Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of Qufeng Qingre Weiling Decoction combined with the decreasing amount of loratadine in treatment of chronic urticaria (CU). Methods Totally 108 CU patients were randomly divided into treatment group and control group, 54 cases in each group. The treatment group was given Qufeng Qingre Weiling Decoction combined with the decreasing amount of loratadine (10 mg, 1 time per day) according to symptom controlling situation, and control group with the decreasing amount of loratadine only. Both groups were treated for 4 treatment courses (2 weeks as a treatment course). Symptom score reduce index was used to calculate the effective rate after 8 weeks of treatment. And the taking antihistamine medicine score was recorded 4, 6, 8 weeks of treatment. The follow-up visits were made to observe long-term efficacy of the cured patients 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after discontinuing the medication. Results Totally 27 cases from the treatment group were cured, with a total short-term effective rate of 96.30%;13 cases from the control group were cured, with a total short-term effective rate of 65.38%, with statistical significance (P<0.05). The taking antihistamine medicine score in treatment group (0.553 ± 0.239) was lower than that in control group (0.721 ± 0.245), namely the symptom improvement in treatment group was better than that in control group by taking less antihistamine medicine. Long-term clinical efficacy showed that the treatment group was also distinctively better than the control group. Conclusion Qufeng Qingre Weiling Decoction combined with the decreasing amount of loratadine is more effective for CU, and with better short-term and long-term clinical efficacy than the control group.

Stroke is one of the severe perioperative complications.The incidence of perioperative stroke has great difference because of the surgical site,surgical complexity,and different basic diseases of patients.The induced anesthesia and the intraoperative management also have an important influence on the onset of stroke.The mortality of perioperative stroke is as high as 26%.Neturologists must guide the assessment of the potential risks for perioperative stroke,and carefully balance the risk-benefit ratio when making each decision.This article reviews the advances in research on the risk factors for perioperative stroke,prevention,and treatment.

Objective To explore the cerebral activation in Xinjiang' Uyghurs when performing a Chinese word tasks by the functional magnetic resonance image (fMRI).Methods Twenty-one healthy Xinjiang' Uyghurs and 11 healthy Hans were scanned using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) on a 1.5 T MRI scanner with a single run.Different Chinese words were displayed in each block to avoid any practice effect SPM5.0 software was used for image data processing.To evaluate the inter subject consistency of brain activations associated with Chinese character and word reading, we created penetrance maps by combining binary individual functional maps.Results For Uyghur-Chinese bilingual subjects, activations related to generated a word that was semantically related to each stimulus.The results indicated that reading Chinese is characterized by extensive activity of the neural systems.Peak activations occurred in the left middle frontal cortex at Brodmann Areas (BA9 and BA 47).The left temporal (BA 37) cortices were also strongly activated.Other important activated areas included bilateral visual systems (BA 17-19) and cerebellum.The location of peak activation in the left frontal regions was similar in Native Uyghurs and Hans.But the active areas in Uyghurs are more extensive than that of Hans .Conclusions The location of peak activation in the left frontal regions was similar in Native Uyghurs and Hans.More brain areas were needed for Xinjiang' Uyghur speakers during processing Chinese words.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion (AM) on learning-memory ability and expression of amyloid beta (Aβ) in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) of Alzheimer's disease (AD) rats, so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of AD. METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal, sham operation, model and AM groups (n＝10 in each). The AD model was established by bilateral hippocampal injection of Aβ1-42(5 µL). The AM was applied at "Baihui" (GV 20) and "Shenshu" (BL 23) for 15 min, once daily for 12 times. Morris water maze tests were used to assess the rats' learning-memory ability. The levels of serum Aβ1-42 and Aβ internalizing enzymes including transthyretin (TTR), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), alpha 2 macroglobulin (α 2M) and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) were detected by ELISA. The expression of Aβ1-42 in the hippocampal DG was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared with the sham operation group, the average escape latency of location navigation test was significantly prolonged in the first 5 days and the last 3 days (P<0.01), and the residence time of the target-quadrant and the platform crossing times of special probing task were significantly reduced in the model group (P<0.01). After the intervention, the average escape latency was obviously shortened in the first 5 days and the last 3 days (P<0.01), and both the residence time and the platform crossing times were significantly increased in the AM group relevant to the model group (P<0.01, P<0.05). After modeling, the contents of TTR, LPL, α 2M and ApoE in the serum were significantly lower in the model group than in the sham operation group (P<0.01, P<0.05), while the levels of serum Aβ1-42 and hippocampal Aβ1-42 expression were considerably increased relevant to the sham operation group (P<0.01). Following the intervention, the TTR, LPL, α2M and ApoE contents in the serum were significantly increased (P<0.01, P<0.05), and both serum Aβ1-42 and hippocampal Aβ1-42 expression were notably down-regulated in comparison with the model group (P<0.05). No significant differences were found between the normal and sham operation groups in the levels of all the above-mentioned indexes (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: AM can improve the learning-memory ability of AD rats, which may be related to its effects in up-regulating the contents of serum Aβ internalizing enzymes and promoting the clearance of hippocampal Aβ. It suggests a protective role of AM on hippocampal neurons.

