Objective To investigate the current situation of clinical studies on puerarin for ischemic stroke and the reliability of these evidence. Methods By electronic searching and handsearching, we collected all the published clinical study reports on puerarin for ischemic stroke and assessed all the included reports according to clinical epidemiologic standard. Results 35 RCTs, 22 non-randomized controlled trials and 17 case serials studies were included and analysed. Conclusions Current quality of clinical studies of puerarin for ischemic stroke is not good enough to provide reliable evidence.
Osteosarcopenia (OS), which has become a global public health problem, is a geriatric syndrome in which sarcopenia and osteoporosis co-exist, leading to falls, fractures, and even varying degrees of disability in the elderly. The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) is a tool to measure the overall level of dietary inflammation in an individual, and the DII score is closely associated with the development of OS. This article reviews the basic concepts of DII and OS and their interrelationships, focusing on the associations between diet, inflammation, DII and OS, with the aim of providing a reference for dietary interventions in the prevention and control of OS patients.
ObjectiveTo study the effects of aminoguanidine (AG), a selective inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) on the pathological changes of liver tissues and ultrastructural changes of liver cells in rodent model of endotoxic shock. MethodsTwentyfour male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group，lipopolysaccharide (LPS) control group and AG treatment group, each group had 8 rats. Rats were challenged by E.coli LPS to set up the model of endotoxic shock, AG group were treated by aminoguanidine. The pathological and ultrastructural changes of liver tissues and plasma NO contents of three groups were observed and compared. ResultsLight microscopy revealed that many tiny abscesses scattered in liver tissue in LPS group, accompanied by necrosis of liver cells and neutrophils infiltration, while liver injuries of AG group were much slighter than that in LPS group. Electron microscopy revealed that there were dissolved plaques in hepatocyte nuclears, swelling of mitochondria, decreasing in number of mitochondrial ridges, while AG play a protective role to nuclears and mitochondria of hepatocytes. The plasma NO levels of LPS control group were higher than that of normal control group, and plasma NO levels decreased significantly after AG treatment, but still higher than that of normal control group. Conclusion Aminoguanidine selectively inhibits iNOS activity and prevents the overproduction of NO induced by iNOS, thus attenuates the damages of liver structure induced by NO. This method has potential value in clinical application, which deserves more deep research.
【Abstract】 Objective To explore the clinical value of vibration response imaging ( VRI) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD) . Methods 255 COPD patients and 78 healthy volunteers were enrolled and lung function test and VRI examination were performed. The parameters of VRI included dynamic image grades, vibration energy graph grades, vibration value, quantitative lung data ( QLD) of right lung, and crack counts. Results The VRI parameters of the COPD group were as follows, ie.dynamic image grades of 3. 07 ±1. 34, graph grades of 7. 81 ±3. 27, vibration value of 1. 57 ±0. 46, QLD of( 49. 5 ±12. 6) % , crack counts of 5. 27 ±7. 74. The VRI parameters of the control group were as follows, ie.dynamic image grades of 1. 14 ±1. 00, graph grades of 2. 24 ±1. 27, vibration value of 1. 87 ±0. 40, QLD of( 44. 0 ±7. 7) % , crack counts of 0. 21 ±0. 88. There were significant differences in all parameters between the two groups ( all P lt;0. 05) . There was a linear relationship between VRI and FEV1% pred ( r = 0. 548,P lt;0. 01) . The model of the linear regression was Y =80. 833 - 2. 735X1 - 5. 406X2 ( Y: FEV1% pred, X1 :VRI graph grades, X2 : dynamic image grades) . Conclusion VRI is a promising method to diagnose and assess the severity of COPD.
Objective To investigate the serum level of surfactant protein D ( SP-D) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD) and its clinical significance. Methods Serumlevels of SP-D in patients with acute exacerbations of COPD ( n = 29) , stable COPD ( n = 26) , and control subjects ( n = 19 ) were measured by ELISA. Multiple regression modeling was performed to determine the independent relationship between SP-D and lung function variables. Results The serum SP-D levels were significantly increased in the patients who experienced an acute exacerbation [ ( 70. 6 ±20. 7) ng/mL] compared with the patients with stable COPD and the control subjects [ ( 47. 9 ±13. 3) ng/mL and ( 31. 2 ±11. 4) ng/mL] ( both P lt; 0. 01) . The serum SP-D levels in the patients with stable COPD increased significantly than the control subjects ( P lt; 0. 01) . Smoking index and staging of COPD were positively related to SP-D level. Serum SP-D levels were also found to be inversely related to FEV1% pred in stable COPD. Conclusion Serum SP-D may be a potential diagnostic and staging biomarker for COPD.
Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of pueraria for acute cerebral infarction. Methods We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CBM, and the Chinese Stroke Clinical Trials Database. The search was conducted in Feb., 2006. Data were extracted and assessed by two reviewers independently. Revman 4.2 software was used for statistical analysis. Results Nineteen potentially eligible trials were identified, of which 14 (1 141 patients) were included. Only one trial reported the death or disability rate at the end of 6-month follow-up (the difference between the two groups was not significant). Meta-analysis of 11 trials invovling the improvement of neurological deficit indicated that pueraria was significantly more effective than the control group [OR 3.04, 95%CI 2.11, 4.39]. Conclusions Pueraria might improve the short-term neurological deficit of patients with acute cerebral infarction. But the methodological quality of all the included trials is poor, reliable conclusions can not be drawn from the present data. More high-quality randomized controlled trials are required.
Objective To study the effects on MCF-7 breast cancer cells with combination of tamoxifen（TAM） and antisense oligonucleotide （ASODN） targeting survivin mRNA. Methods MCF-7 breast cancer cells were treated with a 20 mer ASODN targeting survivin mRNA and TAM, which were divided into three groups: TAM group (treated by TAM only), ASODN group (by ASODN only), and TAM+ASODN combined group (by TAM+ASODN combination). The growth inhibition of MCF-7 cells, the changes of cell cycles and apoptotic rate, the positive rate of survivin mRNA expression, and the activity of caspase-3 were tested by MTT, flow cytometry, hybridization in situ, and spectrophotometric method, respectively.Results The rate of growth inhibition of MCF-7 cells in the TAM+ASODN combined group was (62.26±3.92)%, which was significantly higher than that in the TAM group 〔(42.30±6.63)%〕 or ASODN group 〔(54.77±9.99)%〕, Plt;0.05. The apoptotic rate of MCF-7 cells was (28.08±4.32)% in the TAM+ASODN combined group, which was significantly higher than that in the TAM group 〔(18.94±4.01)%〕 or ASODN group 〔(21.12±3.95)%〕, Plt;0.01. The effect of arresting MCF-7 cells in G0/G1 phase in the TAM+ASODN combined group was ber than that in the TAM or ASODN group (Plt;0.05, Plt;0.01). The positive rate of survivin mRNA in the TAM+ASODN combined group was (13.38±3.45)%, which was significantly lower than that in the TAM group 〔(39.67±7.42)%〕 or ASODN group 〔(27.50±5.80)%〕, Plt;0.01. The activity of caspase-3 in the TAM+ASODN combined group （0.93±0.13） was significantly higher than that in the TAM group (0.50±0.09) or ASODN group (0.64±0.08), Plt;0.01. Conclusion The ASODN targeting survivin mRNA can promote the apoptosis of MCF-7 breast cancer cells, and make MCF-7 cells more sensitive to tamoxifen.
