Preclinical Pharmacokinetics and Bioavailability of Oxypeucedanin in Rats after Single Intravenous and Oral Administration.

Oxypeucedanin, a furanocoumarin extracted from many traditional Chinese herbal medicines, has a variety of pharmacological effects. However, the independent pharmacokinetic characteristics and bioavailability of this compound remains elusive. In this study, a rapid, sensitive, and selective method using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS/MS) was developed for evaluating the intravenous and oral pharmacokinetics of oxypeucedanin. After intravenous administration of oxypeucedanin (2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg), and intragastric administration of oxypeucedanin (20 mg/kg), blood samples were collected periodically from the tail vein. The plasma concentration-time curves were plotted, and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using a non-compartmental model analysis. After intravenous administration of oxypeucedanin (single dosing at 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg) to rats, the pharmacokinetics fit the linear kinetics characteristics, which showed that some parameters including average elimination half-life (T1/2Z of 0.61~0.66 h), mean residence time (MRT of 0.62~0.80 h), apparent volume of distribution (VZ of 4.98~7.50 L/kg), and systemic clearance (CLZ of 5.64~8.55 L/kg/h) are dose-independent and the area under concentration-time curve (AUC) increased in a dose-proportional manner. Single oral administration of oxypeucedanin (20 mg/kg) showed poor and slow absorption with the mean time to reach the peak concentration (Tmax) of 3.38 h, MRT of 5.86 h, T1/2Z of 2.94 h, and a mean absolute bioavailability of 10.26% in rats. These results provide critical information for a better understanding of the pharmacological effect of oxypeucedanin, which will facilitate its research and development.

Application of Mental Rotation Test in Motor Imagery Ability Assessment for Stroke Patients / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective:To study the judgment strategies of stroke patients facing different visual stimulus and the main factors affecting the mental rotation test results. Methods:From May to October, 2018, 15 stroke patients and 15 age-sex-education-matched healthy controls accepted standard software-based mental rotation tests with four kinds of visual stimulus: hand back, hand palm, Chinese characters and alphabets. Reaction time and response accuracy were recorded. All the subjects were assessed with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and the patients were assessed with Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremities (FMA-UE) additionally. Results:When hand back, hand palm and alphabets worked as visual stimulus, the response accuracy was less in the patients than in the controls (F > 7.027, P < 0.05). For all the tests, the reaction time was more in the patients than in the controls (F > 14.827, P < 0.001). The main effect of rotation angle was significant to reaction time when picture of hands as visual stimulus (F > 7.747, P < 0.001), while it was the least at 0°. The MoCA scores negatively correlated with reaction time in both groups (r < -0.375, P < 0.05), as well as the FMA-UE scores in the patients (r < -0.581, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Different types of visual stimulus may affect the judgment strategies and results of mental rotation test. Motor imagery ability is impaired for stroke patients, however, the basic reaction model maintains somehow.

Impacts of moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36) on the improvements in the quality of life in patients with advanced malignant tumor / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the impacts of moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36) on the improvements in the quality of life in the patients with advanced malignant tumor.@*METHODS@#A total of 60 patients with advanced malignant tumor were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. In the control group, the routine symptomatic scheme was adopted. In the observation group, on the base of the routine treatment, moxibustion was applied to bilateral Zusanli (ST 36), once a day. The observation period was 12 days. The percentages of , and in T lymphocyte subset, the ratio of / , the value of hemoglobin, Karnofsky score (KPS) and the main symptom score of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) were compared before and after treatment in the two groups.@*RESULTS@#In comparison before and after treatment in the two groups as well as between the two groups, the differences were not significant in the contents of , and , hemoglobin and the ratio of / (all >0.05). In the observation group, KPS after treatment was increased as compared with the score before treatment (0.05). In the observation group, the improvements in lassitude, short breath, poor appetite, dizziness and vertigo, complexion, palpitation, soreness and weakness of the lumber region and knee joint as well as the total score were better than the control group (<0.05, <0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#Moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36) effectively regulates the immune balance and relieves the clinical symptoms in the patients with advanced malignant tumor.

