Objective To investigate the effect of scalp acupuncture plus real-time cognitive training on cerebral blood flow in Alzheimer disease patients with cognitive disorder.Methods One hundred Alzheimer disease patients with cognitive disorder were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 50 cases each. Both groups received treatment for the primary disease. In addition, the treatment group received scalp acupuncture plus real-time cognitive training and the control group took Ginkgo leaf extract tablets. Mean flow velocity (Vm) in the left vertebral artery (LVA), right vertebral artery (RVA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) were measured using transcranial Doppler in the two groups of patients before and after three months of treatment.Results There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in LVA, RVA and MCA Vm in the two groups (P<0.01). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in LVA, RVA and MCA Vm between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05).Conclusions Scalp acupuncture plus real-time cognitive training can improve cerebral circulation and increase cerebral blood flow in Alzheimer disease patients with cognitive disorder.

Objective To measure the vitamin B1 levels in plasma,erythrocytes and urine of the patients with type 2 diabetes,and to analyze the correlation of vitamin B1 level with the progression of diabetic nephropathy,and to clarify the metabolism of nutrtion mechanism of type 2 diabetic nephropathy.Methods Total 90 patients with type 2 diabetes and 30 healthy volunteers were recruited.According to the levels of microalbuminuria,the patients with type 2 diabetes were divided into non diabetic nephropathy (NDN)group,early diabetic nephropathy (EDN)group and clinical diabetic nephropathy (CDN)group (n=30);the healthy people was used as normal control (NC) group.The vitamin B1 levels in the plasma,erythrocytes and urine were examined with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The correlation of microalbuminuria with the plasma viamin B1 level was analyzed. Results The level of vitamin B1 in plasma of the patients in NC group was (7.1±3.3)μg·L-1,while it was (4.0±2.3)μg·L-1 in NDN group,(3.1±1.0)μg·L-1 in EDN group and (2.3±0.6)μg·L-1 in CDN group. Compared with NC group,the vitamin B1 levels in the plasma in NDN,EDN and CDN groups dropped 43.7%, 56.3%,and 67.6%,respectively (P<0.05). The excretion of vitamin B1 in urine were (2.9 ± 0.8),(9.0 ± 4.7),(11.7±3.9),and (15.6±5.0)μg·L-1 in NC group,NDN group,EDN group and CDN group, respectively.Compared with NC group,the vitamin B1 levels in the urine in NDN,EDN and CDN groups were increased by 2,3 and 4 times,respectively (P<0.05).A negative correlation was found between the level of microalbuminuria and the level of vitamin B1 in plasma (r=-0.62,P=0.013).Conclusion Vitamin B1 deficiency can be observed in the early stage of diabetic nephropathy,and the level of vitamin B1 is closely correlated with the progression of diabetic nephropathy.

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of the calcium phosphate cement (CPC) /calcium polyphosphate fiber (CPPF) composites mixed with different proportion of minimal morselized bone on repair of bone defect in vivo. MethodsA total of 36 New Zealand white rabbits were completely randomly designed into A, B, C, D groups and their bilateral radial bone defect model was prepared. The minimal morselized bone (300-500 μm in diameter) was made from the iliac of those rats. The CPPF and CPC were evenly mixed into CPC/CPPF composites which were divided into four groups in accordance with the CPPF weight O, 10％, 30％ and 50％ in CPC/CPPF composite. The CPC/CPPF composites of the four groups was mixed with the minimal morselized bone with ratio of 6:4 and then the mixture was implanted the bone defect of the rabbits in four groups. The gross, X-ray and histological observations were done at four and eight weeks. The biomechanical test was performed at eight weeks. Results When CPPF occupies 30％ of the CPC/CPPF composite, the maximum compressive load and bending loads were better than those in the other groups ( P ＜ 0.05 ), when the histological observation showed the most tight link between the artificial composite and the bone interface and the closest similarity between material degradation rate and the ossification rate, with the best osteogenesis and the optimal ratio.ConclusionThe repair of bone defect can attain the optimal outcome through adding a certain ratio of minimal morselized bone into the CPC/CPPF to adjust the degradation rate of composites.

Objective: To compare the preoperative and postoperative dosimetric parameters in the treatment of spinal metastasis, and to verify the accuracy of 3D-printing non-coplanar template (3D-PNCT) combined with CT-guided ¹²⁵I seed implantation for the treatment of spinal metastasis. Methods: The treatment plans of 7 patients with spinal metastasis (9 lesions) from 2016 to 2018 receiving 3D-PNCT in combination with CT-guided ¹²⁵I seed implantation were retrospectively analyzed. The dosimetric parameters including homogeneity index (HI), conformal index (CI), external index (EI), dose of 90% target volume(D₉₀), mPD, volume percent of 100%, 150%, and 200% prescribed dose V₁₀₀、V₁₅₀、V₂₀₀ and D_2cm³ of spinal cord were compared before and after operation. The british columbia cancer ageny particle implantation quality evaluation standard was applied to evaluate the quality of implantation. Results: The HI, EI and CI, D₉₀, mPD, V₁₀₀, V₁₅₀, V₂₀₀ and D_2cm³ of spinal cord did not significantly differ before and after the plan (all P>0.05). Five were evaluated as excellent and 4 were assessed as good. Conclusion The postoperative dosimetric parameters of 3D-PNCT combined with CT guided ¹²⁵I seed implantation of spinal metastasis are basically consistent with preoperative dosimetric parameters. The postoperative plans are evaluated as excellent or good, suggesting that the technology has a good therapeutic accuracy in the treatment of spinal metastasis.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of colloidal gold and dot ELISA rapid tests in clinical screening of influenza A virus.

