Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Endotoxemia ; complications ; pathology ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; pathology ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; complications ; pathology ; Ischemia ; complications ; pathology ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Failure ; etiology ; immunology ; pathology ; therapy ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy and safety of PEG-interferon alpha-2a (PEG-IFNalpha-2a) treatment on lamivudine (LAM)-resistant chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.

METHODSEighty-one patients with lamivudine-resistant HBeAg (+) chronic hepatitis B patients were enrolled and divided into PEG-IFNalpha-2a treatment group (40 cases) and adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) control group (41 cases). Two groups were combined with LAM in the first 12 weeks(w). The ALT normalization rate, the HBV DNA and HBeAg negative rate, and the HBeAg seroconversion rate were observed in 12 W, 24 W, 48 W.

RESULTSThe ALT normalization rate in 12 W, 24 W of PEG-IFNalpha-2a group was 62.5% and 80.0%. And it was higher than that of ADV group. The HBeAg negative rate and HBeAg seroconversion rate in 48 W of PEG-IFNalpha-2a group were 60% and 57.5% , which were higher than that of ADV group. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPEG-IFNalpha-2a treatment of lamivudine-resistant HBeAg (+) chronic hepatitis B is superior to ADV, and its security is well.

Adenine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; drug effects ; genetics ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Interferons ; immunology ; pharmacology ; Lamivudine ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Organophosphonates ; therapeutic use ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; Recombinant Proteins ; Treatment Outcome ; Watchful Waiting

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of nasal cavity expansion surgery on the abnormal blood supply of the cerebral arterial system.

METHODSFifty-nine inpatients with abnormal blood supply of cerebral arterial system confirmed by transcranial doppler (TCD) and chronic nasal obstructive diseases were included in this study. All patients accepted nasal cavity expansion surgery and were followed-up with TCD every month after operation until TCD became normal, or up to seven months even if the TCD was still abnormal. SPSS 17.0 software was used to analyze the data.

RESULTSIn all 59 patients, there were 164 TCD-abnormal cerebral arteries. Among them, 37 patients(62.71%) with abnormal TCD arteries became normal within 1 to 7 months after operation, 8 patients (13.56 %) got better, but 14 patients (23.73 %) did not improve.

CONCLUSIONSAbnormal blood flow of some cerebral arteries was possibly induced by increasing the activation of sympathetic nervous system around the vertebral arterial system, caused by chronic nasal obstruction. Nasal dilatancy surgery can improve the blood supplement of the cerebral arterial system.

Blood Flow Velocity ; Cerebral Arteries ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; Humans ; Nasal Cavity ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial

OBJECTIVETo reveal the mechanism of acupuncture at the Heart meridian in treatment of myocardial ischemia from gene level.

METHODSA model of acute myocardial ischemia was made by ligation of left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery. Changes of gene expression pattern of the Lung meridian group, the Heart meridian group and the model group in the heart were compared.

RESULTSDifferential expression genes and expression sequence tags (ESTs) were 14 with signal log ratio > or = 1 and 20 with signal log ratio < or = -1, mainly included immunological and inflammatory reaction relative genes, cell signal transduction and transferrin relative genes, and others, in the Lung meridian group vs the model group. Differential expression genes and ESTs were 20 with signal log ratio > or = 1 and 70 with signal log ratio < or = -1, mainly included ion channel and transport protein relative genes, cell apoptosis and stress reaction protein relative genes, metabolism relative genes, cell signal transduction and transferrin relative genes, DNA's binding, transcription and transcriptional factor relative genes, immunological and inflammatory reaction relative genes, and others, in the Heart meridian group vs the model group.

CONCLUSIONIn number and types of differential expression genes and ESTs with signal log ratio > or = 1 or < or = -1, the changes in the Heart meridian group vs the model group were obviously different from those in the Lung meridian group vs the model group, indicating that the Heart meridian has relative specificity in protecting against acute myocardial ischemia.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Heart ; Meridians ; Myocardial Ischemia ; therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical efficacy of three kinds of hybrid bioartificial liver support systems (HBLSS) in treating chronic severe hepatitis.

METHODSA bioartificial liver support system (BAL), comprising porcine hepatocytes and fiber tube style bioreactor, was constructed. Then three kinds of HBLSS were constructed: Molecular absorbent recirculating system (MARS) plus BAL; slow plasma exchange (SPE) plus continuous hemodiafiltration (CHDF) and BAL; and SPE plus hemoperfusion (HP) and BAL. One hundred-twenty patients in middle or late stages of chronic severe hepatitis were enrolled in this study. They were randomly divided into 6 groups: H1 group was treated with BAL+MARS, H2 with BAL+SPE+CHDF and H3 with BAL+SPE+HP (as treatment groups); C1 group was treated with MARS, C2 with SPE+CHDF and C3 with SPE+HP (as control groups). The changes in the clinical symptoms, in the hepatic encephalopathy stages, and in the serum total bilirubin (TBIL), the serum albumin (ALB), the prothrombin activities (PTA), endotoxin, ammonia, creatinine and a-fetal protein (AFP) were all observed before the treatment, right after it and 72 hours later. The improving and curing rates and the rates of side effect occurrences in each group were observed.

RESULTSIn all 6 groups, the patients' clinical symptoms ameliorated; their TBIL, endotoxin and ammonia levels decreased (P<0.05), and their PTA and AFP levels lowered significantly (P<0.05). But in the H1, H2 and H3 groups they were more distinctive than in the control groups. In H1 and H2 groups creatinine and ammonia levels were decreased more significantly than in the H3 group (P<0.05). The improving and curing rates of each group were 65 % (13/20), 60% (12/20), 45% (9/20), 45% (9/20), 40% (8/20) and 20% (4/20) respectively. No serious side effects were observed during the treatment.

CONCLUSIONIn treating middle and late stage chronic severe hepatitis, the measures used in H1, H2 and H3 are better than those in C1, C2 and C3. Furthermore, H1 and H2 treatments can ameliorate hepatic and renal functions, prevent the development of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, and are better than those used in H3.

Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Bioreactors ; Critical Illness ; Female ; Hemodiafiltration ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; blood ; therapy ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; therapy ; Humans ; Liver ; cytology ; Liver Failure, Acute ; therapy ; Liver, Artificial ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasma Exchange ; Swine

OBJECTIVETo investigate the dynamic changes of the anti-HBs level among immunized newborn infants born to HBsAg-positive and HBsAg-negative mothers in hyper-endemic area of Hepatitis B.

METHODSInfants who were regularly vaccinated with Hepatitis B vaccine and tested to be anti-HBs positive were divided into two groups according to HBsAg-positive or negative mothers in Long-an, Guangxi. Each subject was followed up 3 times during age 5 to 8. SPRIA was used to test HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc. Results During the follow-up period, positive rates of anti-HBs in children born to HBsAg-positive mothers ranged between 52.00% and 78.00%, and those with HBsAg-negative mothers was between 43.84% and 54.74%. GMT in two groups was between 55.36 mIU/ml and 95.66 mIU/ml as well as between 39.90 mIU/ml and 65.47 mIU/ml, respectively. There was no statistical significance in both positive rates and GMT between age groups. The anti-HBs level in the follow-up period of children born to HBsAg-positive mothers was higher than that of those born to HBsAg-negative mothers in the same age group. In the age group of 6-8 years with HBsAg-negative mothers, the positive rates in the follow-up period of children with high anti-HBs titers in the primary vaccination were 2.29-2.84 times of those with low titers. The anti-HBs titer of children in a follow-up period was lower than that in the primary vaccination, no matter whether they were born to HBsAg-positive mothers. However, the decline rate of children born to HBsAg-negative mothers was significantly higher than those born to HBsAg-positive mothers (84.91% vs. 61.54%; chi2 = 28.7982, P = 0.000). The incidence rate (25.64%) of a 4-fold increase in antibody titers of children born to HBsAg-positive mothers was significantly higher than that of children born to HBsAg-negative mothers (7.37%) from the primary vaccination to the follow-up period (chi2 = 6.7661, P = 0.009) with was 3.5 times of the latter. Subjects with HBsAg seroconvertion were those with low anti-HBs titers in primary vaccination.

CONCLUSIONThe anti-HBs level decreased slowly in successfully immunized children from age 5 to 8. The chance of natural booster yielded by natural infection increased in immunized children born to HBsAg-positive mothers. The anti-HBs level in the primary vaccination played an important role in prevention of seroconversion of HBsAg.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; immunology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male

Objective::To observe the efficacy of Wenfei Jianpi decoction on moderate to severe persistent allergic rhinitis (AR) with Lung Qi deficiency and cold syndrome and its effect on substance P (SP) in nasal secretions and peripheral blood proinflammatory factors. Method::One hundred and sixty-six patients were randomly divided into control group and observation group by random number table. Patients in control group got budesonide nasal spray, 2 times/days, and cetirizine hydrochloride tablets, 10 mg/days. And patients in observation group got Wenfei Jianpi decoction for oral, 1 dose/day. A course of treatment was 8 weeks. Before and after treatment, nasal obstruction, itching, sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, tears and nasal sign were scored, nasal airway resistance was detected, and rhinoconjunctivits quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) were scored. Before and after treatment, levels of SP immunoglobulin E (IgE) in peripheral blood, interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-5 (IL-5), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were detected, and eosinophil (EOS) were calculated. Result::By rank sum test, the clinical efficacy in observation group was better than that in control group (Z=2.073, P<0.05). Before and after treatment, scores of total score of nasal symptoms, ocular symptoms and subjective symptoms and nasal sign score were all lower than those in control group (P<0.05). Except sleep and emotion, scores of other dimensions and the total scores of RQLQ were all lower than those in control group (P<0.05). EOS in observation group was less than that in control group (P<0.05). And nasal resistance declined in observation group (P<0.05), and levels of IgE, SP, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, TNF-α and nasal resistance were lower than those in control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion::Wenfei Jianpi decoction can be used to treat moderate to severe persistent allergic rhinitis by relieving subjective symptoms and signs, improving quality of life, inhibiting inflammatory factors and reducing allergic reaction.