Research progress in pharmacological effectsand mechanism of Fel Ursi against cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases / 中国中药杂志

Fel Ursi is a dried product obtained from the gallbladder of Ursidae animals, such as Selenarctos thibetanus or Ursus arctos, through gallbladder surgery for bile drainage. It is one of the rare animal medicinal materials in China and is known for its therapeutic effects, including clearing heat, removing toxins, extinguishing wind, relieving spasms, clearing the liver, and improving vision. Research has also found that Fel Ursi has pharmacological effects against cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant stress properties. Recently, numerous studies have confirmed the close relationship between cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and the gut microbiota as well as gut metabolites. Fel Ursi contains bile acid components that may have bidirectional regulatory effects on the gut microbiota and gut metabolites. This aspect could represent a potential therapeutic pathway for Fel Ursi in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. This article comprehensively summarized relevant literature in China and abroad, reviewed the research progress on the pharmacological effects of Fel Ursi against cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and explored the impact of Fel Ursi on gut microbiota and gut metabolites, thereby aiming to provide references for further in-depth research and clinical application of Fel Ursi.

Danshen-Chuanxiongqin Injection attenuates cerebral ischemic stroke by inhibiting neuroinflammation via the TLR2/ TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB Pathway in tMCAO mice / 中国天然药物

Danshen-Chuanxiongqin Injection (DCI) is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of cerebral ischemic stroke in China. However, its underlying mechanisms remain completely understood. The current study was designed to explore the protective mechanisms of DCI against cerebral ischemic stroke through integrating whole-transcriptome sequencing coupled with network pharmacology analysis. First, using a mouse model of cerebral ischemic stroke by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO), we found that DCI (4.10 mL·kg

Investigation of oral health knowledge, attitude, behavior of 12-15 years old children in Chongqing / 华西口腔医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the status of oral health knowledge, attitude, behavior of 12-15 years old children and provide a theoretical basis of prevention.@*METHODS@#Multi-stage stratified sampling method was used to extract four middle school students from Chongqing districts and counties (2 in the main urban area and 2 suburbs), and their oral health knowledge, attitudes and behaviors were investigated through questionnaires. All data were entered using Epidata and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 21.0 software.@*RESULTS@#A total of 3 902 valid questionnaires were collected. The proportion of people who had good brushing habits was 39.7% (1 548), the average oral health knowledge accuracy rate was 58.9%, and the average oral health positive attitude was 88.6%. The number of middle school students who attended the dental experience was 54.5% (2 127), and that of the school who received oral health education was 17.5% (681). There were gender and regional differences in brushing habits.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The knowledge and behavior of oral health among 12-15-year-old middle school students in Chongqing need to be improved. Oral health education for middle school students should be strengthened, especially in rural and suburban areas.

Auricular point sticking for relieving pain in arteriovenous fistula puncture / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of auricular point sticking at different points to relieve the pain in arteriovenous fistula puncture. Methods: A total of 42 patients with arteriovenous fistula were randomized into a Shenmen (TF4) group and an Elbow (SF3) group by the random number table method, with 21 cases in each group. After enrolled into different groups, before the dialysis, patients were given auricular point sticking with Wang Bu Liu Xing ( Semen Vaccariae) seeds at Shenmen (TF4) and Elbow (SF3), respectively. Patients were asked to press the seeds themselves for 2 min each time, four times a day, and an additional 5-15 min before the arteriovenous fistula puncture. Intensive pressing was offered during the puncture, 15-20 presses for each time, and the plasters were changed every 2-3 d. The numerical rating scale (NRS) was used to score the pain level one week before and after auricular point sticking. The NRS score was then compared and analyzed. Results: The intra-group comparison showed that the changes of NRS score in both groups were statistically significant after auricular point sticking (both P＜0.05). After the treatment, there was no significant difference in NRS score between the two groups (P＞0.05). Conclusion: Auricular point sticking at Shenmen (TF4) or Elbow (SF3) can effectively relieve the pain of arteriovenous fistula puncture, and these two points have equivalent analgesic effect.

Potential hepatic and renal toxicity induced by the biflavonoids from Ginkgo biloba / 中国天然药物

Evidence continues to grow on potential health risks associated with Ginkgo biloba and its constituents. While biflavonoid is a subclass of the flavonoid family in Ginkgo biloba with a plenty of pharmacological properties, the potential toxicological effects of biflavonoids remains largely unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro and in vivo toxicological effects of the biflavonoids from Ginkgo biloba (i.e., amentoflavone, sciadopitysin, ginkgetin, isoginkgetin, and bilobetin). In the in vitro cytotoxicity test, the five biflavonoids all reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner in human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) and human normal hepatocytes (L-02), indicating they might have potential liver and kidney toxicity. In the in vivo experiments, after intragastrical administration of these biflavonoids at 20 mg·kg·d for 7 days, serum biochemical analysis and histopathological examinations were performed. The activity of alkaline phosphatase was significantly increased after all the biflavonoid administrations and widespread hydropic degeneration of hepatocytes was observed in ginkgetin or bilobetin-treated mice. Moreover, the five biflavonoids all induced acute kidney injury in treated mice and the main pathological lesions were confirmed to the tubule, glomeruli, and interstitium injuries. As the in vitro and in vivo results suggested that these biflavonoids may be more toxic to the kidney than the liver, we further detected the mechanism of biflavonoids-induced nephrotoxicity. The increased TUNEL-positive cells were detected in kidney tissues of biflavonoids-treated mice, accompanied by elevated expression of proapoptotic protein BAX and unchanged levels of antiapoptotic protein BCL-2, indicating apoptosis was involved in biflavonoids-induced nephrotoxicity. Taken together, our results suggested that the five biflavonoids from Ginkgo biloba may have potential hepatic and renal toxicity and more attentions should be paid to ensure Ginkgo biloba preparations safety.

An investigation on the need, the utilization, and the influencing factors of dental services for pre-school children in selected areas in Chongqing province / 华西口腔医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#The aim of this study is to survey the need, the utilization, and the influencing factors of dental services for children in selected areas in Chongqing province by investigating their oral health status. The survey will provide references for preventive oral health care in targeted Chongqing areas, which may improve the level of oral health among pre-school children.@*METHODS@#Random cluster sampling was utilized according to standards of the Fourth National Oral Health Epidemiological sampling survey, and 1 300 children between the ages of three and four years old from 24 kindergartens in 12 subdistricts of three areas in Chongqing were interviewed for free dental checkups and to participate in the survey. The questionnaires were designed according to the Anderson model and were answered by the children's parents. The results were analyzed utilizing Chi-square test logistic regression.@*RESULTS@#The prevalence rate of caries among the pre-school children in selected areas of Chongqing was 55.4%, the decay, missing, filled surface (dmfs) was 6 696, the mean dmfs was 5.2, and the caries filling constituent ratio was 2.3%. A total of 1 173 questionnaires were analyzed. The ratio for seeing a dentist for therapeutic reasons was 6.31% (74/1 173) and for prevalence was 22.93% (269/1 173).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The oral health service needs of pre-school children in selected areas of Chongqing are large and the oral health service utilization rate is low. Oral health care processes are arduous; thus, targeted oral prevention policies should be created.

Construction of human telomerase reverse transcriptase periodontal ligament cell line mediated by adenovirus / 华西口腔医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#This study aims to establish an effective and stable periodontal ligament cell line stably expressing human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene by using the adenovirus method.@*METHODS@#Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify the full length of hTERT gene to construct recombinant adenovirus plasmid pAd-pshuttle-cmv-hTERT. Packaged adenovirus particles were used for infection of human periodontal ligament cells. The expression levels of hTERT and osteogenic genes, such as alkaline phosphatase, Runt-related transcription factor 2, bone sialoprotein, osteocalcin, osteopontin, and collagen Ⅰ mRNA, were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The ability of osteogenic differentiation was observed by alizarin red staining, and the cell proliferation was determined by CCK-8.@*RESULTS@#Adenovirus particles containing the hTERT gene were successfully constructed and infected with periodontal ligament cells. The infected cells were similar to normal periodontal ligament cells. The qRT-PCR results showed that hTERT and osteogenesis-associated genes were highly expressed in the periodontal ligament cell lines constructed by adenoviruses. Alizarin red staining showed that the periodontal ligament cell line had strong osteogenic differentiation capability. CCK-8 showed that the periodontal ligament cell line had strong proliferation capability.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The human periodontal ligament cell line with high efficiency and stable expression of hTERT was established by the adenovirus method, thereby providing an ideal cell line for studying the mechanism of periodontal regeneration.

