OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy on the motor impairment of knee joint after tracture operation between the combined therapeutic method of relaxing needling manipulation and exercise therapy and the simple exercise therapy.

METHODSSixty-four patients after the operation for the fracture of femoral shaft were randomized into a relaxing needling combined with exercise therapy group (group A) and an exercise therapy group (group B), 32 cases in each one. In the group A, the relaxing needling manipulation was applied to the local painful area of knee or the stiff soft tissues. Additionally, the exercise therapy was used in combination. In the group B, the exercise therapy was applied simply. Hospital for special surgery (HSS) pain score, the range of movement (ROM) of knee joint and Lysholm score were compared before and 60 days after treatment in the patients of the two groups. The efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, HSS pain score, ROM and Lysholm score were all improved in the two groups, presenting the significant differences as compared with those before treatment (all P<0. 05). The results in the group A were better than those in the group B (all P<0. 05). The total effective rate was 96. 9% (31/32) in the group A, which was better than 75. 0% (24/32) in the group B (P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapeutic method of relaxing needling manipulation and exercise therapy achieves the significant efficacy on the motor impairment of knee joint after the operation for the fracture of femoral shaft, superior to the simple exercise therapy.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Exercise Therapy ; Female ; Fractures, Bone ; physiopathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the suppressive effect and its frequency selection of dopamine on the cochlear auditory afferent nerve activity. To offer an important step in understanding the modulation of dopamine in the inner cell synaptic complex.

METHODSForty guinea pigs were randomly divided into four groups and the whole intracochlear perfusions were performed: (1) perfused with artificial perilymph solutions; (2) perfused with artificial perilymph solutions containing 10 mmol/L dopamine; (3) perfused with artificial perilymph solutions containing 30 mmol/L dopamine; (4) perfused with artificial perilymph solutions containing 50 mmol/L dopamine. Compound action potential (CAP) evoked by different frequencies (250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, 4000 Hz, 8000 Hz, 16 000 Hz) and cochlear microphonics (CM) evoked by 4000 Hz tone burst were recorded from the round window of guinea pigs before perfusion and 1 hours, 2 hours after perfusions.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in CAP threshold before and after perfusion in the artificial perilymph solutions group (P > 0.05). An increase of CAP threshold of most detecting frequencies were observed in the three dopamine-perfused groups (P < 0.05). The inhibition effect intended with the increasing of the concentration of dopamine in the perfusion solution. There was significant difference in CAP threshold shift between different frequencies, especially in the group perfused with 30 mmol/L dopamine. The maximal threshold shift was found at 4000 Hz and 8000 Hz. No significant changes of CM amplitude and non-linearity of input-output function were observed before and after perfusion with artificial perilymph solutions and dopamine.

CONCLUSIONSDopamine can inhibit the cochlear auditory afferent nerve, but there is no obvious influence on outer hair cell produced by dopamine. The inhibition effect has frequency selection, the suppression on high frequencies is more stronger than low frequencies.

Animals ; Cochlear Nerve ; drug effects ; physiology ; Dopamine ; pharmacology ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory ; drug effects ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Male

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) is an important molecular marker in traditional Chinese medicine research, and it is widely used in TCM authentication. The present study created a new genotyping method by combining restriction endonuclease digesting with melting curve analysis, which is a stable, rapid and easy doing SNP genotyping method. The new method analyzed SNP genotyping of two chloroplast SNP which was located in or out of the endonuclease recognition site, the results showed that when attaching a 14 bp GC-clamp (cggcgggagggcgg) to 5' end of the primer and selecting suited endonuclease to digest the amplification products, the melting curve of Lonicera japonica and Atractylodes macrocephala were all of double peaks and the adulterants Shan-yin-hua and A. lancea were of single peaks. The results indicated that the method had good stability and reproducibility for identifying authentic medicines from its adulterants. It is a potential SNP genotyping method and named restriction endonuclease digest - melting curve analysis.
Atractylodes ; classification ; genetics ; DNA Restriction Enzymes ; metabolism ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; Genotype ; Lonicera ; classification ; genetics ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

OBJECTIVETo evaluate clinical therapeutic effect and the safety of pricking blood therapy combined with ultraviolet irradiation for treatment of acute herpes zoster.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty cases were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 65 cases in each group. The observation group was treated with pricking blood therapy combined with ultraviolet irradiation. Firstly, the affected parts were heavily taped with a plum-blossom needle and then cupping. After the cup was removed, with the body surface-dividing field method, ultraviolet irradiation was given at the skin injury area and the nerve root area corresponding to paraspinal vertebra, and the control group was treated with Aciclovir and other western medicine. Seven days constituted one course. Their therapeutic effects and adverse reactions were observed.