BACKGROUNDTo investigate the clinical features of hepatitis A in 1 629 children under 14 years of age treated in our department at various periods of time.

METHODSThe patients were divided into two groups: 1. Group A consisted of 883 patients treated from January 1984 to December 1990; 2. Group B consisted of 746 patients treated from January 1991 to December 2000. The clinical data of all the patients were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS1. The average age was 7.17+/-3.27 and 8.78+/- 3.28 years (chi2=0.54, P>0.05) and the mean course of disease 26.25+/-16.96 and 25.65+/-12.58 days (chi2=0.29, P>0.05). 2. Double peak or multi-peak serum ALT was found in 89 patients. Four peaks of serum ALT was found in one patient. 3. HBsAg was found positive in 143 patients (8.80%). The mean course of disease was 34.40+/-25.86 and 25.20+/-15.43 days (chi2=146.5, P<0.001) in HBsAg positive and negative patients, respectively. 4. Liver puncture biopsy in 26 patients with hepatitis A showed that there was piecemeal necrosis in 2 patients.

CONCLUSIONS1. There was no significant delay in age of children with HAV infection in 1990s. There was no marked difference in the course of disease between the patients simultaneously receiving various drugs and those receiving one or two drugs. 2. The double peak or multi-peak of serum ALT in patients with hepatitis A might be related to liver damage caused by HAV and immune mechanism. 3. The major type of virus for combined infection in patients with hepatitis A is HBV. The course of disease was prolonged with combined infection of HBV. 4. Piecemeal necrosis might be seen in the liver of a small proportion of patients with hepatitis A alone, which may not be enough to suggest chronicity.

Adolescent ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hepatitis A ; diagnosis ; therapy ; virology ; Hepatitis B ; virology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Humans ; Infant ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Superinfection

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture intervention on severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) at early stage complicated with intestinal paralysis.

METHODSSixty-eight cases of SAP were randomly divided into observation group (48 cases) and control group (20 cases). In observation group, according to the course of sickness, the early-stage subgroup (30 cases, hospitalized in 3 d) and late-stage subgroup (18 cases, hospitalized in 3-7 d) were subdivided. In control group, the conventional treatment was applied. In observation group, based on the same treatment as control group, electroacupuncture was supplemented at Zhongwan (CV 12), Zusanli (ST 36), Neiguan (PC 6), Hegu (LI 4), etc. Acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II scores, the recovery time of intestinal paralysis and laboratory indices, complications, operation transfer rate, death rate and the admission time were compared among groups after treatment.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 83.3% (25/30) in early-stage subgroup, which was superior to 72.2% (13/18) in late-stage subgroup and 65.0% (13/20) in control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). In early-stage subgroup, the remission time of abdominal pain, the remission time of abdominal distention, the recovery time of borborygums, the recovery time of gas discharge, and the recovery time of defecation were all shorter significantly than those in late-stage subgroup and control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). In early-stage subgroup, APACHE II scores, the recovery time of WBC and blood/uric amylase, complications, operation transfer rate, death rate and admission time were all lower remarkably than those in late-stage subgroup and control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); but, there were no statistical significant differences in comparison between late-stage subgroup and control group (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture intervention on SAP complicated with intestinal paralysis is superior remarkably to that of conventional treatment, and the efficacy of electroacupuncture intervention at early stage is better than that at late stage.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Aged ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction ; etiology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatitis ; complications ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of arctiin on advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP)-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in tubular cells and explore the mechanisms underlying this effect.

