[Effect of a traditional Chinese medicine compound on chronic heart failure in guinea-pigs].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of a traditional Chinese medicine compound (CTMC) on chronic heart failure (CHF) in guinea-pigs. METHODS: The CHF of guinea-pigs were induced by repeated injection of hyodemic isoproterenol. The hemodynamics, organ (heart, lung, liver and kidney)/body weight ratio, pathological changes, and serum cTn-I and CK-MB were measured to determine the effectiveness of the traditional Chinese medicine treatement. RESULTS: The LVDP and LVEDP were decreased and the absolute value of + dp/dt(max) and - dp/ dt(max) were increased by the administration of 10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg of the compound tablets. The effect increased with doses. The traditional Chinese medicine also decreased the area of myocardial necrosis and the degree of injury to myocardiacyte. The intervention group had lower serum cTn-I and CK-MB levels than the controls. CONCLUSION: The compound tablets can improve the left ventricular diastolic function of CHF and reduce the myocardial damage in a dose-dependent manner.

[Cutis verticis gyrata].

OBJECTIVE: To improve the recognition and treatment of Chinese cutis verticis gyrata. METHODS: Based on the review of the etiopathology, clinical features, diagnosis, classification and treatment of the disease in the literatures, six patients with the cutis verticis gyrata were treated with the skin graft or the expanded scalp flap. RESULTS: The operative effects were satisfactory during 6 months to 5 years of the follow-ups. No recurrence was found in all cases. Two patients treated with skin graft had lead to baldness, four patients treated with the expanded scalp flap had been good appearance. CONCLUSIONS: The method of the expanded scalp flap is good and effective treatment for the cutis verticis gyrate.