AIM: To search for new antiviral agents from traditional Chinese medicine, specifically anti-enterovirosuses agents. METHODS: The aqueous extracts (AE) of more than 100 traditionally used medicinal plants in China...AIM: To search for new antiviral agents from traditional Chinese medicine, specifically anti-enterovirosuses agents. METHODS: The aqueous extracts (AE) of more than 100 traditionally used medicinal plants in China were evaluated for their in vitro anti-Coxsackie virus B3 activities with a MTT-based colorimetric assay. RESULTS: The test for AE of 16 plants exhibited anti- Coxsackie virus B3 activities at different magnitudes of potency. They can inhibit three steps (inactivation, adsorption and replication) during the infection. Among the 16 plants, Sargentodoxa cuneata (Oliv.) Rehd. et Wils., Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep., Paeonia veitchii Lynch, Spatholobus suberectus Dunn. and Cyrtorniurn fortunei J, sm. also have activity against other enterovirus, including Coxsackie virus 135, Polio virus I, Echo virus 9 and Echo virus 29. Cell cytotoxic assay demonstrated that all tested AE had CC50 values higher than their EC50 values. CONCLUSION: The sixteen traditionally used medicinal plants in China possessed antMral activity, and some of them merit further investigations.展开更多
AIM:Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder and many patients fail to find adequate relief from conventional therapies for their symptoms. This study tests the claim that acupuncture is effective for a maj...AIM:Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder and many patients fail to find adequate relief from conventional therapies for their symptoms. This study tests the claim that acupuncture is effective for a majority of these patients. METHODS: A prospective, blinded, sham acupuncture-controlled trial of traditional Chinese acupuncture was performed at a single postgraduate teaching hospital in Europe. Sixty patients with well-established IBS were recruited. The blinded comparator was sham acupuncture administered by the second of two acupuncturists who alone was aware of the randomization, and who otherwise followed the prescription of the first. The primary end-point was a defined fall in the symptom score at 13 wk (by intention to treat). The prior expectation was a 30% placebo response, and a response rate of 70% from acupuncture, for which the study was adequately powered. RESULTS: Patients in treated and sham groups improved significantly during the study-mean improvement in scores being equal (minus 1.9) and significant for both (P<0.05; one-tailed t test). There was a small numeric but nonsignificant difference between the response rate in patients receiving acupuncture (40.7%) and sham treatment (31.2%). Several secondary end-points marginally favored active treatment, but an improved symptom score of any degree of magnitude occurred more often with sham therapy (65.6% vs 59.2%). For no criterion was statistical significance approached. CONCLUSION: Traditional Chinese acupuncture is relatively ineffective in IBS in the European hospital setting, and the magnitude of any effect appears insufficient to warrant investment in acupuncture services.展开更多
Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at the Conception Vessel on proliferation and differentiation of the nerve stem cells in the inferior zone of the lateral ventricle in cerebral ischemia ...Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at the Conception Vessel on proliferation and differentiation of the nerve stem cells in the inferior zone of the lateral ventricle in cerebral ischemia rats. Methods: The model rats were prepared by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery for 2 hours and then by reperfusion. They were randomly divided into two groups: a control group and an EA group. Changes in differentiation and proliferation of the nerve stem cells were observed 7, 14 and 28 days after successful modeling. Results: As compared with the 7-day control group (C-7d group), there was no significant difference (P〉0.05) in the numbers of 5-bromodeoxyuridine (Brdu) positive cells, Brdu/GFAP, Brdu/Nestin and Brdu/Nse double-labeled cells in the inferior zone of the lateral ventricle in the EA group 7 days after modeling. However, in the 14-day EA group (R-14d group) and the 28-day EA group (R-28d group), the numbers of Brdu positive cells and Brdu/GFAE Brdu/Nestin, Brdu/Nse double-labeled cells significantly increased as compared respectively with the 14-day control (C-14d group) and the 28-day control (C-28d) group (P〈0.05 or P〈0.01). Conclusions: EA at the Conception Vessel promotes differentiation and proliferation of the nerve stem cells in the inferior zone of the lateral ventricle in the cerebral ischemia rats, and may stimulate differentiation of the proliferous nerve stem cells towards the astrocvtes.展开更多
