OBJECTIVETo observe the curative effect of Qianjin Kouchuang Jiawei Granule (QKJG) on recurrent oral ulceration [yin deficiency fire excess type (YDFET)].

METHODSTotally 120 patients who suffered from recurrent oral ulceration (YDFET) were randomly assigned to two groups, the experiment group and the control group, 60 in each group. Patients in the experiment group took QKJG, 20 g each time, twice per day, while those in the control group took Kouyanqing Granule (KG) , 20 g each time, twice per day. Fourteen days consisted of one therapeutic course, two for all. Scores for patients' symptoms and signs (ulcer area, exudation, hyperaemia, edema, the number of ulceration, burning sensation, and pain degrees) were assessed before treatment, at day 3 and 7 after treatment. Short-term efficacy was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS). The total paralysis time and the total number of ulceration at month 12 after treatment were taken as judgment for long-term efficacy. Results Compared with before treatment in the same group, symptoms and signs were obviously improved at day 3 and 7 after treatment in the two groups (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group at day 3 after treatment, the improvement of edema, exudation, pain degree, and burning sensation was more obvious in the experiment group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The improvement of edema, pain degree, and burning sensation at day 7 after treatment was more obvious in the experiment group than in the control group (P < 0.05). As for short-term efficacy, the total effective rate was 86.67% (52/60 cases) in the experiment group and 83.33% (50/60 cases) in the control group, with no statistical difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). As for long-term efficacy, the total effective rate was 90.00% (54/60 cases) in the experiment group, significantly higher than that of the control group with statistical difference [81.67% (49/60 cases), P < 0.05]. At month 12 after treatment, the total number of ulceration was reduced and the paralysis time of ulcer attack prolonged in the experiment group, with statistical difference when compared with the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONQKJG showed better long-term efficacy than that of KG in treating recurrent oral ulceration (YDFET).

Chronic Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Pain Measurement ; Phytotherapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Yin Deficiency ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVE: To establish the method to analyze γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and its precursors 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BD) and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) in urine through LC-MS/MS and provide evidence for related cases. METHODS: GHB-d6 and MOR-d3 were used as the internal standard. The urine sample was separated by LC after protein precipitation with methanol. The electrospray ion source was for ionization. Each compound was detected through multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. RESULTS: The limits of detection of GHB and its precursors 1,4-BD and GBL were 0.1, 0.1 and 2 μg/mL. The accuracy was 87.6%-98.1%. The intra-day and inter-day precisions were less than 15% and matrix effects were higher than 80%. CONCLUSION The method is high sensitive, simple, rapid, specific and with high reliability. This study has provided technical support and basic data for forensic cases involving GHB.
4-Butyrolactone/urine* ; Butylene Glycols/urine* ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Forensic Sciences ; Humans ; Hydroxybutyrates/urine* ; Mass Spectrometry ; Reproducibility of Results ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Using the high efficient copper-adsorbing yeast strain Y17 as absorbing material, the major affect factors including pH, original concentration of Cu2+, cell biomass, adsorption time and temperature were examined, and then the absorbing sites of the Y17 was determined. The results showed that the solution pH was the most dominate factor which affected the biosorption of Cu2+, the other affecting factors were the ini- tial concentration of Cu2+, the cell biomass added, and adsorption time, respectively; the temperature had lit- tle effect on the rate of biosorption. The orthogonal experiment showed that the optimal absorption condition was as follow: the solution pH was 5.0, the absorption time was 40 min, the cell biomass of Y17 added was 5.0 g/L, and the concentration of Cu2+ was 8 mmol/L; the highest adsorbing rate was up to 82.7% at this condition. Based on the results of different pretreatments and the desorption of Cu2+, the cell wall of Y17 was identified as the main place occurring boisorption process, and the -NH2 group, -COOH group on the surface of the yeast cells played an important role on the boisorption process.

· AIM: To investigate the expression and the possible implication of CD40/CD40L costimulatory molecules in erythema nodosum of patients with Beh(c)et's disease.· METHODS: Sampling was done from erythema nodosum of 5 patients with Beh(c)et's disease and normal skin of 2 healthy individuals. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to examine the expression of CD4, CD8, CD19, CD68, HLA-DR,CD40 and CD40L molecules in the obtained tissues.· RESULTS: Approximately 90% of epidermic cells in erythema nodosum expressed CD40 molecule. In the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, a significantly increased number of CD4+Tcells, CD8+Tcells, CD19+cells, CD68+cells, HLA-DR+cells,CD40L+cells, and CD40+cells were observed in the erythema nodosum as compared with that in normal skin. Double staining showed that CD40L molecules were expressed on 45% of CD4+T cells. CD40 molecules were expressed on 100% CD68+ cells and 59.2% of HLA-DR+cells respectively.· CONCLUSION: A number of CD40/CD40L costimulatory molecules are upreguiated in the erythema nodosum of patients with Behcet's disease.

Humans ; Eosinophilia/diagnosis* ; Thrombosis/etiology* ; Heart Diseases/complications*

Objective To assess the effectiveness of puncturing Sifeng points (EX-UE10) and pricking Back-Shu points in treating dyspepsia due to chemotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Method Sixty patients were randomized into an observation group (30 cases) and a control group (30 cases). The observation group was intervened by puncturing Sifeng points and pricking Back-Shu points, once a week. The selected Back-Shu points included bilateral Pishu (BL20), Weishu (BL21) and Geshu (BL17). The control group was treated by promoting gastrointestinal motility (itopride hydrochloride 50 mg) and supplementing digestive enzymes (compound azintamide tablets). The two groups were observed before and after treatment in terms of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom score, nutritional status score and Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS). The therapeutic efficacies were also assessed. Result The total effective rate was 93.3％ (28/30) in the observation group versus 70.0％ (21/30) in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The TCM symptom score showed significant improvement in both groups after treatment (P<0.01), and the improvement in the observation group was more significant than that in the control group (P<0.01). After treatment, the score of Patient Generated-Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) decreased significantly in both groups (P<0.01), while there was no significant difference in the score between the two groups (P>0.05). The KPS score increased significantly in both groups after treatment (P<0.01), and there was a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05), indicating a more significant improvement of KPS score in the observation group. Conclusion Puncturing Sifeng plus pricking Back-Shu points is effective in treating dyspepsia due to chemotherapy for TNBC. It can improve patient's appetite and quality of life.

Bacterial Typing Techniques ; methods ; Brucella ; classification

Background Though nitric oxide (NO) and NO synthase (NOS) have a critical role in angiogenesis,their effects on corneal neovascularization (CNV) and mechanism need to be further explored.Objective The aim of this study was to explore the effects of NOS and its antagonist,Nw-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) on experimental CNV in mice,and investigate the influence of NOS and L-NAME on the tube formation of human retinal endothelial cells (RECs) in vitro.Methods The CNV models were established in the left eyes of 36 male BALB/c mice aged 7-8 weeks by application of the filter paper with NaOH in the center of corneas.The mice were randomized into two groups.L-NAME of 10 g/L (0.5 ml) was intraperitoneally injected 1 week before induction of CNV three times a week for three weeks in the mice of the L-NAME injection,and PBS was used in the same way in the control group.CNV was examined under the slit lamp biomicroscope 2,4,7,14 days after NaOH burn.The expression of CD31 in the CNV was assayed to calculate the ratio of CNV area and total corneal area using whole mount technique.The expression of NOS mRNA in the corneal tissue was detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR),and VEGF expression in the human RECs was assayed by Western blot.The vessel formation number of cultured human RECs with or without L-NAME was performed by matrigel in vitro.Grouped t test was used to compare the differences of the parameters between the two groups.Results CNV developed and peaked 2 weeks after the application of NaOH on the mice corneas,and the CNV was obviously less in the L-NAME group compared with the control group.The expression of NOS mRNA in the corneas (NOS mRNA/ GAPDH mRNA)was significantly lower in the L-NAME group than that of the control group 2,4,7 days after CNV induction (t =19.481,t=22.059,t=10.961,all at P＜0.01).The ratio of the CD31 positive area in whole corneal area was 0.59± 0.01 in the L-NAME group,and that of the control group was 0.78±0.10,showing a significant difference between the two groups (t =3.078,P＜0.05).Western blot assay showed that the relative expression of VEGF protein in human RECs was declined in the L-NAME group compared with the control group 0,2,4,7 days,with statistically significant differences in 4 days and 7 days after NaOH burn(t=7.696,t=17.953,both at P＜0.01).The number of vessel network was 46.33±1.86 in the L-NAME group and 64.00±4.51 in the control group,with a significant difference between them (t =3.623,P＜0.05).Conclusions NOS participated in the pathogenesis and aggravation of CNV induced by NaOH.L-NAME arrests CNV formation and human RECs tube formation through down regulating the VEGF expression and NOS activity.

OBJECTIVETo observe application value of multispectral animal living imaging technology in rats model of osteoarthritis.

METHODSFifteen male SD rats weighed (180 +/- 20) g (3 months old) were received intra-articular injection of iodoacetic acid for establishing osteoarthritis. Articular cavity of left knee of rats were injected into 50 microl iodoacetic acid. The same volume of sterile saline was injected into right knee articular cavity as control. X-ray living imaging and bone mineral density were observed at 2 and 4 weeks after establishment of model. After 4 weeks,rats were sacrificed and their bilateral joints were collected and determined histologically based on Collins classification and Kellgren-Lawrence classification.

RESULTSOsteoarthritis model was successfully established, compared with control group, model group showed typical manifestation of osteoarthritis, including irregular cartilage surface,osteophyte formation,joint deformity and cartilage defect,and combined with significant decrease of bone density (P < 0.01), while the decrease was not obvious in proximal tibia (P < 0.05). After 2 weeks, knee joints in model group was classified as Collins grade 1 and Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2,then classified as Collins grade 4 and Kellgren-Lawrence grade 3 after 4 weeks,control group showed smooth articular surface,normal joint space and intact cartilage surface, knee joints was classified as Collins and Kellgren-Lawrence grade 0, and bone density of distal femur and proximal tibia were normal.

CONCLUSIONMultispectral animal living imaging technology could be used in dynamic observation of living imaging and detection of bone density in the animal model of osteoarthritis, and it is significant for evaluation of osteoarthritis model, and its realted tesearch.

Animals ; Bone Density ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Osteoarthritis ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Radiography ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Poly ( aspartic acid-co-leucine) was synthesized, modified via ethylenediamine, conjugated with 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) and finally chelated with gadoliniumⅢ, yielding PL-A2-DOTA-Gd. The T1-relaxivity (15. 3 mmol-1 ·L·s-1 ) of PL-A2-DOTA-Gd was 2. 6 times than that of Gd-DOTA (5. 8 mmol-1·L·s-1) in D2O. The results of magnetic resonance imaging experiments showed significant enhancement in the rat liver after intravenous administration of PL-A2-DOTA-Gd, which persisted longer than Gd-DOTA. The mean percentage enhancements of liver parenchyma were 65. 1%±5. 2%and 21. 3%±4. 9%, for PL-A2-DOTA-Gd and Gd-DOTA, respectively.