OBJECTIVETo compare the therapeutic differences among scalp acupuncture combined with auricular point sticking, body acupuncture and western medication for treatment of vascular dementia (VD).

METHODSNinety cases were randomly divided into a combined therapy group (31 cases), a body acupuncture group (29 cases) and a western medication group (30 cases). The combined therapy group was treated with scalp acupuncture at forehead middle line, parieral middle line, temporal front line and temporal rear line as well as auricular point sticking at naogan (AT3,41), shen (CO10), shenmen (TF4), zhen (AT3), once a day; the body acupuncture group was treated with acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Fengchi (GB 20), Zusanli (ST 36) and so on, once a day; the western medication group was treated with oral administration of aniracetam tablets, 0.2 g per time, twice a day. Fourteen days were considered as a treatment course, and totally 3 courses were required. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and activities of daily living (ADL) were applied to assess the changes of cognitive behavior ability before and after treatment among three groups. Also the efficacy among three groups were compared.

RESULTSOne case dropped out in the body acupuncture group and western medication group, respectively. The total effective rate was 90.334 (28/31) in the combined therapy group, which was superior to 85.734 (24/28) in the body acupuncture group and 79.3% (23/29) in the western medication group (both P < 0.05). After the treatment, the scores of MMSE and ADL were all improved among three groups, which was the most significant in the combined therapy group (MMSE: 23.32 +/- 4.45 vs 21.23 +/- 4.13, P < 0.05; 23.32 +/- 4.45 vs 20.41 +/- 4. 01, P < 0.01; ADL: 53.18 +/- 21.55 vs 51.92 +/- 20.42, P < 0.05; 53.18 +/- 21.55 vs 49.42 +/- 19.43, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe scalp acupuncture combined with auricular point sticking could improve the clinical symptoms and cognitive behavior ability in patients with vascular dementia, which has superior total efficacy to body acupuncture and western medication aniracetam tablets.

Activities of Daily Living ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Cognition ; Dementia, Vascular ; psychology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Scalp

Objective To compare the curative effect of high ligation+exfoliation and subfascial endoscopic perforator surgery(SEPS)for superficial varicose veins in calf+invagination spot-striping surgery in great venous varicosity.Methods Study group(42 patients)accepted SEPS+invagination spot-striping surgery and control group (42 patients)accepted traditional surgeries.Operation duration,bleeding volume in operation,the time of beginning movement away from bed after operation,hospitalization duration,the degree of pain,the scar,the recrudescence af- ter operation and the instance of the ulcer heals of two groups were compared.Results Operation duration,bleeding volume in operation,the time of begin movement away from bed after operation and hospitalization durations of study group were significantly lower than those of control group(P0.05).All of the patients in study group recovered without severe syndromes such as venous thrombosis,skin necrosis,lower limb functional disorder etc.They had no recrudesce after 4～16 months and were satisfied with the curative effect.Con- elusions The clinical curative effect of SEPS+invagination spot-striping surgery in great venous varicosity is superi- or to that of traditional operation and it has the advantages such as minor wound,few scars,light pains,short hospi- talization duration,without recrudescence,the ulcer heals quickly and so on.

Objective To study the integration and expression of HLA-B2704 gene in HLA-B2704 transgenic mice. Methods HLA-B2704 gene was introduced into fertilized eggs of C57BL/6?Kunming and Kunming?Kunming by microinjection. The founder mice were screened by PCR for integration of HLA-B2704 transgene and were then further confirmed by southern blot. RT-PCR and flow cytometry were carried out to detect the expression of HLA-B2704 gene at mRNA and protein level. Results Ten F0 hybrid mice carried HLA-B2704 gene in 101 F0 hybrid mice, 3 of 64 (4.7%) hybrid mice from Kunming?Kunming and 7 of 37 (18.9%) hybrid mice from C57BL/6?Kunming background carried HLA-B2704 gene. Statistical analysis showed that there was significant difference in the integration rate between the two groups (P

Objective To review and evaluate the effect of one stage surgical correction of congenital heart disease with tracheal stenosis in infants.Methods Between August 2001 and December 2005,six infants with congenital heart disease with tracheal steno- sis were repaired at one stage operation.The age was 24 d～3 y[mean(13.16?12.03)months]and the weight was 4.2～10.0 kg [mean(7.98?2.03)kg].There were 3 patients with tetralogy of Fallot,1 with pulmonary atresia;2 with ventricular septal defect, 1 with coarctation of aorta;and 1 with pulmonary sling.The congenital heart disease were repaired underwent low temperature and car- diopulmonary bypass,and the tracheal stenosis were corrected simultancously.Results There was one death postoperative because of right and left branch stenosis.One patient with pulmonary sling died of granulation tissue on the patch 3 months after operation.All other 4 patients recovered uneventfully.These patients were followed up from 6 month to 4 years.There were no complications.CT scan shows that the tracheal anastomosis was patent without any stenosis.Conclusion One stage repair of congenital heart disease with tracheal stenosis in infants may have a satisfactory result.To deal with the tracheal stenosis is difficult,the operative methods de- pends on the length of stenosis.The principles of surgical methods consist of using autologous material,maintaining its contour and function of respiratory epithelium,and maintaining its growth.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the characteristics of vertical cast-off bloodstain pattern by different hitting-tools. METHODS: The regular hitting tools, a kitchen knife, a dirk, a plane set-hammer and an iron pipe, were selected. At a distance of 30 cm away from the wall, the hitting tool with 5 mL fresh chicken blood made the cast-off bloodstain from top to bottom. Then the holistic distribution characteristics (length, width and density) of cast-off bloodstain and morphology characteristics (length, width and contact angle) of first single cast-off bloodstain were analyzed. RESULTS: The distribution length of cast-off bloodstain formed by dirk was minimum (P < 0.05). The distribution width of cast-off bloodstain formed by kitchen knife was minimum (P < 0.05). Except the pair of kitchen knife and plane set-hammer, the distribution density between each two tools had statistical differences (P < 0.05). The length of first single cast-off bloodstain formed by plane set-hammer was longest compared (P < 0.05). The width of first single cast-off bloodstain had statistical differences between kitchen knife and plane set-hammer, and between dirk and plane set-hammer (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The type of hitting tool could be inferred by the specific characteristics of cast-off bloodstain pattern formed by every specific type of hitting tool in crime scene.
Blood Stains ; Computer Simulation ; Crime ; Forensic Ballistics/methods* ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Humans

In order to affirm the cardioactive components in Fuzi, we identified a group of aminoalcohol- diterpenoid alkaloids in Fuzi using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometer (UPLC-ESI-MS) method. Among a total of forty-one isolated ingredients, thirteen major aminoalcohol-diterpenoid alkaloids were identified by comparing their retention times and MS spectra with those of the reference substances. Moreover, Fuzi samples from different places of origin and with different processing methods were examined and their components displayed a pattern of high similarity, though the relative abundance varies probably due to their different processing methods. Furthermore, the cardiac effect of each identified alkaloid was individually evaluated using the isolated bullfrog heart perfusion experiment. Among the thirteen aminoalcohol diterpenoid alkaloids tested, six of them significantly enhanced the amplitude rates. Taken together, we affirm that the cardioactive components in Fuzi are aminoalcohol-diterpenoid alkaloids, shedding light on future studies of the mechanisms and development of these cardioactive compounds.
Aconitum ; chemistry ; Alkaloids ; chemistry ; Amino Alcohols ; chemistry ; Animals ; Cardiotonic Agents ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Heart ; drug effects ; In Vitro Techniques ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Rana catesbeiana ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Objective To investigate the safe time of sterile equipments used in laminar flow operating room.Methods In ten operations ( Class Ⅰ ) which last 8 or more hours,we sampled preoperative air,surgery equipments 4 h,6 h,8 h pre and intra-operatively,and surgical personnel' s hands for bacterial culture.Results There was no growth of bacteria in the sampling of preoperative air,surgical personnel's hands and surgical instruments during operation,pass rate was 100％.Conclusions The sterile equipments used in the same operation could be used safely for 8 hours in operating room where the condition of Level 100 laminar flow reached.

Objective To explore the effect of ox-LDL,MCP-1,CD68 on the survival of arteriovenous fistula in radial arteries of uremic patients.Methods Segments of radial arteries were obtained from 23 uremic subjects (29～68 years old) in the initial operation of arteriovenous fistula prior to hemodialysis.The deposit of ox-LDL and the expression of MCP-1,CD68 on the vascular wall were measured by immunohistochemistry.The survival time of arteriovenous fistula was followed by survival analysis.Results COX regression revealed that each of these risk factors,ox-LDL,MCP-1, CD68,played an important role in the survival time of arteriovenous fistula when they entered the model independently.The hazard ratios were 1.008 (P=0.008,95% CI:1.002064～1.014104), 1.007(P=0.O00,95%CI:1.003853～1.010966),and 1.098496 (P=0.000,95%CI:1.047909～1.151526)respectively.When all the three factors entered the COX regression model,the whole model was still founded.MCP-1 and CD68 still played important roles in the survival of arteriovenous fistula.The hazard ratios were 1.006(P=0.025) and 1.113(P=0.001) respectively.With the hazard ratio of 0.997,ox-LDL did not reach the statistic significance (P=0.414).Conclusions The more deposit of ox-LDL and the more expression of MCP-1,CD68 on the vascular wall,the more shortened survival time of arteriovenous fistula.Particularly,the inflammation is the independent risk factor for the prognosis of arteriovenous fistula in uremic patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of rhein on the development of hepatic fibrosis.

METHODSThe animal models were made with carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) mixed with vegetable oil (3/2, v/v), which was injected subcutaneously twice a week for 6 weeks, and with 5% ethanol for free drinking water. At the same time, Rhein was administrated at the dose of 25 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg once a day for 6 weeks. The changes of both biochemical markers, such as the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), hyaluronic acid (HA), procollagen type III (PCIII) in serum and SOD, malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver, and related histopathological parametres were determined.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, there were three kinds of changes in the larger quantity of rhein treated group. (1) The levels of ALT, HA, PCIII in serum and MDA in liver homogenate were decreased significantly (from 150 U/L +/- 16 U/L to 78 U/L +/- 18 U/L, 321 microg/L +/- 97 microg/L to 217 microg/L +/- 75 microg/L, 31 microg/L +/- 14 microg/L to 16 microg/L +/- 6 microg/L and 3.67 nmol/mg +/- 0.68 nmol/mg to 1.88 nmol/mg +/- 0.34 nmol/mg, respectively, t > or 2.977, P<0.01). However the level of SOD in liver was increased (from 62.45 NU/mg +/- 8.74 NU/mg to 91.26 NU/mg +/- 14.04 NU/mg, t=4.453, P<0.01). (2) The expressions of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) in liver were markedly reduced (P<0.05 and P<0.01). (3) The collagen staining positive area was decreased and the grade of fibrosis was reduced significantly in liver (P<0.05 and P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONRhein can protect hepatocyte from injury and prevent the progress of hepatic fibrosis in rats, which may associate with that rhein plays a role in antioxidation, anti-inflammation, inhibiting the expression of TGF-beta1 and suppressing the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

Animals ; Anthraquinones ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Collagen ; analysis ; Liver ; drug effects ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

To study whether gene IGSF4 was inactived by methylation in leukocytic cells, expression of IGSF4 was examined before and after treatment with demethylating agent in U937, Molt4 and HL-60 leukemia cell lines by means of RT-PCR. The methylation of promoter in U937, Molt4 and HL-60 cells as well as 21 acute leukemia patients was analyzed by MS-PCR. The results showed that methylation of IGSF4 promoter was inactived and could be reversed by treatment with a demethylating agent in U937, Molt4 and HL-60 cell. IGSF4 promoter methylation was detected in 57.1% of acute leukemia patients. There is no difference in incidence of IGSF4 promoter methylation between acute myelocytic leukemia and acute lymphocytic leukemia. In conclusion, IGSF4 is frequently inactived in acute leukemia and is a good candidate for the leukemia suppressor gene. As a normal suppressor gene, it may play an important role in inhibiting the development of leukemia, and the methylation of gene IGSF4 may be a good index in monitoring relapse of leukemia.
Acute Disease ; Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Methylation ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; genetics ; Leukemia ; genetics ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins