0.05). After ventilation with 6ml/kg tidal volumes, the TNF-? in alveolar lavage fluid (1.58?0.56pg/ml) was significantly lower in b1 group compared with that in control group (1.73?0.81pg/ml, P

Objective: To observe the effects of Tangnaikang (TNK), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on glucose metabolism and insulin resistance in obese Zucker rats. Methods: Twelve male obese Zucker rats, 6 weeks old, were randomly divided into control group and TNK group (3.24 g/kg) after being fed for 2 weeks. All rats received high-fat diet and 4-week treatment. Body weight and blood glucose were tested every week. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed and fasting insulin level was tested on days 0, 14 and 28. Triglyceride, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and free fatty acids (FFA) were tested on day 28. Glucose infusion rate (GIR) was tested by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp from day 29. The protein expressions of protein kinase B (Akt), phospho-Akt (p-Akt) (Thr308) and glucose transporter protein 4 (GLUT4) in skeletal muscle and GLUT4 in adipose tissue were measured after hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp test. Results: Compared with the control group, the fed blood glucose level and glucose level of OGTT at 120 min had a significant decline in TNK group on day 28, and TNK caused no alteration of the fasting serum insulin, and the GIR increased significantly in hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp study. Furthermore, TNK increased Akt and p-Akt (Thr308) protein expressions in skeletal muscle and decreased the protein expression of GLUT4 in white adipose tissue. Body weight, and triglyceride, cholesterol, LDL-C and FFA contents were slightly decreased in the TNK group, but there were no statistically significant effects. Conclusion: TNK increases the protein expressions of Akt and p-Akt (Thr308) of the signal transduction pathway to influence the translocation of GLUT4 in skeletal muscle and improves glucose metabolism by reducing insulin resistance.

OBJECTIVETo observe the difference between the combination therapy of alpha-interferon (IFN-alpha) therapy Yixuesheng Capsule and the monotherapy of IFN-alpha in treatment of chronic hepatitis B.

METHODA total of 288 patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B proven by liver biopsy were included in this study. During the individualized therapy, they received hypodermic injection of IFN-alpha 1b, with 5 MU x time(-1) and three times x w(-1). Of them, 125 patients received combination therapy with Yixuesheng Capsule for three months, with 1.0 g/time and three times/d; and 163 patients received only IFN-alpha 1b (the IFN-alpha monotherapy group). After the course of therapy, all patients were followed up for at least 24 months. The intention-to-treat analysis was adopted for statistic analysis.

RESULTThe two groups showed no statistical significance by gender, age, liver necroinflammation grading, liver fibrosis staging, serum ALT levels, serum HBV DNA levels and IFN-alpha therapy course. The whole course and the 24-month follow-up visit cover all of 112 patients in the combination treatment group and 141 cases in the IFN-alpha monotherapy group. The response rates of the combination treatment group and the IFN-alpha monotherapy group were 48.0% (60/125) and 35.0% (57/163) (x = 4.980, P = 0.026) at the end of treatment, respectively, 45.6% (57/125) and 33.1% (54/163) (x2 = 4.645, P =0.031) at the end of 12-month-follow-up period, respectively, and 38.4% (48/125) and 32.5% (53/163) (x2 = 1.076, P = 0.300) at the end of 24-month follow-up period, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe combination treatment with IFN-alpha and Yixuesheng Capsule shows a slightly better sustained efficacy on HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients compared with IFN-alpha monotherapy.

Adult ; Capsules ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Treatment Outcome