Fuzi is a medicine used for rescuing from collapse by restoring yang as well as a famous toxic traditional Chinese medicine. In order to ensure the efficacy and safe medication, Fuzi has mostly been applied after being processed. There have been different Fuzi processing methods recorded by doctors of previous generations. Besides, there have also been differences in Fuzi processing methods recorded in modern pharmacopeia and ancient medical books. In this study, the authors traced back to medical books between the Han Dynasty and the period of Republic of China, and summarized Fuzi processing methods collected in ancient and modern literatures. According to the results, Fuzi processing methods and using methods have changed along with the evolution of dynasties, with differences in ancient and modern processing methods. Before the Tang Dynasty, Fuzi had been mostly processed and soaked. From Tang to Ming Dynasties, Fuzi had been mostly processed, soaked and stir-fried. During the Qing Dynasty, Fuzi had been mostly soaked and boiled. In the modem times, Fuzi is mostly processed by being boiled and soaked. Before the Tang Dynasty, a whole piece of Fuzi herbs or their fragments had been applied in medicines; Whereas their fragments are primarily used in the modern times. Because different processing methods have great impacts on the toxicity of Fuzi, it is suggested to study Fuzi processing methods.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; history ; methods ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; History, 15th Century ; History, 16th Century ; History, 17th Century ; History, 18th Century ; History, 19th Century ; History, Ancient ; History, Medieval ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; history ; methods ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry

BACKGROUND: Delayed presentation of carotid artery pseudoaneurysm following many years after self-inflicted penetrating injury of the neck is extremely rare. Open surgical carotid repair may involve sternotomy for proximal vascular control. Endovascular treatment is evolving as a less-invasive treatment option. METHODS: We report a 55-year-old man with a history of paranoid schizophrenia who presented with a progressively enlarging left sided neck mass many years after attempted suicide. CT scan confirmed a 6 cm pseudoaneurysm arising from the common carotid artery. RESULTS: Through an open retrograde puncture of the distal common carotid artery, the common carotid pseudoaneurysm was successfully repaired with a BARD fluency carotid stentgraft of 8 mm×80 mm (BARD, Tempe, AZ). The patient recovered well with no neurological deficits and was discharged on postoperative day 4. Dual antiplatelet agents of aspirin and clopidogrel were given for six months and then clopidogrel was administered lifelong. The neck mass decreased in size gradually and became non pulsatile upon follow-up. CONCLUSION: Endovascular stenting of giant carotid pseudoaneurysm is an acceptable less invasive treatment option for giant carotid pseudoaneurysm. Long-term follow-up and a greater number of cases are mandatory to establish the safety of this strategy.

Adult ; Budd-Chiari Syndrome ; complications ; Humans ; Hypereosinophilic Syndrome ; complications ; Male

INTRODUCTIONThe superior labral anterior and posterior (SLAP) lesion is a cause of chronic shoulder pain and significant disability. This study aims to review the distribution of types of SLAP lesions, associated lesions and the outcome of arthroscopic management.

MATERIALS AND METHODSThis series involved all 33 patients who underwent arthroscopic management of SLAP and associated lesions by a single surgeon. The pre- and postoperative disability scores were assessed using the disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) outcome measure.

RESULTSType 2 SLAP lesion (64%) was the most common. Forty-eight per cent of the cases were associated with an ipsilateral shoulder lesion. A 10- point pre- and postoperative DASH score reduction was noted in 63% of the patients with isolated SLAP lesions and 73% of those with associated lesions.

CONCLUSIONArthroscopic management of the SLAP and its associated lesions results in improved functional outcome. The presence of associated lesions should be actively sought and managed in the same operative session.

Adult ; Arthroscopy ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recovery of Function ; Rotator Cuff ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Rotator Cuff Injuries ; Shoulder Joint ; injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

The M and S segment cDNAs of hantavirus Z5 strain was amplified by RT-PCR,and the purified PCR products were cloned into vector pGEM-T and then sequenced.It was demonstrated that the M genome segment of Z5 was found to be 3 616 nucleotides in length with a single open reading frame encoding 1 135 amino acids.And the S genome segment was 1700 nucleotides in length with a single open reading frame encoding 429 amino acids.As demonstrated by the homologous analysis of nucleotides and amino acids,it was showed that the Z5 strain belonged to hantaan viruses HTN type and was the same subtype of the Z10 strain.It is conclouded that difference in nucleotide sequence exists between Z5 strain with other Hantavirus strains but high level of homology in amino acid sequences is still present.

