Objective To discuss how to protect the intracranial vertebral artery and posterior inferior cerebellar artery by observing and measuring the intracranial vertebral artery in the surgery adopt far lateral approach. Methods Mimicking far lateral approach, 20 adult cadaveric heads connected to neck fixed with 10% formalin were dissected. Intracranial segment of the vertebral arteries and their main branches were exposed and measured under operating microscope. Results The intracranial vertebral artery joined with the contralateral one into the basilar artery after traveling through the atlanto-occipital sulcus. The relationship between the vertebral artery and the hypoglossal nerve is close. Thirty sides (75%) of the vertebral arteries traveled to pons medulla sulcus in front of the hypoglossal nerve roots and 2 sides (5%) behind the hypoglossal nerve roots, while 8 sides (20%) traveled among the hypoglossal nerve roots; 70% of the vertebral arteries were contacted to the hypoglossal nerve roots, 30% of which compressed the hypoglossal nerve. The main branches of intracranial segment of the vertebral arteries were the posterior inferior cerebellar arteries, the anterior spinal arteries, the posterior meningeal arteries,and some perforating arteries. Posterior inferior cerebellar arteries all originated from the intracranial vertebral artery were the largest vertebral artery's branches; their trip was mostly loop-shaped and they had close relationship with Ⅸ, Ⅹ, Ⅺ cranial nerves. The starting points of the posterior inferior cerebellar arteries were different, even in the same specimen, but most of them originated from the upper 1/3intracranial vertebral artery. No anterior inferior cerebellar artery was noted originated from the vertebral artery in our specimen. Anterior spinal arteries originated from the vertebral arteries joined with the branches of the bilateral vertebral arteries and traveled down through the tortuous anterior median fissure to supply the spinal cord. Conclusion Being familiar with the characteristics and anatomic vertebral arteries variations of the intracranial vertebral artery and its branches can contribute to identify and protect the intracranial segment of the vertebral artery and its main branches in the surgery adopt far-lateral approach.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of Sizi Zhongwang Capsule (SZC) combined with Western medicine (WM) in treating male sterility.

METHODSTwo hundred and sixty-one male patients with sterility were assigned to 3 groups, 64 in the WM group were treated with conventional Western medical therapy alone, 87 in the SZC group were treated with SZC alone, and 110 in the combined group were treated with SZC combined Western medical therapy. The treatment lasted for 90 days in total. Changes of semen related parameters before and after treatment were observed, and the conditions of pregnancy in patients' spouse were followed-up.

RESULTSThe difference in semen related parameters before and after treatment showed insignificant in the WM group (P > 0.05), but it did show statistical significance in the SZC group and the combined group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Moreover, the best effect was shown in the combined group, showing significant difference to the other two groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The pregnancy rate of patients' spouse in the combined treated group was higher than that in the other two groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSZC combined with Western medical therapy could effectively improve the quality of semen in males with infertility and enhance the pregnancy rate in their spouse.

Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; drug therapy ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Semen Analysis

In recent 10 years, using radiofrequency catheter ablation, our medical center has treated 4865 cases of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). To improve clinical practice, a retrospective analysis of this group was made. In this group, 2092 cases were atrioventricular reentry tachycardia (AVRT), including 1415 left accesory pathway and 677 right accesory pathway, and 2773 cases were atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT). The total success rate of radiofrequency treatment is 99.71%; the recurrence rate after half a year 1.73%; the total complication rate 1.25%. In conclusion, radiofrequency ablation is a safe and effective treatment for tachycardia with high rate of success and low rate of complication.
Adult ; Catheter Ablation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Tachycardia, Paroxysmal ; surgery ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the different mRNA levels of Candida albicans ALS gene family between planktonic and biofilm-grown cells.

METHODSATCC 90038 and a wild strain of Candida albicans, biofilm models in vitro were formed on glass slides. After 48 hours' incubation, the biofilm-grown cells were harvested. Half-quantification of ALS1 and ALS4 mRNA was based on the amplification by one-step RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe amounts of ALS1 and ALS4 mRNA of the wild strain in biofilm increased comparing with planktonic cells, while ATCC 90038 didn't.

CONCLUSIONThe members of ALS gene family may play important roles in the course of Candida albicans biofilm formation.

