OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy and safety of prostatic arterial embolization (PAE) in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia ( BPH) in high-risk aged males.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data about 21 high-risk BPH patients aged 77-91 (mean 80) years treated by PAE.

RESULTSPAE was successfully performed in all the 21 patients, with the operation time of 90-120 min. At 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery, the International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS) were 18.3 ± 3.1, 9.8 ± 2.7, 9.4 ± 2.5, and 10.1 ± 2.2, the quality of life scores ( QOL) were 4.6 ± 1.4, 4.3 ± 1.2, 4.6 ± 1.1, and 4.9 ± 0.6, the maximum urinary flow rates ( Qmax) were (12.5 ± 2.5), (15.8 ± 2.4), (16.6 ± 2.2), and (16.3 ± 1.8) ml/s, and the postvoid residual urine volumes (PVR) were (35.0 ± 3.4), (13.0 ± 3.3), (10.0 ± 3.0), and (8.0 ± 2.5) ml, respectively, markedly improved as compared with the baseline (IPSS: 24.5 ± 3.7, QOL: 5.7 ± 1.6, Qmax: [8.3 ± 2.1] ml/s, and PVR: [98.0 ± 11.0] ml), with statistically significant differences in IPSS, QOL, Qmax, and PVR (all P < 0.05). The maximal velocity of blood flow in the prostate was obviously decreased and the prostate volumes were (74.4 ± 4.8), (42.5 ± 4.4), (38.3 ± 4.0), and (36.7 ± 3.5) cm3 at 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months, respectively, also significantly reduced in comparison with (84.3 ± 5.4) cm3 preoperatively (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPAE is a safe and effective option for the treatment of BPH in high-risk aged males.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arteries ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate ; blood supply ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; therapy ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Urination

Cardiovascular Diseases ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Toluene ; poisoning ; Xylenes ; poisoning ; Young Adult

We summarized our accumulated clinical and teaching experiences and explored the regularity of acupuncture needling and teaching. It is of great importance in pressing hand during inserting needle. Stroking and pressing are two crucial parts which deserve more attention, and seldom useage of pressing hand should be abolished. Operating hand needs practice before inserting needle, while it should fully relaxed during inserting. Blending "touching", "stretch" "gathering" "erupting" and "advancing" in single moment, applying appropriate dynamic mode of inserting needle such as "join 3 forces as one" "3 points in a line" expertly and naturally. In addition, enough attention should be paid on "altering direction" and "shifting point". Inserting deftly and powerfully, no/slight sensation, deqi when inserting needle are the highest reflection as an acupuncturist.
Acupuncture ; education ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; China ; Humans ; Teaching

Acute Disease ; Atropine ; therapeutic use ; Cholinergic Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Organophosphate Poisoning ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide ; therapeutic use

Objective To investigate the relationship between the disorder of learning and memory in lead rats and the argnine vasopressin (AVP) and the somatotatin (SS) of hippocampus.Methods Sixty healthy 2-month old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control group and lead group. Normal control group was given deionized water and the lead group was given 0.1% lead acetate deionized water for 3 months to make chronic lead rat. Learning and memory ability was tested by the Y-maze test. The content of AVP and SS in hippocampus were tested by the immunohistochemical method. Results The learning memory ability and the content of AVP and SS in hippocampus CA1 section of the lead group were degraded obviously than the control group(all P0.05)in hippocampus CA3 section of the lead group were degraded also.Conclusion The disorder of the learning and memory of the lead exposure rats may be due to the decrease of the content of AVP and SS in hippocampus.

