Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Exercise Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; therapy

Colitis, Ulcerative ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Remission Induction

The methods for aptamer selection have been modified and developed in recent years. Selection efficiency has been increased due to the improvement in separation of bound and unbound nucleic acids; applicability of aptamers has been improved due to the development of primer-free SELEX and the utilization of short oligonucleotide library; more research requirements have been satisfied due to the functional modifications of aptamer selection methods. All the methodological advances enhance the potential value of aptamers in basic researches and clinical applications.

As a common computer keyboard and a mouse can't meet the requirements of some special occasions, this paper introduces the design of a controlling switch set based on RS-232 for capturing the image at the medical image workstation. Its working principles, circuit, assembly together with its associated software controller are given in detail. The control switch set features easy manufacturing, low cost and a good reliability.
Equipment Design ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; instrumentation ; methods ; Software Design

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of ginkgo extract on pulmonary interstitial fibrosis.

METHODSForty-five patients with pulmonary interstitial fibrosis were randomly divided into two groups, the treated group (n = 30) received ginkgo biloba extract 1 g, three times a day; the control group received prednisone 30 mg, once a day, the therapeutic course for both groups was 3 months. Changes of clinical symptoms, pulmonary function, arterial partial pressure of oxygen, computerized tomography (CT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-alpha) in the two groups were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe efficacy of treatment in the two groups showed insignificant difference, clinical symptoms, pulmonary function, arterial partial pressure of oxygen were improved after treatment (P < 0.05), and the levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha significantly decreased after treatment as compared with those before treatment in the two groups. The occurrence of pulmonary infection was less in the treated group than that in the control group (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONGinkgo is effective in treating pulmonary interstitial fibrosis.

Aged ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Ginkgo biloba ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Interleukin-8 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; blood ; drug therapy ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effects of posterior spinal transpedicular wedge osteotomy for kyphosis due to delayed osteoporotic vertebral fracture in elderly.

METHODSFrom July 2009 to February 2014,26 patients with kyphosis caused by delayed osteoporotic vertebral fracture were treated with transpedicular wedge osteotomy. There were 10 males and 16 females,aged from 55 to 75 years old with an average of 67 years. There were 1 osteotomy in thoracic vertebra,21 osteotomies in thoracolumbar vertebrae and 4 in lumbar vertebrae. Total 29 vertebrae were involved, 23 cases with single vertebral fracture and 3 cases with double vertebral fractures. Preoperative Cobb angles were 32°~51° with the mean of (42.00 ± 4.75) ° and VAS scores were 6 to 9 points with an average of (8.40 ± 0.75) points. According to the Frankel grade of spinal cord function, 4 cases were grade D and 22 cases were grade E. Intraoperative bleeding, operation time and perioperative complications were recorded, and improvements of Cobb angle were evaluated by X-rays. VAS score and Frankel grade were respectively used to evaluate the pain and nerve function.

RESULTSThe average operation time were 155 min (ranged, 120 to 175) and the mean intraoperative bleeding were 1 100 ml (ranged,800 to 1 500). Postoperative at 2 days, Cobb angle and VAS score were (9.60 ± 2.50) ° and (4.00 ± 1.00) points, respectively, ranged from 5° to 15° and 1 to 5 points. VAS score and Cobb angle improved obviously compared with preoperative (P < 0.05), and the improvement rate of Cobb angle was 76%. Frankel grade of 1 case changed from grade E to C, and the others did not become worse. The follow-up period ranged from 3 to 24 months with an average of 16.4 months. At the final follow-up, Cobb angles and VAS score were (11.00 ± 3.50)° and (4.40 ± 1.25) points, respectively, ranged from 5° to 19° and 1 to 6 points. The patient whose Frankel grade E changed to C at 2 days after surgery and changed to grade D at the latest follow-up. Vertebral body fracture below the fusion level happened in 1 case at 3 months after surgery, vertebral body fracture above the fusion level happened in 1 case at 5 months after surgery, and their chest pain symptoms were relieved after symptomatic treatment and anti osteoporosis treatment. All osteotomy levels obtained fusion which confirmed by X-ray and no internal fixation loosening and breakage were found.

CONCLUSIONThe clinical effect of posterior transpedicular wedge osteotomy for kyphosis due to delayed osteoporotic vertebral fracture was satisfactory, but manipulation during the operation should be cautious and prevent adjacent vertebral body fracture should be pay attention to prevent.

Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; complications ; surgery ; Osteotomy ; methods ; Spinal Fractures ; complications ; surgery ; Visual Analog Scale

This paper describes the design of the printing output function for a multi-parameter patient monitor by using the graphic plot function of a Laser Printer. The ECG data are preprocessed with a notch filter and interpolation algorithm. A logical page is constructed in the extended memory for virtual page printing. This monitor is able to output a satisfied printing with ECG waveforms of high quality.
Automatic Data Processing ; methods ; Computer Graphics ; Diagnostic Equipment ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; instrumentation ; methods ; Equipment Design ; Humans ; Lasers ; Printing ; instrumentation ; methods ; Quality Control

To study the effect of different levels intermittent hypoxia on inflammatory cytokines and adipokines in a rat model. 160 male Wistar rats were divided into five groups, three groups with intermittent hypoxia (5% O2:IH-1 group;7. 5% O2: IH-2 group;10% O2: IH-3 group), continuous hypoxia group (10% O2, CH group);and the intermittent normal oxygen control group(IN). Before the exposure and at the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth week after the exposure, eight rats in each group were selected randomly with blood samples collected. Blood glucose was measured by glucose oxidase-peroxidase ( GOD-POD ) reagents, double sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) was used to detect serum concentration of insulin, tumor necrosis factor alpha( TNF)-α, interleukin ( IL)-6, leptin, and adiponectin and adipocyte nuclear factor kappa B ( NF-κB) levels. In IH-1, IH-2, and IH-3 group, blood glucose, insulin, TNF-α, IL-6, leptin, and nuclear NF-κB in rats showed consecutive increment after exposure to intermittent hypoxia, and those findings in IH-1 group were higher than those in IH-2 and IH-3 group (P<0. 05), but the level of TNF-α dropped slightly on the 8th week. The level of adiponectin showed consecutive decrease from the outset and its level in IH-1 group was significantly lower than that in IH-2 and IH-3 group(P<0. 05). Cytoplasmic NF-κB levels did not have obvious difference in all these groups(P>0. 05). These results demonstrate that intermittent hypoxia could activate NF-κB and result in extensive changes of proinflammatory cytokines and adipokines in the serum of rats. The release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and adipokines keeps pace with the degree of intermittent hypoxia.

AIM:To investigate the safety and effect of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery with Cionni modified capsular tension ring (MCTR) implantation in the management of traumatic lens subluxation.METHODS: Totally 11 patients (11 eyes) with traumatic lens subluxation were divided into three groups according to the severity of lens dislocation, ranging from 90° to 120° (4 eyes), 120° to 180° (5 eyes) and 180° to 270° (2 eyes).The contact LenSx femtosecond laser cataract surgery platform was applied to create the capsulotomy, prepare nuclear fragmentation and make corneal wound creation.Anterior vitrectomy was performed in some patients during the surgery.After capsular retractors insertion and phacoemulsification, the MCTR was inserted to the capsular bag and fixed to the sclera.Finally, the IOL was implanted into the capsular bag.Postoperative visual acuity, intra-and post-operative complications, anterior capsular opening, IOL and MCTR position and intraocular pressure (IOP) were assessed.RESULTS:The duration of follow-up was 2mo.All the operations were completed successfully.Five eyes underwent cataract surgery combined with anterior vitrectomy.Four eyes had been inserted with 2-eyelet MCTR and seven eyes with 1-eyelet MCTR.The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after operation was better than 0.5 in 4 eyes, between 0.3 and 0.5 in 3 eyes, between 0.1 and 0.3 in 3 eyes, and less than 0.1 in 1 eye.Compared with preoperative BCVA, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).All the IOLs were stably centered and the eyelet of MCTR was fixated steadily between the iris and the anterior capsule.The common intra-and post-operative complications were subconjunctival hemorrhage, incomplete capsulotomy, residual cortex, secondary glaucoma and posterior capsular opacification.CONCLUSION:Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery can improve the success rate of capsulorhexis, and reduce the difficulty of nuclear fragmentation.Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery combined with MCTR implantation is an ideal surgical method for traumatic lens subluxation.

Communicable diseases are the major threats to the health and security of all the people living in Liberia, including UN peacekeepers from China. The most prevalent communicable diseases in Liberia include malaria, HIV/AIDS, acute respiratory infection, sexual transmitted disease, schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, tuberculosis, cholera, pertussis, hepatitis, meningococcal disease, typhoid fever, Lassa fever and yellow fever. An insight into the profiles and epidemiology of the above epidemics in Liberia would greatly help peacekeepers with disease diagnosis and epidemic prevention. According to the profiles of epidemics in Liberia and the authors' experience in epidemic prevention in Liberia, the authors recommend that peacekeepers strengthen their epidemic prevention as follows. Firstly, a combined vector control strategy is suggested for the prevention and control of vector-borne diseases. Secondly, water safety should be highlighted by water disinfection and regular water quality testing. Thirdly, vaccines, diagnostic reagents and medications should be accordingly outfitted. Then, the awareness of epidemic prevention and individual hygiene should be improved by education and strict management. Finally, the daily life management for peacekeepers is also very important. The epidemic overviews and strategies for epidemic prevention described in this paper are also useful for all the other peacekeepers deployed in Africa.