OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of Shexiang Baoxin Pill (SBP) on coronary vasodilation by analysis of coronary angiography (CAG).

METHODSA consecutive cohort of 300 patients who underwent CAG between January 2013 and July 2013 were recruited and randomly assigned to 2 groups before operation. Patients in the SBP group sublingually took SBP, while those in the control group sublingually took placebos. All patients repeatedly underwent CAG 5 min after administration. The vascular diameter was calculated by quantitative angiography analysis method. The diameter of the left anterior descending coronary artery was measured in patients whose coronary arteries had no stenosis. The narrowest vascular diameter was measured in patients whose coronary arteries had stenosis. The heart rate, blood pressure, and the vascular diameter were compared between before and after administration in the two groups.

RESULTSIn the two groups, there was no significant difference in changes of heart rate, systolic pressure, or diastolic pressure between before and after administration (all P > 0.05). There were 64 patients with normal CAG in the two groups, 30 in the control group and 34 in the SBP group. CAG showed there were 236 patients with stenotic coronary artery, 110 in the control group and 126 in the SBP group. The vascular diameter was obviously larger in patients in the SBP group with normal or abnormal CAG after administration (all P < 0.01). It was also obviously larger than that of the control group after administration (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSBP could dilate both normal coronary artery and lesioned coronary arteries, but did not lead to fastened heart rate and decreased blood pressure.

Blood Pressure ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Tablets ; Vasodilation ; drug effects

A bacterium strain BFHM2002 is isolated from Lake Donghu, Wuhan. BFHM2002 has advantages that it can produce melanin with a high rate and high yield in the absence of tyrosine. Induced by tyrosine, melanin yield can be dramatically increased. BFHM2002 may be identified as a new strain in Bacillus firmus, for melanin-production.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the importance of the specific structure of L-4F, an apolipoprotein A-1 mimetic, in inhibiting atherosclerosis. The study was designed to compare the effect of L-4F and scramble-4F (SC-4F) in preventing low density lipoprotein (LDL) induced endothelial cell dysfunction. L-4F and SC-4F has the same amino acids but different nucleotide sequence.

METHODSBovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) were incubated with single L-4F 10 microg/ml or SC-4F 10 microg/ml, or LDL 6.2 mmol/L in the absence or presence of L-4F 10 microg/ml or SC-4F 10 microg/ml for 24 h and assayed for (1) changes of superoxide anion (O2-*) generation in BAEC by superoxide dismutase (SOD)-inhibitable ferricytochrome C reduction, and (2) the production of nitric oxide (NO) in BAEC by ozone chemiluminescence with VCL3.

RESULTS(1) L-4F and SC-4F themselves had no affect on BAEC O2-* generation. (2) LDL significantly increased O2-* generation in BAEC and LDL-induced O2-* generation was inhibited by pretreatment of LDL with L-4F. However, pretreatment of LDL with SC-4F had no effect on inhibition of LDL-induced O2-* generation. (3) LDL significantly inhibited NO generation in BAEC and pretreatment of LDL with L-4F could inhibit LDL-induced decrease of NO generation, but pretreatment of LDL with SC-4F still inhibited NO generation in BAEC.

CONCLUSIONL-4F can prevent LDL induced endothelial cell dysfunction by maintaining the balance of NO and O2-*, but SC-4F doesn't. It suggests that the specific structure of L-4F may play a crucial role in preventing atherosclerosis and it may provide a new clue for searching a novel approach on prevention and therapeutics of atherosclerosis in the future.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; prevention & control ; Cattle ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; physiology ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Superoxides ; metabolism

AIMTo investigate the influence of living high-training low for 4 weeks on serum CK, LDH and ALT of rowing athletes.

METHODS20 rowing athletes were divided into two groups: the one (ten subjects) spent 8-10 h per night in a tabernacle which was simulated altitude of 2 500 m in normobaric hypoxia (HiLo group), the another (ten subjects) slept at near sea level (control group). During the periods of test, all athletes were trained at the same relative or at the same intensity of work in normoxia state. The serum CK, LDH and ALT were measured at before, during 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 2 weeks after "living high and training low".

RESULTSBaseline serum values for CK, LDH and ALT were not different between two groups (P > 0.05). The levels of CK, LDH of HiLo group were significantly increased (P < 0.05) than those of control group at 3 rd week, however, it was contrary at 5th and 7th week. After exercise of 2 km and 5 km, the values of LDH and CK at a moment notice and 30min postexercise test in HiLo group were significant lower than those in control group.

