This article reveals the similarities and differences between the two materia medica systems of traditional Chinese medicine and traditional Mongolian medicine by comparing the medicinal property theories of these two; our expectations are the mutual profits and complementation of the two traditional medicines from each other, a broader clinical use of natural medicinal herbs, and then, a development of traditional medicines.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional

OBJECTIVETo investigate the features of ischemic myocardial contracture after asphyxial cardiac arrest in rats.

METHODAsphyxial cardiac arrest was induced in 8 Wistar rats, and the length and width of the heart were measured at the different time points after cardiac arrest.

RESULTSObvious ischemic myocardial contracture occurred after the cardiac arrest, reaching the maximal contracture at 4-6 min after the arrest.

CONCLUSIONSIschemic myocardial contracture induced by asphyxia may be an important factor affecting the outcome of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Animals ; Asphyxia ; complications ; Female ; Heart Arrest ; complications ; etiology ; Ischemic Contracture ; etiology ; pathology ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Organ Size ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Time Factors

BACKGROUNDPost-resuscitation myocardial dysfunction has been implicated as a major cause of fatal outcome in patients who survive initially successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). In our previous study, we found that impaired myocardial β-adrenergic receptor (AR) signaling is a key mechanism in post-resuscitation myocardial dysfunction and Shen-Fu injection (SFI) can attenuate post-resuscitation myocardial dysfunction. However, whether SFI can prevent impaired post-resuscitation myocardial β-AR signaling is not yet known. In this study, we investigated the effect of SFI on impaired myocardial β-AR signaling occurring post-resuscitation in a porcine model of cardiac arrest.

METHODSVentricular fibrillation was induced electrically in anesthetized male landrace domestic pigs. After 4 minutes of untreated ventricular fibrillation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated. Sixteen successfully resuscitated pigs were randomized to receive a continuous infusion of either SFI (0.5 ml/min; n = 8) or saline (placebo; n = 8) for 6 hours, beginning 15 minutes after the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Hemodynamic and echocardiographic data were recorded. β-AR signaling was assessed at 6 hours after the intervention by measuring myocardial adenylate cyclase activity, β-AR density and β-AR kinase expression.

RESULTSTreatment with SFI produced better maximum rate of left ventricular pressure increase (dp/dt(max)) and maximum rate of left ventricular pressure decline (-dp/dt(max)), cardiac output, and ejection fraction after ROSC. SFI treatment was also associated with lower myocardial β-adrenergic receptor kinase expression, whereas basal and isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity and the total β-AR density were significantly increased in the SFI group when compared with the placebo group.

CONCLUSIONSFI attenuated post-resuscitation myocardial dysfunction by preventing impaired myocardial β-AR signaling after CPR.

Animals ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; adverse effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Swine

PURPOSE: We undertook this study to find out the recognitions of terminal cancer patients and doctors about advance directives (ADs), of how they would do in non-response medical conditions and whether ADs could be one of medical options for their dying with dignity. METHODS: One hundred thirty four cancer patients in the Hospice Unit, St. Vincent's Hospital, and 97 medical doctors in the Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic Medical Center, were asked about ADs, including Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR), medical power of attorney, living will and medical options. RESULTS: One hundred thirty patients (97%) and 38 doctors (39.2%) were unfamiliar with ADs, however, 128 patients (95.5%), 95 doctors (97.9%) agreed with it. Seventy nine patients (59.0%) and 96 doctors (99.0%) wanted DNR rather then intensive treatments if they were in non-response medical conditions. Eighty four patients (62.7%) and 75 doctors (77.3%) were agreeable to medical power of attorney. One hundred Thirty four patients (100.0%) and 94 doctors (96.9%) did not want medical options to be in terminal conditions, and hoped to die in peace. CONCLUSION: Most of patients did not know about ADs and how to make it. However, they showed positive attitudes about it. If we advertise it properly, it is highly likely that a large number of cancer patients would make their living wills easily by ADs. Nevertheless, many legal and ethical problems have to be solved. Doctors should engage their patients in an ongoing communication about the end-of-life. Therefore, let the patients have opportunities to plan their own deaths.
Advance Directives ; Hospice Care ; Hospices ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Linear Energy Transfer ; Living Wills

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether the MTNR1A gene promotor polymorphism (rs2119882) are associated with the occurrence or curve severity of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

METHODS226 AIS patients and 277 normal controls were recruited. The maximum Cobb angles were recorded in AIS patients. PCR-RFLP was used for the genotyping.

RESULTSThe genotype and allele frequency distribution were comparable between AIS and normal control, the mean maximum Cobb angle of different genotypes of rs2119882 were similar with each other among AIS patients.

CONCLUSIONThe MTNR1A gene promoter polymorphism was neither associated with the occurrence nor the curve severity of AIS.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Receptor, Melatonin, MT1 ; genetics ; Scoliosis ; genetics

Objective To retrospectively analyze the postoperative morbidity of patients with complex intracranial aneurysms treated by stent-assisted coiling and investigate the causes and treatment strategy of postoperative morbidity. Methods 62 SAH patients with intracranial aneurysm were treated by stent-assisted coiling, 53 cases of single aneurysms, 9 cases of multi-aneurysms (8 cases of 2 aneurysms, 1 cases of 3 aneurysms), amount to 72 aneurysms, 71 aneurysms were treated by stent-assisted coiling. Results Completed embolization 53 cases were completed with embolization partial embolization (74.64％), Nearly all embolization 17 cases were nearly all embolization (23.94％), partial embolization and 1case was s (1.42％) . According to GOS, 52 patients with a score of GOS 5, 6 patients with a score of GOS 4, 3 patients with a score of GOS 3, 2 patients with a score of GOS 1. 58 (93.5％) patients survived favorably. 9 patients with complications (14.5％), 3 patients with acute thrombosis; 2 patients with rupture of aneurysms during surgery; 3 patients with cerebral angiospasm; There was no obvious abnormality during the surgery in 1 patient, and there was a focal ischemic change followed by a mild neurological deficiency. Conclusions Stent assisted coil embolization of intracranial ruptured aneurysm is safe, effective and feasible, but we should improve clinical skills, summarize the analysis in the clinical operation experience of clinical treatment so as to reduce complications. Timely and correct treatment is also very important when complications occur.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role of autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) in acute ethanol-induced liver injury and its mechenism. METHODS: Twenty-one C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into three groups:control group, ethanol group, CQ + ethanol group (=7). Mice in ethanol group were administered 33% (v/v) ethanol at a dose of 4.5 g/kg body weight. Ethanol-induced liver steatosis in each group was detected by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Hepatic lipid accumulation was detected by staining with Oil red O. Hepatic tissue triglyceride (TG) levels, serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and alanine aminotransferase(ALT) were determined by biochemical assays. Protein expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3) and nuclear factorκB p65(NF-κB p65) were measured by Western blot and immunofluorescence. Pro-inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)、interleukin 6(IL-6) were detected by ELISA. RESULTS: Compared with control group, ethanol induced liver injury proved by accumulation of hepatic lipids, TG levels, AST and ALT activities were significantly increased by ethanol, protein expression of LC3-Ⅱ was also markedly increased by ethanol. Compared with ethanol group, addition of CQ increased furtherthe level of LC3-Ⅱexpression, and TG amount, serum AST and ALT activities, and the expression of NF-κB p65, TNF-αand IL-6. CONCLUSIONS Acute ethanol-intake could induce liver steatosis and inflammation, and autophagy inhibitor CQ exacerbatedethanol-induced liver injury, suggested that autophagy might be protective effect in acute ethanol-induced liver disease.
Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Autophagy ; drug effects ; Chloroquine ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-6 ; analysis ; Liver ; drug effects ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic ; drug therapy ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism ; Triglycerides ; analysis ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; analysis

BACKGROUNDThe emergency department (ED) has a pivotal influence on the management of acute heart failure (AHF), but data concerning current ED management are scarce. This Beijing AHF Registry Study investigated the characteristics, ED management, and short- and long-term clinical outcomes of AHF.

METHODSThis prospective, multicenter, observational study consecutively enrolled 3335 AHF patients who visited 14 EDs in Beijing from January 1, 2011, to September 23, 2012. Baseline data on characteristics and management were collected in the EDs. Follow-up data on death and readmissions were collected until November 31, 2013, with a response rate of 92.80%. The data were reported as median (interquartile range) for the continuous variables, or as number (percentage) for the categorical variables.

RESULTSThe median age of the enrolled patients was 71 (58-79) years, and 46.84% were women. In patients with AHF, coronary heart disease (43.27%) was the most common etiology, and myocardium ischemia (30.22%) was the main precipitant. Most of the patients in the ED received intravenous treatments, including diuretics (79.28%) and vasodilators (74.90%). Fewer patients in the ED received neurohormonal antagonists, and 25.94%, 31.12%, and 33.73% of patients received angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers, and spironolactone, respectively. The proportions of patients who were admitted, discharged, left against medical advice, and died were 55.53%, 33.58%, 7.08%, and 3.81%, respectively. All-cause mortalities at 30 days and 1 year were 15.30% and 32.27%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSSubstantial details on characteristics and ED management of AHF were investigated. The clinical outcomes of AHF patients were dismal. Thus, further investigations of ED-based therapeutic approaches for AHF are needed.