Aneurysm, Dissecting ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Twins

Aneurysm, Dissecting ; genetics ; Aortic Aneurysm ; genetics ; Diseases in Twins ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of soil microbes of habitats on the cuttings rooting of Huperzia serrata and its mechanism.

METHODThe cuttings of H. serrata were planted on the primary habitat soil and on the soil autoclaved, rooting rates were examined respectively. Changes of contents of phenolic compounds (catechin, quercetin, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid) and indoleacetic acid (IAA) , and changes of activities of polyphenoloxidase (PPO) and peroxydase (POD) during the cuttings rooting were determined.

RESULTSoil microbes of primary habitat could increase the rooting rate and the number of roots, could increase contents of catechin, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid and IAA during rooting, and could affect activities of PPO and POD.

CONCLUSIONDuring the rooting higher contents of catechin, chlorogenic, ferulic acid and IAA caused by soil microbes of primary habitat are important factor for rooting rate.

Catechol Oxidase ; metabolism ; Flavonoids ; metabolism ; Huperzia ; growth & development ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Indoleacetic Acids ; metabolism ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; growth & development ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Soil Microbiology

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of soil microbes of habitats, endophytic fungi and root surface fungi of Huperzia serrata on rooting rate of the cuttings and on several physiological and biochemical indexes.

METHODThe cuttings of H. serrata were planted on soil I of primary habitat, the soil II had been inoculated endophytic fungi and root surface fungi, the soil III had been auto-claved, rooting rate was examined, and soluble protein and soluble sugar contents, activities of PPO and POD, flavonoids and huperzine A contents were determined.

RESULTCompared with the H. serrata that were planted on soil III, soil I and soil II were found to increase the rooting rate by 10% and 16%, soil II increased the soluble protein contents of stem of H. serrata (P < 0.05), Soil I increased the soluble sugar contents of leaves and stem of H. serrata (P < 0.05), soil I and Soil II increased the flavonoids contents of H. serrata (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSoil microbes from primary habitat, endophytic fungi and root surface fungi promote rooting, they also increase plant metabolism level of H. serrata.

Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Flavonoids ; metabolism ; Huperzia ; growth & development ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Plant Proteins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; growth & development ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Solubility

OBJECTIVETo discuss the treatment and prevention of the complications resulted from intraoral mandibular angle reduction.

METHODSFrom July 2002 to August 2008, 672 cases underwent intraoral mandibular angle reduction. The 59 cases with postoperative complications were treated and followed up.

RESULTSNo severe complication happened. In 18 cases with asymmetry, 13 cases improved through soft tissue adjustment, 5 cases were reoperated with good results. Intraoperative precise osteotomy was needed to prevent asymmetry. 3 cases with infection healed with drainage and anti-inflammatory treatment. Intraoperative aseptic manipulation and adequate drainage were necessary to prevent infection. 20 cases with labial numbness recovered 3 - 6 weeks later. 5 cases with temporary facial nerve injury recovered 2 - 3 months later. 12 cases with bleeding and hematoma were treated by dressing with pressure and drainage and healed 3 weeks later. Skin necrosis resulted from tight dressing occurred in one case, which were treated with skin graft. Intraoperative protection of nerve and vessels, as well as the dressing were very important.

CONCLUSIONSMost of the complications can be treated and recovered well. Preoperative design, precise manipulation and postoperative reliable dressing are the key points to prevent complications.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Osteotomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect and safety of L-carnitine in the treatment of idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia based on current clinical evidence.

METHODSWe searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CNKI, VIP, CBM and Wanfang Database from the establishment to April 2014 for the published literature on the treatment of idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia with L-carnitine. We conducted literature screening, data extraction, and assessment of the methodological quality of the included trials according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, followed by statistical analysis with the RevMan 5. 2 software.

RESULTSSeven randomized controlled trials involving 751 patients with idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia met the inclusion criteria, and 678 of them were included in the meta-analysis. L-carnitine treatment achieved a significantly increased rate of spontaneous pregnancy as compared with the control group (RR = 3.2, 95% CI 1.74 to 5.87, P = 0.0002). After 12-16 and 24-26 weeks of medication, total sperm motility (WMD = 5.21, 95% CI 2.78 to 7.64, P < 0.0001 and WMD = 9.29, 95% CI 1.28 to 17.29, P = 0.02) and the percentage of progressively motile sperm (WMD = 12.44, 95% CI 4.58 to 20.31, P = 0.002 and WMD = 9.76, 95% CI 3.56 to 15.97, P = 0.002) were remarkably higher than those in the control group, but no statistically significant differences were observed in sperm concentration between the two groups (WMD = 4.91, 95% CI -2.63 to 12.45, P = 0.2 and WMD = 0.93, 95% CI -3.48 to 5.34, P = 0.68). After 12-16 weeks of treatment, the percentage of morphologically abnormal sperm was markedly decreased in the L-carnitine group as compared with the control (WMD = -2.48, 95% CI -4.35 to -0.61, P = 0.009), but showed no significant difference from the latter group after 24-26 weeks (WMD = -4.38, 95% CI -9.66 to 0.89, P = 0.1). No statistically significant difference was found in the semen volume between the two groups after 12-16 or 24-26 weeks of medication (WMD = -0.13, 95% CI -0.43 to 0.18, P = 0.42 and WMD = 0.28, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.58, P = 0.07). No serious L-carnitine-related adverse events were reported in 4 of the randomniized controlled trials.

CONCLUSIONThe current evidence indicates that L-carnitine can improve spontaneous pregnancy and semen parameters in the treatment of idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia, with no serious adverse reactions.

Asthenozoospermia ; drug therapy ; Carnitine ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of integrative traditional Chinese and Western medicine in treating patients with pulmonary infection after renal transplantation.

METHODSThirty-four inpatients were randomly divided into the treated group (n=18) and the control group (n=16). They were treated with conventional therapy, including corticosteroid, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, symptomatic and supporting therapy, to the treated group, the modified qingwen baidu decoction (MQBD) was administered additionally.

RESULTSFifty of the 18 patients in the treated group were cured, 2 improved and 1 died, the cure rate being 83.3% and the total effective rate 94.4%; while 8 of the 16 patients in the control group were cured, 2 improved and 6 died, the cure rate being 50.0% and the total effective rate 62.5%, comparison between these two groups showed significant difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPromising effect could be obtained for treatment of patients with pulmonary infection after renal transplantation by adding MQBD, a Chinese herbal medicine for clearing heat and detoxication, cooling blood and removing fire, on the basis of conventional western medical treatment.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Anti-Infective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Kidney Transplantation ; adverse effects ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Pneumonia ; drug therapy ; etiology

BACKGROUNDThe treatment of high-grade developmental spondylolisthesis (HGDS) is still challenging and controversial. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of the posterior reduction and monosegmental fusion assisted by intraoperative three-dimensional (3D) navigation system in managing the HGDS.

METHODSThirteen consecutive HGDS patients were treated with posterior decompression, reduction and monosegmental fusion of L5/S1, assisted by intraoperative 3D navigation system. The clinical and radiographic outcomes were evaluated, with a minimum follow-up of 2 years. The differences between the pre- and post-operative measures were statistically analyzed using a two-tailed, paired t-test.

RESULTSAt most recent follow-up, 12 patients were pain-free. Only 1 patient had moderate pain. There were no permanent neurological complications or pseudarthrosis. The magnetic resonance imaging showed that there was no obvious disc degeneration in the adjacent segment. All radiographic parameters were improved. Mean slippage improved from 63.2% before surgery to 12.2% after surgery and 11.0% at latest follow-up. Lumbar lordosis changed from preoperative 34.9 ± 13.3° to postoperative 50.4 ± 9.9°, and 49.3 ± 7.8° at last follow-up. L5 incidence improved from 71.0 ± 11.3° to 54.0 ± 11.9° and did not change significantly at the last follow-up 53.1 ± 15.4°. While pelvic incidence remained unchanged, sacral slip significantly decreased from preoperative 32.7 ± 12.5° to postoperative 42.6 ± 9.8°and remained constant to the last follow-up 44.4 ± 6.9°. Pelvic tilt significantly decreased from 38.4 ± 12.5° to 30.9 ± 8.1° and remained unchanged at the last follow-up 28.1 ± 11.2°.

CONCLUSIONSPosterior reduction and monosegmental fusion of L5/S1 assisted by intraoperative 3D navigation are an effective technique for managing high-grade dysplastic spondylolisthesis. A complete reduction of local deformity and excellent correction of overall sagittal balance can be achieved.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Decompression, Surgical ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Radiography ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Spondylolisthesis ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDPolyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids may beneficially influence healing processes and patient outcomes. The aim of this research was to study the clinical efficacy of fish oil enriched total parenteral nutrition in elderly patients after colorectal cancer surgery.

METHODSFifty-seven elderly patients with colorectal cancer were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial. All patients received isocaloric and isonitrogenous total parenteral nutrition by continuous infusion (20 - 24 hours per day) for seven days after surgery. The control group (n = 28) received 1.2 g/kg soybean oil per day, whereas the treatment group (n = 29) received 0.2 g/kg fish oil and 1.0 g/kg soybean oil per day. Blood samples were taken pre-operatively, and at days one and eight after the operation. The plasma levels of CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8, interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were measured. Clinical outcomes were then analysed.

RESULTSPatient characteristics were comparable between the two groups. At day eight post-surgery, IL-6, TNF-α and CD8 titres were lower in the treatment group when compared to the control group; these results reached statistical significance. In the treatment group, there were fewer infectious complications and incidences of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and shorter lengths of hospital stay were observed. The total cost of medical care was comparable for the two groups. No serious adverse events occurred in either group.

CONCLUSIONSFish oil 0.2 g/kg per day administrated to elderly patients after colorectal surgery was safe and may shorten the length of hospital stay and improve clinical outcomes.

Aged ; CD4 Antigens ; blood ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; CD8 Antigens ; blood ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; blood ; surgery ; Colorectal Surgery ; Female ; Fish Oils ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parenteral Nutrition, Total ; methods ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of intense pulsed light (IPL) on transforming growth factor-beta1 mRNA (TGF-beta1 mRNA) expression in rat skin and explore the molecular mechanisms of photorejuvenation.

METHODSFifteen SD rats were exposed to IPL in 3 dermal regions with triple pulses (duration of 4, 5, and 6 ms) at the energy density of 34 J/cm2 and pulse delay of 20 or 25 ms. On days 1, 3, 5, 7, 15, and 30 after the treatment, skin specimens from the treated and non-treated areas were obtained to detect TGF-beta1 mRNA expression with in situ hybridization.

RESULTSIn the UPL-exposed skin areas, TGF-beta1 mRNA expression was detected in the epidermal keratinocytes and dermal cells 1 day after the exposure, reaching the highest expression level on day 7 followed by gradual decrement since day 15, and till day 30, only weak expression was found in the dermal cells. In the non-exposed regions, the cells remained negative for TGF-beta1 mRNA.

CONCLUSIONIPL can enhance TGF-beta1 mRNA expression in the skin, suggesting that TGF-beta1 plays an important role in dermal remodeling in photorejuvenation.

Animals ; Female ; Male ; Phototherapy ; adverse effects ; methods ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rejuvenation ; Skin ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; radiation effects