Rose geranium (Pelargonium graveolens, Geraniaceae) has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties, and promotes wound healing. Similarly, Ganoderma tsugae (Ganodermataceae), Codonopsis pilosula (Campanulaceae) and Angelica sinensis (Apiaceae) are traditional Chinese herbs associated with immunomodulatory functions. In the present study, a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to examine whether the Chinese medicinal herb complex, RG-CMH, which represents a mixture of rose geranium and extracts of G. tsugae, C. pilosula and A. sinensis, can improve the immune cell count of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy to prevent leucopenia and immune impairment that usually occurs during cancer therapy. A total of fifty-eight breast cancer patients who received chemotherapy or radiotherapy were enrolled. Immune cell levels in patient serum were determined before, and following, 6 weeks of cancer treatment for patients receiving either an RG-CMH or a placebo. Administration of RG-CMH was associated with a significant reduction in levels of leucocytes from 31·5 % for the placebo group to 13·4 % for the RG-CMH group. Similarly, levels of neutrophils significantly decreased from 35·6 % for the placebo group to 11·0 % for the RG-CMH group. RG-CMH intervention was also associated with a decrease in levels of T cells, helper T cells, cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells compared with the placebo group. However, these differences between the two groups were not statistically significant. In conclusion, administration of RG-CMH to patients receiving chemotherapy/radiotherapy may have the capacity to delay, or ease, the reduction in levels of leucocytes and neutrophils that are experienced by patients during cancer treatment.
The ingestion of foreign bodies such as coins, fish bones, plastic toy parts, batteries, and needles is common in children. Although the majority of ingested foreign bodies pass through the gastrointestinal tract unaided, some children require either nonsurgical or surgical intervention. The medical records of children who presented to the pediatric emergency department of a single tertiary referral center between December 2001 and May 2006 were reviewed. A total of 87 patients underwent an endoscopic procedure because of suspected foreign body ingestion and foreign bodies were identified by endoscopy in 74 patients (85.1%). The mean age of these 74 patients was 3.4 years (range, 6 months to 13 years). The most common site of foreign body lodgement was the esophagus (n = 38, 51.4%); other sites included the stomach (n = 33, 44.6%) and duodenum (n = 3, 4.0%). The types of foreign bodies included coins (n = 42, 56.8%), button batteries (n = 16, 21.6%), sharp objects (n = 9, 12.2%), chicken bones (n = 2, 2.7%) and others (n = 5, 6.7%). Only two foreign bodies (button batteries) in the duodenum could not be removed successfully by endoscopy. Instead, they were moved into the intestine and then eliminated spontaneously the following day. There were no major complications caused by foreign body ingestion or endoscopic procedures. The outcome of all patients was uneventful without morbidity or mortality. In our experience, endoscopic removal of foreign bodies under general anesthesia is an effective and safe method in children; the method also prevents erosion and perforation of the gastrointestinal tract.
IL-6 and IL-8 are involved in the pathogenesis of acute gastroenteritis in both rotavirus and norovirus. An ANC of less than 9000/mm(3), maximum BT of less than 38.2°C, and Vesikari score of less than 14 at the end of the course are potential predictors of norovirus infection in children compared with rotavirus gastroenteritis.
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