OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of Yangxue Tongluo Recipe (YTR) combined with immunosuppressive agents in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSTotally 88 RA patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group [47 cases, YTR combined Methotrexate (MTX) + Leflunomide (LEF) treatment] and the control group (41 cases, MTX + LEF therapy). All patients received 12-week treatment. Clinical symptoms and signs, laboratory tests [erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), rheumatoid factor (RF), and C reactive protein (CRP)], and adverse reactions were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 91.5% (43/47 cases) in the treatment group, and the total effective rate was 75.6% (31/41 cases) in the control group. There was statistical difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The morning stiffness, the rest pain, the number of tender joints, the number of swollen joints, tender joint index, swollen joint index, ESR, RF, and CRP were significantly improved in the two groups after treatment (P < 0.01). Besides, clinical symptoms and signs, ESR, RF, and CRP were more improved in the treatment group after treatment, when compared with those in the control group (P < 0.05). Gastrointestinal discomfort was the main adverse reaction in the two groups, but the occurrence was lower in the treatment group than in the control group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe clinical efficacy of YTR combined MTX + LEF in the treatment of RA was better than using Western medicine alone. It was more safe with less adverse reactions.

Adult ; Antirheumatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Methotrexate ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: To investigate the expression of chemokine receptors CCR1 and CCR5 in multiple myeloma (MM) cells and whether they mediated the effects of macrophage inflammatory protein 1 (MIF-1) alpha on the proliferation and migration of MM cells. Methods: CCR1 and CCR5 mRNA were quantified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in MM cell lines KM3, SKO 007, and XG-6. Cell proliferation was detected by MIT assay and Transwell migration assay was performed to identify the cell migration. Results: KM3 and XG-6 MM cells expressed CCR1 and CCR5, but SKO007 expressed CCR5 only. Treatment with CCR1 and/or CCR5 antibodies reversed the effects of MIP-1α on proliferation and migration of the three cell lines compared with control (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference among the three experimental groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: KM3 and XG-6 MM cells expresss both CCR1 and CCR5 and SKO 007 expresss CCR5 only. Effects of MIP-1α on proliferation and migration were mediated by CCR1 or CCR5.

Objective:To observe the signal changes of blood-oxygen-level-dependent functional MRI(BOLD-fMRI)in brain tissue after inhalation of oxygen.Methods:Fifteen volunteers,9 males and 6 females,were included in the present experiment.The fMRI was conducted using 1.5T Singna Double-gradient Super Conducting Magnetic Resonance Imaging system (GE Inc).Bold-fMRI scanning was conducted using GRE-EPI sequence and data analysis was done using SPM2 software. Meanwhile,the BOLD-fMRI T_2 signal changes after 15 s and 6 min inhalation of pure oxygen were observed and compared with those after inhaling normal air.Results:No obvious activation of BOLD-fMRI was observed in the whole brain after inhaling normal air.Fifteen seconds after inhaling pure oxygen,the signal changes in the whole brain mainly manifested as the signal decrease in the gray matter,with average signal change being(-0.041?0.31)% in the gray matter and about(0.056?0.26)% in the white matter;the changes were significantly different from those of the normal air group(P

AIM: To study the effect of tissue kallikrein gene (HK) treatment on blood pressure in type 2 diabetic rats and its mechanism. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were injected with low dose streptozotocin and fed with diets enriched in fat and sugar to form type 2 diabetic model. Recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors (rAAV)-mediated HK gene (HK group) or LacZ gene (LacZ group) was introduced to the diabetic rats. The systolic blood pressure was measured every 2 weeks. The acetylcholine (Ach)-dependent vasodilation response, the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO), the expression of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and endothelin-A receptor (ET_A-R) in the aorta were detected. RESULTS: (1) Systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in diabetic rats than that in normal control rats. In HK group, systolic blood pressure was significantly reduced within 2 weeks after injection with rAAV?HK, reached near normal levels at 4 weeks and kept until the experiments ended (16 weeks). (2) In LacZ group, Ach-dependent vasodilation response of isolated aorta was markedly decreased than that in HK group (P

Accidents, Occupational ; statistics & numerical data ; China ; Humans

Objective To study the effects of mild hypothemia therapy on coagulatic-fibrinolytic functions of the severe head injury patients.Methods 35 severe head injured patients from Jan 1998 to May 2000 were treated by mild hypothermia therapy and compared with past 30 patients.All patients's coagulate and fibrinolytic index was measured.Results All patients have coagulate- fibrinolytic disorders, mild hypothermia therapy can reduce consume of coagulate factors and inhibit secondary fibrinolytic function.Conclusion Mild hypothermia therapy is important to the severe head injury patients.

