Effects of Biqi Capsules on clinical efficacy and cytokines of patients with ankylosing spondylitis / 中草药

Objective: To observe the effects of Biqi Capsules on clinical efficacy and cytokines of patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Methods: Patients (120 cases) with ankylosing spondylitis were randomly divided into control group and treatment group for 60 cases in each group. Patients in the control group were po administered with Sulfasalazine Tablets, four tablets twice a day. Patients in the treatment group were po administered with Biqi Capsules, 1.2 g for each time, three times daily. Four weeks were a course. Patients in two groups were treated for three courses. After treatment, the clinical efficacy was evaluated, and visual analog scales (VAS), Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease active index (BASDAI), Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI), and Bath ankylosing spondylitis metrological index (BASMI) in two groups before and after treatment were compared. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were employed to measure the expression levels of cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-4, and IL-10. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was detected by instrument method and hs-CRP was detected by automatic biochemical analyzer. Results: After treatment, the compliance rate of ASAS20 (20%) and BASDAI50 (50%) in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant. After treatment, VAS, BASDAI, BASFI, BASMI, ESR, and hs-CRP in two groups were significantly decreased, with significantly difference between two groups before and after treatment (P < 0.01). And BASDAI and hs-CRP were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, IL-4 and IL-10 were significantly increased, but TNF-α and IL-1β were significantly decreased, with significantly difference between two groups before and after treatment (P < 0.01). And IL-10 was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Biqi Capsules has certain therapeutic effect on ankylosing spondylitis, and it may be associated with increasing anti-inflammatory factors, decreasing inflammatory factors and regulating inflammatory immunity.

Establishment of fingerprint of Astragali Radix polysaccharides based on endo-1,4-β-mannanase hydrolysis and identification of Astragali Radix of different germplasm resources / 中国中药杂志

The polysaccharides of different germplasm resources of Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus〓(cultured Astragalus Radix (RA) and natural RA) and A. membranaceus (MJ) (cultured RA and natural RA) were studied by using the optimal enzymatic conditions of endo-1,4-β-mannanase. Saccharide fingerprints were obtained for the identification and evaluation of the germplasm resources of RA by Fluorophore-assisted Carbohydrate Electrophoresis (FACE). The data were analyzed by principal component analysis to obtain the difference between RA of different germplasm resources. The results showed that trisaccharide, tetrasaccharide and pentasaccharide of endo-1,4-β-mannanase hydrolyzate could be used as the differential fragments to distinguish MG (cultured RA and natural RA); the pentasaccharide and hexasaccharide can be used as differentially expressed carbohydrate fragments that distinguish MJ (cultured RA and natural RA); the trisaccharide and tetrasaccharide can be used as the differential fragments to distinguish the cultured MG and cultured MJ. Studies have shown that polysaccharide products degraded by endo-1,4-β-mannanase can well distinguish RA species (MG and MJ), growth mode (cultured RA and natural RA). This study laid the foundation for the quality evaluation of Astragalus medicinal herbs and screening of active oligosaccharides.

GC-MS separation and determination of 20 amino acids in biological samples based on ethyl chloroformate second derivation / 药学学报

Due to the difference in structure and chemical properties of amino acids, it is difficult to determine amino acids with different properties by GC-MS. A method was established for the simultaneous determination of 20 amino acids by using ethyl chloroformate (ECF) as the derivatization reagent and adjusting pH 9-10 in the second derivatization in this study. The results showed that 20 amino acids were well separated and the compounds in the 2-20 μg·mL-1 concentrations were detected with a good linear response correlation coefficient r2 greater than 0.99. The results of precision and system adaptability show that RSDAstragalus mongolicus, mouse urine sample and mouse serum sample.