CONCLUSIONThese results indicate that living high-training low may reduce the muscle damage associated with endurance exercise.

Adolescent ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Altitude ; Athletes ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Humans ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; blood ; Male ; Physical Education and Training ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of T-bet mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) as well as its relations with total IgE (TIgE), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in serum and nasal allergic symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR).

METHODSThe allergen, TIgE and ECP in serum of patients with AR were detected by Unicap CAP system. Blood sample was taken from 8 healthy individuals and 22 patients with allergic rhinitis. PBMC was isolated by density gradient centrifugation and one part of them was cultured with 50 microg/ml mite allergen. PBMC was subjected to analysis of T-bet mRNA expression using semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSThe ratio of T-bet to beta-actin mRNA levels was 0.381 +/- 0.099 in patients and 0.750 +/- 0.067 in normal individuals, the difference was significantly (P <0.01). The expression intensity of T-bet mRNA had no relation to varying severity of allergic symptoms and concentration of ECP and the correlation coefficient was 0.187 and -0.165 (all P > 0.05). However, there was an inverse correlation between expression intensity of T-bet mRNA and TIgE concentration (r = -0.525, P < 0.05). Mean mRNA level (x +/- s) of T-bet expression before and after being stimulated by allergen was 0.381 +/- 0.099 and 0.365 +/- 0.104 respectively, which indicated no significant differences (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAmong allergic patients whose allergen was mite, there was a down-regulated expression of T-bet mRNA, which had no relation to ECP concentration and allergic symptoms, but was one of important links in mechanisms of imbalance of Th1/Th2 in AR. There was no effect of specific allergen on T-bet mRNA in patients with AR T-bet was one of indirect factors that affected the level of IgE.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Male ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; blood ; T-Box Domain Proteins ; blood ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of specific immunotherapy and intranasal glucocorticoid on T help 17 (Th17) cells and RORgammat in peripheral blood in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR).

METHODSForty patients with allergic rhinitis (group A) were divided randomly into two subgroups (group A1 and A2), and each subgroup had 20 patients. The patients in group A1 were treated with intranasal glucocorticoid (INGS) for one-year. The patients in group A2 were treated with special immunotherapy (SIT) for 4 weeks. Blood samples were respectively taken from 10 healthy individuals (group B), 20 AR patients (group A1) before and after SIT with specific standardized allergen and 20 AR patients (group A2) before and after INGS. The ratio of Th17 cells in peripheral blood monouclear cells (PBMC) were analysed by flow cytometry. The expression of RORgammat mRNA were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction and the interleukin-23(IL-23), IL-17, IL-6 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSThe ratio of Th17 cells in PBMC and the expression of RORgammat mRNA in group A [(18.97 +/- 1.05)% and (0.604 +/- 0.027)] were respectively higher than those in group B [(15.12 +/- 1.09)% and (0.447 +/- 0.024)] and the difference reached statistical significance (t were respectively -10.056 and -17.986, each P < 0.01). The level of IL-6, IL-17 and IL-23 in group A were respectively higher than those in group B and the difference reached statistical significance (t were respectively -41.149, -17.618 and -26.824, all P < 0.01). The ratio of Th17 cells in PBMC, the expression of RORgammat mRNA, the level of IL-6, IL-17 and IL-23 before INGS did not show significant difference from those of after INGS in group A1 (t were respectively 0.298, 0.240, -1.136, 0.283 and -1.670, all P > 0.05). The ratio of Th17 cells in PBMC and the expression of RORgammat mRNA were respectively (18.99 +/- 1.14)% and (0.603 +/- 0.027) before SIT and were respectively (16.30 +/- 1.63)% and (0.429 +/- 0.023) after SIT in group A2, and the difference reached statistical significance (t were respectively 6.035 and 22.015, all P < 0.01). The level of IL-6, IL-17 and IL-23 before SIT were lower respectively than those of after SIT in group A2 and the difference reached statistical significance (t were respectively 9.235, 11.289, 7.267, all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe ratio of Th17 cells in PBMC, the expression of RORgammat mRNA, the level of IL-6, IL-17 and IL-23 were up-regulated in patients with AR. The treatment of SIT could get the 5 items down and the treatment of INGS couldn't.

Allergens ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Interleukin-17 ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 ; Rhinitis, Allergic

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effect of proton pump inhibitor-based triple therapy combined with Saccharomyces boulardii in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection among children in terms of Hp eradication rate and incidence of adverse events.

METHODSA prospective randomised controlled study was conducted on 240 children with a confirmed diagnosis of Hp infection. These patients were randomized into triple therapy (n=120) and probiotics groups (n=120). The triple therapy group received amoxicillin [40 mg/(kg·d), Tid], clarithromycin [15 mg/(kg·d), Bid] and omeprazole [0.7-0.8 mg/(kg·d), Qd], while the probiotics group received Saccharomyces boulardii (250 mg, Bid) in addition to triple therapy. The course of treatment was 14 days in both groups. The adverse events in subjects were recorded by their parents during treatment. Hp eradiation was evaluated by (13)C breath test at 4 weeks after treatment, and the eradication rate and incidence of adverse events were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe Hp eradication rates were 75.8% (91/120) in the triple therapy group and 85% (102/120) in the probiotics group (P>0.05). Compared with the triple therapy group, the probiotics group had nonsignificantly lower incidence of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain (P>0.05) and significantly lower incidence of stomatitis, constipation and diarrhea (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTriple therapy combined with Saccharomyces boulardii cannot significantly increase Hp eradication rate, but can significantly reduce the incidence of stomatitis, constipation, and diarrhea during treatment.

Amoxicillin ; administration & dosage ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Clarithromycin ; administration & dosage ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Helicobacter Infections ; therapy ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Male ; Omeprazole ; administration & dosage ; Probiotics ; administration & dosage ; Prospective Studies ; Saccharomyces

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Colonoscopy ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Agents ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Infant ; Lactulose ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Male

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the plasma levels of chemokine CCL-2/MCP-1 and acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) and/or idiopathic pneumonia syndrome (IPS) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). ELISA assays were used to detect the plasma level of CCL-2/MCP-1 of 22 patients who received allo-HSCT, including 14 patients without or with grade I, 8 patients with grade II - IV aGVHD, respectively. 8 out of 22 patients were also diagnosed with IPS clinically. The dynamic changes of the plasma levels of CCL-2/MCP-1 chemokine and its correlation with aGVHD and/or IPS were analysized retrospectively. The results showed that the plasma levels of CCL-2/MCP-1 in the patients with moderate and serious aGVHD (grade II - IV) significantly increased, as compared with that prior to allo-HSCT (p < 0.05). The plasma levels of CCL-2/MCP-1 in the patients with aGVHD and/or IPS were higher significantly than those without any of these complications (p = 0.001). The retrospective analysis indicated that the plasma levels of CCL-2/MCP-1 in the patients with IPS significantly increased (p = 0.006). It is concluded that plasma level of CCL-2/MCP-1 correlates with aGVHD and/or IPS, and plays a role in the pathogenesis of these complications.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Chemokine CCL2 ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; blood ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; blood ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Syndrome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the engraftment, survival and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after 2 units unrelated cord blood (UCB) transplantation for treatment of adult hematological malignancies.

METHODSAmong twelve patients with hematological malignancies, ten were in stable stage and 2 in advanced stage. Conditioning regimen was Bu/Cy or Cy/TBI in 11 cases, and 1 received nonmyeloablative regimen. Antithymocyte globulin (ATG) was administered in all patients. GVHD prophylaxis consisted of cyclosporine A (CsA), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and short course methotrexate (MTX). Each patient received 2 units UCB of HLA mismatched at 0 -2 loci. Median total nucleated cells (TNC) infused was 5.55 x 10(7)/kg [range (2.99 -8.18) x 10(7)/kg].

RESULTSOne patient showed primary graft failure. The other 11 patients showed neutrophil engraftment at a mean time of (21.6 +/- 5.1) days and platelet engraftment at (34.9 +/- 9.5) days. One patient showed secondary graft failure and died of leukemia relapse at 3 months after transplantation. Ten patients (83.3%) gained sustained engraftment. In 9 patients the UBC unit with larger TNC dose predominated engraftment, and only 1 patient showed the unit with smaller TNC predominated (P = 0.011). Acute GVHD was observed in 6 patients, including grade I in 5 and grade II in 1. Limited chronic GVHD was observed in 2 of 10 patients survived more than 100 days. Of the total 12 patients, eight were still alive in event-free status and 3-year event-free survival(EFS) was (66.7 +/- 13.6)%. Of the 10 patients in stable stage at the time of transplantation, the probability of EFS was (70.0 +/- 14.5 )%.

CONCLUSIONSTwo UBC units transplantation with HLA mismatched at 0 - 2 loci is feasible as a treatment modality for adult hematological malignancies, and the unit with larger TNC dose would predominate the engraftment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graft vs Host Disease ; prevention & control ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Survival Rate ; Transplantation Conditioning ; Young Adult