Objective]Summarize professor Wang Canhui′s experiences in chronic atrophic gastritis. [Methods] Summarize professor Wang Canhui′s experiences in chronic atrophic gastritis from etiology and pathogenesis, differential treatment, administered medical herbs and prescription and case. [Results]Professor Wang Canhui considers that chronic atrophic gastritis′ pathogenesis is deficiency of spleen and stomach, qi stagnation ,stomach heat and stagnation of stomach channel, the therapeutic methods of chronic atrophic gastritis is invigorating the spleen and reinforcing stomach, regulating vital energy, reducing fever and activating blood and dredging collaterals, the prescription is Jian Pi Yi Wei Decoction. The modified treatment based on clinical manifestation and the case in this article has obtained good treatment results. [Conclusion] Professor Wang Canhui′s academic thoughts and clinical experiences in chronic atrophic gastritis provide therapy ideas and high practical values in chronic atrophic gastritis.

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect of recombinant adeno-associated viral vector (rAAV) expressing human tissue kallikrein gene (rAAV-HK) on insulin resistance and renal complications in tyDe2 diabetic rats. Methods Male Wistar rats were injected low dose streptozotocin and fed with high fat and sucrose diets to form type 2 diabetic model. rAAV mediated HK gene (HK group) or LacZ gene (LacZ group) were introduced to the diabetic rats, and their systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and insulin, serum creatinine, urine creatinine, urine osmolarity and urine microalbumin were measured. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) and creatinine clearance rate (Ccr) were calculated. The expression of PI3-kinase p11o catalytic subunit (p110) and Akt phosphorylation on Thr-308 were detected by Western blot. The morphology of kidney wag observed. Results Delivery of rAAVHK resulted in a reduction in blood pressure at 2 weeks and the hypotensive effect lasted for the duration of the study. The HOMA-IR was significantly lower in HK group than LacZ group (4.76±0.33 vs 8.36±0.48, P<0.01) at the end of the study, fasting insulin level was reduced [(8.19±2.45 vs 13.85±3.76)mIU/L. P<0.01], but there was no significant change in fasting blood glucose [(13.09±3.01 vs 13.58±2.88)mmol/L].The phosphorylation of p11o and Akt Thr-308 were significantly decreased in skeletal muscle and liver in LacZ group and were almost corrected by HK gene therapy. The UAER and Ccr were significantly lower and urinary osmolarity were higher in HK-treated rats compared with LaeZ rats. Histological assessment indicated that the renal complication was relieved by HK gene delivery. Conclusion The rAAV-mediated HK gene delivery efficiently attenuated insulin resistance partly through PI3K/Akt pathway and diabetic nephropathy in type 2diabetic rats.

Functional analysis concisely summarizes and concentrates on the therapeutic characteristics and features of Chinese herbal medicine. Standardization of the terms for Chinese herbal functions not only plays a key role in modern research and development of Chinese herbal medicine, but also has far-reaching clinical applications. In this paper, a new method for standardizing the terms for Chinese herbal function was proposed. Firstly, functional targets were collected. Secondly, the pathological conditions and the mode of action of every functional target were determined by analyzing the references. Thirdly, the relationships between the pathological condition and the mode of action were determined based on Chinese medicine theory and data. This three-step approach allows for standardization of the terms for Chinese herbal functions. Promoting the standardization of Chinese medicine terms will benefit the overall clinical application of Chinese herbal medicine.

Functional targets are the objects that Chinese herbal medicines act directly upon. If the relationships between the properties of Chinese herbs and their functional targets were analyzed clearly, it would benefit the overall understanding of the holistic mechanisms of Chinese herbal treatments. In this paper, data regarding the properties of Chinese herbs and their functional targets were collected from the 2005 edition of The People's Republic of China Pharmacopoeia. After analyzing and assessing the data, the relationships were defined between the four qi, meridian entry and medicinal functional targets and between the four qi, five flavors and mode of function. Then the relationships between a single herbal medicine and a prescription were analyzed, and the results conformed with the traditional knowledge of Chinese herbal nature and efficacy. This demonstrated that the holistic mechanisms of the properties of Chinese herbs adhere to the findings, which may be beneficial for the development and compatibility of Chinese herbal medicines.