OBJECTIVETo evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of Bushen Shuji Granule (BSG) in treating ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients.

METHODSA prospective randomized controlled clinical trial was carried out in 62 active stage AS patients with Shen deficiency Du-channel cold syndrome (SDDCS), who were randomly assigned to the BSG group (treated with BSG) and the control group (treated with Celecoxib Capsule). Twelve weeks consisted of one therapeutic course. Therapeutic effects were evaluated by ASAS20 and ASAS40 (set by Assessments in Ankylosing Spondylitis working group) , BASDA150, Chinese medical (CM) syndrome efficacy evaluation standards. BASDAI, the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), the Bath AS Metrology Index (BASMI), scores for spine pain, scores for pain at night, patient global assessment (PGA) , erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) , and C reactive protein (CRP) were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter three-month treatment by BSG, ASAS20 standard rate was 63. 33% (19/30 cases) in the BSG group and 66.67% (20/30 cases) in the control group with no significant difference between the two groups (χ2 = 0.073, P > 0.05). The efficacy for CM syndromes was 70.00% (21/30 cases) in the BSG group, higher than that in the control group [40.00% (12/30 cases), χ2 = 5.455, P < 0.05]. Scores for CM syndromes, BASDAI, night pain index, spinal pain index, PGA, CRP were improved in the BSG group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The incidence of adverse events in the BSG group was lower than that of the control group.

CONCLUSIONBSG based on Shen supplementing, Du-channel strengthening, blood activating, and channels dredging method had good short-term clinical efficacy and safety in treating AS.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Biomedical Research ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Pain ; Prospective Studies ; Safety ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVEChronic inflammation of airway in bronchial asthma is caused by many complicated elements. Recently, a close attention has been paid to the neurogenic inflammation in airway which is mediated by sensory neuropeptides secreted by sensory nerve in the lung. Neurokinin A (NKA) is an important sensory neuropeptide leading to neurogenic inflammation in airway. Experimental studies showed that NKA has a close relation to asthma. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the changes of NKA in plasma of asthmatic children and possible relationship between sensory neuropeptides and asthma in children.

METHODSThirty-five children with bronchial asthma were studied; 16 of the cases were < 3 yrs and 19 were >or= 3 yrs. Eighteen of the cases had severe asthma and 16 had mild asthma. None of the subjects was treated with glucocorticoid within 3 days before the study started; 15 healthy children without history of asthma or family history of asthma were enrolled as control subjects. Plasma was collected from each case during acute attack of asthma and their clinical remission of the asthmatic children. After purifying with SEP-pak C(18), NKA content was detect by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as instructed by the manufacturer of the NKA Kit (NKA unit: ng/L).

RESULTS(1) The content of plasma NKA of asthmatic children was significantly higher at the asthma attack (256 +/- 153) than that at their clinical remission stage (70 +/- 66; q = 9.497, P < 0.01) and than that of the normal control group (38 +/- 6; q = 8.599, P < 0.01); no significant difference in plasma NKA was found between the clinical remission stage and the normal control group (q = 1.245, P > 0.05). (2) There was a significant positive correlation between the asthmatic clinical state and the levels of plasma NKA; the contents of plasma NKA at the stage of acute attack in severe asthma (296 +/- 170) were significantly higher than those of the mild asthmatic children (190 +/- 99; q = 3.77, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe contents of plasma NKA were significantly higher during the asthma attack stage of children, and the higher was the level of NKA, the more severe the attack.; with asthma remission, the contents of plasma NKA decreased to normal; the contents of plasma NKA has a close relation to the asthmatic children.

Asthma ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Infant ; Neurokinin A ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the tumor-associated antigen CA125 expression in the serum and cervical and vaginal secretions in women during normal reproductive period, and explore the clinical value of detecting tumor markers in the cervical and vaginal secretions.

METHODSA total of 145 women in reproductive period were divided into 3 age groups (20-29 years, 30-39 years, and over 40 years), and their CA125 levels in cervical secretion, vaginal secretion and serum were detected by automatic electro-chemiluminescent immunoassay.