Xinfeng capsule for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis patients with decreased pulmonary function--a randomized controlled clinical trial / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the effectiveness and safety of Xinfeng Capsules (XFC) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with decreased pulmonary function.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This was a randomized controlled clinical trial of 80 RA patients. Participants were assigned to the trial group (40 cases) and the control group (40 cases) by block randomization. The trial group was treated with XFC, three pills each time three times daily for 2 months. The control group was treated with tripterygium glycoside (TPT), two pills each time three times daily for 2 months. Both groups were followed up after 2 months. The clinical effects, changes in joint and pulmonary function, and quality of life before and after treatment were observed; safety indices were also evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Pain, swelling, tenderness, and duration of morning stiffness of joints were obviously decreased after treatment in both the trial and the control groups compared with baseline (P<0.01). Compared with before treatment, hand grip strength increased significantly after treatment in the trial group (P=0.0000); pulmonary function parameters such as forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC), 50% of the expiratory flow of forced vital capacity (FEF50), carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLco) were increased (P<0.01 or P<0.05); measures of quality of life such as role-physical, body pain, vitality and mental health were also improved after treatment in the trial group (all P<0.05). Joint swelling in the trial group decreased compared with the control group (P=0.0043), while hand grip strength was increased after treatment (P=0.0000). The increase in FEF50, DLco, and the dimensions of quality of life such as vitality and mental health were all significantly greater in the trial group than the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>XFC not only relieved joint pain in RA patients, but also significantly improved the ventilation and diffusion function of the lungs. Therefore, XFC could improve the whole body function and enhance the quality of life of RA patients.</p>

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by xinfeng capsule: an efficacy observation / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the curative effect of Xinfeng Capsule (XC) in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Recruited were 80 active RA patients, who were randomly assigned to the normal control group and the treatment group, 40 in each group. All patients received the same routine anti-rheumatic treatment: Methotrexate 10 mg per week; Diclofenac 50 mg when pain was obvious, twice daily. Patients in the treatment group took XC 3 tablets each time, thrice daily. All treatment lasted for 12 consecutive weeks. Serum iron (SI), serum ferritin (SF), transferrin (TRF); and RA disease activity index (DAS-28) were detected in all patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>XC could improve HAQ, DAS-28, hypersensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP), prostaglandins A (PGA), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), number of swelling joints, number of tender joints, and morning stiffness time in acute RA patients, showing statistical difference when compared with those of the control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, SI, SF, DAS-28, and TRF significantly decreased in the treatment group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>XC could improve DAS-28, and SI reserve in patients with active RA, and lower DAS-28 related indicators.</p>

Economic loss of nosocomial infections in patients with cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the economic loss of nosocomial infections (NI) in patients with cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We used case-control method to compare the medical expenses between 46 pairs of cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction patients with or without NI.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median hospital stay, total treatment expense, medications expense, examination expense, and treatment expense of NI were significantly higher in the NI group than in non-NI group (all P < 0.01 ).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>NI can prolong hospital stay and increase medical expenses of patients with cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction. Effective measures should be taken to control NI.</p>

Current situation and control strategy of nosocomial infection in intensive care unit / 中国医学科学院学报

Intensive care unit (ICU) is a place with high risk of nosocomial infections. Effective control of nosocomial infections in ICU brings both social and economic benefits. This article summarizes ten main points in the control strategy of ICU infections.

Effects and significance of gas explosion on expression of NF-kappaB and ICAM1 in lung tissue of rats / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the expression of NF-kappaB and ICAM-1 in the gas explosion wounded lung of rats and the relationship.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Digoxin labeled NF-kappaB was used as probe. In situ hybridization was performed to detect the NF-kappaB mRNA. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of NF-kappaB and ICAM-1.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The levels of NF-kappaB mRNA, the expression of NF-kappaB and ICAM-1 in the wounded rats were significantly increased and reached their peak two hours after injury. Pathology of lung tissue showed that some crachea epithelium mucosae were desquamated; congestion, edema of trachea wall and infiltration of neutrophilic granulocytes were found; hemorrhage, edema and infiltration of lots of inflammatory cells were present in alveolus cells. Electron microscope showed that type I, especially type II alveolus epithelia had degeneration and desquamation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The injury of gas explosion can activate NF-kappaB, which has close correlation with the acute injury to lung.</p>