METHODSThe pharyngeal swabs were collected from 297 outpatients suspected of influenza between June and October, 2009 for detection with colloid gold and dot ELISA rapid test, with real-time PCR as the golden methods. The discrepant results of colloid gold and dot ELISA methods were confirmed by sequencing, and the diagnostic efficiency of the two methods was evaluated.

RESULTSAmong the 166 samples with influenza A virus infection as confirmed by real-time PCR and sequencing, the diagnostic sensitivity of dot ELISA and colloid gold methods was 54.82% (91/166) and 4.22% (7/166), respectively. The total concordance rate with PCR was 66.67% (Kappa value of 0.35). Among the 133 samples negative for influenza A virus, the specificity of dot ELISA and colloid gold methods was 81.68% (107/131) and 98.47% (129/131), respectively, with a total concordance rate with PCR of 45.79% (Kappa value 0.02). Of the 99 H1N1 influenza samples confirmed by real-time PCR, the detection rate of dot ELISA was 67.3%, whereas that of colloid gold was 5.1%. Out of the 107 dot ELISA-positive but colloid gold-negative samples, 84 were confirmed to be influenza A virus-positive by real-time PCR and sequencing. One sample negative for dot ELISA but positive for colloid gold test was confirmed to be influenza A virus-negative. The detection rate and diagnostic concordance rate for influenza A virus by dot ELISA were significantly higher than those of colloid gold (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONDot ELISA is better than colloid gold in influenza A virus detection and shows great prospect in clinical screening.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gold Colloid ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; Influenza, Human ; diagnosis ; virology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo increase local blood supply of bone graft, a novel posterior lumbar spine fusion method with orthotopic paraspinal muscle-pediculated bone flaps was constructed, and the fusion rate and clinical effect.were observed.

METHODSFrom June 2007 to December 2010, 117 patients of lumbar spinal stenosis or lumbar destabilization treated with the novel posterior lumbar fusion method were studied, 49 males and 68 females, aged from 40 to 77 years, average 61.5 years. Clinical effect was evaluated by JOA and VAS score preoperatively and postoperatively, and the fusion result was evaluated by three-dimensional CT reconstruction postoperatively.

RESULTSSeventeen cases lost of follow up, the rest were followed up from 7 to 38 months, average 19 months. There was significant difference between pre- and postoperative JOA and VAS score (P < 0.01), the preoperative JOA score was 10.3 ± 1.9, and 25.4 ± 4.2 at the latest follow-up, the improvement rate was 81.0% ; the preoperative VAS score was 8.5 ± 0.8, and 2.3 ± 0.4 at the latest follow-up. The three-dimensional CT reconstruction showed that 126 of the 133 segments formed solid fusion in 100 patients who completed the follow-up, the fusion rate was 94.7%.

CONCLUSIONThe novel posterior lumbar fusion method make the bone graft position more precise, stable and increases the fusion rate, which can effectively reduce pseudarthrosis and have a promising clinical effect.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Transplantation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Spinal Stenosis ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To analyze clinical features of aortoesphageal fistula (AEF) patients with massive upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.Methods:Five AEF patients with massive upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage admitted in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2016 January 1st to 2019 December 31st. The clinical data, endoscopic findings, radiological manifestations, treatment and clinical outcomes were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Among 5 patients, 4 were males, 1 was female with an average age of (58±8) years old. The underlying conditions were atherosclerosis ( n=4), hypertension ( n=3), hyperlipidemia ( n=1); 2 cases had aortic aneurysm stent implantation and 1 case of rheumatic heart disease had valve replacement. All 5 patients were complicated with hematemesis and hypovolemic shock, and 4 cases had sentinel hemorrhage. Contrast-enhanced CT or CT angiography of the aorta showed thicken esophageal wall, local esophageal discontinuity, aortic aneurysm, gas around the aortic stent and contrast agent spilling over. The gastroscopy showed esophageal depression lesions, deep ulcers, mucosal erosion with bleeding. Conservative therapy and endoscopic hemostasis failed, 2 patients died without surgical intervention; 3 patients underwent emergency surgeries, 2 survived and 1 died perioperatively. Conclusions:Aortoesophageal fistula is in lack of specific clinical manifestations but is highly in mortality. Therefore CT and gastrocopic examination should be performed for suspected patients, early diagnosis and surgical treatment are the key to save patients′ lives.

The association among plasma trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), FMO3 polymorphisms, and chronic heart failure (CHF) remains to be elucidated. TMAO is a microbiota-dependent metabolite from dietary choline and carnitine. A prospective study was performed including 955 consecutively diagnosed CHF patients with reduced ejection fraction, with the longest follow-up of 7 years. The concentrations of plasma TMAO and its precursors, namely, choline and carnitine, were determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the FMO3 E158K polymorphisms (rs2266782) were genotyped. The top tertile of plasma TMAO was associated with a significant increment in hazard ratio (HR) for the composite outcome of cardiovascular death or heart transplantation (HR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.13-1.91, P = 0.004) compared with the lowest tertile. After adjustments of the potential confounders, higher TMAO could still be used to predict the risk of the primary endpoint (adjusted HR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.01-1.74, P = 0.039). This result was also obtained after further adjustment for carnitine (adjusted HR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.01-1.74, P = 0.039). The FMO3 rs2266782 polymorphism was associated with the plasma TMAO concentrations in our cohort, and lower TMAO levels were found in the AA-genotype. Thus, higher plasma TMAO levels indicated increased risk of the composite outcome of cardiovascular death or heart transplantation independent of potential confounders, and the FMO3 AA-genotype in rs2266782 was related to lower plasma TMAO levels.
Carnitine ; Choline/metabolism* ; Chronic Disease ; Heart Failure/genetics* ; Humans ; Methylamines ; Oxygenases ; Prospective Studies