RESULTSCA125 levels in the cervical secretion, vaginal secretion and serum showed no significant difference between the 3 age groups (P>0.05). In each group, CA125 levels differed significantly between the cervical secretion, vaginal secretion and serum (P<0.001). In the 145 women, the average CA125 level was 497.82 - or + 75.29 U/ml in the cervical secretion, 114.66 - or + 26.40 U/ml in vaginal secretion and 18.06 - or + 3.35 U/ml in serum, showing significant differences between them (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONCA125 expression level is significantly higher in the cervical and vaginal secretions than in the serum in women in normal reproductive period, and its levels in cervical and vaginal secretions can be more sensitive and convenient for early detection of related diseases.

Adult ; Biomarkers ; analysis ; CA-125 Antigen ; blood ; metabolism ; Cervix Mucus ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Vagina ; secretion ; Young Adult

Adult ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; complications ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; complications ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of applying autosomal single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on parentage testing.

METHODSAll SNP genotyping results of HapMap (r27) were downloaded from the website. With self-made computer programs, SNPs were extracted when their minor allele frequency (MAF) were ≥ 0.30 among all of the 11 HapMap populations. Ninety-six SNPs were chosen and integrated into the Illumina Goldengate bead arrays on the condition that no linkage disequilibrium was found between them. Three father-child-mother trios (9 samples in total) were tested with the arrays. Cumulative paternity index (CPI) was then calculated and compared with genotyping results using 15 short tandem repeats (STRs)(Identifiler(TM)).

RESULTSFamily 1 was found to have nine SNPs or seven STRs that did not conform to the Mendelian laws, Family 2 had 13 such SNPs or seven STRs, and Family 3 only had one such SNP but no STR. For Family 3, when all of the 96 SNPs were used in combine, the CPI was 1207, which had contrasted with the CPI by the 15 STRs, i.e., 355 869.

CONCLUSIONWhen applied to paternity testing, the paternity exclusion (PE) value for a SNP is usually less than 1/3 of that of a STR. The proportion of SNPs not comforming to the Mendelian laws for the tested SNPs may not be as high as that of inconsistent STRs over all tested STRs. Because of the low mutation rate of a SNP, the CPI will be greatly reduced even if one SNP did not conform to the Mendelian laws. Therefore, highly accurate testing methods are required to reduce artificial errors when applying SNPs for paternity testing.

Fathers ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; methods ; Genotype ; HapMap Project ; Humans ; Male ; Mothers ; Paternity ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics

The STandards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials Of Moxibustion (STRICTOM), in the form of a checklist and descriptions of checklist items, were designed to improve reporting of moxibustion trials, and thereby facilitating their interpretation and replication. The STRICTOM checklist included 7 items and 16 sub-items. These set out reporting guidelines for the moxibustion rationale, details of moxibustion, treatment regimen, other components of treatment, treatment provider background, control and comparator interventions, and precaution measures. In addition, there were descriptions of each item and examples of good reporting. It is intended that the STRICTOM can be used in conjunction with the main CONSORT Statement, extensions for nonpharmacologic treatment and pragmatic trials, and thereby raise the quality of reporting of clinical trials of moxibustion. Further comments will be solicited from the experts of the CONSORT Group, the STRICTA Group, acupuncture and moxibustion societies, and clinical trial authors for optimizing the STRICTOM.
Clinical Trials as Topic ; methods ; standards ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; methods ; standards ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Research Design ; standards

OBJECTIVETo assess lumen visibility of coronary stents by 64-slice computed tomography (CT) coronary angiography, and determine the value of 64-slice CT in non-invasive detecting of in-stent restenosis after coronary artery stent implantation.

METHODSTotally, 60 patients (54 males, aged 57.0+/-12.7 years) and 105 stents were investigated by 64-slice CT at a mean interval of 20.0+/-16.6 months after coronary stents implantation. Axial multi-planar reconstruction images of the stents and curved-planar reconstruction images through the median of the stents were reconstructed for evaluating stent image quality on a 5-point scale (1=excellent, 5=non-assessable), and stent lumen diameter was detected. Conventional coronary angiography was performed in 18 patients, and 32 stents were evaluated.

