OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Taizhi'an (TZA) capsule combined with Simvastatin (Sim) in treating hyperlipidemia in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients.

METHODSEighty cases of type 2 DM patients with hyperlipidemia were randomized into two groups, 40 in each group. The patients in the treated group took orally TZA capsules at the dose of 0.9 g 3 times a day and Sim 10 mg at bedtime. And the patients in the control group were treated with Sim 20 mg alone at bedtime. Both regimens lasted for 12 weeks. Before and after the study the changes of blood lipid levels and adverse reaction were investigated.

RESULTSThe serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) were decreased respectively by 28.8%, 18.2% and 26.3% in the treated group; and by 29.4%, 19.4% and 24.6% in the control group. On the contrary, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) was increased by 23.5% in the treated group and by 29.4% in the control group. All these changes were statistically significant before and after treatment (all P < 0.05), but they did not differ statistically between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no significant changes in hemoglobin A(1)c (HbA(1)c). Patients in the treated group did not develop any adverse reactions. However, ALT was found to be higher above the normal range in 5% of the patients in the control group.

CONCLUSIONIn treating hyperlipidemia in DM patients, combination of TZA with Sim 10 mg taken daily achieved satisfactory efficacy which was similar to Sim 20 mg daily alone. But the combination therapy conducted in the treated group proved to be better in safety, and could overcome adverse reactions resulting from Sim that was seen in the control group.

Adult ; Aged ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; complications ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Glycated Hemoglobin A ; analysis ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Simvastatin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the lipid constituents from Echinacea purpurea.

METHODThe compounds were isolated by chromatography method and the structures were identified on the basis of spectral analyses.

RESULTFive compounds were isolated and identified as, 1 beta, 6 alpha-dihydroxy-4(14)-eudesmene(1), (2E, 4E, 8Z, 10E)-N-isobutyl-2,4,8,10-dodecatetraenamide(2), (2E, 4E, 8Z, 10Z)-N-isobutyl-2,4,8,10-dodecatetraenamide(3), cerotic acid(4), hyxacosyl alcohol(5).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1,4 and 5 were obtained from the plant for the first time.

Echinacea ; chemistry ; Fatty Acids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Fatty Alcohols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Sesquiterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of sodium copper chlorophyllin (trademarked as "Yebaike Tablet which is abbreviated as YBK in treating leukopenia.

METHODSOne hundred and five patients with leukopenia caused by various factors were randomized into 3 groups. The 60 patients in the YBK group took orally YBK Tablets at the dose of 40 mg, three times per day, the 30 patients in the leucogen group were treated with Leucogen Tablets at the dose of 20 mg, three times per day, and the 15 patients in the placebo group were administered with vitamin C tablets 100 mg, three times per day. All the subjects were treated for 1 month. The change of peripheral leucocytes count after treatment and adverse drug reaction that occurred in patients were studied.

RESULTSIn the 60 patients treated with YBK, the treatment proved to be markedly effective in 34 cases, effective in 17 and ineffective in 9, the total effective rate being 85%, which was significantly higher than that in the placebo group (26.7%, P < 0.01) and similar to that in the leucogen group (83.3%, P > 0.05). No adverse reaction was found in the treatment course.

CONCLUSIONYBK can be used in the treatment of leukopenia caused by various factors, satisfactory in efficacy and safe in use.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Ascorbic Acid ; administration & dosage ; Chlorophyllides ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Leukopenia ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tablets ; Thiazoles ; administration & dosage ; Thiazolidines ; Treatment Outcome

Screening of microorganisms producing flocculating substances was carried out. A strain secreting a large amount of bioflocculant was isolated from wastewater samples collected from the Little Moon River in Beijing. Based on the morphological properties and 16S rDNA sequence analysis, the isolate (designated W31) was classified as Vagococcus sp. A bioflocculant (named MBFW31) produced by W31 was extracted from the culture broth by ethanol precipitation and purified by gel chromatography. MBFW31 was heat-stable and had strong flocculating activity in a wide range of pH with relatively low dosage requirement. MBFW31 was identified as a polysaccharide with molecular weight over 2 x 10(6). It contained neutral sugar and uronic acid as its major and minor components, respectively. Infrared spectra showed the presence of hydroxyl, carboxyl and methoxyl group in its molecules. The present results suggested that MBFW31 had potential application in wastewater treatment.
Carbohydrates ; analysis ; chemistry ; Enterococcus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Flocculation ; Species Specificity ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; methods ; Water Microbiology ; Water Pollutants ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo observe the morphology and function changes of cochlear hair cells before and after math1 gene injection into the cochlea of deaf guinea pigs which were induced by kanamycin and furosemide. To explore the feasibility of Math1 gene for medicine-induced deafness therapy.

