OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Aconite cake-separated moxibustion on primary knee osteoarthritis of liver and kidney deficiency type.

METHODSFifty-six cases of such disease (80 knees) were randomly divided into a cake-separated moxibustion group (41 knees) with Neixiyan (EX-LE 5), Dubi (ST 35), Yinlingquan (SP 9) etc. selected, and a western medicine group (39 knees) were treated with oral administration of Sodium Diclofenate Slow-released Tablet.

RESULTSThe cumulative score for symptoms and signs was (37.41 +/- 6.61) points before treatment and (9.37 +/- 8.15) points after treatment in the cake-separated moxibustion group and (37.64 - 6.00) points before treatment and (12.05 +/- 8.83) points after treatment in the western medicine group, with a very significant difference before and after treatment in the two groups (P < 0.01); two months after treatment, it was (11.71 +/- 8.69) points in the cake-separated moxibustion group and (15.95 +/- 9.96) points in the western medicine group, the former being better than the latter (P < 0.05). After the end of treatment, there was no significant difference in the comprehensive therapeutic effect between the two groups (P > 0.05), the cured and markedly effective rate was 63.4% in the cake-separated moxibustion group and 48.7% in the western medicine group, but two months after treatment, the cured and markedly effective rate of 56.1% in the cake-separated moxibustion group was better than 33.3% in the western medicine group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAconite cake-separated moxibustion has an ideal therapeutic effect on primary knee osteoarthritis of liver and kidney deficiency type, and the therapeutic effect at anaphase is better than that of Sodium Diclofenate Slow-released Tablet.

Aconitum ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; methods ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate and research the appraisal scores of the symptoms and physical signs index for the evaluation of the clinical efficacy of acupuncture and manipulative regulation of knee muscle balance for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, and provide clinical basis for the treatment.

METHODSFrom January 2008 to December 2009, 121 patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomly divided into two groups. In the treatment group there were 63 cases of 83 knees including 16 males and 47 females, with an average age of (59.88 +/- 7.97) years; in the control group there were 58 cases of 73 knees including 13 males and 45 females, with an average age of (57.95 +/- 10.37) years. The patients in the treatment group were treated with acupuncture plus manipulative regulation of knee muscle balance, and the patients in the control group were treated with Diclofenac Sodium Sustained Release Tablets. The appraisal scores of the symptoms and physical signs index, numerical rating scale of pain, joint function, joint swelling were evaluated before and after the treatment, as well as 3 months after the treatment. All data were statistical analyzed by package SPSS 10.0.

RESULTS1) In the treatment group, before and after treatment the appraisal scores of the symptoms and physical signs index were (39.81 +/- 3.92) and (9.69 +/- 8.08); numerical rating scale of pain were (7.61 +/- 0.97) and (2.17 +/- 2.09); joint function were (1.47 +/- 0.50) and (0.61 +/- 0.58); joint swelling were (1.23 +/- 0.79) and (0.42 +/- 0.52). As well in the control group, above data were (39.89 +/- 3.78), (13.62 +/- 7.83), (7.55 +/- 0.71), (3.34 +/- 2.32), (1.33 +/- 0.47), (0.93 +/- 0.67), an (0.97 +/- 0.88), (0.58 +/- 0.52) respectively. Both group had obvious differences in the appraisal scores of the symptoms and physical signs index, numerical rating scale of pain, joint function, joint swelling between after and before treatment. The comparison between the two groups suggested that after the treatments the treatment group had better therapy effect than those of the control group in the appraisal scores of the symptoms and physical signs index, numerical rating scale of pain, joint function, but both group had no differences in the appraisal scores of joint swelling. 2) After the treatment, 12 patients in the treatment group were clinically cured, 48 had remarkable effects,19 good, and 4 ineffective. As well in the control group, above data were 5, 31, 34 and 3 respectively. Three months after the treatment, above data were 8, 42, 27 and 6 respectively in the treatment group. In the control group, above data were 5, 21, 37 and 10 respectively. The treatment group was superior to the control group after the treatments and 3 months after the treatment.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture plus manipulative regulation of knee muscle balance can effectively improve the clinical symptoms and knee joint's motor function of patients with knee osteoarthritis, and can avoid the further development of disease. It is a proved effective method for knee osteoarthritis.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Manipulation, Orthopedic ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; physiopathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo explore the "hemi-clamshell" approach to the resection of the apical chest tumors, and to evaluate its advantages of operative safety and completeness.

METHODSWe conducted a retrospective review of the records of 27 patients undergoing resection of the primary apical chest tumors from January 1995 to January 2001. Tumor type included NSCLC, sarcoma, neurofibromatosis, esophageal carcinoma. Data collected included clinical presentation, tumor type and involvement, type of resection, complication, and survival.

RESULTSA clinical operation for gross-total resection of tumors and invaded structures was performed on six patients by means of a successful anterior approach. Among other 21 patients on whom a clinical operation was performed by posterior approach, only 13 patients obtained gross-total resection. There were significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). The mean duration for follow-up was 29 months, and the overall median survival was 21 months. Median survival in patients undergoing gross-total resection was 29 months, and this is significantly better than in incomplete resection group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe anterior "hemi-clamshell" approach is a successful technique for the exposure and resection of these tumors and invaded structures. Release of symptoms and long-term survival is acceptable if complete resection can be performed.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms ; surgery ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Thorax ; pathology ; Treatment Outcome

The aim of current study was to detect intron 22 inversion of factor VIII gene in severe hemophilia A (HA) patients and screen the carriers of the gene inversion. Fifty-five cases of severe HA were involved and factor VIII gene inversion was detected and identified by long distance-PCR (LD-PCR) and 0.6% agarose gel electrophoresis. The 11 kb and 12 kb bands indicate the factor VIII gene inversion and non-inversion, respectively. Occurring of both 11 kb and 12 kb bands indicates a carrier of the inversion. The results showed that factor VIII gene inversion existed in 22 out of 55 cases, which accounted for about 40% of total detected patients. Five carriers of factor VIII gene inversion were diagnosed from the members in 15 families. In conclusion, LD-PCR assay is a simple, rapid and accurate method for detection of factor VIII gene inversion, and this approach is helpful in screening, carrier testing, and prenatal diagnosis of severe hemophilia A.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Antigens ; analysis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chromosome Inversion ; Factor VIII ; genetics ; Hemophilia A ; blood ; genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; von Willebrand Factor ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CAPN10 gene in Chinese population and their relation with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Han people of Northern China.

METHODSCAPN10 gene was sequenced to detect SNPs in different nationalities of China. Five SNPs were chosen to perform case-control study and haplotype analysis in 156 normal Han people of Northern China and 173 type 2 diabetes. One SNP was also analyzed with transmission-disequilibrium test (TDT) and sib transmission-disequilibrium test (STDT) in 68 type 2 diabetes pedigrees (377 people).

RESULTSA total of 40 SNPs were identified in length of 8,936 bp, with an average of 1 in every 223 bp. The SNPs in CAPN10 gene did not distribute evenly and the SNPs in Chinese were different from those reported in Mexican American. There was no significantly statistical difference in the allele frequency of the 5 SNPs between case and control, and the haplotype frequencies in the two groups were not significantly different. No positive results was found in TDT and STDT analysis.

CONCLUSIONSThe SNP distribution of CAPN10 gene differs in different nationalities. The studied SNPs in CAPN10 gene may not be the major susceptibility ones of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Han people of Northern China.

Calpain ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; ethnology ; genetics ; Ethnic Groups ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution of the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CAPN10 gene in Chinese population and their relation with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Han people of Northern China.

METHODSCAPN10 gene was sequenced to detect SNPs in 27 samples of different nationalities in China. 5 SNPs were genotyped with single-base extension (SBE) method to perform case-control study in 156 normal Han people of Northern China and 173 type 2 diabetes and the 3 positive loci reported in the article were performed haplotype analysis. One positive locus was also analyzed with transmission-disequilibrium test (TDT) and sib transmission-disequilibrium test (STDT) in 68 type 2 diabetes pedigrees (377 cases).

RESULTSA total of 40 SNPs were identified in length of 8,936 bp, with an average of 1 in every 223 bp; The SNPs in CAPN10 gene did not distribute evenly and the SNPs in Chinese was different from that reported in American Mexicans. There was no significantly statistical difference in the allele frequency of the 5 SNPs between case and control (P > 0.05), and the haplotype frequencies in the two groups were not much different (P > 0.05). There was no positive results in TDT and STDT analysis (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe SNP distribution of CAPN10 gene varies with different nationalities. The studied SNPs in CAPN10 gene may not be the major susceptibility ones of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Han people of Northern China.

Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Case-Control Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; genetics ; Ethnic Groups ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genetic Testing ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of FLAMIGEL (hydrogel dressing) on the repair of residual burn wound.

METHODSSixty burn patients with residual wounds hospitalized in 6 burn units from November 2011 to May 2012 were enrolled in the multi-center, randomized, and self-control clinical trial. Two residual wounds of each patient were divided into groups T (treated with FLAMIGEL) and C (treated with iodophor gauze) according to the random number table. On post treatment day (PTD) 7 and 14, wound healing rate was calculated, with the number of completely healed wound counted. The degree of pain patient felt during dressing change was evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS). The mean numbers of wounds with score equal to zero, more than zero and less than or equal to 3, more than 3 and less than or equal to 6, more than 6 and less than or equal to 10 were recorded respectively. Wound secretion or exudate samples were collected for bacterial culture, and the side effect was observed. Data were processed with repeated measure analysis of variance, t test, chi-square test, and nonparametric rank sum test.

RESULTSWound healing rate of groups T, C on PTD 7 was respectively (67 ± 24)%, (45 ± 25)%, and it was respectively (92 ± 16)%, (72 ± 23)% on PTD 14. There was statistically significant difference in wound healing rate on PTD 7, 14 between group T and group C (F = 32.388, P < 0.01). Ten wounds in group T and four wounds in group C were healed completely on PTD 7, with no significant difference between them (χ(2) = 0, P > 0.05). Forty-two wounds in group T and seven wounds in group C healed completely on PTD 14, with statistically significant difference between them (χ(2) = 42.254, P < 0.01). Patients in group T felt mild pain during dressing change for 37 wounds, with VAS score higher than zero and lower than or equal to 3. Evident pain was observed in patients of group C during dressing change for 43 wounds, and it scored higher than 3 and less than or equal to 6 by VAS evaluation. There was statistically significant difference in mean number of wounds with different grade of VAS score between group T and group C (Z = -4.638, P < 0.01). Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, E. coli, Baumanii, and Staphylococcus epidermidis were all detected in both groups, but there was no statistical difference between group T and group C (χ(2) = 0.051, P > 0.05). No side effect was observed in either of the two groups during the whole trial.

CONCLUSIONSFLAMIGEL can accelerate the healing of residual burn wounds and obviously relieve painful sensation during dressing change.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bandages ; Burns ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrogels ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult