Research progress on icariin, a traditional Chinese medicine extract, in the treatment of asthma

Bronchial asthma is a common chronic airway disease, and long-term management of asthma is the focus and challenge of clinical treatment. Glucocorticoids are often used as the first choice for the treatment of asthma. However, the occurrence of hormone dependence, hormone resistance, and local and systemic adverse reactions caused by hormone application also creates problems for the treatment of asthma. Finding new, safe, and effective therapeutic drugs is an important research direction at present. Icariin is an effective ingredient of the traditional Chinese medicine, Epimedium. It has various biological attributes such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities, and immune regulation. It has high safety and a wide range of clinical applications. Icariin has the characteristics of multitargeted intervention in the treatment of asthma. Here, we review the specific mechanisms of icariin in treating asthma, and icariin is considered a novel therapy in controlling asthma; however, the mechanism is still worth further investigation (AU)

In vitro study of safety and co-efficiency of the transbronchial coagulation techniques / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The usual transbronchial coagulation techniques include microwave, argon plasma coagulation (APC), electrocautery and cryotherapy. However, there are serious clinical problems in the safety of each. By analyzing the experimental data and clinical observations, we observed the variable effects of different coagulation techniques via bronchofibroscopy, to look for an optimal interventional management of luminal bronchus diseases, and evaluate the safety and the equivalent point.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four kinds of coagulation techniques under bronchoscopy were performed on the fresh bronchus of healthy sheep, and the pathologic changes in all groups were observed under the microscope. The different treatment parameters were as follows: microwave 60 W×1 second, 3 seconds, 5 seconds and 40 W×1 second, 3 seconds, 5 seconds; APC 40 W×1 second, 3 seconds, 5 seconds; electrocautery 40 W×1 second, 3 seconds, 5 seconds; cryotherapy 100 Ω×60 seconds, 120 seconds.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, ovine bronchial mucosa in all groups showed pathologic changes such as local necrosis and amotio of the mucosa lining epithelium, local submucosa coagulative necrosis or tissue defects, while inflammation in the surrounding tissue was not obvious. Under the same output power and action time, different methods had different outcomes. The damage by APC was the most superficial, microwave was the second, and electrocautery caused the worst damage. The study also found that effects of electrocautery at 40 W×3 seconds, microwave at 40 W×5 seconds or 60 W×3 seconds, APC at 40 W×5 seconds and cryotherapy at 100 Ω×120 seconds were the equivalent point conditions. The appearance included mucosa absence, partial submucosa absence, and collagen fiber coagulation in treatment areas.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Each coagulation technique has its own characteristic. It is very important to choose the appropriate power and action time of the suitable method according to the therapy requirement.</p>

Investigation and analysis on Wenchuan area earthquake trauma to ear, nose and throat / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The epidemic data of Wenchuan area earthquake trauma of ear, nose and throat were investigated.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Affected families and sufferers of part of disaster area in Sichuan province in 2008 were investigated with emphasis on severity, cause and treatment of otorhinolaryngologic trauma.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Two hundred and twenty-seven cases of otorhinolaryngologic trauma in survival crowd 3 days after earthquake were included in this study. Most of them were minor trauma or complex lesion. There were 185 cases of soft tissue wound in head and face, 13 cases of fracture of the nose, 18 cases of hemorrhage of the nose, 7 cases of fracture of the skull base, 4 cases of lacerated wound of the auricle. Diagnosis and management were carried out by medical aid post and field ambulance on different condition. The methods of treatment included debridement and suture of soft tissue wound and positioning of fracture. If there was serious injury and accompanied complex lesion, the patients should be sent to hospital after emergent treatment. Forty-six cases were treated in medical aid post, except 3 cases of complex lesion by transportation, 43 cases recovered in 5 to 10 days after treatment. One hundred and eighty-one cases were treated in field ambulance, except 3 cases with fracture of skull base by transportation. Among 31 hospitalized patients, 26 recovered and were discharged before 26th of may, 5 were still in ward because of complex lesion. Among 147 cases treated out of wards with soft tissue wound, 146 cases recovered and bone fracture in rehabilitation. 1 case of lacerated wound of auricle was infected with delayed healing. There were no complication in all cases.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>For earthquake trauma of the ear, nose and throat, emergent management are debridement, suture and positioning of fracture. For seriously injured patient, transportation to hospital in time can decrease complications and death rate.</p>