METHODSKanamycin (500 mg/kg) and furosemide (50 mg/kg) were given to the healthy adult guinea pigs intramuscularly and intravenously to establish the deafness model. The guinea pigs whose auditory brainstem response (ABR) threshold > 95 dB SPL were randomly divided into five groups. Blank control group (without any treatment, n = 3), operation control group (right ear scala tympani operation, n = 3), artificial perilymph group (right ear scala tympani injection artificial perilymph, n = 3), virus vector group [right ear scala tympani injection adenovirus which carrying enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene (Ad. EGFP) , n = 4], Math1 gene therapy group [right ear scala tympani injection adenovirus which carrying Math1 and EGFP gene (Ad. Math1-EGFP), n = 6]. Each animal received ABR test before and after injection. The cochlear tissue was observed by scanning electronic microscopy.

RESULTSThe ABR thresholds of tone burst( 4, 8, 16, 20 kHz ) were not statistically significant in different groups (P > 0.05). The number of hair cells increased in some of severe deaf guinea pigs after the injection of Ad. Math1-EGFP gene. However, there was no obvious difference with morphology and numbers of cochlea hair cells in other groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe injection of Math1 gene to cochlea can regenerate or repair the hair cells of medicine-induced deaf guinea pigs, but there was no improvement on the hearing loss.

Adenoviridae ; Animals ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Cochlea ; Deafness ; Ear, Inner ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Furosemide ; toxicity ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Genetic Vectors ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; Guinea Pigs ; Hair Cells, Auditory ; Hearing Loss ; chemically induced ; genetics ; Kanamycin ; toxicity ; Perilymph

OBJECTIVETo determine whether tanycytes be able to support the regeneration of completely transected spinal cord in adult rats.

METHODSSubcultured tanycytes was transplanted into completely T8 transected spinal cord using the untranslated completely transected rats as control. After transplantation the rubrospinal motor evoked potentials were recorded below the injury level at the end of 12th week, assistant by Basso-Beatie-Bresnahan locomotor rating scale and histology method.

RESULTSAt the end of 12th week the total peak amplitude of rubrospinal motor evoked potentials (MD = 133.2 microV, P < 0.01) and BBB locomotor rating scale (MD = 5.0000, P < 0.01) were both significantly improved in cell transplanted group compared with that in the untranslated control group, while the latency of the first peak was shortened (MD = 0.061 ms, P = 0.040). HE staining showed more integrity in transected spinal cords in cells transplanted groups.

CONCLUSIONTransplanted tanycytes can support the regeneration of transected spinal cords in rats.

Animals ; Cell Transplantation ; Cells, Cultured ; Evoked Potentials, Motor ; Male ; Neuroglia ; cytology ; transplantation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Recovery of Function ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Yangqixue Qufengshi Recipe (YQXQFS) on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) model mice under different genetic backgrounds.

METHODSCollagen Induced Arthritis (CIA) were established on HLA-DR4 transgenic (TG) mice and non-transgenic (NTG) mice, which partly were raised with YQXQFS, and the onset day of CIA, the level of type II collagen (CII)-reactive antibodies and the pathological scores of CIA were assessed.

RESULTSUnder HLA-DR4 TG background (compared with NTG mice), the earlier onset day of CIA (11.22 +/- 3.35 days vs 16.56 +/- 4.75 days, P < 0.05) and higher level of CII-reactive antibodies (0.2274 +/- 0.1390 microg/ml vs 0.1101 +/- 0.0560 microg/ml, P < 0.05) were observed, but the pathological scores of CIA remained unchanged. YQXQFS could not influence the onset day of CIA and the level of CII-reactive antibodies, but had a certain effect on the total pathological scores (6.56 +/- 3.43 scores vs 11.11 +/- 5.64 scores) and bone erosion (0.22 +/- 0.44 scores vs 1.67 +/- 1.50 scores) of CIA on NTG mice (P < 0.05), NTG YQXQFS group compared with NTG experimental group.

