Shanyao (Dioscorea opposita Thunb.) is the one of the conventional herbs in the clinical practice, which is good at nourishing yin, and entering the lung, spleen and kidney meridian. Through analysis on all formulae contain-ing Shanyao in past dynasties, we found out the top 30 kinds of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbs for the highest frequency in combination with Shanyao, among which there were 28 herbs recorded in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Shen Nong's Classic of the Materia Medica) and 23 herbs were considered as the top grade medicinals. This article was focused on the analysis of the compatibility meaning and rules of Shanyao and supplementing medic-inals in order to provide scientific basis for clinical formulae and daily health cultivation so as to make good use of Shanyao.

Objective To explore the value of carbon nanoparticles in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) undergoing total thyroidectomy combined with ipsilateral central lymph node dissection.Methods 43 patients with unilateral PTC were retrospectively analyzed.All patients underwent total thyroidectomy combined with central lymph node dissection.Patients were divided into carbon nanoparticles group and the control group according to whether carbon nanoparticles were used in the operation.The operation time,postoperative hospitalization time,the serum calcium level and its rate of change,the parathyroid hormone and its rate of change on the 1 st day after surgery,the number of central lymph node and the transfer rate,and the postoperative complications were compared between the 2 groups.Results There was no statistical difference between the 2 groups in operation time(P ＞ 0.05),while the postoperative hospitalization time of the carbon nanoparticles group was shorter than that of the control group(P ＜ 0.05).The serum calcium and the parathyroid hormone on the 1 st day after surgery in the carbon nanoparticles group was (2.31 ± 0.13) mmol/L and (33.45 ± 14.37) pg/ml respectively,higher than those of the control group (P ＜ 0.05).The low blood calcium rate (3/20 (15％)),the temporary hypoparathyroidism rate (2/20 (10％)) and the decline degree of parathyroid hormone (47.3 ± 14.31)％ in the carbon nanoparticles group were lower than those of the control group(P ＜0.05).The number of central lymph node dissected (9.45 ± 2.33) pieces/case in the carbon nanoparticles group was more than that of the control group (P ＜ 0.05).The number of lymph node in the right recurrent laryngeal nerve (3.12 ± 0.65) pieces/case was more than that of the control group(P ＜ 0.05).The lymph node metastasis rate had no significant difference between the 2 groups(P ＞ 0.05).The incidence of postoperative complications in the carbon nanoparticles group was lower than that of the control group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The application of carbon nanoparticles in total thyroidectomy combined with central lymph node dissection can contribute to the recognition and protection of parathyroid glands and its blood supply,improve the rate of central lymph node dissection,and reduce the incidence of postoperative complications.

Objective A novel high-speed three-way solenoid valve is developed, which is used for the common-rail injection system equipped on DME powered engine. In order to improve the dynamic response performance of the three-way solenoid. Methods Experimental studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of spool stroke, drive voltage, negative demagnetizing pulse and two drive schemes on the dynamic response performance of the three-way solenoid valve. Results The results show that the dynamic response performance of the three-way solenoid valve can be remarkably improved by shortening the spool stroke and increasing the drive voltage. Simultaneously, the difference between the response time of closing valve and that of opening valve decreases. At each different drive voltage, there exists an optimal negative demagnetizing pulse corresponding to the same positive exciting pulse. At this optimal pulse,the dynamic response performance of the three-way solenoid valve is the best. In addition, the high drive voltage can lead to the smaller optimal negative demagnetizing pulse. It is also indicated from the experiments that the dynamic response performance of the three-way solenoid valve is better when the NO. 1 drive scheme is adopted. The lower drive voltage results in the larger difference between the dynamic response performances for the two drive schemes.Conclusion The dynamic response performance of a novel three-way solenoid valve is good.

This study was aimed to explore clinical effect on treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) of cold-dampness syndrome by the combination of Wen-Jing San-Han Tong-Luo (WJSHTL) decoction and acupuncture. A total of 88 RA patients were selected and randomly divided into the control group and the treatment group. All 44 cases in the control group were orally administrated with diclofenac sodium, sulphasalazine (SASP) and methotrexate (MTX). All 44 cases in the treatment group were treated with the combination of WJSHTL decoction and acupuncture on the ba-sis of western medication the same as the control group. Each group was treated for three months. Improvements of clinical symptoms, body signs and laboratory indexes were observed. The results showed that clinical symptoms, body signs and laboratory indexes were greatly improved in the comparison before and after treatment in both groups with statistical significance (P < 0.05). Compared to the control group, the treatment group had no statistical significance in the improvement of rest pain, swelling numbers and index, tenderness numbers and index, morning stiffness time, liver and kidney function. Compared with the control group, the treatment group had more obvious advantages in the improvement of joint function, hand grip strength, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) decreasing, C-reactive protein (CRP) and rheumatoid factor (P< 0.05). It was concluded that compared with single western medication, the combi-nation of WJSHTL decoction and acupuncture with western medication had certain advantages in the improvement of joint function of RA and management of patient's disease condition.

Objective To investigate the relationship between insulin resistance and erythrocyte in- sulin receptors in patients with gout associated with macroalbruminuria(MAU).Methods FBG,PBG,FINS, P2hINS,CH,TG,HDL,LDL-c,UA and erythrocyte insulin receptors were determined in 44 patients with MAU,62 patients with normal MAU(NMAU).Results In MAU,the levels of FINS,TG,LDL-c and HOMA-IR were(16?4)mU/L,(2.5?0.6)retool/L,(3.2?0.5)mmol/L and 3.6~1.2 respectively.While they were(13?3) mU/L,(2.3?0.8)mmol/L,(3.0?0.5)mmol/L and 3.0~0.4 in NMAU group.The levels of FINS,TG,LDL-c and HOMA-IR were significantly higher in the MAU patients than those in NMAU patients(P

Objective To explore the clinical value of virtual touch quantification (VTQ) technique in assessing the hepatic fibrosis. Methods A total of 115 inpatients with chronic liver disease receiving liver biopsy were enrolled in this study, all patients liver tissue was checked by VTQ technique, and the results were compared with those of the control group including 80 healthy subjects. Results VTQ value was significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.0000).The VTQ value among different degree of hepatic fibrosis but between S0 and S1 had statistical significances (P = 0.0212, P = 0.0000).ROC curve displayed that VTQ value of 1.4 m/s could be used to diagnose middle-high-grade liver fibrosis, the sensitivity and specificity were 85.4 % and 64.7%, respectively. Conclusions VTQ can be used as a noninvasive and effective means for assessing the degree of hepatic fibrosis.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of pramipexole versus fluoxetine in the treatment of depression in Parkinson's disease ( PD). Methods A randomized, clinical trial of pramipexole versus fluoxetine treatment for 12 weeks in 50 patients suffering from combined PD and depression was accomplished. The efficacy and safety assessments of the treatments were performed at different time points. Results For the intent-to-treat (ITT) population, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) scores decreased progressively in both the pramipexole and the fluoxetine group, and a between-time statistical analysis was significant for both groups. The efficacy proportion of patients who responded to the treatment, as defined by at least a 50% reduction in HAMD score, was 56. 0% in the pramipexole group versus 48. 0% in the fluoxetine group (χ~2 =0. 321, P>0. 05). Similarly, the proportion of patients who recovered, as defined by a final HAMD score ≤8, was 52. 0% in the pramipexole group versus 32. 0% in the fluoxetine group (χ~2 =2. 053, P>0. 05) , but the difference between the two treatments showed no statistical significance. At the endpoint, both the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) part Ⅱ and part Ⅲ subscores improved in the pramipexole group, by a mean of 2. 9±3. 7 (t= 2.366, P<0.05) and7.2±5.1 (t=2.654, P< 0.05), respectively, and the latter was significantly different from the change in this variable of the fluoxetine group (P<0. 05). Spearman analysis showed that no relationship between HAMD score and UPDRS Part II or Part III subscore. The findings for the per-protocol (PP) population were consistent with the above results, except that the proportion of patients who recovered in the pramipexole group was significantly larger than that in the fluoxetine group. The adverse events in both groups were mild dizziness, nausea and anorexia. No significant difference was found in the frequencies of the adverse events between the pramipexole and fluoxetine group. Conclusions Pramipexole is effective and safe in the treatment of Chinese PD patients combined with depression.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of combined high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) pulse therapy in patients with severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods Thirty-six patients were enrolled into this study, and randomly classified into WIG group (n=17) and methylprednisolone (MP) group (n=19). The treatment of patients in MG group began with a 3-day intravenous MP followed by intravenous WIG 400 mg per kilogram of body weight per day for 3-5 days, then was switched to oral prcdnisone and cyclophosphamide at routine dose. Intravenous MG was given repeatedly with an interval of 1 month for 2-5 sessions. Patients in MP group were treated with the same corticosteroids and immunosuppressants as used in WIG group but without IVIG. Patients were followed up for 3-12 months.The clinical efficacy, related serum parameters, and systemic lupus activity measurement (SLAM) were evaluated and compared between the two groups. Results Most patients in both groups showed a remission of symptoms and reduction in disease activity after treatment. The decrease in SLAM, positivity rates of antinuclear antibodies and anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibodies as well as the increase in platelets were faster in IVIG group than those in MP group (all P<0.05), but the long-term efficacy of the two groups was similar (P>0.05). Infections occurred in 11.8% of patients in WIG group and 36.8% of patients in MP group. Conclusions High-dose intravenous immunoglobulin may serve as an effective aid in the treatment of severe SLE, and is particularly beneficial to patients resistant to corticosteroids and immunosuppressants of routine dose and those accompanied by severe infections and intolerable to high dose of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants.

AIMTo establish an HPLC method for simultaneous determination of four flavonoids in Hypericum perforatum L., ruitn, hyperin, avicularin and quercetin.

METHODSC18 column was used, the chromatography was carried out with a linear gradient program. The mobile phase was A: H2O (pH 3.0-3.5 adjusted with phosphoric acid) and B: acetonitrile, at flow rate of 1.0 mL.min-1, peaks were detected at 254 nm.

RESULTSThe linear range of rutin was 1.376-8.256 micrograms.mL-1 (gamma = 0.9999), hyperin 3.160-18.960 micrograms.mL-1 (gamma = 0.9996), avicularin 0.968-5.808 micrograms.mL-1 (gamma = 0.9998) and quercetin 0.776-4.656 micrograms.mL-1 (gamma = 0.9993). The average recovery of rutin was 97.8%, RSD 4.8% (n = 3), hyperin 100.7%, RSD 3.7% (n = 3), avicularin 97.3%, RSD 0.8% (n = 3) and quercetin 100.5%, RSD 4.4% (n = 3). All of RSDs of precision were less than 2% (n = 5), reproducibilities less than 3%.

CONCLUSIONThe method is simple, effective and feasible. It can be used to determine flavonodis in Hypericum perforatum.

Calibration ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; chemistry ; Hypericum ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quercetin ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Rutin ; analysis

Objective To investigate the relationship between vaspin,Apelin,leptin and polycystic ovary syndrome.Methods We determined the serum vaspin,Apelin and leptin levels of 40 cases of PCOS patients and 30 cases of control group,and divided the PCOS group into three subgroups (normal weight,overweight and obesity) according to WHO criteria for obesity.Then we compared the serum vaspin,Apelin and leptin levels in PCOS and control group,and the differences in body weight index (body mass index,BMI) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome,and analyzed roles of adipokine vaspin,Apelin and leptin in the pathogenesis of PCOS.Results In PCOS patients adipokine vaspin,Apelin,leptin,insulin resistance index (Homeostasis model assessment for insulin index in resistence,HOMA-IR),fasting insulin (INS) and blood glucose,blood lipid were higher than those of the control group and increased with the increase of body mass index (BMI),and three kinds of adipokines and PCOS patients with HOMA-IR were positively correlated,there were statistically significant differences (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The results of vaspin,Apelin and leptin may be involved in the occurrence of PCOS.