Objective To evaluate the changes of the upper airway of the patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) before and after operations and to know the effects of operations by MSCT. Methods The upper airway dimensions of 26 patients with OSAS were measured on multiplanar reformatted (MPR), curved-planar reformatted (CPR), volume rendering(VR) images of 16-slice spiral CT. The measurements include the anteroposterior calibres and the areas on the reformatted axial images on the pharyngeal cavity levels, the calibres and the minimum areas in retropalatal and retroglossal regions, the areas of the soft palate and uvula on the reformatted sagittal view with maximum thickness, the maximum wall thickness of the right and left the upper airway on the coronary images, the volume of the upper airway before and after the operations. The measurements were correlated with the polysomnography (PSG) records. The data were analyzed paired-samples t-test and Pearson correlations. Results By comparison, the anteroposterior calibres and the cross-sectional areas on the reformatted axial view of the lower retropalatal region (slice 4) of the upper airway increased significantly after operations. The anteroposterior diameter increased from 5. 9 mm before operations to 12.8 mm after operations, where t = - 5.506, P < 0.05. The areas increased from 51.0 mm~2 before operations to 275.0 mm~2 after operations, where t = -5.011, P <0.05. In the higher retropalatal region (shce 2) of the upper airway, the anteroposterior diameter decresased from 14.8 mm before operations to 9.2 mm after operations, where t = 2.867, P < 0.05. The areas decreased from 241.0 mm~2 before operations to 128.0 mm~2 after operations, where t = 3.087, P < 0.05. The anteroposterior calibres of retroglossal region (slice 7) decreased from 12.7 mm before operations to 10.3 mm after operations,where t = 3.718, P <0.05. The L-R calibres and the minimum areas of of retropalatal increased significantly from 6.4 mm, 33.0 mm~2 before operation to 10.9 mm, 76. 0 mm~2 after operation, where t = -3.413, -2. 216, respectively and P < 0.05. Of the 9 cases whose apnea and hypopnea index (AHI) ≤5 events/hour after operations, the minimum areas of retropalatal region, the anterio-posterior diameter, L-R calibres increased significantly. The areas increased from 41.0 mm2 before operations to 76.0 mm~2 after operations, were t = -4. 932, P <0.05. The anteroposterior calibres increased from 4.6 mm before operations to 6.6 mm after operations, where t = - 7. 308, P < 0.05. The L-R calibres increased from 8.3 mm before operations to 13.6 mm after operations, where t = - 4.320, P < 0.05. Conclusions MPR、CPR、VR of MSCT can evaluate the not only the morphology but the function changes of the upper airways on the OSAS patients. The increasing of the minimum cross-sectional area may be one of the important indications for evaluating operations. The narrowing of the higher retropalatal region of the upper airway after operations should be an alert to the clinicians.

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of Acanthus ilicifolius.

METHODChromatographic methods were used to isolate compounds from A. ilicifolius, and chemical and spectral methods were used to elucidate the structures of the isolated compounds.

RESULTFive compounds, luteolin 7-O-beta-D-glucuronide (1), apigenin-7-O-beta-D-glucuronide (2), methylapigenin-7-O-beta-D-glucuronate (3), uridine (4) and uracil (5) were obtained.

CONCLUSION1, 4 and 5 were obtained from the genus for the first time.

Acanthaceae ; chemistry ; Apigenin ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Luteolin ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Uracil ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Uridine ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Objective To investigate the imaging manifestations of lung neoplasms in pre- and post- treatment with CT-guided Argon-Helium cryoablation.Methods All the lung neoplasms in 96 patients have been treated with CT-guided percutaneous Argon-Helium targeted cryoablation.All patients have pre- and post-treatment CT scanning in measurement of lesion size and CT value.The CT scanning has been rerpeated afterl,3,6,12 months of treatment.Results Among total 96 cases,there are 82 cases of lung cancer and 14 cases of metastasis with 110 lesions(89 cases with single lesion,7 cases with multiple lesions).The Ar-He cryoablation has been given 103 times in total.The size of each lesion ranged from 1.2 cm to 15.0 cm in diameter with mean value of(4.0?2.5)cm,including 12 lesions less than 2 cm,51 lesions between 2— 4 cm,24 lesions between 4—6 cm,23 lesions over 6 cm.There are 25 patients whose lesions covered by iceball with 1 cm of overloaping it's margin.There are 63 lesions with diameter less than 4 cm gained 100% ablation rate,24 lesions with 4—6 cm diameter gained 95.8% ablation rate,and 23 lesions with over 6 cm diameter gained 69.6% ablation rate.The post-treatment CT show a progressively enlarged round,low density refrigerant area which clearly demarked with non- refrigerant area.The center of each refrigerant area has negative CT value,the mean decreased CT value of lesion instantly after the treatment are about 30— 50 HU with P

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of Acanthus ilicifolius.

METHODChromatographic methods were used to isolate compounds from A. ilicifolius, and chemical and spectroscopic methods were used to elucidate the structures of the isolated compounds.

RESULTSeven compounds, betaine (1), phenylethyl-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl- (1-->2) -beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), phenylethyl-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), acteoside (4), isoacteoside (5), benzyl-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (6) and vanillic acid (7) were obtained.

CONCLUSION1, 3, 6 and 7 were obtained from the genus for the first time.

Acanthaceae ; chemistry ; Betaine ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Vanillic Acid ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Since late 2010, porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) has been re-emerging in central China. To explore the possible reason of the PEDV outbreaks, twelve PEDV field strains were isolated from different swine breeding farms in central China during 2010-2012, and molecular diversity, phylogenetic relationships of these strains with other PEDV reference strains were investigated. Sequence analysis of S, M and ORE3 genes revealed that the central China PEDV isolates had several specific nucleotides and amino acids which were different from PEDV reference strains. In addition, the entire S genes of eleven central China PEDV isolates were found to be nine nucleotides longer in length than CV777 and large number of amino acid variations was accumulated in the N-terminal region of S gene. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the central China PEDV isolates had close relationship with Korea strains (2007-2009), Thailand strains (2007-2008), Vietnam strains (2009-2010), Japan strains (2010), and other prevailing strains from other parts of China (2010-2012). However, they differed genetically from European strains (CV777, Brl/87), China strains (2003-2007) and the vaccine strains (CV777) used in China. These results imply that a rapid variation and evolution of central China PEDV strains has occurred in recent years, and a more efficient vaccine strain should be selected to prevent and control outbreaks of PEDV in China.
Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Feces ; virology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Open Reading Frames ; Phylogeny ; Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Swine ; Swine Diseases ; epidemiology ; virology ; Viral Proteins ; genetics

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

Objective:To explore the effect of venous anastomosis of the pedicled digital artery dorsal branch island flap in repairing fingertip or pulp defects of the same finger.Methods:From February 2016 to September 2018, a total of 56 emergency cases (67 fingers) with fingertip or pulp defects in 2-5 fingers were admitted to the Second Hospital of Tangshan (hereinafter referred to as the author′s affiliation), and the prospective research was conducted. The patients were divided into venous anastomosis group of 29 cases (35 fingers) and non-venous anastomosis group of 27 cases (32 fingers) by drawing lots. There were 18 males and 11 females in venous anastomosis group, aged 17 to 62 years, with wound area of 1.6 cm×1.3 cm-3.1 cm×2.4 cm after debridement. There were 17 males and 10 females in non-venous anastomosis group, aged 20 to 59 years, with wound area of 1.7 cm×1.2 cm-3.0 cm×2.4 cm after debridement. According to the location and size of the fingertip or pulp defect of patients in the two groups, the flap was designed on the dorsum of the middle or proximal phalanx of the injured finger. During the operation, the epineurium of dorsal branch of the proper digital nerve or the dorsal digital nerve carried by the flap was anastomosed end-to-end with the stump of proper digital nerve in the wound. One or two superficial vein (s) carried by the flap was/were interrupted end-to-end anastomosed with the superficial veins on the dorsum or palm of the wound surface in venous anastomosis group, and the venous anastomosis was not performed in non-venous anastomosis group. The flap size resected ranged from 1.8 cm×1.5 cm to 3.4 cm×2.6 cm in venous anastomosis group, and that ranged from 1.9 cm×1.4 cm to 3.3 cm×2.6 cm in non-venous anastomosis group. The donor site wounds in the two groups were resurfaced by free full-thickness skin graft harvested from the proximal forearm or the medial side of the upper arm. The blood circulation of the flap of patients in 2 groups was observed after operation. During follow-up after operation, the patients′ satisfaction for the appearance of the flap was evaluated by Michigan Hand Function Questionnaire, the flap color was observed by the chief physician of the Department of Hand Surgery in the author′s affiliation, and the incidence of flap pigmentation was calculated. Data were statistically analyzed with t test and chi-square test. Results:All the flaps of patients survived without tension blister in venous anastomosis group after operation. Tension blisters occurred in 6 cases (6 fingers) in non-venous anastomosis group due to venous reflux obstruction, and the flaps survived after removing some sutures of the pedicle and changing dressing. During follow-up of 8-20 months, with an average of 15 months, the patients′ satisfaction score for flap appearance in venous anastomosis group was (4.6±0.5) points, which was obviously higher than (4.3±0.6) points of non-venous anastomosis group ( t=2.482, P<0.05). The incidence of flap pigmentation in venous anastomosis group was 9% (3/35), which was significantly lower than 31% (10/32) of non-venous anastomosis group ( χ2=5.498, P<0.05). Conclusions:The pedicled digital artery dorsal branch island flap with venous anastomosis repairs the same fingertip or pulp defects, resulting in unobstructed venous reflux, low incidence of flap pigmentation, good appearance and high patient satisfaction.

Objective To study the effect and possible mechanism of Yixin Jiedu Fang Supplementing Heart and kemoving Toticity Decoction in inhibiting apoptosis of H 9C2 myocardial cells.Methods H9C2 cells were divided into normal group,model group,Yixin Jiedu Fang group and quercetin group. The apoptosis of H9C2 myocardial cells was induced by using hypoxia-hypoglycemia/reoxygenation-reglycemia method,and protective effect of Yixin Jiedu Fang was studied.The survival rate of H9C2 cells was detected by using CCK-8 assay.The morphological changes of H9C2 cells were observed with microscope.Intracellular calcium overload was detected by using Fluo-3AM method and apoptosis of H9C2 cells was detected by using Hoechst 33342 method.The genetic expressions of Fas and FasL were detected by using real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR), and expressions of p-Akt protein and caspase-8 protein were detected by using Western blotting method. Results Compared with normal group, the survival rate of H9C2 cells decreased, cell shrinkage and deformation,intracellular calcium overload and more apoptosis cells were observed, expressions of Fas mRNA and FasL mRNA increased, expression of caspase-8 protein increased, and expression of p-Akt protein decreased in model group(all P<0.05).Compared with model group,the survival rate of H9C2 cells increased, cellular morphology were improved, intracellular calcium overload was relieved, expression of p-Akt protein was up-regulated,and expressions of FasL mRNA and caspase-8 protein were down-regulated in Yixin Jiedu Fang group(all P<0.05).Conclusion Yixin Jiedu Fang can inhibit the apoptosis of H9C2 cells, and the mechanism maybe related to the relief of intracellular calcium overload and control of exogenous apoptotic pathway.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effects of neurocutaneous vascular flap innervated by terminal branch of lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve in repairing finger tip or finger pulp wounds of the thumb.Methods:A retrospective observational study was conducted. From February 2016 to April 2019, a total of 21 patients (21 fingers) with finger tip or finger pulp wounds of the thumbs met the inclusion criteria and were admitted to the Second Hospital of Tangshan, including 13 males and 8 females, aged 21 to 65 years, with the defects located at the finger tips of 14 patients and the finger pulps of 7 patients, and all having exposed bones and/or tendons. The wound sizes of patients in this group after debridement ranged from 2.0 cm×1.5 cm to 4.0 cm×2.7 cm. All the wounds were repaired with the neurocutaneous vascular flap innervated by terminal branch of lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve, with the flap sizes ranging from 2.3 cm×1.8 cm to 4.3 cm×3.0 cm. In surgery, the terminal branch of lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve carried by the flaps was anastomosed with the end of the proper digital nerve of the wounds. The donor sites of flaps were sutured directly. The survival of flaps and healing of wounds in donor sites after operation were observed. The appearance of flaps and donor sites were observed during follow-up. At the final follow-up, the static two-point discrimination distances of the flaps were measured, and the degree of satisfaction of patients for the appearances of injured hands were evaluated based on Michigan Hand Function Questionnaire. The total action motion (TAM) of the injured and contralateral thumbs and the angle of thumb web of the injured and contralateral hands were measured. Data were statistically analyzed with paired sample t test. Results:All the flaps of the 21 patients survived with good blood supply and no infection. The wounds at the donor sites were all healed. All the patients were followed up, with the time ranging from 8 to 22 months. The appearances of flaps were good with their color and texture similar to the surrounding tissue. There was no pain in the finger tip or finger pulp, nor any ectopic sensation in flaps. There was only some linear scar left at the radial side of thumb. At the final follow-up, the static two-point discrimination distances of the flaps of the patients were 6 to 11 mm; 18 patients were very satisfied and 3 patients were satisfied with the overall appearance of the injured hand. The TAM of injured thumbs and the angle of thumb web of the injured hands of the patients were respectively (140±5)o and (94±9)°, which were similar to (141±5)o of the thumbs and (95±9)° of hands in the contralateral side, respectively ( t=-2.024, -1.142, P>0.05). Conclusions:The neurocutaneous vascular flap innervated by terminal branch of lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve has constant anatomy and is easy to perform. It can repair the finger tip or finger pulp wounds of the thumb achieving good appearance and function recovery. It provides a good option for repair of finger tip or finger pulp wounds of the thumb and is especially suitable for emergency application.

OBJECTIVEOne of the important reasons for male infertility is asthenozoospermia, for which there is no specific cure for the time being. The authors explored the clinical effect of L-carnitine for infertile males with asthenozoospermia.

METHODSA total of 135 patients with asthenozoospermia were randomly divided into Groups A (n = 68) and B (n = 67), the former treated with L-carnitine (2 g/d) and vitamin E, while the latter with vitamin E only, both for 3 months. All the patients received semen analyses before and after the treatment, and were observed for adverse effects. The pregnancy rates of their wives were recorded.

RESULTSGroup A showed a significantly increased percentage of forward motile sperm after the treatment (45.4% +/- 11.1%) as compared with pretreatment (28.6% +/- 9.2%) (P < 0.01), but no statistically significant differences were found in sperm density and the percentage of the sperm of normal morphology (P > 0.05). The rate of pregnancy was significantly higher in Group A (31.1%) than in B (3.8%) after the treatment (P < 0.01). No adverse events were found during the treatment.

CONCLUSIONL-carnitine, capable of significantly improving sperm motility and raising the rate of pregnancy, is a safe and effective therapeutic option for asthenozoospermia.

Adult ; Asthenozoospermia ; drug therapy ; Carnitine ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Treatment Outcome ; Vitamin E ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult