The diabetes is mainly treated by the oral administration of western medicines at present. Despite their rapid curative effect, there have been still many reports for the western medicines about their clinical adverse reactions, failure of effective prevention and treatment of complications and drug resistance. Hence, they are not suitable for long-term administration. Traditional Chinese medicines have a long history in treating diabetes mellitus (DM) , which is commonly known as Xiaokezheng in the theory of traditional Chinese medicines. In recent years, many scholars have taken extracts from traditional Chinese medicines or separated active constituents as the study objects in the expectation of developing new-type drugs for treating and preventing diabetes. Therefore, a large number of study reports have been emerged in this field. Due to their significant glucose-reducing effect and specific effect in treating complications of diabetes, traditional Chinese medicine Gardeniae Fructus and its iridoid component geniposide shall be given full attention. This paper summarized the advance in studies on the curative effect and action mechanism of Gardeniae Fructus and geniposide in preventing and treating diabetes.
Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Gardenia ; chemistry ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; chemistry

Objective To develop a new treament strategy for Kasabach-Merritt syndrome.Methods Three infants who were diagnosed with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome and suffered from thrombocytopenia as well as bleeding and clotting disorders were treated with percutaneous selective digital subtraction angiography combined with transarterial hardened embolization under general anesthesia.Sclerosing agents included bleomycin A5 (4.0 mg),iodized oil (1.5 ml),dexamethasone (2.5 mg) and iopamidol (3 ml).Polyvinyl alcohol mixed with iopamidol (at a volume fraction of 0.5) served as the embolic material.Results All the three patients were successfully treated by the minimally invasive surgery.The amount of blood platelet returned to normal within 24 hours after the operation.On the fourth day,all the patients were discharged from hospital with the restoration of coagulation function.Revisits at one month and three months after the operation showed that hemangiomas markedly shrank and even subsided,and blood platelet count was maintained within normal range.Conclusions Percutaneous selective digital subtraction angiography combined with transarterial hardened embolization can result in a recovery of blood platelet count and shrinkage of hemangioma,and may serve as a minimally invasive treatment option for Kasabach-Merritt syndrome.

OBJECTIVETo explore the expression of Ghrelin and high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) in the serum and the intestinal tissue of sepsis model rats, and to evaluate the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) at Zusanli (ST36) on the expression of HMGB1 and Ghrelin.

METHODSForty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., the sham-operation (sham), the cecal ligation and puncture group (CLP), the CLP + EA at Zusanli (ST36) group (EA), and the CLP + Ghrelin receptor blocking agent + EA group (GHSRA), 12 in each group. A sepsis rat model was prepared by CLP. The incision of the abdominal wall was immediately sutured along the ventral midline for rats in the Sham group. In the EA group EA at Zusanli (ST36) was performed 20 min after CLP surgery with the constant voltage (2 - 100 Hz, 2 mA) for 30 min. In the GHSRA group, Ghrelin receptor blocking agent, [D-Arg1, D-Phe5, D-Trp79, Leu11]-substance P (700 nmol/kg), was administered through intravenous injection immediately after CLP, and 20 min later, EA at Zusanli (ST36) was performed in the same way as for rats in the EA group. Blood samples were withdrawn 12 h after CLP. The serum levels of Ghrelin and HMGB1 were detected using ELISA. Ghrelin expressions and the number of Ghrelin immunopositive cell in the jejunum were determined by immunohistochemistry. HMGB1 contents of the jejunum tissue were detected by Western blotting.

RESULTSCompared with the Sham group, the number of serum immunopositive cells and the expression of HMGB1 in the jejunum tissue significantly increased and levels of Ghrelin and the expression rate of immunopositive cells significantly decreased in the CLP group (P < 0.05). Compared with the CLP group, the number of serum immunopositive cells and the expression of HMGB1 in the jejunum tissue significantly decreased, but levels of Ghrelin and the expression rate of immunopositive cells significantly increased in the EA group (P < 0.05). Compared with the EA group, the number of serum immunopositive cells and the expression of HMGB1 in the jejunum tissue significantly increased in the GHSRA group (P < 0.05), but there was no statistical difference in levels of Ghrelin between the two groups (P > 0.05). The serum level of HMGB1 was negatively correlated with Ghrelin in the Sham group, the CLP group, and the EA group (r = -0. 528, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSEA at Zusanli (ST36) could inhibit the expression of HMGB1 in the jejunum of septic rats, and promote the expression of Ghrelin. The expression of HMGB1 was inhibited by Ghrelin receptor blocking agent, which suggested that the anti-inflammation of EA at Zusanli (ST36) might be associated with Ghrelin.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Electroacupuncture ; Ghrelin ; metabolism ; HMGB1 Protein ; metabolism ; Jejunum ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sepsis ; metabolism

