Aged ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Fungal ; complications ; Silicosis ; complications ; microbiology ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; complications

OBJECTIVETo systematically review the clinical efficacy of acupuncture on the patients with low back pain (LBP).

METHODSRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) about pure acupuncture therapy versus other treatments in treating LBP were electronically searched in PubMed, CBM, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP and Wanfang Data from January 2004 to May 2014. The observed index on the results were the changed scores of VAS, ODI, JOA and RMDQ. Two reviewers independently screened the literatures according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, as well as the extracted data, and assessed the methodological quality. The results of Meta-analysis was conducted by RevMan 5.2 software.

RESULTSTen RCTs involved 751 patients were finally included. The results of Meta-analysis indicated that the role of pure acupuncture group in improving the VAS score was better than that of the control group, and the combined effect size was RR = -.32, 95% CI (-1.41, -1.22); Z=27.28, P<0.00001; the role of pure acupuncture group in improving the ODI score was better than that of the control group, and the combined effect size was RR = -5.07, 95% CI (-7.50, -2.65); Z=4.10, P<0.0001; the role of pure acupuncture group on improved JOA score was better than that of the control group and the combined effect size was RR=2.83, 95% CI (2.02, 3.63), Z=6.90, P<0.00001. The role of pure acupuncture group in improving the RMDQ score was better than that of the control group, and the combined effect size was RR = -2.80, 95% CI (-3.49, -2.11), Z=7.95, P<0.00001.

CONCLUSIONThe result of meta-analysis demonstrates that pure acupuncture may have a favorable effect on self-reported pain and functional limitations in LBP patients.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; therapy ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the place reaction of support drainage tube in cholecystojejunostomy and its pathological changes.Methods Eight pigs were randomized into 2 groups.The tube-placing cholecystojeunostomy(n=2)or choledochocholedochostomy(n=2)and non-tube-placing cholecystojejunostomy(n=2)or choledochocholedochostomy(n=2)were performed respectively.All the 8 pigs were sarcrificed 3 months after the operation for pathological examination.Results Gross anatomy catheter group showed anastomotic inflammatory hyperplasia, wall hardening hyperplasia,luminal narrow contracture and stone formation.Microscopic biopsy showed bile duct mucosa in interstitial lymphocytes, plasma cells and other chronic inflammatory cell infiltration, a large number of fibrous tissue hyperplasia.However, these features were not found in pigs without placing the tube.Conclusion The tube can not prevent the stenosis.It might promote the formation of stricture since it can stimulate inflammatory hyperplasia and tissue hardening.

Along with the development of economy and society, type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) has become one of the most common diseases at the global level. As one of the complications of T2DM, diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) stubbornly and chronically affects the health and life of human beings. In the pain field, dorsal root ganglion (DRG) is generally considered as the first stage of the sensory pathway where the hyperexcitability of injured neurons is associated with different kinds of peripheral neuropathic pains. The abnormal electrophysiology is mainly due to the changed properties of voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) and the increased sodium currents (I(Na)). Curcumin is an active ingredient extracted from turmeric and has been demonstrated to ameliorate T2DM and its various complications including DNP effectively. The present study demonstrates that the I(Na) of small-sized DRG neurons are significantly increased with the abnormal electrophysiological characteristics of VGSCs in type 2 diabetic neuropathic pain rats. And these abnormalities can be ameliorated efficaciously by a period of treatment with curcumin.
Animals ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; complications ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; drug therapy ; Ganglia, Spinal ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Neuralgia ; drug therapy ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Sodium ; Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels ; physiology

Twenty Newcastle disease virus(NDV)strains were isolated from diseased chicken and geese in field outbreaks during 2005 and 2006 in some regions of Jiangsu and Guangxi,and the antigenic analysis of the all NDV isolates had been done based on the reaction spectrum with a panel of monoclonal antibodies to the HN glycoprotein.The entire ORFs encoding HN protein of these NDV isolates were amplified by RT-PCR successfully,cloned and sequenced.The resultant sequences of HN genes of 13 isolates of chicken origin and 7 isolates of goose origin were gained and analyzed.The results of reaction spectrum showed that there were some distinct differences in the antigenic epitopes among the 20 NDV isolates.And the sequences revealed that the coding regions of the HN genes of these isolates all consisted of 1716 nt characteristic of virulent strains of NDV,coding for 571 amino acids.Neucleotides sequence homology were found to be from 94.8%to 100%among 18 NDV isolates of genotypeⅦ,and the neucleotides sequence homology between all the isolates and the other genotypeⅦstrains of recent years in China ranged from 92.1%to 99.6%.The deduced amino acid sequences and the receptor-binding regions of HN proteins between the NDV isolates of chicken origin and of goose origin were compared and analyzed.The results showed that some unique amino acid substitutions were found in the genome of the NDV isolates,and the close genetic similarity provided evidence for epidemiological linkage between the NDV isolates of chicken origin and of goose origin in the same period.

