Objective To explore the diagnosis,treatment and pathology of malignant brain tumor in children.Methods The clinical data of 61 children with malignant brain tumor were reviewed,including their age distribution,diagnosis,operation route(according to the position of the brain tumors),chemotherapy [using bischloro-nitrosourea(BCNU),teniposide(VM-26) and temozolomide]and radiotherapy (part and whole brain irradiation,three diamensions conformal therapy,gamma knife and X-kinfe).Results Of 61 cases,which including 37 boys and 24 girls whose mean age was 11.3 years,24 cases were supratentorial tumors and 37 cases were infratentorial.Forty-five tumors received total or subtotal recession,10 cases with major recession,and 6 cases with partial recession.After operation,39 cases (63.9%) received radiotherapy,and 29 cases (47.5%) with chemotherapy.Follow-up of 49 cases were achieved,in which 22 cases died and 27 cases survived.Conclusions Surgical removal is still the chief treatment for malignant brain tumor in children.The exairesis profect should be formulated according to the specificity of each case.Radiotherapy methods should be related to post-operational images(CT or MRI).And it was different from the brain tumors in adult.It is good to prolong survival duration for some chosen cases with optimal chemotherapy.

Objective To observe therapeutic effects of HuGanJieXian decoction on rats hepatic fibrosis induced by tetrachloride. Methods Rat models of hepatic fibrosis were constructed by intraperitoneal injection of tetrachloride.HuGanJieXian decoction composed of low, middle, and high dose curcumin were given to these rats respectively at the same time. Sho-saiko-to compound treatment group and Fufangbiejiarangan Tablets treatment group were made as positive control groups. After twelve weeks, all rats were executed. Serum samples were kept for measuring serum levels of PC-Ⅲ, LN, and HA. Left livers were extirpated for pathologic examination including H.E and Masson stainings. Grade of hepatic fibrosis were evaluated according to SSS system. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) of supematant centrifugated from hepatic tissue homogenate were detected. Results Serum levels of PC-Ⅲ, LN, and HA were depressed obviously in decoction groups compared with those of fibrotic group (P<0.05) , especially in the low-dose curcumin group.HuGanJieXian Decoction could increase the level of SOD and decrease the level of MDA (P<0.05) , especially in the low-dose curcumin group. Staining of H. E and Masson showed that degrees of hepatic fibrosis in decoction groups were improved obviously compared with that of the fibrotic group. Conclusion HuGanJieXian Decoction can improve rat hepatic fibrosis, the mechanism of this effect may be associated with protecting hepatic cell membrane and anti- peroxidative damage.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of three different spinal rotation manipulations for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation.

METHODSFrom September 2011 to April 2013,180 patients diagnosed as lumbar disc herniation were randomly divided into seat fixed rotation group (A), lateral position rotation group (B) and supine position rotation group (C) by using a digital table. Finally 10 patients were excluded and dropped, 170 patients were included in the study. There were 57 patients in group A, 57 patients in group B and 56 patients in group C. Baseline demographic characteristics of patients, clinical findings and indexes of health status had no statistically differences among three groups (P > 0.05). The manipulation was performed every other day, and the treatment duration for all patients was 3 weeks. Body pain (BP), Physical function (PF) in SF-36, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and adverse reactions were observed statistically 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, one year and two years after finishing treatment.

RESULTSBP, PF scores in 3 groups were significantly improved and ODI scores were significantly lower than those before treatment and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05); However, there was no significant difference among three groups in the BP, PF and ODI scores (P > 0.05). There were no obvious and serious adverse reactions among these groups.

CONCLUSIONBased on the theory of dislocation of bone joints in TCM, three kinds of spinal rotation manipulations can be used safely for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation, and the efficacy was similar.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Male ; Manipulation, Spinal ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Rotation ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

We revisited the "Xiao Chaihu Decoction event (XCHDE)" occurred in late 1980s in Japan and the Bupleuri Radix related adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports in China After careful review, comparison, analysis and evaluation, we think the interstitial pneumonitis, drug induced Liver injury (DILI) and other severe adverse drug envents (ADEs) including death happened in Japan is probably results from multiple factors, including combinatory use of XCHDE with interferon, Kampo usage under modern medicine theory guidance, and use of XCHD on the basis of disease diagnosis instead of traditional Chinese syndrome complex differentiation. There are less ADE case reports related to XCHD preparation in China compared to Japan, mostly manifest with hypersensitivity responses of skin and perfuse perspiration. The symptoms of Radix Bupleuri injection related ADEs mainly manifest hypersensitivity-like response, 2 cases of intravenous infusion instead of intramuscular injection developed hypokalemia and renal failure. One case died from severe hypersensitivity shock. In Chinese literatures, there is no report of the interstitial pneumonitis and DILI associated with XCHDG in Japan. So far, there is no voluntary monitoring data and large sample clinical research data available. The author elaborated the classification of "reevaluation" and clarified "re-evaluation upon events" included the reaction to the suspected safety and efficacy events. Based on the current status of the clinical research on the Radix Bupleuri preparations, the author points out that post-marketing "re-evaluation upon suspected event" is not only a necessity of continuous evaluation of the safety, efficacy of drugs, it is also a necessity for providing objective clinical research data to share with the international and domestic drug administrations in the risk-benefit evaluation. It is also the unavoidable pathway to culture and push the excellent species and famous brands of TCM to the international market, in that it enhances the pharmaceutical manufactures the ability to control enterprise risk and eliminate the negative impact on traditional Chinese medicine. With the widely used and ADR report concentrated Radix Bupleuri injection as an example, the author provide a new approach to post-marketing clinical research.
Bupleurum ; chemistry ; Drug Compounding ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; etiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Product Surveillance, Postmarketing ; methods ; Safety

OBJECTIVETo observe clinical therapeutic effects of acupuncture for pattern of liver-stagnation and spleen-deficiency in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS) and its impact on cell factors.

METHODSForty cases were selected and divided into an acupuncture group (21 cases) in which acupuncture was applied and a medicine group (19 cases) in which oral administration of dicetel and bifidobacterium lactobacillus triple viable capsules were applied. The symptom scores, level of Th1-type cytokine (IFN-gamma, IL-2) and Th2-type cytokine (IL-4, IL-10) and ratio of IFN-gamma to IL-4 were compared in two groups before and after treatment to analyze acupuncture effect.

RESULTSThe clinical symptoms were improved after one-week treatment in the acupuncture group (P<0.05), which had faster onset than the medicine group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 90.48% (19/21) in the acupuncture group, which was superior to 78.95% (15/19) in the medicine group (P<0.05). Compared with medicine treatment, imbalanced condition of Th1/Th2 was turning towards the direction of Th2 after acupuncture, indicating a tendency to recover the balance.

CONCLUSIONThe clinical efficacy of acupuncture for D-IBS has close relationship with effectively improving balance of Th1/Th2 in patients with liver-stagnation and spleen-deficiency.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Cytokines ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; immunology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spleen ; physiopathology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEStatins are still underused for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in China. Hence, we conducted a systemic review on the pharmacology, clinical efficacy, and adverse events of atorvastatin, as well as on patient adherence.

DATA SOURCESWe conducted a systemic search in PubMed with the following keywords: "atorvastatin" (Supplementary concept) or "atorvastatin" (All field) and ("China" [AD] or "China" [all field] or "Chinese" [All field]).

STUDY SELECTIONClinical or basic research articles on atorvastatin were included.

RESULTSAtorvastatin is a reversible and competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, decreasing the de novo cholesterol synthesis. The pharmacokinetics of atorvastatin among Chinese is similar to those in Caucasians, and several gene polymorphisms have proved to be associated with the metabolism of atorvastatin in the Chinese population. Several international multiple-center randomized control trials have demonstrated the benefit of atorvastatin for primary and secondary prevention of CVD. None of them, however, included the Chinese, and current evidence in the population is still inadequate, due to the small sample size, low study quality, short study duration, and the use of surrogate endpoints instead of clinical endpoints. The overall incidence of adverse events observed with atorvastatin did not increase in the 10-80 mg dose range, and was similar to that observed with placebo and in patients treated with other statins, which makes atorvastatin well-tolerated in the Chinese population. Moreover, high patient adherence was observed in clinical studies.

CONCLUSIONSBased on the current available evidence, there is no significant difference between Chinese and non-Chinese population in term of pharmacology and clinical efficacy/safety. High-quality evidence is still needed to support the use of atorvastatin in high-risk Chinese population.

Atorvastatin Calcium ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; drug therapy ; China ; Heptanoic Acids ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Pyrroles ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in bladder transitional cell carcinoma tissues, and understand its clinical significance.

