Clinical study on niaodujing in treating chronic renal failure

One hundred and five chronic renal failure patients were divided randomly into two groups, 75 cases of Niaodujing (NDJ) treatment group and 30 cases of control group treated with aldehyde coated oxystarch. The effects were compared between two groups and within the same group before and after the entry. Results indicated that the total effective rate and markely effecive rate of NDJ group (74.1% and 44.0%) were better than those of the control group (56.6% and 23.3%) respectively (P < 0.05). The serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and middle molecular substance were decreased and creatinine clearance rate was increased significantly after NDJ treatment as compared with before treatment (P < 0.05-0.01). In comparison of two groups, the decrement of creatinine clearance rate and middle molecular substance and the increment of creatinine in NDJ group were higher than that in control group (P < 0.05-0.01). NDJ was especially effective in patients with azotemia or early renal failure.     

Diet and antioxidant--a nutritional intervention study

OBJECTIVE: To seek for the effective therapeutical method in treating non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). METHODS: One hundred and sixty seven patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were randomly divided into two groups, the treatment group, which consisted of 112 cases using Chinese herbs combined with chemotherapy and 55 cases of control group were treated by chemotherapy only. RESULTS: The effective rate (CR + PR) in the combined group was 91.96% and survival rates of 1-, 3- and 5-year were 85.7%, 54.5% and 29.5% respectively, and median survival time was 554 days. In control group the effective rate was 72.73% and 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 76.4%, 38.2% and 18.2% respectively, and the median survival time was 465 days. The difference of effective rates or 3-year survival rates between two groups was significant (P < 0.05). In the combined group the activity of NK cell, OKT3, OKT4 and ratio of OKT4/OKT8 were obviously raised after treatment (P < 0.01). And the level of platelet adhesion rate and the blood viscosity markedly decreased (P < 0.01), but in the control group the values of these indexes did not distinctly change. CONCLUSION: Chinese herbs could enhance the immunologic function and improve the viscosity of blood of the patients with NHL. The side effect in the combination therapy group was less and milder than that in the chemotherapy group. These showed that Chinese herbs combined with chemotherapy was a safe and effective method for treating NHL and deserve to be recommended.     

氟尿嘧啶缓释剂术中局部植入治疗32例进展期大肠癌

Objective: The aim of our study was to probe into the effect of fluorouracil controlled release formulation in the local implant treatment of patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Methods: Sixty-four cases of patients advanced colorectal cancer from August 2004 to February 2008 were selected for radical surgery, including 32 cases injected with intraoperative fluorouracil controlled release formulation in local implantation for 600 mg (the treatment group). Patients in another 32 cases received abdominal washing surgery by distilled water (the control group). All patients were followed up for 2 years and observed in aspects of the toxicity, 2-year survival rate, local recurrence rate and distant metastasis rate. Results: The 2-year survival rate and local recurrence rate in the treatment group was better than those in the control group (P ＜ 0.05); as for toxicity and distant metastasis rate, no significant difference was observed. Conclusion: The effect of fluorouracil controlled release formulation in local implantation treatment was significant and the patient tolerance was satisfactory. Thus, it is an effective approach in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer.     

Clinical study on fungus lipid-reducing capsule in regulating lipometabolic disorder

The patients with lipometabolic disorder were randomly divided into control group (70 cases), Fungus Lipid-reducing Capsule (FLC) treated group (70 cases), augmented treated group (90 cases). The results shown that: (1) TC and TG were reduced markedly in all three groups. The reducing extent in the treated group was greater than that in the control group (P < 0.01). HDL-C was increased markedly in all three group. The increasing extent in the treated group was greater than that in the control group (P < 0.05). These results indicated that the effectiveness of FLC was higher than that of control drug in the treatment of hyperlipidemia. (2) FLC had obvious effect in improving hemorheology indexes. (3) The therapeutic effect of TCM Syndrome-type indicated that FLC could activate the Spleen, remove Dampness and nourish the Liver and Kidney.     