Objective To evaluate the effects of different smoking cessation interventions on cigarette consumption for young soldiers.Methods Sixty-eight soldiers were prospectively investigated in this randomly controlled clinical trial and assigned to the psychological intervention group,auricular acupuncture group,and smoking cessation medication group.Results All the participants showed significant reduction(33.3％ to 73.9％)in post-treatment cigarette consumption.The highest quit rate was found at 7 days,although this declining trend was faded over time.One-year follow-up indicated a 6-month quit rate of 16.7％,23.8％ and 30.4％ in three groups,respectively.Conclusion Psychological intervention,auricular acupuncture and smoking cessation medication may be effective methods of reducing cigarette consumption and improving quit rate in young soldiers.

BACKGROUNDMorbidity and mortality of advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV) have declined in Western industrialized countries since the availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). It is unclear if this has also happened in Hong Kong.

METHODSWe studied a retrospective cohort of patients with advanced HIV disease in Hong Kong, China. First, the mortality of advanced HIV disease per year was calculated for the decade 1993 to 2002, both annually and according to patient observation before and after 1997. Second, the event rates were estimated for the clinical end points of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and death. Univariate and multivariate analyses were then performed to identify associated factors.

RESULTSThe crude mortality of advanced HIV disease declined from 10.8-30.4 per 100 patients during 1993-1996, to 0.8-6.9 per 100 patients during 1997-2002. A rate ratio of 4.04 (95% CI, 2.52-6.47) was evident for those observed in 1993-1996, compared to those in 1997-2002. In a multivariate analysis where calendar period was adjusted, use of highly active antiretroviral therapy was associated with rate ratios of 0.13 (95% CI, 0.05-0.33) for death after AIDS, 0.08 (95% CI, 0.04-0.19) for AIDS after a CD4 cell count < 200/microl, and 0.21 (95% CI, 0.07-0.67) for death after CD4 cell count < 200/microl. In the same analysis, calendar period ceased to be a significant factor after adjustment for use of HAART.

CONCLUSIONSThe mortality and morbidity of advanced human immunodeficiency virus disease have declined in Hong Kong. This improved prognosis was attributable to the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; immunology ; mortality ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Morbidity ; Retrospective Studies

Transient cortical blindness (TCB) is a rare but well-known complication of cerebral angiography. Its pathophysiology remains uncertain. We would like to report a case of TCB in a patient during a follow up vertebral angiogram for post-coil embolization of left posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysm. Patient's vision was resumed spontaneously within 24 hours after angiography, with no residual neurological deficit in subsequent clinical follow up. Multi-modality imaging evaluation including vertebral angiography, brain CT and MRI performed on same day are presented.
Aneurysm ; Angiography* ; Arteries ; Blindness, Cortical* ; Brain ; Cerebral Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression variation and significance of Skp2 and p27(kip1) during the proliferation of lymphoma cell line Jurkat cells.

METHODSThe binding of p27(kip1) and Skp2 in Jurkat cells were detected by immunoprecipitation. Jurkat cells were treated with serum starvation and release synchronization. The expression variation and subcellular localization of p27(kip1) and Skp2 were detected by subcellular fractionation, Western blot and double immunofluorescence labelling.

RESULTSThe results of immunoprecipitation suggested that p27(kip1) and Skp2 could bind each other in Jurkat cells. During the proliferation of Jurkat cells, the protein expression of p27(kip1) decreased and intranuclear p27(kip1) decreased significantly, while the Skp2 protein increased and cytoplasmic Skp2 increased significantly.

CONCLUSIONDuring the proliferation of Jurkat cells, the increased cytoplasmic synthesis of Skp2 may speed up p27(kip1) degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, then intranuclear p27(kip1) decreases significantly, leading to an increased cell cycling activity.

Cell Nucleus ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 ; metabolism ; Cytoplasm ; metabolism ; Humans ; Jurkat Cells ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Protein Binding ; S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins ; metabolism

Androgen Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Anilides ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal ; therapeutic use ; Bone Neoplasms ; complications ; secondary ; Goserelin ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitriles ; therapeutic use ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; complications ; drug therapy ; Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Tosyl Compounds ; therapeutic use