Effect of Electroacupuncture on Hand Dysfunction after Stroke / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture on hand dysfunction after stroke. Methods Forty hemiplegic patients after stroke were selected from a multi-center large-scale trail, belonged to rehabilitation group (n=20) and electroacupuncture group (n=20), who accepted routine rehabilitation and additional electroacupuncture, respectively, for six weeks. They were assessed with Brunnstrom Grade, Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) and modified Barthel index (MBI) before treatment, two, four and six weeks during treatment, and twelve weeks after treatment. Results There were differences between two groups in scores of FMA, WMFT and total time to complete WMFT twelve weeks after treatment (t>1.900, P0.05), but electroacupuncture group seemed to improve more. Conclusion Elec-troacupuncture may improve the muscle strength for patients in flaccid paralysis, and promote the recovery of hand function for patients af-ter stroke.

Effects of Acupuncture on Hand Dysfunction after Stroke:Evaluated with Hand Function Laserimager / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective To apply a hand function laserimager to evaluate the effect of acupuncture on hand dysfunction after stroke. Meth-ods From January to June, 2016, 18 stroke patients with upper limb dysfunction were divided into control group (n=9) and acupuncture group (n=9). The control group received routine medication and rehabilitation, while the acupuncture group received acupuncture in addi-tion. They were assessed with modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) of upper limb motor function and modified Bathel Index (MBI) before and after three-week treatment, while the region of interest (ROI) of their hands was tested with the hand func-tion laserimager. Results The scores of MAS and FMA improved after treatment in both groups (t>4.44, P3.17, P7.78, P0.05) between groups. Conclusion The hand function laserimager, which responds to the blood perfusion of the hand, can be used as a tool to evaluate the hand function.

A multimodal electroencephalogram visualization system can promote stroke patients′ motor imagery / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To explore the effect of a multimodal electroencephalogram ( EEG) data visualiza-tion system on the motor imagery ability of stroke survivors. Methods Twenty stroke patients were randomly di-vided into an experimental group and a control group, each of 10. Both groups were provided with brain-computer interface-based motor imagery ( MI) training. At the same time, the experimental group was monitored and guided using an online, multimodal EEG data visualization system developed in our department. The classification accuracy ( CA) and event-related desynchronization ( ERD) of the 2 groups′ motor imagery were compared before and after the treatment. Results Before the treatment, no significant differences in the average CA of MI were found be-tween the experiment group (50.92±2.08) and the control group (49.35±4.20)(P>0.05). After the treatment, however, the experimental group′s average CA had increased to (64.52±5.27), significantly higher than that of the control group (51.18±5.02). When the stroke patients imaged affected upper extremity movements, obvious ERD was observed in the α frequency around the bilateral central motor regions of both groups, especially in the experi-mental group, but without significant differences between the two groups. However, no significant changes were found in the ERD of theβwaves of the two groups( P>0.05) . Conclusion The proposed online multimodal elec-troencephalogram data visualization system can help stroke patients imagine movements actively. It is worth sprea-ding in clinical practice.

Effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation at acupoints on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation at acupoints (Acu-TENS) improved the biochemical and physical indices of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: Ninety subjects with T2DM were divided randomly into a control group (n = 30), aerobic exercise group (n = 30), or Acu-TENS group (n = 30). In addition to conventional diabetes drug treatment, patients in the Acu-TENS group received acupoint stimulation, the aerobic exercise group engaged in walking exercises, and the control group was given sham electrical stimulation. All groups were treated for 30 min for each session and five times a week for 2 months. The indices of glycosylated hemoglobin, 2 h postprandial glucose, fasting serum insulin, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and body mass index were assessed at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and follow-up, which was 2 months after treatment. RESULTS: The indices of the control group were not changed (P > 0.05) at the three time points. At the pre-treatment measurement, there were significant differences (P > 0.05) in indices among the three groups. At post-treatment, each index of the two groups was lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05), and improved in comparison with the pre-treatment measurement (P < 0.05). In follow-up, each index of the aerobic exercise group and Acu-TENS group increased, but was still decreased compared with the pre-treatment value (P < 0.05), excluding body mass index. CONCLUSION: Acu-TENS could improve the state of patients with T2DM and be used as a therapy in clinical application.

