子宫内膜异位症腹腔镜保守手术后口服散结镇痛胶囊与米非司酮的临床疗效比较

目的:比较子宫内膜异位症腹腔镜保守手术后口服散结镇痛胶囊及米非司酮的疗效。方法:回顾分析2006年9月至2008年6月我院为51例子宫内膜异位症患者行腹腔镜手术的临床资料,术后分为散结镇痛胶囊组(A组)29例,米非司酮组(B组)22例。结果:A组总有效率72.4%,B组72.7%,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。A组不孕患者1年内受孕率31.3%,B组30%,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。一年内复发率A组27.6%,B组27.3%,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。A组副反应发生率低于B组(P0.05)。结论:散结镇痛胶囊与米非司酮用于子宫内膜异位症腹腔镜术后的辅助治疗效果明显,但散结镇痛胶囊无米非司酮的副作用、点滴状出血及肝肾损害,对内分泌影响小,月经能正常来潮,患者依从性好,且用药期间不影响受孕。     

郭氏中药治疗中度地方性氟骨症X线改变的随机对照试验

目的:观察中度地方性氟骨症患者骨骼损害的X 线表现特点以及郭氏中药疗法治疗前后X线的变化情况.方法:2007年12月至2009年8月,采用区组随机化方法,借助中央随机系统将114例中度氟骨症患者随机分为治疗组和对照组,其中治疗组60例,男26例,女34例,年龄39～60岁,平均(51.68±4.98)岁;对照组54例,男30例,女24例,年龄39～60岁,平均(52.15±4.86)岁.两组均采用基础治疗,包括补充钙剂和汤药准备阶段.补充钙剂采用口服钙尔奇D 600 mg,每日1次,连服3个月.汤药准备阶段服用调节胃肠功能,促进消化吸收中药汤剂,服用3 d.治疗组药物采用郭氏马钱汤,口服,分2次服用,每次200 ml,连续服用8周;8周后改服骨康宁胶囊,规格为每粒0.44 g,每次2粒,每日3次,连续服用4周,疗程为12周.治疗后随访24周,总观察期36周.对照组药物采用汤药和胶囊安慰剂,服药方法和疗程与治疗组相同.治疗结束后,由7位骨科及放射学专家,采用事先根据地方性氟骨症X线征象和分度标准(WS192-2008)设计的专家评价表(包括骨质硬化、骨质疏松软化、骨周关节改变及混合改变的发生和改变情况),评价治疗前后X线的情况并进行统计处理.结果:地方性氟骨症的各种X线征象在114例中度氟骨症的X线片中均可见发生.骨质硬化:前臂4例,小腿7例,骨盆4例,腰椎4例;骨质疏松软化:前臂23例,小腿23例,骨盆5例,腰椎8例;混合改变:前臂6例,小腿9例,骨盆10例,腰椎1例;骨周关节改变:前臂107例,小腿47例,骨盆28例,腰椎19例.对照组治疗前后各部位X线片上的各种表现对比均无变化.治疗组仅有2例在骨周及关节改变情况发生治疗前后的变化,1例表现为小腿骨间膜骨化情况较治疗前好转,另1例表现为骨盆左髋臼外侧骨周增生消失.治疗组其余病例治疗前后各部位X线表现对比无变化.两组治疗前后X线变化情况的差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论:郭氏中药疗法在氟骨症的放射学方面无明显改善作用.     

化痰祛湿法治疗椎动脉型颈椎病的实验研究

目的:通过对椎动脉血流速度、血液黏度、脑凋亡细胞以及凋亡相关蛋白的检测,为化痰祛湿法治疗椎动脉型颈椎病及作用机制提供实验依据.方法: 60只雄性日本大耳兔,随机分为生理盐水组(A组)、盐酸氟桂利嗪组(B组)、小剂量温胆汤组(C组)、大剂量温胆汤组(D组)、合用组(E组,盐酸氟桂利嗪加大剂量温胆汤)和正常喂养组(F灌胃,生药含量为1 g/ml;D组:温胆汤按20 ml·kg-1d-1灌胃,生药含量为2 g/ml;E组:盐酸氟桂利嗪0.8 mg·kg-1d-1加生药含量为2 g/ml的温胆汤20 ml·kg-1d-1(盐酸氟桂利嗪溶于温胆汤中,保证总量20 ml·kg-1d-1).治疗前后分别测定椎动脉血流速度、血液黏度指标,测定完毕后处死并检测脑凋亡细胞和凋亡相关蛋白.采用SPSS 11.5软件包进行统计学分析.结果: 各组动物模型建立满意,E组对家兔椎动脉血流速度、血液黏度的改善最为理想,且脑细胞凋亡指数及凋亡相关蛋白的表达水平最低.结论:在常规治疗椎动脉型颈椎病的基础上加用化痰祛湿法能更好的改善椎动脉血流速度和血液黏度,其作用机制可能和减少脑细胞凋亡有关.     

Effect of antiallergic herbal agents on chloride channel-3 and immune microenvironment in nasal mucosal epithelia of allergic rhinitis rabbits

Background Allergic rhinitis （AR） is a Th2 dominant cytokine response. Chloride channel-3 （CIC-3） plays an important role in nasal mucosal edema and inflammatory pathologic changes in AR. Antiallergic herbal agents （AHA） are antiallergic herbal products. In the previous study, we have demonstrated that AHA clearly inhibited allergic medium and relieved allergic reaction of AR. The aim of this study was to evaluate the function of CIC-3 and discuss the possible therapeutic effects of AHA on immune microenvironment in AR. Methods AHA were produced and used to treat AR. An animal model of an AR rabbit was established by ovalbumin （OVA）. The rhinitis rabbits were randomly divided into three groups： AHA treated group （AHATG）, model group （MG） and healthy control group （HCG）. The expressions of CIC-3 protein were examined by immunohistochemical method. The mucosal epithelial cells of all the rabbit groups were primarily cultured with tissue culture method in vitro with or without rhlL-4 or rhlL-2. Furthermore, the expressions of CIC-3 mRNA were detected by real-time PCR. The levels of monocyte chemotactic factor-1 （MCP-1） and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 （VCAM-1） protein in culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. Results The expressions of CIC-3 mRNA increased more in mucosal epithelial cells of MG than those in AHATG and HCG （P 〈0.01）. The levels of CIC-3 mRNA, MCP-1 and VCAM-1 protein in culture supernatants of MG were significantly higher than those in the other two groups （P 〈0.01）. Those were significantly increased in MG untreated 12 hours later than those in other two groups （P 〈0.01）. The expressions of CIC-3 mRNA, MCP-1 and VCAM-1 protein in culture supernatants of MG and HCG treated with rhlL-4 were significantly higher than those in the AHATG treated with rhlL-4 （P 〈0.01）. The levels of CIC-3 mRNA, MCP-1 and VCAM-1 protein in culture supernatants of all groups treated with rhlL-2 showed no significant changes （P 〉0.05）. Conclusions AHA can inhibit the secretions of CIC-3, MCP-1 and VCAM-1 in mucosal epithelia and improve inflammatory reaction of AR. CIC-3 plays an important role in the secretion of cytokines and mucosal inflammatory response in AR. RhlL-4 can enhance the secretion of CIC-3, MCP-1 and VCAM-1 in mucosal epithelial cells, especially during the AR process. These enhanced effects of rhlL-4 were significantly suppressed by AHA. The secretions of CIC-3, MCP-1 and VCAM-1 can not be induced obviously by rhlL-2 in mucosal epithelial cells in AR.     

Fighting fire with fire: poisonous Chinese herbal medicine for cancer therapy

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Following the known principle of “fighting fire with fire”, poisonous Chinese herbal medicine (PCHM) has been historically used in cancer therapies by skilled Chinese practitioners for thousands of years. In fact, most of the marketed natural anti-cancer compounds (e.g., camptothecin derivatives, vinca alkaloids, etc.) are often known in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and recorded as poisonous herbs as well. Inspired by the encouraging precedents, significant researches into the potential of novel anticancer drugs from other PCHM-derived natural products have been ongoing for several years and PCHM is increasingly being recognized as a gathering place for promising anti-cancer drugs. The present review aimed at giving a rational understanding of the toxicity of PCHM and, especially, providing the most recent developments on PCHM-derived anti-cancer compounds.

Materials and methods

Information on the toxicity and safety control of PCHM, as well as PCHM-derived anti-cancer compounds, was gathered from the articles, books and monographs published in the past 20 years.

Results

Based on an objective introduction to the CHM toxicity, we clarified the general misconceptions about the safety of CHM and summarized the traditional experiences in dealing with the toxicity. Several PCHM-derived compounds, namely gambogic acid, triptolide, arsenic trioxide, and cantharidin, were selected as representatives, and their traditional usage and mechanism of anti-cancer actions were discussed.

Conclusions

Natural products derived from PCHM are of extreme importance in devising new drugs and providing unique ideas for the war against cancer. To fully exploit the potential of PCHM in cancer therapy, more attentions are advocated to be focused on their safety evaluation and mechanism exploration.     

