OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of Shenfu injection combined with glucocorticoid in the treatment of acute left heart failure complicated with bronchospasm. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted.Ninety patients with acute left heart failure complicated with bronchospasm admitted to Huai'an Second People's Hospital from January 2021 to July 2022 were selected and divided into conventional treatment group, hormone therapy group and combined treatment group according to random number table method, with 30 cases in each group. All patients in the 3 groups received basic Western medicine treatment. On this basis, the conventional treatment group was given 0.25-0.50 g aminophylline injection plus 5% glucose injection or 0.9% sodium chloride injection (diabetes patients) 100 mL slow intravenous infusion, 1-2 times a day. In the hormone treatment group, 1 mg of budesonide suspension for inhalation was diluted to 2 mL by 0.9% sodium chloride injection, twice a day, and applied until 48 hours after the pulmonary wheezing disappeared. The combined treatment group was given glucocorticoid combined with Shenfu injection 80 mL plus 5% glucose injection or 0.9% sodium chloride injection (diabetes patients) 250 mL intravenously, once a day. All treated for 1 week. The general data, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score, TCM syndrone efficacy index, acute left heart failure efficacy, bronchospasm efficacy, systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level and safety of the 3 groups were compared. The patients were followed up for 6 months, and the mortality and re-hospitalization rate of the 3 groups were recorded. RESULTS: Among the 90 patients, a total of 83 patients completed the study, excluding the cases dropped due to death and other reasons. There were 29 cases in the combined treatment group, 25 cases in the hormone therapy group and 29 cases in the conventional treatment group. There were no significant differences in age, gender, course of disease, and previous history (history of diabetes, history of hypertension, history of hyperlipidemia) among the 3 groups. Therefore, they were comparable. The difference of TCM syndrome score before and after treatment, TCM syndrome efficacy index of combined treatment group and hormone therapy group were higher than those of conventional treatment group [difference of TCM syndrome score: 15.14±5.74, 13.24±5.75 vs. 10.62±5.87, TCM syndrome efficacy index: (67.84±14.31)%, (59.94±14.26)% vs. (48.92±16.74)%, all P < 0.05], and the difference of TCM syndrome score and TCM syndrome efficacy index of combined treatment group were higher than those of hormone treatment group (both P < 0.05). The total effective rate of acute left heart failure and bronchospasm in the combined treatment group was significantly higher than that in the conventional treatment group (total effective rate of acute left heart failure: 96.55% vs. 75.86%, total effective rate of bronchospasm: 93.10% vs. 65.52%, both P < 0.05). The difference of serum NT-proBNP before and after treatment in combination therapy group and hormone therapy group was significantly higher than that in conventional treatment group (ng/L: 7 922.86±5 220.31, 7 314.92±4 450.28 vs. 4 644.79±3 388.23, all P < 0.05), and the difference of serum NT-proBNP before and after treatment in the combined treatment group was significantly higher than that in the hormone treatment group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in SBP difference, MAP difference, mortality and re-hospitalization rate among the 3 groups. No adverse reactions occurred in the 3 groups during treatment. CONCLUSIONS Shenfu injection combined with glucocorticoid is effective in the treatment of patients with acute left heart failure complicated with bronchospasm. It is superior to glucocorticoid and aminophylline in relieving bronchospasm, reducing NT-proBNP level and improving total effective rate, and has good prognosis and safety.
Humans ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Bronchial Spasm ; Prospective Studies ; Aminophylline/therapeutic use* ; Sodium Chloride/therapeutic use* ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Peptide Fragments ; Heart Failure/drug therapy* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Glucose

OBJECTIVETo investigate the current status of studies on drug therapy for apnea of prematurity (AOP) in the past decade in China and abroad, and to describe the research trends in the field.

METHODSCNKI and MEDLINE were searched with the key words "apnea of prematurity" and "treatment" for articles published in the past decade (January 2006 to December 2015). The articles were screened and the key words were extracted to establish the co-occurrence matrix. Ucinet 6.2 was used to plot the knowledge map.

RESULTSA total of 26 Chinese key words and 20 English key words were included. Those in the center of the co-existent knowledge map of Chinses keywords were "preterm infants", "apnea", "primary apnea", "naloxone" and "aminophylline"; while "apnea", "preterm infants" and "caffeine" located in the central place of the co-existent knowledge map of English keywords.

CONCLUSIONSMethylxanthines are still the major drugs for AOP; however, aminophylline is mainly used in China, while caffeine is mainly used in foreign countries. Other drugs such as naltrexone are also used in the clinical treatment of AOP.

Aminophylline ; therapeutic use ; Apnea ; drug therapy ; Caffeine ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Premature, Diseases ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of caffeine citrate treatment on early pulmonary function in preterm infants with apnea.

METHODSForty preterm infants with apnea were randomly divided into aminophylline treatment group (20 infants) and caffeine citrate treatment group (20 infants). When the preterm infants experienced apnea after birth, they were given aminophylline or caffeine citrate in addition to assisted ventilation with continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP). After drug discontinuation, pulmonary function was measured and compared between the two groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, compared with the aminophylline treatment group, the caffeine citrate treatment group had significantly higher tidal volume, minute ventilation volume, ratio of time to peak tidal expiratory flow to total expiratory time, ratio of volume to peak tidal expiratory flow to total expiratory volume, peak expiratory flow, and breathing flow at 75%, 50%, and 25% of tidal volume (P<0.05). The caffeine citrate treatment group had a significantly shorter time of oxygen use and NCPAP support than the aminophylline treatment group (P<0.01). Compared with the aminophylline treatment group, the caffeine citrate treatment group had a significantly lower frequency of apnea attacks (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIn the treatment of apnea in preterm infants, caffeine citrate can improve early pulmonary function and reduce the incidence of apnea.

Aminophylline ; therapeutic use ; Apnea ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Caffeine ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Citrates ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Lung ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Male

OBJECTIVE: To observe the role of aminophylline and simvastatin in preventing and curing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to explore the underlying mechanisms based on airway inflammation and mucus hypersecretion.
 METHODS: The rat model of COPD was established by combination of cigarette smoking with intratracheal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. Male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=10 per group): a control group, a COPD group, an aminophylline group and a simvastatin group. The rats in the control group and the COPD group were treated with normal saline once a day via intragastric administration, while the rats in the aminophylline group and the simvastatin group were treated with aminophylline (5 g/L) and simvastatin (0.5 g/L) 1 mL/100 g once a day via intragastric administration, respectively. Pulmonary function and pathological changes in bronchus and lung were observed. The levels of IL-8, IL-17, and TNF-α in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mRNA and protein expressions of TLR4 and mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) in bronchi and lung tissues were detected by real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively.
 RESULTS: Pulmonary function and the pathophysiologic changes in bronchi and lung tissues in the COPD rats were consistent with typical phenotype of COPD. Compared with the control group, lung function indexes were significantly attenuated in the COPD group, while the levels of IL-8, IL-17, and TNF-α in BALF as well as the mRNA and protein levels of MUC5AC and TLR4 were significantly increased. Compared with the COPD group, lung function indexes were significantly increased in the aminophylline group and simvastatin group (P<0.01), while pulmonary pathological damages, the levels of IL-8, IL-17, and TNF-α in BALF as well as the mRNA and protein levels of MUC5AC and TLR4 were significantly decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the aminophylline group, the peak expiratory flow as well as the levels of IL-8, IL-17, and TNF-α in the simvastatin group were elevated (P<0.05). There are no significant difference in the mRNA and protein levels of MUC5AC and TLR4 between the 2 groups (P﹥0.05).
 CONCLUSION Aminophylline and simvastatin can decrease IL-8, IL-17, and TNF-α levels in BALF and inhibit the expression of MUC5AC and TLR4 in airway and lung tissues in COPD rats, suggesting that they may have a preventive and therapeutic effect on COPD through reducing the airway inflammation and mucus hypersecretion.
Aminophylline ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Bronchi ; metabolism ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; Cytokines ; chemistry ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Lung ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Mucin 5AC ; metabolism ; Mucus ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; drug therapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Simvastatin ; pharmacology ; Smoke ; adverse effects ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic features of different doses of aminophylline in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with different postmenstrual ages, weights, and ages (in days).