Clinical study on treating asthma of cold type with wenyang tongluo mixture

Sixty-eight asthma patients of Cold type were randomly divided into two groups, 34 for each group. The treated group was treated with Chinese herbal medicine Wenyang Tongluo Mixture (WYTLM), the control group was treated with Salbutamol orally and beclomethasone dipropionate aerosol. After 8 weeks of treatment, the results showed that there was no significant difference between the short-term total effective rate of the two groups (P > 0.05). Results of followup 1 year after withdrawal of treatment, showed that 9 patients (26.47%) in the treated group and 2 (5.88%) in the control group were cured clinically, it indicated that the long-term curative rate of the former group was higher than that of the latter group significantly (P < 0.05). And the effect of treated group on eliminating Asthenia-Cold symptoms, improving pulmonary ventilation function, regulating adrenergic beta-receptors of peripheral blood lymphocyte and decreasing the serum level of 5-hydroxytryptamine was more superior to that of control group (P < 0.05-0.01). This study provided some objective basis for using WYTLM in preventing and treating asthma of Cold type.     

Sequential oesophago-bronchoscopy

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Chinese medicinal herbs (CMH) and chemotherapy on non-small cell lung cancer. METHODS: Comparing the therapeutic effects of three treatment regimens on 58 advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who were treated with CMH plus chemotherapy (CT), 28 cases treated with CT only, and 24 cases treated with CMH alone. RESULTS: Effective rates (partial remission + complete remission) were 22.9% in CMH + CT group, 13.6% both in CT and in CMH group. There were no significant differences between these three groups according to the short-term results (P > 0.05). Mean survival time (month) for CMH + CT, CT and CMH groups were 10.2, 5.3 and 8.0 respectively. The survival rate (Kaplan Meicr method) of both CMH + CT and CMH group were significantly higher than that of CT group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) but no significant difference between CMH and CMH + CT group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Chinese medicinal herbs were helpful to improve median survival time and survival rate of patients with advanced NSCLC.     

Chemotherapy with the "8 in 1" protocol for malignant brain tumors in children: a population-based study in Finland

We evaluated the outcome of 68 children with malignant brain tumors treated with the "8 in 1" chemotherapy protocol in Finland from 1986 to 1993, comparing 5-year survival rates with those for a historical control group (from 1975 to 1985). For all malignant brain tumors, overall survival was 43% (vs 28% in the control group; P <0.05), and progression-free survival (PFS) was 43% (vs 23%; P <0.05). For medulloblastoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumor, survival was 63% (vs 35%; P <0.05), and the corresponding PFS was 59% (vs 35%; P = 0.15). For high-grade glioma, both the survival rate and the PFS were 27% (vs 17%; P = NS). Thus the outcome was significantly better for our "8 in 1" -treated patients than for the historical controls, especially among the children with primitive neuroectodermal tumor and medulloblastoma. In contrast, those with high-grade gliomas and brain stem tumors seem to have received little benefit; different, more effective treatments are needed for these patients.     

Gastric cancer with p53 overexpression has high potential for metastasising to lymph nodes

Overexpression of the tumour suppressor gene p53 was investigated immunohistochemically in 96 primary gastric carcinomas and 26 corresponding metastatic perigastric lymph nodes. Abnormalities in p53 expression were found in 52 (54%) of the 96 primary carcinomas. Tumours stained positively for p53 frequently metastasised to lymph nodes (the metastatic rate: 85%) compared to findings in those with negative p53 staining (64%, P < 0.05). Ninety-two percent (24/26) of the malignant cells in the lymph nodes stained positively for p53. When the DNA ploidy pattern of the tumour was determined by flow cytometry, the aneuploid tumours in p53 positive and negative groups accounted for 69% and 45%, respectively (P < 0.05). Proliferative activity of the tumour, as measured by Ki-67 labelling, was significantly higher (30.6 +/- 12.0%) in the p53 positive group than that (25.1 +/- 10.7%) in the p53 negative group (P < 0.05). Thus, gastric cancer with a mutant p53 has high proliferative activity and metastasis to lymph nodes will probably occur.     

