Observation on short-term therapeutic effect of zhenggan recipe in treating liver cirrhosis with alpha-feto-protein / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the therapeutic effect of Zhenggan Recipe (ZGR) in treating liver cirrhosis with abnormal Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and to explore its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-four patients of liver cirrhosis with abnormal AFP were randomly divided into the treated group and the control group. All the patients received conventional combined Western medicinal treatment. Besides, additional ZGR was given to the patients in the treated group, one dose every day for orally taken in two times, 6 months as a therapeutic course. Changes in liver function (ALT, GGT, TBIL and ALB), AFP, T-lymphocyte subsets (CD4, CD4/CD8) and iconological examination were observed in the two groups before and after treatment to compared the efficacy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>ZGR could effectively lower the AFP level (P < 0.01), and improve the levels of CD4 and CD4/CD8 (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ZGR can effectively lower the level of AFP, its mechanism might be related to the improving of cellular immune function of the patients.</p>

Experimental study on differentiation of human hepatocarcinoma cells induced by zhengganfang drug serum in vitro / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of Zhengganfang (ZGF) drug serum in inducing differentiation of Bel-7402 human hepatocarcinoma cell (HHC) and its influence of the telomerase activity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rats were fed with ZGF decoction to prepare the drug-serum of ZGF, and the drug-serum was used for Bel-7402 HHC culture. Serum of normal rat, was taken as negative control and retinoic acid (RA) as the positive control. Cell proliferation was detected by MTT colorimetric assay, nucleocytoplasm ratio by image assay, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) by RIA, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT) by dynamic colorimetric assay and telomerase activity of Bel-7402 cell by PCR-ELISA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Drug-serum of ZGF could inhibit the proliferation of Bel-7402 cell, markedly reduce the nucleocytoplasm ratio and the secretion of AFP, decrease gamma-GT activity, increase ALP activity and suppress the telomerase activity of Bel-7402 cell.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ZGF can induce the differentiation of Bel-7402 HHC, the main mechanism maybe through the suppression of telomerase activity.</p>

Clinical and chest X-ray characteristics of 5 cases with severe acute respiratory syndrome in children in Shenzhen area / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore clinical and chest X-ray features of SARS in children to facilitate correct diagnosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical manifestations and chest X-ray findings in five children suffering from SARS admitted for treatment in the hospital between February and May, 2003 in Shenzhen area were analyzed. The diagnosis was confirmed by epidemiological, clinical, laboratory and radiological examinations. Among the 5 cases, 1 was a boy and the others were girls at the age of 4 to 13 years.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 5 SARS children, 3 presented a history of close contact with SARS patients. Fever was the initiative symptom, 4 had a body temperature of over 38 degrees C with the highest being 40 degrees C; fever sustained from 4 to 7 days with an average of 5.6 days. All the 5 cases developed nonproductive cough; on auscultation, both moist and dry rales could be heard in 3 out of the 5 cases. Mean total white count of peripheral blood was (2.96 - 6.9) x 10(9)/L, and was < 5.0 x 10(9)/L in 4 cases. SARS associated coronavirus specific RNA fragment was found positive by RT-PCR in 1 case; 1 case was positive for both IgM and IgG antibodies to the virus; 1 case was positive for only IgM antibody and another 2 cases were positive for only IgG antibody. IgG and IgM antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae as well as blood culture for bacteria were all negative. Findings on chest X-ray examination: 4 cases showed presence of patchy or macular opacities with cord-like shadows in unilateral lung plates while 1 case each showed ground-glass-like opacity and migratory changes; 1 case showed interstitial changes in the lungs in the form of irregular reticular lattice and cord-like shadows. Two cases received CT scanning and macular-patchy or spotty shadows were seen all over the lung. The shortest time for absorption of foci in the lungs was 7 days while the longest was 33 days with a mean of 15 +/- 6 days. None of the cases had any signs of fibrosis in the lungs. All the 5 cases were completely cured and discharged 7 to 40 days (mean 18 +/- 11 days) after admission.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compared with adult cases with SARS, children with SARS had milder symptoms and signs. Presence of unilateral patchy shadow in lungs represented the main chest X-ray findings.</p>