METHODSA total of 40 VLBW infants with apnea were enrolled. After an intravenous loading dose of 5 mg/kg aminophylline, they were randomized into two groups with different maintenance doses of aminophylline (1 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg, once every 8 hours). Blood concentrations of aminophylline and liver and renal functions were monitored at 8 hours, 3 days, and 7 days after the loading dose. Attacks of apnea were documented. Pharmacokinetic data of aminophylline were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe steady-state plasma concentration of aminophylline and plasma clearance in the 2 mg/kg group were significantly higher than those in the 1 mg/kg group (P<0.05). However, the elimination half life was shorter in the 2 mg/kg group (P<0.05). Days of apnea attacks within 7 days after birth in the 2 mg/kg group were significantly fewer than in the 1 mg/kg group (P<0.05). Aminophylline plasma clearance was positively correlated with age (in days) after birth and postmenstrual age in both groups.

CONCLUSIONSIn VLBW infants, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics are different when different maintenance doses of aminophylline are given. The maintenance dose of 2 mg/kg is associated with a better effect in the treatment of apnea. Postmenstrual age and age (in days) should be considered during the adjustment of dose, and routine blood concentration monitoring should be performed.

Aminophylline ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Apnea ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Male

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of aminophylline on physiological and pathological changes in acute exposure to high altitude in rats. METHODS: A total of 21 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a plain group (altitude 55 m), a high altitude hypoxia group (altitude 4 300 m), and a high altitude hypoxia plus aminophylline group. After 5 days, blood from orbital venous was collected for analyzing biochemical parameters. Blood from abdominal aorta was collected for analyzing the parameters of blood gas. The tissues of brain, lung, and kidney were dissected for pathological observation. RESULTS: Compared with the plain group, the parameters of LDH, ALP, Urea and cCl? in the hypoxia group or the aminophylline treatment group were significantly increased (P<0.01), while the parameters of ALB, Cr, SatO₂, Hb, Hct, PaCO₂, PaO₂2, BB and BE were significantly reduced (P<0.01). Compared with the hypoxia group, the parameters of Cr, pH, Hct, cNa⁺, cCl⁻ in the aminophylline treatment group were significantly increased (P<0.01), while AST, ALT, ALB, PaCO₂ and cK⁺ were significantly decreased (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Pathological results showed the brain, lung and liver tissues were obviously damaged in the hypoxia group compared with that in the plain group. These damages were significantly attenuated by aminophylline. CONCLUSION Aminophylline can improve blood gas and biochemical parameters in acute exposure to high altitude in rats. It can protect rat brain, lung and liver from the damage caused by acute high altitude, which may be related its effects on relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle and inhibition of inflammation.
Altitude ; Aminophylline ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Brain ; pathology ; Hypoxia ; blood ; physiopathology ; Liver ; pathology ; Lung ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

PURPOSE: To compare respiratory and clinical outcomes between the currently used strategy of Intubation, Surfactant, Extubation (InSurE) and nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) and the alternative strategy of InSurE and nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) for the initial treatment of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm newborns < or =32 weeks. METHODS: Twenty-six comparable preterm infants with RDS were included in the study; 13 were randomized to NCPAP and 13 to NIPPV. In both groups, the InSurE procedure consisted of intubation, surfactant instillation and 2 h positive pressure ventilation followed by extubation, after which spontaneously breathing newborns were placed on NCPAP or NIPPV. RESULTS: There were no differences in demographic characteristics or cardiorespiratory status among preterm infants enrolled in the study. The reinutation rate was lower among the infants treated with NIPPV than among those on NCPAP (8% vs. 46%, P<0.05) and the rate of aminophylline use between 4 and 7 days of age of was lower in the NIPPV group compared to the NCPAP group (8% vs. 30%, P<0.05). In addition, "InSurE with NIPPV" significantly reduced the overall duration of endotracheal ventilation and shortened the time to first feed compared to "InSurE with NCPAP". CONCLUSION: "InSurE with NIPPV" displayed therapeutic benefits as the initial treatment of preterm RDS when compared with the currently used ventilator strategy, "InSurE with NCPAP" by preventing re-intubation and shortening the duration of endotracheal ventilation.
Aminophylline ; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure* ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Intermittent Positive-Pressure Ventilation* ; Intubation ; Pilot Projects* ; Positive-Pressure Respiration ; Prospective Studies* ; Respiration ; Ventilation ; Ventilators, Mechanical

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of caffeine citrate and aminophylline in the treatment of primary apnea in premature infants.

