OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of external application of Zhuangshenling Recipe (ZR) combined with Western medicine (WM) on the heart function of chronic heart failure (CHF) patients of Xin-Shen yang deficiency, interior retention of water-fluid syndrome (XSYDIRWFS).

METHODSTotally 140 CHF patients of XSYDIRWFS were randomly assigned to two groups, the treatment group and the control group, 70 in each group. All patients received WM therapy. Those in the treatment group were applied with ZR at Xinshu (BL15) and Shenshu (BL23), while those in the control group were applied with placebos at Xinshu (BL15) and Shenshu (BL23). The therapeutic course for all was 12 weeks. The integrals of TCM syndrome, grading of cardiac function, brain natriuretic polypeptide (BNP), and 6 min walking distance were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter twelve weeks of treatment, the effective rate of improved grading of cardiac function, the total effective rate of TCM syndrome efficacy, and the BNP level were obviously better in the treatment group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in 6 min walking distance between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONExternal application of ZR combined with WM could improve the heart function of CHF patients of XSYDIRWFS.

Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Yang Deficiency ; drug therapy

BACKGROUND: There still is rarely report about the effect of glycosylphosphatidilinoditol-specific phospholipase D (GPI-PLD) on the adhesion function of leukemic cells through screening Medline and CNKI databases.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of GPI-PLD on the adhesion function of bone marrow mononuclear cells separated from myeloid leukemia patients, and to investigate the related mechanism. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: This study addressing cytology in vitro was conducted at the Hematological Laboratory of Xiangya Hospital from January to June 2004.MATERIALS: Bone marrow was collected from myeloid leukemia patients at the Department of Hematology, Xiangya Hospital, China.METHODS: The GPI-PLD activity of bone marrow mononuclear cells separated from myeloid leukemia patients was measured by using GPI-anchored placental alkaline phosphatase as substrate and Triton-X114 partition. By use of 1,10-phenanthroline, the activity of GPI-PLD was inhibited, the experiment was divided into 2 groups: treatment group adding phenanthroline to achieve a final concentration of 1 mmol/L, while control group adding the same amount of phosphate buffered saline. The adhesion rate to the fibronectin and CD24 expression of these cells were measured by MTT and immunohistochemical method, respectively.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: GPI-PLD activity of myeloid leukemic cells, cell adhesion rate, CD24 expression were all measured. RESULTS: The GPI-PLD activity of bone marrow mononuclear cells separated from myeloid leukemia patients was inhibited significantly after these cells were treated by 1 mmol/L 1,10-phenanthroline for 5 hours compared with control groups [(5.40±2.96)%, (42.08±7.21)%, P < 0.01]. At the same time, the adhesion rate of these cells were increased after the GPI-PLD activity was inhibited [(61.19±29.14)%, (49.78±26.73)%, P < 0.01], and the CD24 expression was also up-regulated [(18.5±11.14)%, (16.02±9.68), P < 0.01].CONCLUSION: The adhesion rate of bone marrow mononuclear cells separated from myeloid leukemia patients can be promoted by inhibiting GPI-PLD activity. At the same time, the CD24 expression of GPI-anchored proteins on bone marrow mononuclear cells is improved.

Adult ; Aged ; Copper ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mining ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology

Objective To study the distribution of intestinal autofluorescent microorganisms in the rat intestine at different developmental stages. Methods The distribution of intestinal autofluorescent microorganisms in rat intestine at va-rious developmental stages was tested and evaluated using a small animals living imaging system. First, standard E. coli strain was tested by fluorescence detection in vitro. Then, the distribution of E. coli under the same test conditions was tested. The intestinal autofluorescent bacteria distribution was detected in the SD rats at 3 days,14 days and 60 days of age. After expanding the range of excitation wavelength fluorescence detection,removing the background of fluorescence feed and feces and other foreign autofluorescent substances. Results E. coli can be excited in the range of 485 -535 nm wave?length and to emit fluorescence. E. coli mainly existed in the stomach and only a few E. coli were found in the ileum of 3?days old SD rat. . In the 14?days old rats, E. coli mainly existed in the stomach and cecum, and only a few E. coli were found in the ileum. In the 60-days old SD rats, E. coli mainly existed in the ileum, and only a few E. coli were found in the colon, cecum and jejunum. After the expansion of the excitation light wavelength range of fluorescence detection, E. co?li were observed mainly in the ileum, and only a few E. coli were found in the stomach in 3?days old SD rat. E. coli mainly existed in the stomach, then the cecum and only a few E. coli were found in the ileum and jejunum in 14-days old SD rats. E. coli could be found in the whole intestinal system but mainly in the ileum and cecumin of the 60-days old rats. Conclu?sions Examining the intestinal autofluorescent microbes with the small animal in vivo imaging system can be helpful and make guidance to study the distribution of intestinal microbes in the host at different developmental stages, and to provide a basis for studying the relationship of intestinal microbes with its host and the gastrointestinal drug administration.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; Codonopsis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism

Objective To explore the apoptosis of alveolar epithelial cell(AEC)and the dynamic changes of Caspase-3 mRNA and Bax and Bcl-2 expression in premature rat with hyperoxia-induced chronic lung disease(CLD).Methods Sixty premature rats within 1 day after birth were randomly divided into 2 groups:hyperoxia group(n=30)and control group(n=30).Hyperoxia-induced premature rat CLD models were prepared,and situ nick end-labeling(TUNEL),reverse transcription polymerasechain reaction(RT-PCR)and immunohistochemical technique were used to determine apoptosis index(AI)of AEC and the expressions of Caspase-3 mRNA and Bax and Bcl-2 proteins in lung tissues at 1,3,7,14 and 21 d after birth.Results Compared with control group,in the hyperoxia group,on the third day after exposured to hyperoxia,the AI of AEC and the expressions of Caspase-3 mRNA and Bax began to increase,and the expression of Caspase-3 mRNA was kept at high level on 7-21 d.The expression of Bcl-2 began to decrease on 7 d,and significantly decreased on 7-21 d.AI of AEC was positively correlated with the expression of Caspase-3 mRNA and Bax,and negatively with the expression of Bcl-2.Conclusions Hyperoxia may induce the increased expression of Caspase-3 mRNA,which might result in the abnormal expression of Bax and Bcl-2 in lung tissues and their imbalance,which might be one of the underlying mechanisms of apoptosis of AEC in premature rats with CLD.

Objective To study the combination treatment of lfexible/lfexible sheath and rigid ureteroscopic lithotripsy (F-ul) for upper and middle ureteral stones. Methods The clinical data of patients diagnosed of upper and middle ureteral stones were collected. The treated group (110 cases):ifrstly treated with rigid ureteroscopic lithotripsy to broke and removed stones through lfexible sheath, then the lfexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy was used to broke and removed stones through lfexible sheath;The control group (110 cases):traditional operation for ureter calculi. The clinical data was compared between the two groups. Results The effective ratio of treatment group is 90.0%, which was better than that of control group (87.3%) (P>0.05). The operation time, stone processing time of treatment group were signiifcantly shorter than those of control group (P<0.05), and F-ul using time was signiifcantly much more (P<0.05). The hospitalization time and complication rate were no signiifcantly difference between the two groups (P> 0.05). Conclusion The method of combining flexible/flexible sheath and rigid ureteroscopic lithotripsy for upper and middle ureteral stones was better than that of traditional operation, which worth to be popularize in clincal treatment.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effect of Yiqi Huaju Recipe (YHR) combined with routine therapy on the blood pressure, the blood pressure variability and other cardiovascular risk factors in hypertension patients complicated with metabolic syndrome (MetS).

METHODSTotally 43 hypertension patients complicated with MetS were recruited in this study and randomly assigned to the treatment group (22 cases, treated with basic routine treatment +YHR) and the control group (21 cases, treated with basic routine treatment + placebo). The treatment course was 12 weeks. Detected were parameters such as 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist to hip ratio (WHR), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), fasting glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2 h postprandial plasma glucose (2 h PPG), fasting plasma insulin (FPI), serum lipid, etc.

RESULTSThe anthropometric parameters and plasma glucose levels (except HbAlc) were obviously lowered after treatment than before treatment in the treatment group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Besides, better effects were obtained in the WC, WHR, 2 h PPG, FPI and HOMA-IR (P < 0.05). The average blood pressure amplitude, the blood pressure variability, and blood pressure load at any time point were more obviously improved in the two groups after treatment than before treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Besides, partial indices were better in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSYHR combined with routine therapy exhibited better effect on reducing the blood pressure amplitude, the blood pressure variability, and the blood pressure load in hypertension patients complicated with MetS. It could also effectively decrease the risk of other vascular disease.

Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; drug therapy ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; complications ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo study the impact of IFN-gamma on liver fibrosis and its possible mechanism. Thirty healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into two groups: fibrosis model group, IFN-gamma treatment group. Experimental liver fibrosis was induced by subcutaneous injection of CCl4. After 12-week-treatment, serum hyalurnic acid and TGF-beta1 was examined, histopathological changes and degrees of fibrosis were observed by optical microscopy. Meanwhile, the expression of TGF-beta1, TbetaR- I and Smad2/3 proteins was detected by immunohistochemistry and quantified by using computerized image analysis.

RESULTS(1) Pathological observation of hepatic specimens: histological examination showed that there were significant difference between normal group and fibrosis model group by comparing with the degrees of inflammation and fibrosis (P < 0.05). And the difference between fibrosis model group and IFN-gamma treatment group was significant (P < 0.05). (2) Changes of the hepatic fibrosis index (serum HA and TGF-beta1): the levels of serum HA, TGF-beta1 in fibrosis model group were higher than IFN-gamma treatment groups (P < 0.05). (3) Changes of gene protein levels about TGF-beta1/Smad: the expressions of TGF-beta1, TbetaR- I and Smad2/3 in rat hepatic tissue were detected with immunohistochemistry techniques. The expressions of the three items in model group were higher than normal group (P < 0.01). The difference between model group and IFN-gamma treatment group was significant (P < 0.05);

CONCLUSIONIFN-gamma treatment group had significant results on treating experimental hepatic fibrosis. By the way of inhibiting expressions of TGF-beta1, TbetaR- I, Smad2/3, IFN-gamma treatment group exerted its anti-fibrosis effect.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; therapeutic use ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Smad2 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Smad3 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism

To set standards for histomorphological studies on Lysimachia fortunei, an efficacious and widely applied folk medicine in this study, in order to develop its resources. Its species were identified by observing plant morphology and herbs appearance characters, preparing slices with routine methods and defining structural characters. According to the results of morphologic observation, leaves, stamen and pistil of this plant were different from the descriptions in Flora of China. The whole herb can be used in medicines, mainly including rhizomes, stems and leaves. According to the findings in the first study on microscopic structures, its rhizomes, stems and leaves were characteristic and worth identifying. The transaction tissue structures of rhizomes and stems were under developed and contained endodermis, secretory structures; Stems had sclerenchymata of different shapes of sclereids; Leaves were bifacial and had vascular bundles under midribs, which were surrounded by parenchymal sheathes. On the surface of leaves, stomata, glandular hairs and keratin lines were morphologically different in upper and lower epidermis. The herbal power had glandular hairs, sclereids and vessels. In conclusion, herbs of L. fortunei can be identified by the above histomorphological characteristics, which lays a foundation for further development and application of L. fortunei.
Medicine, Traditional ; Plant Leaves ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Plant Stems ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Primulaceae ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development