Efficacy and tolerability of anti-asthma herbal medicine intervention in adult patients with moderate-severe allergic asthma

BACKGROUND: Chinese herbal medicine has a long history of human use. A novel herbal formula, anti-asthma herbal medicine intervention (ASHMI), has been shown to be an effective therapy in a murine model of allergic asthma. OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to compare the efficacy, safety, and immunomodulatory effects of ASHMI treatment in patients with moderate-severe, persistent asthma with prednisone therapy. METHODS: In a double-blind trial, 91 subjects underwent randomization. Forty-five subjects received oral ASHMI capsules and prednisone placebo tablets (ASHMI group) and 46 subjects received oral prednisone tablets and ASHMI placebo capsules (prednisone group) for 4 weeks. Spirometry measurements; symptom scores; side effects; and serum cortisol, cytokine, and IgE levels were evaluated before and after treatment. RESULTS: Posttreatment lung function was significantly improved in both groups as shown by increased FEV(1) and peak expiratory flow findings (P<.001). The improvement was slightly but significantly greater in the prednisone group (P<.05). Clinical symptom scores, use of beta(2)-bronchodilators, and serum IgE levels were reduced significantly, and to a similar degree in both groups (P<.001). T(H)2 cytokine levels were significantly reduced in both treated groups (P<.001) and were lower in the prednisone-treated group (P<.05). Serum IFN-gamma and cortisol levels were significantly decreased in the prednisone group (P<.001) but significantly increased in the ASHMI group (P<.001). No severe side effects were observed in either group. CONCLUSION: Anti-asthma herbal medicine intervention appears to be a safe and effective alternative medicine for treating asthma. In contrast with prednisone, ASHMI had no adverse effect on adrenal function and had a beneficial effect on T(H)1 and T(H)2 balance.     

Expression of recombinant mouse IL-1beta significantly down-regulates NK cell mediated cytotolysis against H22 hepatoma cells]

AIM: To investigate the effect of the expression of recombinant IL-1beta in H22 hepatoma cells on its response to NK cell mediated cytotoxicity. METHODS: BALB/c mouse was stimulated by 6% of starch. Total RNA was prepared from peripheral blood monocytes (PBMCs). IL-1beta gene (843 bp) was obtained by RT-PCR. The purified PCR product digested by Xho I and EcoR I was cloned into pIRES2-EGFP to construct the recombinant pIRES2-EGFP-mIL-1beta expression vector which was verified by PCR, restriction enzyme assay (Xho I and EcoR I) and DNA sequencing. Then the purified pIRES2-EGFP-mIL-1beta plasmid was transfected into H22 hepatoma cells by jetPEI. The expression level of recombinant IL-1beta was detected by RT-PCR and confocal microscopy. The cytotoxicity of wild-type spleenic NK cells against H22 cells was assessed by MTT assay. RESULTS: After the total RNA isolated from the starch stimulated BALB/c mouse PBMC, 843 bp IL-1beta gene in length was prepared by RT-PCR. The purified PCR product digested by EcoR I and Xho I was ligated by pIRES2-EGFP to create pIRES2-EGFP-mIL-1beta expression plasmid which was verified by PCR, restriction enzyme assay and DNA sequencing. Then pIRES2-EGFP-mIL-1beta was transfected into H22 hepatoma cells by jetPEI. RT-PCR and confocal microscopy assay showed these cells expressed high level of recombinant IL-1beta expression vector. In a 4-hour based MTT assay, IL-1beta in H22 cells was more resistant to NK92 cell mediated cytotoxicity compared with the cells transfected with pIRES2-EGFP. Meanwhile, the cytolytic capacity of the spleenic NK cells separated from wild-type mouse decreased about 10% when the ratio of effector to target was 40:1. CONCLUSION: The expression of proinflammatory cytokine IL-1beta can significantly down-regulate the cytolytic activity of NK cells against H22 hepatoma cells. It plays a crucial role in the immune escape of hepatoma from NK cell mediated innate immunity.     

直视下行大鼠气管插管的改良方法

目的 提高大鼠气管插管的成功率;方法 对比传统闭式法与改良直视法的成功率;结果传统闭式法的成功率为50％,改良直视法的成功率为100％。结论 改良直视法优于传统闭式法,值得推广应用。     

胸腺因子D对实验性大鼠肝纤维化防治作用的研究

目的　研究胸腺因子D(TFD)的体内抗肝纤维化作用。方法　用四氯化碳 (CCL4 )复制大鼠肝纤维化模型 ;造模开始或造模 30d后予TFD ;实验结束后分别测定肝功能、纤维化指标 (Ⅲ型前胶原、透明质酸和层粘连素 )、肝组织中谷胱甘肽、超氧化物岐化酶及丙二醛含量 ,并作肝病理检查。结果　TFD可显著减轻CCl4 肝纤维化程度 ,能明显降低血清Ⅲ型前胶原、透明质酸、层粘连素和肝组织中丙二醛含量 ;显著提高谷胱甘肽和超氧化物岐化酶活性 ,改善肝功能 ,组织学检查亦显示具有抗肝纤维化作用。结论　TFD在体内具有抗肝纤维化的作用 ,可望用于肝纤维化的防治。     

