Inhibition of xanthine oxidase activity by gnaphalium affine extract / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the inhibitory effect of Gnaphalium affine extracts on xanthine oxidase (XO) activity in vitro and to analyze the mechanism of this effect.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this in vitro study, Kinetic measurements were performed in 4 different inhibitor concentrations and 5 different xanthine concentrations (60, 100, 200, 300, 400 Μmol/L). Dixon and Lineweaver-Burk plot analysis were used to determine Ki values and the inhibition mode for the compounds isolated from Gnaphalium affine extract.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Four potent xanthine oxidase inhibitors were found in 95% ethanolic (v/v) Gnaphalium affine extract. Among them, the flavone Eupatilin exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect on XO with a inhibition constant (Ki) of 0.37 Μmol/L, lower than the Ki of allopurinol (4.56 mol/L), a known synthetic XO inhibitor. Apigenin (Ki of 0.56 Μmol/L, a proportion of 0.0053‰ in Gnaphalium affine), luteolin (Ki of 2.63 Μmol/L, 0.0032‰ in Gnaphalium affine) and 5-hydroxy-6,7,3',4'-tetramethoxyflavone (Ki of 3.15 Μmol/L, 0.0043‰ in Gnaphalium affine) also contributed to the inhibitory effect of Gnaphalium affine extract on XO activity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>These results suggest that the use of Gnaphalium affine in the treatment of gout could be attributed to its inhibitory effect on XO. This study provides a rational basis for the traditional use of Gnaphalium affine against gout.</p>

Modernized study on eye's signs of blood-stasis syndrome / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To make out a computerized formula to diagnose eye's signs of blood-stasis syndrome (BSS), and to improve the previous diagnostic methods by naked eyes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The formula was created by detecting and analyzing the changes of eye's signs in 544 patients (261 of non-BSS and 283 of BSS) quantitatively, adopting computer's color scale principle. And the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the formula were verified in 382 patients (97 non-BSS and 285 of BSS). The computerized integral was compared with the naked eye integral, and the normal reference value was calculated with percentile.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Various observatory indices of eye's sign were positively correlated with BSS. The specificity of the computerized method was 83.5%, and the diagnostic sensitivity was 89.8%, the accuracy 88.2%, and the correct index 0.733. Comparisons between the computerized integral method and the naked eye integral method showed significant difference in patients of non-BSS or of BSS in various degrees (including mild, moderate and severe) (P < 0.01). The reference value of the naked eye method was below 15.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The computerized formula of eye's signs has higher specificity and sensitivity in the diagnosis of BSS, while the naked eye integral method is proved to be useful.</p>

Screening indices for diagnosis of traditional blood stasis syndrome by Delphi method / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To screening out the indices for diagnosis of traditional blood stasis syndrome (BSS) by investigating experts'experiences, evaluating their significance, for providing reference to the quantitative diagnosis of BSS.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using Delphi method, some diagnostic indices that being considered as importance by experts was screened out, and applied in 108 patients to assess their specificity and sensitivity in double-blinded condition, taking the Chinese diagnostic standard as gold standard.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Ten indices were screened out from 50 items for traditional observing on BSS, which are considered essential by experts uniform, and showed a coincidence rate of 91.4% when applied for comprehensive diagnosis of BSS.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The indices for BSS diagnosis screened out by Delphi method can serve as a reference to the BSS quantitative diagnosis.</p>