Changes of QT Dispersion in Hemodialysis Patients after Administrating Zhigancao Decoction () / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the alteration of QT dispersion (QTd) and QTc dispersion (QTcd) in hemodialysis patients after oral administration of Zhigancao Decoction (, Roasted Licorice Decoction, RLD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>To investigate the alteration of QTd and QTcd in 68 routine hemodialysis patients before and after hemodialysis with 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) after orally administrated RLD for 4 weeks. Blood was also taken for measurement of plasma electrolytes, liver function, renal function, hemoglobin (Hgb) and hematocrit (HCT).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After hemodialysis, QTd and QTcd were prolonged evidently; the difference was significant between before and after hemodialysis (P<0.05). After RLD orally administrated for 4 weeks, QTd and QTcd only slightly increased after dialysis compared with pre-dialysis (P>0.05). The QTd and QTcd of the post-therapy-post-dialysis decreased significantly compared with the pre-therapy-post-dialysis (P<0.05). There were no other significant changes in other variables (post-therapy-pre-dialysis vs. pre-therapy-pre-dialysis, or post-therapy-post-dialysis vs. pre-therapy-post-dialysis;P>0.05). After therapy, the number of patients with supraventricular arrhythmia, occasional ventricular premature beat and multiple ventricular premature beat were decreased from 15 to 4, 10 to 2 and 7 to 1, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>RLD therapy not only lowered the increased QTd and QTcd after hemodialysis, but also displayed a safety profile.</p>

Prophylactic herbal therapy prevents experimental ascending urinary tract infection in mice / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the preventive effect of herbal formulation on experimental murine urinary tract infection (UTI) induced by Dr Escherichia coli 11128.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>E. coli 11128 carrying Dr fimbriae was isolated from patients with chronic pyelonephritis. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of herbal solution for E. coli 11128 was determined for further studies. Forty C3H/HeJ mice were divided into the herb-treated group (n=20, given Chinese herbs by gavage at an average dose of 20 g/kg body weight daily 3 days before inoculation), and control group (n=20, given the same amount of distilled water by gavage). Three and 6 days after infection, bacteria were counted in the urine and the kidneys of the mice. Kidney histopathologic changes were evaluated. Neutrophils infiltration and accumulation were detected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The MIC value of herbal solution was 0.1 g/mL for the E. coli 11128. In herb-treated mice, there was a significant reduction in bacterial counts in urine and colonization densities of kidneys. Microscopic studies revealed signs of inflammation in kidneys. In herb-treated mice, herbal administration resulted in significantly reduced neutrophilic infiltrates (P<0.05). The semi-quantitative scores for renal lesions were significantly lower (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Prophylactic administration of herbal formulation potentiated the effect in partially preventing experimental murine ascending UTI.</p>

Clinical Observation on 25 Cases of Lupus Nephritis Treated by Chinese Medicines with the Function of Antioxidation / 中医杂志

Objective To observe the effect of Chinese Medicines with the function of antioxidation on lupus nephritis(LN)pa- tients.Methods The 25 LN patients consisting of renal function normal group(15 cases)and renal failure group(10 cases)were treated with Huang Qi(Radix Hedysari)and Shu Dihuang(Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata)as main ingredients for 6 months in suc- cession.Changes of symptom,systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index(SLEDAI),activity index(AI),lipid peroxide (LPO),superoxide dismutase(SOD),glutathione peroxide(GSH-Px),malondialchehyche(MDA),nitric oxide(NO),blood and urine routine examination,24-hour urine protein quantity,liver and kidney function,anti-double-stranded DNA(anti ds-DNA),complement 3(C_3)and complement 4(C_4),after treatment were observed.Results SLEDAI and AI scores were remarkably different from those before treatment(P