OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect and safety of Nuanxin Capsule (NXC) in treating patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

METHODSAdopting the randomized, positive controlled, double-blinded design, 150 CHF patients were assigned to the treatment group and the control group equally, they were treated with optimal western medical therapeutic scheme in combining respectively with NXC and placebo for 24 weeks. The indices for effectiveness and safety evaluation, such as Chinese medicine syndrome, grade of heart function, myocardial contraction, as well as the re-hospitalization rate and mortality, were observed.

RESULTSThe total effective rate on heart function in the treatment group and the control group was 78.87% and 64.38% respectively, that on Chinese medicine syndrome was 85.9% and 63.0% respectively, comparisons of the two indices between the two groups all showed significant difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). And a better efficacy for improving patients' cardiac contraction function and quality of life was shown in the treatment group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The re-hospitalization rates in them were 23.9% and 53.4% respectively (P < 0.05), and 22.54% and 42.5% of the re-hospitalized patients had attack of acute heart failure, a significant difference was found between the two groups (P < 0.05). The mortality in them was 2.90% and 8.95% respectively, showing no significant difference between groups (P > 0.05). No obvious adverse effect was found in both groups.

CONCLUSIONSNXC could improve the heart function of patients, it has obvious curative effect and good safety in treating chronic heart failure.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the distribution laws of Chinese medicine syndromes in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) by clinical epidemiologic investigation.

METHODS512 CHF patients were studied, including 168 items of symptoms and 48 items of tongue and pulse pictures. A database of Chinese medicine syndromes was established, and 9 disease nature elements and 5 disease location elements were extracted. Frequency analysis was performed on all symptoms, tongue and pulse pictures. The variables with frequency constituent ratio less than 10.0% were deleted. Then the features of clinical epidemiology, syndrome patterns, syndrome elements, main symptoms, as well as tongue and pulse pictures were analyzed.

RESULTS(1) The disease nature elements of CHF covered qi deficiency, yin deficiency, and yang deficiency (categorized as the essential deficiency), as well as blood stasis, turbid phlegm, and the retained fluid (categorized to the superficiality excess). Among them, frequencies of qi deficiency and blood stasis (both more than 85.0%) were the highest. The disease location elements of CHF were ordered in frequency as Xin (97.9%), Pi (88.1%), followed by Shen (43.0%), Fei (30. 1%), and Gan (7.0%). (2) In the distribution of syndrome patterns in CHF patients, qi deficiency phlegm-stasis syndrome was the most (59.2%), followed by qi-yin deficiency with phlegm-stasis intermingle syndrome (20.3%), Xin-yang decline with phlegm-stasis obstruction syndrome (7.0%), and yang-deficiency with water overflowing syndrome (5.5%). (3) Patients with heart function grade II, III, and IV mainly manifested as qi-deficiency with phlegm-stasis syndrome. Besides, qi-yin deficiency with phlegm-stasis intermingle syndrome could be often seen in those with grade III. And Xin-yang decline with phlegm-stasis obstruction syndrome and yang-deficiency with water overflowing syndrome could often be seen in those with grade IV.

CONCLUSIONSThe pathogenesis of CHF is essential deficiency and superficiality excess. The essentiality consists of qi deficiency, yin deficiency, and yang deficiency, and the superficiality consists of blood stasis, turbid phlegm, and retained fluid. The disease was located at the five zang-organs, mainly dominated at Xin and Pi, and associated with Fei, Shen, and Gan. Qi deficiency phlegm-stasis syndrome was dominated in Chinese medicine syndrome patterns. Along with the aggravation of CHF, Chinese medicine syndrome pattern shows certain development laws.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Heart Failure ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Yang Deficiency ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Yin Deficiency ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Young Adult

Seven meroterpenoids and five small-molecular precursors were isolated from Penicillium sp., an endophytic fungus from Dysosma versipellis. The structures of new compounds, 11beta-acetoxyisoaustinone (1) and isoberkedienolactone (2) were elucidated based on analysis of the spectral data, and the absolute configuration of 2 was established by TDDFT ECD calculation with satisfactory match to its experimental ECD data. Meroterpenoids originated tetraketide and pentaketide precursors, resepectively, were found to be simultaneously produced in specific fungus of Penicillium species. These compounds showed weak cytotoxicity in vitro against HCT-116, HepG2, BGC-823, NCI-H1650, and A2780 cell lines with IC 50 > 10 micromol x L(-1).
Berberidaceae ; microbiology ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Lactones ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Monoterpenes ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Penicillium ; chemistry

Objective To study the value of DSA for hepatic vascular anatomy,and to evaluate the efficacy of portal vein occlusion in rabbits with hepatic VX2 tumor.Methods Twenty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups with 10 in each group,including test group A and positive control group B of ham operation.For the test group A,portal branch ligation(PBL)was performed for the left external branch after 3 weeks of the tumor implantation to the left external lobe.Two weeks later,the DSA of hepatic artery and portal vein were performed in all of the rabbits.Results The total displaying effectiveness of the branches of hepatic artery by DSA was better than that by vascular perfusion.There was hypovascular blood supply to hepatic artery implantation of the tumor in the test group A,comparing with that of the group B.Conclusion DSA can clearly display spacial details of the hepatic vascular anatomy in rabbits,and play an important role in post-procedual evaluation of the portal vein occlusion in rabbits.

OBJECTIVEIn order to study the diagnosis and treatment of HBV and HCV infection.

METHODSWe retrospectively analysed clinical data of 680 patients with cholangiocarcinoma from 1995 to 2001 and stated by SPSS software.

RESULTS(1) The fastigium of cholangiocarcinoma was 60 - 65 years old. The incidence of cholangiocarcinoma was higher in aged males and the sex ratio (male:female) was 1.36:1. (2) The proximal cholangiocarcinoma was most (41.6%) and distant cholangiocarcinoma was secondly (28.7%). (3) Most patients of cholangiocarcinoma were late. The resection rate was low and the rate of radical operation was 21.6% (147/680). (4) The incidence of proximal cholangiocarcinoma was higher in the positive Serologic marks for HBV and HCV and course of diseases was short. Moreover, the pathology of. positive Serologic marks for HBV and HCV trended to low-differentiation and invasion, metastasis and the resection rate was lower.

CONCLUSIONSCholangiocarcinoma is common in the aged males. The infection of HB(C)V and hilar cholangiocarcinoma are correlated and incline to the proximal bile duct. The hilar cholangiocarcinoma infected HB(C)V may have higher malignant degree in biological characteristics and more badly prognosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; Hepatitis C ; complications ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnostic values of prealbumin (PAB) and retinol-binding protein (RBP) for liver damage caused by mild or severe asphyxia.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed on 185 neonates (including 84 premature infants and 101 full-term infants) with asphyxia. Based on the Apgar score, they were divided into two groups: mild asphyxia group (n=150) and severe asphyxia group (n=35). The levels of PAB, RBP, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured and compared. Their diagnostic values for liver damage were evaluated by ROC curve analysis.

RESULTSThe premature infants in the severe asphyxia group had significantly higher AST level and significantly lower levels of PAB and RBP than those in the mild asphyxia group (P<0.05). The full-term infants in the severe asphyxia group had a significantly lower PAB level than those in the mild asphyxia group (P<0.05). After treatment, the PAB level was significantly improved in the premature infants in the severe asphyxia group and in the full-term infants in both mild and severe asphyxia group (P<0.05). The full-term infants in the mild asphyxia groups also showed a significant improvement in AST level (P<0.05). The ROC curve analysis showed that PAB had a good sensitivity and specificity for identifying liver damage caused by mild or severe asphyxia in full-term and preterm infants.

CONCLUSIONSPAB can be used as an indicator of liver damage caused by asphyxia in neonates, and can be used to assess the degree of asphyxia.

Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Asphyxia Neonatorum ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Liver Diseases ; blood ; diagnosis ; Male ; Prealbumin ; analysis ; Retinol-Binding Proteins ; analysis ; Serum Albumin ; analysis

Objective To study mental characteristics of children with light lead poisoning. Methods Eighty - six children with light lead poisioning and 33 control children were evaluated with WISC - R and social adaptive capacity(SAB). Results 1. Intelligence quotient( IQ)and SAB of children with light lead poisoning were lower than normal children. 2. There was also deficiency of perception factor and memory/ concentration factor among children with lead poisioning and the blood lead level had negative association with perception factor. Conclusion Light lead poisioning may affect children's IQ, especially in the perception factor and memory /concentration factor.

OBJECTIVETo optimize the matrix formulation of the effective part Cataplasm of Pogostemon Cablin.

METHODThe optimal preparation prescription was selected by U17 (17(11)) uniform design,and the tacking strength, cohesive strength and transdermal speed constant were used as test indexes. The equations of three test indexes were established by SPSS. With analysis of the contribution of factors by SPSS regression, the optimal matrix formulation was acquired.

RESULTThe optimal matrix formulation is carbopol U10-NoveriteTM7s-glycerine-sorbitol-kaolin-citric acid-aluminum trichloride (1.0:5.0:20:2.0:2.0:0.25:0.2).

CONCLUSIONThe matrix has good adhesive property, proper drug release rate, desirable hemocompatibility with the extractions of Pogostemon cablin.

Adhesiveness ; Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Lamiaceae ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Regression Analysis ; Skin Absorption ; Volatilization

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) gene in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and the paired normal tissues.

METHODSThe differential expression of MMP1 mRNA between 30 OSCC and paired normal tissues were detected with reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR).

RESULTSThe relative expression level of MMP1 mRNA in the OSCC tissues showed a 3.26-fold increase in comparison with that in the paired normal tissues (4.06-/+0.52 vs 1.24-/+0.17, P<0.0001). In the 30 OSCC tissues, the relative expression level of MMP1 mRNA was higher in histological grade II/III tissues (4.31-/+0.68) than in grade I (3.87-/+0.57) tissues, higher in OSCC in advanced stages (III/IV) than in tumors in early stages (I/II) (4.18-/+0.67 vs 3.65-/+0.53), and also higher in OSCC with cervical lymph node invasion than in those without cervical lymph node invasion (4.32-/+0.71 vs 3.91-/+0.51), but these differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONMMP1 gene may play a role in local invasion of OSCC, and can serve as a potential biomarker molecule for diagnosis, treatment and prognostic evaluation of OSCC, with also clinical value for OSCC classification.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Mucosa ; enzymology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mouth Neoplasms ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

BACKGROUND:Currently, there is no explicit evidence-based medicine evidence to prove the merits or demerits of absorbable materials in the treatment of fractures of the lateral humeral condyle in children. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the clinical efficacies of open reduction with absorbable material versus open reduction with Kirschner wire fixation for lateral condylar fracture of the humerus in children.METHODS:WanFang, VIP, CNKI, CBMdisc, EMbase, PubMed were retrieved for controlled trials concerning open reduction with absorbable material versus open reduction with Kirschner wire fixation for treating lateral condylar fracture of the humerus in children. After data extraction and quality evaluations, RevMan 5.3 software was used for systematic review. Postoperative functional recovery of the elbow joint, average hospitalization expenses, adverse events, delayed union, postoperative infection, nerve injury and deformity of the elbow were compared in patients undergoing different treatments. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:A total of seven articles, involving 449 children with lateral condylar fracture of the humerus, were included for this Meta-analysis. Children in test group received open reduction with absorbable material, while those in control group were subjected to open reduction with Kirschner wire fixation. For treating lateral condylar fracture of the humerus in children, no significant inter-group difference existed in the aspects of postoperative functional recovery of the elbow joint [odds ratio (OR)=0.72, 95％ confidence interval (CI) (0.37, 1.41),P=0.34]; postoperative delayed union [OR=0.46, 95％CI(0.16, 1.30),P=0.14]; deformity of the elbow [OR=0.70, 95％CI (0.24, 2.10),P=0.53]. Less adverse events and postoperative infections were observed in the test group compared with the control group [OR=0.17, 95％CI (0.08, 0.38),P < 0.0001;OR=0.09, 95％CI (0.02, 0.38),P=0.001]. However, up to now, we knew of no comparable data concerning average hospitalization expenses and indicators for nerve injury between the two groups. To conclude, compared with Kirschner wire fixation, open reduction with absorbable material can achieve similar effects on lateral condylar fractures of the humerus, but has better effects to prevent adverse events and postoperative infection. Further investigation on large-scale, double-blind, high-quality randomized controlled trials is warranted for confirming our results.