Multimodality therapy of late stage lung cancer

A prospective randomized study of 80 cases of stage III lung cancer treated with different multimodality therapy was carried out. Life table and Kaplan-Meir curve were employed to calculate survival rate. Log rank-multivariate analysis and time t test were used to evaluate statistical values of the 80 cases, 40 SCLC were randomly treated with either chemotherapy (CT)-surgery-CT or CT-radiotherapy (RT)-CT. The year survival rates were better in the group treated with CT-surgery-CT, a statistical difference was observed in 2yr survival rate (P < 0.05). Thus, surgical resection for SCLC was better than RT after CT. The remaining 40 cases of NSCLC were randomly treated with either CT-RT-CT or RT-CT. Multivariate analysis showed a better statistical meaning in the 20 cases treated with CT-RT-CT than the other group, their 1, 2 year survival rates were 27%, 40% and 22%, 15%, respectively. Thus preradiative CT was beneficial for survival.     

Clinical and experimental studies on effects of chronic hepatitis B treated with astragali composita

Eighty-seven cases of chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH) and 29 cases of chronic active hepatitis (CAH) were treated with Astragali Composita (AC), the clinical markedly effective rates were 69.0% and 55.2%, the total effective rates were 90.8% and 89.7% respectively; the sero-negative conversion rates of HBeAg and HBV-DNA were 27.7% and 28.0% respectively, they were higher than that of control group (P < 0.05-0.01). Eight ducks infected hepatitis B virus were treated with AC, sero-negative conversion of DHBV-DNA was seen in 3 ducks, DHBV-DNA levels of duck sera were lower after treatment than that before treatment (P < 0.05); mild inflammatory changes in liver tissues were seen in 3 ducks, its pathologic changes were milder than that of control groups; DHBV-DNA in liver tissues of 2 ducks was negative in situhybridization. The results indicated that AC had obvious effects of protecting liver tissues and some effects of inhibiting sera HBV and HBV replication.     

An evaluation of the allergic contact dermatitis potential of colloidal grain suspensions

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of Kangke Injection in treating viral myocarditis. METHODS: Kangke Injection is the effective ingredient extracted from Radix Sophora flavescens (RSF). Seventy-six cases of virus myocarditis suffering from the continuous positive Coxsackie B virus ribose nucleic acid-polymerase chain reaction (CBVRNA-PCR) in blood, their peak value in blood was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and compared with 50 cases treated by glucose-insulin-potassium chloride (GIK). RESULTS: The clearance rate of CBVRNA-PCR and RSF was dose-dependent. The effective rate of RSF on palpitation, chest distress, dispnea was 96.02%, and that of arrhythmia was 100%, all of them were better than those of control. After RSF therapy, the parameters of heart function of ejection fraction (EF), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), and cardiac index (CI) elevated significantly (P < 0.01), left ventricular mass (LVM) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were decreased statistically significantly, while after 5 month therapy, the anti-Coxsackie group B virus neutralizing antibodies of RSF group was returned to normal titer, natural killer (NK) cell activity elevated, P < 0.01. CONCLUSION: RSF was an effective substance for regressing the "Pathologic status" of viral myocarditis.     

Effects of a mixture of organisms, Lactobacillus acidophilus or Streptococcus faecalis on cholesterol metabolism in rats fed on a fat- and cholesterol-enriched diet

The effect of a mixture of organisms (a probiotic mixture) comprising Bacillus, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Clostridium, Saccharomyces and Candida (10(7-8) colony-forming units/g rice bran of each component) on lipid metabolism was compared with that of L. acidophilus and that of S. faecalis. There were four treatment groups: rice bran (control), the mixture of organisms, L. acidophilus or S. faecalis (30 g/kg) were given to rats in a fat- and cholesterol-enriched diet for 4 weeks. The serum total cholesterol concentration of the group fed on the mixture of organisms was reduced by 15-33% compared with the other groups at the end of the 4-week feeding period (P < 0.05). This group also had a lower hepatic cholesterol concentration (36-44%) than the two single-bacteria groups (P < 0.05). 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-Co A reductase (NADPH; EC 1.1.1.34) activities of the mixed-organism and L. acidophilus groups were significantly lower (61-63%) than those of the other groups (P < 0.05); the activity of the S. faecalis group was also significantly lower (42%) than that of the control group (P < 0.05). The faecal cholesterol and bile acid concentrations of the mixed-organism group increased compared with those of the L. acidophilus and S. faecalis groups (P < 0.05). The capacity of the mixed-organism cells to bind bile salt in vitro was significantly higher (approximately 50%) than that of the single-bacteria cells (P < 0.05). On the other hand, cholesterol micelle formation for the mixed-organism cells was significantly (approximately 9%) lower than that of the single-bacteria cells (P < 0.05). These results indicate that the mixture of organisms decreased the synthesis of cholesterol in the liver and increased the loss of steroids from the intestine, in rats. Thus, the mixture of organisms had a hypocholesterolaemic role.     

The influence of perindopril on intrarenal RAS in experimental diabetic rats

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of perindopril on the intrarenal renin angiotensin system (RAS) in diabetic rats. METHODS: Diabetes of rats was induced by a single injection of STZ. The rats were treated with perindopril (1 mg.kg-1.d-1) and the controls were given insulin only. Plasma and intrarenal renin activity (PRA, TRA) and angiotensin I (PAT I, TATII) were measured by radioimmunoassay in the diabetic rats at 1, 3, 6 months. Message RNA (mRNA) expression of renal angiotensinogen (TATO) and TATII receptor (TATII R) was assessed by slot blot hybridization. RESULTS: At 6 month, TATII levels in the control group were significantly decreased compared with those of normal controls (P < 0.05), and TATII levels in perindopril treated rats were decreased remarkedly compared with those of the control group (P < 0.01). TRA was not different among the three groups at 3 to 6 months (P > 0.05). In slot blot hybridization TATII R mRNA expression in the control group was markedly increased compared with that of perindopril treated and normal control groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). TATO mRNA expression was not different among the three groups (P > 0.05) during the experimental period. CONCLUSION: The abnormalities of intrarenal RAS existed in STZ induced diabetic rats, including the decrement of TATII content and the enhancement of TATII R mRNA expression. Perindopril could further decrease the level of intrarenal TATII, and inhibit its receptor mRNA expression.     

Expression of p53 protein in colorectal cancer and its relationship to cell proliferative activity and prognosis

The expression of p53 protein in 66 cases of colorectal cancer and its relationship to cell proliferative activity, lymph node metastasis as well as prognosis were investigated by means of AB-PAP immunohistochemical technique. The results showed that 62.1% of colorectal cancer was positive. The cell proliferative activity and the frequency of lymph node metastasis in p53-positive cases were significantly higher than those of p53-negative cases (P < 0.05). The survival rate in patients with p53-positive tumors was significantly shorter than those with p53-negative tumors (P < 0.05). Our results suggest that the abnormal expression of p53 and cell proliferation associated with mutations are involved in both human carcinogenesis and lymph node metastasis of colorectal cancer. Examination of p53 expression is of value in understanding the degree of malignancy, and evaluating prognosis of the disease.     

Pentaerithrityl tetranitrate and its phase I metabolites are potent activators of cellular cyclic GMP accumulation

This study was designed to examine the optimal time of injection of a small dose of fentanyl during anesthetic induction to attenuate circulatory responses to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. One hundred seventy patients were randomly assigned to one of five groups. In Groups II, III, IV, and V, patients received fentanyl (2 microg/kg) 1, 3, 5, or 10 min before tracheal intubation, respectively. Group I patients did not receive fentanyl and served as the control group. In Groups III and IV, blood pressures were not increased, except diastolic pressure in Group III, significantly postintubation compared with preinduction values; but Groups I, II, and V showed a significant increase (P < 0.05). The 1-min postintubation values of systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure in Groups III and IV were less than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Increases of heart rate in Group IV were less (P < 0.05) than those in the control group, but significant differences were not observed in Groups II, III, and V. The number of patients with tachycardia and dysrhythmia was significantly smaller in Group IV than in the control group (P < 0.05). We conclude that the most effective time to administer fentanyl to protect circulatory responses to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation is 5 min before tracheal intubation. IMPLICATIONS: Fentanyl is often used to reduce the hemodynamic response to tracheal intubation. However, large doses may cause unwanted side effects. Administration of fentanyl at the optimal time reduces the dose required. Our results indicate that optimal injection time of fentanyl for intubation is 5 min before intubation.     