AIM:To observe and analyze the change of visual field and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness of primary open-angle glaucoma ( POAG ) after the Ex-press glaucoma shunt implantation.
●METHODS:A total of 14 patients (24 eyes) with POAG were underwent Ex-press glaucoma shunt implantation. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure ( lOP ) , mean defect ( MD) , pattern standard deviation ( PSD ) , retinal nerve fiber layer thickness ( RNFLT ) , and corneal endothelial cell number were collected preoperatively. Visual acuity and lOP were collected in 1wk, 1 and 3mo postoperatively respectively. Also, MD, PSD, RNFLT, and corneal endothelial cell number were collected preoperatively and 3mo postoperatively respectively. Complication, the additional treatment, success rate were analyzed.
●RESULTS:There was no significant difference (P>0. 05) in visual acuity preoperative and postoperative 1wk, 1, 3mo. Visual acuity did not significantly reduce after operation. Compared with preoperative, there was significant decreased (P<0. 05) in lOP after 1wk, 1, 3mo postoperative, respectively. lOP keep stead in postoperative 3mo. The reduction of RNFLT had significant difference (P<0. 05) between preoperative and postoperative 3mo. Compared with preoperation, MD and PSD had no significant difference ( P > 0. 05 ) after postoperative 3mo. Corneal endothelial cell number decrease had significant difference (Z=-2. 585, P=0. 01) between preoperative and postoperative 3mo. Success rate: complete success: 79. 2% ( 19 eyes ); partial success:8. 3% (2 eyes);failure:12. 5% (3 eyes).
●CONCLUSION: Ex-press glaucoma shunt implantation could efficiently decrease the lOP in POAG patients. Although it results in reduction of RNFLT in short time. The visual acuity and visual field keep stable after operation. lt is a safe and effective device for treating primary open-angle glaucoma.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA ; analysis ; Flow Cytometry ; methods ; Fluorescence ; G1 Phase ; Resting Phase, Cell Cycle

OBJECTIVETo assess the efficacy of tendons of minimally invasive therapy (TMIT) combined drug therapy by comparing it with treatment by drug therapy alone on patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

METHODSTotally 60 KOA patients were assigned to the treatment group and the control group according to random digit table, 30 in each group. Patients in the control group took Hydrochloric Acid Glucosamine Capsule and Celecoxib Capsule. Patients in the treatment group additionally received TMIT. The treatment course for all was 4 weeks. Scores for visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index were observed and recorded at week 1 and 4 after treatment by acupotomology mirror.

RESULTSCompared with before treatment, improvement was shown in VAS score, pain and stiffness degrees, activities and functions, and WOMAC scores at week 1 and 4 after treatment in all patients with statistical difference (P < 0.05). Besides, better effect was shown in the treatment group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTMIT combined drug therapy could relieve KOA patients' pain, stiffness and joint activities, elevate the overall efficacy. TMIT was easily operated with less injury.

Celecoxib ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; methods ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; drug therapy ; Pain ; Pain Measurement ; Tendons ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe the dynamic change of apoptosis and proliferation of cardiac muscle cells (CMC) after being induced by Angiotensin II (Ang I), and the effect of TCM herbs for supplementing qi and/ or activating blood circulation on it.

METHODSThe cultured CMC of SD suckling rat were treated by Ang II, and the amplitude, rhythm and frequency of cell pulsation, the protein content, area size and apoptosis of cells at various phases as well as the influence of TCM herbs afterwards were determined by image pattern analysis system, flow cytometry and biochemical assay.

RESULTSIn the model group, cell pulsation showed quickened frequency from the 24th to 48th hr after Ang II treatment with the highest amplitude at the 24th hr; the cell area enlarged at the 24th hr, the enlargement became evident at the 48hr. Cell content of protein increased at the 24th hr, which reached to its peak at the 48th hr; an increasing trend of cell number was shown from the 12th to 48th hr; cell apoptosis started to appear at the 24th hr, it increased gradually from the 48th to 72th hr, and reached to the peak at the 72th hr (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). All the Chinese herbs, both for supplementing qi and/or activating blood circulation, especially when they were used in combination, showed favourable preventive and therapeutic effect on CMC (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), either at the early phase (24-48th hrs) mainly manifesting hypertrophy and proliferation or the late phase (48-96th hrs) mainly manifesting apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONThere exist characterized phasic windows of CMC after being treated by Ang II, the window of hypertrophy-proliferation phase and the window of cell apoptosis phase. When CMC were mainly in hypertrophic manner, myocardial hypertrophy may appear. Cell apoptosis may be one of the mechanisms for turning myocardial hypertrophy to heart failure, and it could be improved by Chinese herbs for supplementing qi and/or activating blood circulation.

Angiotensin II ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; Qi ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Time Factors