Biofilms ; Candida albicans ; Fungal Proteins ; Humans ; Mouth ; microbiology ; RNA, Messenger

OBJECTIVETo explore and evaluate the feasibility, safety, radicality and the short-term outcome of minimally invasive esophagectomy versus open esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

METHODSFrom July 2007 to October 2009, 67 patients with esophageal cancer received minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE group), while 38 patients underwent conventional open esophagectomy (OE group: via right thorax, abdomen, left neck). The operative procedures, clinicopathological data and short-term outcome were collected and compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe clinical data of the two groups were comparable. No significant differences was found in demographics between the two groups. Median blood loss in MIE group was less than that in OE group (chest: 112.3 ml vs. 175.3 ml, P = 0.035, abdominal: 31.4 ml vs. 100.5 ml, P = 0.026). More patients in OE group were transferred to ICU (P = 0.042) and more obvious pain (P = 0.005). The rate of pulmonary infection and intestinal obstruction in OE group were higher than MIE group (P = 0.046 and 0.045). There were no differences in the number of lymph node dissection for two groups, the average was 20.9 and lymph node metastasis rate was 26.9% in MIE group. Mean follow up was (14.0 ± 2.2) months (range, 2 to 29 months). Recurrence rate and survival rate were no differences.

CONCLUSIONThe Minimally invasive esophagectomy for esophageal cancer is feasible, safe, and reliable short-term effect, and can achieve radical tumor resection, which may lead to better future of surgical treatment for esophageal carcinoma.

Aged ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracoscopy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy (CTLE) in the treatment of advanced esophageal carcinoma.

METHODSFrom June 2011 to February 2012, 11 patients with locally advanced esophageal carcinoma underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by CTLE (clinical stage IIB-IIIA). NP (vinorelbine pin and cisplatin) or TP (program paclitaxel-pin and cisplatin) were applied as preoperative chemotherapy. During the same period, conventional fractionated radiotherapy was used with the radiation dose of 40 Gy/20 F. At four to six weeks after CRT, 11 patients received three-incision CTLE.

RESULTSDuring chemoradiation, 9 patients developed bone marrow suppression. The interval between completion of chemoradiation and surgery was (49.6±15.4) d. Intraoperative findings revealed local fibrosis in one patient (75 days after chemoradiation) while operative difficulty was not increased in the remaining 10 patients. Compared to 15 patients who received surgery alone, operative time was shorter [(242.3±27.0) min vs.(280.5±27.2) min, P=0.002] and intraoperative blood loss was less [(168.2±95.6) ml vs. (244.5±84.8) ml, P=0.042], the number of removal lymph nodes was similar [(19.5±5.8) vs. (20.5±7.1), P=0.683], postoperative hospital stay was prolonged [(18.9±10.3) d vs. (12.5±4.6) d, P=0.020]. The postoperative complication rate was 36.4% including cervical anastomotic leak with pulmonary infection (n=1), cervical anastomotic fistula and hoarseness (n=1), pulmonary infection with pleural effusion (n=2). Follow up ranged from 1 to 9 months, and no recurrence was found.

CONCLUSIONThe neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy in the treatment of locally advanced esophageal carcinoma is safe, feasible, and the short-term outcomes are favorable.

Adult ; Aged ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; therapy ; Esophagectomy ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Preoperative Care ; Thoracoscopy ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDTypical accessory pathways (APs) of Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome have been widely discussed in recent decades. However, the characteristics of the special AP, Mahaim fibre, are not so clear. It is known that these fibres have antegrade conduction only, long conduction time, decremental node-like conduction and automaticity properties. This study was to elucidate the automaticity of Mahaim fibre and its response to effective ablation.

METHODSThirteen patients with Mahaim fibre (ten atrioventricular and three atriofascicular accessory pathways) were subjected to electrophysiological study and radiofrequency ablation via catheter. The incidence and characteristics of anautomatic rhythm originating from Mahaim fibre were observed during the whole procedure, especially during radiofrequency current delivery.

RESULTSRepetitive and short-run automatic rhythm (rate: 65-72 beats per minute), with a QRS morphology similar to that of clinical pre-excited atrioventricular re-entrant tachycardia (AVRT), occurred in two patients during sinus rhythm. Conduction via Mahaim fibre was successfully eliminated by radiofrequency current. Fourteen applications of RF were associated with irregularly accelerated automatic tachycardia of Mahaim fibre (with a sensitivity of 78%), lasting for 1.2-14 seconds. However, such automatic tachycardia of Mahaim fibre did not occur during 54 failed applications of radiofrequency current.