Screening for anti-inflammatory and bronchorelaxant activities of 12 commonly used Chinese herbal medicines

The use of health supplements derived from medicinal herbs as self‐medication for the relief of respiratory tract pathology symptoms is increasing in Chinese communities as air pollution is worsening. Twelve herbs from two formulae of our previous studies were evaluated for their anti‐inflammatory, immunomodulatory and bronchorelaxant activities in this study. Among the extracts tested, those of Herba Schizonepetae and Radix Glycyrrhizae showed significant inhibitory effects on LPS‐induced nitric oxide production (p < 0.05) in mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells, suggesting their anti‐inflammatory activities. Radix Scutellariae and Radix Glycyrrhizae extracts showed significant inhibitory effects on phytohaemagglutinin‐induced proliferation in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (p < 0.05). These extracts also showed inhibition of TNF‐α, IFN‐γ and IL‐10 production. For the bronchorelaxant assay, Rhizoma Cynanchi Stauntonii and Radix Glycyrrhizae extracts showed potent attenuation of the acetylcholine‐ and carbachol‐induced contractions in rat trachea (p < 0.05), implying their relaxant activities. In conclusion, Herba Schizonepetae, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Radix Scutellariae and Rhizoma Cynanchi Stauntonii extracts were demonstrated to exert anti‐inflammatory, immunomodulatory and bronchorelaxant activities, which may help to ameliorate the symptoms of respiratory tract pathologies. The findings have thus provided some scientific evidence on the efficacy and mechanisms of action of these herbs, which are useful for the further development of clinical applications. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Potential In Vitro and In Vivo anti‐HIV Drug Screening System for Chinese Herbal Medicines

Chinese herbal medicines are often applied as an alternative therapy for viral diseases. However, the development of anti‐HIV herbal drugs has proceeded slowly, partly because of the lack of a high‐throughput system for screening these drugs. The present study evaluated 16 herbal medicines for anti‐HIV activities in vitro and in vivo. Herbal medicines were first screened for the ability to regulate C‐X‐C receptor 4 (CXCR4) and C‐C receptor 5 (CCR5) promoter activities. A single‐round pseudotyped HIV‐luciferase reporter virus system (HIV‐Luc) was used to identify potential anti‐HIV mechanisms. CD4⁺ T cells from healthy volunteers were examined for changes in CXCR4 and CCR5 levels. HIV‐1 replication was evaluated by ELISA. Spica Prunellae and Herba Andrographitis were found to down‐regulate the activities of both the CXCR4 and CCR5 promoters. Also, Spica Prunellae and Herba Andrographitis (>1000 µm ) inhibited HIV‐1 in a dose‐dependent manner. CXCR4 and CCR5 levels were reduced in CD4⁺ T cells from healthy volunteers (p < 0.05). Spica Prunellae and Herba Andrographitis (EC₅₀: 3.18 and 5.49 µg/mL, respectively) could suppress cell fusion and decrease p24 antigen. In conclusion, the data demonstrated that Spica Prunellae and Herba Andrographitis possessed anti‐HIV‐1 capabilities, perhaps through the inhibition of the CXCR4 and CCR5 promoters and HIV‐1 replication. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Herbal remedies supply a novel prospect for the treatment of atherosclerosis: a review of current mechanism studies

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a systemic cardiovascular disease with complicated pathogenesis involving oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction and chronic inflammation. Increasing lines of evidence have questioned the statins-dominated treatment for AS, including their dangerous side-effects such as the breakdown of muscle when taken in larger doses. A multifaceted approach that addresses all major risk factors or pathological targets may provide an ideal treatment for AS. Studies of the herbal remedies on the prevention and treatment of AS have received much attention in recent years. This review summarizes some important experimental findings regarding their mechanisms of action on AS. Using the pre-set PUBMED searching syntax and inclusion criteria, representative citations published in English concerning the experimental studies of 14 herbal materials were included. We found that many extracts and (or) single compounds from these herbal materials, such as Salvia miltiorrhiza, Curcuma longa, Rheum undulatum and Panax notoginseng, could regulate multiple key targets involved in the initiation and propagation of AS. Some important findings about the effects of herbal formulations on AS were also reviewed. Given the complicated nature of AS and the holistic, combinational approach of herbal remedies, we propose that mixed herbal preparations with multiple active ingredients may be preferable for the prevention and treatment of AS. Further rigorously designed pharmacological evaluation and multi-centred clinical trials are warranted.