Objective To observe the inflammatory state and residual renal function (RRF) of the patients with maintenance hemodialysis treated through Shenkangling. Methods Sixty patients with maintenance hemodialysis were randomly divided into two groups, the observation group (30 cases) and the control group (30 cases). They were treated through hemodialysis and hemodiafiltration. The patients in the observation group were treated with Shenkangling 8 tablets/time, 3 times/day. RRF and urine volume after six months were evalued. Serum high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and leukocyte mediated IL-6 (IL-6) before and after treatment were detected. Results There were no statistical differences in RRF and urine volume between the two groups before treatment (P>0.05). After six months, RRF and urine volume in the two groups were significantly reduced (P<0.05), and those of the observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). There was no statistical significance in serum hs-CRP, TNF-α and IL-6 between the two groups before treatment (P>0.05). After treatment, the serum levels of hs-CRP, TNF-α, IL-6 significantly decreased in the observation group, and lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Shenkangling can protect the residual renal function of hemodialysis patients, and reduce the inflammatory reaction.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Diseases ; therapy ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Pruritus ; therapy

BACKGROUND:Among the factors causing vascular endothelial cell injury,angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ) caused by renin-angiotensin system (RAS), especially by local RAS, plays an important patho-physiological role.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of tanshinone ⅡA on the vascular endothelial cells secreting nitric oxide (NO) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene expression as well as intracellular Ca2+ level induced by Ang Ⅱ, and investigate the protective effect of tanshinone ⅡA on vascular endothelial cells.DESIGN: Controlled observation experiment.SETTING: Department of Emergency, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology.MATERIALS: This experiment was carried out in the Experimental Center for Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College,Huazhong University of Science and Technology from March 2006 to October 2006. Porcine aorta used in this experiment was provided by the Department of Pathophysiology of Tongji Medical College.METHODS: Nitric acid deoxidization method and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to detect the effects of Ang Ⅱ of different concentrations (10-8 to 10-6 mol/L) on endothelial cells secreting NO and eNOS mRNA expression in cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells at different time points (1,6 and 24 hours) separately, then 50 mg/L tanshinone Ⅱ A was respectively added at different time point (0, 6 hours) when Ang Ⅱ was at 10-6 mol/L, and changes in NO production and eNOS gene expression were detected respectively at 1, 6 and 24 hours. Intracellular Ca2+ level was also detected with laser scanning confocal microscopy.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① NO content. ②eNOS mRNA expression. ③Intracellular Ca2+ level.RESULTS: ① NO production and eNOS mRNA expression were decreased with increase of Ang Ⅱ concentration and prolongation of time (P ＜ 0.01). ② NO production and eNOS mRNA expression in each tanshinone ⅡA-treated group were significantly higher than those in the Ang Ⅱ group. At 1 and 6 hours of tanshinone ⅡA treatment, production of NO and eNOS mRNA expression in the Ang Ⅱ + tanshinone ⅡA group were significantly higher than those in the Ang Ⅱ 6 hours + tanshinone ⅡA group (P ＜ 0.05); There were no significant differences in NO production and eNOS mRNA expression between two groups at 24 hours (P ＞ 0.05). ③Intracellular Ca2+ level in the Ang Ⅱ group was significantly higher than that of control group (P ＜ 0.01), and intracellular Ca2+ level in the tanshinone ⅡA + Ang Ⅱ was significantly lower than that in the Ang Ⅱ group (P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION: Tanshinone Ⅱ A has a protective effect on vascular endothelial cells and their functions by suppressing the inhibition of Ang Ⅱ on NO level and eNOS gene expression in cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells.

Animals ; Genes, BRCA2 ; Genes, erbB-1 ; Genes, erbB-2 ; Genes, p16 ; Genes, p53 ; Genes, ras ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; classification ; genetics ; pathology

OJECTIVETo explore whether different acupuncture signals were afferent to the cerebellar fastigial nucleus (FN) neuron and to find out their corresponding effect features through observing the effect of spontaneous discharge of cerebellar FN neuron by needling at different acupoints.

METHODSTotally 120 male SD rats were anesthetized by 20% urethane and their right cerebellar FN were positioned (AP 11. 6 mm, RL 1. 0 mm, H 5. 6 mm). Extracelluar discharge was recorded by glass microelectrode (AP: -11. 6 mm, R: 1. 0 mm, H: 5.7 -7. 0 mm), using extracellular microelectrode recording method, recording the spontaneous discharge of cerebellar FN neurons as a baseline. Random order of needling at zusanli (ST36), quchi (Lil1), weishu (BL21), and zhongwan (CV12) were compared with the baseline before each acupuncture. Their effects on the discharge of cerebellar FN neurons were observed and compared with baselines.