CONCLUSIONYQXQFS had a certain effect on RA model, but had no significant effect on HLA-DR4 related CIA.

Animals ; Antibodies ; blood ; Antirheumatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; Collagen Type II ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; HLA-DR4 Antigen ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Mice, Knockout

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical efficacy of porcine pulmonary surfactant (PS) combined with budesonide suspension intratracheal instillation in the treatment of neonatal meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS).

METHODSSeventy neonates with MAS were enrolled for a prospective study. The neonates were randomly assigned to PS alone treatment group and PS+budesonide treatment group (n=35 each). The PS alone treatment group was given PS (100 mg/kg) by intratracheal instillation. The treatment group was given budesonide suspension (0.25 mg/kg) combined with PS (100 mg/kg).

RESULTSThe rate of repeated use of PS in the PS+ budesonide group was significantly lower than that in the PS alone group 12 hours after treatment (p<0.05). The improvement of PaO/FiO, TcSaO, PaO, and PaCOin the PS+ budesonide group was significantly greater than that in the PS alone group 6, 12, and 24 hours after treatment (p<0.05). The chest X-ray examination showed that the pulmonary inflammation absorption in the PS+ budesonide group was significantly better than that in the PS alone group 48 hours after treatment (p<0.05). The incidence of complications in the PS+budesonide group was significantly lower than that in the PS alone group (p<0.05), and the average hospitalization duration was significantly shorter than that in the PS alone group (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSPS combined with budesonide suspension intratracheal instillation for the treatment of neonatal MAS is effective and superior to PS alone treatment.

Animals ; Budesonide ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome ; complications ; drug therapy ; Prospective Studies ; Pulmonary Surfactants ; administration & dosage ; Suspensions ; Swine ; Trachea

We established the rapid response system for non-hospitalized patients from 2012 in order to improve the effectiveness of emergent critical care for non-hospitalized patients when emergency happened.From January 2013 to December 2016,there were 122 cases with RRS activation for non-hospitalized patients.The time to arrive was 3.16±0.41 min,and 107 cases(86.89％)were sent to the emergency department.Fifteen patients(14.02％)were classified as level 1,26(24.03％)as level Ⅱ,48(16.82％)as level Ⅲ,and 18(16.82％) as level ⅣV,and 83％ were critical patients.Rapid response system is important to cope with emergency in non-hospitalized patients.

Objective: To investigate the role and potential mechanism of CXCR4 in promoting targeted homing of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) with ultrasound-exposed microbubbles (UM) pretreatment. Methods: Third generation BMSCs were divided into four groups control group, ultrasound (US) group, UM group and ultrasound-exposed microbubbles plus catalase group. RT-PCR and western blot were performed to determine the levels of CXCR4 mRNA transcription and protein expression, respectively. Third generation BMSCs were labeled with Fluo-α/AM and divided into three groups: control group, US group and UM group, and fluorescence intensities in the cells were observed immediately, 5 min and 15 min after intervention under fluorescence microscope. The calcium iron levels in the cells were analyzed. BMSCs were divided into five group: group A without calcium in the medium, group B, group C, group D and group E containing calcium chloride with concentration of l mol, 2 mol, 4 mol, anti-calcium-sensing receptor antibody, respectively. RT-PCR and western blot were performed to determine the levels of CXCR4 mRNA transcription and proteins expression of the third generation BMSCs of each group, respectively. Results: The levels of CXCR4 mRNA transcription and protein expression between US group and control group had no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) shown by RT-PCR and western blot; the transcription level in the UM group was significantly higher than that in US group and control group (P < 0.05); and in the ultrasound-exposed microbubbles plus catalase group, the transcription level was much lower than that in UM group. Fluorescence intensify in the cells of US group had no significant difference compared with that in the cells of the control group (P > 0.05), which in the cells of UM group was significantly higher than that in the cells of both US group and control group (P < 0.05). Compared to group A, expressions of CXCR4 of group B to D were significantly increased in concentration-dependent manner showed by RT-PCR and western blot (P < 0.05). Compared to group C, expressions of CXCR4 of group E were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Conclusions: UM can promote the influx of calcium in BMSCs and increase mRNA transcription and protein expression of CXCR4. The latter may partly be caused by influx of calcium.