Antioxidant activity of different white teas: Comparison of hot and cold tea infusions

The study investigates the antioxidant characteristics of various white teas steeped in either hot or room-temperature water in relation to grade of tea and brewing conditions. Antioxidant activity, chelating activity, total phenol (TPC), flavonoids (TFC), theaflavins and individual catechin content were examined. The results confirm that extraction of tea leaves carried out with water at room temperature leads to the formation of infusions particularly rich in compounds with antioxidant activity. In fact, for all the white teas studied, cold infusions had a higher content of phenols (4.77–7.63 mmol/L Gallic Acid Equivalents, GAE), flavonoids (1.47–2.53 mmol/L Catechin Equivalents, CE) and catechins (441.5–1328.2 μg/mL) compared to hot infusions (1.43–4.02 mmol/L GAE, 0.70–1.13 mmol/L CE, 83.4–534.8 μg/mL, respectively). The same trend was also observed for antioxidant activities examined using the ABTS assay (cold: 17.09–34.23; hot: 5.26–17.07 mmol/L Trolox Equivalents) and by monitoring the effects of the infusions on LDL oxidation (lag time, cold: 172.4–271.2; hot: 88.4–145.9 min). A general trend in antioxidant activity and in polyphenolic compound content can be delineated between Chinese teas, i.e. Bai Mu Dan ≥ Xue Ya ≥ White Lung Ching > Anji Needle Mao Feng > Yhin Zhen Bai Hao and between African teas, i.e. White Salima Peony > Thyolo Bsp > Bvumbwe Bsp. Concerning metal chelating activity, all the white teas displayed similar levels (0.3–0.6 mmol/L EDTA Equivalents) with no significant differences between the hot and cold infusions (except Bvumbwe Bsp and Thyolo Bsp). This paper contains key information on the antioxidant properties, TPC, TFC, and individual catechin content of several white teas commercially available and the outcomes suggest that preparing tea infused in room temperature water for approximately 2 h may constitute an alternative tea beverage potentially richer in healthful bioactive compounds compared to the more commonly consumed hot tea infusions.     

协定肢伤Ⅰ方口服、热敷治疗四肢闭合损伤大样本随机平行对照研究

[目的]观察协定肢伤I方口服热敷治疗四肢闭合损伤疗效。[方法]使用大样本随机平行对照方法,将2468例门诊及住院患者按掷骰子法随机分为两组。对照组1212例协定肢伤I方(红花、延胡索各15g,桃仁、川芎、赤芍、生三七粉另包冲服、当归、泽泻、桂枝、牛膝、山楂各10g),1剂/d,水煎300mL,早晚温服;蜡疗机熬化粗石蜡装塑料袋敷于患处,12h/次。治疗组1256例协定肢伤I方药渣加水送入湿热敷机内与敷布同煮30min,于伤后或术后24h将敷布外套棉布贴敷于伤处,30min/次,2次/d;协定肢伤I方口服同对照组。连续治疗7d为1疗程。观测临床症状、疼痛积分、肿胀指数、不良反应。治疗1疗程,判定疗效。[结果]治疗组痊愈922例,显效248例,有效63例,无效23例,总有效率98.16%。对照组痊愈705例,显效278例,有效105例,无效124例,总有效率89.76%。治疗组疗效优于对照组(P0.05)。相关指标两组均有改善(P0.05),治疗组改善优于对照组(P0.05)。[结论]协定肢伤I方口服热敷治疗四肢闭合损伤效果显著,值得推广。     

角膜共焦显微镜对于肌萎缩侧索硬化症小纤维神经病变的临床研究

目的通过角膜共焦显微镜(CCM)评价肌萎缩侧索硬化症患者小纤维病变情况及其诊断价值。方法肌萎缩侧索硬化症患者57例, 为2015年6月至2016年2月北京大学第三医院神经内科门诊和住院患者, 男性37例、女性20例, 年龄24～80(52±11)岁。健康对照组30名, 男性21名、女性9名, 年龄23～76(55±13)岁。采用CCM量化分析角膜神经纤维的角膜神经纤维长度(NFL), 神经分支密度(NBD), 神经纤维密度(NFD), 神经纤维弯曲度(NFT), 并同时进行接触性热痛诱发电位(CHEP), 皮肤交感反射(SSR)等检查。计量资料用xˉ±s或M(Q₁, Q₃)表示;计量资料符合正态分布者组间比较用t检验, 偏态分布计量资料可用秩和检验等非参数检验, 计数资料分析用χ2检验。多因素计量资料相关分析用简单相关分析。所有统计分析采用SPSS 12.0软件处理。结果肌萎缩侧索硬化症组角膜NFL、NFD均显著低于健康对照组[(12.2±4.4)mm/mm2比(15.1±4.5)mm/mm2, P=0.028;(50.8±24.0)个/mm...     

身痛逐瘀方中药药熨在老年气滞血瘀型颈椎病中的应用

目的探讨身痛逐瘀方中药药熨在老年气滞血瘀型颈椎病中的应用效果。方法60例老年气滞血瘀型颈椎病患者,按照随机数字表法分为实验组和对照组,每组30例。对照组患者给予中西医结合治疗及一般康复护理,实验组患者在对照组的基础上联合身痛逐瘀方中药药熨。比较两组患者干预前后疼痛程度、临床症状评分。结果干预前,两组患者视觉模拟评分法(VAS)评分比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);干预后,实验组患者VAS评分为(0.78±0.69)分,低于对照组的(1.45±0.76)分,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。干预前,两组患者临床症状总分比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);干预后,实验组患者临床症状总分为(26.41±1.38)分,高于对照组的(21.53±2.09)分,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论身痛逐瘀方中药药熨在老年气滞血瘀型颈椎病中的应用效果良好,能减轻疼痛,改善症状。     

From guidelines to standards of care for open tibial fractures

IntroductionThe standards for the management of open fractures of the lower limb published by the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic surgeons (BAPRAS) and British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) were introduced to improve the treatment received by patients after open injury to the lower limb. These Standards were released after BAPRAS/BOA published Guidelines for the management of open tibial fractures.MethodsWe wished to determine the impact of these Standards upon the surgical management of open tibial fractures by comparing patients admitted to an orthoplastic centre in the 45 months concluding December 2009 (the Guidelines era) with those admitted during 2011 (the Standards era). Surgical procedures required during the first 30 days and 12 months after injury were determined. Cases were divided into ‘directly admitted patients’ (DAP) and ‘transferred patients’ (TP). Standards-era patients were divided further into those who had surgery exclusively at the orthoplastic centre (orthoplastic patients (OPP)) and those transferred after surgery (TASP).ResultsThe number of TP trebled in frequency in the Standards era, 25% of whom were transferred before surgery. Significantly fewer surgical procedures were required for DAP and OPP groups compared with TP (and TASP) groups in both eras (Mann–Whitney U-test, p=0.05). DAP and OPP groups during the Standards era underwent the fewest procedures, with the vast majority of cases treated with two or fewer procedures in the first 12 months (88% and 80%, respectively, compared with 61% in the Guidelines era). In the Guidelines era, 44% of TP cases and in the Standards era 39% of TP and 29% of TASP groups underwent two or fewer procedures.Approximately two-thirds of open tibial fractures managed in our orthoplastic centre were patients transferred after surgery. The greatest impact of the Standards was evident for those who underwent surgery exclusively in the orthoplastic centre, reflecting a more deliberate combined strategy.ConclusionThese findings vindicate the Standards as well as mandating reorganisation and resourcing of orthoplastic services to ensure immediate transfer and early combined surgery. By increasing the capacity to deal with time-dependent initial surgery, the surgical burden that the patient must endure, and which the service must provide, are reduced.     

电针灸配合中药湿热敷治疗颈椎病的疗效观察

目的探讨电针灸配合中药湿热敷治疗颈椎病的临床效果。方法将我院收治的颈椎病患者60例随机分成观察组和对照组,各30例,观察组给予电针灸配合中药湿热敷治疗,对照组仅单独给予中药湿热敷治疗,观察两组治疗结果。结果观察组总有效率为100.0%,对照组总有效率为43.3%,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论电针灸配合中药湿热敷治疗颈椎病效果显著,值得临床推广应用。     

