Adult ; Aged ; Cause of Death ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; mortality ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Plasma cell leukaemia (PCL) is a rare form of malignant plasma cell dyscrasia. It can occur as a primary form without prior evidence of multiple myeloma or as a secondary form which is a terminal event in multiple myeloma. It is characterised by a proliferation of plasma cells in blood and the bone marrow. The outcome of plasma cell leukemia is poor with conventional therapy. Here we illustrate a case of primary plasma cell leukemia complicated by para plegia. The patient initially responded to combination chemotherapy but succumbed to the disease two months after presentation

Objective: To explore the potential mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion in treating Crohn disease (CD) by evaluating the changes in histamine and inflammatory factors in the skin tissue at Tianshu (ST25) of rats.Methods: Fifty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group (n=14) and a CD-modeling group (n=44). Rats in the CD-modeling group received enema with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid plus ethanol to establish CD models. The enema was repeated once every 7 d for a total of 4 times. After modeling, four modeled rats and four normal rats were randomly selected for model identification. After the CD model was successfully established, the remaining rats in the CD-modeling group were randomly divided into a model group, an acupuncture group, a moxibustion group, and a Western medication group, with ten rats in each group. The rats in the acupuncture and moxibustion groups were treated with acupuncture or moxibustion at Tianshu (ST25) and Shangjuxu (ST37); the rats in the Western medication group were treated with mesalazine enteric-coated tablets by gavage for continuous 7 d. After the intervention, the colon tissue of rats in each group was collected. After gross observation, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to further observe the pathological changes. The expression of histamine in the skin tissue at Tianshu (ST25) was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, IL-10, and IL-6 in the skin tissue at Tianshu (ST25) was detected by Western blotting. Results: Compared with the normal group, the colonic wall of rats in the model group showed cobblestone-like changes, local ulcers, and polyps in dark red and thickening and hardening. HE staining showed local loss of mucosal epithelial layer and formation of slit-like ulcers, destruction of mucosal glands, edema, and infiltration of inflammatory cells in lamina propria and submucosa, and occasional formation of sarcoid-like granuloma. The levels of histamine and IL-6 were significantly up-regulated (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the levels of TNF-α, IL-18, and IL-10 were significantly down- regulated (P<0.01 or P<0.05) in the skin tissue at Tianshu (ST25) of rats in the model group. Compared with the model group, the pathomorphological damage of the colon tissue of rats in the acupuncture group, moxibustion group, and Western medication group was significantly improved. The levels of histamine and IL-6 were significantly down- regulated (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the level of IL-10 was significantly up-regulated (P<0.01) in the skin at Tianshu (ST25) of rats in the acupuncture group. The levels of histamine and IL-6 were significantly down-regulated (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the levels of TNF-α, IL-18, and IL-10 were significantly up-regulated (P<0.01 or P<0.05) in the skin tissue at Tianshu (ST25) of rats in the moxibustion group. The level of histamine was significantly down-regulated (P<0.01), and the levels of IL-18 and IL-10 were significantly up-regulated (P<0.05, P<0.01) in the skin tissue of rats in the Western medication group. Compared with the acupuncture group, the level of IL-10 in the skin tissue at Tianshu (ST25) of rats in the moxibustion group was significantly up-regulated (P<0.01). Conclusion: The inflammatory responses in the skin tissue at Tianshu (ST25) may be the external manifestation of CD. Significant differences in the regulation of inflammatory responses in the skin tissue at Tianshu (ST25) between acupuncture and moxibustion exist, which may be caused by the differences in the stimulation characteristics between acupuncture and moxibustion.