Objective To investigate the protective effects of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-1 ( rhIGF-1) on apoptosis of diaphragm in rats with COPD and its impact on pulmonary function. Methods Forty-five male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups, ie. a normal control group, a model group, and an IGF-1 intervention group, with 15 rats in each group. The rats in the model group and IGF-1 group were exposed to 5% smoke ( 30 min perday, lasting 28 days) in a sealed box, and 200 μg lipopolysaccharide was injected intratracheally on the 1st and 14th day. The rats in the IGF-1 group were given rhIGF-1 ( 60 μg /100 g) additionally by subcutaneous injection once a day, lasting 28 days. On the 1st, 14th, 28th day, 5 rats from each group were sacrificed. The weight, rate of apoptosis, Fas gene and Fas protein expression of isolated diaphragms were detected. The pulmonary function was measured on the 28th day before sacrificed. Results The mass of diaphragms, minute ventilation ( VE) , peak expiratory flow ( PEF) , inspiratory capacity ( IC) , forced expiratory volume in 0. 3 second ( FEV0. 3) of themodel groupand IGF-1 group were all decreased compared with the control group ( P lt; 0. 05) . The mass of diaphragms, VE, IC of the IGF-1 group were higher than those of the model group ( P lt;0. 05) , and the differences of PEF and FEV0. 3 were not significant ( P gt; 0. 05) . On the 14th, 28th day, rate of apoptosis, Fas gene and protein expressions in the IGF-1 group were lower than those in the model group, and still higher than those in the control group ( P lt; 0. 05) . Conclusions Fas/FasL mediated apoptosis way is involved in the diaphragm apoptosis. rhIGF-1 may reduce the apoptosis of the diaphragmand improve the VE and IC of rats with COPD by intervening Fas/FasL pathway.
Objective To investigate the changes of steps walks daily in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome ( OSAHS) before and after the initiation of nasal continuous positive airway pressure ( nCPAP) ventilation. Methods 62 patients diagnosed by polysomnogaphy ( PSG) in the sleep respiratory disease center of Nanjing FirstHospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University were recruited as the OSAHS group, and divided into mild,moderate, and severe subgroups according to apnea-hypopnea index ( AHI) .28 subjects without OSAHS were recruited as the control group. All the subjects were evaluated by Epworth Sleepiness Scale ( ESS) and Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire ( FOSQ) . Steps walked daily were measured by electronic pedometer.10 patients with moderate and severe OSAHS were treated with nCPAP. Results Compared with the control group and the mild OSAHS patients, ESS scores were significantly higher while FOSQ scores and steps walked daily were significantly lower in the moderate and severe OSAHS patients ( P lt; 0. 05) . In the OSAHS patients, steps walked daily were correlated positively with FOSQ scores but negatively with BMI, ESS scores, AHI, oxygen desaturation index ( ODI) and saturation impair time below 90% ( SIT90) ( P lt; 0.05) . After one month of nCPAP therapy, ESS scores were significantly decreased, FOSQ scores and steps walked daily were significantly increased (Plt;0.05) . Conclusions Increased OSAHS severity is associated with decreased steps walked daily which is an objective index of routine physical activity. Untreated OSAHS may negatively impact the patients’ability to have an active lifestyle. nCPAP therapy can significantly improve steps walks daily of patients with OSAHS.
Objective To investigate the psychological stress level and its influence factors of the motor transport soldiers in Military Station C at high altitude, and provide the data basis for the proper stress management. Methods A cluster random sampling was performed on the motor transport soldiers in Military Station C. And SCL-90 were adopted to measure the psychological stress level of the motor transport soldiers while the self-made basic information questionnaire was conducted to collect the information of demographic characteristic, length of military service, driving years. Then the effect of basic information on the psychological stress level was analyzed. Results 1 692 soldiers in Military Station C were enrolled in this survey. The scores of somatization, depression, psychosis and the total score of the SCL-90 of these soldiers were higher than the norm (allP values<0.001). The scores of interpersonal relationship, depression, terror and stubborn of the only child were higher than those of non-only-child (P=0.034,P=0.039,P=0.025,P=0.002). The scores of interpersonal relationship and anxiety were positively correlated with their education levels (P=0.008,P=0.026). The compulsory servicemen had higher scores of anxiety, terror and psychosis (P<0.001,P=0.026,P=0.001) but lower scores of somatization (P<0.001) compared with the sergeants. Those who suffered from neck discomfort had higher somatization scores (P<0.001). Conclusion Some factors involved in psychological stress level of the motor transport soldiers in Military Station C are higher than the norm, suggesting that more attention should be paid to their psychological states by the army administrators and the health management department, especially the only child, new recruits, junior soldiers and those who suffers from somatization discomfort.