ABSTRACT
Objective: To observe the efficacy of umbilical moist-heat application of modified Da Chengqitang in treating ventosity after noninvasive ventilation, and the regulatory effect on level of gastrointestinal motility hormone. Method: One hundred and sixty patients were randomly divided into control group and observation group by random number table. Patients in control group got mosapride citrate tablets, 5 mg/time, 3 times/days. In addition tothe therapy in control group, patients in observation group was also given mbilical moist-heat application of modified Da Chengqitang, 30 min/time, 2 times/day. And a course of treatment was 7 days. Before and after treatment, degree of abdominal distention was measured by a tape and subjective evaluation. Time of recovery of bowel sounds, remission of abdominal distention, exhausting and defecation, and the total time of using respirator, pressure of using respirator, and the total days of using respirator were recorded. And levels of gastrin (GAS), motilin (MTL), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and somatostatin (SS) were detected. Result: According to the rank sum test, the clinical effect in observation group was superior to that in control group (Z=2.484, PZ=2.456, PPPPP2, PaCO2, GAS, MTL were higher than those in control group, whereas PaCO2, VIP and SS were lower than those in control group (PPConclusion: Umbilical moist-heat application of modified Da Chengqitang can relieve abdominal distention and dyspnea, reduce intraperitoneal pressure, improve the recovery of gastrointestinal function, and regulate gastrointestinal hormone level.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Although there are several drugs and drug combinations for the treatment of Pneumocystis carinii (P. carinii) pneumonia, all drugs have the toxicity as well as low efficacy. Iron chelators have been proposed as a source of new drugs for combating these infections. We hypothesized that iron chelators would suppress the growth of P. carinii by deprivation of the nutritional iron required for growth. In this study, a short-term axenic culture system of P. carinii was established. Daphnetin (7,8-dihydroxycoumarin), a known iron chelator, was demonstrated to exhibit in vitro activity against P. carinii in this system.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>P. carinii organisms were obtained from the lungs of immunosuppressed rats. The culture system consisted of Iscove Dulbecco Eagle's Minimum Essential Medium (IMDM), supplemented with S-adenosyl-L-methionine, N-acetylglucosamine, putrescine, L-cysteine, L-glutamine, 2-mercaptoethanol, and fetal bovine serum, and was maintained at 37 degrees C, in 5% CO(2), 95% O(2), at the optimal pH of 8.0. The culture system was used to assess the effect of daphnetin on the proliferation of P. carinii organisms. The ultrastructures of the treated organisms were observed by transmission electron microscopy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The number of cysts and trophozoites increased 8- to 9-fold and 11- to 12-fold, respectively, after 10 days of culture. Daphnetin was found to suppress the growth of P. carinii in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations between 1 micromol/L and 20 micromol/L. The inhibitory activity was suppressed by the chelation of daphnetin with ferrous sulfate in a 2:1 molar ratio, but it was not suppressed by mixing the culture medium with magnesium sulfate. Reduction of P. carinii numbers after treatment with daphnetin correlated with morphological changes in the organisms, as determined by transmission electron microscopy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Daphnetin can suppress the growth of P. carinii in vitro. The efficacy of daphnetin in suppressing the the growth of P. carinii in vitro is related to its ability to chelate iron.</p>