UNLABELLEDOBJECTIVE; To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Jiangtang Xiaozhi Capsule (JTXZC) in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) of qi-yin deficiency phlegm-stasis inter-obstruction syndrome (QYDPSIOS), and to observe its effect on inflammatory factors and fibrinolytic factors.

METHODSBy adopting a randomization grouping, parallel control, and prospective study, 73 T2DM patients of QYDPSIOS were assigned to two groups by random digit table, the Pioglitazone Tablet group (36 cases, as the control) and the JTXZC group (37 cases). All patients maintained their basic therapies and lifestyle as previous after recruitment. Patients in the JTXZC group took JTXZC, 4 pills each time, three times per day, while those in control group took Pioglitazone Tablet, 15 mg each time, once daily. The therapeutic course for all was 8 weeks. The body weight (BW), the height, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and scoring of Chinese medicine (TCM) symptoms were observed. Levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2 h postprandial blood glucose (2 h PBG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAL-1) were detected. The safety indices such as liver and renal functions and adverse reactions were also observed.

RESULTSCompared with before treatment, BW, BMI, HbA1c, and PBG were obviously lower after 8-week treatment than before treatment in the JTXZC group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in post-treatment BW, BMI, HbA1c, or 2 h PBG between the two groups (P < 0.05). Compared with before treatment, levels of TNF-alpha and PAI-1 were lowered after 8 weeks of treatment in both groups (P < 0.01). The level of NF-kappaB was obviously lowered after 8 weeks of treatment in the control groups (P < 0.05), but it also decreased in the JTXZC group with no statistical difference. The scorings of CM symptoms were somewhat improved after treatment in the two groups (P < 0.01). Besides, better effects were obtained in the JTXZC group (P < 0.05). No severe adverse event occurred in either group during the whole therapeutic course.

CONCLUSIONSJTXZC showed similar therapeutic effect to pioglitazone. Both of them could effectively improve patients' clinical symptoms, the inflammation and fibrinolytic activities in different pathways, with no severe adverse reaction.

Adult ; Aged ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Qi ; Thiazolidinediones ; therapeutic use ; Yin Deficiency ; drug therapy

Hair follicle (HF), one of the skin appendages, has received a lot of attention to be a new target and pathway for drug delivery. The development of hair follicle targeted drug delivery system (HFTDDS) through percutaneous permeation is particularly important for skin diseases derived from HF such as acne, hair loss, and folliculitis for their on-site action. This review describes the structure and physiological function of HF, the microenvironment of HF, and factors affecting HF permeation. Multiple nanoformulations used to improve the HF permeation and technologies to characterize the HF permeation were introduced. The latest advance of HFTDDS based on nanoformulations were systematically summarized and analyzed in the treatment of acne and hair loss. Finally, the challenges of formulating HFTDDS were discussed. The review is expected to provide some ideas and references for developing delivery systems for treating skin diseases derived from HF.

Objective To build the cohort of drug resistance and analyze treatment efficiency of AIDS patients and situation of drug resistant mutations among HIV-1 infected individuals.Methods A cohort of 116 HIV-1 infected patients was built and their treatment progress were acquired once every 6 months.At the sanle time CD4+ T cell counts and HIV-1 viral load were measured and genotyping for drug resistance was determined by a home brew nested PCR.Results The CD4+ T cell count(470±251/ml)was higher than that before treatment in patients who were treated by AZT/DDI/NVP or D4T/DDL/NVP.The viral load was lower than that before treatmenL The drug resistant mutation frequency increased gradually along with treatment.The CD4+ T cell count was decreased and viral load was increased and the prevalence of drug resistant mutation was increased in the patients who changed regimens to AZT/3TC/NVP or D41/3TC/NVP.Only one primary mutation that was resistant to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs)was detected in the naive patients.The cross-resistant mutation was detected in two patients after 6 months treatment. The intermediate resistance to lopinavir(LPV) was detected after 12 months treatment.The prevalence of high-grade resistances to NNRTIs was increased obviously,and the prevalence of multi-resistance and cross-resistance was detected in 5 patients after 36 months treatment.Conclusions The prevalence of primary mutation was rare in naive HIV-1 infected patients.The prevalence of drug resistant mutation was inereased gradually along with treatment.Ahhough few regimens were available,the treatment effect could last relatively long period of time if patients keep taking medicine stably.The regimens could be changed according to the results of drug resistant test.