Metastatic epidural compression of the spinal cord is a significant source of morbidity in patients with systemic cancer. With improvment of oncotheray, survival period in the patients is improving and metastatic cord compression is en- countered increasingly often. Surgical management performed for early circumferential decompression for the spinal cord com- pression with spine instability, and spine reconstruction performed. Patients with radiosensitive tumours without spine instabili- ty, radiotherapy is an effective therapy. Spinal stereotactic radiosurgery and minimally invasive techniques, such as vertebro- plasty and kyphoplasty, percutaneous pedicle screw fixation, radiofrequency ablation are promising options for treatment of cer- tain selected patients with spinal metastases.
Decompression, Surgical ; Humans ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Spinal Cord Compression ; therapy ; Spinal Neoplasms ; secondary ; therapy

ObjectiveTo find out the risk factors causing iatrogenic spinal cord injury (ISCI) so as to provide theoretical support for reducing the spinal cord injury during spinal operation. Methods A retrospective study was done on 120 patients undergone cervical or thoracic spinal( C1-T12 ) surgery at Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from January 2002 to January 2009. The patients were randomly divided into injury group (n = 34) and control group (n = 86) and the univariate analysis was used to analyze 30 factors including clinical factors, iconography factors, operation and pathology factors as well as possible protective factors. Then, the factors with statistical difference were analyzed by using the multi-factor unconditioned Logistic analysis.Results The univariate comparison between the two groups showed statistical difference ( P ＜ 0. 05 ) in nine factors including combined hypertension, combined diabetes mellitus, preoperative ASIA grade, spinal canal stenosis rate, ratio of spinal cord area/efficient area of vertebral canal, spinal cord MRI T2WI high signal, bleeding amount during operation, intraspinal prominence adhesion to dura mate of spinal cord as well as intraoperative use of methylprednisolone. The multi-factor Logistic regression analysis revealed that ASIA grade, value of spinal cord area/efficient area of vertebral canal, spinal cord MRI T2W1 high signal and bleeding amount in operation had positive correlation with ISCI. Use of methylprednisolone during operation had negative correlation with ISCI. ConclusionsCombined diabetes mellitus, ASIA grade, spinal cord MRI T2W1 high signal, ratio of spinal cord/vertebral canal area and bleeding amount in operation are the risk factors for ISCI. Use of large dose methylprednisolone exerts preventive effect on ISCI.

Objective To examine the concentrations of hepatocyte growth factor(HGF)and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)in the patients with diabetic neovascular glaucoma(NVG),proliferative retinopathy without neovascularization of the iris(PDR) and idiopathic macular role(IMH),and to determine the relationship between HGF and VEGF.Design Prospective case series. Participants 14 patients(14 eyes)with NVG,22 patients(22 eyes)with non-NVI PDR,19 patients(19 eyes)with IMH.Methods The double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to measure the intravitreous level of HGF and VEGF.Main Outcome Measures The concentrations of HGF and VEGF in the same specimens.Results The concentrations of HGF (mean?SD)in vitreous of NVG group,PDR group and IMH group were(12908.42?2946.46)、(9770.86?3802.99)、(4160.54?2044.80)pg/ ml,respectively(Kruskal-Walls test,X~2=32.36,P=0.000).In addition,significant differences were observed between groups of the concentrations of HGF(P＜0.01,respectively).The intravitreous concentrations of VEGF(mean?SD)in three groups were(823.50?718.58)、(821.82?786.27)、(22.73?3.20)pg/ml(X~2=28.30,P=0.O00),respectively(Kruskal-Walls test,X~2=32.36,P=0.000).There was no significant correlation between the concentrations of HGF and those of VEGF in the same specimens from each group(P＞0.05, respectively).Conclusions The intravitreous concentrations of HGF in the patients with diabetic NVG are obviously higher than those with IMH and non-NVI PDR,suggesting that HGF appears to be associated with mediating the neovascularization of retina and iris in NVG.However,it is not found there is any relationship between the intravitreous levels of HGF and VEGF.

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the transmission process of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and to evaluate the infectiveness of SARS patients in different periods of disease epidemics.

METHODSStandardized questionnaire was used to conduct case investigation and contact tracing by combining the field investigation and telephone interview. Transmission process, infectivity, transmission chain and contact history of SARS were studied through data analyses.

RESULTSOn 25th March 2003, a 91 year old man was admitted to Hospital J in Beijing with stroke and fever. He died on 30th March. From 31st March, there was an outbreak of SARS among his contacts in the family and in the hospital he was admitted to. Contacts would include his relatives, other co-patients and health care workers in the Hospital J. Chinese Field Epidemiology Training Program trainees conducted an investigation of the outbreak. Among the 207 contacts of the index cases through different generations, there were 36 cases of SARS (attack rate 17%) patients with one death. There were 12 cases having directly contact with the index case and 13 cases with one secondary case. The transmission chains of this outbreak could clearly be depicted. All the cases had close contacts during the symptomatic period of their index patients. Among the relatives, 85% of the cases had 3 - 5-day contact with their index patients after the onset of the illnesses. There was no significant difference between the two attack rates-70% for whose who had contact with the patient before and after illness onset) and 67% for those who only had contact after the onset of the illness. Out of the 44 social acquaintances and 38 of the family members who had contacts with the index patients during the incubation period, no one was found ill. Among the close contacts at the hospital who had no protection when providing care to the patient, the attack rate was found over 80%.

CONCLUSIONSAll the secondary cases of this outbreak had a history of direct and close contacts to the index patients after the onset of the illness. There was no evidence indicating that SARS cases were infectious during their incubation period.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional ; Male ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; transmission

Child ; Corpus Callosum ; pathology ; Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex ; pathology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male

OBJECTIVETo explore the expressions of HO-2 and CO in the corpus cavernosum of castrated rats in order to further study the pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction (ED).

METHODSWe randomly divided 72 male SD rats into four groups: normal control, sham operation, castration, and castration + ZnPP. We detected intracavernous pressure (ICP) and penile erection in the basic condition and after apomorphine (APO) induction, determined the expression of the HO-2 protein in the corpus cavernosum by laser scanning confocal microscopy, and measured the level of CO by spectrophotometry during different periods of penile erection.

RESULTSThe ICP in the basic condition and that after APO induction and the rate of penile erection were decreased significantly in the castration group ([11.68 ± 0.69] mmHg, [54.81 ± 3.86] mmHg, and 33.3%) and the castration + ZnPP group ([11.20 ± 0.71] mmHg, [41.17 ± 5.41] mmHg, and 22.2%) as compared with the normal control ([22.83 ± 2.66] mmHg, [66.92 ± 7.77] mm-Hg, and 100%) and the sham operation group ([23.35 ±2.22] mmHg, [70.43 ?7. 22] mmHg, and 100%) (all P <0. 01). After APO induction, ICP in the castration + ZnPP group was remarkably reduced in comparison with that in the castration group (P < 0.01), and so was the expression of the HO-2 protein before and during penile erection in the castration (445.4 ± 23.7 and 847.4 ± 35.0) and the castration + ZnPP group (390.1 ± 29.7 and 526.0 ± 52.5) compared with the normal control (512.7 ±57.4 and 1145.2 ± 89.8) and the sham operation group (583.7 ± 8.0 and 1016.3 ± 79.8), the expression of the HO-2 protein significantly decreased in the castration group (445.4 ± 23.7 and 847.4 ± 35.0) (P < 0.05 or 0.01), markedly lower in the castration + ZnPP than in the castration group during penile erection (P < 0.01) but with no significant differences among the four groups after it. Before, during and after penile erection, the levels of CO were remarkably decreased in the castration ([20.59 ± 1.01], [32.53 ± 1.26], and [18.71 ± 1.22] x 10(-7) nmol/L) and the castration +ZnPP group ([12.52 ± 1.05], [21.90 ± 1.02], and [16.56 ± 0.55] x 10(-7) nmol/L) as compared with the normal control ([26.76 ± 1.41], [48.25 ± 1.01], and [27.10 ± 1.58 ] x 10(-7) nmol/L) and the sham operation group ([25.41 ± 2.09], [ 47.90 ± 1.22], and [25.67 ± 1.20] x 10(-7) nmol/L) (P < 0.05 or 0.01), significantly lower in the castration + ZnPP than in the castration group during penile erection (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONDecreased expressions of HO-2 and CO may correlate with erectile dysfunction in castrated rats.

Animals ; Apomorphine ; pharmacology ; Carbon Monoxide ; metabolism ; Dopamine Agonists ; pharmacology ; Erectile Dysfunction ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Chaperones ; metabolism ; Orchiectomy ; Penile Erection ; drug effects ; Penis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution of allergens in children with allergic disease in Changsha.

METHODSTotal IgE and specific IgE against some allergens were examined by the AllergyScreen system in the sera of 437 children from Changsha with allergic disease.

RESULTSThe positive rates of total IgE and special IgE were 68.9% and 69.1% respectively. Dermatophagoides farina, beef, mutton, milk and fur of cats and dogs were found as common allergens. The IgE positive rate against dermatophagoides farina was the highest in children with allergic rhinitis (86.0%), followed by in those with atopic dermatitis (41.2%), eczema (27.6%) and urticaria (20.0%). Serum IgE was positive against the fur of cats and dogs in 23.5% of children with atopic dermatitis and in 18.1% of children with eczema. The IgE positive rate was lower in children with urticaria and allergic rhinitis (10.0% and 8.7% respectively). IgE positive rates against milk, beef and mutton were high in the above four allergic diseases (range: 14.0%-24.0%), but no significant differences were observed for the IgE positive rate among the four allergic diseases. The IgE positive rate to inhalant allergens in children at ages of less than 3 years was markedly higher than that in children at ages of more than 3 years (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSAllergic diseases are mainly mediated by allergens. Allergens, especially dermatophagoides farina, fur of cats and dogs, beef, mutton and milk, play an important role in childhood allergic diseases in Changsha.

Adolescent ; Age Factors ; Animals ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; etiology ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Infant ; Male