RESULTSImage quality was good to excellent on average (score 1.71+/-0.76). Stent image quality score was correlated to heart rate (r=0.281, P<0.01) and stent diameter (r=-0.480, P<0.001). All the stents were assessable in lumen visibility with an average visible lumen diameter percentage of 60.7%+/-13.6%. Visible lumen diameter percentage was correlated to heart rate (r=-0.193, P<0.05), stent diameter (r=0.403, P<0.001), and stent image quality score (r=-0.500, P<0.001). Visible lumen diameter percentage also varied depending on the stent type. In comparison with the conventional coronary angiography, 4 of 6 in-stent stenoses were correctly detected. The sensitivity and specificity for the detection of in-stent stenosis were 66.7% and 84.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSUsing a 64-slice CT, the stent lumen is partly visible in most of the stents. And 64-slice CT may be useful in the assessment of stent patency.

Adult ; Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Coronary Stenosis ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUNDIt is well known that conventional splenectomy, which requires careful handling and ligation of tissue of the splenic hilum, can easily cause complications such as splenic fever and pancreatic fistula. Here, we use the technique of dissection of the secondary branches of the splenic pedicle to handle the hilum in the portal hypertension patients who are subjected to splenectomy.

METHODSWe retrospectively compared and analyzed the complications, postoperative hospital stay, operative time, and occurrence of hemorrhage in 121 patients with portal hypertension undergoing splenectomy and devascularization of the gastric cardia from January 1999 to December 2007. The selected cases consisted of 51 patients undergoing conventional splenectomy and 70 patients undergoing dissection of secondary branches of the splenic pedicle. In addition, we analyzed the relationship between size of the spleen and occurrence of complications.

RESULTSThe incidence of pancreatic fistula and splenic fever (0/70 and 9/70) was lower in patients undergoing dissection of secondary branches of the splenic pedicle as compared with that of the conventional group (5/51 and 18/51 respectively). In addition, there was no significant difference in operative time and volume of blood loss between two groups. The spleen thickness of those patients who had pancreatic fistula and splenic fever was significantly greater than those without complications.

CONCLUSIONSThese results indicate that dissection of secondary branches of the splenic pedicle in portal hypertension patients undergoing splenectomy can decrease the incidence of splenic fever and pancreatic fistula, and shorten the postoperative hospital stay, especially in the patients with a large spleen. So dissection of secondary branches of the splenic pedicle is a valuable technique for splenectomy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spleen ; blood supply ; surgery ; Splenectomy ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDCardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) could improve heart function, symptom status, quality of life and reduce hospitalization and mortality in patients with severe heart failure (HF) with optimal medical management. However, the possible adverse effects of CRT are often ignored by clinicians.

METHODA retrospective analysis of CRT over a 6-year period was made in a single cardiac center.

RESULTSFifty-four patients were treated with CRT(D) device, aged (57 ± 11) years, with left ventricular ejection fraction of (32.1 ± 9.8)%, of which 4 (7%) developed ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF) or junctional tachycardia after operation. Except for one with frequent ventricular premature beat before operation, the others had no previous history of ventricular arrhythmia. Of the 4 patients, 3 had dilated cardiomyopathy and 1 had ischemic cardiomyopathy, and tachycardia occurred within 3 days after operation. Sustained, refractory VT and subsequent VF occurred in one patient, frequent nonsustained VT in two patients and nonparoxysmal atrioventricular junctional tachycardia in one patient. VT was managed by amiodarone in two patients, amiodarone together with beta-blocker in one patient, and junctional tachycardia was terminated by overdrive pacing. During over 12-month follow-up, except for one patient's death due to refractory heart and respiratory failure in hospital, the others remain alive and arrhythmia-free.

CONCLUSIONSNew-onset VT/VF or junctional tachycardia may occur in a minority of patients with or without prior history of tachycardia after biventricular pacing. Arrhythmia can be managed by conventional therapy, but may require temporary discontinuation of pacing. More observational studies should be performed to determine the potential proarrhythmic effect of CRT.

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Perioperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; etiology ; Ventricular Fibrillation ; etiology

Two new limonoids, 12-ethoxynimbolinins G and H (compounds 1 and 2), and one known compound, toosendanin (Chuanliansu) (compound 3), were isolated from the bark of Melia toosendan. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and X-ray techniques. The absolute configuration of toosendanin (3) was established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compounds 1-3 were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against five tumor cell lines.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Limonins ; isolation & purification ; Melia ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Bark ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; X-Ray Diffraction