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

Chemical constituents of Swertia patens. The whole plant of air-dried Swertia patens was extracted with 90% EtOH. The water extract was suspended in H₂O and extracted with petroleum ether, EtOAc and n-BuOH, successively. The compounds were isola- ted and purified by column chromatography from the EtOAc fraction, and identified based on spectral analyses (MS, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C- NMR). Eighteen compounds were isolated and elucidated as 3, 4-dihydro-1H,6H,8H-naptho [1,2-c:4,5-c', d'dipyrano-1, 8-dione (1), angelone (2), gentiogenal (3), erythricin (4), erythrocentaurin (5), gentianine (6), swertiakoside B (7), swertiamarin (8), 2'-O-actylswertiamarin (9), amarogentin (10), 1, 3, 5-trihydroxyxanthone (11), 1, 3-dihydroxy-5-methoxyxanthone (12), 1-hydroxy- 2, 3, 5-trimethoxyxanthone (13), gentiocrucine (14), 3-hydroxyphenylketone (15), n-hexacosyl ester 4-hydroxy-trans-cinnamate (16), n-hexacosyl ester 4-hydroxy-cis-cinnamate (17), and cholest-4-en-3-one (18). Compounds 1-7, 9-18 were obtained from S. patens for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Swertia ; chemistry

This present work is to study the chemical constituents of Swertia angustifolia. The whole plants of air-dried Swertia angustifolia was extracted with 90% EtOH. The water extract was suspended in H2O and extracted with petroleum ether, EtOAc and nBuOH, successively. The compounds were isolated and purified by column chromatography from the EtOAc fraction, and identified based on spectral analyses (MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR). Fourteen compounds were isolated and characterized as 1, 8-dihydroxy-3, 7-dimethoxyxanthone (1), 1, 8-dihydroxy-3, 5, 7-trimethoxyxanthone (2), 7-hydroxy-3, 8-dimethoxyxanthone-1-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), 8-0-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-6) -β-D-glucopyranosyl] -1, 7-dihydroxy-3-methoxyxanthone (4), (+) -syringaresinol (5), ferulic acid (6), trans-coniferyl aldehyde (7), sinapaldehyde (8), trans-coniferyl alcohol (9), 3, 4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (10), 2-hydroxybenzoic acid (11), isophthalic acid (12), 2-furoic acid (13), and 2-methyl-4(3H)-quinazolinone(14). Compounds 2-14 were obtained from this plant for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Swertia ; chemistry

This study is to investigate the chemical constituents of Swertia kouitchensis. The whole plants of air-dried Swertia kouitchensis was extracted with 90% EtOH. The water extract was suspended in H2O and extracted with petroleum ether, EtOAc and n-BuOH, successively. The compounds were isolated and purified by column chromatography from the EtOAc fraction, and their structures were identified based on spectral analyses (MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR). Twenty-eight compounds were obtained, and characterized as erythrocentaurin (1), erythrocentaurin dimethylacetal (2), swertiamarin (3), vogeloside (4), 2'-O- actylswertiamarin (5), swertianoside D (6), gentiocrucines A-B (7-8), gentiocrucine (9), 1-hydroxy-3, 7, 8-trimethoxyxanthone (10), 1-hydroxy-3, 5, 6-trimethoxyxanthone (11), 3-epitaraxerol (12), erythrodiol 3-O-palmitate (13), (+) -syringaresinol (14), caffeic acid (15), trans-coniferyl aldehyde (16), trans-coniferyl alcohol (17), 3, 4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (18), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid (19), 3, 4-dihydroxybenzoic aldehyde (20), 2, 3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (21), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (22), 3-acetoxybenzoic acid (23), 3-hydroxybenzoic acid (24), 3-hydroxybenzoic alcohol (25), nicotinic acid (26), 2-furoic acid (27), and uracil (28). Compounds 1-4, 6-28 were obtained from S. kouitchensis for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Swertia ; chemistry