Study of Serum Metabonomics and Formula-Pattern Correspondence in Coronary Heart Disease Patients Diagnosed as Phlegm or Blood Stasis Pattern Based on Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To study the characteristics of serum metabonomics in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients diagnosed as phlegm or blood stasis pattern and explore effects of formula-pattern correspondence treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 102 stable CHD patients were enrolled and divided into phlegm group (P group, n=52) and blood stasis group (BS group, n=50) according to pattern identifification. Gualou Xiebai Banxia Decoction (, GXBD) and Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (, XZD) were used as drug interventions. Relevant indicators of metabonomics were observed by ultra performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) and pattern recognition.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Levels of amino acids and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in the CHD group were much higher than those in healthy control group, while the levels of unsaturated fatty acids, sphingosine, Lyso, phosphatidylcholine (PC) were signifificantly lower (P<0.01). Most of the differential metabolites between the CHD and the healthy groups were also common metabolites of phlegm and blood stasis. 7(Z), 10(Z)-hexadecadienoic acid and DPA were decreased in the P group and increased in the BS group. According to the quantity of retraced metabolites, improvement in metabonomics by formula-pattern correspondence was superior to that without correspondence in the BS group. Based on the varieties of metabolites, GXBD could improve the levels of docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), sphingomyelin (SM) (d34:1), and L-Lactic acid and XZD could ameliorate the levels of sphingosine and Vit E in the P group. In the BS group, GXBD could improve vitamin E level and XZD could make improvements in the levels of octadecanoic acid, phosphoglycerol, and SM (d34:1).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Phlegm and blood stasis in CHD patients present specifific differential metabolites, and share common metabolites. Remarkable differences have been displayed in pathological properties and severity of phlegm and blood stasis. Patients with phlegm are more likely to have lipid metabolism disorders. However, in patients with blood stasis, problems mainly lie in glucose, protein and fat metabolism and the injury of vascular cell membrane is relatively severe. The metabolic disorder is more complicated in blood stasis pattern than that in phlegm pattern. Compared with non-correspondence, improvement of differential metabolites is more comprehensive and targeted in formulapattern correspondence with a better effect.</p>

Research progress of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, a safety-related substance in traditional Chinese medicine injections / 中国中药杂志

Screening out the safety-related substances and establishing the corresponding standard has been a key research issue to improve the safety of traditional Chinese medicine injections(TCMIs). 5-HMF which widely exists in sugar-containing TCMIs has long been considered as an important safety-related substance. In this review, we summarizes the research progress on the toxicology of 5-HMF as well as the content and standards of 5-HMF in TCMIs.Therein, both literature summary and analysis results indicate that there are lack of toxicology researches of 5-HMF and its metabolites in TCMIs, although the potential toxicity of 5-HMF and its metabolites has been reported. Moreover, the content of 5-HMF largely varies from TCMIs to TCMIs, and even in the same TCMIs from different factories. To ensure the clinical efficacy of TCMIs, it urgent to carry out the study of the toxicology of 5-HMF in TCMIs comprehensively and systematically, so as to set up a relatively uniform standard as well as to develop process quality control method.

Toxicogenomics and its application in safety evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine / 中国中药杂志

Toxicogenomics (TGx) refers to a set of technologies that assess genome-wide responses after toxic agent exposure. Altered gene expression patterns that are caused by specific exposures reveal how toxicants may disrupt cellular processes and lead to side effects. Development and application of " omics" technology facilitate the toxicogenomic research which sharing and interpretation of the enormous amount of biological information generated in toxicologic field. In recent years TGx has been widely valued and successfully applied as an effective research tool to evaluate the toxic effects of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Here we reviewed current progress in the field of TGx and focused on its application in traditional Chinese medicine safety evaluation, especially in revealing the mechanism, finding potential toxic biomarkers and studying compatibility detoxification of TCM.

Study on correspondence between prescription and syndrome and the essence of phlegm and blood stasis syndrome in coronary heart disease based on metabonomics / 中国结合医学杂志

Studying the essence of a syndrome has been a key challenge in the field of Chinese medicine. Until now, due to limitations of the methods available, the progress towards understanding such complicated systems has been slow. Metabonomics encompasses the dynamics, composition and analysis of metabolites, enabling the observation of changes in the metabolic network of the human body associated with disease. Being from the point of view of the whole organism, metabonomics provides an opportunity to study the essence of a syndrome to an unprecedented level. Phlegm and blood stasis syndrome is the main syndrome associated with coronary heart disease (CHD), which bring difficulties in clinical treatment due to difficulties associated with differentiation of symptoms and signs. The fundamental differences of material between the two also need to be interpreted. The authors consider that we can use the method of combining a disease (in this case CHD) with associated syndromes (phlegm and blood stasis syndrome) to select patients with phlegm and blood stasis syndrome of CHD, and utilize metabonomics to explore the essence of the syndrome by difference analysis of metabolite spectra. Meanwhile, we can study the syndrome in CM, observe the change regularity of metabolism spectra after the treatment of corresponding and non-corresponding prescription and syndrome, in order to validate the material fundament in the progress of syndrome formation and their differences. This will not only have great significance in enhancing the ability to identify syndrome of phlegm and blood stasis in CHD and to establish the clinical curative criteria, but will also offer a new approach of studying the essence for a syndrome using metabonomics.

Experimental study on two-way application of drugs with neutral property for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis on cold and heat blood stasis syndromes II / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To further study the characteristics of drugs with neutral property in two-way application and conditioned dominance by observing the action characteristic of 10 traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property in hemorheological indicators of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome and cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The model of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats was established by injecting carrageenan and dry yeast, while the model of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats was established by body freezing. Subsequently, 10 traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property, 5 traditional Chinese medicines with heat property and 5 traditional Chinese medicines with cold property were selected for intervention to observe the changes in such indicators as whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity and hematocrit and analyze the action characteristics of drugs with neutral property.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>ANOVA showed that among six of the 10 traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property, including Typhae Pollen, Sarcandrae Herba and Sappan lignum, could obviously increase the hemorheological indicators of both heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome and cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats; five traditional Chinese medicines with cold property, such as Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Leonuri Herba, Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, could significantly ameliorate the hemorheological indicators of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), and Salvia Miltiorrhiza Radix et Rhizoma alone could ameliorate the hemorheological indicators of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats (P < 0.05); all of the five traditional Chinese medicines with heat property could significantly ameliorate the hemorheological indicators of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats (P < 0.01), among which Carthami Flos and Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma could significantly ameliorate the hemorheological indicators of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats. According to the average high-shear blood viscosity analysis, drugs with neutral property showed similar action characteristics to those with cold property in ameliorating hemorheology indicators of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rat and better effect than those with heat property in reducing whole blood viscosity; and traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property have the similar action characteristics to those with heat property in improving the hemorheology indicators of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rat and better effect than those with heat property in reducing whole blood viscosity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Under the condition of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property show the similar action characteristics to those with cold property; but under the condition of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property show the similar action characteristics to those with heat property. This indicates that traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property show both heat and cold properties under he conditions of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome and cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome.</p>

Effect of comprehensive control and prevention for chronic disease in demonstration plot of Chongqing / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of comprehensive control and prevention for chronic diseases in demonstration plot of Chongqing.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Residents were enrolled through multi-stage stratified random sampling method from 17 districts or counties which had successfully established demonstration plots and 21 districts or counties which had not established demonstration plots (non-demonstration plot for short) yet on May, 2012. Questionnaire was designed to survey awareness of health knowledge, health behaviors and utilization of health supportive tools. The results were analyzed by SPSS 15.0 software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>We investigated 15 108 residents, 6156 of which were in demonstration plot and others (8951) were not. The findings revealed the percentage of the people who were aware the national action of health lifestyle in demonstration plot and in non-demonstration plot were 44.4% (2734/6157) and 40.2% (3598/8951), respectively, and the awareness of the hypertension risk of too much sodium were 72.4% (4458/6156) and 67.5% (6042/8951), respectively, and the awareness of the cardinal vascular disease (CVD) risk of obesity and overweight were 77.2% (4753/6157) and 69.6% (6230/8951), respectively. About the residents' health behaviors in demonstration plot and in non-demonstration plot, the utilization rates of salt restriction scoop or pot were 23.5% (1447/6157) and 17.9% (1602/8951), and the utilization rates of oil restriction pot were 16.7% (1028/6157) and 11.8% (1064/8951), respectively. Totally, 33 of the 37 indexes were shown higher in demonstration plot than that in non-demonstration plot (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The chronic diseases comprehensive control and prevention in demonstration plot was more effective, and the remarkable improvement of health knowledge and behaviors level had been achieved in demonstration plot.</p>

Experimental study on two-way application of traditional Chinese medicines capable of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis with neutral property in cold and hot blood stasis syndrome I / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the action characteristics of "two-way application and conditioned dominance" of traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property by observing the action characteristic of 10 traditional Chinese medicines capable of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis with neutral property in the microcirculation in rats with heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The rat model with heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome was established by injecting carrageenan and dry yeast, and the rat model with cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome was built by the body freezing method. Ten traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property, including 5 with hot property and 5 with cold property, were selected for intervention to observe blood flow rate and flow state indicators in rat auricles and make a comparative analysis on action characteristics of traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>ANOVA showed that among the 10 traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property, 6 such as Typhae Pollen, Sappan Lignum and Vaccariae Semen can obviously increase the blood flow rate (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) in the above two models; all of the 5 traditional Chinese medicines with cold property can increase the blood flow rate (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) in the rat model with heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, but only Salvia miltiorrhiza can increase the blood flow rate (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) in the rat models with cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, while other medicines showed no notable effect; among the 5 traditional Chinese medicines with hot property, Carthamus tinctorius and Ligusticum chuanxiong can increase the blood flow rate (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) in the rat models with cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, but had no obvious effect to the blood flow rate in the rat models with heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome. According to the analysis on average blood flow rate, traditional Chinese medicines with natural and cold properties showed similar effect on heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome and better effect in increasing blood flow rate than those with hot property; those with natural and hot properties showed similar effect and better effect in increasing blood flow rate than those with cold property.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Under the condition of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property have the similar action characteristics with those with cold property; wile under the condition of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property have the similar action characteristics with the Chinese medicinal herbs with hot property. This indicates the action characteristics of "two-way application and conditioned dominance" of traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property to some extent.</p>

