OBJECTIVETo study the clinical effects of Fuzheng Huayu Gantang comprehensive therapeutic program (FHGP) on post-hepatitis B liver cirrhosis associated with glyco-metabolic abnormality (LCGA).

METHODSThe patients with LCGA enrolled in the randomized controlled clinical trial were assigned to 2 groups, the treated group (68 cases) and the control group (74 cases), they were treated respectively by FHGP and conventional TCM and Western medicine therapeutic program for 3 months. Indexes including fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2 h postprandial plasma glucose (2 h PG), fasting insulin (FINS) were detected, homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated, and the score of syndrome was recorded before and after treatment. Then the effects on syndrome and glyco-metabolic abnormality were evaluated through statistical analysis.

RESULTSLevel of 2 h PG after treatment was lowered in both groups (P < 0.01), but significant difference was found in the pre-treatment to post-treatment decrement of FPG and HOMA-IR between the two groups (P < 0.05). The syndrome improving rate and the total effective rate on glyco-metabolic abnormality in the treated group were significantly better than those in the control group respectively (85.3% vs 64.9% , P < 0.01; 80.9% vs 62.2%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONFHGP has the capability to improve the syndrome and glyco-metabolic abnormality of patients with LCGA.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drug Therapy ; methods ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; complications ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Liver Cirrhosis ; etiology ; metabolism ; therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the value of the Wells score and D-dimer assay in assisting pulmonary perfusion imaging (PPI) for the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism (APE). Methods One hundred twenty-one patients with suspected APE were studied from January, 2006 to December, 2008. All patients underwent the Wells score, the quantitative D-dimer assay, chest X-ray photography, and PPI. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of PPI with the assistance of Wells score and D-dimer assay were calculated. Results Fifty (41.3%) patients were diagnosed with APE. PPI combined with chest X-ray photography (Q/X scan) showed positive results in 49 patients. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the Q/X scan were 86.0% (43/50), 91.5% (65/71), 87.8% (43/49) and 90.3% (65/72), respectively. With assistance of Wells score >4 and D-dimer≥0. 5 mg/L, Q/X scan had a positive predictive value of 100.0% (29/29), for patients with Wells score ≤4 and D-dimer<0.5 mg/L, the negative predictive value for Q/X scan was 100.0% (41/41). Conclusion Combined with Wells score and D-dimer assay, PPI can make accurate diagnosis of APE.

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis with the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) and VEGFR-3 in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSSamples of 76 NSCLC cases with the neighboring noncancerous tissue were studied using anti- VEGF-C, VEGFR-3 and CD34 antibodies. Assessment of lymphatic vessel density and microvessel density (MVD) were performed.

RESULTSVEGF-C expression in NSCLC was associating with the differentiation of tumor cells (P = 0.009). Expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.008 and P = 0.013 respectively) and lymphatic invasion (P = 0.027 and P = 0.020 respectively). A significant positive correlation was found between VEGF-C in cancer cells and VEGFR-3 in lymphatic endothelial cells (P = 0.009). The number of lymphatic vessels (P = 0.006) and microvascular (P = 0.046) in VEGF-C positive tumors was significantly larger than in VEGF-C-negative tumors. Lymphatic vessel density was closely related to lymph node metastasis (P = 0.010), lymphatic invasion (P = 0.019) and clinical stages (P = 0.015). MVD was closely related to blood metastasis (P < 0.001) and clinical stages (P < 0.001). Patients with positive VEGF-C expression had a worse prognosis than those with a negative VEGF-C expression (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSVEGF-C/VEGF-D in NSCLCs, are related to lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis, as well as to the occurrence and the development of lung cancers. VEGF-C promotes intratumoral lymphangiogenesis via VEGFR-3, resulting facilitated invasion of cancer cells into the lymphatic vessels. VEGF-C expression can be a useful predictor of poor prognosis in NSCLC.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Microcirculation ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the non-taxoids in the leaves of Taxus mairei.

METHODThe chemical constituents were isolated by chromatography and identified by spectral data.

RESULTFive compounds, taxamairin A (1), taxamairin B (2), sciadopitysin (3), ( - ) matairesinol (4), ponasterone A (5) were isolated and identified.

CONCLUSIONCompounds 3-5 were isolated from this plant for the first time, compounds 1 and 2 were isolated from the leaves of T. mairei for the first time.

Biflavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Diterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Ecdysterone ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Furans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Lignans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Taxus ; chemistry

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of 18F-FDG SPECT myocardial imaging in evaluating haemodynamic change,treatment outcome and prognosis for idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH).MethodsAll 24 patients with IPAH underwent 18 F-FDG SPECT myocardial imaging.Right ventricle/left ventricle (RV/LV)-FDG uptake was calculated by ROI method drawing over the central areas of left and right ventricular free walls.All patients underwent right heart catheterization within 3 days after imaging studies.Mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) were recorded.After six month pharmaceutical treatment,15 IPAH patients were re-examined with 18F-FDG SPECT myocardial imaging followed by repeated right heart catheterization within 3 days.Plasma N-terminal pro-brain naturetic peptide (NT-proBNP) and endothelin-1 ( ET-1 ) were measured in 17 patients using electrochemiluminescent immunoassay and enzyme immunoassay respectively.All patients were followed up for 12 months at least.Correlations between RV/LV-FDG uptake and mPAP and PVR were determined by simple linear regression analysis.Change of RV/LV-FDG before and after treatment was calculated using Student's t-test.Survival in groups with RV/LV FDG uptake ≥ 1.15 and RV/LV-FDG uptake ＜ 1.15 were compared using Log-rank test.ResultsSignificant correlations were found between RV/LV-FDG uptake and mPAP (r =0.562,P ＜ 0.01 ),and between RV/LV-FDG uptake and PVR ( r =0.574,P ＜ 0.01 ).There were no significant correlation between RV/LV-FDG uptake and NT-proBNP( r =0.18 1,P ＞ 0.05 ),but a significant correlation between RV/LV-FDG and ET-1 was observed (r =0.669,P ＜ 0.01 ).The RV/LV-FDG uptake in patients with positive treatment outcome ( n =6) decreased from 1.38 ± 0.52 to 0.92 ±0.26 (t =4.018,P ＜ 0.05) after 6 months treatment.In contrast,no significant change of RV/LV-FDG uptake was seen in those patients (n =9) with negative treatment outcome ( t =1.861,P ＞ 0.05 ).The mean follow-up time was (21 ±8) months.Mean survival time for the patients with RV/LV- FDG uptake ≥ 1.15was 28 months (95％ confidence interval:24-32 months),which was significantly lower than 34 months survival (95％ confidence interval:33-35 months) for the patients with RV/LV-FDG ＜ 1.15 (x2 =3.956,P ＜0.05 ).Conclusions Detection of right ventricle myocardial glucose metabolism level with 18F-FDG SPECT may be a practical method for evaluating haemodynamic change,treatment outcome and prognosis of IPAH.

OBJECTIVETo report the outcome of surgical treatment of tarsometatarsal joint complex injury.

METHODSIn the period from January 2003 to December 2008, 167 cases of closed tarsometatarsal joint injury were treated, including 35 cases of tarsometatarsal joint complex injury. Diagnosis was made by X-ray examination or/and CT scan. Either close or open reduction was performed and followed by internal fixation with screw or/and plate. X-ray examination was done in the regular follow-up and functional evaluation was carried out by AOFAS midfoot score system.

RESULTSIn this series 135 cases got a mean follow-up of 48 months, ranging from 12 to 75 months. Therein the 26 cases of tarsometatarsal joint complex injury had a mean postoperative AOFAS midfoot score of 67 (ranging from 48 to 75), and secondary post-traumatic arthritis in 16 cases, 12 of which had arthrodesis as a result of severe pain. The 109 cases of pure tarsometatarsal joint injury had a mean postoperative AOFAS midfoot score of 82 (ranging from 70 to 95), and secondary post-traumatic arthritis in 17 cases, only 5 of which had arthrodesis finally. Those cases of pure tarsometatarsal joint injury treated by close reduction and internal fixation with percutaneous screw got a mean postoperative AOFAS midfoot score of 87 (ranging from 82 to 95), demonstrating a significant deference (t = 2.651, P < 0.05) when compared with that of metatarsal joint complex injury.

CONCLUSIONThe tarsometatarsal joint complex injury has a prognosis inferior to that of the pure tarsometatarsal joint injury, and the keys to its successful treatment are appropriate diagnosis, anatomical reduction and secure fixation of all the components of the complex.

Follow-Up Studies ; Foot Injuries ; surgery ; Foot Joints ; injuries ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Treatment Outcome

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Screws ; Child ; Female ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; therapy ; Humans ; Humerus ; surgery ; Internal Fixators ; trends ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Manipulation, Orthopedic ; methods ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Radius Fractures ; therapy

OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism of ulcerative colitis(UC)treatment by Jianpi-Bushen Fang through pro-moting the differentiation of BMSCs in model rats.METHODS The rats were divided into 5 groups:normal group,model group,BMSCs group,BMSCs intervene group and combine group.BMSCs intervene group and combine group were injected with decoction intervened BMSCs through tail veins in vitro (1×106/mL),the combine group were also given the decoction in oral for 10 d.BMSCs group were injected with BMSCs through tail veins(1×10 6/mL).The normal and model groups were in-jected with 1 mL of normal saline through tail veins.5 rats were killed on 10th day after the intervention,respectively,for specimen.The expression of Lgr5,Ephrin-B3 and E-cadherin were detected with Western blot,and the levels of IL-6,IL-17 and TGF-βwith ELISA assay.RESULTS The expression of Lgr5 and Ephrin-B3 in treatment groups increased(P <0.05), compared with the model group.E-cadherin in treatment groups increased compared with the model group,and the combine group and BMSCs intervene group increased significantly(P <0.05).The levels of IL-6 and IL-17 in combine group and BM-SCs group significantly decreased(P <0.05),while TGF-βincreased(P <0.05).The difference between the combine group and BMSCs group was significant(P <0.05) in Lgr5,Ephrin-B3,E-cadherin,IL-6 and TGF-βexpression.CONCLUSION Jianpi-Bushen Fang can promote the venously transplanted BMSCs proliferation and differentiation into intestinal stem cell, regulate immune function and repair intestinal mucosa,which may be one possible mechanism for UC treatment.

Objective To explore the effect of air pollution on children’s respiratory diseases in Tianjin, so as to provide reference for the prevention and control of diseases. Methods Conditional Logistic regression model of single pollutant and multiple pollutants was used to estimate the relationships between air pollutants concentration and children’s respiratory system diseases. Results Conditional Logistic regression model of single pollutant conditions showed that the excess risk (ER) effects and 95% CI of NO2, PM2.5, PM10 and CO appeared were 2.823%(2.581-3.065), 0.476%(0.382-0.569), 0.437%(0.368-0.506), 22.263%(15.449-29.478), respectively. Logistic regression analysis of multiple pollutants conditions showed that NO2 exposure had the greatest effect on children’s respiratory diseases in cold season, and the excess risk (ER) was 7.395%(6.595-8.202). Conclusion The elevated daily average concentration of NO2, PM10, PM2.5, and CO can increase the risk of children’s respiratory diseases.