OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pill (STDP) in treating stable angina patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis syndrome by exercise duration and metabolic equivalents. METHODS: This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial enrolled stable angina patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis syndrome from 22 hospitals. They were randomized 1:1 to STDP (35 mg/pill, 6 pills per day) or placebo for 56 days. The primary outcome was the exercise duration and metabolic equivalents (METs) assessed by the standard Bruce exercise treadmill test after 56 days of treatment. The secondary outcomes included the total angina symptom score, Chinese medicine (CM) symptom scores, Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) scores, changes in ST-T on electrocardiogram and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: This trial enrolled 309 patients, including 155 and 154 in the STDP and placebo groups, respectively. STDP significantly prolonged exercise duration with an increase of 51.0 s, compared to a decrease of 12.0 s with placebo (change rate: -11.1% vs. 3.2%, P<0.01). The increase in METs was significantly greater in the STDP group than in the placebo group (change: -0.4 vs. 0.0, change rate: -5.0% vs. 0.0%, P<0.01). The improvement of total angina symptom scores (25.0% vs. 0.0%), CM symptom scores (38.7% vs. 11.8%), reduction of nitroglycerin consumption (100.0% vs. 11.3%), and all domains of SAQ, were significantly greater with STDP than placebo (all P<0.01). The changes in Q-T intervals at 28 and 56 days from baseline were similar between the two groups (both P>0.05). Twenty-five participants (16.3%) with STDP and 16 (10.5%) with placebo experienced AEs (P=0.131), with no serious AEs observed. CONCLUSION STDP could improve exercise tolerance in patients with stable angina and phlegm-heat and blood stasis syndrome, with a favorable safety profile. (Registration No. ChiCTR-IPR-15006020).
Humans ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Angina, Stable/physiopathology* ; Aged ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome ; Placebos ; Tablets

A combined full-scan mass spectrometry/data-dependent acquisition(Full MS/ddMS2)and full-scan mass spectrometry/parallel reaction monitoring(Full MS/PRM)approach for qualitative and quantitative analysis of plasma acylcarnitines was established on the basis of ultra-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry(UPLC-HRMS).A total of 165 kinds of acylcarnitines were identified,and 111 kinds of acylcarnitines were quantified.The method demonstrated good reproducibility,with a relative standard deviation of less than 20%for plasma acylcarnitine content.Statistical analyses,including t-tests,partial least squares-discriminant analysis,variable importance in projection and volcano plot analysis,indicated significant alterations in plasma acylcarnitine levels in heart failure patients after myocardial infarction,for instance,46 kinds of acylcarnitines showing marked increases compared to myocardial infarction patients.Acylcarnitines showed a strong positive correlation with the clinical biomarker NT-proBNP,which was associated with heart failure.The combined use of acylcarnitine markers AC(C14-OH),AC(C12:1a),long-chain acylcarnitines,total acylcarnitines and NT-proBNP significantly enhanced the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for post-infarction heart failure,with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)reaching 0.9456.The results of this work indicated that acylcarnitine was poised to become a crucial metabolic target for precise diagnosis,treatment and nutritional intervention in the progression of heart failure after myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: To derive the Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome classification and subgroup syndrome characteristics of ischemic stroke patients. METHODS: By extracting the CM clinical electronic medical records (EMRs) of 7,170 hospitalized patients with ischemic stroke from 2016 to 2018 at Weifang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Province, China, a patient similarity network (PSN) was constructed based on the symptomatic phenotype of the patients. Thereafter the efficient community detection method BGLL was used to identify subgroups of patients. Finally, subgroups with a large number of cases were selected to analyze the specific manifestations of clinical symptoms and CM syndromes in each subgroup. RESULTS: Seven main subgroups of patients with specific symptom characteristics were identified, including M3, M2, M1, M5, M0, M29 and M4. M3 and M0 subgroups had prominent posterior circulatory symptoms, while M3 was associated with autonomic disorders, and M4 manifested as anxiety; M2 and M4 had motor and motor coordination disorders; M1 had sensory disorders; M5 had more obvious lung infections; M29 had a disorder of consciousness. The specificity of CM syndromes of each subgroup was as follows. M3, M2, M1, M0, M29 and M4 all had the same syndrome as wind phlegm pattern; M3 and M0 both showed hyperactivity of Gan (Liver) yang pattern; M2 and M29 had similar syndromes, which corresponded to intertwined phlegm and blood stasis pattern and phlegm-stasis obstructing meridians pattern, respectively. The manifestations of CM syndromes often appeared in a combination of 2 or more syndrome elements. The most common combination of these 7 subgroups was wind-phlegm. The 7 subgroups of CM syndrome elements were specifically manifested as pathogenic wind, pathogenic phlegm, and deficiency pathogens. CONCLUSIONS There were 7 main symptom similarity-based subgroups in ischemic stroke patients, and their specific characteristics were obvious. The main syndromes were wind phlegm pattern and hyperactivity of Gan yang pattern.
Humans ; Syndrome ; Ischemic Stroke ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Liver ; Phenotype

Astragalus membranaceus has the effect of tonifying Qi and solid surface， diuretic support poison， discharging pus and astringent sores to produce muscle. It is not only used for syndromes such as deficiency of lung and temper， deficiency of spleen and diarrhea， but also for stroke， chest obstruction and other diseases. Due to the complex chemical composition and diverse pharmacological effect of Astragalus membranaceus， and the main role in invigorating qi and activating blood circulation has not been clarified. Astragaloside Ⅳ is one of its main active ingredients. In recent years， more and more studies on Astragaloside Ⅳ have been conducted at home and abroad. It has been reported that it has the medicinal value of enhancing immune function， strengthening heart and lowerin blood glucose， diuresis， anti-aging and anti-fatigue， et al， and has extensive pharmacological activity. Among them， the role of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in particular has attracted increasing attention. Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are ischemic or hemorrhagic diseases occurring in the heart， brain and systemic tissues due to blood viscosity， atherosclerosis， hypertension， hyperlipidemia， etc.， including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Such diseases are a serious threat to mankind and are the leading cause of death worldwide. At present， western medicine is the main treatment， with many adverse reactions and poor long-term prognosis. TCM believes that the imbalance of qi and blood is the basic pathogenesis of this kind of disease. Qi deficiency and blood stasis are more common.At present， Astragaloside Ⅳ in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in a number of studies， and achieved some results， but this review in recent years， Astragaloside Ⅳ in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases play the pharmacological activity， in order to explore whether Astragaloside Ⅳ is the main role of astragalus qi to find a theoretical basis for material basis， but also for the innovation of traditional Chinese medicine drug research and development of theoretical basis and practical guidance.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the complications of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation treated with percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy(PELD), and discuss how to avoid these complications.

METHODSThe data of 132 patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation underwent PELD from October 2013 and June 2015 were retrospectively analyzed, including 85 males and 47 females with an average age of 42.9 years old. There were 6 cases of L₃,₄, 68 of L₄,₅ and 58 of L₅S₁. The incidences of intraoperative and postoperative complications were analyzed.

RESULTSThere was spinal dura mater injury in 1 patient, but no cerebrospinal fluid leakage and nerve function deficit was found, the muscle strength did not decrease postoperatively and the incision healed well. Two patients converted to open surgery ultimately because of stenosis of the intervertebral foramen and adhesion between nucleus pulposus and spinal dura mater; two patients complicated with early recurrence(in 3 months);nucleus pulposus residue developed in 3 patients; all of them were treated by open surgery and got satisfactory results. One patient with heart disease history complicated with supraventricular tachycardia after surgery and 2 patients with the increased cerebrospinal fluid pressure during surgery.

CONCLUSIONSPELD have a steep learning curve, and the technology is a safe and effective method in treating lumbar disc herniation, but the beginners must have enough open surgery experience, and to grasp indications strictly.

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation among prevertebral hyperintensity (PVH), sagittal canal diameter on MRI and neurologic function of patients after cervical vertebral hyperextension injury without fracture and dislocation.

METHODSThe clinical data of 100 patients with cervical vertebral hyperextension injury without fracture and dislocation were retrospectively analyzed from September 2010 to December 2013. The patients were divided into PVH group and non-PVH group according to the presence of PVH on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. There were 39 patients in PVH group, including 31 males and 8 females, aged from 21 to 83 years old with an average of (58.10 ± 14.78) years; and the other 69 patients in non-PVH group, including 49 males and 12 females, aged from 32 to 77 years old with an average of (55.05 ± 10.36) years. The sagittal disc level canal diameters of subaxial cervical spine were measured on mid-sagittal magnetic resonance imaging. The age, sex, cause of injury, and the segments of spinal stenosis were recorded. American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale and motor score were used to evaluate the neurological status.

RESULTSThe ASIA motor score of the group with PVH was 52.56 ± 31.97 while the ASIA motor score was 67.70 ± 22.83 in non-PVH group (P = 0.013). More patients with intramedullary hyperintensity signal on MRI were observed in the PVH group than in non-PVH group (P = 0.006). There was a significant positive correlation between ASIA motor score and sagittal disc level canal diameter of injury segment (P = 0.003). The neurological status was worse in patients with multi-level sagittal canal diameters below 8 mm.

