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Objective To investigate the effects of acupoint therapy on inflammatory factors and its clini-cal efficacy in relieving bronchial asthma. Methods Selected patients with bronchial asthma which was in remis-sion were randomly divided into a treatment group that was treated with acupoint therapy and a control group that was given Seretide. Each group had 30 cases. The treatment period was 4 weeks. Both groups were evaluated in terms of Asthma Control Test ( ACT) scores and the serum content of interleukin-5 ( IL-5) and interleukin-10 ( IL-10) before and at one month ( short-term) , as well as three months after the end of the treatment ( long-term) . The asthma control situation ( fully controlled, partially controlled or uncontrolled) was evaluated. Results Before treatment the average ACT scores of the two groups were not significantly different. After the treatment both the short-term and long-term average ACT scores of the treatment group were significantly higher than those of the con-trol group. The total effectiveness rate of asthma control in the treatment group in the short term ( 93%) was signifi-cantly higher than that in the control group ( 70%) . After the treatment the IL-5 and IL-10 levels in the treatment group were improved to a significantly greater extent than those in the control group. Conclusion Acupoint thera-py can reduce airway inflammation, control bronchial asthma symptoms and show good clinical efficacy, probably by regulating IL-5 and IL-10 levels.
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This study was aimed to evaluate the feasibility of wind-warm lung-heat disease (non-severe community-acquired pneumonia, CAP) from the clinical curative effect, hospitalization days, medical expenses and other aspects. This study selected 198 wind-warm lung-heat disease (non-severe CAP) inpatients from January, 2012 to December, 2012 with the conventional therapy in the Respiratory Department, Wuhan Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) & Western Medicine Hospital as the control group. And another 179 wind-warm lung-heat disease (non-severe CAP) inpatients were selected from January, 2013 to December, 2013 with the TCM clinical pathway treatment in the Respiratory Department of the same hospital as the treatment group. Retrospective analysis was used to compare the clinical curative effects, hospitalization days, and medical cost differences. The results showed that TCM clinical pathway for wind-warm lung-heat disease (non-severe CAP) can shorten the hospitalization days and reduce patients’ medical costs, and ensure the clinical curative effects. It was concluded that the standardized TCM clinical pathway had positive effect on wind-warm lung-heat disease (non-severe CAP). Therefore, the formulation and implementation of TCM clinical pathway was of great significance in the treatment of wind-warm lung-heat disease (non-severe CAP).
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Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)granules made by the formula of Shegan Mahuang decoction for treatment of patients with asthma. Methods A prospective study was conducted,51 cases of light to moderate asthma(cold type)patients were randomly divided into treatment group (25 cases)and control group(26 cases). Conventional symptomatic treatments were of the same in two groups. The patients in control group were given salbutamol aerosol inhalation,100μg each time,4 times per day;based on the treatment of the control group,additionally the above mentioned TCM granules dissolved in water was administered orally 1 dose/day taken twice once in the morning and another once in the evening in treatment group. The therapeutic course was 12 weeks in both groups. Before and after treatment,the asthma control test(ACT)score,forced expiratory volume in 1 second(FEV1)and peak expiratory flow(PEF)were observed. The therapeutic effect,adverse reaction and compliance were evaluated. Results The number of patients with asthma completely controlled in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group(16 cases vs. 9 cases,χ2=4.82,P=0.028). In the patients of two groups,FEV1,PEF and ACT scores were significantly improved after treatment,and in the treatment group,they were obviously higher than those in control group〔FEV1(L):2.67±0.46 vs. 2.32±0.47,PEF(L/min):327.6±49.4 vs. 273.1±42.8,ACT score:22.8±2.0 vs. 21.1±2.6,all P<0.05〕. After treatment,FEV1%predicted value was increased in the treatment group but decreased in control group,there was significantly statistical difference〔(0.68±0.07)% vs.(0.80±0.11)%,P<0.05〕,no significant adverse reaction was found,compliance was good. Conclusion TCM granules made by formula of Shegan Mahuang decoction can improve the clinical symptoms, pulmonary function and control level in patients with asthma,so it is an effective medicine for the control of asthma.
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This study compared the efficacy and safety of tiotropium bromide inhalation powder (spiriva) and doxofylline oral tablet (doxofylline) in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A multi-center, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-controlled study involved 127 eligible stable moderate to severe COPD patients treated with inhaled tiotropium dry powder (18 μg/day) or oral doxofylline tablets (0.2 g/time, 2 times a day) for 12 and 24 weeks. Before and after treatment for 12 weeks and 24 weeks, respectively, pulmonary function, 6-min walking distance and dyspnea index were recorded. The results showed that in both tiotropium group and doxofylline groups, after 12-week treatment, FEV(1), FEV(1)/FVC% and 6-min walk distance were significantly higher than those before the medication, while dyspnea index decreased as compared with that before treatment. After 24-week treatment, a slight improvement in the measures was observed as compared with that of 12-weeks treatment, but the difference was not statistically significant. With both 12-week and 24-week treatment, the effect of tiotropium was slightly better than that of doxofylline tablets, with the difference being statistically insignificant. The major adverse events in the tiotropium group and doxofylline group were observed in 9 cases (9.9%) and 12 cases (12.9%), respectively, and no statistically significant difference was found between them. We are led to conclude that both tiotropium at 18 μg a day and doxofylline tablets at 0.2 g/day (two times a day) are effective and safe for the treatment of COPD.
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Background Behcet's disease is a refractory panuveitis with high blindness rate.Multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) is a useful tool for the evaluation of the function of the posterior retina.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to assess the characteristics of Behcet's disease using the mfERG.Methods mfERG was recorded in 68 eyes of 39 cases with active stage of Behcet's disease.All of the patients were diagnosed based on the Standard of International Study Group for Behcet's Disease and assigned to the cystoid macular edema (CME) group and the diffuse macular edema (DME) group after assessment by fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA).Seventeen normal subjects were used as controls.Oral informed consent was obtained from all of the subjects prior to this trial.mfERG recording followed the ISCEV Guidelines for Clinical Multifocal Electroretinography (2007 edition).The response density and latency of P1 and N1 waves in 6 rings were analyzed and compared.Results The amplitudes of N_1 waves from rings 1 through 6 and N1 wave from rings 1 through 5 were significantly declined in patients with Behcet's disease compared with normal control (P＜0.01).All of the latencies of P_1 waves from rings 1 through 6 were insignificantly shortened in patients with Behcet's disease compared with normal control (P＞0.05).The amplitudes of P_1 and N_1 waves from rings 1 through 6 in diffuse macular edema group were considerably lower than those in the cystoid macular edema group (P＜0.05,P＜0.01).A test of visual acuity showed a negative correlation to the amplitude and latency of N_1 wave (r=-0.36,-0.37,P＜0.05 ) and a positive correlation with the amplitude of N1 wave (r=0.43,P＜0.05) in the DME group.In the CME group,a test of visual acuity presented a negative correlation to the amplitude and latency of N1 wave and latency of P1 (r=-0.41,-0.35,-0.40,P＜0.05 ) and a positive correlation with the amplitude of P1 wave (r=0.48,P＜0.05).Conclusion mfEGR demonstrates that retinal electro-activity is abnormal in eyes with Behcet's disease.The distinct functional disorder is situated around the fovea.
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AIM: To investigate the effect of dexamethasone on eosinophil apoptosis and expression of interleukin-5 mRNA and interleukin-10 mRNA in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of asthmatic guinea pig. METHODS: 30 Hartley male guinea pigs were divided into 3 groups randomly: dexamethasone group, asthma group and control group. The EOS apoptosis, IL-5 mRNA and IL-10 mRNA expressions were measured by the techniques of TUNEL and RT-PCR. RESULTS: The EOS in BALF of dexamethasone group decreased prominently compared with the asthma group (P
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Purpose To observe the features of multi-focal electroretinogram (mERG) in Stargardt′s disease, and evaluate the validity of mERG on diagnosis of this disease. Methods mERG had been recorded in 7 cases (14 eyes) of Stargardt′s disease with VERIS 4.0,and the findings were compared with normal individuals. Results The mERG were remarkably abnormal in all cases of the disease, as the amplitudes of N 1 and P 1 waves were seriously decreased and the latencies were prolonged in all the 6 regions ( P
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The effects of FeSO_4 upon the physiologicproperties were studied with isolated guinea pig a-trium. The FeSO_4 0. 2mmol/L, makes the contrac-tility of the atrium muscle decrease from 100% ofcontrol to 67 ? 9%. The concentration ofepinephrine inducing automaticity increased andthe duration-intensity curve was shifted to theright. The functional refractory period (FRP) wasprolonged from 298 ? 26 ms to 402 ? 43 ms. Thenegative inotropism and the inhibition of the auto-maticity suggest that FeSO_4 may influence Ca~(2+)movement, while the excitability of suppressionand prolongation of FRP indicate that it may bedue to its inhibition of Na~+ influx.