Objective To research the effect of Xiaoguruanjian pill on liver cirrhosis ascites patients and the regulation on blood NO and ET-1. Methods 133 liver cirrhosis ascites were divided into two groups randomly. 45 cases of the control group were treated with routine western medicine according to the patients state of illness, 88 cases of the treatment group were treated with Chinese herbal compounds Xiaoguruanjian Pill on the basis of routine western medicine. The total effective rate, liver function test, ultrasonogram of liver and spleen, the contents of blood NO and ET-1 of two groups were detected before and after the treatment, and the effect on blood NO and ET-1 of patients with SBP and renal dysfunction were observed too. Results There was a significant difference between the two groups in the total effective rate, improvement of the liver function test, ultrasonogram of portal vein diameter and spleen, and the regulation of blood NO and ET-1 level (P

This study examined the possible mechanism of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in the treatment of allergic asthma. Forty asthma patients allergic to dust mite were enrolled. They received SLIT with dermatophagoides farinae (Der. f) drops for one year. Thirty healthy subjects served as controls. The levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were determined in allergic asthma patients before and after the SLIT as well as the healthy subjects. The results showed that the level of IL-4 was substantially increased and that of IFN-γ remarkably decreased in the patients before the SLIT as compared with those in the healthy subjects (P<0.05). After the SLIT, the level of IL-4 was significantly reduced and that of IFN-γ elevated in these allergic asthma patients. It was concluded that sublingual immunotherapy is effective for patients with allergic asthma. And it may work by regulating the balance of Th1/Th2 through changing the expression of IL-4 and IFN-γ in PBMCs.

Objective To determine the clinical effects of type Ⅲ biliary atresia treated by hepatojejunostomy (Kasai procedure).Methods A retrospective study was performed on patients with type Ⅲ biliary atresia treated in our hospital between January 2009 to December 2013.Results The follow-up data were completed in 42 patients out of 48 patients (87.5％) who underwent Kasai procedure for type Ⅲ biliary atresia.The jaundice disappeared in 31 of 42 patients (73.8％).The rate of patients having cholangitis was 47.6％.There were significant differences in the 2-year survival among the groups of patients with mild cholangitis (75.0％,9/12),serious cholangitis (25.0％,2/8) and without cholangitis (86.4％,19/22) (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Hepatojejunostomy (Kasai procedure) is an effective operation to treat type Ⅲ biliary atresia.Our data suggested that the survival rates were related to the degree of bile drainage and cholangitis post surgery.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of eszopiclone for patients with acute insomnia and the impact of premedication with eszopiclone on sleep structure of patients with acute insomnia.Methods In an open-label,self-control trial was conducted at Changzheng Hospital Sleep Centers,and patients (n =32) with acute insomnia (12 men,20 women; mean age,36.2 years) were administered eszopiclone 3 mg for three consecutive nights.Sleep was monitored via polysomnography.The insomnia severity index (ISI),and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) were used to assess the degree of insomnia and impact of drugs on cognitive function during the day.Results Eszopiclone can shorten sleep latency ( before treatment:(52.92 ± 11.71 ) min,after treatment:(28.2 ± 10.11 ) min; t =-4.376,P ＜0.01 ),prolong total sleep time(before treatment:(365.22 ±30.13) min,after treatment:(429.18 ±26.93 ) min; t =4.102,P ＜ 0.01 ),decrease wake up times( before treatment:( 5.00 ± 1.92 ) times,after treatment:( 2.73 ± 0.91 )times; t =- 4.592,P ＜ 0.01 ),improve sleep efficiency ( before treatment:72.69％ ± 6.32％,after treatment:82.67％ ± 4.16％ ; t =3.371,P ＜ 0.01 ),reduce awake time ( before treatment:( 88.51 ±17.48) min,after treatment:(65.93 ±21.l0)min; t =-4.592,P ＜0.01 ),decrease light sleep ( NREM1 period) the percentage of time ( before treatment:12.54％ ± 2.10％,after treatment:7.30％ ± 2.90％ ;t=-3.155,P ＜ 0.01 ),and increase the percentage of slow wave sleep (before treatment:8.03％ ±5.37％,after treatment:9.31％ ±5.29％; t =4.228,P ＜0.01).No effect was observed on the percentage of NERM2 period (t =0.731,P ＞0.05) and REM period (t =-0.813,P ＞0.05).Eszopiclone can improve the quality of subjective assessment of sleep ( ISI score decreased,t =- 2.551,P ＜ 0.05) and has no significant effect on cognitive function on first the morning after patients taking the medication.Conclusion Eszopiclone can positively regulate the sleep structure in patients with acute insomnia and improve subjective assessment of sleep quality.It is safe and has no significant effect on cognitive function.

The current clinical efficacy evaluation system and evaluation methods of acupuncture have several limitations, and the application status is not optimistic. According to long-term observation, minimum clinically important difference (MCID) is consistent with the characteristics of clinical acupuncture, and has objective quanti- tative standard and wide applicability. Incorporating MCID into acupuncture clinical efficacy evaluation of tradition- al Chinese medicine can truly reflect the clinical effect of acupuncture and improve the disadvantages and shortcom- ings of acupuncture clinical evaluation, which could provide certain reference for building clinical efficacy evaluation system featured with TCM.
Acupuncture Therapy ; standards ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; standards ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; standards

BACKGROUNDTo investigate the CT changes of pericancerous tissues with high-resolution CT (HRCT) and to explore the specific signs of CT in non-small cell lung cancer.

METHODSThirty-one patients with non-small cell lung cancer and 12 patients with benign pulmonary nodules were analysed. An attention was paid on bronchovascular bundles, vessels and interlobular septa. HRCT films were read independently by two radiologists and results were statistically Chi-square tested.