CONCLUSIONThe PVH and the disc-level canal sagittal diameter of the injury segment are associated with neurological status. The patients with multi-level sagittal canal stenosis are vulnerable to severe cervical spinal cord injury.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cervical Vertebrae ; injuries ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Canal ; pathology ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; pathology ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate whether garlicin can prevent reperfusion no-reflow in a catheter-based porcine model of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

METHODSTwenty-two male Chinese mini swines were randomized into 3 groups: sham-operation group (n=6), control group (n=8), and garlicin group (n=8). The distal part of left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) in swines of the latter two groups was completely occluded by dilated balloon for 2 h and a successful AMI model was confirmed by coronary angiography (CAG) and electrocardiograph (ECG), which was then reperfused for 3 h. In the sham-operation group, balloon was placed in LAD without dilatation. Garlicin at a dosage of 1.88 mg/kg was injected 10 min before LAD occlusion until reperfusion for 1 h in the garlicin group. To assess serial cardiac function, hemodynamic data were examined by catheter method before AMI, 2 h after occlusion and 1, 2, and 3 h after reperfusion. Myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) and double staining with Evans blue and thioflavin-S were performed to evaluate myocardial no-reflow area (NRA) and risk area (RA).

RESULTSLeft ventricular systolic pressure and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure significantly improved in the garlicin group after reperfusion compared with the control group P<0.05) and 2 h after AMI (P<0.05). MCE showed garlicin decreased reperfusion NRA after AMI compared with the control group (P <0.05). In double staining, NRA/RA in the garlicin group was 18.78%, significantly lower than that of the control group (49.84%, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSGarlicin has a preventive effect on the porcine model of myocardial infarction reperfusion no-reflow by improving hemodynamics and decreasing NRA.

Allyl Compounds ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Cardiotonic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Contrast Media ; Disease Models, Animal ; Disulfides ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hemodynamics ; drug effects ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Myocardial Reperfusion ; No-Reflow Phenomenon ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; Thiazoles ; metabolism ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo explore the usefulness of a head-space gas chromatography in the determination of residual solvents including methanol,ethanol,ethyl ether,and petroleum ether in muscone in artificial musk.

METHODSThe head-space gas chromatography was performed on HP-5(30 m×0.53 mm,5 Μm)capillary column with a hydrogen flame ionization detector. The carrier gas was nitrogen and the solvent was dimethyl sulfoxide. The injector temperature and the detector temperature were controlled at 180 ℃ and 250 ℃,respectively. The containers of head-space injector were preheated at 80 ℃ for 15 minutes. The column temperature was programmed raised,which achieved baseline separation of the components.

RESULTSThe results showed a good linear relationship for methanol,ethanol,ethyl ether,and petroleum ether(60-90 ℃)in the range of each consistency; and the limit of detection was 0.8,1.0,0.1,and 0.3 Μg/ml,respectively. The precision and average recoveries were satisfactory.

CONCLUSIONThe head-space gas chromatography is simple,rapid,and precise technique for measuring residual solvents in muscone.

Chromatography, Gas ; Cycloparaffins ; chemistry ; Drug Contamination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Ethanol ; analysis ; Solvents ; analysis

BACKGROUNDThymectomy is an established treatment for myasthenia gravis (MG), and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) thymectomy has become an acceptable surgical procedure. This study aimed to compare the results of VATS thymectomy and open thymectomy and to identify the prognostic factors after thymectomy.

METHODSThe clinical data of 187 consecutive thymectomies performed between July 2000 and December 2009 were retrospectively reviewed; 75 open thymectomies and 112 VATS thymectomies. Clinical efficacy and variables influencing outcome were assessed by Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.

RESULTSThe operative blood loss in the VATS group was significantly less than that in the open group ((62.14 ± 55.43) ml vs. (137.87 ± 165.25) ml, P < 0.05). The postoperative crisis rate increased with the severity of preoperative MG and the prescription dose of anticholinesterase. Complete follow-up information of patients more than 12 months after the thymectomy was obtained on 151 cases, 89 cases from the VATS group and 62 cases from the open group, with a mean follow-up period of 59.3 months, range from 12 to 117 months. Complete stable remission (CSR) was the end point for evaluation of the treatment results. The overall five-year CSR rate was 57.5%. Two good prognostic factors were identified; preoperative prescription of anticholinesterase alone (P = 0.035) and non-thymomatous MG (P = 0.003). The five-year CSR rate of the ocular type of MG reached a high level of 67.4%.

CONCLUSIONSThymectomy can achieve good long-term CSR in MG, and VATS is an ideal alternative method. High-dose prescription of anticholinesterase and the advanced stage by Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) classification have higher risks of postoperative crisis. Preoperative prescription of anticholinesterase alone and non-thymomatous MG are good prognostic factors. Thymectomy should also be considered for the ocular type of MG.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myasthenia Gravis ; surgery ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; methods ; Thymectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome