OBJECTIVETo study clinical efficacy of smoothing Gan reinforcing Shen (SGRS) method in treating poor response of diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) patients in in vitro fertilization and embryo, transfer (IVF-ET).

METHODSTotally 84 DOR patients undergoing IVF-ET were assigned to the experimental group (SGRS Chinese herbs as adjuvant therapy) and the control group according to random digit table, 42 in each group. Patients in the control group received controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) and IVF-ET. Those in the experimental group additionally received basic formula of SGRS method, one dose per day. The dose and use time of recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (r-FSH) were recorded during ovarian stimulation process. On the injection day of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and serum levels of estradiol (E2) on the oocyte retrieval day were determined using chemiluminescent method. E2 contents in the follicular fluid on the oocyte retrieval day were detected using ELISA. The total number of retrieved oocytes, the number of mature oocytes in metaphase II (M II), the number of normal fertilization [with two pronucleus (2PN)], the number of portable embryos, and the number of good quality embryos were recorded. The correlation between Chinese medical adjuvant therapy and the aforesaid indices were observed. The clinical pregnancy rate and the abortion rate were finally compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe total dose of r-FSH, the E2 level on HCG injection day, the serum E2 level on the oocyte retrieval day, the number of retrieved oocyte, the number of oocytes in M II the number of oocytes with 2PN, the number of portable embryos, and the number of good quality embryos were all positively correlated with Chinese medical adjuvant therapy (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, serum E2 levels on the HCG injection day and the oocyte retrieval day obviously increased, the number of retrieved oocytes, the number of oocytes in M II, and the number of portable embryos were increased more in the experimental group with statistical difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was no statistical significance in the clinical pregnancy rate or the abortion rate between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSGRS Chinese herbs as adjuvant therapy could improve ovarian responsiveness of DOR patients undergoing IVF-ET, increase the number of retrieved oocytes, elevate the quality of oocytes and the number of embryos.

Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic ; therapeutic use ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Embryo Transfer ; methods ; Estradiol ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; methods ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; metabolism ; therapeutic use ; Follicular Fluid ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Oocyte Retrieval ; Oocytes ; Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome ; Ovulation Induction ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease,with both the innate and adaptive immune systems responding to many endogenous and exogenous antigens.Subsequent investigations have revealed that an immunomodulatory strategy via active immunization against atherosclerotic plaque antigen(s) could potentially alleviate atherosclerosis.Substantial data from clinical investigations support the key role of immune system in atherosclerosis.So,it may be promising to develop immunotherapy against atherosclerosis.The paper reviews current status of immunization studies and possible associated immunemediated inflammatory mechanisms in atherosclerosis.

The benefit of tadalafil should be justified by its safety and tolerance in the chronic treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in general and high-risk population. The main treatment-emergent adverse events, chiefly induced by the interactions of tadalafil with PDE5 and isoforms, are mild or moderate in severity, transient and reversible, which may disappear without drug withdrawal. Tadalafil does not add to the risk and severity of cardiovascular problems, and can be safely co-administered with antihypertensives and selective a-receptor blockers.
Carbolines ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Drug Tolerance ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Tadalafil ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of Chaiqin Chengqi Decoction (CQCQD) in treatment of rats with acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP). METHODS: Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham-operated (SO) group, ANP group and CQCQD-treated group. ANP was induced by retro-pumping 3.5% sodium cholate to common bile duct. Blood sample was collected from abdominal vein for examination and the pancreatic tissue samples were taken for making pathology section 6 hours later. The pancreatic tissue (HE staining) was observed by light microscope. The content of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) was detected with the method of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in pancreas was detected by immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: Compared with the SO group, there was dramatic increase in the white blood cell (WBC) counts and AMY level in the ANP group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the ANP group, the WBC counts and AMY level in CQCQD-treated group were significantly reduced (P<0.05). The edema, inflammatory infiltration, haemorrhage and necrosis scores and total pathological score in the ANP group were obviously higher than those in the SO group (P<0.01). The edema, haemorrhage and inflammatory infiltration scores and the total pathological score in CQCQD-treated group were decreased (P<0.05). The integral optical density of NF-kappaB p65 positive cells of pancreas in CQCQD-treated group was lower than that in the ANP group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: CQCQD can reduce the content of serum TNF-alpha and IL-6, depress the activation of NF-kappaB, and lessen the pancreatic lesions.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effects of the Chinese traditional medicine Yougui Capsules and Wuziyanzong Pills on sperm viability and motility in patients with oligoasthenospermia.