METHODSReversal transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to assess the expression of COX-2 mRNA in 52 cases of bladder transitional cell carcinoma tissues and 17 cases of normal bladder tissues far from neoplasm; Western blot was used to assess the expression of COX-2 protein in 49 cases of bladder cancerous tissues and 17 cases of normal tissues.

RESULTSPositive expression of COX-2 mRNA was detected in 83% (43/52) of bladder cancer tissues and in 29% (5/17) of normal tissues by RT-PCR and there was significant difference in expression of COX-2 mRNA between cancer tissues and normal tissues. Western blot analysis showed that expression of COX-2 protein was correlation with the stage and grade of cancer.

CONCLUSIONCOX-2 is overexpressed in bladder transitional cell carcinoma. COX-2 maybe play a certain role in carcinogenesis and progression of bladder cancer and turn into a useful target of chemoprevention of bladder cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; enzymology ; pathology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Urinary Bladder ; enzymology ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo observe the antioxidant effects of water extract of Carthamus tinctorius on ox-LDL induced injury in rat cardiac microvascular endothelial cell and detecting oxygen derived free radicals (OFR) to explore the antioxidant mechanisms.

METHODBy using the third generation of rat cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (rCMEC), the protection of water extract of C. tinctorius was investigated after ox-LDL (100 mg x L(-1) induced damage. The supernatant was collected for detecting lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), xanthine oxidase (XOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), nitric oxide (NO), nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity, and cell suspension was collected for detecting reactive oxygen species (ROS) by electron spin resonance (ESR).

RESULTWater extract of C. tinctorius increased the rCMEC survival rate, reduced LDH, MDA and XOD levels, and improved SOD, GSH-Px and NOS activity, while in the cell suspension ROS signal decreased significantly.

CONCLUSIONWater extract of C. tinctorius has antioxidation. The mechanisms are likely related with scavenging of free radicals, enhancing its clearance, enhancing endogenous antioxidant activity.

Animals ; Carthamus tinctorius ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy ; methods ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Enzyme Activation ; drug effects ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; pharmacology ; Microvessels ; cytology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Water ; chemistry ; Xanthine Oxidase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the MEK and ERK expression and their relationship with clinicopathological parameters in human breast carcinoma, and the effect of preoperative chemotherapy on MEK and ERK protein expression.

METHODSSamples were obtained from 56 patients with breast carcinoma and 8 patients with benign tumors. Sixteen of the 56 patients received preoperative chemotherapy. Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to measure the expression of MEK1, MEK2 and ERK1, ERK2 protein.

RESULTSMEK2 and ERK1, ERK2 protein levels were increased in breast carcinoma tissue compared with those in adjacent normal tissues (t = 7.244, 5.959, 3.735, P < 0.01) and benign tumors (t = 2.206, P < 0.05). The levels of MEK1 were decreased. The expression of MEK2 protein in ER negative patients was higher than that in ER positive ones. MEK2 protein levels were lower in patients who received preoperative chemotherapy than in those who did not.

CONCLUSIONOverexpression of MEK-ERK may play an important role in the development of human breast carcinoma. MEK and ERK protein expressions are inhibited by preoperative chemotherapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Blotting, Western ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; MAP Kinase Kinase 1 ; MAP Kinase Kinase 2 ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; physiology ; Middle Aged ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 ; metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases ; metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism

Naringin has been reported to possess a wild range of biological activities. However, the route and metabolites of naringin produced by intestinal bacteria are not well understood. In this paper, different bacteria were isolated from human feces and their abilities to convert naringin to different metabolites were studied. Ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) with automated data analysis software (MetaboLynx) was applied to fast analysis of naringin metabolites. Using MSE and mass defect filter techniques, three metabolites were detected and tentatively identified. The results indicated that acetylation, hydrolyzation and hydrolyzation with hydrogenation were the major metabolic pathways of naringin in vitro. Then, we studied the gene sequence of the 16S rRNA of the bacteria by extraction of genomic DNA of the strain, PCR amplification and clone of the 16S rRNA. The consequence proved that Enterococcus sp.30, Bacillus sp.46, Escherichia sp.54 and Escherichia sp.63 have the peculiar metabolism characteristic of naringin.
Bacillus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Enterococcus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Escherichia ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Feces ; microbiology ; Female ; Flavanones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; genetics ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization