Effect of Fufang Huangqi Decoction on the Gut Microbiota in Patients With Class I or II Myasthenia Gravis.

Objective: To investigate the effect of Fufang Huangqi Decoction on the gut microbiota in patients with class I or II myasthenia gravis (MG) and to explore the correlation between gut microbiota and MG (registration number, ChiCTR2100048367; registration website, http://www.chictr.org.cn/listbycreater.aspx; NCBI: SRP338707). Methods: In this study, microbial community composition and diversity analyses were carried out on fecal specimens from MG patients who did not take Fufang Huangqi Decoction (control group, n = 8) and those who took Fufang Huangqi Decoction and achieved remarkable alleviation of symptoms (medication group, n = 8). The abundance, diversity within and between habitats, taxonomic differences and corresponding discrimination markers of gut microbiota in the control group and medicated group were assessed. Results: Compared with the control group, the medicated group showed a significantly decreased abundance of Bacteroidetes (P < 0.05) and significantly increased abundance of Actinobacteria at the phylum level, a significantly decreased abundance of Bacteroidaceae (P < 0.05) and significantly increased abundance of Bifidobacteriaceae at the family level and a significantly decreased abundance of Blautia and Bacteroides (P < 0.05) and significantly increased abundance of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Roseburia at the genus level. Compared to the control group, the medicated group had decreased abundance, diversity, and genetic diversity of the communities and increased coverage, but the differences were not significant (P > 0.05); the markers that differed significantly between communities at the genus level and influenced the differences between groups were Blautia, Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. Conclusions: MG patients have obvious gut microbiota-associated metabolic disorders. Fufang Huangqi Decoction regulates the gut microbiota in patients with class I or II MG by reducing the abundance of Blautia and Bacteroides and increasing the abundance of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. The correlation between gut microbiota and MG may be related to cell-mediated immunity.

Therapy of Severe Heatshock in Combination With Multiple Organ Dysfunction With Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy: A Clinical Study.

This study aimed to compare the clinical effects of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) and routine therapy in heatshock (HS) patients.We retrospectively reviewed the clinical information of 33 severe exertional HS patients who were treated from February 1998 to October 2013. On the basis of whether or not CRRT therapy was used in addition to conventional therapy, patients were divided into a CRRT group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 18). Body temperature, blood gas analysis, routine blood tests, blood eletrolytes, enzymes and kidney function data, and APACHE II scores were obtained and compared between the 2 groups on admission and 3, 5, and 7 days after admission. Mortality was also compared between the 2 groups.CRRT treatment combined with conventional treatment resulted in a higher hospital-discharge rate, a faster return to normal of body temperature, greater increase in platelets, a greater decrease in WBC, neutrophils, and serum markers for liver and kidney dysfunction, greater improvement of organ dysfunction, and lower APACHE II scores than conventional treatment used alone.The addition of CRRT to conventional treatment for HS improves survival and causes a faster return to normal of serum markers and organ function.