Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; Silicosis ; Syndrome

Objective To observe the clinical effect and complications of intravenous immunoglobulin(IVIG)in the treatment of severe adenovirus pneumonia(SAP)in children. Methods Clinical data of 210 hospitalized children with SAP from June 2009 to June 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into IVIG group (109 cases) and control group (101 cases) to compare the therapeutic effects, duration of fever, length of stay in hospital, duration of mechanical ventila-tion, and complications between the two groups. Results There was no difference in the severity of illness on admission and un-derlying diseases between the two groups. Both groups were given antiviral, antibacterial and comprehensive supporting thera-py, and in the IVIG group IVIG 250-400mg/(kg.d) were administered for 3-5 d. The mean hospital stay and fever time of the IVIG group were significantly shortened comparing to that of the control group, and the time of mechanical ventilation on the IVIG group is less than that of the non-IVIG group. Incidence rate of pleural effusion, atelectas is, myocarditis and toxic enceph-alopathy in the IVIG group is lower than the control group, and the cure rateand effective therapy of the IVIG group is higher than control group, all of the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). No adverse drug reaction was observed. Conclu-sions IVIG is safe and effective in the treatment of SAP in children.

Objective To study the effect of Corylin on A375 cells melanin synthesis,and explore its mechanism.Methods The cells were randomly divided into the control group, the estradiol group, and corylin group including 10-3μmol/L, 10-2μmol/L, 10-1μmol/L, 1μmol/L, 10μmol/L, 100μmol/L. Estradiol estradiol intervention group were given 10-3 mol/L. Corylin group (10-3μmol/L, 10-2μmol/L, 10-1μmol/L, 1μmol/L, 10μmol/L,100μmol/L) were given 10-3μmol/L, 10-2μmol/L, 10-1μmol/L, 1μmol/L, 10μmol/L, 100μmol/L corylin intervention. The activity of proliferation were detected by MTT, NaOH method, dopa oxidation , both melanin content and tyrosinase activity (tyrosinase, TYR). TYR, yrosinase related protein (tyrosinase related protein, TRP)-1 and TRP-2 expression levels of mRNA were determined by RT-PCR.Results Compared with the control group, 10, 100μmol/L of Corylin group cell proliferation rate significantly decreased (P<0.01). The 1μmol/L, 10-1μmol/L, 10-2μmol/L of Corylin group cell melanin content, TYR significantly decreased (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The 1μmol/L corylin group TYR (0.303 ± 0.003vs. 0.628 ± 0.012), TRP-1 (0.313 ± 0.008 vs. 0.677 ± 0.022), TRP-2 (0.456 ± 0.028vs. 0.687 ± 0.020) mRNA expression level significantly decrease (P<0.01).Conclusions The results showed that Corylin could inhibit melanin synthesis, which worked probably through inhibiting the activity of TYR and cutting the mRNA expressions of TYR,TRP-1/2.

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in the efficacy on low back pain of cold-damp pattern between electric-thermal Bian-stone therapy and moxibustion box therapy.

METHODSForty-one cases of low back pain of cold-damp pattern were randomized into an electric-thermal Bian-stone therapy group (group A, 26 cases) and a box moxibustion therapy group (group B, 15 cases). In the group A, the electric-thermal Bian-stone was placed over Shenshu (BL 23) and Weizhong (BL 40). The temperature of stone was adjusted in accordance with patient's comfort. In the group B, moxibustion box was used over Shenshu (BL 23) and Weizhong (BL 40). The treatment was given once every day or every two days. Ten treatments made one session. The symptom and physical signs score of low back pain and the score of cold-damp syndrome were observed before and after treatment in the patients.

RESULTSThe symptom and physical signs score of low back pain and the score of cold-damp syndrome were all improved in the two groups (all P < 0.01). The changing rate of symptom and physical signs and syndrome were (37.04 +/- 32.68)% and (22.85 +/- 29.95)% in the group A, and were (47.29 +/- 22.08)% and (23.89 +/- 22.53)% in the group B, respectively, without significant difference in comparison between the two groups (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe efficacy on low back pain of cold-damp pattern treated with the electric-thermal Bian-stone therapy is similar to that of moxibustion box therapy. This therapy is characterized as more convenient, safer operation and less pollution.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion

OBJECTIVETo study whether co-stimulatory molecule CD40 of alveolar macrophage (AM) participated in the occurrence and development of silicosis, and to explore the intervention of Yiqi Huoxue Decoction (YHD) in the fibrosis of silicosis patients.