ORF1 and ORF2 gene of porcine circovirus type 2 were cloned by PCR with the specific primers designed according to genome of PCV2 (AY035820). Following extraction and digestion, PCR products were subsequently inserted into universal transfer vector plECMV (deleted partial gE and gI of pseudorabies virus) to generate recombinant transfer plasmid pIEORF1-ORF2. The genomic DNA of PRV TK-/gE- /LacZ+ strain and pIEORF1-ORF2 were co-transfected into IBRS-2 cells with lipofectin, and recombinant virus TK- /gE- /gI- /ORF1-ORF2+ was selected by PCR with ORF1 gene and ORF2 gene primers respectively. The recombinant virus was analyzed with Southern blotting and Western blotting. The results indicated that ORF1 and ORF2 gene of PCV2 had been inserted into the genome of TK- /gE- /LacZ+ strain and the expressed ORF1-ORF2 fusion protein could react with PCV2 positive sera. Result of virus titers detection showed the insertion of ORF1 and ORF2 gene did not influence propagation of recombinant virus.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Circovirus ; classification ; genetics ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genes, Viral ; Herpesvirus 1, Suid ; genetics ; Open Reading Frames ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Recombination, Genetic ; Swine

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between alcohol consumption and risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

METHODSTwo hundreds and twenty six subjects were enrolled in the study and grouped to non-drinkers, mild drinkers, moderate drinkers and heavy drinkers. Serum GGT, hs-CRP, %CDT, HCY, lipoprotein were measured in all groups.

RESULTThere were significantly higher GGT levels with heavy drinkers than those with other groups (P <0.05), and GGT levels were increased with increasing alcohol intake; and there were significantly higher %CDT levels with heavy drinkers compared with those with no-drinkers; there was significant higher hs-CRP levels with heavy drinkers compared with those with mild and moderate drinkers (P<0.05); but in moderate drinkers there was significantly lower hs-CRP levels than non drinkers (P<0.05). Compared with non-drinkers, there were significantly lower LDL-C and TG levels with mild and moderate drinkers. There were no significant differences in CHOL, HDL-C, HCY, WBC, MCV levels among all groups. Heavy drinkers had higher smoking rate and higher prevalence of hypertension (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONHeavy alcohol consumption results in increasing GGT,%CDT and hs-CRP and may increase cardiovascular disease risk along with other risk factors.Mild to moderate alcohol consumption is associated with lower hs-CRP concentration,which may protect the cardiovascular system through anti-inflammatory mechanism.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; adverse effects ; blood ; Alcoholism ; blood ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; epidemiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Transferrin ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Young Adult ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; blood

Objective To study the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on the endothelial function in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods This study strictly followed the PRISMA principle. PubMed, Web of Science and the Cochrane Collaboration Database were searched on randomized controlled trials (RCT) which assessed the effects of CPAP on endothelial function of OSA patients from 1992 to 2013. The parameters of endothelial function evaluation included endothelium-dependent vasodilation function (EDV) and endothelium-independent vasodilation function (EIV). EDV was used to detect flow mediated dilation (FMD) and reactive hyperemia index (RHI), and EIV was used to detect nitroglycerin-induced dilation (GTN-ID). Results A total of 4 articles (137 patients) were selected. Meta-analysis results showed that CPAP significantly altered the overall EDV: standardized mean difference ( SMD )＝1.42, 95% CI 0.45 to 2.38, P＝0.004; and the FMD was significantly improved: weighed mean difference ( WMD ) ＝ 3.94, 95% CI 1.30 to 6.57, P ＝ 0.003. CPAP did not significantly alter the GTN-ID: WMD ＝ -0.71, 95% CI 2.69 to 1.26, P ＝ 0.48. Conclusions Using CPAP to treat OSA patients is beneficial to promoting overall EDV improvement, but the EIV has not improved significantly.

OBJECTIVETo explore the perioperative features of surgical treatment in valvular patients with small left ventricle, and investigate the postoperative early structural changes of left ventricle and its correlation with cardiac function.

METHODSA total of 51 patients with small left ventricle underwent mitral valve replacement from January 2003 to August 2008. There were 7 males and 44 females with mean age of (48 +/- 5) years old. The mean pathologic course was (18 +/- 9) years old. The concomitant procedures included aortic valve replacement in 6 cases, coronary artery bypass grafting in 1 case, tricuspid valvular plasty in 48 cases, left atrial thrombi scavenging in 36 cases, and left atrium folding in 42 cases.

RESULTSThe perioperative mortality was 3.9% (2/51). Fourteen patients (27.5%) suffered from severe low-output syndrome in the earlier period postoperatively. Among them, 5 patients needed secondary cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) to assist circulation, with the result of 1 patient died of weaning off CPB unsuccessfully, 1 patient revived with intra-aortic balloon pump assisted for another 2 d after termination of CPB and another 1 patient died of multiple organ failure (MOF) 10 d later. Eleven cases complicated with MOF. Five patients complicated with ventricular arrhythmia. The echocardiographic examinations showed that the left ventricular dimensions didn't expand significantly postoperatively at 7 to 14 d postoperatively. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) was (36.5 +/- 3.2) mm preoperatively and (38.6 +/- 5.3) mm postoperatively (P > 0.05). Preoperative LVEDD index (LVEDDI) was (45.9 +/- 3.8) ml/m(2) and postoperative LVEDDI was (48.2 +/- 7.4) ml/m(2) (P > 0.05). The contract function of left ventricle was improved postoperatively but with no statistical significance. Ejection fraction was 48.6% +/- 6.7% preoperatively and 52.8% +/- 8.3% postoperatively. Left ventricular fraction shortness was 25.5% +/- 3.3% preoperatively and 27.1% +/- 1.3% postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONSFor the patients with small left ventricle usually, the postoperative emphases should be put on the management of low output syndrome. The decreased dimension of left ventricle doesn't expand in the early period after valvular operation.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; Heart Ventricles ; abnormalities ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies

Objective:To assess the midterm clinical and radiological outcomes of internal fixation and fusion for the treatment of Hirayama disease and to evaluate the clinical significance and value of this procedure.Methods:In the study,36 patients were treated with anterior cervical internal fixation and fusion.The clinical outcomes including muscle strength and atrophy were recorded.The radiological outcomes including range of motion of cervical spine and the cross-sectional area of spinal cord at each level on MRI scan were measured before and at 3 month,1 year and 2 years follow-up time points after surgery.Results:(1) Clinical outcomes:all the patients showed no further progression of symptoms except one patient with mild progression of muscular weakness and atrophy.As the time passed by,the ratio of the patients with muscle strength and atrophy improvement increased.There were 26.5 ％ of patients in 3 months,36.0％ in 1 year and 85.7％ in 2 years who experienced muscle strength improvement.8.8％ of patients in 3 months,24.0％ in 1 year and 35.8％ in 2 years felt muscle atrophy improvement.And 12 of the 14 patients showed improved muscle strength and atrophy at the end of 2 years period follow-up.(2) Radiological outcomes:the range of motion (ROM) of C2-C7 was significantly decreased after the operation.The ROM of preoperation was 62.25° ±2.10° and that of 2 years postoperation was 13.67° ± 7.51°(P ＜ 0.01).The spinal cord was of no compression on flexion MRI.The cross-section area of spinal cord on MRI was significantly increased only at C6 level (P ＜0.05) at the end of three months follow-up.The level of increased cross-section area rose to C4-C5-C6 levels (P ＜0.01) in 1 year and to C4-C5-C6-C7 levels at the end of 2 years follow-up P ＜ 0.05).The cross-section area increased 15.60％ at C4,19.08％ at C5,21.60％ at C6 and 23.91％ at C7 with significant difference (P ＜0.05) 2 years after the operation.Conclusion:Anterior cervical internal fixation and fusion is an effective surgical treatment for Hirayama disease and may provide preferable midterm clinical and radiological outcomes.This procedure has clinical significance and value in terms of control of the progression and outcome of this disease.