METHODSHuman proximal tubular cells (HK-2 cells) were treated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) or AOPPs in the presence or absence of arctiin. The expressions of E-cadherin, vimentin, and GRP78 at the protein and mRNA levels in the cells were examined using Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured by flow cytometry with DCFH-DA as the fluorescent probe.

RESULTSCompared with BSA-treated cells, the cells treated with AOPPs showed decreased expression of epithelial cell marker E-cadherin and overexpression of mesenchymal marker vimentin and endoplasmic reticulum stress marker GRP78 with an increased ROS level. These changes induced by AOPPs were partly inhibited by arctiin.

CONCLUSIONArctiin can ameliorate AOPP-induced EMT in tubular cells by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress, and oxidative stress response may participate in this process.

Advanced Oxidation Protein Products ; adverse effects ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Furans ; pharmacology ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Kidney Tubules ; cytology ; drug effects ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of lithium chloride (LiCl) on cell cycle of HK-2 cells and explore the possible pathways involved.

METHODSHK-2 cells were treated with LiCl at different concentrations (5, 12.5, 20, and 25 mmol/L) for 12, 24, 48, or 72 h, and the changes in cell cycle and viability were detected using flow cytometry and CCK-8 assay, respectively. Western blotting was used to analyze the changes in the expressions of cyclin B1 and CDK1 (the two G2 phase-related proteins) and those of AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway-related proteins in the treated cells.

RESULTSLiCl treatment time- and concentration-dependently increased HK-2 cell percentage in G2 phase and decreased the cell vitality. The expressions of cyclin B1, CDK1, p-GSK-3β, and β-catenin increased and the expression of p-AKT decreased significantly in the cells as LiCl treatment time and concentration increased.

CONCLUSIONLiCl may cause HK-2 cell cycle arrest in G2 phase through activation of the AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway.

In view of gemcitabine resistance has limited clinical activity of gemcitabine as a cellulotoxic drug in pancreatic cancer patients, this study is designed to investigate the effect of emodin on the sensitivity of pancreatic cancer to gemcitabine as well as its mechanism. After gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cell line (SW1990/GZ) was established by escalating doses of gemcitabine serially in pancreatic cancer cell line (SW1990). The cellular proliferation was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to determine apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells. The activity of NF-kappaB in pancreatic cancer cells was measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression of Bcl-2 and Survivin in SW1990/GZ cells. Metastatic model simulating human pancreatic cancer was established by orthotopic implantation of histologically intact human tumor tissue into pancreatic wall of nude mice. Also, immunohistochemistry was used to detect the positive expression of Ki-67, NF-kappaB, Bcl-2 and Survivin in the tumors. The results show that pretreatment of cells with emodin followed by gemcitabine induced a higher percentage of growth inhibition and apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells than that of gemcitabine alone. In addition to in vitro results, emodin in combination with gemcitabine is much more effective as an antitumor agent compared to either agent alone in the orthotopic tumor model. Further study showed that the emodin with or without gemcitabine significantly down-regulates NF-kappaB and its regulated molecules such as Bcl-2 and Survivin proteins both in vitro and in vivo. It is concluded that inactivation of NF-kappaB signaling pathway by emodin resulting in the chemosensitization of pancreatic cancer to gemcitabine, which is likely to be an important and novel strategy for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
Animals ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Deoxycytidine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Emodin ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; metabolism ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; Repressor Proteins ; metabolism ; Tumor Burden ; drug effects

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of Baisong tablets (BST) on synapse protein synatotagmin (SYT) and synaptophysin (SYN) of hippocampus in chronic stress depression in rats. METHODS: Twenty eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to 4 groups: a normal control group,a model group,a fluoxetine (FXT) group and a BST group. The normal control rats were fed in a natural environment. Rats of the model, FXT and BST groups were singly housed and given an chronic unpredicted sequence of mild stressors. The distribution and expression differences of SYT and SYN in the hippocampus of rats in different groups were investigated with in situ hybridization and immunoblotting. RESULTS: Expressions of SYT and SYN in the hippocampus of model rats were significantly reduced, compared with that of the normal control (P<0.05); and the expressions of SYT and SYN were significantly increased in the hippocampus of the FXT and BST groups, compared with that of the model group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The expressions of SYT and SYN protein and their mRNA decrease in the hippocampus of stress-model rats. BST can up-regulate their expression.
Animals ; Antidepressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Depression ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stress, Physiological ; Synaptotagmin I ; biosynthesis ; genetics