香烟烟雾提取物致Th17/Treg的失衡在慢性阻塞性肺疾病发生发展中的作用与意义

目的观察慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)患者外周血中Th17细胞、Treg细胞占CD4+T细胞的比例及香烟烟雾提取物(CSE)对其的影响,探讨CSE对Th17细胞、Treg细胞的影响及Th17/Treg的平衡关系在COPD发生发展中的作用。方法随机收集慢性阻塞性肺疾病急性加重期(AECOPD)患者20例(A组),COPD稳定期患者20例(B组),吸烟肺功能正常者20例(C组),不吸烟肺功能正常者20例(D组)。抽取空腹静脉血制备单个核细胞悬液(PBMC),将每个试验对象的PBMC分为空白对照组和CSE干预组,采用流式细胞术检测所有试验对象对照组和干预组CD4+Th17细胞及CD4+Treg细胞各占CD4+T细胞的比例;ELISA法检测各组血浆中IL-17的浓度。结果 Th17/CD4+T细胞百分比对照组A组(5.33±0.66)高于B组(2.99±0.50)、C组(2.09±0.68)、D组(1.19±0.48)(P<0.001),CSE干预组较对照组升高(P<0.001);Treg/CD4+T细胞百分比对照组C组(5.88±0.52)高于D组(3.35±0.30)、B组(2.25±0.30)、A组(1.58±0.39)(P<0.001),CSE干预组较对照组升高(P<0.001);CD4+Th17细胞百分比对照组与CSE干预组差值A、B组高于C、D组(P<0.001),A组与B组之间差异无统计学意义(P=0.866),C组与D组之间差异无统计学意义(P=0.793);CD4+Treg细胞百分比对照组与CSE干预组差值C、D组高于B组、A组(P<0.001),C组与D组之间差异无统计学意义(P=0.756);外周血IL-17水平A组(145.22±5.50)高于B组(94.99±3.19)、C组(59.77±5.09)、D组(50.84±5.85)(P<0.001);COPD组血浆中IL-17的水平与外周血Th17细胞比例呈正相关(rA=0.524,rB=0.462);与FEV1/FVC值呈负相关(rA=-0.456,rB=-0.567);与FEV1/预计值%呈负相关(rA=-0.503,rB=-0.445)。结论 Th17与Treg比例的失衡可能是COPD的其中一个重要的发病机制;外周血IL-17水平与FEV1/FVC值、FEV1/预计值%呈负相关。     

75岁以上脑梗死患者血清7项生化指标检测结果分析

目的探讨75岁以上脑梗死患者检测血清7项指标包括同型半胱氨酸(Hcy)﹑超敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)﹑空腹血糖(FPG)﹑总胆固醇(TC)﹑甘油三酯(TG)﹑高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)﹑低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)的临床意义。方法检测138例75岁以上脑梗死患者(实验组)和127例健康体检者(对照组)的血清7项生化指标。根据合并症情况将138例实验组患者分为A组、B组、C组、D组,A组为单纯脑梗死患者,B组为脑梗死合并高血脂患者,C组为脑梗死合并糖尿病患者,D组为脑梗死同时合并高血脂、糖尿病患者。结果⑴实验组血清Hcy、hs-CRP、FPG、TC、TG、LDL-C显著高于对照组,血清HDL-C显著低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.01)。⑵实验组男性患者血清Hcy显著高于实验组女性患者(P0.01),血清TC、TG、LDL-C显著低于实验组女性患者(P0.01),实验组男性患者与实验组女性患者之间血清hs-CRP、FPG相比差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。⑶A组、B组、C组、D组之间血清Hcy、hs-CRP、HDL-C相比差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。D组血清FPG显著高于A组、B组、C组(P0.05),C组血清FPG显著高于A组、B组(P0.05),A组、B组血清FPG相比差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。D组血清TC、TG、LDL-C显著高于A组、B组、C组(P0.05),B组血清TC、TG、LDL-C显著高于A组、C组(P0.05),A组、C组血清TC、TG、LDL-C相比差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。⑷实验组血清Hcy与hs-CRP、FPG、TC、TG、HDL-C、LDL-C之间无显著相关(P0.05)。结论脑梗死患者血清Hcy水平与患者性别显著相关,而与脑梗死传统高危因素如hs-CRP﹑血糖、血脂水平等无明显相关性。     

慢性肾脏病与脂质紊乱的相关性研究

目的探讨慢性肾脏病(CKD)患者不同时期血脂各指标及D-二聚体水平的变化规律及相关危险因素。方法回顾性分析2010年2月至2014年1月收治的285例门诊及住院CKD患者(CKD组)的临床资料,根据CKD分期将其分为A组(CKD1~2期患者)、B组(CKD3~4期患者)、C组(CKD5期患者),各95例;另选取212例体检健康者作为对照组。比较分析血脂水平、血脂紊乱情况的差异,并对相关危险因素进行分析。结果 CKD患者三酰甘油(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)水平高于对照组,组间比较差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);组间高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、极低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(VLDL-C)水平比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。A组患者HDL-C、VLDL-C水平及血脂正常者所占百分率(7.37%)分别高于B、C组,B组患者TG、TC、LDL-C水平及高脂血症发生率(87.37%)分别高于A、C组,C组患者D-二聚体水平及低脂血症发生率(14.74%)分别高于A、B组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。血肌酐、D-二聚体水平和患者性别为女是CKD患者血脂异常的独立影响因素。结论 CKD患者高脂血症的发生率均较健康人群高,血肌酐、D-二聚体水平和患者性别为女是CKD患者血脂异常的独立影响因素。     

高敏C反应蛋白和颈动脉粥样硬化斑块对急性冠状动脉综合征的预示和诊断价值

目的 探讨高敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)和颈动脉粥样硬化斑块与急性冠状动脉综合征(ACS)的关系,研究两者对ACS的预示和诊断价值.方法 采用前瞻性队列研究方法,选择68例ACS患者、39例稳定型心绞痛(SAP)患者和39例冠状动脉造影正常成年人为正常对照组,测定hs-CRP并用彩色多普勒超声诊断仪检查颈动脉粥样硬化斑块.结果 ACS组的hs-CRP明显高于SAP组,中位数士四分位数间距是(13.39±10.24)mg/L vs(2.10±2.16) mg/L(P＜0.01)和正常对照组(1.90±3.05)mg/L(P＜0.01),SAP组与正常对照组差异无统计学意义.ACS组斑决指数和Crouse积分明显高于SAP组,分别为3.00±1.00 vs 2.00±2.00和5.20±7.25 vs 4.60±6.80(均P＜0.01),SAP组又明显高于正常对照组,分别为2.00±2.00 vs 0.00±1.90和4.60±6.80 vs 0.00±1.90(均P＜0.01).ACS组和SAP组的斑块数目明显多于正常对照组,分别为2.00±2.00、2.00±2.00 vs 0.00±1.00(均P＜0.01),ACS组斑块数目与SAP组之间差异无统计学意义.ACS组和SAP组的内中膜厚度(IMT)明显多于正常对照组,分别为(1.15±0.85)mm、(0.90± 1.00)mm vs(0.60±0.10)mm(均P＜0.01),但ACS组与SAP组间差异无统计学意义.Logistic遥步回归分析显示只有hs-CRP、斑块指数与ACS高度密切相关(P＜0.01).结论 hs-CRP、颈动脉斑块指数与ACS关系密切,hs-CRP联合颈动脉粥样硬化斑块超声检查有较好预示和诊断ACS作用.     

血尿酸、血脂检测在2型糖尿病及其并发血管病变中的意义

目的探讨血尿酸(SUA)、血脂水平与2型糖尿病(T2DM)及其并发血管病变的发生关系。方法 76例T2DM并发血管病变组(A组),90例T2DM无血管病变组(B组)及120例健康对照组(C组),均检测血尿酸(SUA)、血糖(BG)、糖化血红蛋白(HbA1C)、甘油三脂(TG)、胆固醇(TC)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)及高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)指标,并进行组间分析。结果 A组患者SUA、TG、TC、LDL-C、BG、HbA1C水平均明显高于B组和C组,差异有统计学意义(P0.01),A组HDL-C水平明显低于B组和C组(P0.05),B组患者TG、BG、HbA1C水平均高于C组(P0.01),三组间的SUA水平比较,A组患者SUA水平高于B组和C组(P0.01)。B组患者SUA水平与C组比较差异无显著性(P0.05)。结论血尿酸和血脂水平异常与T2DM血管并发症的发生有密切相关,可作为T2DM与T2DM并发血管病变的监测指标。     