METHODSTotally 46 silicosis inpatients and outpatients were recruited and randomly assigned to the Western treatment group (A) and the Chinese medicine (CM) treatment group (B), 23 in each group. Patients in Group A received routine symptomatic treatment such as anti-inflammation, phlegm resolving, anti-spasm, and asthma relief, and so on. Patients in Group B additionally took YHD, one dose daily for 14 successive days. Besides, another 18 patients with chronic cough and sense of laryngeal foreign bodies were recruited as the normal control group, who had no obvious lesion confirmed by bronchofi6roscope and clinical diagnosis of the lung. They were treated by symptomatic supporting treatment. The alveolar lavage fluid was collected from all patients and isolated, and AM cells were cultured. The level of CD40 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. The expression of CD40 protein was detected by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, expression levels of CD40 mRNA and CD40 protein significantly increased in Group A (P < 0.01). Compared with Group A, expression levels of CD40 mRNA and CD40 protein significantly decreased in Group B (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSHighly expressed co-stimulatory molecule CD40 of AM might participate in pulmonary fibrosis. YHD could hinder its roles, inhibit the progression of fibrosis, thereby playing an interventional role of treatment.

CD40 Antigens ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Silicosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism

A in vitro platelet aggregation bioassay was developed for the quality control of XST capsules. The in vitro anti-platelet aggregation effect in rats was observed to detect the bioactivity of XST capsules. Panax notoginseng saponins and Xuesaitong lyophilizedpowder for injection were taken as standard control substances to determine the potency. According to the results, XST capsules showeda significant inhibitory effect on thrombin-induced platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner. The in vitro anti-platelet activity oflyophilized powder for injection was stabler than that of Panax notoginseng saponins, and so suitable to serve as a standard control substance. The biological potency of XST capsules compared with standard control substance was detected by using parallel line assay. According to the results, the established bioassay method had a good repeatability (RSD 2.92%). The sample test results could pass thereliability test(linear deviation P > 0.05, parallel deviation P > 0.05). This bioassay method could be used as one of the complementary quality control methods for XST capsules.
Animals ; Capsules ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Saponins ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the ECG features in children with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and related factors for the occurrence of arrhythmia secondary to DCM.

METHODSData from 68 children with DCM from January 1998 to March 2011 were studied. The children were classified into three groups: severe arrhythmia (n=42), non-severe arrhythmia (n=20) and non-arrhythmia (n=6). Left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVED), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) were compared.

RESULTSAbnormal ECG results were found in all of the 68 children with DCM. Sinus tachycardia (91%) and ectopic pulsatile (86%) were common. LVED in the severe arrhythmia group (74±6 mm) was greater than that in the non-severe arrhythmia group (65±4 mm; P<0.05) and non-arrhythmia group (61±3 mm; P<0.05). LVED in the non-severe arrhythmia group was also greater than that in the non-arrhythmia group (P<0.05). LVEF and LVFS in the severe arrhythmia group were (30±11)% and (22±4)%, respectively, which were lower than those in the non-severe arrhythmia group［(37±12)% and (28±5)%, respectively］and non-arrhythmia group［(45±9)% and (34±7)%, respectively］(P<0.05). There were also significant differences in the LVEF and LVFS between the non-severe arrhythmia and non-arrhythmia groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe common abnormal ECG findings are sinus tachycardia and ectopic pulsatile in children with DCM. Arrhythmia is one of the main clinical manifestations of DCM. The occurrence of arrhythmia is associated with the left ventricular size and heart function.

Adolescent ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; etiology ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; complications ; physiopathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Wenyang Decoction (WD) on the differentiation of CD34+ progenitor cells of occupational asthma (OA) model rats.

METHODSFifty healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, i.e., the model group, the blank control group,the WD group,the Western medicine group,the combined group, 10 in each group. Prednisone suspension (10 mg/kg) was administered to rats in the Western medicine group by gastrogavage. WD (20 g/kg) was administered to rats in the WD group by gastrogavage. Prednisone suspension plus WD was administered to rats in the combined group by gastrogavage. Normal saline was administered to rats in the model group and the blank control group by gastrogavage. The general condition of rats was observed. Expression levels of peripheral blood IL-5 and eotaxin, eosinophils (EOS), CD34+, CC chemokine receptor 3 (CCR3+) in bone marrow suspension were detected by ELISA, Wirght-Giemsa, and flow cytometry, respectively.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group,expression levels of IL-5 and eotaxin in peripheral blood were significantly higher (P < 0.01), and the count of EOS and CD34+ cells, as well as CD34+ /CCR3+ significantly increased (P < 0.01) in the model group. Compared with the model group, expression levels of IL-5 and eotaxin, the count of EOS, CD34+ cells, CD34+ / CCR3+ were lowered in three treated groups (P < 0.01). Compared with the Western medicine group, the count of EOS and CD34+ / CCR3+ decreased in the combined group (P < 0.01). The count of EOS was significantly lower in the combined group than in the WD group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONWD could reduce levels of in vivo inflammatory factors, and restrain the differentiation and recruitment of EOS,thereby alleviating the differentiation of CD34 progenitor cells to EOS.

Animals ; Antigens, CD34 ; Asthma, Occupational ; drug therapy ; Bone Marrow ; Cell Differentiation ; Chemokine CCL11 ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Eosinophils ; Flow Cytometry ; Interleukin-5 ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, CCR3 ; Stem Cells

Objective To investigate the changes in the levels of extracellular glutamate(Glu)and gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA)in the nucleus accumbens(NAc),ventral pallidum(vP)and ventral tegmental area(VTA)of rats with psychological dependence on morphine.Methods Eighteen Wistar rats were randomized into control group(n=8)and morphine group(n=10).Morphine hydrochloride was injected subcutaneously in rats in the morphine group for 10 days,followed by conditioned place preference(CPP)training,and the CPP behavior of the rats was evaluated after disappearance of physical morphine dependence.Sodium chloride solution was injected subcutaneously in rats in the control group.One week after morphine withdrawal,microdialysis probes were placed into the NAc,VP and VTA of the rats under anesthesia,and the levels of extracellular Glu and GABA in the microdialysates were determined using high-perforance liquid chromatography(HPLC).Results Compared with the control group,the rats in the morohine group showed significantly increased levels of extracellular Glu in the NAc(P＜0.05),while the levels of extracellular Glh and GABA remained unchanged in the VP and VTA.Conclusion Glu plays an important role in the maintenance of psychological morphine dependence.

AIMTo learn the electrophysiological interference of levofloxacin (LVFX) to heart in guinea pig.

METHODSHigh, moderate and low doses of LVFX were given to the anesthetic guinea pig via i.p., and QT interval span and corrected QT-interval span in the II leading lines of ECG were recorded and analyzed from 5 min to 360 min after the drug administration. Single ventricular myocytes were obtained and impacted by LVFX solution of different concentrations. Then delayed rectifier potassium currents (I(K)) on single cells were recorded with whole-cell patch clamp technique, and compared with control group(without impact of LVFX).

RESULTS(1) After the administration of LVFX, at the dose of 200 mg/kg. QT-interval span was significantly elongated, and the increasing rate is 19.38% +/- 3.15% (P < 0.05). While at the relatively lower doses of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, the elongation is of low/no significance (P > 0.05). (2) LVFX inhibited I(K) dose-dependently and time-dependently.

CONCLUSIONLVFX might prolong the QT-interval span by the mechanism of inhibiting I(K), which implies a potential risk in clinical application.

Animals ; Guinea Pigs ; Levofloxacin ; Membrane Potentials ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; physiology ; Ofloxacin ; pharmacology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques