Diabetic Neuropathies ; blood ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Phytotherapy

Objective To explore the efficacy of trazodone replacement treatment on benzodiazepine drugs dependence and effect of cognitive function on senile patients.Methods 51 senile patients with benzodiazepine drugs dependence were assigned with dosage tacho-decrement and replaced by trazodone.The patients were discontinuanced taking benzodiazepine in 14 days and taken at a draught of trazodone before retiring about 6 months.Clinical effect and side effects were assessed with the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQJ) and treatment emergent symptom scale(TESS) before and after treatment.Cognitive function was evaluated with Wechsler intelligence scale for adult-Chinese revised (WAIS-RC) and Wechsler mermory scale for adult-Chinese revised ( WMS-RC ) once before and after treatment.Results The scores total PSQJ( ( 13.17 ± 3.70),( 11.05 ± 3.48 ) ),the sleep quality( (2.36 ± 0.33 ),( 1.91 ± 0.29 ) ),daily function disorder,sleep disorder were significantly lower than before treatment while the other factor scores were not significantly changed.Trazodone wes effective without severe side effects and dependence.The study group showed significantly lower scores in learning,calculation,the signs of figure,wood puzzles,long-term memory,short-term memory,immediate memory,memory quotient in the assessment of cognitive function than after treatmemt (P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusion Trazodone is an ideal medicine to senile insomnia.

This article is aimed to provide a method for the simultaneous analysis of five heavy metals, including Cu, As, Pb, Cd, and Hg, in Chuanxiong Rhizoma and Gastrodiae Rhizoma through ICP-MS. Five heavy metals were determined by an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry method after microwave-assisted digestion. The linear correlation coefficients were all better than 0.999. The lowest limits of quantification for all target elements were 0.003 0.134 ug·L-1, while the recovery values ranged from 80.04% 118.34%. This method was accurate, convenient, rapid, and highly sensitive, and can be applied to determine five heavy metals, including Cu, As, Pb, Cd, and Hg in Chuanxiong Rhizoma and Gastrodiae Rhizoma.

BACKGROUNDInterleukin 10 (IL-10) is an important cytokine with anti-inflammatory, anti-immune and anti-fibrotic functions. This study aimed at evaluating the relationship between allele polymorphisms in the IL-10 promoter region and hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

METHODSThe odds ratios (ORs) of IL-10 allele distributions in patients with HBV or HCV infection were analyzed against healthy controls. All the relevant studies in PubMed were identified, and poor qualified studies were excluded. The meta-analysis software REVMAN 4.2 was applied for investigating heterogeneity among individual studies and summarizing all the studies. The publication bias was also evaluated.

RESULTSThis study demonstrated a significant association between the IL-10-592 A/C polymorphism and HBV infection in the Asian population under the overall effect size of allele A versus C. In our subgroup meta-analysis, we found a significant association of IL-10-592 A/C polymorphism to HCV infection susceptibility in Asian populations, although sensitivity analysis showed that the combined result was not associated with the worldwide population. Other IL-10 allele polymorphisms were not associated with HBV or HCV infection.

CONCLUSIONIL-10-592 A/C allele might be a risk factor for HBV or HCV in Asians but not in Europeans.

Alleles ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Hepatitis B ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Hepatitis C ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of wuling Capsule combined with Pinaverium Bromide in treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

METHODSSixty-four IBS patients were randomized into two groups, the treatment group and the control group, 32 in each group. Patients in the treatment group took wuling Capsule (0. 33 g/capsule, 3 times per day) and Pinaverium Bromide (50 mg/tablet, one tablet each time, 3 times per day) , while those in the control group only took Pinaverium Bromide (50 mg/tablet, one tablet each time, 3 times per day). The therapeutic course for all was 6 weeks. IBS symptom score questionnaire, IBS-Quality of Life (IBS-QOL) , Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) , and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) were assessed before and after treatment. Adverse reactions were also observed.

RESULTSThe improvement of abdominal pain, stool frequency, and stool properties, as well as changing rates of integrals were significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P <0. 05). The improvement of dysphoria, body image, concerns for health, and dietary restriction of IBS-QOL, as well as changing rates of integrals were significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P <0. 05). The improvement of SDS and SAS, as well as changing rates of integrals were significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P <0. 05). No severe adverse reaction occurred in either group.

CONCLUSIONCombination therapy of wuling Capsule and Pinaverium Bromide could improve abdominal pain and defecation, attenuate depression and anxiety of IBS patients with higher safety.

Anxiety ; Anxiety Disorders ; Biomedical Research ; Capsules ; Defecation ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; drug therapy ; Morpholines ; therapeutic use ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective To investigate the potential clinical factors associated with the prognosis and relapse of adult onset Still's disease(AOSD).Methods The factors possibly influencing the prognosis and relapse of AOSD were analyzed by logistic regression and COX regression in the cohort study.Ninety-six con- secutive inpatients of AOSD diagnosed based on Yamaguchi criteria in the hospital from March 1996 to September 2004 were included in the study.Results Nine cases(9.4%)were lost during the follow-up. Eleven patients(12.6%)were diagnosed as other diseases(5 with other rheumatic diseases,4 with tumor and 2 with infections)in the 87 follow-up cases.In 76 cases,3 patients(3.9%)died and 33 patients(43.4%) got remission over one year after treatment.Splenomegaly(OR=3.14,95%CI=1.01～9.74)and treated with methotrexate(OR=0.22,95%CI=0.07～0.67)were associated with the prognosis from the logistic regression analysis of the 76 cases.The serum ferritin(RR=I.05,95%CI=1.01～1.08)and treated with methotrexate (RR=0.13,95%CI=0.02～0.76)were associated with relapse from the COX regression analysis of the 61 remis- sion cases.Conclusion We need to be very cautious in the follow-up of AOSD patients because some of them may change to other diseases.Methotrexate may be an importent therapy of AOSD not only in improve- ment the prognosis but also in reduction of relapse.

Objective To discuss the protective effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell(BMSC)on lung injury induced by vibrio vulnificus sepsis and its mechanism. Methods BMSCs were isolated by whole bone marrow adherent culture from mouse. Male ICR mice were randomly divided into normal saline control group(NS group),normal saline+BMSC control group(NSB group),vibrio vulnificus sepsis group(VV group),vibrio vulnificus sepsis + BMSC group(VVB group)according to random number table,with 40 mice in each group. Sepsis mouse model was reproduced by injecting vibrio vulnificus(1×107 cfu/mL)5 mL/kg through the left side peritoneal cavity, and caudal intravenous injection of BMSC(4×105 cfu/mL)5 mL/kg for intervention after model reproduction. Ten mice in each group were sacrificed at 6,12,24 or 48 hours after injecting vibiro vulnificus,and their lung tissues were harvested. The lung wet/dry(W/D)ratio was calculated. The expression of nuclear factor-κBp65(NF-κBp65)in nucleus was measured by Western Blot. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukins(IL-1β, IL-6)in lung tissue were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The pathological changes in lung tissue were observed after hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining and uranyl acetate-lead citrate staining. Results After vibrio vulnificus injection,lung W/D ratio,the expression of NF-κBp65 in nucleus,and the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β,IL-6 in the lung tissues were significantly increased in VV group compared with those in NS group at all the time points,and peaked at 12 hours. Compared with the VV group,the VVB group had significantly decreased levels of lung W/D ratio,NF-κBp65 expression,and the levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,with significant differences at all the time points〔VV group vs. NS group at 12 hours:lung W/D ratio 7.22±0.03 vs. 5.21±0.02,NF-κBp65 expression (glay scale)1.86±0.74 vs. 0.75±0.07,TNF-α(ng/L)433.24±3.23 vs. 106.57±1.21,IL-1β(ng/L)35.64±0.15 vs. 10.64±0.48,IL-6(ng/L)58.84±0.55 vs. 17.69±1.35,all P<0.05;VVB group vs. VV group at 12 hours:lung W/D ratio 6.49±0.06 vs. 7.22±0.03,NF-κBp65 expression(A value)1.16±0.08 vs. 1.86±0.74,TNF-α(ng/L)357.22±3.25 vs. 433.24±3.23,IL-1β(ng/L)27.77±0.59 vs. 35.64±0.15,IL-6(ng/L)38.68±1.29 vs. 58.84±0.55,all P<0.05〕. There were no significant differences in above indexes between NS group and NSB group. In the NS and NSB groups pathological changes were not obvious under light microscopy,in the VV group lung tissue hyperemia and edema was significant,the edema fluid,red blood cells and inflammatory cells also could be seen, and in the VVB group lung damage that mentioned above could be alleviated. In the NS and NSB groups epithelial cell structure of type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ was completed,and the changes were not obvious under the transmission electron microscopy. In the VV group the alveolar walls were damaged significantly,with type Ⅰ epithelial cell cytoplasm swelling,bubbling and rupture,with type Ⅱ epithelial cells visible cytoplasm decrease,cavitation,addiction to osmium lamellar corpuscle emptying,lysosome hyperplasia,microvilli reduction,and in the VVB group the above damage was alleviated. Conclusion Vibrio vulnificus sepsis can cause acute lung damage and edema,and BMSC can down regulate inflammatory cytokines,reduce lung injury caused by vibrio vulnificus sepsis.

