Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Sjogren's Syndrome ; therapy

Adult ; Device Removal ; Equipment Failure ; Female ; Foreign-Body Migration ; surgery ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; surgery ; Humans ; Myocardial Revascularization ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Fructus Aurantii Immaturus (FAI) on the electro-activity of small intestines in rats, and evaluate the interrelations between the FAI regulating effect and choecystokinin (CCK) and somatostatin (SS).

METHODSMigrating myoelectric complex (MMC) cyclic period, the ratio of the active time to the cyclic period, and the number of the fast wave within the active time per minute were observed between FAI and the normal saline group by external alimentary canal electrodes; the CCK contents in dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus (DMH), ventromedia hypothalamic nucleus (VMH), lateral hypothalamus area (LHA) and SS in VMH, LHA, paraventricular nucleus (PVN) by using immuno-chemistry technique and micro-image pattern quantitative analysis and scanning system.

RESULTSThe MMC cyclic period shortened, the ratio of the active time to the cyclic period increased and the number of the fast wave within the active time per minute increased in the FAI group, which showed significant difference from the normal saline group; CCK positive neurons were reduced in the areas of DMH, VMH and LHA, SS positive neurons were increased in the areas of VMH, LHA and PVN in the FAI gioup,which showed significant difference compared with the normal saline and the blank control group.

CONCLUSIONFAI can stimulate the electro-reactivity of small intestines. The stimulative effect of FAI might be related to CCK and SS in hypothamus.

Animals ; Central Nervous System Stimulants ; pharmacology ; Cholecystokinin ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hypothalamus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Intestine, Small ; drug effects ; physiology ; Myoelectric Complex, Migrating ; drug effects ; Rats ; Somatostatin ; metabolism

Adult ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; metabolism ; Dermatofibrosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fibroma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Lipoma ; pathology ; Neurofibroma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; metabolism ; Skin Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery

A collection of neurons in the upper lumbar spinal cord (lumbar segments 3 and 4) of male rats project to the lower lumbar spinal cord (lumbar segments 5 and 6) and release a gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) to the somatic and autonomic regions, which are known to regulate male sexual reflexes. The GRP plays some special functions when bound to the specific GRP receptor (GRPR). The spinal GRP system is regulated by androgens. Accumulating evidence shows that GRP plays an important role in rat penile erection and ejaculation, and pharmacological stimulation of GRPRs with a specific agonist can restore penile reflexes and ejaculation in castrated male rats. Therefore, the GRP system appears to be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of erectile dysfunction or ejaculatory dysfunction. The present paper briefly reviews the recent studies on the role of the spinal GRP system in regulating the sexual function of males.
Androgens ; metabolism ; Animals ; Ejaculation ; physiology ; Gastrin-Releasing Peptide ; metabolism ; physiology ; Male ; Penile Erection ; physiology ; Rats ; Spinal Cord ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the effect of local injection of Botulinum toxin type A(BTXA) on spasticity and function of the affected upper limb in stroke patients.Methods A total of 32 stroke patients were re- cruited and randomly divided into two groups:a BTXA group and a control group.All the patients had spasticity of upper limb muscles,which scored grade 2 to 3 with the Modified Ashworth Scale(MAS) ,and decreased elbow joint range of motion.The 16 patients in the BTXA group received BTXA injection in the biceps brachii muscles and flexor muscles of forearm on 10～15 points,while those in the control group did not.All the patients in both groups were treated with rehabilitation training techniques.The MAS,Fugl-Meyer upper limb function assessment and Barthel In- dex were employed to evaluate the changes of muscle tone,upper limb function and activity of living (ADL)perform- ance of the patients before injection and at 1st,2nd,6th 12th weeks after injection.Results The therapeutic effect between the BTXA group anti control group was significantly different in terms of biceps muscle tone,the scores of Fugl-Meyer upper limb function assessment and Barthel Index.Compared with preinjection,muscle tone was de- creased significantly and ADL performance was improved after injection in BTXA group.The effects of BTXA lasted more than 12 weeks.Conclusion Intramuscular muhipoint injection of BTXA was useful in reducing muscle spas- ticity,and was helpful for increasing motor ability of the affected upper limb and ADL performance of the stroke pa- tients.

Objective To compare the treatment effect of autologous blister skin grafting with ReCell autologous chromocyte grafting on cicatricial depigmentation caused by deep burn.Methods Thirty-four patients with cicatricial depigmentation caused by deep burn who were admitted into hospital from May 2012 to February 2015 were included in this study.The total 61 depigmentation areas were randomly divided into two groups;32 areas from 18 patients were treated with autologous blister skin grafting,and the other 29 areas from 16 patients were trea-ted with ReCell autologous chromocyte grafting.In the autologous blister skin grafting treated group,epidermis from the depigmentation area was removed by grinding with a BY-II AM type epidermal graft vitiligo treatment equipment.Then the autologous blister skin was harvested with the suction blistering method and grafted onto the wound of depigmentation area.In the ReCell autologous chromocyte grafting treated group,split-thickness skin flap was harvested by electric dermatome.Then the donor skin was processed into chromocyte suspension with the ReCell assay kit and evenly sprayed onto the depigmentation areas.The wound healing time and the pigment recovery 3 months after surgery were observed.Results The wound healing time of autologous blister skin grafting treated group was significantly shorter than that of ReCell autologous chromocyte grafting treated group (P <0.05 ).The effective rate of pigment recovery 3 months after surgery in autologous blister skin grafting treated group was markedly higher than that of ReCell autologous chromocyte grafting treated group(P <0.05 ). Conclusion The autologous epidermal grafting treatment using grinding and suction blistering method is simple and easy to perform,marked-ly effective,with no suture scar and low surgical risk,thus serving as a promising and ideal therapeutic method for burn scar depigmentation.

Objective To confirm the effect of cigarette smoking on β-cell function, and further investigate the mediation effect of abdominal obesity. Methods Participants would include 1440 Chinese smokers who had participated in a community-based chronic disease screening project in Guangzhou and Zhuhai from 2006 to 2007. They were interviewed with structured questionnaire on their socio-demographic status and smoking behaviors. Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and fasting serum C-peptide concentration were also measured. Results After adjustment for the potential confounding factors, when compared with smokers with consumption 1-10 cigarettes/day, smokers with consumption of 11-20 cigarettes/day (adjusted OR=1.53, 95%CI: 1.22-1.90) or ＞20 cigarettes/day (adjusted OR=1.92, 95%CI: 1.32-2.79) had significant higher risks to get C-peptide concentration larger than its median. Furthermore, 37.54% of the effect of cigarette smoking on C-peptide concentration was partially mediated by abdominal obesity. Conclusion Cigarette smoking might be a risk factor for β-cell dysfunction and abdominal obesity.

AIMTo determine the age-adjusted prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in 3 big cities of China and to explore its potential sociodemographic, medical and lifestyle correlates.

METHODSA cross-sectional, population-based survey was conducted in three cities of China. Structured questionnaires were administered to 2 226 men, aged 20 - 86 years, by trained interviewers.

RESULTSThe age-adjusted prevalence of ED was 28.34 % (mild 15.99 %, moderate 7.14 %, severe 5.21 %). In the men above 40, the prevalence was 40.2 %. Age was positively correlated with ED (P<0.01). Education was negatively correlated with ED (P<0.01). Spouse companionship, living condition were positively correlated with ED (P<0.01). Histories of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia were positively correlated with ED (P<0.01). Cigarette smoking was not correlated with ED (P>0.05), while the cigarette consumption and duration were positively correlated with ED (P<0.01). Alcohol drinking is negatively correlated with ED (P<0.01). The duration of drinking was positively correlated with ED (P<0.01). Weekly alcohol consumption was not correlated with ED (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of ED increased with age. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hyperlipidemia were positively correlated with the increased prevalence. Sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, such as education, spouse companionship, living condition, cigarette and alcohol consumption or duration also have association with the prevalence of ED.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; adverse effects ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; complications ; epidemiology ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus ; epidemiology ; Education ; Erectile Dysfunction ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; complications ; epidemiology ; Life Style ; Male ; Marriage ; Middle Aged ; Population ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; physiopathology ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of the combination of percutaneous transhepatic embolization of gastroesophageal varices (PEGV) and partial splenic embolization(PSE) for the treatment of variceal bleeding. Methods Fifty patients with cirrhosis who fit in with the requirements of the study were randomly divided into dual-interventional group and surgical group. The patients in dual-interventional group were treated with PEGV together with PSE, and the patients in surgery group were treated with Hassab's operation. After the procedure all the patients in two groups were followed up periodically. The endoscopy, B ultrasonography, liver function tests and hematologic examinations were performed 24 months after the therapy, and the results were statistically analyzed. Results Fifty patients were enrolled in this study. The procedures of embolization and surgery were successful in all patients. In dual-interventional group, the whit eblood cell and platelet counts were (2.33±0.65) 10~9/L and (3.63±1.05) ×10~9/L respectively before the treatment and were (7.98±3.0) ×10~9/L and (163±91)× 10~9/L respectively 24 months after the treatment (P<0.05). The diameter of theportal vein was (1.47±0.25) cm before the treatment and was(1.31±0.23) cm 24 months after the treatment (P<0.05). The severity of esophageal varices decreased from grade Ⅲ to lower grade Ⅱ in 11 patients, and from grade Ⅱ to lower grade Ⅰ in 6 patients 24 months after procedure. Portal thrombosis occurred in 1 case. The recurrent bleeding rate was 16% (4/25) 24 months after treatment. Three patients died of the recurrent bleeding, one patient died of hepatic failure. In surgical group, the white blood cell and platelet counts were (2.2±0.60) ×10~9/L and (41±12.5) ×109/L before treatment, and were (9.3±2.56)×10~9/L and (321±12.5)×10~9/L 24 months after treatment (P<0.05). The diameter of the portal vein was (1.43±0.22) cm before the treatment and was (1.28±0.18) cm after the treatment (P<0.05). The severity of esophageal varices decreased from grade Ⅲ to lower grade Ⅱ in 13 patients, and from grade Ⅱ to lower grade Ⅰ in 7 patients. Four patients developed portal thrombosis after the procedure. The recurrent bleeding rate was 20%(5/25), 2 patients died of hepatic failure after the surgery, 2 died of recurrent bleeding. Conclusion In treating patients with cirrhosis, the combination of PGEV and PSE, regarded as dual-interventional therapy, is very effective, especially in controlling recurrent bleeding and in improving white blood cell and platelet counts.