Objective To approach effect of Yiqihuoxue decoction on remnant stomach paralysis syndrome after subtotal gastrectomy. Methods A total of 44 patient of remnant stomach paralysis syndrome were randomly recruited into a control group and a treatment group, with 22 patients in each group. The control group was treated with TPN parenteral alimentation. On this basis, the treatment group was treated with Yiqihuoxue decoction and mental intervention. The clinical effects were observed in both groups after the treatment. Results The total effective rate was 54.55% and 100% in the control group and the treatment group respectively, showing statistic difference(P=0.00625 ＜0.01).Conclusion It was effective to treat remnant stomach paralysis syndrome with Yiqihuoxue decoction, TPN parenteral nutrition and mental intervention.

OBJECTIVE:To optimize the extraction technology of polysaccharides from Gossypium herbaceum L. by pectinase hydrolysis. METHODS:Polysaccharides were extracted from G. herbaceum L. by pectinase hydrolysis combined with traditional hot water extraction. With the extraction rate of polysaccharides as the evaluated index,single factor test and orthogonal design were applied to investigate the effects of 4 factors including enzymolysis temperature,enzymolysis time,the amount of enzyme and pH value on polysaccharides extraction rate,and verification tests were conducted. RESULTS:The optimal extraction technolo-gy was as follows as enzymolysis temperature of 40 ℃,enzymolysis time of 150 min,enzyme accounting for 2.0%,pH value for enzymolysis of 4.6. Under the above conditions,the average extraction rate of polysaccharides from G. herbaceum L. was 2.474%(RSD=3.34%,n=5). CONCLUSIONS:Pectinase hydrolysis is an effective method to extract polysaccharides from G. herbace-um L.. The optimal extraction technology is reasonable and feasible.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of leflunomide in comparison with methotrexate (MTX) on patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in China.

METHODSFive hundred and sixty-six patients with active rheumatoid arthritis were randomly assigned to receive leflunomide at 20 mg once daily or MTX at 15 mg once weekly in a controlled trial. Five hundred and four patients completed the 12-week treatment and some patients continued the treatment for 24 weeks.

RESULTSBoth leflunomide and MTX could improve the symptoms, signs, and joint function, but there were no changes in X-ray observations of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In the leflunomide group, the overall rates of effectiveness at 12 weeks and 24 weeks were 86.94% and 92.31% respectively; the rates of remarkable improvement were 64.95% and 79.81% respectively. In the MTX group, the overall rates of effectiveness at 12 weeks and 24 weeks were 84.04% and 83.15% respectively; the rates of remarkable improvement were 56.81% and 75.28% respectively. According to intent-to-treat analysis, the ACR 20% response rates at 12 weeks and 24 weeks in the leflunomide group were 62.54% and 67.18% respectively, compared with 60.08% and 61.32% respectively in MTX group. No statistical differences were shown in the efficacy between the two groups (P > 0.05). The adverse events in the leflunomide group were gastrointestinal symptoms, skin rash, alopecia, nervous system symptoms, decreased leukocyte count, and elevation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Most of these side effects were mild and transient. The incidence of adverse events in the leflunomide group was 16.84%, significantly lower than that in MTX group (28.17%, P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONSLeflunomide is effective in the treatment of RA with less adverse events than MTX. Its efficacy is similar to MTX, but the incidence of adverse events and the rate of withdrawal due to adverse events were lower in the leflunomide group than in MTX group.

Antirheumatic Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; Female ; Growth Inhibitors ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Isoxazoles ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Methotrexate ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged