OBJECTIVETo observe the prevention and clinical efficacy of combination of Liuwei Dihuang Pill (LDP) and Ginkgo Leaf Tablet (GLT) for early diabetic retinopathy (DR).

METHODSUsing randomized, double-blind, double simulation, parallel controlled clinical trial, 140 type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) outpatients were recruited and assigned to the treatment group and the control group, 70 in each group. All patients received basic Western medicine treatment (such as blood glucose and pressure control). Patients in the treatment group took LDP (8 pills each time, 3 times per day) and GLT (19.2 mg each time, 3 times per day), while those in the control group took LDP placebos and GLT placebos. All treatment lasted for 24 consecutive months. All subjects were followed-up every month. The general clinical data as sex, age, and metabolic data such as blood glucose, blood pressure, blood lipid, and DR prevalence rate were collected and statistically analyzed.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in levels of blood glucose, blood pressure, or blood lipid between the two groups (P > 0.05). After treatment the DR incidence rate was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group [3.1% (2/64) vs 18.6% (11/59), P < 0.05)]. Meanwhile, the DR prevalence rate of the treatment group was also significantly lower than that of the control group [6.3% (4/64) vs 20.0% (13/59), P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONCombination of LDP and GLT could effectively prevent and treat the development of DR in T2DM patients.

Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Blood Pressure ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; drug therapy ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Humans ; Phytotherapy ; Tablets

Animals ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; complications ; Child, Preschool ; Diaphragm ; blood supply ; Hemothorax ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Nematode Infections ; pathology ; Pleural Effusion ; etiology

Referring to the rapid developed life science and the higher requirements for the approval of innovative Chinese drugs in recent years, this paper described systematically the discovery, research and development (R&D) approaches for the innovative Chinese drugs under the new situation from the following five aspects, i. e., active components discovered from TCMs, the discovery of effective fractions of TCMs and their formulae, the R&D of TCM innovative drugs based on famous classic prescriptions and famous Chinese patent drugs, and the transformation of clinical effective prescriptions, on the basis of analysing the advantages of innovative drugs derived from natural products based on TCM theories and the problems existed in current R&D of new TCM drugs. Moreover, five suggestions are also given for the rapid development of TCM innovative drugs in China. All these will provide reference for the R&D of TCM innovative drugs.
China ; Drug Discovery ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; trends ; Research

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; etiology ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Female ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Prosthesis Failure

Literature review of the world on hospital brands, data collection in summary and comparison, and specialist consultancy were used to set the appraisal indicators, while the stratum analysis was used to calculate the weight coefficients of individual indicators, for building the appraisal indicators system for hospital brand effect. In addition, the indicators system and appraisal model were called into play to explore the use of hospital brands, offering scientific references for hospital management.

Objectives To detect the cord blood vitamin D level in neonates and to determine the association between the cord blood vitamin D level and neonatal outcomes. Methods A total of 223 eligible mother-and-singleton-offspring pairs were recruited. The information of mothers' pregnancy was collected by questionnaires. The weight, length, and head circumference of neonates were measured. The levels of 25(OH)D in cord blood of neonates and in blood of late pregnancy mothers were determined by chemiluminescence immunoassay. Results The median concentration of 25(OH)D in cord blood was 20.7 nmol/L, and 82.1% of neonate had vitamin D deficiency, and 12.1% had severe vitamin D deficiency (<10 nmol/L). The concentration of 25(OH)D in cord blood was consistent with that in blood of late pregnancy mother. The distribution of concentration of 25(OH)D in cord blood was significantly different in neonates in different seasons of birth (P<0.05). There were more cases <10 nmol/L in winter and spring. The concentration of 25(OH)D in cord blood had no significant associations with the incidences of low birth weight (LBW) and small for gestational age (SGA) (P>0.05). After the variables of sex, gestational age and birth season are controlled, the birth weight and head circumference were significantly different in neonates with different concentrations of 25(OH)D in cord blood (P<0.05). Conclusions The concentration of 25(OH)D in cord blood in term neonates was generally lower. The vitamin D status in neonates was consistet with that in their late pregnancy mothers. Cord blood 25(OH) D levels were associated with neonates' birth weight and head circumference, but it should be confirmed by larger sample size in the future.

Objective To determine the influence of protein fusion on the biological characteris- tics of hymidine kinase(TK)and human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)Tat recombinant protein. Methods By utilizing polymerase chain reaction(PCR)technique,different fragments containing two,four or six glycines(Gly)were inserted between the HIV Tat gene and TK,and cloned into PBK vector.After testified by sequencing,the vectors were transfected into E coli.After induced by iso- propyl thiogalactose(IPTG),bacilli were collected and destructed by ultrasonic,the fusion proteins were determined by monoclonal antibody against HIV protein.HepG2 cells were incubated in DMEM supplement with 10?g/mL HIV-Gly(n)-TK(n=0,2,4,6)fusion protein,TK-HIV Tat and only HIV Tat.HepG2 cells in different groups were detected by immunofluorescence assay 24 hours after transduction with HIV Tat monoclonal antibody.The rate of apoptosis after cells were incubated with gencilovir(10?g/mL)for 3 days was determined by cell flow cytometry,while survival cell ratio was recorded by trypan blue.The data were analyzed by statistics(t-test).Results The Tat-Gly(n)-TK (n= 0,2,4,6)recombinant genes were constructed and inserted into PBK vectors,which were expressed in E coli and then purified.Cells in different groups,which were incubated with Tat-Gly (n)-TK(n=0,2,4,6)fusion proteins,Tat-TK fusion protein,TK-Tat fusion proteins or only Tat proteins respectively,were detected by immunofluorescence assay.The intensities of fluorescence in different groups were almost same,but the ratios of cell survival or apoptosis were different.The highest ratio of cells apoptosis(14.77%)was in the group that cellular culture medium was mixed with Tat-Gly(4)-TK fusion protein,followed by the groups containing 6,2 glycines or no TK gene in genes(4.30%,12.69% and 1.03%,respectively).There were significant differences between each 2 groups among the all groups(t-test,P

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics,the diagnosis and therapy of synchronous multiple primary esophageal carcinoma.Methods Thirty-two cases of synchronous multiple primary esophageal carcinoma were collected from January 1980 to December 2010 and their clinic data were retrospectively analysised.Results In the whole group,there were totally 66 lesions in 30 cases of double primary lesion and 2 cases of three primary lesion.The length of the lesions were 1 cm to 6.5 cm,and there were 22 lesions in cervical esophagus,10 in upper thoracic esophagus,19 in midthoracic esophagus and 15 in lower thoracic esophagus.Within the 66 lesions,65 lesions were squamous cell carcinoma and 1 was adenocarcinoma.The mucosa between the lesions were normal,with a distance of 4 cm to 9.5 cm,average 7.1 cm.Thirty-two patients with synchronous multiple primary esophageal carcinoma received surgery.Among 32 cases,26 of them were given definite diagnosis before operation.Four of them had exploratory operation,one patient underwent palliative resection,27 patients underwent radical resection.Two cases of the pathologic results of esophageal stump showed carcinoma after operation.The complications occurred in 8 patients.Twenty-eight cases were followed up after operation,the 1,3 and 5-survival rate were 76.9％,43.3 and 14.8％,respectively.Conclusion General pre-operation examination can significant helpful for the definite diagnosis of synchronous multiple primary esophageal carcinoma and surgical treatment is better choice for this disease.

Objective To investigate the effect of preoperative angiography and intraoperative Doppler blood flow detection in the surgery of colonic interposition for esophageal.Methods Thirty-seven patients who underwent the surgery of colonic interposition for esophageal were chosen,17 cases received colonic interposition for esophageal routine operation (routine group),and 20 cases received preoperative angiography of superior and inferior mesenteric arteries and intraoperative Doppler blood flow detection (improved group),the clinical efficacy was observed.Results Routine group occurred anastomotic leak in 4 cases on postoperative 6-15 d,operation time was (367.0 ± 53.3) min,and improved group occurred anastomotic leak in 1 case on postoperative 7 d,operation time was (302.0 ± 67.1) min,the operation time between two groups had significant difference (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The adoption of preoperative angiography and intraoperative Doppler blood flow detection can real-time directly display the vascular morphology of transplanted colon segment,observe the traveling direction and distribution of mesenteric arteries,provide accurate and rehable evaluation of blood vessel of transplanted colon,which can conduct to the optimum selection of transplanted colon and reduce the incidence of postoperative complications.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficiency of a novel, oncolytic adenovirus mutant M1 administered in conjunction with immunosuppressive agents. Animal models were established by administering purified M1 either intravenously or retroperitoneally. At different time points, blood samples were taken from the mice for testing of liver and renal function. Microscopic examination of the liver was performed to observe pathological changes. Immunohistochemical analyses were used to evaluate the expression of the adenovirus in the liver. Lymphocyte recruitment to the liver and the activation of adenovirus specific T cells were also analyzed. No signs of general toxicity were observed, but transient increases in ALT and Scr were observed following the administration of M1. Microscopic examination revealed a mild inflammatory response in the liver. Compared to intravenous injection, higher expression levels of adenoviral proteins were observed after retroperitoneal injection. Combined treatment with cyclosporine A resolved the liver and kidney dysfunction and increased the concentration of the adenovirus in the liver. The use of the novel oncolytic adenovirus mutant M1 in vivo is safe, and the combined administration of M1 with immunosuppressive agents was able to enhance the effectiveness and safety profile of M1.