Objective To observe the effects of standardized three stage rehabilitation treatment on the neu- rological deficit scores (NDS) and ADL performance of ischemic stroke patients.Methods A total of 164 ischemic stroke patients were recruited and randomly divided into a rehabilitation group and a control group.The neurological function and ADL performance of the patients were assessed by using NDS and Modified Barthcl Index (MBI) at the admission,at the end of 1st,3rd and 6th months post stroke.Results No significant differences were found be- tween the rehabilitative and the control groups with regard to NDS and MBI at admission.The NDS demonstrated a decreasing tendency,while the MBI score an increasing tendency in both groups.In the control group,significant difference of NDS was found between admission and the end of 1st month as well as between the end of the 1 st and the 3rd months.In rehabilitation group,significant difference was revealed between all the time points with regard to NDS and MBI scores.At the end of the 1st,3rd and 6th months,the MBI scores of the rehabilitation group were signifi- cantly higher than those of the control group,indicating that the ADL performance of those treated with standardized three-stage rehabilitation protocol was improved quicker than those without the protocol.Conclusion Standardized three-stage rehabilitation treatment could improve the neurological function and ADL performance of the ischemic stroke patients.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of detoxifying and blood circulation activating Chinese herb extraction of polygonum cuspidatum and hawthorn on carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), plaque integral and plaque stability related serum indexes of patients with carotid atherosclerosis.

METHODSixty and four cases of carotid artery atherosclerosis patients were assigned randomly to 2 groups: detoxifying and blood circulation activating treatment group (treatment group, 32 cases) and control group (32 cases). Patients in treatment group were treated with capsules of extraction of polygonum cuspidatum and hawthorn, 1 pill po, bid (dosage of administration: polygonum cuspidatum extraction 5.33 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), hawthorn extraction 5.0 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)); patients in control group were treated with lovastatin 20 mg po, qd (dosage of administration: 0.33 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)). The course of treatment was six months. To observe changes of IMT, plaque integral, and detect the level of plaque stability related serum indexes such as Hs-CRP, MMP-1 and TIMP-1.

RESULTAfter 6 months of treatment, in control group one patient quit the clinical trial because of liver dysfunction and one patient was rejected because of having not followed the therapeutic regimen. 32 cases in treatment group and 30 cases in control group were analyzed. The results showed that IMT and plaque integral of treatment group decreased significantly after the treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and there was no significant difference compared with control grope. Serum Hs-CRP, MMP-1 and MMP-1/TIMP-1 decreased after the treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the treatment group was superior to control group in decreasing serum Hs-CRP (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDetoxifying and blood circulation activating Chinese herb extraction of polygonum cuspidatum and hawthorn has good effect of anti-atherosclerosis and promoting plaque stability. Its mechanism might be related with anti-inflammation and inhibiting degradation of extracellular matrix, and deserves further studies.

C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; blood ; drug therapy ; Crataegus ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Fallopia japonica ; chemistry ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Safety ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; blood

The chemical constituents isolated from Desmodium species (Leguminosae) included terpenoids, flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids compounds. Modem pharmacological studies have showed that the Desmodium species have antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, diuretic, antipyretic, analgesic and choleretic activity. This article mainly has reviewed the research advances of chemical constituents and biological activities of Desmodium species since 2003.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Fabaceae ; chemistry ; Humans

Simvastatin is a hypolipidemic drug that inhibits hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMGCoA) reductase to control elevated cholesterol,or hypercholesterolemia.Previous studies have shown that simvastatin may attenuate inflammation in ischemia-reperfusion injury and sepsis.Herein,we hypothesized that simvastatin may prevent rats from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced septic shock.In our study,rats were divided into a saline group,an LPS group and an LPS plus simvastatin group.Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were pretreated with simvastatin (1 mg/kg) for 30 min before the addition of LPS (8 mg/kg),with variations in left ventricular pressure recorded throughout.Ninety min after LPS injection,whole blood was collected from the inferior vena cava,and neutrophils were separated from the whole blood using separating medium.The neutrophils were then lysed for Western blotting to detect the levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1).In addition,mesentery microcirculations of inlet diameter,outlet diameter and blood flow rate were measured in all three groups.The results indicated that simvastatin significantly promoted heart systolic function and increased the level ofuPA while simultaneously inhibited the expression of PAI-1 as compared with LPS group.Moreover,simvastatin reversed the LPS-induced inhibition of mesentery microcirculation.Taken together,it was suggested that simvastatin can effectively protect the rats from LPS-induced septic shock.