CONCLUSIONSMahaim fibre has the function of automaticity. The accelerated automatic tachycardia of Mahaim fibre occur red during radiofrequency catheter ablation can be used as a predictor for successful procedure.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Catheter Ablation ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pre-Excitation, Mahaim-Type ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Tachycardia, Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry ; physiopathology ; surgery

To observe the effect of tripterygium glycosides combined with Danshen injection on blood coagulation mechanism in children with allergic purpura nephritis, and investigate its treatment efficacy through a randomized controlled study. The results showed that before treatment, there were no significant differences in levels of D-D, APTT, PT, FIB and PLT between treatment group and control group; while after treatment, there were significant differences in levels of D-D, PT, FIB and PLT between two groups, but no difference in level of APTT. The effective rate was 90.38% in treatment group, significantly higher than 79.25% in the control group. There was no significant difference in incidence of adverse reactions between two groups. The results suggested that tripterygium glycosides combined with Danshen injection can enhance treatment efficacy and improve blood coagulation mechanism of children in the treatment of purpura nephritis, with high safety and no adverse effects.

OBJECTIVERecently, a new traditional Chinese medicine differentiation theory "Syndrome Element (SE)" has been raised. In this study, the main syndrome element types and their correlations with the results of coronary angiography (CAG) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) were investigated.

METHODSEpidemiology cross-sectional study method was employed and 324 patients with CHD were enrolled, and their syndrome element types as well as the CAG results were analyzed. The correlations among syndrome element types, Gensini score, and the number of abnormal branches were also analyzed based on the distribution characteristics of syndrome element and coronary angiography results in the 324 cases.

RESULTSAccording to their occurrence frequency in 324 CHD patients, the top eight major heart syndrome elements were Xin () blood stasis (85.8%), Xin qi deficiency (79.6%), Xin heat blockage (41.1%), Xin phlegm with turbid fluid (38.0%), Xin qi stagnation (24.7%), Xin yang deficiency (18.9%), Xin yin deficiency (17.5%) and Xin cold coagulation (4.4%), respectively, which suggested that Xin blood stasis and Xin qi deficiency were the two most common syndrome elements. Also, as coronary artery Gensini score increased, the changing trend of the syndrome element was "Xin yang deficiency with blood stasis" to "Xin phlegm obstruction with heat blockage" to "Xin yin deficiency with blood stasis" to "Xin qi deficiency with blood stasis" to "Xin cold coagulation with phlegm and turbid fluid, "Xin cold coagulation with blood stasis" to "Xin deficiency of qi, yin and yang". As the number of abnormal branches increased, the syndrome element changing trend was "simultaneous occurrence of cold and heat syndrome" to "Xin qi and yang deficiency with blood stasis" to "Xin retention of phlegm with turbid fluid" to "Xin cold coagulation in the heart meridian", "Xin deficiency of both qi and yin". The result of this study shows that Xin qi deficiency and Xin blood stasis were the major syndrome elements in patients with CHD.

CONCLUSIONAs the severity and extent of coronary artery lesion increased, there were some apparent correlations among syndrome elements, Gensini score and number of abnormal coronary artery branches.

Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Qi ; Yin-Yang

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) to treat per-manent atrial fibrillation (AF) under the guidance of Carto-Merge technique.

METHODSFifteen male patients with permanent AF underwent RFCA under the guidance of Carto-Merge technique. The mean age was 54.00 +/- 10.44 years, and duration of AF was 23.66 +/- 14.93 months. Cardiac magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) was performed to obtain pre-procedural three-dimensional (3D) images on the anatomy of left atrium (LA) and pulmonary veins (PVs) before RFCA procedure. Then the electroanatomical map was integrated with 3D images of MRA to form Carto-Merge map that guided step-by-step ablation strategy of permanent AF. Circumferential PV ablation was performed first until complete PVs electric isolation confirmed by Lasso catheter. If AF was not terminated, lesion lines on roof of LA, mitral isthmus, and tricuspid isthmus were produced.

RESULTSThe episodes of AF were terminated during RFCA in 2 patients, by direct current cardioversion in the remaining 13 patients. Transient AF occurred in 2 patients after ablation on 1st day and 1st week respectively, AF terminated spontaneously not long after taking metoprolol. One patient developed persistent atrial flutter (AFL) in 2 months after procedure and AFL was eliminated by the second ablation. Persistent AF recurred on 1st day, 1st and 5th week respectively in 3 patients, and did not terminate after 3 months even though amiodarone was given. The remaining 12 patients were all free of AF during 2-11 months of follow-up. The recent success rate for RFCA of permanent AF was 80%.

CONCLUSIONSCarto-Merge technique can effectively guide RFCA of permanent AF. When combined with single Lasso mapping, it can simplify the mapping, lower expenses, and enhance the success rate of RFCA of permanent AF.

Adult ; Atrial Fibrillation ; physiopathology ; radiotherapy ; Catheters, Indwelling ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radio Waves