Objective To observe the inhibitory effect of endothelin receptor antagonist on increased vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) level of retina in diabetic rats. Methods Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group,diabetic group(diabetes without treatment) and treated group(diabetes treated with endothelin receptor antagonist).The rats were killed after 24 weeks.Levels of VEGF in retina of rats were detected by ELISA. Results Levels of VEGF were significantly lower in treated group than diabetic group(P

Aim To study the effect of Baoxinbao film on endothelin(ET) and nitric oxide(NO) secretion in patients with stable angina pectoris(SAP).Methods 76 patients with SAP were randomly divided into two groups, with 40 cases in the baoxinbao group plastered with baoxinbao film and 36 cases in the isosorbide dinitrate group receiving isosorbide dinitrate. The levels of plasma ET and NO before and after treatment were observed. Results The concentrations of plasma ET were increased and plasma NO reduced significantly in the SAP patients respectively, as compared with those in the control group(all P

Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; instrumentation ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Spinal Osteophytosis ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy on primary osteoporosis treated with spreading moxibustion for warming yang and activating blood circulation so as to provide the effective clinical therapeutic methods for osteoporosis.

METHODSSixty cases of primary osteoporosis were randomized into a spreading moxibustion group (30 cases) and a calcium tablet group (30 cases). In the calcium tablet group, caltrate was prescribed for oral administration, 600 mg per day. In the spreading moxibustion group, on the basis of the treatment as the calcium tablet group, the spreading moxibustion was applied at Dazhui (GV 14) to Yaoshu (GV 2) for warming yang and activating blood circulation. The duration of treatment was 12 weeks. Visual analogue scale (VAS) score, TCM clinical symptom score and bone mineral density (BMD) were observed and compared before and after treatment in the patients between the two groups.

RESULTSVAS scores were reduced apparently after treatment in the two groups (both P < 0.01) and the results in the spreading moxibustion group were obviously superior to that in the calcium tablet group (2.36 +/- 0.43 vs 4.52 +/- 0.35, P < 0.01). BMD were all increased in the two groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and the results in the spreading moxibustion group were superior to those in the calcium tablet group (both P < 0.05). The total clinical effective rate was 86.67% (26/30) in the spreading moxibustion group, apparently better than 63.33% (19/30) in the calcium tablet group (P < 0.05). TCM clinical symptom scores after treatment were all reduced apparently in the two groups (both P < 0.01), and the result in the spreading moxibustion group was obviously superior to that in the calcium tablet group (4.72 +/- 1.90 vs 6.82 +/- 2.30, P < 0.01). The total effective rate of TCM symptoms was 93.33% (28/30) in the spreading moxibustion group, apparently better than 70.00% (21/30) in the calcium tablet group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapy of spreading moxibustion for warming yang and activating blood circulation and the oral administration of caltrate apparently relieves pain and TCM clinical symptoms, improves BMD in the patients of osteoporosis and achieves definite clinical efficacy in the patients of osteoporosis.

Aged ; Blood Circulation ; Bone Density ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Osteoporosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Yang Deficiency ; physiopathology ; therapy

Objective To evaluate, the safety of keeping watching central venous catheter and whether it decreased unnecessary catheter removal in unexplained fever patients. Methods Eighty-two unexplained fever patients with suspected catheter-related infection whose clinical conditions were relatively stable were retrospectively analyzed and divided into keep watching group (31 patients) and immediate removal group (51 patients). ICU mortality, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, temperature, the rate of catheter-related infection, and the rate of central venous catheter removal were compared. Results There was no significant difference in ICU mortality, SOFA score, temperature and the rate of catheter-related infection between two groups (P > 0.05). Eleven of 31 (35.5%) were removed central venous catheter at last, versus all patients (100.0%) in the immediate removal group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Keep watching central venous catheter will decrease a substantial unnecessary catheter removal without increased morbidity in unexplained fever patients with suspected catheter-related infection if their clinical conditions are relatively stable.

Objective To assess the role of stroke volume variation (SVV) in predicting the volume responsiveness of mechanically ventilated patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. Method A total of 28 mechanically ventilated patients with severe sepsis and septic shock were admitted from January 2009 to March 2010. Every patient was treated with volume loading test. Cardiac index (CI), stroke volume index (SVI), systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and SVV were measured non-invasively by Ultrasonic Cardiac Output Monitor (USCOM) device.Patients with an increase in CI ＞ 12% and ＜ 12% after volume loading test were classified as responders and nonresponders, respectively. The comparisons between these two sorts of patients were assessed by using two sample Student' s t -test, and comparisons between changes before and after volume loading test were assessed by using a paired Student's t -test. The roles of SVV, central venous pressure (CVP) and the changes of CVP (△CVP) after fluid administration in predicting volume responsiveness were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results Before volume loading test, the SVV was higher in responders in comparison with non-responders [(18.2 ± 4.7)% vs. (12.7 ± 4.2)%, P = 0.003] and the CVP was not significantly different between two groups [(10.2±4.0) cmH2O vs. (10.8±4.8) cmH2O, P ＞0.05]. After volume loading test,the CVP was lower in responders [(2.9 ± 3.1 ) cmH2O vs. (5.3 ± 2.7) cmH2O, P = 0.003]. The areas under the ROC curves (AUC) were 0.836 (95% CI:0.680 ～ 0.992,P = 0.003),0.549 (95% CI:0.329 ～ 0.768,P = 0.662)and 0.762 (95% CI:0.570 ～ 0.953,P = 0.019)for SVV, CVP and △CVP, respectively. The 15.5% of SVV value had the 84.6% of sensitivity and 80% of specificity for prediction of volume responsiveness. Conclusions SVV can serve as a valid indicator of predicting volume responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients with severe sepsis and septic shock and it is more reliable than conventional indicators such as CVP and/△CVP.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of perioperative application of Sijunzi Decoction and enteral nutrition on T-cell subsets and nutritional status in patients with gastric cancer after operation. METHODS: In this prospective, single-blinded, controlled clinical trial, fifty-nine patients with gastric cancer were randomly divided into three groups: control group (n=20) and two study groups (group A, n=21; group B, n=18). Sjunzi Decoction (100 ml) was administered via nasogastric tube to the patients in the study group B from the second postoperation day to the 9th postoperation day. Patients in the two study groups were given an isocaloric and isonitrogonous enteral diet, which was started on the second day after operation, and continued for eight days. Patients in the control group were given an isocaloric and isonitrogonous parenteral diet for 9 days. All variables of nutritional status such as serum albumin (ALB), prealbumin (PA), transferrin (TRF) and T-cell subsets were measured one day before operation, and one day and 10 days after operation. RESULTS: All the nutritional variables and the levels of CD3(+), CD4(+), CD4(+)/CD8(+) were decreased significantly after operation. Ten days after operation, T-cell subsets and nutritional variables in the two study groups were increased as compare with the control group. The levels of ALB, TRF and T-cell subsets in the study group B were increased significantly as compared with the study group A (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Enteral nutrition assisted with Sijunzi Decoction can positively improve and optimize cellular immune function and nutritional status in the patients with gastric cancer after operation.

Objective To investigate the state of endemic fluorosis, running status of water improvement project to reduce fluoride in Jiangsu province, and to provide a scientific basis for prevention and control of endemic fluorosis. Methods In 2008, in the ten key counties of endemic fluorosis (zone), in Xuzhou,Lianyungang and Suqian, a stratified sampling method was employed to select 40 diseased villages according to their past water fluoride survey data. All children aged 8 to 12 were examined dental fluorosis, and all adults over 16 years were examined clinical skeletal fluorosis. Thirty per cent of the 40 diseased villages were selected, and 20 adults over the age of 16 in each selected village were examined by X-ray, respectively;50% of the 40 diseased villages were selected, and 30 any time urine samples of children aged 8 to 12 in each diseased village were tested urine fluoride. In each city, select a county, the status of water improvement project to reduce fluoride, water supply capacity and coverage in the county were investigated. Results A total of 3560 children aged 8 to 12 were examined, the detection rate of dental fluorosis was 38.51% (1371/3560), tooth defect rate was 5.34% (190/3560), and dental fluorosis index was 0.8. Seven hundred and eight urine samples were tested, the median urinary fluoride was 1.47 mg/L and the range was 0.08 ~ 10.08 mg/L. Clinical detection of skeletal fluorosis was 21.3% among adults over the age of 16, and X-ray detection rate of skeletal fluorosis was 39.2% (123/314).Investigated a total of 248 facilities of centralized water improvement projects, no funds to run or damaged 49, the water fluoride > 1.0 mg/L was 18. Conclusions Endemic fluorosis in Northern Jiangsu province has not been controlled completely, but has a rising trend, we should further strengthen the supervision of water fluoride reduction.

OBJECTIVETo observe clinical curative effect of cake-separated moxibustion on impaired glucose regulation (IGR) and explore its action mechanism.

METHODSSixty cases were randomly divided into a simple lifestyle intervention group (control group) and a cake-separated moxibustion combined with lifestyle intervention group (observation group), 30 cases in each one. The control group was treated with lifestyle intervention. Based on lifestyle intervention, cake-separated moxibustion at Pishu (BL 20), Weishu (BL 21) and Yishu (EX-B 3) was applied to the observation group. Fast plasma glucose (FPG), two hours plasma glucose after oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT2hPG), fasting insulin (FINS), homa insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), blood lipid, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were observed in the two groups before and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the OGTT2hPG and FPG were both decreased significantly (both P<0.05) in the two groups, compared between the two groups, the differences of FPG [(0.41 +/- 0.42) mmol/L vs (0.05 +/- 0.08)mmol/L] and OGTT2hPG [(0.85 +/- 0.53)mmol/L vs (0.17 +/- 0.19)mmol/L] were both statistically significant. There were no significant changes in FINS, HOMA-IR, blood lipid, BMI and WC in the control group before and after treatment (all P>0.05), but FINS, HOMA-IR levels, triglycerides (TG), total cholest-erol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), BMI and WC in the observation group were decreased obviously after treatment (all P<0.05), which had statistical differences between the two groups (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe cake-separated moxibustion combined with lifestyle intervention can obviously control blood glucose levels, improve insulin resistance and blood lipid levels, decrease BMI and WC.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Glucose Intolerance ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Insulin ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Waist Circumference

· AIM: To examine the expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-3 mRNA during choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in a murine model and to investigate the role of them in the development of CNV. · METHODS: CNV was induced in C57BL/6J mice by intensive diode laser (810nm) photocoagulation (120mW, 75μm, 0. 1s) of the fundus whereafter eyes were enucleated at 1, 3days, 1, 2, and 4 weeks. The MMP-9 and TIMP-3 mRNA expression were analyzed using in situ hybridization and image analysis system. · RESULTS: Both expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-3 mRNA had dynamic changes. For MMP-9, the expression was 1, 2, 4 wk > 3d > 1d (P < 0.05), whereas TIMP-3 mRNA, 3d, 1, 2, 4 wk>1d (P<0.05). · CONCLUSION: The imbalance between the changes of MMP-9 and TIMP-3 may accelerate the degrading of extracelluar matrix, and then be involved in the pathogenesis of CNV.