Prolonged disease-free period in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer after adoptive transfer of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes

Thirteen patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, who did not show any detectable lesion after cisplatin-containing chemotherapy following primary operation, were treated with adoptive transfer of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL group). Eleven patients with almost equivalent conditions of disease, who were treated with only chemotherapy following primary operation, served as a control group. The median time of follow-up was 36 (range, 23-44) months in the TIL group and 33 (range, 14-48) months in the control group. The estimated 3-year overall survival rate of disease-free patients in the TIL group and in the control group was 100% and 67.5%, respectively. A significant difference was noticed between the overall survival rate of the TIL group and the control group (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the estimated 3-year disease-free survival rate of the patients in the TIL group and in the control group was 82.1% and 54.5%, respectively. The disease-free survival rate of patients in the TIL group and in the control group was significantly different (P < 0.05). These results suggest that the adoptive transfer of TILs after all chemotherapy has been finished might be one promising method to achieve complete cure of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.     

白血病肿瘤疫苗联合1-甲基色氨酸免疫治疗荷瘤小鼠疗效观察

目的 探讨白血病肿瘤疫苗(简称瘤苗)主动免疫治疗及联合吲哚2,3双加氧酶(IDO)的抑制剂1-甲基色氨酸(1-MT),在白血病荷瘤小鼠治疗中的作用.方法 采用FBL-3细胞皮下注射建立荷瘤白血病小鼠模型;实验分为5组:正常对照组、PBS对照组、环磷酰胺(CTX)化疗组、单用瘤苗治疗组和瘤苗联合1-MT治疗组;观察各组小鼠的一般状况、肿瘤缓解率、肿瘤大小、转移情况及生存期.结果 PBS对照组小鼠活动迟缓,体质量(含瘤结节质量)比其余各组均高;单用瘤苗组和瘤苗联合1-MT组小鼠活动、进食正常,体质量与正常小鼠筹异不大;化疗组体质量明显减轻,出现脱毛、弓背、活动减少等,差异有统计学意义(F=57.71,P=000);单用瘤苗组和瘤苗联合1-MT组治疗相关死亡率明显低于化疗组(0,0,40%).瘤苗联合1-MT组完全缓解率与单用瘤苗组(61.1%、70.0%)比较,差异无统计学意义(χ2=0.221,P>0.05),但瘤苗联合1-MT组的复发率低于单用瘤苗组(0,36.36%);复发小鼠再应用1-MT,能明显抑制瘤结节的生长.单用瘤苗组和瘤苗联合1-MT组小鼠中位存活期明显高于化疗组和PBS对照组(χ2=52.13,P<0.01).各组小鼠整体瘤结节的变化比较差异有统计学意义(F=89.966,P=0.000).结论 白血病瘤苗在动物实验具有肯定的疗效,能明显抑制肿瘤的生长,延长小鼠生存时间,且副作用小.免疫治疗联合1-MT对白血病进行治疗,可以显著减少肿瘤的复发率;而免疫治疗有效后复发时应用1-MT,可以显著抑制肿瘤的生长.     

