Thoracoscopic management of primary spontaneous pneumothorax

Background  

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is the preferred option for the surgical management of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP).     

Effect of dachengqi granules on level of endotoxin in enterogenous endotoxemia in rats

Objective  

To study the effect of Dachengqi Granule (DCQG) on endotoxin level in rats of enterogenous endotoxemia.     

Clinical observation on 271 cases of non-Small cell lung cancer treated with yifei kangliu yin

Objective  

To observe the effects of Yifei Kangliu Yin(YFKLY) in treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).     

Effect of yiqi jianpi bushen recipe in reducing nephrotoxicity of cisplatin

Objective  

To observe the clinical effect of Yiqi Jianpi Bushen recipe (YQJPBS,) in antagonizing nephrotoxicity and hematological toxicity by cisplatin (CDDP).     

Clinical study on the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea with preconditioning acupuncture

Objective:To observe the therapeutic effect of preconditioning acupuncture(PA) on the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.Methods:Eighty patients suffered from primary dysmenorrhea were randomly assigned on the ratio of 1:1:2 into three groups,20 in Group A,20 in Group B,and 40 in Group C.Group A and B were treated with PA and immediate acupuncture(IA),respectively,while Group C received no acupuncture treatment and be taken as a blank control.The treatment was lasted for three menstrual cycles.The therapeutic effects were observed and compared.Results:Comparing the scores of the symptoms in the different groups, the therapeutic effect in different groups showed that the symptom scores in Group A at the second and third cycle of treatment,as well as at the first and third cycle of follow-up,were significantly lower than the scores in Group B,respectively(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the duration of symptoms was shorter in Group A than in Group B at the third cycle of treatment and the first and third cycle of follow-up(P<0.05).Symptom scores in Groups A and B in the treatment and follow-up periods were all lowered as compared to those before treatment(P<0.01), and the scores were also lower than those in Group C measured at corresponding times(P<0.01).Conclusion: The therapeutic effect of PA,either the short-term or the long-term effect,was superior to that of IA in treating dysmenorrhea.     

Initial experiences with isolated limb perfusion for unresectable melanoma of the limb

Aims  

Our initial results with isolated limb perfusion (ILP) using melphalan ± TNF alpha in patients with unresectable melanoma of the limb were analyzed.     

Potentiation of the therapeutic index of interleukin-2 immunotherapy by combination with taurine in a syngeneic murine tumour model

Background  

Administration of interleukin-2 (IL-2) is limited by the induction of the vascular leak syndrome (VLS).     

Clinical study on treatment of infantile cytomegalovirus hepatitis with integrated Chinese and Western medicine

<正>Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Chinese medicine(CM) in treating infantile cytomegalovirus hepatitis(ICH).Methods:A total of 100 infant ICH patients were randomly assigned to two groups,60 in the treatment group and 40 in the control group.Ganciclovir was administered to all patients via intravenous dripping at dose of 5 mg/kg every 12 h for 2 weeks,followed by 5 mg/kg once a day for 5 days every week;the whole treatment course lasted 8 weeks.Besides,the patients in the treatment group were treated with CM of Qinggan Lidan Decoction(清肝利胆汤,QLD) during icteric stage,and Yigan Jiangmei Decoction(益肝降酶汤,YJD) in non-icteric hyper-aminotransferase stage by oral medication,while for those in the control group,glucurolactone 50 mg was given three times per day.The efficacy of treatment was evaluated at the ends of 2nd,4th and 8th weeks,respectively.And a follow-up study was carried out for 6-24 months.Results: The total effective rate was 95.0%(57/60) in the treatment group and 77.5%(31/40) in the control group;the overall curative effect in the former was superior to that in the later,showing a significant difference(P=0.021). Cholestasis and liver function were Improved in both groups,and the effect of reducing serum bilirubin level in the treatment group was more rapid and extensive than that in the control group,which could reduce the post-hepatitis cirrhotic risk caused by long-term cholestasis and liver cell damage.Conclusion:The therapeutic efficacy of integrated CM and Western medical drug therapy,by using QLD during icteric stage and YJD in nonicteric hyper-aminotransferase stage,was significantly higher than that of routine Western medical treatment alone;it was an ideal project for the treatment of infantile cytomegalovirus hepatitis.     

