Objective To study the visfatin level changes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to study the correlation of visfatin level and atherosclerosis in RA.Methods Fifty cases of patients were divided to the plaque group (33 cases) and plaque-free group (17 cases) according to the carotid intima media thickness checked by carotid ultrasonography.In addition, their blood lipid level, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), rheumatoid factors (RFs), anti-CCP, visfatin etc.were measured.Fifty healthy people were set as the control group.The correlation between the visfatin level of RA patients and atherosclerosis was analyzed.The statistical analysis was carried out with independent t-test,analysis of variance, Spearman correlation analysis and multiple stepwise regression.Results The serum visfatin level of RA plaques group was obviously higher than that of the plaque-free group [(47±22) μg/L vs (34±19) μg/L, t=4.361, P＜0.01].The serum visfatin level of RA patients was positively correlated to HOMA-IR (r=0.567, P=0.001), RF (r=0.502, P=0.003), anti-cyclic peptide containing citrulline, (anti-CCP) (r=0.420, P=0.038) and carotid artery IMT (r=0.596, P=0.001).High-density lipoprotein-C (OR=1.009, P=0.020), HOMA-IR (OR=1.450, P=0.006), anti-CCP (OR=1.005, P=0.014) and visfatin (OR=0.971, P=0.008) were independent relevant factors affecting carotid artery IMT.Conclusion The serum visfatin level of RA patients is closely related to atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Guishen Pill (GSP) on expression levels of Oct-4, MVH, and Egr-1 in mice with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR).

METHODSTotally 40 female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 4 groups, the normal control group, the model group, the GSP group, and the dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) group, 10 in each group. Pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG), human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) were sequentially administrated to produce superovulation. The DOR model was established by exposing to ozone inhalation. Mice in the GSP group were intragastrically administered with GSP at 0.3 mL. Those in the DHEA group were intragastrically administered with DHEA at 0.3 mL. Equal volume of normal saline was intragastrically administered to mice in the normal control group and the model group. All mice wer treated for 21 days. Serum levels of estrogen (E2), progestogen (P), and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) were measured by ELISA. Changes of Oct-4, anti-AMH, and early growth response gene-1 (Egr-1) mRNA in ovaries were dtected by Real-time PCR.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, serum levels of E2, P, and AMH, as well as contents of estrogen receptor (ER), progestogen receptor (PR), MVH, and Oct-4 mRNA significantly increased in the GSP group and the DHEA group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGSP could improve expression levels of Oct-4, MVH, and Egr-1 mRNA in DOR mice and their ovarian function.

Animals ; Anti-Mullerian Hormone ; metabolism ; Dehydroepiandrosterone ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Early Growth Response Protein 1 ; metabolism ; Estrogens ; Female ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Octamer Transcription Factor-3 ; metabolism ; Ovarian Reserve ; Ovary ; Pregnancy ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism ; Superovulation

Background Exophthalmos caused by brain-related diseases will result in the serious outcome if treated improperly.It will be helpful for the diagnosis of the disease correctly when signs and symptoms are taken into consideration.Objective This study was to analyze the cause and clinical manifestations of exophthalmos due to brain-related diseases.Methods The elinical data from 38 patients with exophthalmos caused by brain-related diseases was collected and analyzed retrospectively.The sex,age,cause,exophthalmos range,symptom and sign of patients were considered. Results The gender of 38 patients was 21 males(55.26％)and 17 females(44.74％),aged from 16 to 71 years old with the average age 37.21.Four types of brain-related diseases were associated with the exophthalmos of eyeballs,including benign tumor 65.79％(25/38)containing the meningioma 60.53％(23/38),chordoma 5.26％(2/38)；malignant tumor 5.26％(2/38)containing the malignant meningioma 2.63％(1/38),choroid tong one cases of papillary carcinoma 2.63％(1/38)；carotid-cavernous fistula 26.32％(10/38)；meningoencephalocele 2.63％(1/38).Exophthaimos ranged from 18 to 35 mm in the patients with the average value of 22.17 mm.In all of the 38 patients,the right eyes were 36.84％(14/38),and left eyes were 55.26％(14/38)and bilateral eyes 7.89％(3/38).Accompanying signs and symptoms of meningioma included long-term headache (65.22％),nausea and vomiting(21.74％).declined vision(17.39％),elevated intraocular pressure,visual field shrink and loss,etc..Accompanying signs and symptoms of carotid cavernous fistula were loss of vision,pulsatile exophthalmos,noise over the orbit,ocular limitation of movement,eyelid edema(80％),bulbar conjunctival congestion,episodes of eyelid,diplopia(80％),headache(60％). Conclusion Some brain diseases are often accompanied by exophthalmos.Exophthaimos can provide useful clues to the diagnosis of brain diseases.

