Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Sjogren's Syndrome ; etiology ; therapy

The objective of this study was to assess the clinical evidence for or against mood stabilizers as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD). We searched 5 databases from their inception to January 2010. Five randomized clinical trials of mood stabilizers to treat human patients suffering from AD were included. These trials assessed the effectiveness of mood stabilizers as an adjunct treatment to conventional anti-dementia drugs on behavioral and psychological symptoms, especially on agitation. Methodological quality was assessed using the Jadad score. The results suggested a significant effect in favor of placebo on the Mini-Mental Status Examination [n=270, weight mean difference (WMD), -0.89; 95% confidence intervals (CIs) -1.69 to -0.09, P=0.03] and on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory total (NPI total) (n=51, WMD, 3.71; 95% CIs 0.15 to 7.26, P=0.04). There were no significant differences in change scores on total Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS total), NPI/BPRS agitation, Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory total and Physical Self Maintenance Scale between mood stabilizers and placebo. Only one of these studies was free of methodological limitations (Jadad score=5). In conclusion, based on the existing evidence, mood stabilizers are ineffective or even harmful as a treatment for AD.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of pramipexole in treating restless legs syndrome (RLS).Methods A search for randomized,double-blind,and placebo-controlled clinical trials of pramipexole in treating moderate to severe RLS using CNKI,PubMed,Embase and Cochrane Library database was carried out. A meta-analysis of included clinical trials was performed with RevMan 5.0 software.The 2 outcomes that the weighted mean difference(WMD) of change from baseline in International RLS Study Group rating scale(IRLS) score and the relative risk (RR) of response based on the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) scale score were calculated for efficacy.Safety was assessed with RR of the adverse event (AE).Results A total of 5 clinical trials were included in this meta-analysis,of which 1776 patients were randomly assigned (945 on pramipexole,831 on placebo).The records of patients were pooled.Overall WMD were - 6.34 ( Z =12.76,P ＜ 0.01 ) for the change from baseline in IRLS score,and RR of response based on CGI-I were 1.65 (Z =10.39,P ＜0.01).The overall RR of pramipexole versus placebo were 1.14 ( Z =1.87,P =0.06 ) for AE.Conclusion To treat RLS,pramipexole is an effective and safe drug.

Delightful achievements have been obtained in forestry genetic breeding since the application of transgenic technology in this field during the past 20 years. Field trials of some genetic modified (GM) trees have been carried out, and some GM trees have been commercialized. Meanwhile, the risks of ecological safety caused by GM trees have raised attention in the public gradually. These issues mainly include the horizontal transfer and vertical flow of foreign genes, and the potential effects on insects, soil ecosystems and virus. The current status of field trials, commercial applications and the potential ecological risks of GM trees were summarized. Then the prospects of GM trees were also presented.

According to the practice and understanding in the process of microbiological experiment teaching,organizational thinking and form,the teaching contents and methods of this course are induced and summarized.It is put forward that the experimental teaching is organized as the form of research project,the students are principal part and the teachers play a leading role.Meanwhile the main problems of the teaching module and resolved measures are analyzed.

Objective:to culture excellent bachelor majoring in anesthesiology.Methods:to make teaching plan for practice in anesthesiological department with emphasis on following aspects:culture of emotional intelligence;development of the sense of responsibility for work;training of clinical thought to combine theory and practice and training of basic techniques;formation of good relationship and communication with the others and culture of scientific research ability.Results:All faculties execute the plan carefully,and all the interns graduate with clinical and research ability as expected.Conclusion:It is very important for ability improvement of interns to make and execute available plan,keep strict and careful attitude,train their clinical thought and basic techniques,and emphasis the sense of responsibility for work.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of combined high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) pulse therapy in patients with severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods Thirty-six patients were enrolled into this study, and randomly classified into WIG group (n=17) and methylprednisolone (MP) group (n=19). The treatment of patients in MG group began with a 3-day intravenous MP followed by intravenous WIG 400 mg per kilogram of body weight per day for 3-5 days, then was switched to oral prcdnisone and cyclophosphamide at routine dose. Intravenous MG was given repeatedly with an interval of 1 month for 2-5 sessions. Patients in MP group were treated with the same corticosteroids and immunosuppressants as used in WIG group but without IVIG. Patients were followed up for 3-12 months.The clinical efficacy, related serum parameters, and systemic lupus activity measurement (SLAM) were evaluated and compared between the two groups. Results Most patients in both groups showed a remission of symptoms and reduction in disease activity after treatment. The decrease in SLAM, positivity rates of antinuclear antibodies and anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibodies as well as the increase in platelets were faster in IVIG group than those in MP group (all P<0.05), but the long-term efficacy of the two groups was similar (P>0.05). Infections occurred in 11.8% of patients in WIG group and 36.8% of patients in MP group. Conclusions High-dose intravenous immunoglobulin may serve as an effective aid in the treatment of severe SLE, and is particularly beneficial to patients resistant to corticosteroids and immunosuppressants of routine dose and those accompanied by severe infections and intolerable to high dose of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants.

Objective To evaluate the significance of human interleukin-31(IL-31)in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis and its correlation with pruritus in patients with atopic dermatitis(AD).Methods Twenty-two children with mild to severe atopic dermatitis and 22 age-matched healthy controls were included in this study.Patients and controls were randomly and equally assigned into stimulation and non-stimulation groups.Venous blood samples were obtained from all participants,peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from these samples and cultured with(stimulation groups)or without(non-stimulation groups)staphylococcal enterotoxin B(SEB)for 24 hours.Then,the mRNA expression of IL-31 on PBMCs was assessed via real-time reverse transcription-PCR.ELISA was used to detect the total serum IgE level in these objects.The severity of AD in patients was rated according to scoring atopic dermatitis(SCORAD).The relationship between the mRNA expression of IL-31 and the level of serum total IgE.severity of atopic dermatitis,and degree of pruritus.was evaluated.Results The expression of IL-31 mRNA on non-stimulated PBMCs from patients was 23.2 folds as high as that from the healthy controls(P＜0.01).The stimulation with SEB upregulated the mRNA expression of IL-31 on PBMCs.and the increase on PBMCs from patients was 20.44 times of that from the controls.The total serum IgE level was 260.05 IU/mL(5.9-1131.01 IU/mL)and 17.7 IU/mL(5-140.7 IU/mL)in the Patients and controls respectively(P＜0.01).There was no significant correlation between the mRNA expression of IL-31 and disease severity or total serum IgE level(r=0.07.0.22respectively.both P＞0.05)in patients witll AD.Condusions IL.3 1 is involved in t11e pathogenesis of AD,which is unlikely to be IgE-dependent.SEB can induce the rapid expression of IL-31 on PBMCs of healthy human,and is an important modulator for the production of IL-31.

Objective To analyze the change of schistosomiasis endemic situation in Hubei Province, 2008. Methods The data of schistosomiasis control in the whole province, surveillance sites and standard examinations were collected and analyzed. Results Among all the 63 endemic counties (cities, districts), 21 reached the criteria of transmission interruption, 19 reached the criteria of transmission control, and 23 reached the criteria of infection control in 2008. Villages of Category Three, Category Four and Category Five accounted for 52.10% , 27.80% and 20.09% of all the endemic villages in the whole province, respectively. The infection rates of population and cattle were 1. 70% and 2. 20% , which decreased by 27. 04% and 34. 33% when comparing to those in 2007. The snail area was 77 363 hm~2, with a reduction of 315.70 hm~2 comparing to 2007. In the 74 provincial surveillance sites, the infection rate of population and cattle were 1. 32% and 1. 85% , respectively, with reduction rates of 32.99% and 68.38% comparing to 2007. The snail area was 2 833.98 hm~2 and the area with infected snails was 215.35 hm~2, the densities of living and infected snails were 0. 37 snails/0.1 m~2 and 0.000 3 snails/0. 1 m~2, respectively, and the infection rate of snails was 0.08%. Comparing to 2007, the snail area, densities of living and infected snails and the infection rate of snails decreased by 3.81 % , 21.28% , 40.00% and 27. 30% , respectively, while the area with infected snails increased by 4.52%. The results of standard examination suggested that all the 15 uncontrolled counties ( cities, districts) reached the criteria of infection control. Conclusions Though the endemic situation of schistosomiasis in Hubei Province has been controlled effectively, the endemic condition is still severe. Therefore, the comprehensive measures with an emphasis on infectious source control should be strengthened to consolidate the control result.

Objective To measure the proximal femoral parameters which can provide anatomic evidence for the design of internal fixation components for intertrochanteric fractures of femur.Methods Femoral speci- mens were harvested randomly from 120 healthy adult cadavers(left 60,fight 60).The neck shaft angle,greater trochanter slope length,tilt angle of greater trochanter,axial length of head and neck,lengths of upper and lower borders of the neck,and the minimum transverse diameter of the neck were measured.On the basis of the anatomic study,a two-claw plate was designed to treat 145 cases of femoral intertrochanteric fractures.Results The femoral neck shaft angle was 128.59??6.31?,femoral greater trochanter slope length was(5.5?0.58)cm,tilt angle of femoral greater trochanter was 42.76??5.20?,and axial length of head and neck was(9.42?0.38)cm. There was a correlation between the parameters.All the patients were followed up for a mean time of 23.6 months. The fractures got clinic union in 3 to 6 months.Two cases experienced detachment of claws and hooks but their final outcome was not affected.Three cases suffered coxa vara.All the other cases obtained normal motion function of hips and normal neck shaft angle.No breakage of claw,hook or nail was found in them.Conclusions It is necessary to design an internal fixator that can fit the anatomical features of Chinese femurs in the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures of femur.The two-claw plate designed by us is a good attempt to improve the clinical effect.