OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impacts on the short-term efficacy and the long-term prevention of recurrence of allergic rhinitis treated with the triple-strong stimulation at Dazhui (GV 14) so as to provide the convenient and long-term effective therapy of acupuncture and moxibustion for allergic rhinitis.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty cases of allergic rhinitis were randomized into an acupuncture group, an acupuncture + medication group and a triple-strong stimulation group, 40 cases in each one. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied at Dazhui (GV 14), Fengchi (GB 20), Baihui (GV 20), Yintang (GV 29) and the others, stimulating with reinforcing manipulation for the deficiency and reducing manipulation for the excess, once every day. In the acupuncture + medication group, on the basis of acupuncture therapy, claritin (loratadine tablets) was supplemented for oral administration, 10 mg, once every two days, continuously for 30 days. In the triple-strong stimulation group, on the basis of acupuncture therapy, the strong needling, strong cupping and strong moxibustion were applied at Dazhui (GV 14). This combined therapy was given once every day in the first 3 days and once every two days afterwards. The 10 day treatment made one session, at the interval of 3 days between the sessions and totally 3 sessions were required in the three groups. Separately, before treatment, after treatment and in 6 months after treatment, the changes of symptom and physical sign score and value of single item symptom including nasal itching, nasal blockage, sneezing and rhinorrhea were observed in the patients of the three groups. And the long-term clinical efficacy was compared among the three groups.

RESULTSThe symptom and physical sign score and the value of single item symptom were all reduced in the three groups after treatment and in 6 months after treatment (P < 0.001, P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The results in the triple-strong stimulation group were superior to the other two groups (all P < 0.05). In the triple-strong stimulation group, the total effective rate was 92.5% (36/40) in the follow-up of 6 months after treatment, which was better than 60.5% (23/38) in the acupuncture group and 69.2% (27/39) in the acupuncture + medication group (both P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapy of acupuncture and the triple-strong stimulation at Dazhui (GV 14) achieves the reliable and effective result in the clinical treatment of allergic rhinitis and displays the good role on the prevention from long-term recurrence.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the therapeutic effect of combined multifunctional external fixator for treatment of tibiofibular fracture.

METHODSFrom Oct 1999 to Apr 2006, 37 patients of tibiofibular fractures were treated with combined multifunctional external fixator. There were 28 males and 9 females with an average of 47.8 years (range,from 22 to 76 years). There were 7 cases with transverse fracture, 18 comminuted fracture, 8 spiral fracture and 4 oblique fracture;closed fracture was in 29 cases and open fracture was in 8.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up 6 to 13 months (mean,9 months)and achieved union of the fractures.

CONCLUSIONCombined multifunctional external fixator for tibiofibular fracture has many advantages such as minimal invasion, convenient operation, reliable fixation and high union ratio of fracture. Moreover,the treatment has no influence on motion of knee and ankle joint, even patient can walk with external fixator without long-term bed rest.

Adult ; Aged ; External Fixators ; Female ; Fibula ; injuries ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tibial Fractures ; surgery

The change in plasma ghrelin level after 4-and 12-week adjunctive therapy of rosiglitazones in type 2 diabetic patients inadequately controlled by sulphonylurea alone was observed and the relation between ghrelin and insulin resistance was analysed.The results showed that rosiglitazones significantly increased circulating ghrelin level and obviously decreased insulin resistance index after therapy for 4 and 12 weeks in type 2 diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the urinary nuclear matrix protein (NMP22) as an adjuvant diagnostic index for transitional cell carcinoma of urinary tract and monitoring the state of disease.

METHODSUrinary samples were collected from 262 patients with transitional cell carcinoma, 198 non-transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary tract and 65 patients with benign diseases. Urinary NMP22 concentration was determined through enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSThe urinary NMP22 concentration had significant difference among the three groups (Kruskal Wallis, chi(2) = 197.17 P < 0.001). The detection sensitivity and specificity of urinary NMP22 to transitional cell carcinoma were 71.37% and 87.69% respectively. The NMP22 concentration showed significant difference among three groups divided according to the pathological grade (Kruskal-Wallis test, chi(2) = 34.06 P < 0.01). The NMP22 concentration was significant lower in the recovery patients after the operation than the peoples of pre-operation and recurrence (Kruskal-Wallis test, chi(2) = 37.53, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONMP22 is a helpful tumor marker for the diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma and monitoring the state of illness with increased efficacy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; urine ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; diagnosis ; urine ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nuclear Proteins ; urine ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; urine

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protect effects of Qingkailing injection on mitochondrion membrane potential (MMP) during injury induced by hypoxia-hypoglycemia and reoxygenation in cultured rat hippocampal neurons.

METHODMitochondrion activity was measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) test. MMP and apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry. intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was measured with confocal laser scanning microscopy.

RESULTHypoxia-hypoglycemia cultures for 5 hour and reoxygenation for 3 hour induced intracellular[Ca2+]i and apoptosis rate significantly increased. The effects were increased with the extending time of reoxygenation. MMP and mitochondrion activity declined significantly after 3 hour reoxygenation. The effects were declined with the extending time of reoxygenation. Qingkailing injection might have significantly decrease intracellular [Ca2+]i and apoptosis rate, increase MMP and mitochondrion activity.

CONCLUSIONQingkailing Injection might have significantly inhibit the decline in MMP induced by hypoxia-hypoglycemia and reoxygenation, and had effects of stable it and anti-neuronal apoptosis. The effects might be related to inhibit overload of intracellular free calcium.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; pathology ; Hypoglycemia ; pathology ; Injections ; Membrane Potentials ; drug effects ; Mitochondria ; physiology ; Neurons ; pathology ; Neuroprotective Agents ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; metabolism ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor ; Up-Regulation ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the role of Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 1 (ROCK1) and the relative signal molecules in sensing the mechanical stimulation from tensile strain and regulating the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).Methods Physiological cyclic strain with magnitude of 10％ and at frequency of 1.25 Hz was applied to VSMCs in vitro by using the strain loading system.The proliferation level of VSMCs was analyzed by BrdU ELISA;the expression level of ROCK1,phosphorylations of protein kinase C (PKC) α/β Ⅱ,protein kinase D (PKD) and extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK) in VSMCs modulated by cyclic strain were detected with Western blotting;the expression of ROCK1 was specifically repressed by using RNA interference (RNAi).Results Compared with the static control,10％ cyclic strain significantly decreased the expression of ROCK1 and phosphorylations of PKD and ERK.The phosphorylation of PKCα/βⅡ decreased significantly under 10％ cyclic strain for 12 h,but returned to normal level after loading for 24 h.Repressed expression of ROCK1 with RNAi significantly down-regulated VSMC proliferation,suppressed phosphorylations of PKCα/βⅡ and PKD,but no obvious changes were found in phosphorylation of ERK.Conclusions Physiological cyclic strain with magnitude of 10％ may repress the phosphorylation of PKCα/βⅡ and PKD via inhibiting the expression of ROCK1,and subsequently affects VSMC proliferation and maintains vascular hemostasis.The investigation on intracellular mechanotransduction network of VSMCs under mechanical stimulation of cyclic strain may contribute to studying the physiological and pathological mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases.

OBJECTIVETo report the experience of the surgical treatment of congenital heart diseases (CHD) in pediatric patients with body weight less than 10 kg.

METHODSBetween January 2000 and December 2007, 105 children with CHD, aged 2 months to 3 years and weighing between 3.5 to 10 kg, underwent surgical treatment. Of the 105 patients, 56 were concomitant with moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension or repeated pulmonary infections, and 35 with complex cardiac abnormalities. Operations were performed through median sternotomy with moderate hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass in 88 cases, with normothermic extracorporeal circulation on beating heart in 14 cases, and with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in 3 cases.

RESULTSThere were 5 early deaths (4.8%). During a follow-up of 2 month to 3 year, 97 survivors with corrective procedure had no late mortality or complications with NYHA class I of cardiac function, excepting 2 cases with little residual shunt. Three survivors with palliative procedure enjoyed higher quality of life.

CONCLUSIONSThe surgical treatment of CHD in pediatric patients with body weight less than 10 kg seems to be feasible and safe, with satisfactory early and long-term results.

Body Weight ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; methods ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; mortality ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

Objective To investigate the effects of bolus thickness and use frequency on skin dose in postmastectomy intensity-modulated radiotherapy. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 20 cases receiving postmastectomy fixed-field intensity-modulated radiotherapy, to analyze the homogeneity index (HI) and conformity index (CI) of the target volume and the skin dose (D_max, D_mean, and D_min) of radiotherapy plans with 0.5 cm-thick bolus or 1 cm-thick bolus alone at a use frequency of 5 F, 10 F, 15 F, 20 F, and 25 F versus a combination of 0.5 cm and 1 cm-thick bolus, and fit the relationship between skin dose and bolus use frequency. Results As the bolus use frequency increased, the skin dose increased, the hot spot of the target volume decreased, and the low-dose volume decreased. The HI of the target volume with the 1 cm bolus was better than that with the 0.5 cm bolus at all use frequencies (P < 0.05), and HI decreased with the increase of bolus use frequency. For both 0.5 cm and 1 cm bolus, the CI of the target volume increased initially and then decreased, reaching the maximum value at a frequency of around 15 F; the CI showed significant differences only at 20 F and 25 F between the two types of bolus (P < 0.05). The skin D_max and D_mean were significant higher with the 0.5 cm bolus than with the 1 cm bolus (P < 0.05). The equation for the relationship between skin dose (D) and bolus use frequency (F) was D = A × F + B × F² + C. The D_max and HI with the combination of 0.5 cm bolus (6 F) plus 1 cm bolus (8 F) fell between those with the 0.5 cm bolus (15 F) and those with the 1 cm bolus (15 F) (P < 0.05). Conclusion In postmastectomy fixed-field intensity-modulated radiotherapy, skin dose can be calculated based on bolus use frequency. Mixed use of bolus may be more suitable than use of 0.5 cm bolus or 1 cm bolus alone.

OBJECTIVETo describe the clinical and epidemiological features of dead cases with human Streptococcus suis infections, and to find the target population for preventing death and the related indicators.

METHODSEpidemiological investigation on human Streptococcus suis infections was implemented used unified questionnaires. Analysis on dead cases and survival cases (as contrast) was done.

RESULTSThe population with highest fatality rate was in 40-49 age group. 97.37% of dead cases had toxic shock syndrome. The mean interval from onset to admission was 0.76 days, and the mean course was 2.11 days. The progression among dead cases was faster than that among survival cases. Chief clinical manifestations of dead cases that are more frequent than survival cases are purpura (73.68%), diarrhea (50.0%), dyspnea (21.05%), conjunctival congestion (34.21%), etc. Renal impairment and liver involvement in dead cases were more significant than that in survival cases. No significant difference between mean incubation period, exposure rates of main risk factors in dead cases and in survival cases was found.

CONCLUSIONPreventing toxic shock syndrome might reduce the fatality rate. The target population for preventing death is aged > or = 40. Liver function and renal function testing might be indicators for monitoring the progression of human Streptococcus suis infections.

Adult ; Aged ; China ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Streptococcal Infections ; blood ; microbiology ; mortality ; pathology ; Streptococcus suis ; physiology ; Young Adult