Objective To develop an intelligent system which is able to offer an optimized emergency treatment recommendation for fast triage automatically.Methods An algorithm and intelligent platform for grading injury were developed based on physiological signal collecting technology, intelligent grading algorithm and integration technology.A comparison between this system and traditional methods was made.Results This intelligent system was able to increase accuracy by 21%and took only 48%of the time taken by traditional methods.There was significant difference between the two groups(P=0.038<0.05).Conclusion The accuracy of the triage is improved by this intelligent system that is less time-consuming.With this device, the injury statement can be identified quickly and the targeted medical treatment can be performed accurately.The efficiency of emergency treatment in case of disaster will thus be dramatically increased.

Objective Hypoalbuminemia is a typical symptom of nephrotic syndrome ( NS) , which may result from the loss of much protein with urine.Hyperbilirubinemia is also a common symptom in patients with NS.This study is intended to reveal the relationship between hypoalbuminemia and hyperbilirubinemia in patients with NS by investigating urine bilirubin, albumin( ALB ) and 24-hour urine protein in the NS group, chronic glomerulonephritis ( CGN ) group and postoperative gastroparesis syndrome ( PGS) group ( ALB<35 g/L) .Methods Totally 187 patients with NS, 70 patients with CGN and 64 patients with PGS ( ALB <35 g/L ) were recruited before ALB, urinary protein ( UPR ) , urinary microalbuminuria/creatinine(Umalb/cr) and total bilirubin(TBIL) were detected.SPSS 17.0 Software was used to analyze the difference between the three groups and to reveal the correlations between TBIL and UPR, ALB.Results TBIL, ALB, UPR and Umalb/Cr levels were significantly different between NS, CGN and PGS groups ( one-way ANOVA test, P <0.05), and TBIL was positively correlated with ALB but negatively correlated UPR and Umalb/Cr in both NS and CGN groups (Spearman′s rho test,P<0.05);but no correlation was found between these items in PGS group (Spearman′s rho test,P>0.05) .Conclusion Serum bilirubin of patients with NS is at a low level and shows significant correlations with serum albumin and urinary protein levels.No similar association is found with the other two groups.The results in this study show that the causes of low serum bilirubin in patients with NS may related to the large amount of protein lost in urine.

Objective To investigate the clinical features of recurrent epileptic seizures and perioperative management principles and methods of neurosurgical patients with recurrent epileptic seizures.Methods The clinical data,reasons for aggravated seizures,seizure characteristics,and treatment methods and results of 9 patients with recurrent epileptic seizures were analyzed retrospectively.Results Of all the 9 patients,3 were combined with glioma,1 with arachnoid cyst,1 with cavernous hemangioma and 1 with encephalomalacia; epilepsy history was noted in 7 patients; frontal lobe epilepsy was noted in 7,and temporal lobe epilepsy in 2.The reasons for seizure aggravation included drug-decrement(n=3),recent-diagnosed brain tumor(n=2)and surgical operation during intracranial electrode implantation(n=1); and unknown reason was noted in the other 3.Epileptic seizure types included partial seizure and secondary generalized seizure; the frequency of seizure ranged from 3 minutes of interval to several hours of interval.Patients given multiple antiepileptic drugs,including oral and parenteral administration,received good seizure-control; and levetiracetam showed good curative effect during the treatment.Conclusion Recurrent seizures show drug refractory,and is hard to control.The AEDs having good curative effect in partial seizure should be combined used in these patients with higher dosage than conventional initial dose; intravenous and intramuscular administration can be used; the seizures should be controlled as soon as posible.Levetiracetam has good curative effect on patients with recurrent seizures for its fast oral-absorption,rapid onset of action and good antiepileptic effect.