Efficacy and safety of a soy isoflavone extract in postmenopausal women: a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of soy isoflavone on climacteric symptoms in postmenopausal women. DESIGN: In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, a total of 80 women (mean age = 55.1 years), who reported 5 or more hot flush episodes per day, were randomized to receive either 250 mg of standardized soy extract (Glycine max AT) a total of 100mg/day of isoflavone (n = 40) or placebo (n = 40). Exclusion criteria included: contra-indication for hormone therapy (HT), chronic gastrointestinal diseases, and users of HT within the preceding 6-months. For 10-months, climacteric symptoms were evaluated using a score card and the menopausal Kupperman index. Compliance and safety were also assessed. At baseline and the end of the study, lipid and hormonal profiles, as well as vaginal, mammographic and ultrasonographic parameters were measured. The t-test, Wilcoxon test and ANOVA were used in the statistical analysis. RESULTS: At baseline, the mean number of hot flushes was 9.6 +/- 3.9 per day in the isoflavone group and 10.1+/-4.9 in the placebo group (p>0.05). After 10 months, there was a significant reduction in frequency of hot flushes among isoflavone users when compared to those on placebo (3.1 +/- 2.3 and 5.9 +/- 4.3, respectively) (p<0.001). Kupperman index mean values showed a significant reduction in both groups. However, soy isoflavone was significantly superior to placebo, in reducing hot flush severity (69.9% and 33.7%, respectively) (p<0.001). Endometrial thickness, mammography, vaginal cytology, lipids and hormonal profile did not change in both groups. No serious adverse event related to isoflavone treatment was reported. CONCLUSIONS: The soy isoflavone extract exerted favorable effects on vasomotor symptoms and good compliance, providing a safe and effective alternative therapeutic for postmenopausal women.     

Hot flash severity in hormone therapy users/nonusers across the menopausal transition

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the pattern of and factors that influence hot flash severity across the menopausal transition (MT) and early postmenopause (PM). METHODS: Women from the Seattle Midlife Women's Health Study (N=302) provided data for these analyses: at least one annual health questionnaire and a menstrual calendar. A subset of women provided a first morning voided urine specimen from 1997 through 2005. Urine samples were assayed for estrone glucuronide and FSH. Linear mixed effects modeling was used to identify change in hot flash severity scores over time, including the relationship to age, MT-related, psychosocial and lifestyle factors. RESULTS: Increases in hot flash severity were associated with late transition stage, early postmenopause, use of HRT, duration of early transition stage, age of entry into early PM and level of FSH. Age of entry into early transition and estrone levels were associated with decreased hot flash severity. Not associated with hot flash severity were being in early transition stage, age of entry into or duration of late transition stage and all of the psychosocial (anxiety, stress, depressed mood) and lifestyle variables (BMI, activity level, sleep, alcohol use). CONCLUSIONS: Variables associated with reproductive aging independently predicted changes in hot flash severity; psychosocial and lifestyle variables did not. The effect of age dropped out when factors associated with reproductive aging were considered. Use of HRT ameliorated but did not eliminate severe hot flashes suggesting that there is room for alternative approaches less likely to cause harm.     

Non-hormonal treatments for menopausal symptoms

Increasing numbers of women are requesting non-hormonal treatments for menopausal symptoms. Estrogen-containing HRT is the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms in healthy women but is contraindicated for some women and avoided by many others. This review will assess the evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of non-hormonal treatments for menopausal symptoms. Relatively few high quality studies have addressed this issue, almost all have only addressed the treatment of hot flushes and there are few long-term data.     

Efficacy and tolerability of estradiol 1 mg and drospirenone 2 mg in postmenopausal Korean women: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter study

Objectives

The aim of this study was to demonstrate that the therapeutic efficacy of an estradiol 1 mg/drospirenone 2 mg (E2/DRSP) preparation is superior to a placebo in postmenopausal Korean women with hot flushes and other climacteric symptoms, and to demonstrate that this treatment is both safe and tolerable.

Methods

This was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter study over four 28-day treatment cycles. A total of 158 subjects were screened and 90 women were randomized into two treatment groups (E2/DRSP group, n = 45; placebo group, n = 45). The primary efficacy parameter was the individual relative change of hot flushes. The secondary efficacy parameters such as other climacteric, urogenital symptoms and vaginal bleeding patterns were also evaluated, and the occurrence of any adverse events was noted. In addition, physical, gynecological examinations and laboratory analyses were performed at the beginning and end of the study.

Results

The mean number of hot flushes per week during treatment weeks 3–16 decreased by 48.1% during treatment with placebo, and by 84.4% during treatment with E2/DRSP (p < 0.001). The E2/DRSP combination also reduced the incidence and intensity of menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women. Most of adverse events was mild or moderate degree of intensity. None of the parameters measured in the study, including laboratory analyses, physical and gynecological examinations, vital signs, and weight, led to any concerns of safety.

Conclusions

The E2 1 mg/DRSP 2 mg combination tested in the study was efficacious and safe in the treatment of hot flushes and other climacteric symptoms in postmenopausal Korean women.