Objective To indentify the effect of hemodialysis(HD) and continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) on serum hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in the patients with acute renal failure (ARF). Methods Of 28 patients with ARF, 19 received HD and 9 underwent CVVH. HGF concentrations in patients serum and ultrafiltrate were measured by ELISA. Results Compared with the controls, serum HGF concentration increased significantly in ARF patients (P

Objective To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of thermal balloon endometrial ablation (TBEA) for patients with menorrhagia. Methods From February 2004 to January 2008,105 women with menorrhagia was admitted to our hospital and treated by TBEA. The clinical data,including menstrual cycle and blood volume,as well as TBEA complications such as abdominal pain,infection,bleeding and conglutination,were followed up for a long period in the patients. Results Among the 105 patients,two were lost for follow-up,and one died of malignant tumor of the urinary system in 56 days after the TBEA,the other 102 (97.1%) patients achieved an follow-up for 3 (102 patients),6 (101 patients),12 (99 patients),24 (66 patients),or 36 months (51 patients) succesively. At each of the time point,the success/amenorrhea rates were 93.1% (95/102)/38.2% (39/102),93.1% (94/101)/33.7% (34/101),91.9% (91/99)/32.3% (32/99),93.9% (62/66)/34.8% (23/66),and 92.2% (47/51)/31.4% (16/51),respectively. No severe perioperative complications such as perforation of the uterus and adjacent organs,massive bleeding or infection due to mechanical or thermal injuries occurred. After the operation,11 (10.5%) patients had uterus contraction-like pain,which was relieved by analgesic drugs within 6 hours;8 (7.9%) patients had adhesion of the tissues around the cervix uteri and/or uterine cavity,4 of them were cured by dilation of the uterus,3 received surgical separation,and 1 underwent resection of the uterus. No significant difference in the effective rate and rate of amenorrhea was found between the 36-and 12-month follow-up results (?2=0.000,P=1.000 and ?2=0.014,P=0.906,respectively),or between 24-and 12-month follow-up results (?2=0.034,P=0.854;?2=0.114,P=0.736). Conclusion TBEA shows good long-term efficacy and safety,as an applicable alternative in the treatment of menorrhagia.

Adolescent ; Contracture ; complications ; Humans ; Male ; Osteopoikilosis ; complications ; genetics ; Pelvis

Benzene ; isolation & purification ; Environmental Monitoring ; Occupational Exposure ; prevention & control ; Recycling ; Toluene ; isolation & purification ; Xylenes ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical application of free superficial iliac circumflex artery skin flaps, as well as the management of donor site defects.

METHODS17 free superficial iliac circumflex artery skin flaps were applied for the traumatic defects or deformities on face, neck, foot, hand, ankle and lower leg, respectively. The donor site defects were closed directly or covered by paraumbilical island flaps.

RESULTSThe 17 flap size ranged from 5 cm x 3 cm to 19 cm x 14 cm. 16 flaps survived completely except 1 flap with partial necrosis, which was closed by free skin graft. The donor site defects were closed directly in 10 cases, and covered by paraumbilical island flaps in 7 flaps without no flap necrosis. The abdomen had a good appearance.

CONCLUSIONSGood appearance can be achieved with free superficial iliac circumflex artery skin flaps for the defects on face, neck, foot, hand, ankle and lower leg. Paraumbilical island flap can be used for the donor site defects.

Arteries ; Foot ; Free Tissue Flaps ; blood supply ; transplantation ; Humans ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Skin ; Skin Transplantation ; Transplant Donor Site ; surgery ; Wounds and Injuries ; surgery

In recent years,obesity is becoming one of the focus problems of social public concern.Maternal obesity may pose a threat on maternal health,for examble the increase of obstetrical complications,it may also affect the short-term and long-term health of the offspring.Maternal obesity may affect children's mental disorder,no review to date has discussed it systematically in China.Now,the health hazards of maternal obesity for the offspring including childhood autism spectrum disorder,attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,neural tube defects,neurobehavioral development disorders and so forth were reviewed,and to provide a reasonable guidance of obesity management.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Antrodia cinnamomea on gene expression related to aortal endothelial injury of rats with hyperlipidemia.

