Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma are complex inflammatory diseases with airway obstruction as the main characteristics, and have become common respiratory diseases that seriously affect human health. Compared with the clinical use of PDE3 or PDE4 inhibitors alone, dual PDE3/4 inhibitors have synergistic anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator effects, and have attracted widespread attention in recent years. This article reviews the representative research results of dual PDE3/4 inhibitors currently in the preclinical and clinical research stages, summarizing their latest progress and their potential for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.

The administration status of enteric coated aspirin in 348 diabetic patients aged over 40 from Xujiahui Subdistrict of Shanghai was surveyed. One hundred and two out 348 patients ( 29. 3% ) used aspirin regularly, among them only 36 cases used the correct dosage (75 - 162 mg/d), accounting for 10. 3% (36/348) of all patients surveyed. The results indicate that aspirin was not used properly in diabetic patients to prevent the heart and cerebrovascular diseases,and it is necessary for medical providers to promote health education for diabetic patients.

Objective To investigate the relationship of obesity with metabolic syndrome.Methods Six hundred and ninety-seven patients were chosen from the routine physical check-up from 2003 to 2005.These cases were divided into three groups according to body mass index(BMI).The detection rate of high triglyceride(TG) and low level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) were compared among groups of different BMI levels.The detection rate of hyperglycemia,hyperuricemia and high blood pressure among groups of different BMI levels was compared.Results With BMI increasing,the detection rate of high TG and low HDL-C also increased.The difference among three groups was statistically significant(P

The apprentice system is the principal succession method of ancient Chinese medicine. Masters pass down knowledge via verbal instructions as well as personal deeds, and apprentices are unconsciously influenced deeply within by what they see and hear from masters. That is where the strong point of the system. However, at the same time, apprentices are confined by their master’s instructions and learn only a part of the knowledge. It is the profound meaning rather than the form, that truly represents the modern value of the system. Traditional Chinese medicine stresses the cultivation of medical ethics, purification of learning motivation, study of classic works, solid foundation of basic skills and clinical practice. It also advocates that apprentices should be led and taught in accordance to his aptitude.

Objective To clarify whether the intravenous administration of embryonic stem cells(ESCs)could home in on injured myocardium caused by acute myocardial infarction(MI)in rats and to improve the cardiac function afterwards,and to explore the possible effect of inflammatory factor TNF-?on it.Methods ESCs were cultured in vitro and transfected with green fluorescence protein(GFP).The model of heart failure post MI in rats was established by permanent ligation of left coronary anterior descend artery.After operation the rats were administered with 10~7 ESC via tail vein every other day for 6 days.The sham and MI without ESCs infusion groups served as control.Six weeks later,the hemodynamic measurement was employed to evaluate the cardiac function.Immunohistochemistry assay was used to detect the GFP expression in heart and other organs,and the cardiac specific protein Tropinin I(Tn I)expression in GFP positive spot of heart.Meanwhile,the co-culture in vitro of ESC and neonatal rat cardiomyocytes was used to observe the effect of overexpression of TNF-?in cardiomyocytes on ESC migration.Results Six weeks after MI,cardiac function was significantly improved in rats administered with ESC in comparison with those of MI group.Histological changes demonstrated that infused ESCs formed GFP-positive grafts in infracted myocardium.Alternatively,the positive immunostaining for Tn I was found in the area corresponding to GRP positive staining.In regard to other organs,only in spleen a few GFP positive cells were found.This would indicate that circulating ESC could translocate to infracted myocardium and to form cardiac tissue.Migration assay of ESC in vitro indicated that cultured cardiomyocytes with overexpression of TNF-aobviously enhanced the migration of ESCs in comparison with cardiomyocytes without transfection. Conclusion Intravenously infused ESC could home in on infarcted myocurdium and futher differentiate into cardiomyocytes which led to the improvement of cardiac function.In the setting of acute MI the homing mechanism Could be associated with locally released inflammatory factors such as TNF-?which may play as a chemotactic agent on circulating ESC.

Tumors are believed to consist of a heterogeneous population of tumor cells originating from rare cancer stem cells (CSCs). However, emerging evidence suggests that tumor may also originate from non-CSCs. To support this viewpoint, we are here to present definitive evidence indicating that the number of tumorigenic tumor cells is greater than that of CSCs in tumor, and tumor can also derive from non-CSCs. To achieve this, an idealized mathematical model was employed in the present study and theoretical calculation revealed that non-CSCs could initiate the occurrence of tumor if their proliferation potential was adequate. Further, experimental studies demonstrated that 17.7%, 38.6% and 5.2% of tumor cells in murine B16 solid melanoma, H22 hepatoma and Lewis lung carcinoma, respectively, were potentially tumorigenic. Thus, based on the aforementioned findings, we propose that the scarce CSCs, if exist, are not the sole source of a tumor.

Four-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were rendered diabetic by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) after feeding high-fat-diet for 8 weeks,and divided into diabetes group and tumor necrosis factorrelated apoptosis ligand(TRAIL) group.Normal rats severed as a control group.Treatment with TRAIL lasted for 3 months.Total cholesterol,triglycerides,low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol,blood glucose,and insulin levels were decreased in TRAIL group,as compared with diabetes group.Area of atherosclerotic lesion in TRAIL group [(23.8 ± 5.7) ％] was significantly smaller than that in diabetes group [(47.6 ± 7.8) ％].It suggested that TRAIL may reduce the area of atherosclerotic lesion in diabetic rats.

Since Fujita first described uvulopalatopharyngoplasty(UPPP)in 1981,UPPP and its modified procedures have been widely used to treat obstructive sleep apnea and hyponea syndrome(OSAHS).However,despite of its wide application,the success rates was uncertain,ranging from 20% to 80%,with patients of varing Friedman stages.It is well known that the principle of UPPP is to remove the redundant tissue of palate,elongated uvula and hypertrophic tonsils in order to widen the anteroposterior space at the level of palate.But recently,surgeons have found that not only the collapse of soft palate but also the collapse of lateral wall at the palate level can contribute to the obstruction of upper airway at the level of palate.As a result,many surgeries which can widen the lateral velopharyneal space have sprung up in these years.This review focuses on the development of techniques that emphasize the enlargement of lateral velopharyneal space in patients with OSAHS.
Humans ; Larynx ; Palate ; anatomy & histology ; Palate, Soft ; Pharynx ; anatomy & histology ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; therapy ; Uvula

Objective To analyze the characteristics of surface electrocardiographic (ECG) and intracardiac electrophysiological mapping of atrial premature contractions (APC) and atrial fibrillation (AF) originated from the superior vena cava (SVC), so as to investigate the electrophysiological mechanism of AF with SVC origin. Methods The clinical data of 12 patients (mean age 55. 3 ± 12. 2 years) with paroxysmal AF were retrospectively analyzed; the patients were electrophysiologically confirmed with AF of SVC origrn and were hospitalized for radiofrequency ablation during Sept. 2006 to Aug. 2010. The P waves of APC from SVC in inferior leads and V1, morphology of AF, procedure time, ablation sites within SVC, complications and success rate were all analyzed. Results Compared with P wave of sinus rhythm (SR), the P amplitude of APC from SVC was significantly greater ([0. 23±0. 05] mV vs [0. 15±0. 05] mV, P<0. 05) in lead II, and in lead V1 the ratio of biphasic morphology was significantly higher (91. 6% vs 33. 3%, P<0. 05). The figures of fibrillation wave were similar to P waves of SR and APC in 8 patients (8/12,66. 6%). Compared with the electrical isolation of left superior pulmonary vein (LSPV), SVC isolation needed a significantly shorter time ([18 ±11] min vs [33 ±16] min, P<0. 05)and a significantly less ablation site ([14 + 6] vs [36 + 11], P<0. 05). Eight patients still presented persistent rapid firing within SVC after isolation; two patients suffered paroxysmal atrial -utter 1 month after procedure and were controlled by antiarrhythrmia drugs. No patients had complications. Conclusion The APC and AF of SVC origrn manifest specific ECG patterns, which helps to predict the target vena before ablation; the isolation of SVC needs a shorter time period and less ablation points, and with high success rate.

Objective:To observe the clinical curative effect of long-time needle retaining at Baihui(GV20)combined with multidirectional point-toward-point needle insertion with needle shaking at Fengchi(GB20)for the treatment of cervical vertigo(CV)and its influence on the blood flow velocity of vertebrobasilar arteries. Methods:Seventy patients with CV were randomly divided into a treatment group(35 cases,1 dropout)and a control group(35 cases,2 dropouts)according to the random number table method.Those in the treatment group were treated with long-time needle retaining at Baihui(GV20)combined with multidirectional point-toward-point needle insertion with needle shaking at Fengchi(GB20),and those in the control group were treated with conventional acupuncture.The treatment was performed every other day,7 sessions as a treatment course,for a total of 2 courses.The clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups by observing changes in the evaluation scale for symptoms and functions of cervical vertigo(ESCV)and the mean blood flow velocity(Vm)of vertebrobasilar arteries. Results:The total effective rate and the cured plus markedly effective rate were 91.2%and 79.4%,respectively,in the treatment group,versus 78.8%and 54.5%in the control group,respectively,with a statistically significant difference in the cured plus markedly effective rate between the two groups(P<0.05).The ESCV score and the Vm of vertebrobasilar arteries in the two groups improved significantly after treatment.The Vm of the left vertebral artery(LVA),right vertebral artery(RVA),and basilar artery(BA)increased in patients with low and normal flow velocities(P<0.05),and the Vm of the LVA,RVA,and BA decreased in patients with a high flow velocity(P<0.05);the results in the treatment group were significantly better than those in the control group(P<0.05). Conclusion:Long-time needle retaining at Baihui(GV20)combined with multidirectional point-toward-point needle insertion with needle shaking at Fengchi(GB20)can significantly reduce the clinical symptoms of CV and regulate the blood flow rate of vertebrobasilar arteries bidirectionally,and thus is an effective therapy for CV.