OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic efficacy of interferon (IFN) therapy and risk of long-term administration for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients who cannot tolerate the standard treatment.

METHODSForty-six CHC patients who had proven intolerant to standard treatments were treated with low-dose IFN (non-pegylated IFN: 60 to 300MIU QOD, or pegylated IFN: 50 to 90 mug/w) plus ribavirin (RBV; 0.6g to 0.9 g/d) for 72 weeks.

RESULTSForty-three (93.5%) of the patients were able to tolerate the long-term treatment with low-dose IFN plus RBV. Only three patients experienced severe side effects (low white blood cell and platelet counts) that required treatment withdrawal. The virology response rates over treatment time were: rapid virologic response (RVR): 10.9%; early virus response (EVR): 30.4%; 24 week virologic response: 45.7%; and, 48 week virologic response: 47.8%. B-sonographic imaging revealed that three patients experienced improved liver morphology through the treatment course. The patients who achieved RVR, EVR, or 24 weeks virologic response also attained higher 48 week virologic response. The 24 week virologic response had the strongest predictive value of good prognosis.

CONCLUSIONSOur study demonstrated that long-term treatment with low-dose interferon plus ribavirin is effective for patients who are otherwise intolerant to standard treatment. In these patients, low-dose IFN plus RBV can obtain a high virologic response rate at 48 week. Furthermore, the 24 week virologic response is sufficiently predictive of treatment success. As with any treatment regimen, it is important for healthcare workers to monitor the disease status and potential side effects throughout the course of therapy.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Interferons ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

The commodity specification and grade of Chinese medicinal materials is a measure of the quality of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), which directly impacts on the safety and effectiveness of clinical medicines. It is an urgent problem to establish a set of standards which can both interpret the scientific connotation of the commodity specification and grade of Chinese medicinal materials and play a significant role on clinical medicines as well as markets. This paper reviews the research methods of the commodity specification and grade of Chinese medicinal materials such as sensory evaluation, chemical assessment, biological evaluation, and cited the applications of various methods for the classification of TCMs. It provides technical support for establishing standards of the commodity specification and grade of Chinese medicinal materials, and also constructs scientific basis for clinical rational drug use.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; economics ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; economics ; standards ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Research Design

OBJECTIVETo separate and identify the chemical constituents of Blumea riparia.

METHODThe compounds were separated and purified by repeated silica gel, Sephadex LH -20 column chromatographiy. The structures of these compounds isolated were identified by analysis of their spectral data, physical and chemical properties.

RESULTSix flavonoids were isolated from B. riparia. and their structures were identified as eriodictyol-7, 4'-dimethyl ether (1), eriodictyol-7, 3'-dimethyl ether (2), eriodictyol-7-methyl ether (3), quercetin-7, 3', 4'-trimethyl ether (4), tamarixetin (5), rhamnocitrin (6).

CONCLUSIONCompound 1-6 were obtained from B. riparia for the first time.

Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effect of Jiangya Yishen granules(JYG)combined with amlodip-ine on elderly patients with essential hypertension(EH)and its impact on serum levels of glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c)and renalase protein.Methods:A total of 125 elderly EH patients treated in our hospital were selected.According to random number table,they were divided into amlodipine group(n=40),JYG group(n=40)and combined treatment group(n=45,received amlodipine combined with JYG).Each group received corresponding treatment for eight weeks.Therapeutic effect,antihypertensive effect,serum levels of renalase protein and HbA1c were compared among three groups before and after treatment.Results:Total effective rate of combined treatment group was significantly higher than those of amlodipine group and JYG group(88.9％vs.65.0％vs.70.0％),P＜0.05 or＜0.01;compared with amlodipine group and JYG group after treatment,there were significant improve-ments in blood pressure variability indexes(P＜0.05 or＜0.01),significant rise in renalase protein level[(1380.17 ±120.13)pg/ml vs.(1480.17±110.93)pg/ml vs.(1845.43±112.38)pg/ml],and significant reduction in HbA1c level[(5.92±0.35)％vs.(5.83±0.36)％vs.(5.31±0.35)％]in combined treatment group,P=0.001 all.Conclusion:Jiangya Yishen granules combined with amlodipine can strengthen antihypertensive effect,reduce HbA1c level and increase renalase protein level in elderly patients with essential hypertension,which can benefit the patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of lead exposure on copper and copper metalloenzyme and the intervention effect of quercetin.

