4.86±0.14) from BALB/c mice immunized with fusion proteins following a subsequent MTB H37Rv challenge, but the protection efficacy of mice immunized with Rv1009 domain was not as good as that of BCG vaccination group (3.81±0.16). Conclusion Rv1009 domain can be used as a candidate for the new TB vaccine.

Objective To evaluate efficiency of brain metastases tumor using X-knife under farctionational stereotactie radiotherapy (FSRT) combine with whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT). Methods Retrospective comparing 51 patients treated by FSRT plus WBRT (FSRT + WBRT group) with 35 patients treated by WBRT alone (WBRT group) on the effecting rate and survival rate. Results The completeness response rate was 49 % and 26 % (P < 0.05) in FSRT + WBRT and WBRT groups, respectively. The effecting rate was 80 % and 71 % (P 0.05) in FSRT + WBRT and WBRT groups, respectively. The middle survival time was (11.0 ± 1.5) months and (6.5 ± 0.5) months (P < 0.05) in FSRT + WBRT and WBRT groups, respeetivley. The 0.5-, 1.0- and 1.5-years survival rate was 63 % and 41 % (P 0.05), 51 % and 23 % (P 0.05) and 24 % and 9 % (P < 0.05) in FSRT + WBRT and WBRT groups, respectively. Conclusions The method with FSRT plus WBRT in the treatment of brain metastases tumor is safe and relieved focal symptom of patients quickly with lesser injury on normal tissue and the survival time be prolonged, it has better therapeutic effects than WBRT alone for treating brain metastases tumor.

Xuefu Zhuyu decoction (XFZYD) is a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, is widely used in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in China over one hundred years. But its effect on antioxidant and drug-metabolizing enzymes are unknown. This study was to observe the effects of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction (XFZYD) on the activities of antioxidant and drug metabolism enzymes (DMEs) in liver of rats. Male SD rats, treated with XFZYD at the dosage of 3.51, 7.02 and 14.04 g x kg(-1) per day for 15 days, serum were collected, tissue fluid, cytosols and microsomes isolated from liver tissues were prepared by centrifugation according to the standard procedure, the activities of antioxidant enzymes and drug-Metabolizing Enzymes were determined by UV-V is spectrophotometer. In serum, the activities of AST was not significantly affected by the treatment with XFZYD, at the high- est dose, the levels of ALT, Cr and BUN were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). GPX were significantly increased at the dose of 7.02, 14.04 g x kg(-1) (P < 0.05), CAT were significantly increased at the highest dose (P < 0.05). T-SOD was not significantly af- fected by this treatment. In the liver tissue, GPX was significantly increased at the dose of 3.51, 7.02 g x kg(-1) (P < 0.05), GST, CAT and T-SOD were not significantly affected following this treatment. In cytosols, GST was significantly increased at the dose of 3.51 g x kg(-1) (P < 0.05), T-SOD was remarkable induced at the dose of 3.51 and 7.02 g x kg(-1) (P < 0.05). In microsomes, XFZYD had no significant effect on Cytochromeb5, NADPH-Cytochrome P450 reductase, CYP3A, CYP2E1 and UGT, XFZYD significantly in- duced GST at the dose of 3.51 and 7.02 g x kg(-1) (P < 0.05), and the level of GSH were significantly increased by XFZYD at the dose of 3.51, 7.02 and 14.04 g kg(-1) (P < 0.05). These findings suggest XFZYD can induce the activities of GPX, CAT, SOD, GST and increase GSH level in liver of rats, which indicate XFZYD may have detoxification and antioxidant functions.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Inactivation, Metabolic ; drug effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the methylation status in the promoter region of Dickkopf-3 (Dkk3) gene in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS),and to initially explore the relationship between the methylation of this gene and survival time.Methods Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) was applied to measure the promoter methylation of Dkk3 gene in 43 bone marrow or peripheral blood samples of MDS patients.As controls,70 normal peripheral blood samples from general outpatients were examined.Results In 43 patients with MDS,7 patients (16.3 ％) showed Dkk3 gene methylation.And 5 of them were semi-methylation status,2 of them were exhaustive methylation status.In 70 controls,1 showed Dkk3 gene semi-methylation.The frequency of methylation in MDS patients was significantly higher than that of controls (x2 =8.93,P =0.005).In the Dkk3 methylation group,2/7 were from bone marrow and 5/7 were from peripheral blood.Meanwhile,2 patients were RA,1 patient was RCMD,4 patients were RAEB.There was no significant difference between the different sample source (bone marrow or peripheral blood) for the results of the methylation status (x2 =0.051,P =0.821).Either between the different sex,age,type,chromosome and WPSS score (P ＞ 0.05).The progress of disease didn't influence the methylation frequency (P ＞ 0.05).The smvival analysis showed no relationship between the methylation of this gene and smvival time.Conclusions In this MDS group,there is high level of methyl-modification in Dkk3 gene.The methylation of Dkk3 might be one of the molecular mechanisms that contribute to the progress of patients with MDS.The peripheral blood sample maybe a better substitute in detective of Dkk3 with MDS.

Objective To analyze the clinical,radiological and pathological features of primary leiomyosarcoma of bone and to im-prove the diagnostic level.Methods Totally 6 cases of PLB proved by pathology were collected in our study.The clinical,radiologi-cal and pathological findings were retrospectively analyzed,and combined with the relevant literature to have a comprehensive analy-sis.Results The lesions of 6 patients were solitary,located in femoral (1 case),distal femur (1 case),proximal tibia (2 cases),is-chium (1 case)and humerus (1 case).There was no periosteal reaction in all 6 cases but they all had soft tissue mass,sometimes there may have some mineralization within the tumor.Ill-defined osteolytic bone destruction was detected in 5 patients,while expan-sion of cystic bone destruction was found in the other 1 patients.3 cases had hardened edge,2 cases with adjacent bone cortical thickening.The MR imaging in 5 patients showed iso-intensity signal on T1 WI,a slightly inhomogeneously higher signal on T2 WI and a significant heterogeneously enhancement after injected of Gd-DTPA.Another 1 patient showed a double ring sign,the central area onT1 WI and T2 WI expressed heterogeneous slightly higher signal,the peripheral annular zone was iso-intensity on T1 WI and slightly higher on T2 WI,after injected contrast medium,it was inhomogeneous enhancement.In immunohistochemically,all tumors reacted positively with SMA,3 patients with Desmin and Vimentin positive,2 patients with Ki-67 positive,and there had some scat-tered cells with CD68 positive,but the S-100 were all negative.Conclusion The clinical,radiological and conventional histological manifestations of PLB are not specific.Immunohistochemical and/or ultrastructural analysis who displayed smooth muscle differenti-ation can confirm the diagnosis.