Clinical effects of STW 5 (Iberogast®) are not based on acceleration of gastric emptying in patients with functional dyspepsia and gastroparesis

Abstract  STW 5, a herbal extract, is effective for the treatment of symptoms in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD). However, its mode of action is still unclear and a modulation of gastric motility is hypothesized. This multicentre, placebo-controlled double-blind study addressed the question of whether STW 5 accelerates gastric emptying in patients with FD and gastroparesis. One-hundred and three patients diagnosed with FD were randomly assigned to a treatment with either STW 5 or a liquid placebo for 28 days. The primary end point of the study was a change of a validated gastrointestinal symptom (GIS) score under treatment. Additionally, patients underwent a ¹³C octanoic acid breath test for the assessment of the gastric half-emptying time ( t _1/2). Patients with prolonged t _1/2 were diagnosed with gastroparesis and requested to repeat the test at the end of treatment. A change of t _1/2 was defined a secondary study end point. t _1/2 was prolonged in 48.6% of patients in the STW 5 group and in 43.8% of the placebo group. During treatment, t _1/2 increased non-significantly in patients treated with STW 5 (+23 ± 109 min; P  = 0.51) and slightly accelerated among patients in the placebo arm (−26 ± 51 min; P  = 0.77) ( P  = 0.49). The improvement of the GIS ( P  = 0.08) and the proportion of patients with a treatment response ( P  = 0.03) were more pronounced in the STW 5 group. Our findings suggest that the clinical effects of STW 5 in patients with FD and gastroparesis are not directly mediated by an acceleration of gastric emptying. A clear-cut correlation with symptom improvement is still lacking.     

巴音布鲁克羊选育方向探讨

巴音布鲁克羊是经过若干世纪的培育而形成的地方肉羊品种，产区在海拔2500m以上的高寒山区盆地。该品种毛色为黑头、黄白身，成年公着体重69.5kg，母羊43.2kg。具有抗严寒、耐放牧、合群性强等特点。曾经用多个品种进行杂交改良，目前主要以本品种选育为主。     

Alternative therapy in pruritus

Because of its multitude of origins, the symptom complex of pruritus has a plethora of purported remedies and few therapeutic indications. Very few topical and systemic FDA approved medications have the indication of pruritus. Specific therapy still awaits a better definition of the exact physiologic events in chronic pruritus. Hence most medications actually focus on the central nervous system--the peripheral receptors--and the lack of specific physiologic targets has inhibited pharmacologic development. The resulting gap has opened the door to a variety of alternative therapies.     

Effect of Asparagus racemosus rhizome (Shatavari) on mammary gland and genital organs of pregnant rat

Asparagus racemosus (AR) Willd (family Liliaceae) is commonly known as Shatavari. The alcoholic extract of its rhizome was administered orally to adult pregnant female albino rats at a dose of 30 mg/100 g body weight, daily for 15 days (days 1-15 of gestation). The macroscopic findings revealed a prominence of the mammary glands, a dilated vaginal opening and a transversely situated uterine horn in the treated group of animals. The weight of the uterine horns of the treated group was found to be significantly higher (p < 0.001) but the length was shorter (p > 0.01). Microscopic examination of the treated group showed proliferation in the lumen of the duct of mammary gland. It was obliterated due to hypertrophy of ductal and glandular cells. Hyperplasia of the glandular and muscular tissue and hypertrophy of the glandular cells were observed in the genital organs. The parenchyma of the genital organs showed abundant glycogen granules with dilated blood vessels and thickening of the epithelial lining. The oviduct in the treated group showed hypertrophied muscular wall, whereas the ovary revealed no effect of the drug. The results suggest an oestrogenic effect of Shatavari on the female mammary gland and genital organs.     

搀硫酸镁穿山甲洗脱后不能作正品入药

目的研究搀硫酸镁穿山甲洗脱后是否能作穿山甲入药。方法各种方法洗脱后,用聚酰胺薄层色谱法、EDTA滴定法、酸不溶性灰分测定和定氮法对搀假物进行定性定量分析。结果定性分析显示洗脱后的穿山甲中化学成分已发生变化,总灰分超出正常穿山甲的11倍,定量分析显示洗脱后的搀假穿山甲中仍存在硫酸镁,蛋白质含量有所减少。结论搀硫酸镁穿山甲经洗脱后,仍不能作为正品入药。     

掺假穿山甲的揭示性实验

目的认识掺硫酸镁穿山甲的掺假方法与制备过程。方法用配制好的不同浓度的硫酸镁溶液对炮制合格品穿山甲进行不同时间的浸泡或煮沸,干燥,称重,进行计算。结果用硫酸镁饱和溶液煮沸,掺假量可达49%。结论掺硫酸镁穿山甲对人们危害严重,造假者和销售者均获利巨大,一旦发现应予以取缔,并按假药处罚。     

半夏的本草考证

通过考证认为:20世纪以前中药半夏的原植物是天南星科植物半夏Pinellia ternata;而前人曾将道地药材“齐州半夏”(产于山东省历城县)误考为只分布于日本的三裂叶半夏P. tripartita。同时证明古代本草中常混为半夏的“由跋”是同属植物虎掌P. pedatisecta的幼小块茎,而不是天南星属植物Arisaema ringens。     

陈皮、党参等中药对大鼠结肠肌条收缩活动的影响

目的:探讨陈皮、党参等八味中药对结肠运动的影响。方法:结肠肌条在盛有5mlKrebs液37℃并供给95%O2和5%CO2混合气体的灌流肌槽中孵育,记录肌条自发收缩活动。以肌条平均收缩幅度,静息张力和收缩频率为指标,观察各药对大鼠结肠自发收缩活动的影响。结果:陈皮、党参、黄芪、白术、太子参、藿香、苍术和薤白均对大鼠结肠肌条收缩幅度有一定的影响(P<0.05)。结论:陈皮、党参、黄芪、白术、太子参、藿香、苍术和薤白可以调节结肠平滑肌的收缩活动。     

黑龙江东部七口岸蜱种群特征及携带莱姆病病原体的研究

目的掌握黑龙江省东部七口岸蜱的种群特征及其感染的莱姆病病原体。方法采用人工小时布旗法采集蜱．接种于BSKⅡ培养基,分离莱姆病螺旋体。结果在七口岸共施蜱180人工小时,采集成蜱6554只,隶属于1科3属5种,其中长角血蜱为口岸蜱类新记录。主要种群为：森林革蜱(37．2％),全沟硬蜱(31．6％)．嗜群血蜱(27．6％);不同口岸和生境蜱种群构成有所不同。从东宁、同江口岸分离到莱姆病螺旋体3株。结论基本查清黑龙江省东部七口岸蜱的种群构成,东宁、同江口岸存在莱姆病疫源地。     

顺德容奇港蜚蠊调查分析

目的掌握该地区蜚蠊的种类及消长规律,为制定防制措施提供科学依据。方法采用蟑螂诱捕盒诱捕法。在顺德容奇港选取饭堂、下水道、宿舍区三个生态环境,从2006年6月始进行一年的种群构成、消长情况调查。结果2006年6月-2007年5月共捕获蜚蠊921只,经鉴定隶属2科2属4种,美洲大蠊为优势种占84．48％。调查结果显示5月的蜚蠊密度较高,1月最低。蜚蠊密度的变化与当地温度、湿度有一定的关系。结论容奇港不同生态环境,蜚蠊密度差异比较大,消长规律也不同,应该采取针对性的控制措施。