Effects of jingyuankang capsules on leukocyte level in AIDS patients.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effects of Jingyuankang capsules for leukopenia in AIDS patients. METHODS: In this randomized double-blind trial, 58 patients orally took Jingyuankang capsule, analog Leucogen tablet and the HAART (highly active anti-retroviral therapy) drugs, and the other 58 patients took Leucogen tablet, analog Jingyuankang capsule and the HAART drugs all for 6 months, during which the peripheral hemogram was periodically examined to observe the therapeutic effects of Jingyuankang capsule for leukopenia of the AIDS patients. RESULTS: With good therapeutic effect for leukopenia of the AIDS patients, Jingyuankang capsule can enhance leukocyte level as effective as Leucogen tablet in treating grade I and grade II leukopenia, and more effectively than Leucogen tablet in treating grade III leukopenia. No toxic side-effects and adverse reactions were found during the treatment and in the follow-up visit. CONCLUSION: Jingyuankang capsule can effectively treat leukopenia of the AIDS patients.

Tumor necrosis factor--alpha gene promoter polymorphisms in Chinese patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases.

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) encompasses a histopathological spectrum of clinical conditions such as simple fatty liver (steatosis), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and a variant that has degrees of fibrosis. Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alphalpha) is considered essential for NAFLD. Therefore, we investigated the correlation between TNF-alphalpha gene promoter polymorphism and NAFLD in this human study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The TNF-alpha gene polymorphisms at position -238 and -308 were analyzed in 189 Chinese patients with NAFLD and 138 healthy controls by using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. The serum levels of TNF-alpha in both patient and control groups were measured by ELISA. The associations of TNF-alpha polymorphism and serum TNF-alpha, and/or insulin resistance, and/or clinical features were analyzed. RESULTS: The carrier frequencies of TNF-alpha gene polymorphism with G/A mutation at -238 were significantly higher in the patients with NAFLD than those in the control subjects (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences between the NAFLD patients and control subjects in the polymorphisms at -308 (p > 0.05). In addition, the serum level of TNF-alpha was markedly higher in the patients with NAFLD than in the control subjects (p < 0.05). There were significant associations between TNF-alpha gene polymorphism in the -238 A allele and increased serum TNF-alpha, insulin resistance, as well as increased body mass index in the NAFLD patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the TNF-alpha gene polymorphism at position -238 is associated with susceptibility of nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in a Chinese population.