Objective To explore the value of microRNA in differential diagnosis of tuberculous ascites and cancerous ascites.Methods From January 2011 to October 2013,31 patients with ascites were enrolled in this study,19 cases of whom had cancerous ascites (two cases of ovarian cancer,three cases of liver cancer,one case of bile duct carcinoma,five cases of gastric cancer,three cases of pancreatic cancer,four cases of colon cancer and one case of peritoneal mesothelioma) and 12 cases had tuberculous ascites.Ascites was collected for microRNA microarray detection,and the possible differential expressed microRNA was screened.The results of microarray were confirmed by TaqMan stem-loop real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.The t test,receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the ROC curve (AUC) were performed for statistical analysis.Results The results of microRNA expression profiles indicated that there were differences between tuberculous ascites and cancerous ascites.The findings of TaqMan real-time PCR showed the expression of microRNA-21 in cancerous ascites was 39.3±11.6,which was much higher than that of tuberculous ascites (12.6 ±4.1),and the difference was statistically significant (t=4.921,P＜0.05).The expression of microRNA-134 in cancerous ascites was 68.2±20.4,which was lower than that of tuberculous ascites (210.2±37.2),and the difference was statistically significant (t =3.430,P ＜ 0.05).The AUC of microRNA-21 and microRNA-134 in differential diagnosis of tuberculous ascites and cancerous ascites was 0.882 (95 ％ CI 0.816-0.917) and 0.877 (95％ CI 0.782-0.901).The AUC of combined microRNA-21 and microRNA-134 in differential diagnosis of tuberculous ascites and cancerous ascites was 0.915 (95％ CI 0.863-0.967).Conclusions There are differences in microRNA expression profiles between tuberculous ascites and cancerous ascites.The detection of microRNA-21 and microRNA-134 expression in ascites is of great importance in differential diagnosis.

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.

OBJECTIVE To assess the clinical effectiveness of antibiotic combined therapy for febrile neutropenia as an empirical treatment.METHODS We analyzed bacterial epidemiology form Jan 2001 to Feb 2003 and performed a study in 202 neutropenic febrile patients after chemotherapy or(HSCT).Three groups were divided.In first group(84 cases) carbapenems and vancomycin were used.In second group(78 cases)and in third group(40(cases)) used cephalosporin or quinolone.RESULTS Carbapenems plus vancomycin were with response rate of 93%,and(without) vancomycin were only 66%.Cephalosporin or quinolone was with response rate only of 30%.(CONCLUSIONS) Strong antibiotic with vancomycin is effective for treating patients with neutropenia and fever(under) limited bacterial epidemiology.

OBJECTIVE Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma is an official plant that grows in arid or semi-arid areas.Our early work demonstrated that Cistanche extracts protect against sperm damage in mice under bisphenol A induced reproductive damage. Echinacoside (ECH)is one of the major active components. The present study investigated the mechanisms behind the possible protective effects of ECH against oligoasthenospermia in rat and identified the interaction between ECH and AR. METH-ODS The distribution of ECH was assayed by HPLC,the quantity and quality of sperm was evaluated and hormone levels were determined by radioimmunosorbent assay. The levels of androgen receptor (AR)and key steroidogenic-related genes were reduced as determined by Western blotting and qPCR analysis.The interaction between ECH and AR were evaluated by fluorescence localization assay,indi-rect ELISA and molecular docking. RESULTS ECH significantly increased the quantity of sperm and secretions of luteinizing hormone and testosterone.ECH was distributed to the hypothalamus but not in the testes.ECH combined with hypothalamic AR in the pocket of Met-894 and Val-713 to inhibit transfer of AR from the cytoplasm to nuclei in the hypothalamus.While negative feedback of sex hormone regula-tion was inhibited, positive feedback was stimulated to increase the secretion of luteinizing hormone and testosterone subsequently enhancing the quantity of sperm. C. militaris significantly alleviated the BPA-induced reproductive damage by increasing testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and glutathione (GSH); as well as by reducing serum malondialdehyde (MDA). C. militaris not only obviously enhanced the levels of serum LH and T, but it also improved the sperm count and motility compared to the BPA-treated group.CONCLUSION C.militaris and ECH protect the BPA induced reproductive damage.ECH blocks AR activity in the hypothalamus to increase the quantity of sperm and protect against oligoasthenospermia in rats.

The characteristics of the elderly patients with fragility fracture were analyzed, the concept of orthogeriatrics care was expounded, and the research progress of the care mode of the elderly patients with fragility fracture were summarized, so as to provide reference for the clinical practice of the elderly orthopedic department and the training of specialized nurses in China.

OBJECTIVETo search for the best therapy for recurrent herpes simplex.

METHODSNinety-six cases were randomly divided into an auricular point sticking plus moxibustion group (treatment group, n = 54), a medication group (control group, n = 42). The treatment group were treated with auricular sticking at points Spleen, Lung, Kidney, and others, and moxibustion was applied at Zusanli (ST 36), Fenglong (ST 40), and local blister; the control group were treated by oral administration and external application of aciclovir.

RESULTSThe cured rate and the total effective rate were 55.5% and 100.0% in the treatment group, and 9.5% and 61.9% in the control group, respectively, with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe auricular point sticking plus moxibustion is a better therapy for recurrent herpes simplex, with a significantly better therapeutic effect than that of the medication.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Administration, Oral ; Herpes Simplex ; Humans ; Moxibustion