Objective To investigate the impact of intermittent porta hepatis occlusion on postoperative intra-hepatic recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods We retrospectively reviewed the records of 335 patients who underwent partial hepatectomy.The patients were classified into 2 groups:(1) the study group (n=97):porta hepatis was occluded with intermittent Pringle maneuver with 2-3 cycles of clamp/unclamp time of 15 min/5 min,repeated 2-3cycles; (2) the control group (n=238):including using Pringle maneuver,preconditioning occlusion of porta hepatis and selective occlusion of portal blood inflow.Patients were followed-up in the Outpatient Department once every 2-3 weeks in the 1st year,and once every 3-6 weeks in the 2nd year with US/CT/MRI and serum AFP test.The mean duration of follow-up was 26.5 months.Results The perioperative mortality was 1.8％ (6/335).Tumour recurrence in the study group was 31.6％ and 48.4％ in the 1st and 2nd year,respectively.The recurrence rates were significantly higher,than the 21.4％ and 38.0％ in the control group (P＜0.05).To exclude the miscellaneous factors which were involved in intra-hepatic recurrence of HCC,we set up 3 criteria to include patients for subgroup analysis:tumor ≥5 cm; serum AFP decreased to normal level within 4 weeks; negative intra-operative US scan.The number of patients included were 79 and 155 in the study and the control groups,respectively.There were significant differences in recurrence rate between the study and the control groups in the 1st and 2nd year (29.1％ vs 18.7％,46.8％ vs 35.5％,P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in overall survival rate between the two groups.Conclusions Intermittent porta hepatis occlusion is a risk factor of postoperative intra hepatic recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective To explore appropriate organization and financing models of urban employees supplementary medical insurance under the conditions of the market economy. Methods Employee surveys on willingness to participate in, willingness to pay for, and actual enrolment in supplementary medical insurance were conducted in Shanghai, Wenzhou and Chengdu and nationally different operational models were compared so as to analyze prospectively coverage and operational models of feasible supplementary medical insurance options. Results Characteristics of the employees needs for various supplementary medical insurance options were garnered and appropriate coverage and operational models were put forward. Conclusion It is suggested that the role of the government in the development of supplementary medical insurance be clearly defined, the development of supplementary medical insurance be promoted through policy support and guidance, and the supervision of supplementary medical insurance be strengthened.

Objective To evaluate the functional changes in the isometric,concentric and eccentric muscle strength of the knee extensors and flexors in patients with knee osteoarthritis,and to explore the relationship among these contractions.Methods A Biodex System-3 isokinetic test system was used to assess the isometric,concentric and eccentric strength of the knee extensors and flexors of the involved and uninvolved limbs of 54 patients suffering from osteoarthritis.Results The strength of the knee extensors and flexors of the involved limbs was significantly less than that of the uninvolved legs in the different contraction modes(P＜0.05).The difference was especially marked in concentric and eccentric contraction at low angular velocity.The hamstrings/quadriceps ratio and the dy- namic control ratio showed abnormalities in the muscle balance of the hamstrings and quadriceps.Conclusion Iso- kinetic testing should be applied and the hamstrings/quadriceps ratio and the dynamic control ratio should be analyzed in evaluating patients with knee osteoarthritis.

In order to elucidate the effect of membrane stretch on ionic currents, we employed the whole-cell patch-clamp technique to investigate the effects of different kinds of stretch on voltage-dependent calcium currents in antrial circular smooth muscle cells of the guinea-pig. The membrane stretch induced by superfusing the smooth muscle cells with hyposmotic bath solution enhanced voltage-operated calcium current and activated inward holding current. The increase in calcium current occurred within 1 minute of superfusion and the sustained inward holding current was slowly activated after prominent cell swelling. Voltage-dependent calcium currents (Ica) were significantly increased by membrane stretch which was induced by cell swelling and cell inflation, but was not affected by direct longitudinal stretch (110～130%) using two electrodes.The results suggest that the cell membrane stretch can increase voltage-dependent calcium channel activity and the effect of stretch on calcium channels was related to the membrane tension and/or the direction of membrane stretch.

Objective To explore dynamic response of serum lipids and relationship with body mass index(BMI)after fat meal in obese children and adolescents. Methods The subjects were 31 obese children and adolescents (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) and 30 controls (BMI

This paper summarized the recent 30 years research progress of the chemical constituents from Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix. The chemical constituents from Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix mainly consist of coumarins, polyene-polyacetylenes, sesquiterpenes, phenolic acids, while steroids and flavonoids were less reported. All constituents were confirmed and corrected through SciFinder. We also checked the Chinese name and English name and listed the CAS number of each compound. It can provide some guidelines for the research, development and utilization of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix in the future. Whether there is columbianin in the Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix need to be further researched.
Apiaceae ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Rhizome ; chemistry