Effects of different psychotropic drugs on the QTc interval in the elderly population / 中华老年医学杂志

Medications are the main means for the treatment of mental illness, and it is of great significance to be familiar with the adverse reactions of psychotropic drugs for the formulation and optimization of treatment plans.The prolongation of the QT interval corrected by heart rate(QTc interval)is one of the most common cardiotoxic reactions after taking psychotropic drugs and may lead to torsade de pointes and increase the risk of sudden cardiac death.The elderly population is more prone to QTc interval prolongation.In this review, we focus on the relationship between common psychotropic drugs and QTc interval prolongation and influencing factors in the elderly population, so as to help clinicians avoid risk in drug selection.

Effect of Qingshen Granules on inflammation/hepcidin axis and iron metabolism in patients with renal anemia: a single-center, randomized controlled trial / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the therapeutic effect of Qingshen Granules on renal anemia in patients with damp-heat syndrome and explore the mechanisms in light of inflammation/hepcidin axis and iron metabolism.@*METHODS@#Sixty patients with renal anemia and dampness-heat syndrome were randomized into control group (=30) and treatment group (=30). All the patients were given routine treatment, and the patients in the treatment group received additional treatment with Qingshen Granules (3 times a day). After 12 weeks of treatments, the patients were examined for changes in the integral value of TCM syndrome, serum creatinine (Scr), glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), red blood cell (RBC) count, interleukin-6 (IL-6), hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), ferritin, growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), serum iron (SI), total iron binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation (TAST), soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) and ferritin levels.@*RESULTS@#After the treatment, the scores of TCM syndrome were significantly improved in the treatment group and were better than those in the control group (=0.000). Scr and eGFR were improved in both groups after the treatment. The levels of HGB, HCT and RBC were all improved in the two groups after treatment, and the improvements were more obvious in the treatment group (=0.002, 0.002, and 0.017, respectively). The levels of IL-6, hs-CRP, hepcidine and GDF-15 were all lowered in the two groups after the treatment, and they were all significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group (all =0.000). The treatments increased the levels of SI and TAST in both of the groups, and compared with those in control group, the levels of TIBC, sTfR and ferritin were significantly lowered in the treatment group after the 12-week treatment (=0.000).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Qingshen granules can effectively improve renal anemia in patients with damp-heat syndrome possibly by improving iron metabolism through alleviation of inflammation and reduction of hepcidine level.

Effect of Ronghuang Granule on serum FGF23, FGFRs and Klotho in non-dialysis patients with CKD-MBD and kidney deficiency and damp-heat syndrome / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of Ronghuang granule on serum fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFRs) and Klotho protein levels in non-dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) and kidney deficiency and damp heat syndrome.@*METHODS@#Seventy non-dialysis CKD-MBD patients with kidney deficiency and dampness-heat syndrome were randomized into control group (=35) and treatment group (=35). All the patients were given routine treatment combined with traditional Chinese medicine retention enema, and the patients in the treatment group received additional Ronghuang granule treatment (3 times a day). After the 12-week treatments, the patients were examined for changes of TCM syndromes. Serum levels of Ca, P, parathyroid hormone (iPTH), FGF23, FGFRs and Klotho proteins were detected before and after treatment. These parameters were also examined in 20 healthy volunteers.@*RESULTS@#Sixty-five patients completed the study, including 33 in the control group and 32 in the treatment group. The patients in the treatment group showed significantly better treatment responses than those in the control group ( < 0.05 or 0.01). At 4, 8, and 12 weeks of treatment, the patients in the treatment group had significantly lowered scores of TCM syndromes compared with the score before treatment ( < 0.05 or 0.01), while in the control group, significant reduction of the scores occurred only at 12 weeks ( < 0.05); at each of the time points, the treatment group had significantly greater reductions in the score than the control group ( < 0.01). Significant improvements in serum Ca, P and iPTH levels were observed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks in the treatment group ( < 0.05) but only at 12 weeks in the control group ( < 0.05). The patients in the control and treatment groups all showed elevated serum levels of FGF23, FGFRs and Klotho protein compared with the normal subjects ( < 0.01); FGF23, FGFRs and Klotho levels were significantly reduced in the treatment group ( < 0.05) but remained unchanged in the control group (>0.05), showing significant differences between the two groups.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Ronghuang granule improves the clinical symptoms of non-dialysis CKD-MBD patients with kidney deficiency and dampness heat syndrome by reducing serum levels of FGF23, FGFRs and Klotho, improving calcium and phosphorus metabolism disorder, and inhibiting secondary hyperparathyroidism.

A study on Qingshen granule for treatment of renal fibrosis in patients with chronic renal failure accompanied by damp-heat syndrome and its mechanism / 中国中西医结合急救杂志

Objective To observe the anti-fibrosis therapeutic effect and mechanism of Qingshen granule for treatment of patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) accompanied by damp-heat syndrome.Methods Sixty-eight patients with CRF accompanied by damp-heat syndrome were randomly divided into a control group and a observation group, and the study was completed only in 61 patients, 31 in the control group and 30 in the observation group. Thirty subjects having taken physical health examination were assigned in a healthy control group. All the patients in both treatment groups were treated with conventional western medical therapy and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) retention enema, and for patients in observation group, Qingshen granule was given additionally, 1 bag (10 g) thrice a day taken orally. The therapeutic course was 8 weeks. The clinical therapeutic effect, the levels of serum creatinine (SCr), the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), serum interleukin-17 (IL-17), collagen type Ⅲ (Col-Ⅲ) and nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were measured before and after treatment in the two treatment groups, and the above results were compared with those in healthy control group.Results Clinically, the total effective rates of the disease and of the TCM syndrome in observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (86.67% vs. 58.06%, 83.33% vs. 45.16%, bothP < 0.01). In the observation group, the level of SCr was obviously lower, and the level of eGFR was markedly higher after treatment, and compared with the control group, the changes in above data after treatment in observation group were more significant [SCr (μmol/L): 250.62±164.97 vs. 393.72±183.64, eGFR (mL·min-1·1.73 m-2): 33.42±17.24 vs. 39.72±23.85, bothP < 0.05]. After treatment, the levels of serum IL-17, Col-Ⅲ and NF-κB p65 in PBMC were obviously lowered in both treatment groups compared with those before treatment, the therapeutic effect in observation group being superior to that in the control group [IL-17 (ng/L): 17.47±8.87 vs. 25.51±16.69, Col-Ⅲ (μg/L): 17.06±8.76 vs. 23.77±10.44, NF-κB p65 (μg/L): 0.58±0.34 vs. 0.83±0.30, allP < 0.05].Conclusion The Qingshen granule can ameliorate the clinical symptoms, improve renal function, decrease the levels of serum IL-17, Col-Ⅲ and NF-κB p65 in PBMC, intervene renal fibrosis in patients with CRF and damp-heat syndrome, ultimately delaying the progress of CRF.

Prognostic Analysis of Skull-base Invasion of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

[Objective]To evaluate the prognostic value of skull-base invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)based on magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).[Methods]A total of 924 patients who were diagnosed with NPC between 2003 and 2004,had undergone MRI scan and received mdiothempy as their primary treatment,and had no distant metastasis were included in this study.MRI images and medical records were analyzed retrospectively.All the 924 eases.patients who developed skull-base invasions based on MRI,315 patients with T3 disease and 227 patients with T2 disease were selected for analysis.The staging was according to the sixth edition of the American Joint Commission on Cancer(AJCC)staging system.[Results]Incidence of skullbase invasion according to MRI was 55.4%.Of 924 cases.skull-base invasion on MRI was not an independent prognostic factor for overall survival(OS)and distant metastasis-free survival(DMFS),but was a marginally significant independent prognostic factor for local relapse-free survival(LRFS),P=0.068.Grading of MRI-detected skull-base erosion according to the site of invasion was an independent prognostic factor for OS(P=0.002 and P=0.005)and DMFS(P=0.001 for both)in the 512 patients with skull-base invasions and 315 patients with T3 disease.Severe-grade of skull-base invasion on MRI was an independent prognostic factor for OS and DMFS in the 924 patients(P ＜ 0.001 for both).No significant differences were observed on OS,LRFS,and DMFS between T2a patients and T3 patients with low-grade of MRI-deteeted skull-base involvement.[Conclusions]Skull-base invasion based on MRI is not an independent prognostic factor for NPC.However,severe-grade of invasion according to the site of involvement has positive prognostic value.

Shenkang Infusion Treat Latent Nephritis of Deficient Spleen and Kidney / 浙江中医药大学学报

[Objective]To observe the effect of Shenkang Infusion on latent nephritis of syndrome of deficient spleen and kidney.[Method]Select the said patients,randomly divide them into treatment group 34 and control group 35 cases,both take Ciwujia Injection and Breviscapine(IVD),the treatment group takes Shenkang Infusion.Observe their TCM sign integral,24h urinary protein quantity,protein and red cells change in routine urine test.[Result]In treatment group,the total effective rate was 83.33%,urinary protein 86.67%;and 53.33% and 60% for control group respectively;the treatment one was better than control one.Both TCM sign integrals were decreased markedly,the treatment group was more obvious.[Conclusion]Shenkang Infusion can much alleviate clinical demonstrations and reduce 24 urinary protein quantity of latent glomerulus nephritis of the disease.

Advance on staging system of nasopharyngeal carcinoma / 中国癌症杂志

The deficiencies of the 6th International Union Against Cancer (UICC)/American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) were included as follows: ①There is a lack of hazard discrimination between some T categories; ②The maximum dimension of lymph node was not an independentprognosis in NPC; ③The subsets defi ned by T and N classifi cations that make up a given group typically have different prognosis. The introduction of new types of therapeutic interventions or new technologies may require modifi cations of the classif ication and staging systems. Compared to computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is superior to in the detection of early involvement such as paranasopharyngeal space, oropharynx, and retropharyngeal lymphatic metastasis, and demonstrate deep primary tumor infi ltration such as skull base, intracranial erosion more easily, so MRI should be optional method in T stage of NPC. Positron emission tomography/ computerized tomography (PET/CT) is superior to MRI in the detection of cervical lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis. With the development of diagnostic and therapeutic techniques revolutionized in NPC, staging systems should be modified. Research based on the data of 924 NPC patients revealed:①It appeared more prognostic value to modify 4 substages into 3 substages in T-category; ②N-category was more concise by deleting nodal greatest dimension palpation;③ It showed that nodal parameters including level, laterality and extranodal neoplastic spread (ENS) are independent prognostic factors for NPC. N-staging criteria with RTOG guidelines for lymph node levels was set up which adapted to the requirement of conformal radiation therapy. Incorporating ENS and retropharyngeal lymph nodes into the N-staging system for NPC increases the predictive power.