Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; surgery ; Transplantation, Homologous

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical therapeutic effect of Shuizhitong capsule (SZT) in treating senile vascular dementia (VD) and on changes of related physio-chemical criteria.

METHODSEighty-five patients with VD were randomly divided into the treated group (n = 51) and the control group (n = 34) in the ratio of 3:2, treated with SZT and Piracetam respectively. Before and after treatment, the Zhang's Dementia Scoring (HDS) and Function of Social Activity Questionnaire (FAQ) scoring, cerebral blood flow and hemorrheologic properties were determined.

RESULTSSZT could significantly improve the patients' clinical symptoms, intracranial hemodynamic condition and the hyperviscosity, hypercoagulation and hyperaggregation status, lower the whole blood and plasma specific viscosity, raise the living standard of partial patients, with significant difference between before and after treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of SZT in treating senile VD is definite.

Aged ; Blood Viscosity ; drug effects ; Capsules ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; drug effects ; Dementia, Vascular ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hemorheology ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nootropic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy

Ginsenosides are the abundant secondary metabolites in American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium), it could be released into soil through root exudation and decomposition during plant growth. This study determined ginsenoside contents in American ginseng cultivated soil by HPLC. Three ginsenosides, Rb1, Rb2 and Rd, were detected in the rhizosphere soil of 3-4 years old American ginseng cultivated in Huairou District, Beijing, and their contents were 0.80-3.19 mg x kg(-1). Correspondingly, the contents of the three ginsenosides in soil solution were 4-16 mg x L(-1) at field water-holding capacity of 20%. According to the field soil test data, we designed the concentration of ginsenosides for bioassays (0.2-125 mg x L(-1) in solution or 0.2-125 mg x kg(-1) in soil). The results showed that radicle lengths of American ginseng were reduced by 6%-23% in solution containing 0.2-125 mg x L(-1) ginsenoside extract, and a significant difference was observed at concentration of 125 mg x L(-1) (P < 0.05). The shoot lengths of American ginseng were not significantly inhibited by 0.2-125 mg x L(-1) ginsenosides extractions. After 20 days of growth in nutrient solution amended with 25 mg x L(-1) ginsenosides extraction, plant height of 3-year-old American ginseng seedling was decreased by 28% compared to the control, and the biomass of aerial parts was also reduced by 50% (P < 0.05). However, the growth of newly-grown fibrous root was not significantly inhibited. Comparatively, when American ginseng embryos were cultivated into sterile or non-sterile soil, neither radicle lengths nor shoot lengths were significantly affected by 0.2-125 mg x kg(-1) ginsenoside extracts. In conclusion, ginsenosides showed autotoxic effect on growth of American ginseng radicle and adult seedling, however, this effect was weakened in field soil.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Culture Media ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Ginsenosides ; analysis ; metabolism ; toxicity ; Panax ; chemistry ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Soil ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo compare the complication rates induced by three liver biopsy methods.

METHODSOne thousand five hundred fifty-seven liver biopsies were performed from 1995 to 2006 by the senior author of the present article. The patients were grouped into a non-ultrasound-guided biopsy group (783 cases), a partially ultrasound-guided group (485 cases) and an ultrasound-guided group (289 cases). The observed complications such as death, hemorrhage, pneumothorax, pain, choleperitoneum and vasovagal syncope were compared between these three groups.

RESULTSOnly 1 patient in the non-ultrasound-guided group died. Seven patients (45%), 4 in non-ultrasound-guided group, 2 in partially ultrasound-guided group and 1 in ultrasound-guided group, had hemorrhage complications. The hemorrhage complication rates between partially ultrasound-guided group and ultrasound-guided group had no significant differences and both were lower than those of the non-ultrasound-guided group. Thirty-five patients, 23 in non-ultrasound-guided group and 12 in partially ultrasound-guided group, suffered from pneumothorax; but the rates between the two groups were not significantly different. Forty-eight patients (45%), 28 in non-ultrasound-guided group, 17 in partially ultrasound-guided group and 3 in ultrasound-guided group, had severe pain and the rate in the ultrasound-guided group was significantly lower than those of the other two groups.

CONCLUSIONLiver biopsy performed under ultrasound guidance is the safest and most reliable way to do the procedure. It should be recommended in clinical practices.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Child ; Humans ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDStreptococcus (S.) oligofermentans is a newly identified bacteria with a yet to be defined mechanism of sucrose metabolism that results in acid production. This study aimed to investigate the biochemical mechanisms of S. oligoferm-entans glucose metaolism.

METHODSThe S. oligofermentans LMG21532, Lactobacillus (L.) fermentum 38 and the S. mutans UA140 were used to characterize sucrose metabolism by measuring lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and lactic acid production. Continuous dynamics and high performance capillary electrophoresis were used to determine LDH activity and lactic acid production, respectively, from bacteria collected at 0, 10 and 30 minutes after cultured in 10% sucrose.