METHODSTwenty-four specific pathogen-free male Sprague-Dawley rats of good health were randomly divided into control group (n = 8), lead acetate group (n = 8), and lead acetate + quercetin group (n = 8). The rats in lead acetate group were poisoned by drinking water with 1 g/L lead acetate for 8 weeks, while the rats in control group were fed by drinking water with sodium acetate of the same volume for 8 weeks; the rats in lead acetate+quercetin group were intraperitoneally injected with quercetin (30 mg × kg-1 × d-1) for 8 weeks while drinking water with lead acetate. The Morris water maze was used to test the learning and memory abilities of rats. The lead and copper levels in the serum, hippocampus, cortex, and bone were measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The level of advanced glycation end products, activity of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD), and content and activity of ceruloplasmin (CP) in the hippocampus and serum were measured using a test kit. HE staining was performed to observe the pathological changes in the hippocampus.

RESULTSThe Morris water maze test showed that the latency in lead acetate group (52.50±12.04 s) was significantly longer than that in control group (28.08±7.31 s) (P<0.05), and the number of platform crossings was significantly lower in the lead acetate group than in the control group. Compared with those in the control group, the lead levels in the cortex and hippocampus in lead acetate group increased 2.72-fold and 3.79-fold, and the copper in the cortex and hippocampus, and serum free copper levels in lead acetate group increased 1.15-fold, 1.48-fold, and 6.44-fold. Compared with the control group, the lead acetate group had a lower content of CP in the hippocampus (1.23±0.40 U/mg provs0.78±0.08 U/mg pro) and 31.81%and 19.49%decreases in CP content and Cu/Zn SOD activity. Free copper level in serum was positively correlated with the latency and lead levels in the serum, cortex, and hippocampus. The escape latency of rats in lead acetate + quercetin group was decreased by 42.15% (P<0.05). The lead levels in the cortex and hippocampus in lead acetate + quercetin group (0.246 ± 0.58 µg/g and 0.202±0.049 µg/g) were significantly lower than those in lead acetate group (0.391±0.49 µg/g and 0.546±0.120 µg/g), but the free copper and copper levels in the hippocampus and cortex were not significantly reduced. The lead acetate + quercetin group had higher Cu/Zn SOD activity and CP content in the hippocampus than the lead acetate group (P < 0.05). The light microscope observation showed that the number of cells in the hippocampus was reduced with disordered arrangement in the lead acetate group; with quercetin intervention, the hippocampus damage was reduced.

CONCLUSIONLead exposure results in disorder of copper homeostasis, while quercetin may alleviate the damage induced by lead to some extent.

Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; chemistry ; Copper ; blood ; Hippocampus ; chemistry ; Homeostasis ; Learning ; drug effects ; Male ; Memory ; drug effects ; Organometallic Compounds ; toxicity ; Quercetin ; pharmacology ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

To evaluate in vitro release and transdermal behaviors of Zhitong cataplasm, modified Franz diffusion cell method was applied to investigate in vitro transdermal absorption of Zhitong cataplasm and the content of tetrahydropalmatine was determined by HPLC. In 24 hours, accumulative release rate of tetrahydropalmatine was 81. 9%, transmission rate was 2.26 microg x cm(-2) x h(-1). In 48 hours, accumulative transdermal rate and transmission rate of tetrahydropalmatine were 20.31%, 0.22 pg x cm(-2) x h(-1). So Zhitong cataplasm had a good release and transdermal properties and transdermal actions were consistent with zero-order kinetics process.
Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Berberine Alkaloids ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Mice ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Skin ; metabolism ; Skin Absorption

BACKGROUNDThe aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of vinorelbine and cisplatin (NP chemotherapy) alone or in combination with Aidi injection for the treatment of advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSPertinent publications were identified in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CNKI, CQVIP, and Wanfang databases, up to December 8, 2015. After quality assessment of all included randomized controlled trials evaluating Aidi injection combined with NP chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced NSCLC, a meta-analysis was performed by Review Manager 5.2 and STATA 12.0 for statistical analyses.

RESULTSTwelve studies including 509 and 503 cases in the experimental and control groups, respectively, were finally analyzed. The meta-analysis revealed that when cisplatin dose ranging from 20 to 40 mg/m 2 , combination of Aidi injection and NP chemotherapy was statistically different compared with NP chemotherapy alone in enhancing efficiency (relative risk [RR] = 1.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.05-1.47], P = 0.010) and reducing the incidence of Grade II or above nausea and vomiting (RR = 0.49, 95% CI [0.30-0.80], P = 0.005). Meanwhile, with cisplatin ranging from 80 to 120 mg/m 2 , no significant differences in efficiency (RR = 1.11, 95% CI [0.87-1.42], P = 0.390) and Grade II or above nausea and vomiting (RR = 0.88, 95% CI [0.71-1.10], P = 0.260) were obtained. In addition, Aidi injection combined with NP chemotherapy was superior to NP chemotherapy alone in improving the quality of life, alleviating Grade II or above leukopenia and thrombocytopenia.

CONCLUSIONSAidi injection combined with NP chemotherapy can enhance efficiency, improve the quality of life, and decrease adverse effects in patients with advanced NSCLC.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Injections ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Publication Bias ; Quality of Life ; Vinblastine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignancy with remarkable ethnic and geographic distribution in southern China and Southeast Asia. Alternative to genetic changes, aberrant epigenetic events disrupt multiple genes involved in cell signaling pathways through DNA methylation of promoter CpG islands and/or histone modifications. These epigenetic alterations grant cell growth advantage and contribute to the initiation and progression of NPC. In this review, we summarize the epigenetic deregulation of cell signaling in NPC tumorigenesis and highlight the importance of identifying epigenetic cell signaling regulators in NPC research. Developing pharmacologic strategies to reverse the epigenetic-silencing of cell signaling regulators might thus be useful to NPC prevention and therapy.
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; genetics ; metabolism ; Apoptosis ; genetics ; Carcinoma ; Cell Cycle ; genetics ; CpG Islands ; genetics ; DNA Damage ; genetics ; DNA Methylation ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; GTP Phosphohydrolases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Silencing ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Repressor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics ; metabolism ; beta Catenin ; genetics ; metabolism ; ras Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; rho GTP-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective·To investigate the influence of blocking receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) on macrophages infiltration in diabetic wound healing. Methods·Ninety-six male C57BL/6J mice (8-week-old) were divided into diabetic group (n=72) and normal group (n=24) randomly. Diabetic mice were induced by streptozocin multiple intraperitoneal injection. One full-thickness excisional wound (diameter of 9 mm) was created by a sterilized punch. Diabetic mice were divided into 3 groups in which different topical treatments were applied to the wounds. Anti-RAGE antibody were applied in group R, rabbit IgG applied in group I, normal saline applied in group C. Normal mice were applied with saline topically (group N). All treatments were repeated on day 3 and day 7 after wounded. The wound healing conditions were observed. The wound and surrounding tissues from animals in each group were excised on day 1, 3, and 7 after wounded. Immunohistochemistry was utilized to investigate the changes of macrophages infiltration in quantity. Macrophages were also analyzed with respect to morphology by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results·① The wound closure ratio of group R was higher than those of group C and group I on day 14 after being wounded (P=0.000). ② On day 1, the numbers of macrophages in group R and group N were both bigger than those of group C and group I, but smaller on day 14 (P=0.000). ③ The morphological characters of macrophages also existed great differences under TEM. Conclusion·Number and morphology of macrophages are both abnormal in diabetic wound in a RAGE pathway depending manner. Based on macrophages, it suggests that impaired healing of diabetic wound is closely related to RAGE pathway.

Objective To study the epidemic tendency of emerging influenza A (H1N1) in mainland China, and to explore the different patterns of spread on the disease under the following contexts: (1) To stop the temperature screening program at the border areas of the country; (2)To stop measures of prevention and control on those identified cases and their close contacts; (3) To strengthen programs for the foreign immigrants on 'home quarantine'. Methods Under relevant parameters and information on the transmission link from different reference data, the patterns of influenza spread were simulated by Monte Carlo method. Results The temperature screening on border could inhibit the transmission of influenza A (H1N1) to some extent, so that after 3 months the cumulative number of cases will be reduced by 21.5% (1718 cases) and transmission speed of influenza A (H1N1) in mainland China will be delayed by about 4 days. Furthermore, taking positive measures of prevention and control could efficiently slow down the epidemic, so that after 3 months the cumulative number of cases will be reduced by 93.4%(about 90 thousand cases) and it would be delayed by about 15 days if influenza A (H1N1) spreads to the whole country. In addition, if the immigrants were able to practise quarantine measures consciously by themselves at home the effect of prevention and control against influenza A(H1N1) would be more significant. If 30%, 60% and 90% of immigrants would take quarantine measures home consciously, after 3 months the cumulative number of cases will be reduced by about 15% (about 940 cases), 34% (about 2230 cases) and 64% (about 4180 cases), respectively. Also, influenza A (H1N1) spreads to the whole country will be delayed by about 4 days, 10 days and 25 days, respectively. It is difficult to curb fully the development of the epidemic by taking existing control measures, and influenza A (H1N1) may spread to almost all provinces after about 3 months. Conclusion The effects of existing prevention and control measures were objectively assessed and the results showed the necessity and effectiveness of these measures against the transmission of influenza A (H1N1) , in the mainland of China.