OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of navel-warming therapy on clinical efficacy in patients with yang-deficiency tympanites based on regular treatment of western medication.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty cases of yang-deficiency tympanites were randomly divided into a navel-warming therapy group and a western medication group, sixty cases in each one. The regular treatment of western medicine was applied in the western medication group, including oral administration of antiviral drug and diuretics as well as intravenous drip of hepatic protector. Based on western medicine treatment, the navel-warming therapy was applied in the navel-warming group. A medical cake was laid on Shenque (CV 8), and then a medical cylinder was placed above the medical cake and ignited. The treatment was given once daily. One month was considered as a treatment session in both groups and totally one session was required. The TCM symptom score, B-ultrasound ascites and temporary use of diuretics before and after treatment were observed in both groups; also the efficacy was evaluated.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 81.7% (49/60) in the navel-warming therapy group, which was superior to 56.7% (34/60) in the western medication group (P < 0.05). After the treatment, the TCM symptom score and ascites were improved in both groups (all P < 0.05), which was more significant in the navel-warming therapy group (all P < 0.05). The temporary use of diuretics was statistically different between the two groups (P < 0.05), indicating the navel-warming therapy group could obviously reduce or stop the use of diuretics.

CONCLUSIONBased on regular treatment of western medication, the navel-warming therapy could significantly improve therapeutic efficacy, effectively relieve clinical symptoms and ease ascites.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Diuretics ; administration & dosage ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Yang Deficiency ; drug therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of Xiehuo Yangyin powder (XHYY) in treating the initial stage of toxic and diffuse goiter (Graves' disease).

METHODSSixty patients were randomly divided into two groups, the treated group (n = 30) was treated with XHYY and methimazole, while the control group (n = 30) was treated with methimazole alone. The TCM syndrome score and thyroxin level in the two groups were compared and analyzed before, and 2 weeks, 12 weeks after treatment.

RESULTSThe syndrome score and thyroxin level in the treated group 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 12 weeks after treatment were reduced in comparing with before treatment, with the improvement better than those in the control group in the corresponding stages (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe Chinese herbal medicine XHYY plus methimazole, in treating Graves' disease, could rapidly and effectively improve the patients' clinical symptoms and lower the thyroxin level, reduce the daily taken of methimazole.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antithyroid Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Graves Disease ; blood ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Methimazole ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Powders ; Thyroxine ; blood

Objective To explore how medical staff in the oncology department understand management of cancer related fatigue (CRF), and explore what factors influencing the effective practice of CRF management. Methods Qualitative inquiry was adopted. Ten medical staffs in the oncology department were selected for in- depth interview. Generic analysis was applied to code, categorize and interpret the qualitative data. Results Participants believed that many factors influenced the CRF, which hadn′t been assessed as an independent symptom and lacked the systematic, effective and specific interventions. The medical staff, patients and their families neglecting the CRF management was the main barrier. Strengthening system construction and staff training was mentioned as major area which needed to be improved. Conclusions CRF management guideline should be formulated according to our national situations based on the clinical practices, besides, the training of correlated clinical knowledge and skills of medical staff should be strengthened and eventually promote the cancer patients′quality of life.

Aim To investigate the effect of polydatin on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy induced by high glucose (25.5 mmol·L -1 )and insulin (0.1 μmol ·L -1 ) (HGI)and its possible influence on peroxisome prolif-erator-activated receptor-β (PPARβ)/nuclear tran-scription factor-κB (NF-κB)/nitric oxide (NO)signa-ling pathway.Methods The cardiomyocyte hypertro-phy was characterized in rat primary cardiomyocytes by measuring the cell surface area,protein content,and atrial natriuretic factor (ANF)mRNA expression.The mRNA and protein expressions were measured by qRT-PCR and Western blotting,respectively.The activity of NO synthase (NOS)and NO content were measured by reagent kit through ultraviolet spectroscopy.Results HGI significantly induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy which increased the cell surface area,protein content and ANF mRNA expression (P <0.01 ).Meanwhile, the expressions of PPARβmRNA and protein reduced while the NF-κB p65 and iNOS expressions increased significantly which occurred in parallel with rising NOS activity and NO concentration (P <0.01 ).Polydatin (0.1,1,10 μmol·L -1 )inhibited the cardiomyocyte hypertrophy induced by HGI (P <0.01 ),and re-versed the mRNA and protein expressions of PPARβ, NF-κB p65 and iNOS,and NOS activity,as well as NO content.These effects of polydatin were abolished by GSK0660 (1 μmol·L -1 ),a selective PPARβan-tagonist (P <0.05 ).Conclusion Polydatin resists HGI-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy,which may be mediated by PPARβup-regulation,and then NF-κB-iNOS-NO pathway inactivation.