METHODSThe clinical data of 125 premature infants with primary apnea from March 2013 to March 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the therapeutic strategy, the patients were divided into caffeine citrate group (n=65) and aminophylline group (n=60). The overall response rates and adverse reaction rates in the two groups were compared.

RESULTSThe overall response rate in the caffeine citrate group was 86% (56 cases), which was significantly higher than that in the aminophylline group (72%, 43 cases) (P<0.05). The adverse reactions in the caffeine citrate group included tachycardia (1 case), restlessness (5 cases), feeding intolerance (7 cases), electrolyte disturbance (2 cases), and high blood glucose (5 cases), the incidence of which was significantly lower than that in the aminophylline group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCaffeine citrate is more effective and causes fewer adverse reactions than aminophylline in the treatment of primary apnea in premature infants.

Aminophylline ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Apnea ; drug therapy ; Caffeine ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Citrates ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Male ; Retrospective Studies

A 57-year-old female patient with suspicious interstitial lung disease underwent aortic valvular replacement for aortic stenosis. She complained of severe dyspnea, and her preoperative chest X-ray and computed tomography findings showed multiple ground glass opacity causing interstitial lung disease. After aortic valvular replacement, and as part of the weaning process after cardiopulmonary bypass, she was placed on a ventilator. Nonetheless, the peak airway pressure was higher than 40 mmHg with a less than 50 ml tidal volume, and there was no visible end-tidal CO2 curve. Repeated suction, expansion, and intravenous corticosteroid injection with aminophylline loading were performed to improve the patient's condition. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation began after cardiopulmonary bypass and was sustained for 5 days. This case demonstrated the fragility of lungs with interstitial disease, and the need to exercise more precaution against acute respiratory failure after cardiopulmonary bypass.
Aminophylline ; Aortic Valve Stenosis ; Aortic Valve* ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Dyspnea ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Female ; Glass ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial* ; Middle Aged ; Respiratory Insufficiency* ; Suction ; Thorax ; Tidal Volume ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Weaning

Aminophylline can elicit thermogenesis in rats or increase metabolic rate during cold stress in lambs. We tested the hypothesis that aminophylline would reduce the change in core body temperature during laparoscopic abdominal surgery requiring pneumoperitoneum. Fifty patients were randomly divided into an aminophylline group (n=25) and a saline control group (n=25). Esophageal temperature, index finger temperature, and hemodynamic variables, such as mean blood pressure and heart rate, were measured every 15 min during sevoflurane anesthesia. In the aminophylline group, esophageal temperatures at T45 (36.1+/-0.38 vs. 35.7+/-0.29, P=0.024), T60 (36.0+/-0.39 vs. 35.6+/-0.28, P=0.053), T75 (35.9+/-0.34 vs. 35.5+/-0.28, P=0.025), T90 (35.8+/-0.35 vs. 35.3+/-0.33, P=0.011), and T105 (35.8+/-0.36 vs. 35.1+/-0.53, P=0.017) and index finger temperatures at T15 (35.8+/-0.46 vs. 34.9+/-0.33, P<0.001), T30 (35.7+/-0.36 vs. 35.0+/-0.58, P=0.029), T45 (35.8+/-0.34 vs. 35.2+/-0.42, P=0.020), T60 (35.7+/-0.33 vs. 34.9+/-0.47, P=0.010), T75 (35.6+/-0.36 vs. 34.8+/-0.67, P=0.028), T90 (35.4+/-0.55 vs. 34.4+/-0.89, P=0.042), and T105 (34.9+/-0.53 vs. 33.9+/-0.85, P=0.024) were significantly higher than in the saline control group. Aminophylline is effective in maintaining the core temperature through a thermogenic effect, despite reduced peripheral thermoregulatory vasoconstriction.
Abdomen/surgery ; Aminophylline/*administration & dosage ; Body Temperature/*drug effects ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothermia/*etiology/physiopathology/*prevention & control ; Laparoscopy/*adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoperitoneum, Artificial/*adverse effects ; Single-Blind Method ; Treatment Outcome