AIM: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of the combined use of early short-term somatostatin and conventional integrated Chinese and Western medicine in treating severe acute pancreatitis. METHODS: Sixty patients with...AIM: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of the combined use of early short-term somatostatin and conventional integrated Chinese and Western medicine in treating severe acute pancreatitis. METHODS: Sixty patients with severe acute pancreatitis were divided at random into a somatostatin group and a basic treatment group. Both groups received integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine without surgery. For patients in the somatostatin group, somatostatin was infused intravenously 250 μg/h for 72 h; other medications were the same as in the basic treatment group. In both groups, comparisons of therapeutic effectiveness were made in terms of morbidity of organic dysfunction and mortality rate, and severity of the disease according to serum levels of C-reaction protein, scores of acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE Ⅱ), and scores of Balthazar-CT. RESULTS: The indexes for C-reaction protein levels on the fourth and seventh clays, and APACHE II scores on the seventh day after treatment, were significantly improved in the somatostatin group than in the basic treatment group. The morbidity of organic dysfunction was lower in the somatostatin group than in the basic treatment group, although the difference was not statistically significant. There was no significant difference in mortality between the two groups. CONCLUSION: We conclude that combined traditional Chinese and Western medicines with an early short-term use of somatostatin can improve the condition of patients with severe acute pancreatitis.展开更多
Objective: To compare the therapeutic effect of acupuncture for gastrointestinal neurosis with that of oral remedy. Methods: Eighty cases were randomly divided into the following 2 groups. In the treatment group, ac...Objective: To compare the therapeutic effect of acupuncture for gastrointestinal neurosis with that of oral remedy. Methods: Eighty cases were randomly divided into the following 2 groups. In the treatment group, acupuncture was given for one month at the main points of Zhongwan (CV 12), Zusanli (ST 36), Taichong (LR 3) and Shenmen (HT 7), with the auxiliary points selected according to TCM differentiation. In the control group, Domperidone was orally administered for one month. Results: The total effective rate was 92.5% in the treatment group and 75.0% in the control group, with a significant difference between the 2 groups 0(2=4.423, P〈0.05). Acupuncture was superior to the oral remedy in therapeutic effects. Conclusions: Acupuncture may show better results for gastrointestinal neurosis and with less toxic side effects.展开更多
文摘AIM: To search for new antiviral agents from traditional Chinese medicine, specifically anti-enterovirosuses agents. METHODS: The aqueous extracts (AE) of more than 100 traditionally used medicinal plants in China were evaluated for their in vitro anti-Coxsackie virus B3 activities with a MTT-based colorimetric assay. RESULTS: The test for AE of 16 plants exhibited anti- Coxsackie virus B3 activities at different magnitudes of potency. They can inhibit three steps (inactivation, adsorption and replication) during the infection. Among the 16 plants, Sargentodoxa cuneata (Oliv.) Rehd. et Wils., Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep., Paeonia veitchii Lynch, Spatholobus suberectus Dunn. and Cyrtorniurn fortunei J, sm. also have activity against other enterovirus, including Coxsackie virus 135, Polio virus I, Echo virus 9 and Echo virus 29. Cell cytotoxic assay demonstrated that all tested AE had CC50 values higher than their EC50 values. CONCLUSION: The sixteen traditionally used medicinal plants in China possessed antMral activity, and some of them merit further investigations.
基金Supported by the a donation gratefully received from the T-R Golden Charitable Trust
文摘AIM:Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder and many patients fail to find adequate relief from conventional therapies for their symptoms. This study tests the claim that acupuncture is effective for a majority of these patients. METHODS: A prospective, blinded, sham acupuncture-controlled trial of traditional Chinese acupuncture was performed at a single postgraduate teaching hospital in Europe. Sixty patients with well-established IBS were recruited. The blinded comparator was sham acupuncture administered by the second of two acupuncturists who alone was aware of the randomization, and who otherwise followed the prescription of the first. The primary end-point was a defined fall in the symptom score at 13 wk (by intention to treat). The prior expectation was a 30% placebo response, and a response rate of 70% from acupuncture, for which the study was adequately powered. RESULTS: Patients in treated and sham groups improved significantly during the study-mean improvement in scores being equal (minus 1.9) and significant for both (P<0.05; one-tailed t test). There was a small numeric but nonsignificant difference between the response rate in patients receiving acupuncture (40.7%) and sham treatment (31.2%). Several secondary end-points marginally favored active treatment, but an improved symptom score of any degree of magnitude occurred more often with sham therapy (65.6% vs 59.2%). For no criterion was statistical significance approached. CONCLUSION: Traditional Chinese acupuncture is relatively ineffective in IBS in the European hospital setting, and the magnitude of any effect appears insufficient to warrant investment in acupuncture services.
文摘Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at the Conception Vessel on proliferation and differentiation of the nerve stem cells in the inferior zone of the lateral ventricle in cerebral ischemia rats. Methods: The model rats were prepared by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery for 2 hours and then by reperfusion. They were randomly divided into two groups: a control group and an EA group. Changes in differentiation and proliferation of the nerve stem cells were observed 7, 14 and 28 days after successful modeling. Results: As compared with the 7-day control group (C-7d group), there was no significant difference (P〉0.05) in the numbers of 5-bromodeoxyuridine (Brdu) positive cells, Brdu/GFAP, Brdu/Nestin and Brdu/Nse double-labeled cells in the inferior zone of the lateral ventricle in the EA group 7 days after modeling. However, in the 14-day EA group (R-14d group) and the 28-day EA group (R-28d group), the numbers of Brdu positive cells and Brdu/GFAE Brdu/Nestin, Brdu/Nse double-labeled cells significantly increased as compared respectively with the 14-day control (C-14d group) and the 28-day control (C-28d) group (P〈0.05 or P〈0.01). Conclusions: EA at the Conception Vessel promotes differentiation and proliferation of the nerve stem cells in the inferior zone of the lateral ventricle in the cerebral ischemia rats, and may stimulate differentiation of the proliferous nerve stem cells towards the astrocvtes.
基金Supported by the Foundation of Sichuan Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.200213
文摘AIM: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of the combined use of early short-term somatostatin and conventional integrated Chinese and Western medicine in treating severe acute pancreatitis. METHODS: Sixty patients with severe acute pancreatitis were divided at random into a somatostatin group and a basic treatment group. Both groups received integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine without surgery. For patients in the somatostatin group, somatostatin was infused intravenously 250 μg/h for 72 h; other medications were the same as in the basic treatment group. In both groups, comparisons of therapeutic effectiveness were made in terms of morbidity of organic dysfunction and mortality rate, and severity of the disease according to serum levels of C-reaction protein, scores of acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE Ⅱ), and scores of Balthazar-CT. RESULTS: The indexes for C-reaction protein levels on the fourth and seventh clays, and APACHE II scores on the seventh day after treatment, were significantly improved in the somatostatin group than in the basic treatment group. The morbidity of organic dysfunction was lower in the somatostatin group than in the basic treatment group, although the difference was not statistically significant. There was no significant difference in mortality between the two groups. CONCLUSION: We conclude that combined traditional Chinese and Western medicines with an early short-term use of somatostatin can improve the condition of patients with severe acute pancreatitis.
文摘Objective: To compare the therapeutic effect of acupuncture for gastrointestinal neurosis with that of oral remedy. Methods: Eighty cases were randomly divided into the following 2 groups. In the treatment group, acupuncture was given for one month at the main points of Zhongwan (CV 12), Zusanli (ST 36), Taichong (LR 3) and Shenmen (HT 7), with the auxiliary points selected according to TCM differentiation. In the control group, Domperidone was orally administered for one month. Results: The total effective rate was 92.5% in the treatment group and 75.0% in the control group, with a significant difference between the 2 groups 0(2=4.423, P〈0.05). Acupuncture was superior to the oral remedy in therapeutic effects. Conclusions: Acupuncture may show better results for gastrointestinal neurosis and with less toxic side effects.