RESULTSThe frequency of FN neuronal discharge could be elevated by needling at zusanli (ST36), quchi (LiI), weishu (BL21), and zhongwan (CV12) (P <0. 01, P <0. 05). The response rate of needling at Zhongwan (CV12, 56. 00%) was higher than that of needling at Zusanli (ST36), Quchi (Ll1), and Weishu (BL21) (35. 00%, 34. 62%, 36. 63%, respectively) with statistical difference (P <0. 05). The response rate of needling at zhongwan (CV12) was obviously higher than that of needing at other points (F = 2. 101, P < 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONSNeedling at zusanli (ST36 ), quchi (Lil), weishu (BL21), and zhongwan (CV12) could elevate the spontaneous discharge frequency of cerebellar FN neurons. Needling at Zhongwan (CV12) had advantageous roles in regulating cerebellar FN.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Cerebellar Nuclei ; physiology ; Male ; Microelectrodes ; Neurons ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Bronchi ; drug effects ; pathology ; Cell Line ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; genetics ; Dust ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; pathology ; Gene Library ; Humans ; Minerals ; toxicity

Objective To investigate the changes of inflammatory factors in the blood serum and their relationship with the immune status of patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis(TB).Methods A total of 97 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis were included from Feb 2003 to Oct 2005,57 of active TB,40 in resting period.Another 41 healthy people were used as normal control.ELISA and APAAP method were used to detect the level of TNF-?, IL-1,IL-6 and the changes of CD_(4),CD_(8)and CD_(4)/CD_(8).Results The levels of IL-1,IL-6,TNF-? were(15.3?1.3),(80.5?7.3) and(77.2?9.8) ng/ml in the normal controls,(33.7?3.6),(293.6?30.5) and(190.7?25.2) in the patients of active TB,and(18.2?2.1),(130.7?14.5),(87.5?10.2) ng/ml in the patients at resting period,which were highest in the patients of active TB.The ratio of CD_(4)and CD_(4)/CD_(8) was(32.3?2.9)% and(0.83?0.17) in the patients of active TB,lower than(48.2?4.4)% and(0.83?0.17) of normal controls.Conclusion The increase of inflammatory factors and decrease of immune activity were the clinical characteristic of patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis,which are of inverse relationship.

Objective To study the intervention effect of tanshinone on electrophysiological abnormality of hypertrophic cardicoyte in order to illuminate the underlying mechanism of tanshinone in preventing the arrhythmia induced by myocardial hypertrophy. Method Twenty-week-rid SD rats (200～250 g) were divided into 4 groups (8 in each group) randomly. Of 4 groups, rats of three groups were operated on by a procedure of 'one kidney one clamp' to make renal artery constriction. The rest group served as sham operation group (control group). When the blood pressure increased,rats of operation groups were divided into tanshinone group, captopril group and hyper-trophic group. The effects of tanshinoe and captopril were observed and compared on the action potential duration (APD),L-type calcium current (ICa, L) and transient outward potassium current (Ito) density in cellular membrane of hypertrophic myocardium by using patch clamp and intra-cellular calcium survey technique. Results The blood pressure in operation groups was obviously higher than that in sham-operation group (P<0.01), but there was no difference between operation groups (P>0.05). The ratio of ventricle weight to body weight (VW/BW) was much higher in hypertrophic group than in control group (P<0.01), and it significantly decreased after interven-tion with tanshinone or captopril (P<0.01). Compared with hypertrophic group, tanshinone markedly shortened the prolongation of action potential duration (P<0.01), decreased membrane capacity and peak amplitude of ICa,L(P<0.01), but had no effect on the density of ICa,L. Tanshinone also significantly increased Ito current density and peak amplitude, which were completely different from hypertrophic group (P<0.05). There were similar results foundin captopril intervention. Conclusions Tanshinone could reduce calcium influx and resume the activity of ho ion channels, and thus shorten the first phase and the plateau phase of repolarization and decrease the prolongation of APD in hypertrophic cadiocyte. So tanshinone can prevent the onset of arrhythmia attributed to the myocardial hypertrophy.

Objective To investigate the clinical feature,image of CT scan pulmonary,diagnosis and treatment response in children with pulmonary cavity,and discuss the method of diagnosis and the tactics of treatment for pulmonary cavity in children.Methods A retrospective study of 6 patients with pulmonary cavity,who were diagnosed and treated from Jul. 2003 to Oct. 2009 in Department of Pediatrics of the First Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University.The clinical manifestations,laboratory tests,image of CT scan pulmonary,microbiological evidence,diagnostic procedure and treatment response were collected and evaluated.Results Six patients all didn′t have history of lung di-sease,there were 4 boys and 2 girls,8-15 years old,average age was 10.5 years old.Two cases of them had unrelated pulmonary underlying diseases,1 case had hyperthyroidism,and the other had juvenile idiopathic arthritis and had complication of macrophage activation syndrome,the other 4 cases had no obvious history.All cases had fever (38-40 ℃),3 cases had cough and 1 case had chest pain.Staphylococcus aureus were cultured in 2 cases,no bacteria was cultured in other 4 cases;the count of white blood cell decreased in 2 cases and increased in 4 cases;C-reactive protein increased in 5 cases and was normal in 1 case;plasma IgE level increased in 2 cases and was normal in other 4 cases;plasma 1,3-beta-D-glucan of all 6 cases were negative.Pulmonary cavities were found in the first CT scan of the lungs in 5 cases and only 1 case of patient′s pulmonary cavities was found in the second CT scan of the lung.Five cases were diagnosed infective causes,1 case was diagnosed noninfectious cause,5 cases of infective causes had been treated with anti-microbial drugs for at least 1 week,1 case of noninfectious cause were treated with methylprednisolone cobined cyclosporin A for 2 weeks.Pulmonary CT scan was rechecked in all cases,and the state of the cases were improved before discharged from hospital.Conclusions The causes of pulmonary cavity in children are not only infective factors,but also some non-infective disease,especially some changes of image of pulmonary CT scan has diagnostic value,detailed past medical history and appropriate rechecking of chest radiographic check are very necessary for diagnosis,according to the result of microbial inspection and evaluation of treatment effect in time and then adjust the treatment protocols.