急性冠状动脉综合征患者血浆妊娠相关蛋白酶A与脂联素、瘦素含量变化的关系

目的 探讨急性冠状动脉综合征患者血浆妊娠相关蛋白酶A(PAPP-A)与脂联素、瘦素含量变化及其在急性冠状动脉综合征发生过程中的意义.方法 80例急性冠状动脉综合征患者(A组)采用酶联免疫吸附测定法检测血浆PAPP-A、脂联素和瘦素含量,并与45例稳定型心绞痛患者(B组)和40例健康体检者(C组)进行比较.结果 A组血清脂联素含量显著低于B组与C组,(7.61±2.32)mg/L vs(10.36±2.28)mg/L、(14.32±3.24)mg/L(P＜0.01),B组血清脂联素含量低于C组(P＜0.01).A组血清瘦素含量高于B组与C组,(20.14±3.13)μg/L vs(13.36±2.32)μg/L、(9.23±2.44)μg/L(P＜0.01),B组血清瘦素含量高于C组(P＜0.01).A组PAPP-A水平明显高于B组与C组,(17.62±8.72)mU/L vs(11.21±3.75)mU/L、(8.31±5.21)mU/L(P＜0.01),B组PAPP-A水平高于C组(P＜0.01);急性冠状动脉综合征患者血浆PAPP-A与脂联素、瘦素含量之间存在相关性.结论 PAPP-A、脂联素和瘦素在急性冠状动脉综合症发病机制中发挥重要作用,PAPP-A与脂联素、瘦素含量之间存在相关性.     

血清同型半胱氨酸水平与脑梗塞关系的临床研究

目的探讨血清同型半胱氨酸(HCY)水平与脑梗死之间的关系。方法检测140例脑梗死患者血清HCY、叶酸(FA)、维生素B12(VitB12)及血脂等指标,并与80例健康对照者相比较。结果脑梗死组血清HCY及甘油三脂(TG)水平高于健康对照组[(16.67±9.06)μmol/L vs.(10.51±2.33)μmol/L,和(1.63±1.12)mmol/L vs.(1.34±0.43)mmol/L,P均<0.001],而FA及VitB12水平则低于健康对照组[(4.62±2.37)g/L vs.(8.47±1.56)g/L,和(255.32±83.43)ng/L vs.(334.6±53.88)ng/L,P值均<0.001],两对照组间总胆固醇(TCHO)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)比较差异没有统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论血清HCY升高可能是脑梗死的危险因素,导致HCY升高的原因可能与血清内叶酸和维生素B12的降低有关。     

生物人工肾对急性肾衰并多器官功能障碍猪的细胞因子反应性及存活时间的影响

目的 探讨生物人工肾(BAK)对急性肾衰(ARF)合并多器官功能障碍(MODS)猪的细胞因子反应性及存活时间的影响.方法 17只ARF并MODS猪模型随机分为三组:BAK组(A组,n=6);假BAK组(B组,n=6),血滤器中不含细胞;未治疗组(C组,n=5).观测平均动脉压、肝肾功能、血清IL-10、TNF-α、动脉血气和牛存时间.两组计量资料的对比采用t检验;三组计量资料的比较采用方差分析.结果 A组治疗24 h平均动脉压(mmHg)显著高于B组、C组[(91.82±5.73)vs.(64.29±13.05)vs.(52.91±3.72),P＜0.01].血清IL-10(pg/mL)的峰值A组明显高于B、C组[(249.57±43.51)vs.(132.06±17.53)vs.(104.25±13.42),P＜0.01].血清TNF-α水平(pg/mL)A组治疗后较治疗前明显降低[(402.91±32.47)vs.(537.16±38.45),P＜0.05];治疗24 h A、B两组间亦有显著差异(P＜0.05).生存时间:A组为(113.01±14.32)h,明显长于B组(83.14±17.68)h和C组(68.95±18.28)h(P＜0.01),A组比B、C组分别延长了35.93%、63.90%.结论 BAK可明显延长MODS合并ARF猪模型的存活时间,可能与BAK显著改善其低血压状况、升高血IL-10水平和降低血TNF-α浓度有关.     

盐酸曲美他嗪联合不同他汀类药物治疗心衰合并高血压的临床观察

目的观察盐酸曲美他嗪联合不同他汀类药物治疗心衰伴高血压的疗效及对患者心功能的影响。方法选取我院2015年1月～2018年1月收治的心衰伴高血压患者90例,根据随机数字表法分A、B、C三组各30例。三组患者均实施常规治疗,并给予口服盐酸曲美他嗪。在此基础上,A组患者口服氟伐他汀,B组患者口服辛伐他汀,C组患者口服阿托伐他汀。对比三组治疗前后治疗效果、心功能指标、血压及血脂水平。结果 C组患者治疗有效率高于A组和B组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后,三组患者心功能指标均优于治疗前,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);A、B组患者左心室射血分数(LVEF)低于C组,左室收缩末期内径(LVESD)及左室舒张末期内径(LVEDD)高于C组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);A组患者LVEF比B组低,LVESD以及LVEDD比B组高,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后,三组患者血压均优于治疗前,差异有统计学意义(P0.05),但治疗后三组间血压对比,无显著性差异(P0.05);治疗后,三组患者总胆固醇(TC)、三酰甘油(TG)及低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)比治疗前低,而高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)比治疗前高;且A、B组TG、TC及LDL-C比C组高,HDL-C比C组低,A组TG、TC以及LDL-C比B组高,HDL-C比B组低,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论对心衰伴高血压患者使用他汀类联合盐酸曲美他嗪治疗具有明显的疗效,但使用阿托伐他汀对患者的心功能及血脂水平改善更明显,临床价值显著。     

血清胆红素水平与大动脉炎之间的相关性

目的:探究血清胆红素水平与大动脉炎(takayasu arteritis,TA)之间的相关性。方法:共纳入110例TA患者(TA组),193例健康受试者(对照组)。并对活动性TA患者进行泼尼松治疗。结果:与健康对照组比较,TA组血清胆红素显著下降(0.6±0.32 mg/dL vs 0.7±0.21 mg/dL,P=0.02),差异有统计学意义;活动性TA患者血清胆红素水平低于非活动性TA患者(0.5±0.22 mg/dL vs 0.8±0.31 mg/dL,P0.001),差异有统计学意义;多元回归分析发现血清胆红素水平与红细胞沉降率具有负相关性(β=-0.171,P0.001),差异有统计学意义;活动性TA患者使用泼尼松治疗后,血清胆红素水平较治疗前显著升高(0.5±0.21 mg/dL vs 0.7±0.14 mg/dL,P=0.002),差异有统计学意义。结论:TA患者血清胆红素下降,且胆红素水平变化受到泼尼松治疗的影响,TA患者血清胆红素水平与红细胞沉降率负相关。     

CAM and the phenomenology of pain

Many CAM modalities afford relief from pain, each in its own way, or according to its own terminology. Comparison of different CAM modalities results in a simple phenomenology of pain centered around the idea that pain may be associated with blockages of the flow of energy in the system of nadis/acupuncture meridians.     

Women's health among the Chumash

Plants were, and still are, widely used for a number of conditions affecting women in California. This article discusses traditional remedies of the Chumash for dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, feminine hygiene, heavy menstruation, urinary tract infections, parturition, lactation, infant care, menopause, sexually transmitted diseases, fertility, contraception and abortions. Many plants are presented including Artemisia douglasiana, Paeonia californica, Trichostema lanatum, Salvia apiana, Ephedra viridis, Leymus condensatus, Vitis californica, Eschscholzia californica, Rosa californica, Scirpus acutus, Anemopsis californica and Phoradendron macrophyllum. By providing the specific uses of plants for specific diseases and discussing chemistry, efficacy and safety concerns for each plant, we hope that this article gives direction to women seeking to use plants in their health care.     