Local treatment of abdominal wound reduces tumor implantation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pneumoperitoneum increases the trocar-site tumor implantation rate using a human colon cancer cell line in a hamster model. The purpose of this study was to determine whether local treatment of trocar sites with potential tumoricidal agents can inhibit tumor implantation after pneumoperitoneum. METHODS: GW-39 human colon cancer cells (0.5 ml of 2.5% v/v; 8.0 x 10(5) cells) were injected throughout the abdomen of 133 Golden Syrian hamsters through a midline incision. The animals were randomized to receive either untreated 5-mm trocars in each abdominal quadrant (group I control, n = 49), trocars dipped in 10% povidone-iodine (group II, n = 53), or trocars coated with 1% silver sulfadiazine (group III, n = 51). The midline wounds were also coated with the respective agents before closing. Pneumoperitoneum was then maintained at 10 mmHg for 10 min, after which the trocar wounds were closed. In group II, the trocar sites were treated with a coat of povidone-iodine after the trocars were withdrawn and before closing. Gross and microscopic tumor implants were analyzed at 7 weeks postoperatively. RESULTS: The rate of tumor cell implantation at trocar sites was reduced from 93% (172/184) in the control group to 75% (126/168) and 78% (141/180) in groups II and III, respectively (P < 0.0001). Fewer palpable tumors were detected in groups II and III (40% and 23%, respectively) than in the control group (72%, P < 0.0001). Mean tumor mass in group III (0.4+/-0.1 g), but not in group II (1.0+/-0.2 g), was significantly less than that in the control group (1.3+/-0.1 g, P < 0.01). Overall tumor involvement of the larger midline wound was similar for all groups (I = 80%, II = 79%, III = 71%). However, palpable tumors were identified more frequently in group I (67%) than in groups II and III (43%, P < 0.05; 22%, P < 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: Pretreatment of abdominal wounds with povidone-iodine or silver sulfadiazine can reduce tumor implantation after pneumoperitoneum in a hamster model.     

Abnormalities in plasma and red blood cell fatty acid profiles of patients with colorectal cancer

Intravenous injection of stearoyl vanillylamide (C18-VA), a nonpungent capsaicin (CAP) analog, enhances adrenaline secretion significantly and as effectively as CAP in rats. Because swimming capacity was enhanced by CAP in mice due to CAP-induced adrenal catecholamine secretion, we investigated the effects of oral administration of C18-VA on swimming capacity using an adjustable-current water pool. Male Std ddY 6-wk-old mice were fed a commercial diet for this study and one group was orally administered C18-VA via a stomach tube. Treated mice were able to swim longer before exhaustion than the control mice (62.9 +/- 5.6 vs. 49.6 +/- 7. 0 min, P < 0.05). The swimming capacity of two groups administered C18-VA (0.02 and 0.033 mmol/kg) was significantly greater than that of those administered vehicle alone, (P < 0.05). Substance P concentration in cerebrospinal fluid, which is involved in pain transmission and is the first direct measure of pungency, was not affected by C18-VA administration. In an experiment examining the effects of C18-VA on serum adrenaline concentration, adrenaline was significantly greater in C18-VA treated mice than in controls at 2-h post-dose (C18-VA group, 26.09 +/- 2.82; control group 13.29 +/- 0. 96 microg/L, P < 0.01). In a separate study free fatty acids in serum were elevated in treated mice at 2-h post-dose (P < 0.01). While serum glucose concentration was not affected. These results suggest that C18-VA increased swimming capacity of mice via adrenaline release, independent of pungency. In addition, the present study suggests the usefulness of its application to humans.     

Gene regulation and the origin of cancer: a new model

We examined immunohistochemically 111 cases of primary adenocarcinoma of the lung, for transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) or epidermal growth factor (EGF), and argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs). The presence of more than 75% positive cells for both growth factors was designated as a high-GF, while all others were considered to be a low-GF. If AgNORs counts were more than 5.00, it was considered to be a high-AgNORs group, while less than 5.00 was designated as a low-AgNORs group. In our 111 examined specimens, there were 51 (46%) cases of high-GF, and 64 (58%) with high AgNORs. The 5-year survival rates of the patients with a high-GF and low-GF were 34% and 57% (P < 0.05) respectively, while those with high-AgNORs and low-AgNORs were 21% and 81% (P < 0.001), respectively. In the cases of high-AgNORs, the 5-year survival rates of the patients with high-GF and low-GF were 0% and 36% (P < 0.05), respectively. However, in the cases of low-AgNORs, the 5-year survival rates of the patients with high-GF and low-GF were 83% and 79%, respectively. These data suggest that growth factors might be related to the biological malignancy of tumours with a high cell proliferation.