CD3AK细胞冻融提取液的抗肿瘤活性研究

为研究ＣＤ３ＡＫ细胞冻融提取液的抗肿瘤作用,作者采集正常人外周血分离单个核细胞（ＰＢＭＣ）,先用抗ＣＤ３的单克隆抗体（ＣＤ３ＭｃＡｂ）的ｒＩＬ－２诱导和激活,使之成为ＣＤ３ＭｃＡｂ激活的杀伤细胞（ＣＤ３ＡＫ）,再制备ＣＤ３ＡＫ的冻融提取液,然后进行体内,外抗肿瘤实验。结果;低剂量的ＣＤ３ＭｃＡｂ和ｒＩＬ－２能明显诱导ＰＢＭＣ的活化和增殖;激活后的ＣＤ３ＡＫ细胞冻融提取液可抑制小鼠肝癌实体瘤细胞Ｈ２     

冠状动脉架桥术麻醉及围手术期处理

目的 :介绍 1997年 4月至 1999年 10月我院 180例冠脉架桥手术 (CABG)患者麻醉特点及处理原则。方法 :采用小剂量咪唑安定 ,阈下值氯胺酮 ,常规剂量芬太尼诱导 ,异氟醚、异丙酚持续镇静的麻醉方法 ,分析180例接受CABG手术的患者的临床资料及麻醉用药情况和术中血流动力学状况。结果 :本组麻醉诱导平稳 ,循环稳定 ,体外循环时间平均 115min ,升主动脉阻断时间平均 5 5min。围术期死亡率 0 6 % (1例死于鱼精蛋白过敏 )。患者术后清醒时间 46h ,拔管时间平均 14h。结论 :即使是在严重冠心病患者 ,采用多种小剂量镇静药及大剂量芬太尼诱导、维持的麻醉方法 ,能获得平稳的麻醉诱导和维持以及稳定的血流动力学状态 ,从而有效防止围手术期低血压和心律失常造成的心肌缺血和围手术期心肌梗死的发生。     

Estimation of the aging rates of populations through the prevalence of age-related diseases

Ten prevalences of disease or functional affections due to degenerative processes that statistically show a significant age-dependent behaviour were taken as variables for a biological aging study of a population living in a district of Madrid. The cross-sectional procedure consisted in grouping the disease prevalences by age decades and calculating aging by the vector-analytical mathematical method in which the age-dependent prevalence was the result of one of the total of 10 vector components. The progressive accumulative increase of the vector distances from the origin as well as the distances among the vectors in relation to the population age was considered as biological aging. On the basis of similar mathematical models the results were compared with those obtained from other populations in which different indicators were used; the results are concurrent, but show here a greater aging acceleration than when the population was composed solely of healthy individuals. This is considered a logical consequence due to the sample composition. The presented procedure, focussed epidemiologically, can be useful in comparing aging of populations.     

Lead-induced blockade of kainate-sensitive receptor channels

The effects of bivalent lead on ion channels activated by kainate and -amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolpropionate (AMPA) were studied using Xenopus oocytes microinjected with mRNA from rat brain. Lead reduced kainate-induced membrane currents in a reversible and dose-dependent manner, without affecting membrane currents induced by AMPA. Lead decreased the kainate currents with a concentration of 0.1 mol/l to 0.93 ± 0.01 and with a concentration of 100 mol/l to 0.41 ± 0.04 of the control values. The blocking effect of lead on kainate responses was voltage dependent. The inhibition was strongest at - 90 mV to - 70 mV and became weaker at more positive membrane potentials. The effect of lead on the kainate-induced membrane currents remained unchanged when the concentration of kainate was increased. Hence lead probably represents a noncompetitive channel-blocking agent for non-N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor channels activated by kainate.     

The use of the STRs HUMTH01, HUMVWA31/A,HUMF13A1, HUMFES/FPS,HUMLPL in forensic application: Validation studies and population data for Galicia (NW Spain)

The 5 tetranucleotide short tandem repeats, HUMTHOI, HUMVWA31/A, HUMF13A1, HUMFES/FPS and HUMLPL were studied using different electrophoretic methods and PCR amplification conditions in order to optimize the typing conditions. A genetic population study in the population of Galicia was carried out and the allele and genotype frequencies are given. Compliance with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was tested using different statistical parameters, with clear advantages resulting in favor of using the exact test (Guo-Thompson method) instead of conventional chi-square methods. Some statistical parameters of forensic interest (PD, CE, h) were also calculated. There were no mutations found in a total of 73 paternal meioses and 101 maternal meioses. Abnormal electrophoretic mobility was found in the AT-rich STR HUMF13AI under non-denaturing conditions and, therefore, the use of denaturing conditions is absolutely necessary. No "stutter" bands were found, although double peaks in the HUMFES/FPS system were observed in some samples. The advantage of using automated sequencers with fluorescent technology is also reported.     

北京市西城区1989～1997年预防接种副反应分析

为分析发生预防接种副反应的原因,以控制和降低副反应的发生率,对１９８９～１９９７ 年北京市西城区预防接种副反应的监测资料做了分析。１９８９～１９９７ 年北京市西城区预防接种副反应发生率为３８－４９／１０ 万。其中１９９４ 年副反应发生率最低,为０－８４／１０ 万;１９９７ 年副反应发生率最高,为３１６－５７／１０ 万。副反应发生年龄以６ 岁最多,占总反应的７２－７０ ％ ;其次为＜ １ 岁,占９－３９％ 。９０－０９ ％ 的副反应发生在接种后≤１ 天。８８－１７％ 的副反应与接种≥２ 次同种疫苗有关。一般反应、加重反应、异常反应分别占总反应的２－０９％ 、７０－６１％ 、２７－３０％ 。其中１５７ 例异常反应中过敏反应占５９－２４％ ,非特异性反应占４０－７６％ 。