Clinical study on effect of shenlong oral liquid combined with radiotherapy in treating nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Objective  

To observe the effect of Shenlong Oral Liquid(SLOL)combined with radiotherapy in treating nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).     

Summary of integrative medicine for severe acute pancreatitis: 26-year clinical experiences and a report of 1 561 cases

Objective:To investigate the changing trends of clinical management for severe acute pancreatitis(SAP) with integrative medicine.Methods:Clinical data of 1 561 patients with SAP from 1980 to 2005 was retrospectively analyzed.The mortality and morbidity of complications were compared.Results:Of the 1 561 patients,400 patients accepted surgical operation,while the rest were treated conservatively with integrative medicine.There was a change toward conservative management together with Chinese purgative herbal medication use after 1990(22.4%from 1980-1990 compared with 45.5%from 1991-1993) because of high postoperative mortality.From 1994-2005,the treatment integrating Western medicine with Chinese herbal medications came to be preferred over the classic Western operation-based method.This change was associated with decreased morbidity(35.4%in 1980-1990 compared with 24.7%in 1991-1993 and 11.0%in 1994-2005,P<0.05) and lower mortality(40.52%of 1980-1990 compared with 17.17%of 1991- 1993 and 10.25%of 1994-2005,P<0.05).Conclusion:The combination of conservative management with Chinese herbal medicines is preferable to classic Western medicine treatment to reduce morbidity and mortality of SAP,while surgery becomes a supplemental option.     

Synergistic effects of tetrandrine on the antifungal activity of topical ketoconazole cream in the treatment of dermatophytoses: A clinical trial

Objective:To evaluate the synergistic effects of tetrandrine(TET)on the antifungal activity of topical ketoconazole(KCZ)in the treatment of dermatophytoses.Methods:The minimum inhibitory concentrations(MICs)for KCZ and combined KCZ and TET were compared in vitro.A randomized,double-blind trial was conducted among 97 patients with dermatophytoses who were assigned to 3 groups and received: treatment with combination of 2%KZC and 2%TET cream(KCZ+TET group),or only 2%KZC cream(KCZ group),or 2%TET cream(TET group).Patients with tinea corporis and/or tinea cruris were treated for 2 weeks, separately.The patients with tinea pedis and/or tinea manuum were treated for 4 weeks.Results:Compared with KZC alone,combined use of KZC and TET showed lower MICs against clinical isolates of dermatophytes (P<0.05 for all).In the patients with tinea corporis and/or tinea cruris,the rates of overall cure(clinical cure plus mycologic clearance)were 81.25%vs.33.33%for combined treatment and KZC monotherapy,respectively, after 4 weeks.All clinical indices were significantly different between the combination therapy and only KCZ therapy groups(P<0.05).Among the patients with tinea pedis and/or tinea manuum after 4 weeks treatment,the overall cure rates in the KCZ + TET group and KCZ group were 75.00%vs.40.00%,respectively.In the KCZ + TET group,all the clinical indices were significantly better than those in the KCZ group and TET group(P<0.05). The rates of overall efficacy in the TET group were all zero.No local skin redness or itching was observed during TET treatment.No clinically significant changes were found in post-treatment routine blood,urine,or stool tests, ECG,or tests for liver and kidney function;no serious adverse events occurred.Conclusion:TET synergistically enhanced the clinical efficacy of topical KZC cream in the treatment of dermatophytoses.     

Feature representation in the biclustering of symptom-herb relationship in Chinese medicine

Objective  

To find an appropriate feature representation in the biclustering of symptom-herb relationship in Chinese medicine (CM).     

Clinical study on the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux by acupuncture

##正##Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture in treating gastroesophageal reflux(GER).Methods:Sixty patients with confirmed diagnosis of GER were randomly assigned to two groups.The 30 patients in the treatment group were treated with acupuncture at acupoints Zhongwan(CV 12),bilateral Zusanli(ST36),Sanyinjiao(SP6),and Neiguan(PC6),once a day,for 1 week as a therapeutic course,with interval of 2-3 days between courses;the 30 patients in the control group were administered orally with omeprazole 20 mg twice a day and 20 mg mosapride thrice a day.The treatment in both group lasted 6 weeks.Patients' symptoms and times of reflux attacking were recorded,the 24-h intraesophageal acid/bile reflux were monitored,and the endoscopic feature of esophageal mucous membrane was graded and scored at three time points,i.e.,pre-treatment(T0),immediately after ending the treatment course(T1)and 4 weeks after it(T2).Besides,the adverse reactions were also observed.Results:Compared with those detected at T0, 24-h intraesophageal pH and bile reflux,endoscopic grading score and symptom score were all decreased significantly at T1 in both groups similarly(P0.01),showing insignificant difference between groups(P0.05). These indices were reversed at T2 to high level in the control group(P0.05),but the reversion did not occur in the treatment group(P0.05).No serious adverse reaction was found during the therapeutic period.Conclusion: Acupuncture can effectively inhibit the intraesophageal acid and bile reflux in GER patients to alleviate patients' symptoms with good safety and is well accepted by patients.     

Haplotype association of calpain 10 gene variants with type 2 diabetes mellitus in an Irish sample

Background  

Calpain 10 (CAPN10) gene may contribute to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).     

Outcome of bone marrow transplantation in acquired and inherited aplastic anaemia in the Republic of Ireland

Background  

Severe Aplastic Anaemia (SAA) and Fanconi Anaemia (FA) are rare haematological disorders characterised by pancytopenia and bone marrow hypoplasia.     

Antiviral effects of aqueous extract from Spatholobus suberectus Dunn. against coxsackievirus B3 in mice

Objective  

To investigate the antiviral effects of the aqueous extract of Spatholobus suberectus Dunn. (A.E.), a Chinese medicinal herb, against coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3).     

A national cross-sectional survey of diagnosed sufferers of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: pathways to diagnosis,changes in quality of life and service priorities

Background  

The diagnosis and treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is subject to debate.     

Clinical effect of Astragalus granule of different dosages on quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure

Objective:To explore the dose-effect relationship of Astragalus granule(AG) on improving the quality of life(QOL) of the patients with chronic heart failure(CHF).Methods:Ninety CHF patients of Fei(肺)-qi deficiency and/or Xin(心)-Shen(肾) yang-deficiency syndromes were equally randomized divided with a random number table into three groups;they received the high(7.5 g),moderate(4.5 g),and low dosage(2.25 g) of AG orally taken twice a day,respectively,and 4 mg of perindopril tablet once a day for 30 successive days.The heart function grade,patients’ left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) and walking distance in 6 min(6mWD) were measured before and after treatment,and the patients’ QOL was scored by the Minnesota Questionnaire for QOL evaluation in the patients with CHF at the same time.Results:The heart function grades of all the three groups after treatment were improved compared with those before treatment,but the improvements in high-dose group and moderate dose group were better than that in the low dose group(P<0.05).LVEFs were increased significantly in all the three groups,but the improvements in the high-dose group(59.42%±7.50%) and moderate dose group(61.98%±6.82%) were better than that in the low dose group(51.45%±6.80%,P<0.01); the 6mWDs in the all groups were also significantly increased(P<0.01),up to 419.80136.23 m,387.15134.13 m, and 317.69±39.97 m,respectively;and Minnesota scores in them were lowered to 29.59±4.69 scores,35.74±5.89 scores,and 42.78±6.06 scores,respectively;comparisons in aspects on 6mWD and Minnesota score showed that the effectiveness with high dose is the most effective,moderate dose as the second,and low dose as the lowest(P<0.01).Conclusions:AG was sufficient to display an optimal effect on improving heart contraction at the moderate dose.In aspects of improving the QOL of CHF patients,the effectiveness of AG showed a dosedependent trend.It should be applied discriminatively depending on the actual condition of patients and the aim of treatment in clinic.     

Study on canceration law of gastric mucosal dysplasia based on syndromes of Chinese medicine

Objective  

To study the syndrome evolution law of Chinese medicine (CM) in the patients with gastric mucosal dysplasia.     

Protective effect of total alkaloids of Sophora alopecuroides on dextran sulfate sodium-induced chronic colitis

Objective  

To investigate the effect of total alkaloids of Sophora alopecuroides (TASA) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice.