Effect of Shenmai Injection on Long-Term Prognosis of Patients with Chronic Heart Failure: A Multicenter, Large Sample Capacity, Long-Term Follow-Up Retrospective Cohort Study / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the effect of Shenmai Injection (SMI) on the long-term prognosis of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).@*METHODS@#The Hospital Information System was used to extract data of CHF patients, and the retrospective cohort study was conducted for analysis. In non-exposed group, standardized Western medicine treatment and Chinese patent medicine or decoction were applied without combination of SMI while in the exposed group, SMI were applied for more than 7 days. Evaluation indicators are followed with New York Heart Association functional classification (NYHA classification), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide precursor (NT-ProBNP), cardiogenic death and heart failure (HF) readmission. Statistical analysis includes Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression which are used to explore the relationship between SMI and outcome events.@*RESULTS@#A total of 1,211 eligible CHF patients were involved and finally 1,047 patients were followed up successfully. After treatment, the cases of NYHA classification decline in the exposed and non-exposed groups accounted for 64.30% and 43.45%, respectively; the improvement values of LVEF were 8.89% and 7.91%, respectively; the improvement values of NT-ProBNP were 909 pg/mL and 735 pg/mL, respectively. After exposure on SMI, the rates of cardiogenic death and HF readmission reduced from 15.43% to 10.18% and 38.93% to 32.37%. According to Kaplan-Meier analysis, the log-rank P value of SMI and cardiogenic death was 0.014, while the counterpart of SMI and HF readmission was 0.025. Cox regression analysis indicated that for cardiogenic death, age, cardiomyopathy, diabetes, and NYHA classification were risk factors while β-blockers, aldosterone receptor antagonists, Chinese patent medicine/decoction and SMI were protective factors. Likewise, for HF readmission, age, cardiomyopathy, and NYHA classification were risk factors while SMI was a protective factor.@*CONCLUSION@#Combination with SMI on the standardized Western medicine treatment can effectively reduce cardiogenic mortality and readmission rate in CHF patients, and thereby improve the long-term prognosis.

Efficacy of the herbal pair, Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae and Eucommiae Cortex, in preventing glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in the zebrafish model / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#In traditional Chinese medicine, the herbal pair, Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae (RAB) and Eucommiae Cortex (EC), is widely used to treat osteoporosis. Herein, we determined whether this herbal pair can be used to ameliorate glucocorticoid (GC)-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) and find its optimal dosage in zebrafish.@*METHODS@#The characteristics of the aqueous extract of RAB and EC were separately characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography. Osteoporosis was induced in 5-day post-fertilization zebrafish larvae by exposing them to 10 μmol/L dexamethasone (Dex) for 96 h. Seven combinations of different ratios of RAB and EC were co-administered. Treatment efficacy was determined by calculating zebrafish vertebral area and sum brightness, via alizarin red staining, and by detecting alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to test the optimal dosage ratio.@*RESULTS@#According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2015), β-ecdysone (β-Ecd) is a major bioactive marker in RAB extract, while pinoresinol diglucoside (PDG) is the major marker in EC extract. Both of β-Ecd and PDG content values aligned with the Chinese Pharmacopoeia standards. Treatment with 10 μmol/L Dex reduced zebrafish vertebral area, sum brightness, and ALP activity, but RAB and EC attenuated these effects. Combining 50 µg/mL RAB and 50 µg/mL EC was optimal for preventing GIOP in zebrafish. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate the mRNA expression of osteogenesis-related genes. A treatment of 10 μmol/L Dex decreased runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1), bone γ-carboxyglutamic acid-containing protein (BGLAP), and β-catenin levels. This effect was counteracted by RAB and EC co-treatment (P < 0.05). Additionally, the effect of using the two herbal extracts together was better than single-herb treatments separately. These results demonstrated that RAB and EC preserve osteoblast function in the presence of GC. The best mass ratio was 1:1.@*CONCLUSION@#RAB and EC herbal pair could ameliorate GC-induced effects in zebrafish, with 1:1 as the optimal dosage ratio.

