Objective To assess the effectiveness of xuezhikang for treating diabetic kidney disease. Methods We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Issue 3, 2008), MEDLINE (1980 to September 2008), EMbase (1980 to September 2008), CBMdisc (1990 to September 2008), and CNKI (1994 to September 2008). We also hand searched relevant journals and conference proceedings. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in which xuezhikang was used to treat diabetic kidney disease were collected. Then we screened the retrieved studies according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, evaluated the quality of included studies, and performed metaanalyses by using The Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan 4.2 software. Results Nine RCTs were included. Meta-analyses showed that xuezhikang was superior to routine treatment in decreasing 24-hour urinary protein (WMD –0.87, 95%CI –1.34 to –0.41), microalbuminuria (WMD –115.39, 95%CI –127.63 to –103.15), and urinary albumin excretion rate (WMD – 65.46, 95%CI –68.87 to –62.12); but xuezhikang had similar effects in reducing serum creatinine compared with routine treatment (WMD –5.42, 95%CI –11.06 to 0.21). Moreover, xuezhikang was more effective in regulating blood lipids, including TC (WMD –1.71, 95%CI –2.39 to –1.03), TG (WMD –0.96, 95%CI –1.46 to –0.46), LDL-C (WMD –1.01, 95%CI –1.64 to –0.38), and HDL-C (WMD 0.22, 95%CI 0.09 to 0.36). Xuezhikang was not superior to routine treatment in improving fasting blood sugar (WMD -0.01, 95%CI -0.49 to 0.47), but was more effective in improving 2 h-BS (WMD –1.10, 95%CI –1.35 to –0.85) and HbA1c (WMD –0.41, 95%CI –0.56 to –0.27). No significant adverse effects or allergic reactions were reported. Conclusions The evidence currently available shows that xuezhikang may decrease 24-hour urinary protein, microalbuminuria, serum creatinine, regulate blood lipids, and adjust blood glucose. Due to a high risk of selection bias and detection bias in the included studies, the evidence is insufficient to determine the effect of xuezhikang. Further large-scale trials are required to define the role of xuezhikang in the treatment of diabetic kidney disease.
All the collected original electroencephalograph (EEG) signals were the subjects to low-frequency and spike noise. According to this fact, we in this study performed denoising based on the combination of wavelet transform and independent component analysis (ICA). Then we used three characteristic parameters, complexity, approximate entropy and wavelet entropy values, to calculate the preprocessed EEG data. We then made a distinguishing judge on the EEG state by the state change rate of the characteristic parameters. Through the anesthesia and non-anesthesia EEG data processing results showed that each of the three state change rates could reach about 50.5%, 21.6%, 19.5%, respectively, in which the performance of wavelet entropy was the highest. All of them could be used as a foundation in the quantified research of depth of anesthesia based on EEG analysis.
Objective To establish a stable and reliable lung injury model caused by severe acute pancreatitis（SAP）in rats， which is helpful to study the acute lung injury （ALI）and acute respiratory distress syndrome （ARDS） induced by SAP.Methods Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into ligature group （n=20）， traditional group （n=20），and sham operation group （n=20）. SAP model was established through retrograde injection of 5% taurocholic acid. After injection， the pancreatic duct of rats was ligated in ligature group， but not in traditional group. The lung damage and edema at 24 h after operaton and natural course of rats were observed.Results The ALI model of rats induced by SAP was established successfully in ligature group. The rats died of acute respiratory failure within 48 h in ligature group， the mortality was significantly higher than that in traditional group （100% vs.20%），P＜0.05. Pleural effusion occurred in four rats in ligature group， while no pleural effusion was found in rats in other two groups. The volume of ascites of rats in ligature group was （21.15±5.33） ml， which was more than that in traditional group 〔（7.75±2.66） ml〕，P＜0.05， while no ascites was found in rats in sham operation group. The level of serum amylase of rats in ligature group was （2 470.70±399.73） U/L，which was significantly higher than that in traditional group 〔（1 528.40±289.54） U/L〕 and sham operation group 〔（831.10±93.26） U/L〕，P＜0.001. The level of serum albumin of rats in ligature group was （6.90±1.66）g/L， which was significantly lower than that in traditional group 〔（13.10±0.99） g/L〕 and sham operation group 〔（16.20±0.92） g/L〕，P＜0.001.The lung wet-to-dry weight ratio （W/D） of rats in ligature group was 6.50±0.23， which was greater than that in traditional group （4.92±0.18） and sham operation group （4.61±0.16）， P＜0.001. The score of lung histopathologic of rats in ligature group was 29.25±1.07， which was significantly higher than that in traditional group （12.65±1.98） and sham operation group （0），P＜0.001. The score of pancreas histopathologic of rats in ligature group was 15.95±0.15，which was significantly higher than that in traditional group （13.75±0.66） and sham operation group （0.13±0.29），P＜0.001. Under transmission electron microscope， basement membrane of pulmonary capillary of rats in ligation group was destructive， the nuclei was dissolved， endothelial pinocytotic vesicles was functional active， and tight junctions between capillary endothelial cells were blurred and even ruptured. Moreover， tight junctions between alveolar epithelial cells were destructive. Pathological changes of lung ultrastructure of rats in ligation group were more severe than that in traditional group， while no pathological change of lung ultrastructure was observed in rats in sham operation group. Conclusions Injury process and pathogenesis of ALI or ARDS clinically caused by acute gallstone pancreatitis can be reproduced in this animal model， which is suitable to explore the related mechanisms of ALI caused by SAP and provides good animal model for the study of ALI caused by SAP.
Objective To summarize the research situation of stem cells transplantation for intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. Methods The original articles about stem cells transplantation for repair of IVD degeneration were extensively reviewed; the clinical applications, the mechanisms, and related factors to influence repair effect were analyzed; and obstacles in stem cells transplantation for repair of IVD degeneration. Results Autogenic stem cells transplantation can repair IVD degeneration and effectively relieve the symptoms of low back and leg pain. Stem cells can differentiate into disc chondrocytes in the disc microenvironment, increase the production of various growth factors, and exert a trophic effect on disc cells. It is also evident that the transplanted stem cells can potentially protect disc cells from apoptosis and maintain an immune-privileged state in the IVD. Multiple factors such as tissue origin of stem cells, methods to pre-modulate the seeds, choice of injectable scaffolds, and even the severity of degeneration are closely related to the repair effects. To get a more efficient stem cell therapy, future researches are challenged to modulate the migration and distribution of stem cells in the IVD, avoid flow back, and better understand their ability to restore stemness properties within the degenerative disc niche. Conclusion Stem cells transplantation is proven to be a promising biological approach for repair of IVD degeneration.
Objective To summarize the role of cellular senescence and senescent secretary phenotype in the intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. Methods Relevant articles that discussed the roles of cellular senescence in the IVD degeneration were extensively reviewed, and retrospective and comprehensive analysis was performed. The senescent phenomenon during IVD degeneration, senescent secretary phenotype of the disc cells, senescent pathways within the IVD microenvironment, as well as the anti-senescent approaches for IVD regeneration were systematically reviewed. Results During aging and degeneration, IVD cells gradually and/or prematurely undergo senescence by activating p53-p21-retinoblastoma (RB) or p16INK4A-RB senescent pathways. The accumulation of senescent cells not only decreases the self-renewal ability of IVD, but also deteriorates the disc microenvironment by producing more inflammatory cytokines and matrix degrading enzymes. More specific senescent biomarkers are required to fully understand the phenotype change of senescent disc cells during IVD degeneration. Molecular analysis of the senescent disc cells and their intracellular signaling pathways are needed to get a safer and more efficient anti-senescence strategy for IVD regeneration. Conclusion Cellular senescence is an important mechanism by which IVD cells decrease viability and degenerate biological behaviors, which provide a new thinking to understand the pathogenesis of IVD degeneration.
Objective To introduce the research of nucleus pulposus cells for treating intervertebral disc degeneration. Methods The original articles in recent years about nucleus pulposus cells for treating intervertebral disc degeneration were extensively reviewed, and retrospective and comprehensive analysis was performed. Results Nucleus pulposus cells are not only simply a remnant of embryonic notochordal cells, but have also an important influence on the well-being of the whole disc. The biological treatment strategies aim to regenerate the disc by either trying to improve the micro-enviroment within the disc or to increase the popoulation of the nucleus pulposus, which includes transplanting mesenchymal stem cellsto differentiate into nucleus-l ike cells in the degenerated intervertebral disc. Conclusion Nucleus pulposus cells or ucleus pulposus l ike cells based cell transplantation methods prove to be a promising and real istic approach for the intervertebral disc regeneration.
Objective To explore the effects of intraperitoneal chemotherapy with fluorouracil (FU) on the growth and metastasis of tumor cells in carbon dioxide (CO2) pneumoperitoneum. Methods Fifty male H-22 mice of clean grade were selected and randomly assigned into 5 groups in each group with 10: simple implantation group, pneumoperitoneum group, pneumoperitoneum and NS group, pneumoperitoneum and low concentration (5.0 g/L) of FU group and pneumoperitoneum and high concentration (10.0 g/L) of FU group. All mice were executed after 11 days to observe the weight and the implantation of tumor in abdominal wall. Then the expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results The tumor weight was significantly higher in pneumoperitoneum and high concentration of FU group compared with other groups except pneumoperitoneum and low concentration of FU group (P＜0.05, P＜0.01 ). The inhibition rate of tumor was 64.5% in pneumoperitoneum and high concentration of FU group. The diameter of portsite implantation nodus was significantly bigger in pneumoperitoneum and NS group compared with pneumoperitoneum and low concentration of FU group and pneumoperitoneum and high concentration of FU group (P＜0.01). The expressions of PCNA and VEGF of ascites and portsite implantation nodus were significantly different in every group, respectively (P＜0.05, P＜0.01). Conclusion There is inhibitive effect of intraperitoneal chemotherapy with high concentration of FU on the growth and metastasis of S-180 tumor cells in CO2 pneumoperitoneum, which may be associated with downregulation of PCNA and VEGF expressions.
ObjectiveTo summarize the research situation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) senescence, including the characteristics and mechanisms of senescence. MethodsThe original articles in recent years about MSCs senescence were extensively reviewed, and comprehensively analyzed. ResultsThe senescence of MSCs which manifests as morphological senescence, reduced proliferation and differentiation potential, altered immunoregulation are found during the cultivation in experiment, which profoundly affects clinical application of MSCs. The research about the mechanisms of MSCs senescence includes telomere and telomerase, and stress-mediated injury etc, involving regulation of telomerase, and regulation of signal pathways of p53/p21, P13K/Akt, and Wnt/β-catenin etc. ConclusionThe further study of senescence mechanisms will help to accelerate the clinical application of MSCs in the future.
Objective To assess the effectiveness of psychotherapy for depression in older patients. Methods We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (1990 to August 2007), MEDLINE (1966 to August 2007), EMbase (1980 to August 2007), and CMB-disk (1990 to August 2007) to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in which psychotherapy was used to treat depression in older patients. We screened the retrieved studies according to the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, evaluated the quality of included studies, and performed meta-analyses by using The Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan 4.2 software. Results Ten RCTs were included. Compared with placebo, psychotherapy was more effective in decreasing depression score (SMD 0.63, 95%CI – 0.84 to – 0.42). Subgroup analysis showed that cognitive-behavioral therapy, reminiscence therapy, and general psychological therapy were more effective than placebo (SMD – 0.70, 95%CI – 1.12 to – 0.27; SMD – 0.54, 95%CI – 0.81 to – 0.26; SMD – 0.84, 95%CI – 1.34 to – 0.34, respectively). However, psychotherapy as an adjunct treatment could not significantly improve the effectiveness of antidepressant medication (SMD – 0.35, 95%CI – 0.74 to 0.05). There was no significant difference between cognitive-behavioral therapy and reminiscence therapy in improving depression symptoms (SMD 0.13, 95%CI – 0.30 to 0.56). The dropout rate was similar between patients treated with or without psychotherapy (RR 1.03, 95%CI 0.55 to 1.94). Conclusion Various kinds of psychotherapy are effective for depression in older patients. But psychotherapy as an adjunct treatment could not significantly improve the effectiveness of antidepressant medication.