Hot Compress with Chinese Herbal Salt Packets Reducing PICC Catheter Complications: A Randomized Controlled Trial / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the preventive effect of applying hot compress with Chinese herbal salt packets (CHSP) to puncture vessels under aseptic conditions during peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) on postoperative phlebitis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 720 hospitalized patients undergoing first PICC were assigned to treatment and control groups (360 cases each group) according to a random number table. The control group received conventional catheterization and nursing care. The treatment group was first given hot compress with CHSP (which consisted of honeysuckle 30 g, Semen brassicae 30 g, Salvia miltiorrhiza 30 g, Angelica dahurica 30 g, Semen raphani 30 g, Evodia rutaecarpa 30 g, and coarse salt 20 g) on the punctured vessel under aseptic conditions for 5-10 min before conventional catheterization. The main efficacy indices were the vessel diameters before and during catheterization and the success rate of a single catheter, and the secondary efficacy indiex was the incidence of superficial phlebitis within 1 week after catheterization.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The vessel diameter during catheterization of the treatment group was remarkably increased compared with the control group [(7.96±0.42) mm vs. (4.39±0.54) mm, P<0.01]. The success rate of the single catheter of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group [94.00% (329/350) vs. 73.72% (244/329), P<0.01]. The incidence of superficial phlebitis within 1 week after catheterization in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group (P=0.007). There was no adverse event with CHSP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Hot compress with CHSP during PICC is applicable as it can effectively improve the success rate of a single catheter and reduce the incidence of superficial phlebitis after catheterization (Trial registration No. ChiCTR-ONC-17010498).</p>

Effects of aspirin on the expression of nuclear factor-κB in a rat model of acute pulmonary embolism / 世界急诊医学杂志（英文）

BACKGROUND: Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is a disorder involving the pulmonary circulation resulting from a blockage of the pulmonary artery. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of aspirin on the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity in a rat model of APE. METHODS: A total of 108 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into six groups (n=18 rats per group): control group, sham operation group, APE model group, and low-, medium- and high-dose aspirin groups. Six, 24, and 72 hours after the induction of APE, rats in the low-, medium- and high-dose aspirin groups were given aspirin at a respective daily dose of 150, 300, and 600 mg/kg by gavage for three consecutive days. Rats in the other groups were treated with equal volumes of normal saline. Six rats in each group were anesthetized with 10％ chloral hydrate solution at each time point, and then the lung tissues were colected and analyzed using immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Positive immunohistochemical staining was present in the bronchial epithelial cells, alveolar cells, macrophages, and surrounding bronchial smooth muscle cells. When compared with the APE model group, the number of positive cells was significantly lower in the other groups at each time point (P<0.001). Statistically significant differences were also observed among the aspirin-treated groups at 6 hours (P<0.05,P<0.001). Compared with the APE model group, NF-κB protein expression was reduced in the other groups at each time point (P<0.05,P<0.001). Rats from the APE model group had thrombosis, damaged alveolar walls, and pulmonary hemorrhage, along with different degrees of infl ammatory cellular infiltration at each time point. However, pathological changes such as pulmonary hemorrhage and infiltration of inflammatory cells were attenuated after the aspirin treatment. CONCLUSION: Aspirin can significantly inhibit NF-κB activity in the lung of rats with APE in a dose-dependent manner, and can alleviate lung injury after APE.

Impacts of electroacupuncture on intestinal permeability in sepsis patients / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the efficacy of electroacupuncture on sepsis and explore its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty cases were randomized into an observation group (26 cases) and a control group (24 cases). The therapeutic programs of anti-infection, anti-shock, respiratory support and nutritional support were provided, but the drugs that might affect gastrointestinal motility were not prescribed in two groups. In the observation group, on the basic treatment as above, electroacupuncture was applied to Zusanli (ST 36), Tianshu (ST 25), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Xiajuxu (ST 39). The excretion ratio of lactulose to mannitol (L/M) in urine and serum D-lactic acid level were detected before and after treatment, as well as the time of target feeding of the patients in two groups. The efficacy was compared between two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment for 3 days, L/M was (0.083 +/- 0.020) and serum D-lactic acid was (0.155 +/- 0.196) mmol/L in the observation group, which were apparently reduced as compared with (0.123 +/- 0.034) and (0.193 +/- 0.377) mmol/L in the control group respectively (both P < 0.05). The time of target feeding was (93.69 +/- 27.58) h in the observation group, which was shortened apparently than (118.17 +/- 40.28) h in the control group (P < 0.05). The total effective rate was 80.8% (21/26) in the observation group, which was better than 54.2% (13/24) in the control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Conventional treatment combined with electroacupuncture can improve intestinal permeability in sepsis patients, recover intestinal function as quickly as possible to achieve target feeding.</p>

Effects of sodium copper chlorophyllin on mesenchymal stem cell function in aplastic anemia mice / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of sodium copper chlorophyllin (SCC) on the proliferation, differentiation and immunomodulatory function of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from mice with aplastic anemia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A mouse model of aplastic anemia was established by exposure of BALB/c mice to sublethal doses of 5.0 Gy Co60 γ radiation, followed by transplantation of 2×10(6) lymph node cells from DBA/2 donor mice within 4 h after radiation. Aplastic anemic BALB/c mice were randomly divided into six groups: the treated groups, which received 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg/day SCC, respectively; a positive control group treated with cyclosporine A (CsA); and an untreated model control group (model group); while, the non-irradiated mice as the normal control group. SCC or CsA were administered by gastrogavage for 20 days, starting on day 4 after irradiation. Peripheral blood cells were counted and colony-forming fibroblasts (CFU-F) in the bone marrow were assayed. The ability of MSCs to form calcium nodes after culture in osteoinductive medium was also observed. The immunosuppressive effect of MSCs on T lymphocytes was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry, to evaluate the efficacy of SCC in mice with aplastic anemia.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Peripheral blood white cell and platelet counts were increased by medium and high SCC doses, compared with the untreated control. CFU-Fs were also increased compared with the untreated control, and the numbers of calcium nodes in MSCs in osteoinductive medium were elevated in response to SCC treatment. The percentage of Forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3(+)) T cells was increased in T cell-MSC cocultures, and the cytokine transforming growth factor β1 was up-regulated in SCC-treated groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results of this study suggest that SCC not only promotes the proliferation and differentiation of MSCs, but also improves their immunoregulatory capacity in mice with aplastic anemia.</p>