Ligustilide prevents cognitive impairment and attenuates neurotoxicity in D-galactose induced aging mice brain.

Ligustilide (LIG) is a principal active ingredient of traditional Chinese medicine, Radix Angelica sinensis, which has versatile pharmacological activities including neuroprotection. Previous studies have demonstrated that LIG has beneficial effects on cognition deficits associated with cerebral damage or neurodegenerative disorders. In present study, we investigated the neuroprotective effect of LIG on cognitive impairment and neurotoxicity in the brain of aging mouse induced by d-galactose (d-gal). The aging model mice were induced by subcutaneous (S.C.) injection of d-gal once daily for 8 weeks and LIG (80 mg/kg) was simultaneously administered orally. The Morris water maze (MWM) test was used to assess the spatial learning and memory abilities. The activity of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and the content of lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA) in brain were examined. The levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), growth-associated protein GAP-43, and cleaved caspase-3 in brain were also determined by immunohistochemistry. The MWM test showed that LIG administration markedly improved behavioral performance of d-gal treated mice. This action could be partly explained by the results that LIG reduced the level of MDA as well as increased the activity of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase in the brain of d-gal induced aging mice. Moreover, LIG significantly raised the expression of GAP-43 and reduced cleaved caspase-3 and GFAP levels in the brain of d-gal treated mice. These results demonstrated that LIG improves d-gal-induced cognitive dysfunction and brain toxicity, which suggests that LIG may be developed as a new medicine for the treatment of aged-related conditions.

Mechanism study on leptin resistance in lung cancer cachexia rats treated by Xiaoyan Decoction / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the leptin resistance mechanism of Xiaoyan Decoction (XD) in lung cancer cachexia (LCC) rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>An LCC rat model was established. Totally 40 rats were randomly divided into the normal control group, the LCC model group, the XD group, and the positive control group, 10 in each group. After LCC model was set up, rats in the LCC model group were administered with normal saline, 2 mL each time. Rats in the XD group were administered with XD at the daily dose of 2 mL. Those in the positive control group were administered with Medroxyprogesterone Acetate suspension (20 mg/kg) by gastrogavage at the daily dose of 2 mL. All medication lasted for 14 days. The general condition and tumor growth were observed. Serum levels of leptin and leptin receptor in the hypothalamus were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Contents of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and anorexia for genomic POMC were detected using real-time PCR technique.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Serum leptin levels were lower in the LCC model group than in the normal control group with statistical significance (P < 0.05). Compared with the LCC model groups, serum leptin levels significantly increased in the XD group (P < 0.01). Leptin receptor levels in the hypothalamus increased significantly in the LCC model group (P < 0.01). Increased receptor levels in the LCC model group indicated that either XD or Medroxyprogesterone Acetate could effectively reduce levels of leptin receptor with statistical significance (P < 0.01). There was also statistical difference between the XD group and the positive control group (P < 0.05). Contents of NPY was higher in the LCC model group than in the other groups with statistical difference (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in NPY between the normal control group and the rest 2 treatment groups (P > 0.05). There was statistical difference in POMC between the normal control group and the LCC model group (P < 0.05). POMC could be decreased in the XD group and the positive control group with statistical significance (P < 0.05), and it was more obviously decreased in the XD group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Leptin resistance existed in LCC rats. XD could increase serum leptin levels and reduce leptin receptor levels in the hypothalamus. LCC could be improved by elevating NPY contents in the hypothalamus and reducing POMC contents, promoting the appetite, and increasing food intake from the periphery pathway and the central pathway.</p>

Effects of Ganfukang on expression of connective tissue growth factor and focal adhesion kinase/protein kinase B signal pathway in hepatic fibrosis rats / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Ganfukang (GFK) on connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/protein kinase B (PKB or Akt) signal pathway in a hepatic fibrosis rat model and to explore the underlying therapeutic molecular mechanisms of GFK.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into five groups as follows: the control group, the model group (repeated subcutaneous injection of CCl4), and the three GFK treatment groups (31.25, 312.5, and 3125 mg/kg, intragastric administration). Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry were used to examine the expression of CTGF, integrin α5, integrin β1, FAK/Akt signal pathway, cyclinD1, and collagen in the different-treated rats.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>GFK attenuated the up-regulation of CTGF, integrin α5, and integrin β1 in hepatic fibrosis rats and suppressed both the phosphorylation of FAK and the phosphorylation of Akt simultaneously (P<0.01). At the same time, the expression of cyclinD1, collagen I, and collagen III was decreased by GFK significantly (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CTGF and FAK/Akt signal pathway were activated in the CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis rats, which contribute to increased expression of cyclinD1 and collagen genes. The mechanisms of the anti-fibrosis activity of GFK may be due to its effects against CTGF and FAk/Akt signal pathway.</p>

Effect of acupuncture on transmembrane signal pathway in AD mice: an analysis based on lipid-raft proteomics / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To reveal the transmembrane signal pathway participating in regulating neuron functions of treating Alzheimer's disease (AD) by acupuncture.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>SAMP8 mice was used for AD animal model. The effect of acupuncture method for qi benefiting, blood regulating, health supporting, and root strengthening on the amount and varieties of transmembrane signal proteins from hippocampal lipid rafts in SAMP8 mice was detected using HPLC MS/MS proteomics method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, acupuncture increased 39 transmembrane signal proteins from hippocampal lipid rafts in SAMP8 mice, of them, 14 belonged to ionophorous protein, 8 to G protein, 8 to transmembrane signal receptor, and 9 to kinase protein. Totally 3 main cell signal pathways were involved, including G-protein-coupled receptors signal, enzyme linked receptor signal, and ion-channel mediated signal. Compared with the sham-acupuncture group, acupuncture resulted in significant increase of kinase signal protein amount. From the aspect of functions, they were dominant in regulating synapse functions relevant to cytoskeleton and secreting neurotransmitters.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The cell biological mechanism for treating AD by acupuncture might be achieved by improving synapse functions and promoting the secretion of neurotransmitters through transmembrane signal transduction, thus improving cognitive function of AD patients.</p>

Clinical efficacy analysis of treating advanced prostate cancer by yiqi jiedu quyu recipe combined endocrine therapy / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the clinical efficacy of yiqi jiedu quyu recipe (YJQR) combined endocrine therapy in treating advanced prostate cancer (APC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 44 APC patients were randomly assigned to the combination group (23 cases) and the control group (21 cases). All patients received endocrine therapy for treating PC in Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Urological Diseases in China. After 6 months of treatment serum prostate specific antigen (PSA), free PSA (f-PSA), hemoglobin (Hb), Tcell subsets, natural kill (NK) cells, QLQ-C30 scale, Chinese medical symptoms score, I -PSS score, as well as the incidence of tidal fever were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment the PSA, f-PSA, and Hb were improved in the combination group, showing statistical difference when compared with before treatment (P <0.05). Besides, better effects were obtained in the combination group (P <0.05, P <0.01). After treatment CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8, and NK cell levels were also improved in the combination group, showing statistical difference when compared with before treatment (P <0.05). Besides, better effects were obtained in the combination group (P <0.01). The quality of life (QOL), emotional function, Chinese medical symptoms score, and I -PSS symptom score were improved in the two groups (P <0. 05,P <0. 01). Besides, better effects in the aforesaid indices and the incidence of tidal fever were obtained in the combination group (P <0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>YJQR combined endocrine therapy could obviously improve APC patients' QOL, reduce adverse reactions of Western medical treatment, improve the immune function, and enhance therapeutic effects of endocrine therapy.</p>

Chinese medicine approach in clinical practice for breast cancer survivors.

A Chinese medicine (CM) approach, designed based on the clinical experiences of the West Los Angeles Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, is a practical path for assessing and treating breast cancer survivors. The approach consists of balancing the body with deciphering the cause of the patient's chief complaints by assessing and recognizing the six physiological dysfunctions that include gastrointestinal problems, sleeps problems, emotional imbalance, low body energy, menstrual change and pain. Multifaceted interventions are used for eliminating various CM pathologies based on identifying the basic CM patterns (syndromes) differentiation. Watching to assess the above two situations dynamically is used for outcome evaluation and predicting prognosis. Therefore this approach is called BMW. It can serve as a reference for CM clinical practice and integrative clinical care. It also can be used to simplify the clinical interpretation of CM and provide an easier way for CM doctors to communicate with Western medical doctors and patients. Additionally, it can be used as a guide for patients to assess their own symptoms for self-monitoring and self-care.

Chinese medicine approach in clinical practice for breast cancer survivors / 中国结合医学杂志

A Chinese medicine (CM) approach, designed based on the clinical experiences of the West Los Angeles Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, is a practical path for assessing and treating breast cancer survivors. The approach consists of balancing the body with deciphering the cause of the patient's chief complaints by assessing and recognizing the six physiological dysfunctions that include gastrointestinal problems, sleeps problems, emotional imbalance, low body energy, menstrual change and pain. Multifaceted interventions are used for eliminating various CM pathologies based on identifying the basic CM patterns (syndromes) differentiation. Watching to assess the above two situations dynamically is used for outcome evaluation and predicting prognosis. Therefore this approach is called BMW. It can serve as a reference for CM clinical practice and integrative clinical care. It also can be used to simplify the clinical interpretation of CM and provide an easier way for CM doctors to communicate with Western medical doctors and patients. Additionally, it can be used as a guide for patients to assess their own symptoms for self-monitoring and self-care.

Effects of early application of Tuina treatment on quadriceps surface myoelectricity in patients after total knee arthroplasty: a randomized controlled trial / 中西医结合学报

Total knee replacement surgery is commonly used in end-stage diseases of the knee. It is important for improving surgical efficacy and patient satisfaction by promoting early rehabilitation of patients and improving knee function.

Patient education integrated with acupuncture for relief of cancer-related fatigue randomized controlled feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a prominent clinical problem. There are calls for multi-modal interventions. METHODS: We assessed the feasibility of delivering patient education integrated with acupuncture for relief of CRF in a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) with breast cancer survivors using usual care as control. Social cognitive and integrative medicine theories guided integration of patient education with acupuncture into a coherent treatment protocol. The intervention consisted of two parts. First, patients were taught to improve self-care by optimizing exercise routines, improving nutrition, implementing some additional evidence-based cognitive behavioral techniques such as stress management in four weekly 50-minute sessions. Second, patients received eight weekly 50-minute acupuncture sessions. The pre-specified primary outcome, CRF, was assessed with the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI). Secondary outcomes included three dimensions of cognitive impairment assessed with the FACT-COGv2. RESULTS: Due to difficulties in recruitment, we tried several methods that led to the development of a tailored recruitment strategy: we enlisted oncologists into the core research team and recruited patients completing treatment from oncology waiting rooms. Compared to usual care control, the intervention was associated with a 2.38-point decline in fatigue as measured by the BFI (90% Confidence Interval from 0.586 to 5.014; p <0.10). Outcomes associated with cognitive dysfunction were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Patient education integrated with acupuncture had a very promising effect that warrants conducting a larger RCT to confirm findings. An effective recruitment strategy will be essential for the successful execution of a larger-scale trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT00646633.

Clinical observation of thermotherapy combined with thoracic injection of lentinan in treatment of cancerous hydrothorax of patients with lung cancer / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the therapeutic effect and mechanism of thermotherapy combined with thoracic injection of lentinan in treatment of cancerous hydrothorax (CH) in patients with lung cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty lung cancer patients complicated with CH were randomly assigned to the observation group and the control group, 30 in each. CH was released by closed drainage of the thoracic cavity in all patients. Thermotherapy was given to patients in the observation group after lentinan was thoracically injected, while lentinan was thoracically injected to patients in the control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate of CH improvement was 73.3% (22/30) in the control group and 83.3% (25/30) in the observation group, showing insignificant difference (P>0.05). The stability rate and the weight stability rate by Karnofsky's performance scoring in the observation group were superior to those of the control group, showing significant difference (P<0.05). No hematological reaction, hepatic or renal damage occurred before and after treatment in both groups. Fever, thoracalgia, dyspnea, rash, nausea and vomit appeared in few patients of the two groups, showing insignificant difference (P>0.05). CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+, and NK obviously increased and CD8+ decreased in the observation group after treatment, showing significant difference from those before treatment (P<0.05). Compared with the control group after treatment, CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+, and NK obviously increased, CD8+ increased in the observation group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Thermotherapy combined with thoracic injection of lentinan showed better effect in treatment of CH in patients with lung cancer. No obvious adverse reaction was seen.</p>

Combination of acupoints based on the theory of qi tonification, blood regulation and strengthening the primary source / 中国针灸

The acupuncture technique of tonifying qi, regulating blood and strengthening the primary source of human life is established on the base of the new pathology of dementia due to dysfunction of sanjiao by Prof. HAN Jing-xian. It is held that Tanzhong (CV 17), Zhongwan (CV 12), Qihai (CV 6), Xuehai (SP 10), Zusanli(ST 36) and Waiguan (TE 5) were the basic points for treatment of dementia. There are 3 characteristics of the point combination. Firstly, emphasis should be put on regulation of the stomach and the spleen so as to promote transportation, transformation and distribution; secondly, monarch, minister, assistant and guide points should be selected on the base of meridians, and more attention should be paid to the entity and connections among organs; and thirdly, treatment should be given according to physiological functions of the viscera.

Protective effect of musk extract on rat's cerebral cortical neurons with inflammatory injury / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the protective effects of musk extract (ME) and its possible mechanism on rat's cerebral cortical neurons with inflammatory injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Neurons and astrocytes from newborn rat cerebral cortex were cultured in vitro respectively, and the astrocyte conditioned medium (ACM), obtained by treating astrocytes with 10 mg/L LPS and different concentrations of ME for 24 h, was added in the culture fluid of neurons. The survival rate and apoptotic rate of neurons were measured by MTT method and AO/EB stain; and the changes of inflammatory factors in the ACM were determined by ELISA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The survival rate (%) of neurons treated by ACM with ME in concentrations of 18 mg/L, 36 mg/L, 72 mg/L and 144 mg/L was 52.55 +/- 3.52, 55.77 +/- 2.36, 64.89 +/- 3.45 and 73.67 +/- 1.80, respectively, significantly higher than that in the model neurons (43.62 +/- 4. 51, P < 0.05), while the apoptotic rate (%) in them, 68.11 +/- 2.16, 44.27 +/- 3.68, 32.56 +/- 2.14 and 21.89 +/- 2.46, respectively, was significantly lower than that in model neurons (71.33 +/- 3.25, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Level of IL-6 was decreasing along with the raising of ME concentration in the ACM, showing a concentration-dependent state.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ME shows apparent protective effect on neurons against inflammatory injury, especially in a high concentration (144 mg/L), which may be associated with the reduction of IL-6 secreted by astrocytes.</p>

Clinical observation of airening suppository in treatment of 30 patients with carcinoma fever / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of Airening Suppository (ARN) on carcinoma fever.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Adopting randomized and double-blinded method, 54 patients with carcinoma fever were randomly assigned to the observation group and the control group, who were treated respectively with ARN and indomethacin suppository by anal administering, 7 days as one treatment course. The effect on body temperature on patients and side effect occurred were observed 7 days after discontinuation of the medication, and patients' serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta were determined by RIA, routine test of blood, urine and stool, liver and renal function were tested as well. Body temperature, changes of clinical symptoms, and adverse reaction were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The effective rate of fever abating was 86.7% in the observation group and 66.7% in the control group, showing significant difference between them (chi2 = 8.06, P <0.05). After treatment, serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in the observation group were much lower than those in the control group (t = 7.477, t = 3.492, P <0.01). Besides, patients' chief clinical symptoms and quality of life were markedly improved in the observation group (t =4.71, P <0.05, chi2 =7.38, P <0.05), all better than those in the control group (P < 0.05). No evident effect on peripheral blood figure, or harmful impact on heart, liver and kidney function was found.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Airening Suppository has a standing and stable fever abating effect in treating cancerous fever with no obvious adverse reaction, so it is worthy of clinical use and spreading.</p>