The serum autoantibodies,urine routine test and peripheral blood cellswere analyzed in 70 patients with primary sjogren syndrome(SS)and 91 pa-tients with secondary SS(30 associated with systemic lupus crythematosisand 61 with rheumatoid arthritis). The significant findings in primary SS were the high positive rate ofanti-SSA(76.9%)and anti-SSB(53.8%)antibodies and also the defect in urineacidification.Therefore about 40% of the primary SS manifestated as clincalor subclinical renal tubular acidosis.Anemia,leukopenla,thrombocytopeniawere found in 20.9%,20.9%,50% respectively,ANA was found in 43.5%in the primary SS but 93.3% in SS associated with SLE. The positivity of anti-DNA antibody in primary SS was much lowerthan that of SS with SLE. The positivity of RF in primary SS(60.7%)was also significantly lowerthan that of SS wtih RA (88.3%).Although proteinuria is a rather com-mon finding in SS with SLE,it is not commonly seen in primary SS or SSwith RA.SS was considered as a heterogenesis group of patients.The dif-ferences shown by the conventional laboratory findings mentioned aboveconfirmed the concept that the primary SS is a distint systemic entitywhile the sicca syndrome in secondary SS is only one of the systemicmanifetsations of the associated rheumatic disease.

OBJECTIVETo explore the molecular biological mechanism of ZHU's Tiaojing Cuyun Recipe (TCR) for treating anovulatory infertility patients with Shen deficiency syndrome (SDS) by observing its clinical efficacy.

METHODSUsing randomized blocking methods, 80 patients were assigned to the treatment group (40 cases) and the control group (40 cases). Patients with regular menstrual cycle started medication from the 5th day of menstruation. Those with irregular menstrual cycle first took progesterone till withdrawal bleeding ,and then started medication from the 5th day of vaginal bleeding. Patients in the treatment group took ZHU's TCR, one dose per day, while those in the control group took Clomifene Citrate (CC), 50 mg per day. Three menstrual cycles consisted of one therapeutic course, a total of 2 courses. Clinical efficacy such as pregnancy rates and abortion rates were observed. Ovulation indices (the maximal diameter of mature follicles, luteinized follicles, ovulational follicles, and the endometrial thickness on the ovulation day), SDS, and integrals of menstrual symptoms were monitored before and after treatment. Serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) , and estradiol (E2) were determined using chemiluminescent immunoassay before treatment and after on therapeutic course. Serum levels of activin A (ACTA), inhibin B (INHB), and follistatin (FS) were detected using double antibody sandwich ELISA.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the pregnancy rate was obviously elevated and the abortion rate was obviously lowered in the treatment group (P <0. 05). Ovulation rates of mature follicles and luteinizing follicles decreased more in the treatment group (P < 0.05). Compared with before treatment, integrals for SDS were lower, the maximal diameter of pre-ovulational follicles was increased, and integrals for menstrual symptoms in non-pregnant patients of the two groups were obviously lowered. Meanwhile, the endometrial thickness on the ovulation day was increased in the treatment group after treatment, but reduced in the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, integrals for SDS were decreased, and the maximal diameter of pre-ovulational follicles was lowered in the treatment group after treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Integrals for SDS and the difference in the endometrial thickness on the ovulation day were increased, but the difference in the maximal diameter of pre-ovulational follicles were reduced (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). In the treatment group serum levels of E2 and ACTA increased more after one therapeutic course than before treatment (P < 0.01), but serum levels of INHB and FS decreased more after one therapeutic course than before treatment (P < 0.05). In the control group serum levels of FSH and ACTA increased more, and the serum level of FS decreased more after one therapeutic course than before treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, serum levels of FSH and ACTA increased more, and serum levels of INHB decreased more in the treatment group after one therapeutic course than before treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSZHU'sTCR could improve SDS of anovulatory infertility patients, regulate the follicular development, and elevate the pregnancy rate. Its actions might be associated with regulating their sex hormones, expressions of ovary local factors such as INHB, ACTA, and FS.

Activins ; Clomiphene ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Estradiol ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; Follistatin ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; complications ; therapy ; Inhibins ; Luteinizing Hormone ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Ovarian Diseases ; Ovarian Follicle ; Ovulation ; Progesterone

Humans ; Standard of Care ; Vestibulocochlear Nerve Diseases ; diagnosis ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy among acupuncture based on "jin" theory, regular acupuncture and western medication.

METHODSA total of 95 cases, by using incomplete randomization method, were divided into a "jin" theory acupuncture group (32 cases), a regular acupuncture group (31 cases) and a medication group (32 cases). Patients in the "jin" theory acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture based on "jin" theory which included the "gather" and "knot" points on the affected side: positive reacted points, Fengchi (GB 20), Tianrong (SI 17), Tianyou (TE16) and Yiming (EX-HN14) as the main acupoints, while the Ermen (TE 21), Tinggong (SI 19) and Tinghui (GB 2) and zhigou (TE 6) as the auxiliary acpoints; the treatment was given once a day. Patients in the regular acupuncture group were treated with regular acupuncture at Tinggong (SI 19), Tin- ghui (GB 2) and Ermen (TE 21) and other matched acupoints based on syndrome differentiation, once a day. Pa- tients in the medication group were treated with oral administration of betahistine mesylate, three times a day. Ten days of treatment were taken as one session in three groups, and totally 2 sessions were given. Visual analogue scale (VAS), tinnitus handicap inventory (THD), and tinnitus severity assessment scale (TSIS) were evaluated before and after treatment; also the clinical efficacy was compared among three groups.

RESULTSThere are 5 drop-out cases du- ring the study. After the treatment, the VAS, THI and TSIS were improved in three groups (all P < 0.05); the VAS, THI and TSIS in the "jin" theory acupuncture group were lower than those in the regular acupuncture group and medication group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The total effective rate was 90.0% (27/30), 80.0% (24/30) and 63.3% (19/30), which was higher in the "jin" theory acupuncture group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe acupuncture based on "jin" theory is superior to regular acupuncture and western medication for cervical tinnitus.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck Pain ; complications ; Tinnitus ; etiology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

China ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; prevention & control ; Humans

Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; diagnosis ; prevention & control ; Humans

Objective To study the clinical features,treatment and prognosis of secondary amyloidosis.Methods All the inpatients diagnosed as secondary amyloidosis were analyzed retrospectively.Results Eight patients were diagnosed as secondary amyloidosis.Their underlying diseases were connective tissue diseases (4 cases) multiple myeloma (3 cases) and chronic hepatitis B (1 case).Average duration from the diagnosis of connective tissue diseases to secondary amyloidosis was 6 2 years.Kidney was the main involved organ with the manifestation of proteinuria (4 cases) and renal failure occurred in 1 case.Their average life span was longer than 10 years after immunosuppressive agents and/or steroid therapy.Secondary amyloidosis occurred after multiple myeloma showed a bad prognosis.Tongue and myocardium were mainly involved.Enlargement of liver and spleen is the prominent manifestation in the patients with amyloidosis secondary to chronic hepatitis.Conclusion Amyloidosis can be evolved from connective tissue diseases,multiple myeloma or chronic inflammatory diseases.There are differences in clinical manifestations and prognosis.The only treatment of secondary amyloidosis is the early management to its underlying disease.

Objective To explore a new bio-dynamic differential equation to establish gene regulatory network based on the time-space of gene expression.Methods According to bio-dynamic competitive model and differential equation,a new time-space Lotka-Volterra differential equation was established and was applied to time-order expression data.Results The model was applied to set up the regulation network of yeast genes.The regulatory relation was found and compared with the experiment results.Conclusion The results from the new model were almost consistent with the real situation.So this model can remedy the shortage of other models.It's a new valuable differential equation model.

Objective To investigate to the role of Angelica sinensis polysaccharides (ASP) against hepatic encephalopathy and explore the probable mechanism. Methods Sprague-Dawley rats were established into carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver cirrhosis,then treated with distilled water (negative control),lactulose (positive control),ASP solution (10,20 and 40 g/L respectively,intragastrically at dose of 10 ml.kg-1.d-1) for 14 days. On 15th day,all the survival rats were intraperitoneally injected with endotoxin (3 mg/kg) once,then in the following 12 h,the rats that fall into coma were counted and the time period of coma was recorded. The blood plasma concentrations of ammonia,serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) were determined. The apoptotic cerebral cells were dyed in situ by TUNEL. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in astrocytes was determined by immunohistochemical method. Then we counted the apoptotic cerebral cells and GFAP positive cells under light microscope. Results The survival rats in distilled water group were highest in the concentrations of ammonia,GPT and GOT,the amount of apoptotic cerebral cells,and coma rate than the rats in other groups. The rats in 40 g/L ASP group had the higher ammonia level,GOT concentration,coma rate than those in lactulose group. The rats in 3 ASP groups all had less apoptotic cerebral cells than those in lactulose group. As to GFAP,distilled water group had the lowest immunological activity,and the GFAP immunological positive cells of 3 ASP groups were all more than those in lactulose group. Conclusion ASP,even more effective than lactulose,can protect rat brain function and delay the occurrence of hepatic encephalopathy,whose effects may be related to the decrease of blood ammonia,the amelioration of liver function as well as the protection of astrocyte function and neuronic activity.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the clinical characteristics and early diagnosis and treatment of relapsing polychondritis(RP). METHOD: Twenty-six RP patients received the therapies of antibiotics, glucocorticosteroid, immunosuppressive agent,tracheotomy, tracheal sent implantation or non-invasive ventilation. RESULT: Twenty-six cases (88.5%) had auricle involvement, 20 cases (76.9%) had respiratory tract involvement, 18 cases (69.2%) had joints involvement, 10 cases (38.5%) had nose involvement, 6 cases (23.1%) had eyes involvement, 4 cases (15.4%) had cochlea and (or) vestibular involvement. Some patients with cardiac, vascular, kidney damage as well. One case died of severe pulmonary infection. One case died of respiratory failure. The symptoms of other 24 cases were stable or improved in different degrees. CONCLUSION The clinical manifestations are diverse in RP patients, mainly in department of Otolaryngology, the prognoses of patients with airway involvement are worse, and it may improve the curative effect by an early diagnosis and a timely treatment.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polychondritis, Relapsing ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Prognosis ; Stents ; Tracheotomy ; Young Adult