METHODSA total of 80 infertile men oligoasthenospermia were equally randomized into a trial and a control group, the former treated with Yougui Capsules at 1.68 g tid, while the latter with Wuziyanzong Pills at 6 g bid, both for a course of 12 weeks. The sperm viability and motility of the patients were detected and compared before and after medication.

RESULTSAfter 12 weeks of medication, the sperm viability and percentages of grade a and grade a + b sperm were (65.7 +/- 13.1), (22.5 +/- 9.1) and (47.6 +/- 15.8)% in the trial group, significantly higher than (38.1 +/- 11.1), (13.2 +/- 6.8) and (24.1 +/- 10.9)% in the control (P<0.05). What's more, the above three parameters of the two groups were also significantly higher than those before medication, which were (31.9 +/- 16.9), (8.2% +/- 3.7) and (15.7 +/- 13.9)% in the former and (31.7 +/- 17.0), (7.9 +/- 4.5) and (16.9 +/- 13.6)% in the latter (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONBoth Yougui Capsules and Wuziyanzong Pills can improve sperm viability and motility in patients with oligoasthenospermia, and the former is even more efficacious than the latter.

Adult ; Asthenozoospermia ; therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore evolution rules of phlegm and blood stasis syndrome ( PBSS) in hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis (AS) using NMR-based metabolic profiling and metabonomic approaches based on formulas corresponding to syndrome.

METHODSTotally 150 SD rats were divided into the normal group, the model group, the Erchen Decoction (ED) group, the Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (XZD) group, the Lipitor group, 30 in each group. The hyperlipidemia and AS rat model was duplicated by suturing carotid artery, injecting vitamin D3, and feeding with high fat diet. ED and XZD were used as drug probes. Blood samples were withdrawn at week 2, 4, and 8 after modeling. Blood lipids, blood rheology, histopathology and metabolomics were detected and analyzed. Results Results of blood lipids and pathology showed hyperlipidemia and early AS rat models were successfully established. At week 2 after modeling, levels of total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) significantly increased, which reached the peak at week 4 and maintained at higher levels at week 8. ED exerted obvious effect in improving TC and LDL-C levels of early models, while XZD could greatly improve levels of TC and LDL-C of late models. Rheological results showed at week 2, there was no significant difference in whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, or hematocrit between the model group and the normal group (P > 0.05). At week 4 partial hemorheological indicators (such as plasma viscosity) were abnormal. Till week 8 whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, and hematocrit were significantly abnormal (P <0. 05, P < 0.01). As time went by, whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, and hematocrit showed gradual increasing tendency in the ED group, while they showed gradual decreasing tendency in the XZD group. Results of metabonomics showed significant difference in spectra of metabolites between the normal group and the model group. As modeling time was prolonged, contents of acetyl glucoprotein and glucose in the model group increased in late stage, which was in. line with results of blood lipids and hemorheology. ED showed more obvious effect in early and mid-term modeling (at week 2 and 4), and increased contents of partial metabolites (such as choline, phosphatidyl choline, glycerophosphocholine), but these changes in the XZD group were consistent with those of the model group. In late modeling (at week 8) XZD showed more obvious effect in improving contents of lactic acid, acetyl glycoprotein, LDL, creatine, choline, and glucose.

CONCLUSIONSED and XZD not only showed regulatory effects on lipid disorders, but also could improve dysbolism of Chos. In formulas corresponding to syndrome, damp-phlegm was main pathogenesis of hyperlipidema and AS in early and mid stages. Blood stasis syndrome began to occur along with it progressed. Phlegm can result in blood stasis and intermingles with stasis. Phlegm turbidity runs through the whole process.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; metabolism ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Hemorheology ; Hyperlipidemias ; Lipids ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Metabolome ; physiology ; Metabolomics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sputum ; metabolism

Fatty Liver ; Humans ; Proteomics ; methods

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of ligustrazine on the expression of stem cell factor mRNA (SCF) in bone marrow tissue and explore the mechanism of hematopoietic reconstitution after bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The colony forming unit of spleen (CFU-S) were counted, the survival rate at days 7, 14 and 21 after BMT were measured, as well as the expression level of SCF mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. The results showed that in ligustrazine group CFU-S counts on day 10 and survival rate, expression level of SCF mRNA on day 7, 14 and 21 after BMT were higher than that in the control group (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). In conclusion, ligustrazine promotes the recovery of hematopoietic cells in bone marrow, enhances the repair of bone marrow microvessels, and then improves bone marrow microenvironment and promotes hematopoietic reconstitution.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Hematopoiesis ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Stem Cell Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transplantation, Isogeneic

BACKGROUNDIn the past 5 years, new treatment materials and techniques offering a different concept in endovascular treatment have been described for cerebral arteriovenous malformations (CAVMs). The aim of this study was to assess the endovascular treatment of CAVMs by using a liquid embolic material, Onyx (Micro Therapeutics. Inc., Irvine, CA, USA).

METHODSFrom September 2003 to September 2004, Onyx was used to treat 22 patients with CAVMs. Ten AVMS were located in functional areas, 8 in deep cerebral areas, and 4 in the cerebellar hemisphere. The size of CAVMs was about 3 cm in diameter in 5 patients, 3-6 cm in 11, and more than 6 cm in 6.

RESULTSIn the 22 patients, Onyx embolization was successful. Nidus occlusion was complete in 3 patients, > 90% in 8, > 80% and < 90% in 6, and > 50% and < 80% in 5. Complications included transient neurological deficits in 2 patients, and adherence of microcatheter to the site of injection in 2.

CONCLUSIONSBeing non-adhesiveness, Onyx is a safe and satisfactory embolic material in the treatment of CAVMs. But its long-term efficacy awaits further follow-up.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; administration & dosage ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To investigate the effects of physical exercises on cardiac function and plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels in hypertensive patients combined with diastolic cardiac dysfunction.MethodsA total of 66 essential hypertension patients who had abnormal left ventricular relaxation and normal systolic function were assigned to the intervention group ( n =33 ; doing physical exercises once a day,5 days a week) or control group (n =33 ).All the patients received standard treatment.At 6 months,body weight,blood pressure,heart rate,NT-proBNP,and echocardiography were measured.ResultsAt 6 months,body weight [ (68 ± 7 ) kg vs (72 ± 8 ) kg ],systolic blood pressure [ (135.4 ±5.1) mm Hg (1 mm Hg =0.133 kPa) vs (141.9 ±5.2) mm Hg ],diastolic blood pressure [ (81.1 ±4.0) mm Hg vs (84.7 ±4.6) mm Hg],New York Heart Association class (1.4 ±0.3 vs 1.8 ±0.4),NT-proBNP level [ (526 ± 126 ) ng/L vs (741 ± 189 ) ng/L] were significantly decreased in the intervention group when compared with the control group ( all P ＜ 0.05 ) although left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (62.9 ±6.7 vs 59.0 ±5.6) and E/A ratio ( 1.1 ±0.3 vs 0.9 ±0.3) were significantly increased ( both P ＜ 0.05).ConclusionPhysical exercises could play a role in reduced blood pressure and body weight and improved cardiac function in hypertensive patients with diastolic cardiac dysfunction.