OBJECTIVETo study pharmacokinetic effect of Aikeqing Granule (AG) by different medication ways on zidovudine (AZT) in highly active antiretroviral therapy ( HAART) of rats.

METHODSTotally 36 rats were administered with corresponding medications by gastrogavage, group I [HAART: AZT 31.5 mg/kg +3TC 31.5 mg/kg + Efavirenz (EFV) 63.0 mg/kg], group II (HAART+AG525 mg/kg), group III (HAART and AG 525 mg/kg after a 2-h interval). Drug concentrations of AZT were determined by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (HPLC-MS) before HAART, and at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 h after HAART, respectively. Pharmacokinetic parameters [such as t1/2, Tmax, Cmax, AUCo-t, plasma clearance rate (CL)] were calculated by DAS2.0 Software.

RESULTSThe-equation of linear regression of AZT was good, with the precision, coefficient of recovery, and stability definitely confirmed. AUC in group II and III was larger than that of group I. There was no statistical difference in t1/2, Tmax, Cmax, AUC0-12 h, or AUC0-∞ among groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAG combined HAART could enhance the Cmax of AZT.

Animals ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; Benzoxazines ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Mass Spectrometry ; Rats ; Zidovudine ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology

Ethnicity ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of hemiplegic muscle spasticity treated with acupuncture on different acupoints in combination with rehabilitation.

METHODSNinety cases of post-stroke muscle spasticity were randomized into a corresponding and central axis acupuncture group (group A), a conventional acupuncture group (group B) and a rehabilitation group (group C), 30 cases in each one. In group A, the acupoints on the Governor Vessel were mainly selected, as well as those on Hand-Shaoyang meridian and Foot-Taiyang meridian. In group B, the conventional needling and rehabilitation training were applied in combination, of which, the acupoints were mainly from Hand and Foot-Yangming meridians, associated with the acupoints of Shaoyang meridian. In group C, only rehabilitation training was applied. The assessments according to modified Ashworth scale and CSS score were performed before treatment, after 2 weeks and 4 weeks treatment respectively.

RESULTSThe level of modified Ashworth scale of the flexor of elbow and wrist was reduced apparently after treatment in group A as compared with that before treatment (P < 0.01). The level of modified Ashworth scale of the flexor of elbow was reduced apparently after treatment in group C as compared with that before treatment (P < 0.05). There was significant difference on the level change in modified Ashworth scale for the flexor of elbow between group A and group C after 4 weeks treatment (P < 0.05). CSS score decreased significantly in group A as compared with that before treatment (P < 0.01), the improvement after treatment in group A was apparent as compared with the other two groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe corresponding and central axis acupuncture can improve muscle tone of hemiplegic limb, which is superior to the effect achieved by the conventional acupuncture in combination with rehabilitation training and the simple rehabilitation training.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Hemiplegia ; rehabilitation ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Spasticity ; rehabilitation ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between chromosome anomaly and spontaneous abortion, and to provide useful information for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis in reproductive clinic. METHODS: A total of 1 780 patients who had a history of spontaneous abortion before 24 weeks of gestation were enrolled. The lymphocyte culture and harvest were performed according to standard methods. Karyotypes were analyzed by G-banding in all cases and C- banding in some cases in addition. RESULTS: Altogether 57 abnormal karyotypes were found and the overall incidence of chromosomal abnormalities was 3.20% (women 3.32%; men 2.12%). Among them 23 cases were the balanced translocation; 14 cases were the Robertsonian translocation, 3 cases were the complex chromosomal rearrangement, and the other 17 cases were the other abnormalities. In women with 1, 2, 3 or more spontaneous abortion, the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities was 1.7%, 2.3%, and 5.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION Translocations are the major abnormal karyotpes associated with spontaneous abortions. The chance of finding chromosomal aberration increases with the number of abortions. Chromosomal abnormalities are more common in women with 3 or more spontaneous abortions.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; genetics ; pathology ; Adult ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Translocation, Genetic