Information of metabolic enzymes and transporters, physiological parameters of animals and demography of Chinese people were integrated to establish a digital liver model (DLM) based on metabolism and transporter and coded with VBA. Clearance and drug-drug interaction (DDI) of candidate drugs in animal and human could be predicted based on the pharmacokinetic data obtained from in vitro and in vivo experiments. Pravastatin and pitavastatin were selected as the samples to examine this model, where their clearance and their DDI with cyclosporine were predicted. The results showed that the predicted values of median parameters in same species were within twofold of observed values for 83.3% (5/6). The program's successful prediction in DDI tendency might indicate its application in optimizing the dosage regimen and reducing the risk of clinical trial.
Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Biological Transport ; Computer Simulation ; Cyclosporine ; pharmacokinetics ; Drug Interactions ; Humans ; Liver ; metabolism ; Metabolic Clearance Rate ; Models, Biological ; Pravastatin ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Quinolines ; blood ; pharmacokinetics

By using whole blood selenium, 24 hr urinary selenium and hair selenium contents as the indices of assessing human selenium status, it was found that the populations in the endemic areas of Keshan disease were practically in a selenium poor status. The selenium contents in locally grown staple grains and daily diets in the endemic areas were also lower than those in the non-endemic areas. In an area covering a cross section of Keshan disease geographic belt in our country, the hair selenium contents of agricultural populations were measured. The results indicated that all the hair selenium contents in the endemic sites were always at a lower level, whereas those in the non-endemic sites distant from the endemic areas were generally at a higher level; they decreased gradually until the endemic areas were reached; and finally, along the contiguous region of the endemic and non-endemic areas they were insignificantly different.The hair selenium contents among the agricultural populations were significantly lower than those among the non-agricultural ones in the same endemic areas. However, no regular correlation had been observed between the seasonal prevalence of Keshan disease and the variation of hair selenium contents in the same populations living in the same endemic sites.It is considered that the endemic areas of the disease seem to be a Se-deficiency belt, and Se-deficiency probably might be a pathogenic geo-gen in the prevalence of Keshan disease.

Glutathione is a tripeptide comprised by L-glutamate, L-cysteine, and glycine, that serves antioxygenation and deintoxication functions within the cell. Recent study has found that glutathione is the main driving force for bile salt-independent bile flow, impaired biliary excretion of glutathione can lead to cholestasis. This review focuses on hepatobiliary transport of glutathione and its role in cholestasis. Based on the evidence of choleretic effect of glutathione, enhancement of biliary excretion of glutathione may be a good strategy for prevention and treatment of cholestasis.
Animals ; Biological Transport ; Cholestasis ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Estrogens ; adverse effects ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Humans ; Jaundice, Chronic Idiopathic ; genetics ; Liver ; metabolism ; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mutation ; Phalloidine ; adverse effects ; Ursodeoxycholic Acid ; therapeutic use

Recent researches indicate that ubiquitin-protea some pathway plays an important role in apoptosis regulation. Proteasome inhibitors induce apoptosis in many kinds of neoplastic cells, thus provide a great opportunity for exploring synergy of proteasome inhibitors and other apoptosis-inducing agents. In this study, the effect of the proteasome inhibitor Z-LLL-CHO combined with etoposide (VP16) on leukemic cell lines M-07e and TF-1 was investigated by MTT assay, trypan blue exclusion, flow cytometry and Western blot. The results showed that the combination of Z-LLL-CHO and VP16 was much more effective than either agents alone in promoting cytotoxicity in both cell lines evaluated. Accumulation of cells in S + G2/M phase of the cell cycle was observed in the cells treated with VP16 and Z-LLL-CHO alone, while apparent increase of sub-G0/G1 fraction was detected in cells treated with combination of the agents. The cleavage of Bcl-2 into a shortened 22 kD fragment was detected in M-07e cells exposed to either agents alone, and the fraction of 22 kD fragment was increased in the cells treated with combination of the agents. In conclusion, the combination of Z-LLL-CHO and VP16 enhanced their individual cytotoxic effect by inducing apoptosis, in which increase of S + G2/M fraction in cell cycle as well as the enhanced cleavage of Bcl-2 are the possible mechanism of the additive effect on leukemic cells by Z-LLL-CHO and VP16.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cysteine Endopeptidases ; Etoposide ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Leukemia ; pathology ; Multienzyme Complexes ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Oligopeptides ; pharmacology ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients infected with the antiviral-resistant rtA181 mutation hepatitis B virus (HBV) who have been unresponsive to general therapy to determine the effects of individualized therapy.

