Abstract:Objective: To explore the therapeutic mechanism of Shuguan Granule (
, SGG) in treating mid-late stage rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods: Based on the principle of reinforcing Kidney to treat arthritis, removing phlegm to relieve stasis, two SGG, Shuguan Wenjing (SW) and Shuguan Qingluo (SQ) were prepared and used to treat 44 and 43 mid-late stage patients of RA respectively. The clinical results were compared with those of Wangbi Granule. Animal experiments on the effect of these two SGG were conducted.Results: The total effective rate of the SW, SQ and control group was 88.64%, 93.02% and 73.17% respectively. Results of experimental studies in rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis showed that the two SGG obviously raise the level of serum superoxide dismutase, and lowered the levels of serum interleukin-1, plasma prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane B2, as compared with the model group, the difference was significant (P < 0.05,P < 0.01).Conclusion: The two SGG have a comprehensive function of anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidatory, antihypercoagulatory and immunoregulatory effect.  
Keywords:rheumatoid arthritis;Shuguan Wenjing granule;Shuguan Qingluo granule;anti-inflammation;immune function
Abstract:Objective: To observe the side effects of various Tripterygium wilfordii (TW) preparations in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods: The total of 271 patients with RA were treated with various TW preparations to observe the occurrence of side effects.Results: The influence on reproductive system with TW preparations extracted from the TW leaves (Leino ester tablet, LE) was milder than that extracted from the roots (TW tablets and TW polyglycoside tablets, TWP). In the TWP group, the rate of side effect of 60 mg daily was higher than that of 30 mg daily,P < 0.01. The main effects on digestive system and irregular menstruation occurred before 50 years in age, while it was kidney impairment after the age of 50. Those side effects occurred within the first ten years in long-term application. The side effects of TWP produced in the Damp-Heat Stagnation type of RA was much lower than Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency type of RA,P < 0.05.Conclusion: TW Leino ester tablet is indicated for young woman, and small dosage of TWP tablet is indicated for maintenance therapy, particularly to the Damp-Heat type of RA.  
Abstract:Objective: To analyse and explore the diagnostic significance of infrared thermography on the patients with lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion.Methods: Forty-five hospitalized cases under conservative treatment (mainly manipulation) and 65 controls were consecutively selected. Both groups were examined with infrared thermography on lower back and lower extremities as well as physical examination before and after treatment. The study statistically analysed the temperature difference between the involved and healthy parts at different areas; and also compared the variation of the temperature difference after the treatment to the decreasing scores of physical examination afterward. Results: The statistic result showed that the temperature difference between two sides on patient group was significantly higher than those of the control group. The further analysis showed that the temperature difference at posterior femur area in the patients’ group correlated significantly to the severity of clinical signs caused by nerve root irritation.Conclusion: The thermogram was uncertain to the segmental diagnosis of lumbar disc protrusion and could only be considered as a reference in the final diagnosis. Nevertheless, it is helpful to discover the severity of radical signs according to the posterior femoral region of hypo- (hyper-) thermogram.  
Abstract:Objective: To study the clinical effect of Taozhi Zhipu Mixture(
, TZM) in preventing postoperative intestinal adhesion.Methods: The total of 396 patients who had received abdominal operation were randomly divided into the treated group (188 cases) and the control group (208 cases). Same treatment was given to both groups except that the treated group received TZM orally or via nasogastric tube. The time of borborygmus recovering and first passing of flatus-defecation after operation was recorded. Patients’ gastro-intestinal motility was observed by isotope tracing with I131 capsule. The frequency and intensity of borborygmus were measured by a tracer. All patients had been followed up for 2-3 years.Results: The recovery of borborygmus, the first passing of flatus-defecation were much earlier, the I131 capsule passed gastro-intestinal tract more quickly, and the tracer showed higher frequency and intensity of borborygmus in the treated group than those in the control group. Follow-up study also showed the treated group was better than the control group in the non-adhesion rate and the total effective rate (P < 0.05).Conclusion: TZM has good effect on stimulating postoperational gastro-intestinal peristalsis and preventing the occurrence of postoperational intestinal adhesion.  
Abstract:Objective: To find new photosensitizers from Chinese medicinal herbs for cancer photodynamic therapy.Methods: The extracts of thirteen herbs were examined: (1) Their fluorescence excitation wave lengths and emission wave lengths; (2) Their fluorescence intensity in living cells and (3) Their distribution and localization in the living cells and the fixed cells both stained in each extract, and responses of cell fluorescence intensity to pH value change. Furthermore, the herb’s anticancer photosensitive efficiencies were studied by using BGC823 human stomach cancer cells.Results: Cortex Phellodendri and Rhizoma Coptidis, were found with optimal fluorescence properties as photosensitizers in this test. The latter could remarkably reduce the cell metabolic viability, proliferative ability and increase the cell mortality when the cells exposed to both drugs and luminance but not to drug only.Conclusions: The potential of Chinese medicine as a new kind of photosensitizer and its possibility for using in anticancer photodynamic therapy are existed.  
Keywords:photodynamic anticancer;Chinese medicinal herbs;human stomach cancer cells;photosensitizer;screening
Abstract:Objective: To observe the immunomodulatory and therapeutic effect of lentinan in treating condyloma acuminatum (CA).Methods: Thirty-six CA patients were randomly divided into two groups, 19 in the treated group treated with lentinan and CO2 laser irradiation, and 17 in the control group, treated with laser irradiation alone. Their T lymphocyte subsets of peripheral blood and level of serum interleukin-2 (IL-2) and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (SIL-2R) were determined before and after treatment, and the recurrence rates of the two groups were compared.Results: After treatment, in the treated group, the CD4/CD8 ratio, serum IL-2 raised and serum SIL-2R lowered significantly (P < 0.05, 0.05, 0.05 respectively) as compared with before treatment, while those parameters were not changed significantly in the control group. The recurrence rate of the treated group was lower than that of the control group.P < 0.05.Conclusion: Lentinan could modulate the cellular immunofunction of CA patients and reduce the recurrence rate of CA cases.  
Abstract:Objective: To explore the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Weishu capsule (WSC),
in treating precancerous lesions of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG).Methods: Seventy-five cases of precancerous lesions of CAG were distributed to two groups randomly, the WSC group (45 patients) treated with WSC taken orally and the Weining granule (WNG) group (30 patients) treated with Weining granule orally. The treatment course of both groups were 6 months. The clinical and pathological effects and the changes in scores of atrophy, intestinal metaplasia (IM) and its subgroups, dysplasia, carcinoembryonic antigen and proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression were observed before and after treatment.Results: The total effective rate was 91% and the effective rate of atrophy, IM, dysplasia in the WSC group were 64%, 67% and 65% respectively, and the respective scores were lowered significantly after treatment. Compared with the WNG group, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.01,P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical test showed that WSC could inhibit the subgroups of IM, circinoembryonic antigen and proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression significantly (P < 0.01).Conclusions: WSC could significantly improve the clinical and pathological changes in the precancerous lesions of CAG. The mechanism might be related to the inducing and promoting effect of WSC on the differentiation and maturity of IM cells and dysplasia cells. WSC could also inhibit and correct the abnormal proliferation of cells.  
Keywords:Weishu capsule;Qi deficiency and blood stasis;Chronic Atrophic Gastritis;precancerous lesion
Abstract:Objective: To test and verify the effects of prostatitis decoction and its capsule on the treatment of chronic prostatitis with blood stasis Syndrome, and its therapeutic mechanism.Methods: The total of 561 patients were treated for 2 months, decoction group 322 cases, and capsule group 239 cases. As control group, 95 patients were treated with Qianliekang (
) tablets. Expressed prostatic secretion (EPS)-pH and Zn content were measured before and after treatment. Observation on hemorheology and microcirculation disturbance with animal experiments were conducted.Results: The cure rate of prostatitis decoction and capsule groups was 65.8%, and 54.4% respectively, that of the control group was only 17.9%. EPS-pH and Zn were markedly improved after prostatitis decoction treatment. Experimental work revealed that prostatitis decoction and its capsule had lowered the whole blood viscosity, thrombocyte adhesiveness rate and dry weight of thrombus in blood stasis rabbit model; and on rats model of microcirculation disturbance caused by adrenalin, the prostatitis decoction and its capsules had obviously delayed the occurrence of reduction and stopping of blood flow in arterioles.Conclusion: Prostatitis decoction (capsule) was effective in treating chronic prostatitis.  
Abstract:Objective: To observe the effect of Kidney tonic, the Migu Tablet (
) on bone and endocrine of osteoporosis rats.Methods: Two stages were divided, stage 1: Using ovariectomy to establish the osteoporosis rat model; stage 2: Treating the model;Results: After 3 months treatment with MGT, which can prevent the lowering of femur bone density, tibia trabecular volume and femur bending resistant strength, but was unable to raise those lowered parameters. Serum corticosterone determination showed that the Kidney tonic could regulate the secretion of estrogen and testosterone, adjust the imbalance of E2/T ratio.Conclusions: MGT, a Kidney tonic could prevent and treat experimental osteoporosis, its imbalance of E2/T ratio adjustment is possibly one of the mechanisms to lessen the patient’s Kidney deficiency.  
Abstract:Objective: To investigate effect of Liuwei Dihuang decoction (LWDHD), a traditional Chinese medicinal prescription, on the formation of long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampal dentate gyrus in anesthetized rats.Methods: LTP experiments were conducted by using a bipolar stimulating electrode to stimulate perforant pathway and a monopolar electrode to record the evoked field potential in hippocampal dentate gyrus. In the present study, both suprathreshold and subthreshold tetanic stimulation to the perforant pathway were employed.Results: Single oral administration of LWDHD (per os, 5 g/kg and 10 g/kg respectively) has no effect on the basal spike amplitude. However, LWDHD (per os, 5 g/kg and 10 g/kg respectively) significantly intensified the spike amplitude induced by a subthreshold stimulation (60 Hz, 20 pulses) while it did not affect formation of LTP formation induced by suprathreshold tetanic stimulation (60 Hz, 30 pulses).Conclusion: The present results suggested that LWDHD given orally potentiate the synaptic plasticity and transmission in hippocampal dentate gyrus, which might account for the enhancing effect of LWDHD on learning and memory in senescence-accelerated mice.  
Abstract:Objective: To observe the effect of theo-polyphenols (TP) on function of trans-membranous signal of acute ischemic myocardium in rats.Methods: Model of myocardial ischemia was established. Thirtyfive male rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, 7 rats in each group. Non-ischemic group: the anterior descending branch of left coronary artery was not ligated; Ischemic group: the time of ischemia continued for 10 min; TP groups: the groups were divided into 3 subgroups, TP dose was respectively 1 mg/kg, 4 mg/kg, 16 mg/kg, TP was administered through celiac injection 20 min before the anterior descending branch of left coronary artery was ligated.Results: The levels of phosphatidylinositol-4, 5-biphosphate (PIP2), inositol-1, 4, 5-triphosphate (IP3) in the ischemic group were markedly higher than those in the non-ischemic group. The raise of the levels of PIP2, IP3 caused by acute myocardial ischemia were markedly inhibited by the TP. The relationship of dose-effect was observed.Conclusion: TP has inhibitory effect of trans-membranous signal system of acute ischemic myocardium. It has protective effect on myocardium.