Adult ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; adverse effects ; Chemical Industry ; Female ; Humans ; Insecticides ; adverse effects ; Male ; Maximum Allowable Concentration ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; chemically induced ; diagnosis ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; adverse effects ; Phosphorus Compounds ; adverse effects ; Sulfides ; adverse effects

Objective:To compare the effects of Feishu(BL13)combined with Tianshu(ST25)and Feishu(BL13)alone on pulmonary function and tissue inflammation in asthma model rats. Methods:Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group,a model group,a lung treatment group,and a lung-intestine treatment group according to the random number table method,with 12 rats in each group.Except for the normal group,rats in the other three groups were sensitized by ovalbumin followed by atomization stimulation to establish the asthma model.After the model was made successfully,rats in the lung treatment group were treated with acupuncture at bilateral Feishu(BL13)for 30 min;rats in the lung-intestine treatment group were treated with acupuncture at bilateral Feishu(BL13)and Tianshu(ST25)for 15 min,respectively,for 30 min in total.Acupuncture was performed once a day for 14 d.Rats in the other two groups did not receive any intervention.After intervention,the pulmonary function of each group of rats was measured by a pulmonary function tester.The histopathological changes stained by hematoxylin-eosin staining and the collagen deposition degree stained by Masson in lung tissue,as well as the inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)stained by Wright's-Giemsa staining were observed under a light microscope;the levels of interleukin(IL)-4,IL-5,IL-13,IL-17,IL-25,IL-33,leukotrienes(LT),thymic stromal lymphopoietin(TSLP),and prostaglandin D2(PGD2)were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results:Compared with the normal group,the peak expiratory flow(PEF),the dynamic lung compliance(Cdyn),the forced expiratory flow 25%(FEF25%),the forced expiratory volume in the first second/forced vital capacity(FEV1/FVC),and the maximum mid-expiratory flow(MMEF)in the model group were significantly decreased(P<0.01 or P<0.05);the lung resistance(RL),the collagen deposition,the IL-4,IL-5,IL-13,IL-17,IL-33,LT,TSLP,and PGD2 levels,and the neutrophil proportion in the BALF were increased significantly(P<0.01 or P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the FEF25%and FEV1/FVC in the pulmonary function were significantly increased(P<0.01,P<0.05),while the collagen fiber deposition and the levels of IL-4,IL-5,IL-13,IL-17,LT,TSLP,and PGD2 were significantly decreased(P<0.01 or P<0.05)in the lung treatment group;the PEF,FEF25%,and FEV1/FVC in pulmonary function were significantly increased(P<0.01 or P<0.05),while the RL and the collagen fiber deposition,as well as the neutrophil proportion and the levels of IL-4,IL-5,IL-13,IL-17,IL-33,LT,TSLP,and PGD2 in the BALF were significantly decreased(P<0.01 or P<0.05)in the lung-intestine treatment group.Compared with the lung treatment group,the IL-5 level in the rat lung tissue of the lung-intestine treatment group was decreased(P<0.05). Conclusion:Acupuncture in the lung treatment and the lung-intestine treatment groups improved pulmonary function,lung inflammation,and inflammatory cells in the BALF in asthma model rats;the lung-intestine treatment was better than lung treatment in improving the IL-5 level.The combination of Feishu(BL13)and Tianshu(ST25)was superior to Feishu(BL13)alone in the treatment of asthma in trend.

Sparganosis is not a common disease. Uncooked snake or frog, infected water and fresh water fish are the usual important source of sparganosis. Most cases of sparganosis are found in subcutaneous or adipose tissue of the abdominal and thoracic wall, and also in the inguinal inguinal regions, but the lesions are rarely found in the breast. We experienced 2 cases of sparganosis in the breast of a 69-year-old female & in the breast of a 37-year-old female. Among them, the 37-year-old female had a history of drinking impure water. The diagnosis was confirmed by surgical excision of the mass, and the plain mammography showed the characteristic finding of an irregular shaped, heterogenous mass lesion. We report here on this case and we briefly review the related literature.
Adipose Tissue ; Adult ; Aged ; Breast ; Diagnosis ; Drinking ; Female ; Fresh Water ; Humans ; Mammography ; Snakes ; Sparganosis* ; Thoracic Wall ; Water

OBJECTIVETo examine the association between Ponderal index (PI) at birth and metabolic syndrome during middle age.

METHODSTotally, 975 adults (494 men and 481 women) aged 41-52 from the study cohort of Fetal Origin of Adult Disease were recruited in the study for clinic examinations, involving anthropometry and measurements of blood pressure, fasting and 2 hr plasma levels of glucose and insulin, serum lipid profile. Their HOMA-insulin resistance (IR) index was estimated. Metabolic syndrome (MS) was diagnosed according to 1999 WHO definition. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the effect of PI on MS and the interaction between PI at birth and body mass index (BMI) in adulthood.