RESULTSThese analyses demonstrated that LDH activity of the three bacterial strains examined remained stable but significantly different throughout the sucrose fermentation process. The S. oligofermentans LDH activity ((0.61 ± 0.05) U/mg) was significantly lower than that of L. fermentum ((52.91 ± 8.97) U/mg). In addition, the S. oligofermentans total lactate production ((0.048 ± 0.021) mmol/L) was also significantly lower than that of L. fermentum ((0.958 ± 0.201) mmol/L). Although the S. oligofermentans LDH production was almost double of that produced by S. mutans ((0.32 ± 0.07) U/mg), lactic acid production was approximately one sixth that of S. mutans ((0.296 ± 0.058) mmol/L). Additional tests examining pyruvic acid production (the LDH substrate) demonstrated that lactic acid concentrations correlated with pyruvic acid production. That is, pyruvic acid production by S. oligofermentans was undetectable following sucrose incubation, however, (0.074 ± 0.024) and (0.175 ± 0.098) mmol/L pyruvic acid were produced by S. mutans and L. fermentum, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS. oligofermentans is incapable of fermenting carbohydrates to produce enough pyruvic acid, which results in reduced lactic acid production.

L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Lactic Acid ; metabolism ; Pyruvic Acid ; metabolism ; Streptococcus ; metabolism ; Sucrose ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESTo observe the effects and safety of percutaneous transhepatic coronary vein occlusion under ultrasound type B and X-ray guiding to treat esophagogastric variceal hemorrhage in cirrhotic patients.

METHODSEighteen cirrhotic patients suffering from esophagogastric variceal hemorrhage were treated with percutaneous transhepatic coronary vein occlusion under ultrasound type B and X-ray guiding. Among them, 8 patients were treated during emergency bleeding and another 10 patients after hemorrhage.

RESULTSSeventeen patients were successfully treated with coronary vein occlusion. One patient rebled after 6 hours of the treatment and was treated successfully with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt. The emergency hemostatic treatment efficacy was 87.5%, and successful occlusion occurred in 94.4%. All patients were followed up for 1 to 24 months. There were 4 patients who suffered from rebleeding, 2 patients from hepatic failure and 2 patients from hepatocellular carcinoma. There were 12 patients survived during the follow-up.

CONCLUSIONPercutaneous transhepatic coronary vein occlusion under the type B ultrasonography and X-ray guiding is safe and efficient to treat esophagogastric variceal hemorrhage in cirrhotic patients

Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; etiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; etiology ; therapy ; Hemorrhage ; therapy ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; complications ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Portal Vein

OBJECTIVETo rudiment analyze the different intervention factors affecting the spinal cord injury functional recovery initially through prospective study project.

METHODSDesigned prospective study project without clinical treatment intervention and admitted 62 spinal cord injury cases into observation group from Dec 2006 to Dec 2007. The internalized standard included acute spinal cord injury within 1 week, aged from 18 to 65 years old without sexuality difference and diagnosed as type A injury: total spinal cord injury or type B injury: non-total spinal cord injury (without movement function below the injury plane) according to clinical physical examination and combined MRI or CT examination. All the 62 cases were followed up. The spinal cord function were estimated at the time of arriving hospital, 1, 3, 6 months after injury during the following up time according to the American Spine Injury Association standard (Revised at 2000) and functional independence measure (FIM) score. The intervention factors affecting the spinal cord injury functional recovery were analyzed.

RESULTSAmong the 62 cases, male 60 cases and female 2 cases, aged from 18 to 41 years old, mean age 24 years old, 29 cases can be classified into type A injury and 33 cases can be classified into type B injury. There was no significant difference (Index including sense ASIA, motor ASIA and FIM) between operation group and non-operation group, namely conservatively composite treatment at all observation point in all type A injury cases (P > 0.05). There was significant difference (Index including sense ASIA, motor ASIA and FIM) between operation group and non-operation group at all observation point in all type B injury cases (P < 0.05); And there was significant difference (Index including sense ASIA, motor ASIA and FIM) between operated in 8 hours (< or = 8 h) group and beyond 8 hours (> 8 h) group at all observation point in all type B operated cases (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSOperation and operation time were of no significant value for type A injury (total spinal cord injury), but considering the nursing convenience and the need for spinal stabilities, operation decompression and internal fixation can be chosen; Operation decompression should be performed as soon as quickly for type B injury (non-total spinal cord injury) in order to get better functional recovery.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Injury Severity Score ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Recovery of Function ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVESTo further assess the clinical antifibrotic efficacy of Cpd 861 on chronic hepatitis B related fibrosis and early cirrhosis using a randomized, double blind, and placebo controlled clinical trial.

METHODSTotal 136 patients with HBV-related fibrosis and early cirrhosis were allocated randomly into Cpd 861 treatment group and placebo group for 24 weeks treatment. Serum fibrosis markers including hyaluronic acid (HA), IV collagen (IV-C), amino terminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIIP), and laminin (LN) and serum MMP1, 2, 9, TIMP1, 2 level were determined before and after 24 weeks treatment. Liver biopsies before and after 24 weeks of treatment were assessed according to modified Scheuer and Chevallier's scoring system.

RESULTSTotal 52 patients in Cpd 861 treatment group and 50 patients in placebo-controlled group completed the 6 months. ALT level decreased from 68.2 U/L+/-68.6 U/L to 45.9 U/L+/-26.1 U/L, AST level decreased from 60.4 U/L+/-62.6 U/L to 46.7 U/L+/-39.0 U/L (P < 0.05) after 24 weeks treatment, whereas there was no significant change in placebo group (ALT: 65.3 U/L+/-48.3 U/L to 85.4 U/L+/-115.5 U/L; AST: 60.4 U/L+/-44.6 U/L to 77.6 U/L+/-89.6 U/L, P > 0.05). Serum fibrosis markers, including HA, IV-C, PIIIP, and LN were decreased after treatment, but there is no statistically significant compared with placebo group. Compared with placebo group, serum TIMP1 and MMP9 level decreased significantly (TIMP1 172.0 ng/ml+/-79.6 ng/ml vs 133.5 ng/ml+/-66.8 ng/ml; MMP9 116.1 ng/ml+/-88.2 ng/ml vs 80.4 ng/ml+/-79.0 ng/ml), and the ratio of TIMP1/MMP1 (48.3+/-96.3 vs 19.9+/-28.0) were also decreased after 861 treatment. In patients treated with Cpd 861, hepatic inflammatory score (from 14.0+/-6.0 to 10.2+/-6.1), fibrosis score (from 11.9+/-6.5 to 8.2+/-4.5), and relative content of collagen (from 18.9%+/-9.5% to 14.9%+/-8.4%) decreased significantly. In contrast, there was no significant change in placebo group. The reversal (fibrosis score decrease > or = 2) rate of fibrosis in Cpd 861 group was 38.9% in S2, 53.3% in S3 (precirrhotic) and 78.6% in S4 (cirrhosis), significantly higher than those in placebo group (14.3%, 25.0%, and 41.7%, respectively). The overall reversal rate was 52.0% in Cpd 861 group, and 20.0% in placebo group (P < 0.05). No serious adverse effects were observed during Cpd 861 treatment.

CONCLUSIONLiver fibrosis and early cirrhosis due to HBV infection in man could be definitely reversed by herbal remedy Cpd 861.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Collagen Type IV ; blood ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; complications ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; blood ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy

OBJECTIVETo develop an HPLC method for determining oxyphyllenodiol A (1) and teuhetenone A (2) contained in Alpinia oxyphylla and to compare the contents of the two components contained in medicinal materials and prepared herbal medicines in pieces sold in the market and different fractions.

METHODHPLC and Waters sunfire C18 column (4. 6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) were adopted for gradient elute with the mobile phase of acetonitrile and water. The flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1) and the detection wavelength was 250 nm.

RESULT1 and 2 showed a good linear relationship within the range of 0.1296 - 0.8640 microg and 0.1635 - 1.0900 microg respectively, with the average recoveries of 99.08% and 97.80%. Their content ranges were 0.0059% - 0.0149% and 0.0080% - 0.0164% in different samples. The mean value of 1 and 2 were 0.0085% and 0.0104% in the whole fruits, and 0.0137% and 0.0157% in the seeds. They were undetected in the nutshells.

CONCLUSIONThe method is so precise, accurate and highly reproducible that it can be used to determine the contents of oxyphyllenodiol A and teuhetenone A in A. oxyphylla. The contents of the two components are mainly extracted from the seeds, with certain difference among different samples. There are a higher contents and no significant difference in the salted and raw seeds.

Alpinia ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Sesquiterpenes ; analysis ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo investigate the construction of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) labeled recombinant adenovirus containing human stem cell leukemia (hSCL) and its distribution and efficiency in mice with interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) loss.

METHODSThe recombinant adenovirus Ad-GFP/SCL was constructed by Ad-Easy system based on the homologous recombination in bacteria, then 1.6 x 10(9) PFU of recombinant adenoviruses were injected into Balb/c mice with ICC loss via the tail vein. In vivo distribution and efficiency of recombinant adenoviruses mediated hSCL were observed by GFP under the fluorescent microscope at different phases. The expression of SCL gene was measured by RT-PCR method. The damages were observed in different organs by HE staining.

RESULTSThe recombinant adenovirus containing hSCL was quickly constructed by homologous recombination in bacteria using Ad-Easy system. Under the fluorescent microscope, GFP was revealed in heart, lung, liver, spleen, kidney, small intestine and large intestine of mice with ICC loss at different phases. No obvious damages were observed in various visceral organs by HE staining. RT-PCR showed SCL mRNA expression in various visceral organs at different levels.

CONCLUSIONSConstruction of adenovirus vector by the homologous recombination in bacteria is an efficient and time saving method, and a high titer of adenovirus is able to mediate the safe and stable expression of SCL gene in mice with ICC loss. This finding will make further gene therapy in mice with STC possible.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Constipation ; therapy ; Female ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interstitial Cells of Cajal ; metabolism ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Recombination, Genetic ; Transduction, Genetic