Exercise and Life-Satisfactory-Fitness: Complementary Strategies in the Prevention and Rehabilitation of Illnesses

Moderate training of an endurance nature, but also other exerciseactivities, not only has a preventive effect on various illnessesand pre-illness states such as the metabolic syndrome and cancer,but is also effective in treating patients in the rehabilitationphase after illness, e.g. cardiovascular or cancer. Our investigationdemonstrates that even low level physical activity has a verygood preventive effect too, which is enhanced when it is accompaniedby mental activity and psychological well-being. In total, weinvestigated 13 000 people on the basis of socio-economic panelpolls with respect to life contentment, health status and leisure-timeactivities. Life contentment is positively linked to contentmentwith labor, which seems to be an essential aspect with regardto the increasing number of unemployed people in Europe. Thesecond important factor is health-promoting activities duringleisure time. Exercise, especially, has a significant influenceon life satisfaction as a feeling of physical fitness feelingis regarded as synonymous with good health. The results underlinethe psycho-neuroimmunological network, which stabilizes ourhealth and shows that different activities in older adults havea significant effect on the aging process and age-related illnesses.Besides the various activities that are important in this arena,namely muscle and mental mobility (‘brawn and brain’),a third component must be taken into consideration: life contentmentin the form of a successful retrospective view and a positiveoutlook, embedded in a psychosocial family environment (‘brood’)and integrated in a stress-free biotope, where life does makesense. Alternative and complementary strategies should be consideredin light of these three aspects when we think about additionalanti-inflammatory strategies in preventing diseases or treatingthem and their relapses. Sport has made a few healthy people ill, but sport has alsomade a good few of ill people healthy! (Gerhard Uhlenbruck,Aphorisms)     

Immunology and homeopathy. 5. The rationale of the 'Simile'

The foundation of homeopathic medicine is the ‘SimiliaPrinciple’, also known as the ‘Principle of Similarity’or also as the ‘Simile’, which reflects the inversionof pharmacological effects in healthy subjects as compared withsick ones. This article describes the inversion of effects,a widespread medical phenomenon, through three possible mechanisms:non-linearity of dose–response relationship, differentinitial pathophysiological states of the organism, and pharmacodynamicsof body response to the medicine. Based on the systemic networkswhich play an important role in response to stress, a unitaryand general model is designed: homeopathic medicines could interactwith sensitive (primed) regulation systems through complex information,which simulate the disorders of natural disease. Reorganizationof regulation systems, through a coherent response to the medicine,could pave the way to the healing of the cellular, tissue andneuro-immuno-endocrine homeodynamics. Preliminary evidence issuggesting that even ultra-low doses and high-dilutions of drugsmay incorporate structural or frequency information and interactwith chaotic dynamics and physical-electromagnetic levels ofregulation. From the clinical standpoint, the ‘simile’can be regarded as a heuristic principle, according to whichthe detailed knowledge of pathogenic effects of drugs, associatedwith careful analysis of signs and symptoms of the ill subject,could assist in identifying homeopathic remedies with high gradeof specificity for the individual case.     

Immunology and homeopathy. 2. Cells of the immune system and inflammation

Here we describe the results of some experimental laboratory studies aimed at verifying the efficacy of high dilutions of substances and of homeopathic medicines in models of inflammation and immunity. Studies carried out on basophils, lymphocytes, granulocytes and fibroblasts are reviewed. This approach may help to test under controlled conditions the main principles of homeopathy such as 'similarity' of drug action at the cellular level and the effects of dilution/dynamization on the drug activity. The current situation is that few and rather small groups are working on laboratory models for homeopathy. Regarding the interpretation of data in view of the simile principle, we observe that there are different levels of similarity and that the laboratory data give support to this principle, but have not yet yielded the ultimate answer to the action mechanism of homeopathy. Evidence of the biological activity in vitro of highly diluted-dynamized solutions is slowly accumulating, with some conflicting reports. It is our hope that this review of literature unknown to most people will give an original and useful insight into the 'state-of-the-art' of homeopathy, without final conclusions 'for' or 'against' this modality. This kind of uncertainty may be difficult to accept, but is conceivably the most open-minded position now.     

An Overview of Bee Venom Acupuncture in the Treatment of Arthritis

Bee venom acupuncture (BVA), as a kind of herbal acupuncture,exerts not only pharmacological actions from the bioactive compoundsisolated from bee venom but also a mechanical function fromacupuncture stimulation. BVA is growing in popularity, especiallyin Korea, and is used primarily for pain relief in many kindsof diseases. We aimed to summarize and evaluate the availableevidence of BVA for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.Computerized literature searches for experimental studies andclinical trials of BVA for arthritis were performed on the databasesfrom PUBMED, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library. In addition, twoleading Korean journals (The Journal of Korean Society for Acupunctureand Moxibustion and The Journal of Korean Oriental Medicine)were searched for relevant studies. The search revealed 67 studies,15 of which met our criteria. The anti-inflammation and analgesicactions of BVA were proved in various kinds of animal arthriticmodels. Two randomized controlled trials and three uncontrolledclinical trials showed that BVA was effective in the treatmentof arthritis. It is highly likely that the effectiveness ofBVA for arthritis is a promising area of future research. However,there is limited evidence demonstrating the efficacy of BVAin arthritis. Rigorous trials with large sample size and adequatedesign are needed to define the role of BVA for these indications.In addition, studies on the optimal dosage and concentrationof BVA are recommended for future trials.     

Analysis of the interactions of botanical extract combinations against the viability of prostate cancer cell lines

Herbal medicines are often combinations of botanical extracts that are assumed to have additive or synergistic effects. The purpose of this investigation was to compare the effect of individual botanical extracts with combinations of extracts on prostate cell viability. We then modeled the interactions between botanical extracts in combination isobolographically. Scutellaria baicalensis, Rabdosia rubescens, Panax-pseudo ginseng, Dendranthema morifolium, Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Serenoa repens were collected, taxonomically identified and extracts prepared. Effects of the extracts on cell viability were quantitated in prostate cell lines using a luminescent ATP cell viability assay. Combinations of two botanical extracts of the four most active extracts were tested in the 22Rv1 cell line and their interactions assessed using isobolographic analysis. Each extract significantly inhibited the proliferation of prostate cell lines in a time- and dose-dependent manner except S. repens. The most active extracts, S. baicalensis, D. morifolium, G. uralensis and R. rubescens were tested as two-extract combinations. S. baicalensis and D. morifolium when combined were additive with a trend toward synergy, whereas D. morifolium and R. rubescens together were additive. The remaining two-extract combinations showed antagonism. The four extracts together were significantly more effective than the two-by-two combinations and the individual extracts alone. Combining the four herbal extracts significantly enhanced their activity in the cell lines tested compared with extracts alone. The less predictable nature of the two-way combinations suggests a need for careful characterization of the effects of each individual herb based on their intended use.     

Ki: a key to transform the century of death to the century of life

This is my response to the commentary written by Mr James Flowers with the title of 'What is Qi?' in the issue 4 of Vol.3 (2006) of eCAM. I will explain my opinions regarding the importance of Ki research, philosophical aspects of Ki and a possible role of Ki now and in the future.     

Bioactive components of the traditionally used mushroom Podaxis pistillaris

In the course of an ethnobotanical study on fungi used in Yemeni ethnomedicine the fungus Podaxis pistillaris (Podaxales, Podaxaceae, Basidiomycetes) was found to exhibit antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus flavus, Bacillus subtilis, Proteus mirabilis, Serratia marcescens and Escherichia coli. In the culture medium of P. pistillaris three epidithiodiketopiperazines were identified by activity-guided isolation. Based on spectral data (NMR, ESI-MS and DCI-MS) their identity was established as epicorazine A (1), epicorazine B (2) and epicorazine C (3, antibiotic F 3822), which have not been reported as constituents of P. pistillaris previously. It is assumed that the identified compounds contribute to the antibacterial activity of the extract.     

Biological basis for the use of botanicals in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis: a review

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee and hip is a debilitating disease affecting more women than men and the risk of developing OA increases precipitously with aging. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the most common form of inflammatory joint diseases, is a disease of unknown etiology and affects approximately 1% of the population worldwide, and unlike OA, generally involves many joints because of the systemic nature of the disease. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the first drugs of choice for the symptomatic treatment of both OA and RA. Because of the risks associated with the use of NSAIDs and other limitations, the use of alternative therapies, such as acupuncture and medicinal herbs, is on the rise and according to reports approximately 60-90% of dissatisfied arthritis patients are likely to seek the option of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). This paper reviews the efficacy of some of the common herbs that have a history of human use and their anti-inflammatory or antiarthritic properties have been evaluated in animal models of inflammatory arthritis, in studies employing well defined and widely accepted in vitro models that use human chondrocytes/cartilage explants or in clinical trials. Available data suggests that the extracts of most of these herbs or compounds derived from them may provide a safe and effective adjunctive therapeutic approach for the treatment of OA and RA. This, in turn, argues for trials to establish efficacy and optimum dosage of these compounds for treating human inflammatory and degenerative joint diseases.