Objective To investigate the characters of the COL3A1 gene polymorphisms in Chinese population of Hunan region and the relationship between the COL3A1 gene polymorphisms and ischemie stroke.Methods Objects examined were composed of 70 healthy controls,110 patients with acute cerebral infarction.The frequencies of the genotypes were detected by using PCR-SSLP techniques and correlated PCR segements were analyzed by directly sequence to detect the COL3A1 gene polymorphisms.Result There were significant differences in the distribution of VNTR with COL3A1 genotype polymorphism between the patients of acute cerebral infarction and healthy controls,the former being 0.93,the latter 0.43,with a significant difference(P

Objective: To investigate the role of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in supporting hematopoiesis and the expansion of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells in vitro. Methods: According to the fact that HUVEC supernatant has colony stimulating activity shown by methylcellulose colony-forming assay and HUVEC can maintain the survival of mononuclear cells for at least four weeks in vitro, CD34+ cells from umbilical cord blood were seeded with (HUVEC group) or without (control group) HUVEC monolayer. Every week cells were collected and counted, the frequency of CFU-GM was measured by using methylcellulose colony-forming assay, and the percentage of CD34+ and CD41a+ cells was measured by flow cytometry. Results: In control group，all the CD34+ cells died in two weeks. However, in HUVEC group,most nucleated cells and CD34+ cells were expanded by 68.1±14.8 fold and 6.6±1.4 fold，respectively at the third week while CFU-GM expansion reached its peak (5.7±2.1 fold) at the week 2. Moreover, the percentage of CD41a+ cells was enhanced significantly, reaching a maximum (15.6%) at the week 3. Conclusions:HUVEC can support hematopoiesis in vitro and expand the hematopoietic progenitor cells and CD41a+ cells in direct contact coculture.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics of the inpatients suffering from dengue fever in order to provide references for better diagnosis and treatment.Methods The clinical data of 158 dengue fever patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from July 23rd to October 31st, 2014 during the 2014 epidemic in Guangzhou area were retrospectively analyzed, including general clinical manifestations, conventional examinations, pathogenesis, and prognosis.Results The mean age of the 158 patients was (56±20) years, with half of them over 60 years old (79 cases). Among them, 94 (59.49%) were male.① The common manifestations included fever (100%), headache (70.89%), myalgia/bone soreness (62.03%), and skin rash (54.43%). Bleeding and plasma leakage were found in 25.95% and 14.56% of the patients respectively.② Laboratory examination:leucopenia (75.32%) and thrombocytopenia (77.85%) were found, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were elevated in 57.59% and 77.85% of the patients respectively. However, elevation of blood hematocrit was rare (1.27%).③ It was found that in the acute phase (0 - 5 days of the onset), serum dengue virus antibody IgM (DF-IgM) was positive in 63.54% of the patients (61/96), and 92.62% (113/122) of patients were dengue virus RNA (DENA-RNA) positive.④ The rate of comorbidity in this study was 55.06% (87/158), including hypertension (27.22%) and type 2 diabetes (15.82%), which were the two most common co-morbidities.⑤ All the patients were given supportive therapy to prevent complications. They were also isolated for more than 5 days after onset, and at least for 24 hours after subsidence of fever in addition.⑥ The criteria for the diagnosis of severe dengue were fulfilled in 18 patients (11.39%). One patient died of massive hemorrhage from gastro-intestinal tract, and 1 patient voluntarily left hospital with untreated multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Another 2 patients of dengue fever died from primary cardio-cerebrovascular disease, and the remaining 154 patients (97.47%) fully recovered with supportive therapy and complication prevention measures.Conclusions The clinical manifestations of inpatients with dengue fever in this study were typical, and they manifested a higher incidence of severe illness. DENA-RNA could be a sensitive indicator for early pathogenic diagnosis. With symptomatic and supportive therapy, most patients had a good outcome. However, early diagnosis and clinical interventions of severe dengue still need further studies.

AIMTo study the effects of puerarin on learning-memory behavior of aging mice induced by D-galactose and its possible mechanism of action.

METHODSThe aging mice were induced by s.c. 0.12 g.kg-1 D-galactose for 6 weeks. The aging mice were treated with three doses of puerarin once a day for 5 weeks. The spontaneous behavior and the learning memory behavior were tested in the aging mice using open field and Y-maze at the next day after the last treatment. The structure of Gray I synaptic interface in the CA3 area of the hippocampus was quantitatively analyzed by electronic microscope and computer image processing appliance.

RESULTSCompared with the D-galactose control group, puerarin (60 mg.kg-1) was shown to increase significantly the spontaneous behavior and explorative response in the open field, and improve remarkablely the learning and memory ability of the aging mice induced by D-galactose. Meanwhile, the thickness of post-synaptic density (PSD) was increased, and the width of the synaptic cleft in the hippocampus CA3 area was shortened.