METHODSFifty-four patients with confirmed rtA181 mutation and who experienced virological breakthrough during nucleus(t)ide analogue (NUC) treatment were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. Their serum levels of HBV DNA, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and alanine transaminase (ALT) were tested. Each patient was genotyped by pyrosequencing for 10 mutation sites in the HBV P gene that have been previously correlated to NUC efficacy. Each patient's antiviral therapy and response history was analyzed in regard to their particular mutation pattern. The serological index was determined for carriers of the rtA181T/V mutation. The secondary individualized treatment included adding/switching to entecavir (ETV; group A) or adding telbivudine (LdT; group B) upon confirmation of drug resistance. Effect of individualized treatment was analyzed by T test and Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables with normal or skewed distributions, respectively. Categorical variables were analyzed by the Chi-squared ( x² ) or Fisher's exact tests.

RESULTSThe rtA181T mutation was found in 64.8% (35/54) of patients with rtA181 mutation HBV. The most frequent previously administered medications were adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) and lamivudine (LAM). Multi-site rtA181 mutations occurred more frequently in the patients with multi-NUCs history (57.6%) than in those with single NUCs history (28.6%) (x²=4.342, P less than 0.05). Serum HBV DNA level at virological breakthrough was lower than that at baseline of the first antiviral treatment (5.66+/-1.01 vs. 6.75+/-0.81 log10 copies/ml; t=-4.210, P less than 0.01). The serum HBsAg level was higher in carriers of the rtA181T mutation than in carriers of the rtA181V mutation (3.80+/-0.45 vs. 3.46+/-0.60 log10 IU/ml; t=2.109, P less than 0.05). In patients with serum HBV DNA more than or equal to 6 log10 copies/ml at viral breakthrough, 100% (8/8) of patients in the secondary treatment group A and 75% (3/4) patients in the secondary treatment group B exhibited virological response at week 24 after intervention. Undetectable HBV DNA was achieved in three patients of group A and one patient of group B. In patients with serum HBV DNA less than 6 log10 copies/ml at viral breakthrough, 100% (14/14) of patients in group A and 71.4% (5/7) of patients in group B exhibited biological response at week 24 after intervention. The serum HBV DNA level decreased to undetectable levels in 12 patients of group A and four patients of group B.

CONCLUSIONThe rtA181 mutation pattern correlates with previous antiviral therapy response. In addition, multi-site rtA181 mutations occur more frequently in patients with a history of multi-NUCs therapy. Adding or switching rtA181 carriers to ETV produces a more robust virological suppression than adding LdT.

Adult ; Aged ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; genetics ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Point Mutation ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between differential activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction system and apoptosis in PC12 cells induced by electromagnetic irradiation.

METHODSCultured PC12 cells were exposed to 65 mW/cm(2) electromagnetic wave for 20 min. The PC12 cells apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry 0, 3, 12, 24 h after electromagnetic irradiation. The phosphorylations of ERK1/2, JNK and P38 MAPK were tested by Western-blot.

RESULTSElectromagnetic irradiation induced apoptosis in PC12 cells soon after irradiation. The apoptotic rate of PC12 cells increased to about 23.5% at 3 h. But compared with that at 3 h, there was no significant difference in the apoptotic rate at 12 h (P > 0.05). The apoptotic rate of PC12 cells increased sharply again at 24 h. After exposure to electromagnetic irradiation, the phosphorylations of ERK1/2 and JNK increased significantly. The increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2 lasted for 3 hours, but of JNK lasted for 12 hours, and 24 hours after irradiation. The phosphorylation of both ERK1/2 and JNK were significantly lower than that of control. The phosphorylation of P38 MAPK was always higher after electromagnetic irradiation, and there were two phosphorylation peaks at 3 h and 24 h.

CONCLUSIONThe electromagnetic irradiation can induce the activation of MAPK signal transduction system, and ERK1/2, JNK, P38 MAPK showed differential activation. The differential activation of MAPKs may play an important role in the apoptosis of PC12 cells induced by electromagnetic irradiation.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; radiation effects ; Blotting, Western ; Flow Cytometry ; MAP Kinase Kinase 4 ; metabolism ; physiology ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; physiology ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; physiology ; PC12 Cells ; Phosphorylation ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; radiation effects ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; physiology