Nested case-control study on the relationship between risk factors of pregnancy and infantile eczema in Uygur and Han ethnic / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective To investigate the prevalence of infantile eczema in Uygur and Han nationalities and the relationship between pregnancy factors and 0-6 months infant eczema, so as to provide a scientific basis for formulating preventive strategies. Methods From January-August 2016 in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region People's Hospital of obstetric and follow-up to fill out the questionnaire in 570 pregnant women and their babies as the research object to establish the baseline survey cohort, pregnancy related information to pregnant women, and 6 months (January, March, on maternal June) follow-up, observe the occurrence of infantile eczema a total of 502, successful follow-up to maternal and child. Using nested case-control study, the cohort occurred in 182 cases of infant eczema as case group, will be in the queue without eczema in 320 infants as control group, using multivariate logistic regression analysis of risk factors during pregnancy baby eczema. Results 0-6 months infant eczema incidence rate was 36.25％, the incidence of Uygur infant eczema (20.43％) was significantly lower than that of Han nationality infant eczema incidence (50.19％) (OR=0.45,95％CI:0.35-0.69) P<0.01). Social and economic factors affecting the occurrence of infantile eczema comparison results showed that the ethnic factors and infant eczema, and more prone to eczema than that of Uygur nationality; and Uygur compared mothers influence allergic history of Han infantile eczema more (χ2=7.09, P=0.008). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the mother has a history of atopy (OR=7.17,95％CI:4.15-12.37), mother′s education level (OR=1.91,95％CI:1.51-2.74), the higher the monthly income (OR=2.68,95％CI:2.17-3.33), maternal smoking during pregnancy (secondhand smoke) (OR=2.42,95％CI:1.96-2.97), frequently eating spicy spicy foods during pregnancy (OR=1.94,95％CI: 1.41-2.68) will increase the risk of infant eczema Supplementation of probiotics (OR=0.13,95％CI:0.07-0.25) and vitamin D (OR=0.13,95％CI:0.06-0.26) during pregnancy is a protective factor in the development of infantile eczema. Conclusions Compared to Uygur, Han Chinese infants are more likely occur eczema, and family history of allergies, education, economic income, pregnancy dietand smoking are risk factors for infant eczema. The same risk factors among Uygur and Han ethnic ,but it had a different results. Compared to Han, Uygur pregnant women eating spicy food caused the risk of infant eczema occurrence is higher, but the short period of housing renovation caused the risk of infant eczema occurrence is lower. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen nutrition andmonitor living environment during pregnancy. Avoiding to eat spicy food and supplying probiotics and vitamin D, it can prevent or reduce the occurrence of infantile eczema.

Clinical study on prospective efficacy of all-trans Acid, realgar-indigo naturalis formula combined with chemotherapy as maintenance treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia.

Objectives. To test the efficiency and safety of sequential application of retinoic acid (ATRA), Realgar-Indigo naturalis formula (RIF) and chemotherapy (CT) were used as the maintenance treatment in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Methods. This was a retrospective study of 98 patients with newly diagnosed APL who accepted two different maintenance treatments. After remission induction and consolidation chemotherapy according to their Sanz scores, patients received two different kinds of maintenance scheme. The first regimen was using ATRA, RIF, and standard dose of CT sequentially (ATRA/RIF/CT regimen), while the second one was using ATRA and low dose of chemotherapy with methotrexate (MTX) plus 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) alternately (ATRA/CTlow regimen). The OS, DFS, relapse rate, minimal residual disease, and adverse reactions in two groups were monitored and evaluated. Results. ATRA/RIF/CT regimen could effectively reduce the chance of relapse in different risk stratification of patients, but there was no significant difference in 5-year DFS rate and OS rate between the two groups. Besides, the patients in the experimental group suffered less severe adverse reactions than those in the control group. Conclusions. The repeated sequential therapeutic regimen to APL with ATRA, RIF, and chemotherapy is worth popularizing for its high effectiveness and low toxicity.

Effect of Shenluotong on secretion of ECM and expression of TGF-beta1 in rats mesangial cells of rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Shenluotong on the expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and extracellular matrix (ECM) in Ang II-induced MCs.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Fibronectin (FN) and collagen type IV (Col IV) of extracellular matrix were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; the expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA were measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>A positive correlation between TGF-beta1 and ECM were found in the present study. FN, Col IV and TGF-beta1 mRNA were inhibited by Shenluotong significantly.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Shenluotong can decrease the accumulation of ECM and inhibit the expression of TGF-beta1, suggesting further that shenluotong can be used to prevent and treat various glomerular diseases and delay glomerular sclerosis.</p>