Effect and Safety of Hydroxysafflor Yellow A for Injection in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke of Blood Stasis Syndrome: A Phase II, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Multiple-Dose, Active-Controlled Clinical Trial / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To assess the effect and safety of Hydroxysafflor Yellow A for Injection (HSYAI) in treating patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and blood stasis syndrome (BSS).@*METHODS@#A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, multiple-dose, active-controlled phase II trial was conducted at 9 centers in China from July 2013 to September 2015. Patients with moderate or severe AIS and BSS were randomly assigned to low-, medium-, high-dose HSYAI groups (25, 50 and 70 mg/d HSYAI by intravenous infusion, respectively), and a control group (Dengzhan Xixin Injection (, DZXXI) 30 mL/d by intravenous infusion), for 14 consecutive days. The primary outcome was the Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score ⩽1 at days 90 after treatment. The secondary outcomes included the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score ⩽1, Barthel Index (BI) score ⩾95, and BSS score reduced ⩾30% from baseline at days 14, 30, 60, and 90 after treatment. The safety outcomes included any adverse events during 90 days after treatment.@*RESULTS@#Of the 266 patients included in the effectiveness analysis, 66, 67, 65 and 68 cases were in the low-, medium-, and high-dose HSYAI and control groups, respectively. The proportions of patients in the medium- and high-dose HSYAI groups with mRS score ⩽1 at days 90 after treatment were significantly larger than the control group (P0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#HSYAI was safe and well-tolerated at all doses for treating AIS patients with BSS. The medium (50 mg/d) or high dose (75 mg/d) might be the optimal dose for a phase III trial. (Registration No. ChiCTR-2000029608).

Effect of up-regulation of Shh-Gli1 signaling pathway on radioresistance and cell cycle in human esophageal cancer cell line Eca109 / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To investigate the relationship between Sonic Hedgehog(Shh)signaling pathway and cell cycle and radioresistance of esophageal cancer by up-regulating Gli1,a key factor in Shh signaling pathway.METHODS:The human esophageal cancer cell line Eca 109 was transfected with plasmid to induce Gli 1 over-expression,which served as Eca109-ox-Gli1 group.In addition, Eca109 cells transfected with empty plasmid served as negative control group and the untreated Eca109 cells were used as normal control group.The expression of Gli1 was confirmed by real-time PCR and Western blot.The radiosensitivity of the cells in the 3 groups was determined by colony formation assay.The effect of irra-diation on the cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry.RESULTS:The expression of Gli1 in Eca109-ox-Gli1 group was higher than that in the other 2 groups(P<0.05).The survival fraction at dose of 2 Gy in Eca109-ox-Gli1 group was high-er than that in normal control group, indicating that the radioresistance of the Eca 109 cells transfected with Gli1 plasmid was increased.The cells in Eca109-ox-Gli1 group showed higher S phase proportion than that in normal control group and negative control group(P<0.01).After irradiation at dose of 6 Gy,all cells in the 3 groups found that the cell cycle was arrested at G2/M phase,while the cells in normal control group showed higher G 2/M phase proportion than that in Eca109-ox-Gli1 group(P<0.01).CONCLUSION: The up-regulation of Gli1 may enhance the radioresistance of esophageal cancer by regulating the cell cycle.