RESULTSPrevalence of MS was 18.7% in this mid-aged population, 24.8%, 19.4%, 16.3% and 14.0% in those with less than the 25th percentile, the 25th to less than the 50th percentile, the 50th to less than the 75th percentile and more than 75th percentile of PI at birth, respectively, in a decreasing trend (chi2 M-H for trend=9.938 adjusted for gender, P=0.002). Logistic regression analysis showed that both PI at birth and BMI during adulthood could influence their occurrence of MS (beta=-0.125, P=0.002, for PI; and beta=0.430, P=0.000, for BMI). A synergistic effect between PI at birth and BMI in adulthood was observed in this population. Persons who were thin at birth with PI less than the 25th percentile, and became overweight with BMI greater than or equal to 24 kg/m2 later in their life, were at higher risk of suffering from metabolic syndrome (OR=29.1, 95% CI=13.6-62.1), in comparison with those who became overweight during adulthood from a higher PI at birth (OR=16.0, 95% CI=7.9-32.3) and those who were thin at birth and remained a appropriate BMI during their adulthood (OR=2.0, 95% CI=0.7-5.7). Attributable fraction of the interaction to MS was 34.6%.

CONCLUSIONSThin at birth was a predictor for later occurrence of metabolic syndrome, as well as an effect modifier for the association between of later BMI and metabolic syndrome, i.e., overweight later in his life was most deleterious for a person with growth retardation at birth.

Adult ; Birth Weight ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Body Mass Index ; China ; epidemiology ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; physiology ; Lipids ; blood ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

Detecting signs of learning in persons diagnosed to be in a post-coma vegetative state and minimally conscious state (MCS) may modify their diagnosis. We report the case of a 65-year-old female in a vegetative state. We used microswitch-based technology that is based on patient response to eye-blinking. We followed an ABABCB design, in which A represented baseline periods, B intervention periods with stimuli contingent on the responses, and C a control condition with stimuli presented non-contingently. We observed the level of response during the B phases was higher than the level of A and C phases. This indicated the patient showed signs of learning. This state was confirmed by an evaluation through the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRSR) score, and after completion of this study her CRSR score changed from 4 to 10. We believe microswitch technology may be useful to make a diagnosis of MCS and offer new opportunities for education to MCS patients.
Aged ; Coma ; Female ; Humans ; Learning ; Persistent Vegetative State

Detecting signs of learning in persons diagnosed to be in a post-coma vegetative state and minimally conscious state (MCS) may modify their diagnosis. We report the case of a 65-year-old female in a vegetative state. We used microswitch-based technology that is based on patient response to eye-blinking. We followed an ABABCB design, in which A represented baseline periods, B intervention periods with stimuli contingent on the responses, and C a control condition with stimuli presented non-contingently. We observed the level of response during the B phases was higher than the level of A and C phases. This indicated the patient showed signs of learning. This state was confirmed by an evaluation through the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRSR) score, and after completion of this study her CRSR score changed from 4 to 10. We believe microswitch technology may be useful to make a diagnosis of MCS and offer new opportunities for education to MCS patients.
Aged ; Coma ; Female ; Humans ; Learning ; Persistent Vegetative State

To evaluate the papilla alterations around single-implant restorations in the anterior maxillae after crown attachment and to study the influence of soft tissue thickness on the papilla fill alteration. According to the inclusion criteria, 32 patients subjected to implant-supported single-tooth restorations in anterior maxillae were included. The patients were assigned to two groups according to the mucosal thickness: (i) group 1, 1.5 mm s mucosal thickness 3 mm; and (ii) group 2, 3 mm Adult ; Crowns ; Dental Implantation, Endosseous ; methods ; Dental Implants, Single-Tooth ; Dental Prosthesis Design ; Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported ; Esthetics, Dental ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gingiva ; anatomy & histology ; Humans ; Male ; Maxilla ; Middle Aged ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Prospective Studies ; Tooth Cervix ; anatomy & histology ; Young Adult