RESULTSIn the cancer group, 20 cases (64.5%) had thickening of bronchovascular bundles, 15 cases (48.4%) angiectasis of superior lobular arteries, 13 cases (41.9%) angiectasis of superior lobular veins, 16 cases (51.6%) thickening of interlobular septa, and 5 cases (16.1%) ground-glass opacity. In benign pulmonary lesion group, the values were 2 (16.7%) , 1 (8.3%), 2 (16.7%), 6 (50.0%) and 5 (41.7%) cases respectively. Significant differences were found between the two groups in the thickening of bronchovascular bundles and the angiectasis of superior lobular arteries.

CONCLUSIONSThickening of bronchovascular bundles and angiectasis of superior lobular arteries are the specific signs of non-small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To study the type and drift law of airborne pollen in Wuhan, and its relationship to pollinosis. METHOD: From November 2003 to October 2004, an airborne pollen investigation was performed in three districts of Wuhan using gravity sedimentation technique. Meanwhile, univalent shin prick tests of pollens and the study of invasion season were performed in 1200 cases with pollenosis. Among them, 352 cases underwent the airway responsiveness measurements, and the correlation between airway responsiveness and pollen concentration were analyzed. RESULT: A total of 47 pollen colonies were observed and 75,525 pollens were collected. Every year the the peak time of airborne pollen occurred in two seasons: spring (March and April) and autumn (from August to October). The incidence of pollinosis is consistent to pollen peak time; there was a negative relationship between PD20 (the provocative dose to decrease FEV1 by 20% from baseline) and airborne pollen concentration. CONCLUSION The study provides useful information for airborne pollen epidemiology in Wuhan. It provides important insights to clinical prevention, diagnosis and treatment of pollen related allergic diseases.
Allergens ; analysis ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pollen ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; epidemiology ; Skin Tests

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of costimulatory molecules CD28/B7 and CD40/CD40L in T and B lymphocytes 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). The effect of specific immunotherapy (SIT) on them were also investigated. METHOD: Thirty allergic allergic rhinitis patients were chosen as observation group, and 30 healthy patients as control group. Cytofluorometric analysis was used to compare the expression level of CD28/B7-1, B7-2 and CD40/CD40L on T cells and B cells in the two groups. The relationship between the CD28/ B7-1, B7-2 and CD40/CD40L expression level and serum Total IgE, ECP level were analyzed. RESULT: The expression level of CD28/B7-2 and CD40/CD40L on T cells and B cells in allergic rhinitis patients were significantly higher than in the healthy, and serum level of TIgE has a positive relationship with the expression level of CD40L on T cells. ECP has a positive relationship with the expression level of B7-2 on B cells. The expression level of B7-1 showed no significant difference between the two groups. After specific immunotherapy for 6 months, the expression level of CD28/B7-2 and CD40/CD40L on T cells and B cells were decreased in allergic rhinitis patients but still higher than in healthy. CONCLUSIONS The upregulated level of costimulatory molecules CD28/B7-2 and CD40/ CD40L on T cells and B cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis, specific immunotherapy can downregulate the expression level of CD28/B7-2 and CD40/CD40L, and decrease the serum level of TIgE, it may be a possible mechanism in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.
Adult ; B-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; metabolism ; B7-2 Antigen ; metabolism ; CD28 Antigens ; metabolism ; CD40 Antigens ; metabolism ; CD40 Ligand ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Desensitization, Immunologic ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Male ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; blood ; immunology ; metabolism ; therapy ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; metabolism

This study examined the possible mechanism of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in the treatment of allergic asthma.Forty asthma patients allergic to dust mite were enrolled.They received SLIT with dermatophagoides farinae (Der.f) drops for one year.Thirty healthy subjects served as controls.The levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were determined in allergic asthma patients before and after the SLIT as well as the healthy subjects.The results showed that the level of IL-4 was substantially increased and that of IFN-γ remarkably decreased in the patients before the SLIT as compared with those in the healthy subjects (P＜0.05).After the SLIT,the level of IL-4 was significantly reduced and that of IFN-γ elevated in these allergic asthma patients.It was concluded that sublingual immunotherapy is effective for patients with allergic asthma.And it may work by regulating the balance of Th1/Th2 through changing the expression of IL-4 and IFN-γ in PBMCs.

Objective To explore the factors related to the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) among middle school students in four provinces (municipality) in China.Methods A total of 3 469 middle school students were recruited from the Children health cohort in eight counties within the four provinces (municipality).We collected information regarding demography,lifestyle,and family and school situation as well as the consumption frequency of SSB in the previous week.High SSB consumption was defined as "positive" if the frequency was once a day or more.Mean consumption time was calculated,and then logistic regressions were performed to explore the factors influencing SSB consumption.Results Prevalence of high SSB consumption was 11.18％ among the subjects of the eight counties,and the consumption frequency of SSB was 0.21 times per day.Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the following factors were associated with high consumption of SSB:higher grade,rural region,male gender,physical exercise,habit of eating snacks,eating out,and fast-food consumption (P＜0.01).Factors influencing high SSB consumption were not completely equal between genders:physical exercise at school was associated with high SSB consumption only in female students (P＜0.01),while higher grade and eating out in the past week were associated with high SSB consumption only in male students (P＜0.05).Conclusion Factors associated with high SSB consumption among middle school students included grade,region,physical exercise at school,snack consumption,eating out,and fast-food consumption.These factors differed between genders.Intervention programs addressing these factors may be beneficial in reducing SSB consumption in middle school students.