Objective To observe the effect of thumb pressing at Yangming Meridian on the function rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for knee osteoarthritis (KOA).Method Sixty KOA patients after TKA were randomized into a treatment group (thumb pressing at Yangming Meridian plus conventional rehabilitation) and a control group (single conventional rehabilitation),30 cases each.The treatment group was intervened by thumb pressing and kneading manipulation at the acupoints of Foot Yangming Meridian and Foot Taiyin Meridian plus rehabilitation training of passive flexion and extension by CPM machine,while the control group was intervened by rehabilitation training of passive flexion and extension by CPM machine.The American Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) for knee joint,the American Knee Society score (KSS) and the Western Ontario and the McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) of KOA were used to evaluate the function.Result After the treatment,the HSS,KSS and WOMAC scores were changed significantly in both groups (P＜0.05).The improvements of HSS,KSS and WOMAC scores in the treatment group were superior to those in the control group,and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05).Conclusion The efficacy of thumb pressing at Yangming Meridian plus conventional rehabilitation for post-TKA KOA is superior to single conventional rehabilitation.

Objective The 4-and 16-hydroxylated metabolites of estrogens have been implicated in carcinogenesis,whereas its 2-hydroxylated metabolites have been shown to have antiangiogenic effects.We aimed to examine whether the polymorphisms of catechol-O-methyltransferase(COMT)involved in the estrogen metabolism are associated with endometrial cancer risk.Methods Polymerase chain reaction- restrictive fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP)analysis was used to study the variant allele frequency distributions of COMT Val158Met genetic polymorphism in a population based case-control study with 132 endometrial cancer cases and 110 controls.Odds ratios(OR)and 95% confidence intervals(CI) were estimated by unconditional logistic regression after adjustment for known or suspected risk factors for endometrial cancer.Results The most frequent genotype was COMT~(Val/Val)(47.2%,52/110)in control group and COMT~(Mal/Met)(58.3%,77/132)in endometrial cancer group.The difference between the two groups was of statistical significance(P

At present, the modernization of Chinese medicine preparations (CMPs) is still a challenging task. The 3 typical Chinese medicine materials (CMMs) used for preparing CMPs are the powders, extracts, and components of Chinese medicine and their properties of CMMs are important for designing CMPs. Basing on our long term research, we have established a property system for CMMs according to the state of CMMs under an exactly condition and according to the interaction characteristics between substances. The property system could be divided into 5 categories: material composition, spatial structure, body property, surface property, physicochemical properties, and they could also be divided into 18 subcategories. Furthermore, we also established the corresponding index and characterization system, where the 61 indexes and characterization techniques were systematically summarized. At last, we hope that the article will promote the modernization of CMPs.