RESULTSAfter treatment of 7 days, the cured rate of 76.9% and the total effective rate of 90.8% in the observation group were significantly higher than 38.5% and 66.2% in the control group, respectively (both P < 0.01); the incidence rate of post herpetic neuralgia of 3.1% in the observation group was significantly lower than 12.3% in the control group (P < 0.05); after treatment, the scores for pain, rash and sleep decreased significantly in the two groups (all P < 0.01), more significantly decreased in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05); the pain-relieving time, herpes-stopping time, scab-forming time and the cured time in the cured patients of the observation group were significantly shorter than those in the control group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe pricking blood therapy combined with ultraviolet irradiation has rapid therapeutic effect, effectively shortens duration of illness, decreases the incidence rate of post herpetic neuralgia and it is a safe remedy for treatment of herpes zoster.

Acupuncture Points ; Acyclovir ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Aged ; Antiviral Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Dizziness ; etiology ; Erythema ; etiology ; Female ; Herpes Zoster ; pathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; adverse effects ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultraviolet Therapy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Young Adult

It was well known that in 1918 Takagi performed the first arthroscopic inspection of a cadaver's knee in Japan.(1) His interest in this area laid the foundation for arthroscopy and facilitated the development of arthroscope. In 1931, Burman reported an experimental study on the arthroscopic exploration of cadaveric joints, but he believed that the ankle joint was unsuitable for such techniques because it was too narrow to pass through the posterior puncture.(2) Unexpectedly, several years later Takagi described a routine method for arthroscopic examination of the ankle.(1) Since 1970's, ankle arthroscopy had made some significant progress after almost four decades of silence. In 1972, Watanabe reported 28 cases adopting his newly-developed fiberoptic arthroscope and described the anteromedial, anterolateral and posterior approaches.(3) Then, in 1976, Chen reviewed his experience with ankle arthroscopy on 67 patients and 17 cadavers. He elaborately analyzed the various compartments within the ankle and described their anatomy in detail.(4) Subsequently, many authors reported their experiences and techniques in this field.(5-9) In 2000, Hintermann addressed his experience of the arthroscopic application in acute fractures of the ankle.(10) Meanwhile, with rich knowledge about the anatomic portals, some advanced technologies, including video camera, fiberoptic light transmission, joint distraction by invasive or non-invasive means and instruments for small joints, make it possible to perform diagnostic and operative arthroscopy in the ankle.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the sperm quality of college students in Chengdu area.

METHODSA computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA) was made of the sperm concentration, grade A sperm, grade B sperm, sperm viability rate and movement parameters (VCL, VAP, VSL, LIN, STR) of 549 volunteers from 14 colleges in Chengdu area. The volunteers were divided into normal and abnormal groups according to the criteria (sperm concentration > or = 20 x 10(6)/ml, grade A and B sperm > or = 50% or grade A sperm > or = 25%). The results were compared with the data reported in China.

RESULTSAmong the 549 volunteers, the sperm concentration was (50.90 +/- 27.31) x 10(6)/ml, grade A and B sperm was (42.21 +/- 15.38)%, grade A sperm was (29.48 +/- 13.71)%, and the sperm viability rate was (56.40 +/- 14.77)%. The volunteers with normal sperm accounted for 62.84% (345/549) in contrast with abnormal (37.16%, 204/549). Among the 204 volunteers with abnormal sperms, there were 187 (90.67%) with abnormal motility, 39 (19.21%) with abnormal concentration, 22 (10.78%) with both abnormal concentration and abnormal motility. There were no volunteers without sperm. Among the 345 volunteers with normal sperm, the VCL, VAP and VSL were above 25 microns/s, and the VCL, VAP, VSL, LIN and STR were significantly higher than those of the abnormal group (P < 0.01). Moreover, the sperm concentration and the sperm viability rate in 549 volunteers, including 345 volunteers with normal sperm, were lower than the data reported in China.

CONCLUSIONSDue attention should be paid to the sperm quality of the college students in Chengdu area, whose sperm concentration and sperm viability rate have a tendency to decrease.

Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect in the treatment of the young patients(≤45 years old) with acute myocardial infarction(AMI)underwent emergent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty(PTCA) combined with Lipo-PGE_1.Methods 39 patients with AMI(paroxysm within 12 hours),were underwent emergent PTCA(coronary stem performed in some patients),including 18 cases which were treated combined with Lipo-PGE_1 in the mean time.And the clinical efficacy and the results of short-period follow-up were recorded.Results The in- farctive vasculars were re-open in 37 patients(23 cares were routinely placed translunrinal srents),and the successful rate was 94.9 %.Those who also used Lipo-PGE_1 were re-open in 17 patients.The successful rate was 94.4 %,their ST segments on EKG 30 minutes after operations reduced significantly than that of patients who did not use Lipo- PGE_1,their cardial functions were also improved significantly 24 hours after operations and no side effects on blood pressure and heart rate were observed.Conclusion The emergent PTCA combined with Lipo-PGE_1 for acute my- ocardial infarction can protect the cardial function and show a better early therapy effect.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of nifedipine on the non-selective inward current of cochlear Hensen cell induced by ATP in high concentrations.

METHODSThe organ of Corti was treated using enzyme, and then dissociated mechanically to isolate Hensen cells. The whole cell patch-clamp technique was used to record ion currents in Hensen cells which had integrated border, round shape and translucent intracellular cytoplasm. Drugs were delivered to the cell by a micro-manifold consisting made by three 100 microm diameter microtubules, including 0.1 mmol/L ATP, 1 mmol/L ATP, 10 mmol/L ATP, 0.1 mmol/L ATP + 0. 1 mmol/L suramin (purinergic antagonist), stimulation of extracellular fluid alone, 140 mmol/L CsCl (replace KCL in intracellular fluid) + 1 mmol/L ATP, 40 mmol/L TEA (blocker of potassium channel) + 1 mmol/L ATP, and 1 mmol/L ATP + 10 micromol/L nifedipine, respectively.

RESULTSWhen isolated Hensen cell was given 0.1 mmol/L (n = 10), 1 mmol/L (n = 10), 10 mmol/L( n = 6) ATP separately, an inward ion current could be recorded, which enhanced with increased ATP concentration and showed dose-dependence. Further study indicated that the inward ion current could be inhibited by 0.1 mmol/L suramin (n = 5), 140 mmol/L CsCl (n = 5) and 40 mmol/L TEA (n = 5). There was no ion current be recorded when the cell was stimulated with the extracellular fluid alone, neither inward nor outward. However, the inward ion current vanished and an outward ion current appeared instead, when 1 mmol/L ATP and 10 micromol/L nifedipine were given together (n = 5).

CONCLUSIONSAn inward current was evoked in isolated Hensen cell by ATP in high concentrations. This inward current seems to be associated closely with potassium channels without the participation of mechanical channels. Nifedipine can inhibit this inward current and induce an outward current, which is similar to the normal potassium current in isolated Hensen cell. It suggests that nifedipine have partly protective effect on the function of cochlea by inducing modulate of the potassium circle of cochlea in Hensen cell's tache.

Adenosine Triphosphate ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cochlea ; cytology ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Labyrinth Supporting Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Nifedipine ; pharmacology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying ; drug effects

BSA liposomes were prepared with approximately 100 nm mean particle size under rather gentle experiment conditions, and two-colorimetric coomassie brilliant blue protein was employed to measure the free drug in the entrapped efficiency (EE%) determination of BSA liposomes. Gel filtration was used to measure the EE%, and several Sephadex gels were examined by the separation of liposomes and free drug. To determine the free drug, three methods were compared on two-colorimetric UV spectrophotography, Bradford and two-colorimetric coomassie brilliant blue, separately. Two-colorimetric coomassie brilliant blue process increased the accuracy and improved the sensitivity of the assay about 20-fold comparing with the Bradford method. Two-colorimetric coomassie brilliant blue assay appeared to be more sensitive and showed broader dynamic range to measure the free BSA in the EE% determination of BSA liposome.
Colorimetry ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Compounding ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Liposomes ; Particle Size ; Rosaniline Dyes ; Serum Albumin, Bovine ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of Prostate Imaging and Reporting and Data System: Version 2 (PI-RADS v2) combined with prostate specific antigen (PSA) in the diagnosis of peripheral zone (PZ) prostate cancer (PCa).

METHODSThe preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and PSA data were ananlyzed for 69 patients with pathologically confirmed PCa and 109 non-PCa patients. PI-RADS v2 scores (1-5) was used to evaluate the risk of PZ PCa. The total PSA (tPSA) level, free to total PSA ratio (f/t PSA), PSA density (PSAD), PZ-PSAD and PI-RADS v2 scores were compared between the PCa and non-PCa patients. Logistic regression models were established with parameters that differed significantly the two groups. The receiver opearting characteristics (ROC) curve was constructed based on the P values derived from the logical regression models and PI-RADS scores to assess the diagnostic efficiency.

RESULTSPI-RADS v2 score, tPSA, f/t PSA, PSAD and PZ-PSAD differed significantly between the two groups (P<0.01). Four predictive multivariate models were established: Logit P=-6.825+1.024PI-RADS v2+ 0.223tPSA (A), Logit P=-4.354+1.586PI-RADS v2-12.7841f/tPSA (B), Logit P=-8.993+1.630PI-RADS v2+17.091PSAD (C), and Logit P=-9.434+1.596PI-RADS v2+10.494PZ-PSAD (D), whose area under the ROC curves was 0.908, 0.891, 0.944, and 0.961, respectively, all significantly greater than that of PI-RADS v2 score (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONCompared with PI-RADS v2 score alone, the combination of PI-RADS v2 score and PSA in the logistic regression model can improve the diagnostic efficiency of PZ PCa and offers better confidence in the decision of biopsy in suspected cases.