Post-stroke constipation treated with acupuncture therapy of regulating qi circulation of fu-organ / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the difference in the efficacy on post-stroke constipation between acupuncture therapy of regulating qi circulation of fe-organ and Shengxue Tongbian Capsules.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-five patients of post-stroke constipation were randomized into an acupuncture group (39 cases) and a Chinese medicine group (36 cases). The unit mode comprehensive therapy of stroke was adopted as basic treatment in the two groups. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture therapy of regulating qi circulation of fu-organ was added at Tianshu (ST 25), Zhigou (TE 6), Qihai (CV 6) and Zusanli (ST 36), once every day. In the Chinese medicine group, Shengrue Tongbian Capsules were supplemented for oral administration, once every day, 10 g each time. The clinical symptom score of constipation was observed before treatment, after 1 and 2 weeks treatment in the two groups, respectively. The efficacy in 1 week and 2 weeks of treatment and the adverse reaction were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In 1 and 2 weeks of treatment, the clinical symptom score of constipation was reduced significantly as compared with that before treatment in the two groups (all P < 0.05). The improvements in the acupuncture group were significant than those in the Chinese medicine group in 2 weeks of treatment (8.03 +/- 2.38 vs 9.20 +/- 2.45, P < 0.05). Concerning to the occurrence of adverse reaction, there was 1 case of local bruises in needling local site in the acupuncture group; and there were 1 case of abdominal pain, 3 cases of diarrhea and 2 cases of nausea and vomiting in the Chinese medicine group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both the acupuncture therapy of regulating qi circulation of fu-organ and Shengxue Tongbian Capsules achieve the significant efficacy on post-stroke constipation. The efficacy of the acupuncture therapy of regulating qi circulation of fe-organ is better and the adverse reaction is less after long-term persistent treatment.</p>

The combined application of scalp and body acupuncture by stages for low limb dysfunction of patients with apoplexy / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To verify the clinical efficacy on the function recovery of lower extremities for patients with cerebral apoplexy by the staging treatment with the combined therapy of the scalp and body acupuncture.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninty-six cases were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 48 cases in each one. The conventional medication and rehabilitation therapy were given in each group. In the observation group, the combined therapy of the scalp acupuncture and the body acupuncture was provided by stages. At the flaccid stage, Futu (ST 32), Xuehai (SP 10), Zusanli (ST 36), etc. were selected. At the spasmodic stage, Huantiao (GB 30), Xuehai (SP 10), Yanglingquan (GB 34), etc. were selected. In combination with the scalp acupuncture the anterior oblique line of vertex-temploral (motor area) on the affected side was selected. In the control group, the acupoints were not selected according to the disease stages and no scalp acupuncture was applied, and the cases were treated with the needling technique as "regaining consciousness" and in light of the principle as "Yangming meridians specialized for Wei syndrome". The treatment lasted continuously for 8 weeks. The modified Fugl-Meyer motor function assessment (FMA) and Barthel index (BI) were used to assess the motor function of the lower extremities and the activities of daily living before and after treatment for the patients in two groups separately.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>FMA and BI score were all improved apparently after treatment for the patients in two groups (all P < 0.05), and FMA and BI score after treatment in the observation group were all higher than those in the control group (both P < 0.05). In 8 weeks treatment, the walking ability rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group [56.3% (27/48) vs 35./4% (17/48), P < 0.05]. The walking speed in the observation group was faster than that in the control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The combined therapy of the scalp and body acupuncture in the staging treatment improves obviously the motor function of the lower extremities and the activities of daily living for the patients with cerebral apoplexy. This therapy recovers as quickly as possible the walking ability and speed for the patients, which is superior to the conventional acupuncture in comparison.</p>

Acupuncture at points of the liver and gallbladder meridians for treatment of migraine: a multi-center randomized and controlled study / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the therapeutic effect and safety of acupuncture at points of The Liver and Gallbladder Meridians for treatment of migraine.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Multi-central, randomized and controlled trial was used and 253 cases of migraine were divided into an acupuncture group and a western medicine group. The acupuncture group was treated with acupuncture at points of The Liver and Gallbladder Channels with Taichong (LR 3), Yang-lingquan (GB 34), Fengchi (GB 20), Ququan (LR 8) selected as main points, and the western medicine group with oral administration of Flunarizine tablets for 4 therapeutic courses. The total therapeutic effects 3 and 6 months after the treatment, the scores of various symptoms of migraine before and after treatment, and the stability of therapeutic effect in one-year following-up survey were observed in the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, mean times and duration of the headache attack were significantly improved in the two groups (all P < 0.01) with the acupuncture group better than the western medicine group (P < 0.05). The total effective rates for stopping pain after treatment, 3 months and 6 months after treatment in the acupuncture group were 93.0%, 93.0% and 87.7%, respectively, which were better than 85.6%, 86.5% and 69.2% in the western medication group (all P < 0.01). One year later, the stability of the therapeutic effect in the acupuncture group was better than that in the western medicine group (P < 0.05); the adverse reaction and the compliance in the acupuncture group were significantly superior to those in the western medicine group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture at points of The Liver and Gallbladder Meridians for treatment of migraine is safe, effective, and with stable long-term therapeutic effect.</p>

Clinical observation on Tongdu Tiaojin needling method for treatment of blepharoptosis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare therapeutic effects of Tongdu Tiaojin needling method and routine acupuncture method on blepharoptosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-eight cases of blepharoptosis were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 29 cases in each group. The observation group was treated by Tongdu Tiaojin needling method with Baihui (GV 20), Fengchi (GB 20), Houxi (SI 3), Yintang (EX-HN 3) selected, and the control group by routine acupuncture method with Cuanzhu (BL 2), Yangbai (GB 14), Sizhukong (TE 23) selected. They were treated for 3 courses and one course was constituted by 10 sessions.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cured rate of 41.4% and the effective rate of 82.8% in the observation group were better than 24.1% and 48.2% in the control group (P<0.05); after treatment, the palpebral fissure widened and the level of the palpebra superior shading the cornea was alleviated in the two groups, but the observation group was superior to the control group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Tongdu Tiaojin needling method has a definite therapeutic effect on blepharoptosis.</p>

Treatment of 120 cases of pseudobulbar palsy of wind-phlegm type with needling method for dispelling wind and expelling phlegm / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe clinical therapeutic effects of needling method for dispelling wind and expelling phlegm on pseudobulbar palsy of wind-phlegm type.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two hundred and forty cases of pseudobulbar palsy of wind-phlegm type were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 120 cases in each group, and they were treated by needling method for dispelling wind and expelling phlegm, and intravenous dripping of cytidine diphosphate choline injection plus blank needling method, respectively. One month later, main symptoms and signs were systematically compared and assessed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cured rate and the total effective rate were 40.7% and 89.0% in the observation group respectively, which were superior to 7.6% and 37.0% in the control group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The needling method for dispelling wind and expelling phlegm has obvious therapeutic effect on pseudobulbar palsy of wind-phlegm type.</p>

The effects of adenovirus-mediated human COX-2 antisense RNA on the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between the expression of COX-2 and liver cancer and construct a recombinant adenovirus encoding human COX-2 antisense RNA, and then to investigate its effects on liver cancer cell proliferation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression of COX-2 in 34 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma and in SMMC-7402 and SMMC-7721 cell lines was studied by using immunohistochemical techniques. The shuttle plasmid encoding anti-sense COX-2 was constructed by using cloning COX-2 cDNA fragment in the reverse direction into the pHCMVSPIA. Then the plasmid pJM17 and the shuttle plasmid were co-transferred into 293 cells with lipofectamine for homologous recombination to acquire recombinant adenovirus (Ad-AShcox-2), which was confirmed by PCR. Human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines SMMC-7402 and SMMC-7721 were transduced in vitro. The cell apoptosis and cell cycle were analyzed by flow cytometry. The cell proliferation was determined by colony-forming efficiency.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>We observed COX-2 expression in 82.4% of the hepatocellular carcinomas and SMMC-7402 cell line, but no COX-2 expression in the SMMC-7721 cell line. In addition, the recombinant adenovirus encoding anti-sense COX-2 fragment Ad-AShcox-2 was obtained with a titer of 1.06 x 10(12) PFU/ml. Ad-AShcox-2 reduced the expression of COX-2 and enhanced the percentage of cells into G1/G0 phase in the SMMC-7402 cell line. The difference of apoptotic index between the Ad-AShcox-2 group and the control group was statistically significant in SMMC-7402 but not in SMMC-7721. Similarly, colony-forming rates of SMMC-7402 and SMMC-7721 cell lines after Ad-AShcox-2 being transferred were (2.7+/-0.94)% and (33.6+/-4.24)%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>By reducing the expression of COX-2 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells with the expression of COX-2, the cells could be inhibited.</p>