METHODFifty SD rats were randomly divided into five groups: the normal control group (NG), the model group (MG), the antrodia cinnamomea groups of low, middle and high doses (AC-LG, AC-MG, AC-HG, 250, 500, 1 000 mg x kg(-1)). The rats were fed with high-fat diets to establish the hyperlipidemia model. After the drug administration for 10 weeks, their serum lipid, SOD, MDA and ox-LDL, LOX-1, P38 MAPK and NF-kappaB mRNA and protein expression were respectively determined, and the aortal endothelial injury was observed under electron microscope.

RESULTIn the model group, the contents of TC, TG and LDL-C significant increased (P < 0.01), whereas the content of HDL-C significant decreased (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, both the AC-M group and the AC-H group showed reduction in endothelial injury and significant decrease in the content of TC, TG and LDL-C (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The content of HDL-C increased, but with no significant difference. SOD activity in serum remarkably increased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), MDA and ox-LDL levels dramatically decreased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONA. cinnamomea can alleviate endothelial lipid injury by inhibiting the expressions of LOX-1, P38MAPK and NF-kappaB in aorta and better protect aortal endothelial cells from oxidative lipid injury.

Animals ; Antrodia ; chemistry ; Aorta ; drug effects ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Atherosclerosis ; blood ; genetics ; prevention & control ; Biological Products ; pharmacology ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; genetics ; prevention & control ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; blood ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Microscopy, Electron ; NF-kappa B ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Scavenger Receptors, Class E ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; Triglycerides ; blood ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the optimized rehabilitation program in the treatment of post-stroke hemiplegia at the recovery stage.

METHODSBased on the randomized controlled principle, 60 patients were randomized into an rehabilita tion + massage group (group A) and an rehabilitation + acupuncture group (group B), 30 cases in each one. Bobath sport therapy and functional training were adopted in the two groups. In the group A, the massage therapy was added. The rolling method and palm-rubbing method were used on the affected side, the pressing, kneading and plucking methods were applied to Jianliao (LI 15), Jianzhen (SI 9), Quchi (LI 11), Huantiao (GB 30), Weizhong (BL 40), Chengshan (BL 57), Zusanli (ST 36) and the other acu points; and the nipping method was adopted at the twelve Jing-well points. In the group B, acupuncture was applied to Baihui (BL 20), Jianliao (LI 15), Quchi (LI 11), Shousanli (LI 10), Huantiao (GB 30), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Jiexi (ST 41) and the other acupoints. The treatment was given once a day, 5 treatments a week in the two groups. The efficacy was evaluated in 3 weeks. Fugl-Meyer scale, Barthel index (BI) score, modified Rankin scale and stroke-specific quality of life (SS-QOL) were used to assess the limb motor function, the activity of daily life (ADL), independent activity of life and the quality of life of the patients in the two groups before and after treatment. Based on the total cost and benefit, the health economics evaluation was conducted in the patients of the two groups.

RESULTSThe treatments all improved the limb motor function (group A: 26.00 (22) vs 37.00 (33); group B: 30.50 (21) vs 39.50 (36)), the independent activity of life, ADL (group A: 43.50 +/- 22.25 vs 57.50 +/- 22.25; group B: 52.83 +/- 16.59 vs 66.67 +/- 12.82) and the quality of life (group A: 122.23 +/- 30.00 vs 145.50 +/- 28.14; group B: 132.43 +/- 23.87 vs 151.47 +/- 22.37) in the patients of the two groups. The differences in all the indices were significant statistically before and after treatment in the two groups (all P<0.05). Above indices after treatment were not different obviously between the two groups (all P>0.05). In terms of health economics, the expense was decreased by RMB 688.48 while BI was increased by every 5 score in group A in comparison with the group B.

CONCLUSIONBoth the rehabilitation and massage therapy and the rehabilitation and acupuncture therapy improve the limb motor function and the quality of life in the patients of post-stroke hemiplegia. The therapeutic efficacies are similar between the two therapeutic programs. The program of rehabilitation and massage is more economical in the aspects of ADL improvement, being advantageous at simple operation and low cost.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Hemiplegia ; physiopathology ; rehabilitation ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Massage ; Middle Aged ; Motor Activity ; Stroke ; complications ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: Property of artificial liver reactor is generally evaluated by using an enclosed experimental device, which is constructed through simulating bioartificial liver supporting system. Moreover, the enclosed experimental device is also comprehensively evaluated biological function of hepatocytes and biological response efficiency. In addition, it is significance for primarily evaluating the properties of polysulfone membrane hollow fiber reactor to optimize bioartificial liver supporting system. OBJECTIVE: To construct polysulfone membrane bioreactor experimental system, understand the effects on plasma of patients with severe hepatitis, and observe the feasibility of hollow fiber reactor regarded as bioartificial liver reactor. DESIGN: Repeated measurement.SETTING: General Infectious Disease Institute, Southwest Hospital, the Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA. MATERIALS: Seven Chinese mini-pigs with 1-7 days old and of either gender were provided by Experimental Animal Center, the Third Military Medical University (certification: F99017). The animal disposal accorded to the ethical standard. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) kits were purchased from Jingmei Bioengineering Company, China; polysulfone membrane hollow fiber reactor by Shanghai Dehong Biomaterial Institute, China; Cellco culture-circular artificial capillary culture system by Spectrum Company, USA; seven plasma exponents were taken from admission patients with chronic severe hepatitis during plasma exchange. All patients provided the informed consent, and the animal experiment was conducted with confirmed consent by the local ethics committee.METHODS: This study was performed at the General Infectious Disease Institute, Southwest Hospital, the Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA from January 2004 to July 2005. ① Experimental procedure: The experimental pigs underwent ablactation at 12 hours before experiment, and then hepatocytes were separated after cleaning their fur. An enclosed system was composed of polysulfone membrane hollow fiber reactor and Cellco culture-circular artificial capillary culture system, which were connected with oxygen-carbon dioxide diffusion tube and media holding pond. Interface of external cavity was blocked with clean rubber tampon. The separated hepatocytes underwent spheroid culture by using magnetic stirring method, and then they were inoculated in the external cavity of polysulfone membrane hollow fiber reactor. Next, 200 mL plasma from severe hepatitis patients was added in media holding pond and circled from internal cavity of reactor to media holding pond at the speed of 80 mL/min. ② Experimental evaluation: 2 mL liquid circulation separately collected from internal cavity of reactor at 0, 2, 4 and 6 hours after circulation was used to measure level of ammonia in supernatant by using glutamic dehydrogenase-violet method. In addition, content of total bilirubin was detected by using automatic biochemistry analyzer, prothrombin time by using automatic blood coagulometer, and TNF-α and TGF-β1 were detected according to the kits. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Effects of polysulfone membrane bioreactor on ammonia, bilirubin, prothrombin time, TNF-α and TGF-β1 in plasma of patients with severe hepatitis.RESULTS: ① Measurement of ammonia, total bilirubin and prothrombin time in patients with severe hepatitis: Level of ammonia decreased persistently, in particularly, the decrease was obvious from 0 to 2 hours, and then, it was decreased slowly. While, level of total bilirubin was also decreased persistently, and it was significantly lower at 6 hours than that at 0 hour (P < 0.05). Moreover, prothrombin time was decreased persistently, and it was significantly lower at 6 hours than that at 0 hour (P < 0.05). ② Measurement of TNF-α and TGF-β1 in patients with severe hepatitis: Contents of both TNF-α and TGF-β1 decreased persistently, and they were significantly lower at 6 hours than those at 0 hour (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION:Polysulfone membrane bioreactor experimental system can clear noxious substance of small molecules in plasma of patients with severe hepatitis, supply beneficial components, and decrease levels of cytokines. Therefore, it can be regarded as the bioartificial liver reactor.

Objective To analyze the prevalence and economic burden of diabetes in Guandu district of Kunming. Methods We used probability proportional to size (PPS) sampling method to select representative sample of 4595 residents aged 18 or over from this district. Each participant received face to face questionnaire interview and physical examination. We applied different methods to measure the direct,indirect and intangible costs of diabetes. Results In the study population, the overall prevalence of diabetes was 6.2%,and females had higher prevalence of diabetes than males (6.2%vs. 5.6%, <0.05) . The DALY/1000 population of diabetes was 3.52, among which males and females were 5.18 and 6.70, respectively. Mean unit direct costs, indirect costs and intangible costs of diabetes were 3464.49 Yuan,84.48 Yuan and 4 045.97 Yuan,respectively. The total economic burden of diabetes was 401.84 million Yuan. Intangible costs represented the largest component of economic burden of diabetes,followed by direct costs. Conclusion The huge economic burden of diabetes has become the cause for concern in Guandu district. Effective measures are needed to reduce the economic burden of diabetes.