CONCLUSIONPuerarin showed an improvement effect against the memory impairment in the modelling aging-mice induced by D-galactose. A pathological alteration of synaptic interface structure in hippocampus of the mice may be involved in the effect.

Aging ; drug effects ; Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Female ; Galactose ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; pathology ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Mice ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Synapses ; drug effects ; pathology

Objective To explore the HEART risk score in predicting 30-day major adverse cardiovascu-lar events (MACE)for the patients presenting to Emergency Department (ED) with acute chest pain. Methods Patients presented in our ED with acute chest pain were enrolled from January,2016 to April,2016. All cause MACE of each patient were followed up at 30 days by Health insurance information management System and call . Results Total 209 patients were enrolled(mean age 65.28 ± 16.85 years;52.63%male). The age,hypertension, ratio of ACS,SpO2,in-patient number HEART score in MACE subject were significantly higher than that in non MACE patients(P<0.05). The blood pressure at admission of MACE patients was significantly decrease than that in non MACE patients(P<0.05). The MACE within 30 days was 5.74%. The respective areas under the curve (AUC)for 30-day MACE(95% CI)was 0.908(0.846 ~ 0.974). The percent of patients with 30-day MACE with HEART scores between 0% and 3,4 ~ 6,and 7 ~ 10 was 0%,2.5%,and 27%,respectively. Conclusion HEART score can be simple,rapid and accurate prediction of emergency department of patients with acute chest pain within 30 days of MACE,effective elimination of low-risk patients with MACE,it plays a very important role for disease assessment and diagnosis and treatment process in emergency department.

Objective To observe membrane properties of ventral partition of the medial geniculate body (MGBv) in Wistar rat and the effect of GABA receptor agonist on them during postnatal development. Methods Whole-cell patch clamp recording was used to record waveform of action potential (AP) and the effect of GABA receptor agonist on them from neurons in the MGBv of rats ( postnatal days 3-30). Results There was a difference in AP firing pattern in rat MGBv neurons of different postnatal day. We only recorded low threshold Ca2+ spikes (LTS) in P3 MGBv neurons, but recorded AP in P6-30 MGBv neurons after depolarizing currents application; AP was recorded at the start phase of pulse and with a long-last after hyperpolarization potential (AHP) in P8, in P20 AP was recorded after a delay and it appeared on depolarizing ramp with a shorter-last AHP compared with P8. The GABAA receptor agonist, muscimol, and the GABAB receptor agonist, baclofen, had effects on responses evoked by depolarizing current in the MGBv neurons in P6 and P15 rats. Muscimol and baclofen reduced AP firing rather than AP amplitude in P6 MGBv neurons, however, in P15 MGBv neurons baclofen had little effect on AP firing while muscimol greatly reduced the size of voltage shift produced by positive or negative current injection. Conclusion The AP waveform of MGBv neurons matures rapidly during first two postnatal weeks. A similar rapid maturation also has been observed in rat neocortical and hippocampal pyramidal neurons as well as in ferret dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGNd) neurons. These results suggest that in the central nervous system of small mammals, AP waveforms mature rapidly in many types of neurons, thus, coordinated activities in neuronal circuits may occur. In early postnatal development, GABA receptor mainly mediates an excitation effect, depolarizes P6 MGBv neurons and dramatically increases the frequency of AP firing. Inhibition of GABA receptor matures slowly along with increment of postnatal days.

OBJECTIVETo set up a new grading system of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and determine the value of predicting the probability of post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) in IVH.

METHODSWe first modified the Graeb criteria, then compared the value of prediction for PHH assessed by the Graeb criteria with the modified Graeb criteria. One hundred and thirty one IVH patients were divided into two groups: the upper group (n = 67) and the lower group (n = 64). Gold standard of PHH was assessed by CT scan or by out-drainage. The diagnostic parameters such as sensitivity (SE), specificity (SP) were analyzed. In the cutoff point of SE and SP curves, diagnostic efficiency (DE), and Kappa value (K) were analyzed. The probability of PHH was estimated by binary logistic regressions.

RESULTSIn all ventricular group, to Graeb criteria in the cutoff point, SE, SP, and K was 0.78, 0.84, and 0.60; and to modified Graeb criteria SE, SP, and K was 0.90, 0.84, and 0.74 respectively. The probability of PHH from point of 3-12 was 0.011, 0.032, 0.085, 0.212, 0.435, 0.689, 0.865, 0.949, 0.981, and 0.994 respectively according to modified Graeb criteria.

Aged ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed