OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy and effect mechanism of the combined therapy of acupuncture and tapping method in the treatment of obesity and hyperlipidemia of liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency pattern in the patients.

METHODSOne hundred and four female patients were randomized into a combined therapy of acupuncture and tapping (combined therapy group) group method and an acupuncture group, 52 cases in each group. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied to Qimen (LR 14), Taichong (LR 3), Zhangmen (LR 13), Taibai (SP 3), Zusanli (ST 36), Geshu (BL 17), Ganshu (BL 18), Pishu (BL 20), etc. In the combined therapy group, on the basis of acupuncture treatment, the tapping method with plum blossom needle was used at each acupoint. The treatment was given once every two days, continuously for 3 months in the two groups. The indices were observed, including the obesity indices, such as body mass, body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (F%) and obesity degree (A); the blood lipid levels such as total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL); the fat-islet axie relevant indices such as fasting plasma glucose (FBS), fasting leptin (FLP), fasting insulin (FINS), insulin sensitive index (ISI), insulin resistance in- dex (Homa IR), insulin secretion index (Homa-β) and autonomic nerve function index (Y value) before and after treatment in the patients of two groups. The efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rates were 96.2% (50/52) and 84.6% (44/52) in the combined therapy group and the acupuncture group respectively, without significant difference in comparison (P > 0.05). Obesity indices, blood lipid indices, fat-islet axie relevant indices and autonomic nerve function indices were all improved after treatment as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and the improvements in the combined therapy group were much more significant (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapy of acupuncture and tapping method achieves the double effects of weight loss and lipid loss in the treatment of obesity combined with hyperlipidemia. The effect mechanism is possibly related to the positive regulations of blood glucose, lipid metabolism and fat-islet axie in the patients.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Insulin ; metabolism ; Leptin ; metabolism ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Qi ; Spleen ; physiopathology ; Treatment Outcome ; Triglycerides ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate ultrasound as a therapy for white lesions of the vulva.Methods Immunohistochemistry and hybridization in situ were used to study changes in VEGF protein and mRNA in the vulva skin of rabbits after ultrasound irradiation.Results After irradiation,VEGF protein and mRNA had increased markedly after 4 and 7 days,but their levels recovered by day 14.Conclusion Ultrasound irradiation causes local edema and hypoxia which enhance production of VEGF.VEGF promotes growth of local microvessels and increases the permeability of the endothelial cells of blood vessels.These changes improve nutrition of the mierovessels and nerve endings and ameliorate the microenvironment for tissue growth.One could speculate that ultrasound irradiation helps rehabilitation and regeneration of pathologic vulva skin.

Objective To investigate the clinical effectiveness of coronary artery bypass grafting through descending thoracic aorta in elderly patients with coronary heast disease and to decrease the post-operative complication.Methods Thirteen elderly patients underwent coronary bypass surgery with minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB).Age range from 70 to 82 years with a mean of(72.1?6.0)years.Patients suffered from multi vessel disease.Many minimally invasive techniques of“Y”blood vessel graft anastomosis,anastomosis of blood vessel graft to descending aorta,minimally invasive direct,thoracoscope assist were used.Results All patients were survived.The mean duration of intubation was (6.9?0.9) hours.The average ICU stay was (2.5?0.5)days.No patients received blood transfusion.During the short-term follow-up(3 to 14 months) patients had no complaint of angina,Conclusions The technique of“Y”blood vessel graft anastomosis,descending aorta blood vessel graft,minimally invasive direct and thoracoscope assist in combination with coronary artery bypass grafting is a safe and cost-effective new procedure for elderly patients with multi-coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the factors which influence the safety and prognosis of aorta replacement combined with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for thoracic aortic aneurysm associated with coronary artery disease.

METHODSFrom May 1982 to October 2002, 67 patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm were admitted, and 24 of them combined with CABG. Of the 24 patients, 9 received descending aorta replacement combined with CABG, and the other 15 received the ascending aorta replacement combined with CABG. The treatment results were compared with the other 43 patients only undergoing the thoracic aortic replacement.

RESULTSThe mortality rate of the patients with aorta replacement combined with CABG was 13% (3/24). Though the descending aorta replacement combined with CABG could make the cardiopulmonary bypass time and selective cerebral perfusion time longer, (278 +/- 54) min and (188 +/- 59) min respectively, no significant difference was observed in postoperative complications, 3-year survival rate, 3-year-cardiac-event-free rate compared with the patients only undergoing the thoracic aortic replacement (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe aorta replacement combined with CABG can be performed safely, and the revascularization for coronary artery disease is useful for preventing occurrence of cardiac events.

Aorta, Thoracic ; surgery ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; complications ; surgery ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Disease ; complications ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors

Objective To investigate the efficacy and security of cypher stent(sirolimus-eluting stent)in the treatment of old patients with coronary heart disease(CHD).Methods From November 2002 to May 2005,328 elderly CHD cases(age:60-86 years)were treated with 415 Cypher stents.Among the 328 patients,66 had ST-segment elevation of myocardial infarction,21 had non ST-segment elevation of myocardial infarction,149 had unstable angina and 92 had stable angina.As for lesion characteristics,diffuse disease was found in 91 case(26.1%),bifurcation lesions in 68 cases(19.6%),chronic total occlusion lesions in 56 cases(16.0%),in-stent restenosis in 14 cases and ostial lesions in 15 case.The immediate angiographic outcome,major cardiac event(MACE) and angiographic follow-up at 6 months were assessed.Results Stent implantation was successfully achieved in 99% patients with CHD.Acute and sub-acute stent thrombosis occurred in 2 patients,late stent thrombosis with AMI occurred in 2 patients,1 died during the 6 months follow-up.The MACE rate during hospitalization was 0.6% and 3.6% during 6 months follow-up.Angiographic follow-up in 84 patients at 6 months showed that in-stent restenosis rate(ISR)was 8.3%(restenosis within the stents was 2.4%).The target vessel revascularization(TLR)rate was 5.9%.Conclusions Cypher stent implantation in CHD is safe and effective,the ISR rate and TLR rate are significantly lower than those of bare metal stents.

OBJECTIVETo further explore the effect of Jiangu Erxian Pill (JGEXP) on proliferation and cell cycle of human osteoblast on the basis of previous clinical and experimental studies.

METHODSHuman primary osteoblast were isolated and cultured. The cell proliferation was tested by 3H-thymine incorporation and methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MMT) method and the cell cycle was determined by flow cytometry technique.

RESULTSIn the medium and high dosage JGEXP groups, the cell proliferation rate and index, and percentage of diploid synthesis phase (S phase) cells were significantly higher than those in the blank control group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), and similar to those in the estrogen group; and the cell apoptosis rate and percentage of G0-G1 stage cells were lower than those in the blank control group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONJGEXP could effectively promote the cell proliferation and differentiation, and prevent the cell apoptosis of osteoblast in vitro.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To evaluate the psychological impact of acne on patients.Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted among 469 patients with acne and 175 healthy controls.Athens insomnia scale (AIS),self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) were used to estimate the prevalence of insomnia,anxiety and depression respectively in these subjects.Rank sum test was performed to compare the differences in psychological status between the patients and controls.Results Increased AIS,SAS and HAMD scores were observed in the patients with acne compared with the healthy controls (Z =4.014,3.426,8.664,respectively,all P ＜ 0.01 ).The incidence of insomnia,anxiety and depression was 34.9％,0.7％ and 2.9％respectively in the patients with acne,with no significant differences between patients in different age groups (＜15 years,15-25 years,＞ 25 years,all P ＞ 0.05).A significant increase was observed in AIS score in 296 female patients compared with 173 male patients (Z =2.009,P ＜ 0.05),and in HAMD score in patients with severe acne compared with those with mild acne (Z =3.739,P ＜ 0.01 ).There was no statistical difference in SAS or HAMD score between the male and female patients,or in AIS or SAS score between patients with severe and mild acne.Conclusions Acne could affect the sleep,anxiety and depression emotions in patients,and exert a negative psychological impact on patients,which seems more apparent in patients with severe acne and female patients.

ObjectiveTo analyze the relationship between clinical characteristic pathology and prognosis in infant with intra-abdominal solid tumor.MethodsFifty-two infants(less than 1 year old) with abdominal solid tumor from Apr.1998 to Feb.2007 in Shanghai Children's Medical Center and from Jan.2001 to Feb.2007 in Shanghai Xinhua Hospital were reviewed.The history of these children were reviewed.Features and clinical pathology of these children with their prognosis were analyzed and followed up by telephones and children return visit records from 5 months to 8 years.ResultsLess than 1 month,7 cases;1 month to 1 year old,45 cases.Teratoma 23 cases(44.23%),neuroblastoma 9 cases(17.31%),nephroblastoma 6 cases(11.54%),hepatoblastoma 5 cases(9.62%),epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the liver 3 cases(5.77%),congenital mesoblastic nephroma 3 cases(5.77%),fusiform cell epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of pancreas 1 case(1.92%),hamartoma of the liver 1 case(1.92%),retroperitoneal small cell malignant tumor 1 case(1.92%).Benign:malignant=1:1.Among the benign tumor,male:female=1:1.Among the malignant tumor,male:female=2.33:1.0.All children were treated with tumor resection,and combined with chemotherapy for those whose tumors were malignant.ConclusionsAmong infant abdominal solid tumors,teratoma and neuroblastoma are much more than other tumors.The cases of benign tumors are almost as much as the malignant tumors.The benign tumors did not have sex differences,and had good prognosis after surgical resection.However,in malignant tumors,the incidence rate of male is obviously higher than female.Completely resection of those malignant tumors with chemotherapy would get little incidence of recrudescence and low case fatality rate.Early diagnosis and early treatment play an important role in prognosis.

Objective To investigate various types and quantities of fetal cells getting into peripheral blood of pregnant women and immune status related to pregnancy induced hypertension syndrome (PIH) and analyze the etiology of PIH.Methods (1) Three markers of fetal nucleated red blood cells (fNRBCs) in normal pregnant women(n=43)and PIH patients (n=39)were measured by flow cytometry: CD71,HbF/iAg and HbF/CA.(2)We detected the levels of sub-groups of lymphocytes and some plasma cytokines.such as TNF-α and IL-6.The blood samples were from normal pregnant subjects and patients of PIH.Results In the peripheral blood of patients of PIH and normal pregnant subjects,(1) The quantities of fetal cells using three different methods in PIH [6.56(11.37)%、0.09(0.16)%、0.06(0.11)%]were significantly different from normal pregnant subjects[1.58(3.35)%、0.04(0.08)%、0.02(0.06)%],Z= -5.31,-2.97,-4.13 respectively,P＜0.01.(2)Except CD8,the levels of CD3 (76.4±8.5)%,CD4(42.6±6.4)%,CD4/CD8(1.5±0.4)%,CD19(10.5±3.9)%,CD16/CD56 (12.2±7.7)%,TNF-α (1.4 ±0.6)μg/L and IL-6(89.6±12.9)μg/L in PIH were significantly different from normal pregnant subjects[CD3(70.4±8.3)%,CD4(35.3±6.9)%,CD4/CD8(1.2±0.4)%,CD19(8.2±2.8)%,CD16/CD56(20.5±8.9)%,TNF-α(0.5±0.2)μg/L and IL-6(22.0±5.7)μg/L,respectively,P＜0.001].There were no significant differences observed in the level of CD8(P＞0.05).Conclusion The increment of fNRBCs getting into peripheral blood of pregnant women and associated immune status were implicated in the development of PIH.

Objective To investigate the value of Habib 4X in hepatic resection. Methods The clinical outcome of 21 patients with liver disease who received liver resection at the Tianjin Third Central Hospital from November 2009 to April 2010 were retrospectively evaluated. All the operations were carried out by using Habib 4X. Results All patients received hepatectomy, including right hepatectomy in three patients, left hepatectomy in one patient, multiple segmentectomy in nine patients, single segmentectomy in seven patients and partial liver resection in one patient. All tumors were reseeted completely. The mean operation time was (50±25) minutes and the mean blood loss was(129±117)ml. No patient was transferred to ICU. Three patients were complicated with bile leakage, one with lymphatic leakage and four with pleural effusion, and they were cured by non-surgical treatment. There were no patients with postoperative hemorrhage, incision infection or hepatic failure. No mortality was observed. The mean postoperative hospital stay was(19±14)days. Conclusions Radiofrequency energy was applied along the margins of the tumor to create zones of necrosis before resection with a scalpel, offering hepatobiliary surgeons an additional method for performing liver resections with minimal blood loss, low morbidity and mortality rates. As for malignant tumors, minor or major liver resection assisted by Habib 4X is safe, and it can reduce the chance of positive incisal margin.