Investigation of subjective well-being and influence factors among residents living in old districts in Wuhan, China / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the subjective well-being and its influence factors among residents living in old districts in Wuhan.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In June, 2011, a total of 500 residents living in Shanghai Street in Wuhan were recruited as subjects for this study by two-stage stratified random sampling method. The information of demographic features, health status, spare time, family status, interpersonal relationship and social environment were collected by self-made questionnaires naming "survey of satisfaction of residents living in old districts". The results were analyzed by single-factor and multi-factors analysis method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In this study, 448 samples of questionnaire were answered qualified (89.6%, 448/500). The subjects aged (51.3 ± 16.1) years old. The single-factor analysis showed that male and female influence the subjective happiness got 5.43 ± 1.66, 5.77 ± 1.65 (U = -2.32, P < 0.05);the age of 0 - 45, 46 - 59, 60 and above group got 5.12 ± 1.68, 5.47 ± 1.81, 6.29 ± 1.23, respectively (H = 43.07, P < 0.01); the unmarried, married, divorced, loss of spouse and remarriage groups got 5.18 ± 1.94, 5.74 ± 1.54, 4.00 ± 2.04, 5.68 ± 1.91, 6.63 ± 0.92, respectively (H = 17.41, P < 0.01); education background were primary school and blow, junior middle school, senior high school, bachelor degree, master degree and above got 6.30 ± 1.42, 5.55 ± 1.82, 5.90 ± 1.46, 5.07 ± 1.74, 4.75 ± 2.22 (H = 26.99, P < 0.01); monthly household income was ¥0 - 2000, ¥2001 - 4000, ¥4001 - 8000, ¥8001 - 10 000, ¥10 000 and above got 5.34 ± 1.87, 5.68 ± 1.53, 6.20 ± 1.07, 7.33 ± 0.58, 6.00 ± 0.00, respectively (H = 13.85, P < 0.01). The subjective satisfaction of social environment ranked from high to low were: city public security (56.0%, 248/448), traffic environment (44.9%, 199/448), community environment (14.9%, 66/448), housing conditions (13.8%, 61/448) and medical environment (8.2%, 36/448). Multiple regression model suggested that the determinant coefficient was 0.53(P < 0.01), with a good degree of fitting. The model showed that the factors influencing the residents' happiness were ranked: social environment (β' = 0.34), family status (β' = 0.32), health status (β' = 0.21), education background (β'(0-6) school year = 0.00, β'(7-9) school year = -0.12, β'(9-12) school year = 0.04, β'(>12) school year = -0.14), monthly household income (β' = 0.07) and marital status (β'(unmarried) = 0.00, β'(married) = 0.03, β'(divorced) = -0.03, β'(widowed) = 0.01, β'(remarried) = 0.02).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The factors that social environment, family status, health status, education background, monthly household income and marital status could influence the subjective happiness of residents living in old districts in Wuhan. A perfect social security system could improve the subjective happiness of residents in old districts in Wuhan.</p>

Key points in treating hypertension by integrative medicine / 中国中西医结合杂志

In China there exist "three high", "three low" and "three no" phenomena in hypertension, so the task of prevention and treatment of hypertension is urgent and difficult. Practices show that treatment by integrative medicine is the best way to prevent and treat hypertension. In clinics several key points should be noticed: holding the difference of therapy philosophy between Chinese medicine and Western medicine, objectively evaluating the curative efficacy of Chinese medicine and Western medicine, insisting on compatible application of Chinese herbs and Western drugs, stressing the combination of disease identification and syndrome typing, preventing and treating target organs' damage in a scientific way, and paying attention to non-drug treatment of hypertension.

A multi-center randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of Xiongshao Capsule in preventing restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention: a subgroup analysis of senile patients / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Xiongshao Capsule (XS), consisting of Chuangxiongol and paeoniflorin, in preventing restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in senile coronary heart disease (CHD) patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted. A total of 335 CHD patients were randomly assigned to treatment with oral administration of XS, or a placebo for 6 months after successful PCI. A clinical follow-up was performed at 1, 3 and 6 months after PCI and an angiographic follow-up was scheduled at 6 months. The primary endpoint was angiographic restenosis defined as a luminal stenosis ≥ 50% in follow-up. The secondary endpoints were combined incidence of death, target lesion nonfatal myocardial infarction, repeat target-vessel angioplasty, and coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). The follow-up for the above clinical endpoint events was continued to 1 year after PCI.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The subgroup analysis of 152 senile patients (68 cases angiographic follow-up) showed that the restenosis rates tended to reduce in the XS group as compared with that in the placebo group (24.32% vs. 38.71%, P > 0.05), and the minimum lumen diameter (MLD) significantly increased in the follow-up (2.15 ± 0.84 for XS vs. 1.73 ± 0.91 for placebo, P < 0.05). The incidence of recurrent angina at 3 and 6 months after PCI was also significantly reduced in the XS group (4.11% and 12.33%) as compared with those in the placebo group (17.72% and 43.04%), but there was no significant difference in the combined incidence of clinical outcomes (6.85% in the XS group vs. 11.39% in the placebo group, P > 0.05). No significant adverse reactions occurred within the 6-month follow-up period in the XS group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Administration of XS in addition to standardized Western medication for 6 months is demonstrated to be safe and effective in reducing post-PCI recurrent angina and inhibiting luminal restenosis after PCI in senile CHD patients.</p>

Umbilical cord serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1, insulin and growth hormone in neonates with intrauterine growth retardation / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the levels of insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1), insulin (INS)and growth hormone (GH) in the cord blood of neonates with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), and to assess the effects of the endocrine environment on IUGR.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-three newborn infants were selected, including 37 males and 26 females. According to birth weight, they were classified into IUGR group (n=33) and control group (normal birth weight, n=30). The levels of IGF-1, INS and GH in the cord blood were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Umbilical cord serum levels of IGF-1 and INS in the IUGR group were significantly lower than those in the control group. In contrast, umbilical cord serum GH levels in the IUGR group were significantly higher than those in the control group. Birth weight was positively correlated with umbilical cord serum IGF-1 levels (r=0.625, P<0.01) and negatively correlated with GH levels (r=-0.257, P<0.05). Gestational age was positively correlated with umbilical cord serum IGF-1 levels (r=0.271, P<0.05). Multiple linear stepwise regression analysis showed that umbilical cord serum IGF-1 and INS levels were significant influential factors for birth weight.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The endocrine environment controls the growth and development of the fetus. The levels of IGF-1 and INS in the cord blood are associated with fetal weight. The low umbilical cord serum levels of IGF-1 may be one of the reasons for resulting in IUGR.</p>

Progress of research on aspirin resistance and its related course of integrative medical research / 中国中西医结合杂志

Aspirin is the most classic anti-platelet drug, plays its important role in preventing and treating cardio- and cerebro-vascular diseases for its excellent potency ratio; however, there exists individual difference in its anti-platelet effect, aspirin resistance (AR) presented in about 25%-40% of patients, which seriously influences the intervention effect of aspirin. So AR has become a clinical problem that attached more attention. In this paper, the authors put forward a new thinking for clinical studying and inventing new effective Chinese drugs on AR by means of screen out AR suffered from cardio/cerebro-vascular patients long-term received aspirin; find their gene difference sites from MtSNP to establish a foundation for AR predication and reasonable strategy formation; meantime, through platelet intervention in vitro adopting uniform design optimization method to explore the best compatibility and matching relationship of anti-platelet Chinese medicine for AR prevention and treatment, so as to fully display the multi-target intervening effects of Chinese drug-therapy.

Effects of Xiongshao capsule on blood vessel collagenase gene expression in experimental rabbits with arterial restenosis / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of Xiongshao Capsule (XSC) on blood vessel collagenase gene expression in experimental rabbits with arterial restenosis, and to probe its mechanisms for preventing restenosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Restenosis rabbit model was established by injuring endothelium of abdominal aorta by balloon dilation and feeding with high fatty diet for 6 weeks. Eighty rabbits were randomly allocated into 8 groups, Group A, normal rabbit for control; Group B, rabbit with simple injured arterial endothelium; Group C, model rabbits at different times after modeling (3 days for Group C1, 2 weeks for Group C2, and 6 weeks for Group C3); Group D, model rabbit treated with Probucol for 6 weeks; Group E and F, model rabbit treated with small and large dose of XSC respectively. The effect of XSC on collagenase gene expression during the course of restenosis was observed adopting RT-PCR method and computer image analyzer, and its mechanisms in preventing RS were probed by combined analyzing the change of collagen and patho-morphological examination.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compensatory dilation of lumens appeared at the end of the 2nd week; while 6 weeks after modeling, the diameters of lumens obviously diminished with an apparently increased proliferation index. The cell proliferation inhibiting effect in Group D and F was significant. The total amount of collagen increased and reached the peak at the 2nd week but without conspicuous accumulation on intima, which increased gradually and reached its peak at the 6th week. In Group D-F, especially in Group F, the amount of collagen in vascular wall (intima, media and externa) was lesser than that in Groups C. MMP-1 mRNA showed weak expression in Group A and Group C1-C3; significant difference only existed in comparing Group F with C3 (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>XSC could markedly increase the MMP-1 mRNA expression in injured portion of vessels, suggesting that its action in preventing RS might be related with the up-regulating of MMP-1 mRNA expression, increasing collagen degradation and reducing collagen deposition in vascular wall.</p>