Data mining technology has become a powerful tool in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) research. In this paper, based on the principle and basic requirements of data mining, the mining methods and procedures were described. And then the application of data mining technology in Chinese medicine pair research was classified and summarized, such as the compatibility characters, characteristic pairs, dosage-effect relationship and property compatibility, which provide the direction and data base for modern research of Chinese medicine pair.
Cluster Analysis ; Data Mining ; methods ; Drug Interactions ; Drug Prescriptions ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods

OBJECTIVE: To explore the forensic pathological features of death caused by anaphylactic shock. METHODS: One hundred and forty-two death cases of anaphylactic shock were retrospectively analyzed. The IgE level in the serum of anaphylactic shock cases were statistically compared with that of 62 non-anaphylactic shock cases. RESULTS: Most cases (77.46%) of anaphylactic shock death occurred in the medical institutes, with intravenous drug administration accounting for 53.53% of anaphylactic shock death. β-Lactam antibiotics, glucocorticoid and herbal medications were responsible for a significant proportion of such cases. Although characteristic histopathological changes were absent in vast majority of these anaphylactic shock cases, the differences of IgE levels in the serum between anaphylactic shock group and non-anaphylactic shock group were statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Combined information including clinical data, autopsy results, IgE level, and other specific test results should be evaluated together in the forensic pathological diagnosis of anaphylactic shock.
Anaphylaxis ; Autopsy ; Cause of Death ; Forensic Pathology ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Retrospective Studies ; Serum

OBJECTIVETo further study the characteristics of drugs with neutral property in two-way application and conditioned dominance by observing the action characteristic of 10 traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property in hemorheological indicators of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome and cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats.

METHODThe model of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats was established by injecting carrageenan and dry yeast, while the model of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats was established by body freezing. Subsequently, 10 traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property, 5 traditional Chinese medicines with heat property and 5 traditional Chinese medicines with cold property were selected for intervention to observe the changes in such indicators as whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity and hematocrit and analyze the action characteristics of drugs with neutral property.

RESULTANOVA showed that among six of the 10 traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property, including Typhae Pollen, Sarcandrae Herba and Sappan lignum, could obviously increase the hemorheological indicators of both heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome and cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats; five traditional Chinese medicines with cold property, such as Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Leonuri Herba, Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, could significantly ameliorate the hemorheological indicators of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), and Salvia Miltiorrhiza Radix et Rhizoma alone could ameliorate the hemorheological indicators of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats (P < 0.05); all of the five traditional Chinese medicines with heat property could significantly ameliorate the hemorheological indicators of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats (P < 0.01), among which Carthami Flos and Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma could significantly ameliorate the hemorheological indicators of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats. According to the average high-shear blood viscosity analysis, drugs with neutral property showed similar action characteristics to those with cold property in ameliorating hemorheology indicators of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rat and better effect than those with heat property in reducing whole blood viscosity; and traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property have the similar action characteristics to those with heat property in improving the hemorheology indicators of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rat and better effect than those with heat property in reducing whole blood viscosity.

CONCLUSIONUnder the condition of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property show the similar action characteristics to those with cold property; but under the condition of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property show the similar action characteristics to those with heat property. This indicates that traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property show both heat and cold properties under he conditions of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome and cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome.

Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Blood Circulation ; drug effects ; physiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hemorheology ; drug effects ; Homeostasis ; drug effects ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thrombosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo discuss the origin of occupational stress among petrochemical industry workers and to access the main occupational stressors that impact job satisfaction and mental health of petrochemical industry workers.

METHODSA survey on occupational stressor was carried out by Occupational Stress Indicator (OSI) in 532 petrochemical industry workers (345 chemical and 187 logistic workers).

RESULTSThe environment in workplace of chemical group was worse than that of contrast. The chemical workers had less control over job and they experienced more hazards, monotonous as well as role stressors than the logistic group. The scores of job satisfaction and mental health of chemical group (36.867 +/- 0.656, 43.734 +/- 0.542, respectively) were higher than that of contrast (40.321 +/- 0.901, 46.714 +/- 0.745, respectively) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe occupational stressors exist in chemical workers which affect chemical workers' job satisfaction and mental health with different levels.

Adult ; Analysis of Variance ; Burnout, Professional ; Chemical Industry ; Female ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Petroleum ; Regression Analysis ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the action characteristics of "two-way application and conditioned dominance" of traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property by observing the action characteristic of 10 traditional Chinese medicines capable of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis with neutral property in the microcirculation in rats with heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome.

METHODThe rat model with heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome was established by injecting carrageenan and dry yeast, and the rat model with cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome was built by the body freezing method. Ten traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property, including 5 with hot property and 5 with cold property, were selected for intervention to observe blood flow rate and flow state indicators in rat auricles and make a comparative analysis on action characteristics of traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property.

RESULTANOVA showed that among the 10 traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property, 6 such as Typhae Pollen, Sappan Lignum and Vaccariae Semen can obviously increase the blood flow rate (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) in the above two models; all of the 5 traditional Chinese medicines with cold property can increase the blood flow rate (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) in the rat model with heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, but only Salvia miltiorrhiza can increase the blood flow rate (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) in the rat models with cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, while other medicines showed no notable effect; among the 5 traditional Chinese medicines with hot property, Carthamus tinctorius and Ligusticum chuanxiong can increase the blood flow rate (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) in the rat models with cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, but had no obvious effect to the blood flow rate in the rat models with heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome. According to the analysis on average blood flow rate, traditional Chinese medicines with natural and cold properties showed similar effect on heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome and better effect in increasing blood flow rate than those with hot property; those with natural and hot properties showed similar effect and better effect in increasing blood flow rate than those with cold property.

CONCLUSIONUnder the condition of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property have the similar action characteristics with those with cold property; wile under the condition of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property have the similar action characteristics with the Chinese medicinal herbs with hot property. This indicates the action characteristics of "two-way application and conditioned dominance" of traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property to some extent.

Animals ; Blood Circulation ; drug effects ; Blood Coagulation ; drug effects ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Microcirculation ; drug effects ; Rats ; Syndrome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effect of a 10-day sequential therapy which was made up of omeprazole, clarithromycin, amoxicillin-clavulanate and metronidazole for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection in children.

METHODA total of 214 children with abdominal pain, who were confirmed to have Hp infection through endoscopy, biopsy, and Hp culture. The 214 cases were randomly divided into four groups. A 10-day sequential therapy group accepted omeprazole 0.8 - 1.0 mg/(kg·d) plus amoxicillin-clavulanate 50 mg/(kg·d) for five days and omeprazole 0.8 - 1.0 mg/(kg·d), clarithromycin 20 mg/(kg·d) and metronidazole 20 mg/(kg·d) for the remaining five days. The 7-day triple therapy group, 10-day triple therapy group and 14-day triple therapy group received omeprazole 0.8 - 1.0 mg/(kg·d), amoxicillin-clavulanate 50 mg/(kg·d) and clarithromycin 20 mg/(kg·d) for 7 days,10 days,14 days, respectively. All drugs were given twice daily. All these patients received (13)C urea breath test ((13)C-UBT) four weeks after the treatment.

RESULTFinally, 199 patients were followed up, and the total rate of loss to follow-up was 7.0% (15/214). Hp eradication rate was 85.2% and 90.2% in the 10-day sequential therapy group on intention to treat (ITT) and per protocol (PP) analyses, 66.0% and 71.4% in the 7-day triple therapy group on ITT and PP analyses; 60.0% and 67.3% in 10-day triple therapy group on ITT and PP analyses, and 78.8% and 82.0% in patients who received the 10-day sequential regimen on ITT and PP analyses, respectively. By ITT analysis, there was significantly difference between the 10-day sequential therapy group and 7-day or 10-day triple therapy group (P < 0.05), while no significant difference was found between the 10-day sequential therapy group and 14-day triple therapy group (P > 0.05). The results of the ITT analysis and the PP analysis were the same. The four groups had neither significant difference in abdominal pain relief (P > 0.05) nor in incidence of adverse reactions (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe 10-day sequential regimen was significantly more effective than both 7-day triple regimen and 10-day triple regimen, while had the same eradication rate compared with the 14-day sequential therapy. But 10-day triple regimen to eradicate Hp infection in children had the advantages such as short course of treatment and better compliance.

Administration, Oral ; Adolescent ; Amoxicillin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Anti-Ulcer Agents ; administration & dosage ; Breath Tests ; methods ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Clarithromycin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Helicobacter Infections ; drug therapy ; Helicobacter pylori ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Male ; Metronidazole ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Omeprazole ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDMore and more percutaneous coronary intervention were done from radial artery approach. But the great limitation of radial artery approach and main failure cause of transradial coronary intervention is smaller size and more variations of a radial artery approach. The aim of the study is to explore the features and variations of a radial artery approach in southern Chinese populations and their clinical significance in percutaneous coronary intervention.

METHODSA total of 1400 patients who underwent scheduled first time transradial coronary angiography between July 2007 and September 2010 were enrolled. Radial arteriography was performed in all patients to detect the anatomical variations of this vessel. All patients' radial and ulnar artery inner diameters were measured using a computer assisted quantification method. A detailed patient history was recorded. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the predictive value of variables (including age, gender, ethnicity, height, weight, body mass index, smoking, diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia) in arterial tortuosities and variations of this vessel.

RESULTSIn southern Chinese populations, there were no significant differences in the diameters of the forearm arteries: the mean radial artery inner diameter was (3.04 ± 0.43) mm in ethnic Han Chinese and (3.05 ± 0.42) mm in ethnic Zhuang Chinese, P > 0.05), the mean ulnar artery inner diameter was (3.03 ± 0.38) mm in Han Chinese and (3.05 ± 0.36) mm in Zhuang Chinese, P > 0.05). It was estimated that the inner diameter of the radial artery was not smaller than a 6F Cordis sheath in 86.1% of male patients and in 57.0% of female patients, and not smaller than a 7F Cordis sheath in 59.3% of male patients and 24.9% of female patients. The factors found to positively affect the size of the radial artery were sex (bj = 0.309, P < 0.01), weight (bj = 0.103, P < 0.01), and diabetes mellitus (bj = -0.088, P < 0.01) was found to negatively affect radial artery size. Arterial tortuosities occurred in 12.1% of patients and arterial variations in 4.1%. The incidence of tortuosities and variations included radial artery tortuosity (3.6%), high origin of radial artery (1.7%), radial artery loop (0.6%), double radial artery (0.1%), brachial artery tortuosity (0.4%), double brachial artery (0.1%), subclavian artery tortuosity (5.4%), small subclavian artery (0.4%), right retro-esophageal subclavian artery (0.6%), brachiocephalic trunk tortuosity (2.8%), small brachiocephalic artery (0.1%), and brachiocephalic artery anomaly (0.4%). For people in Guangxi province, tortuosities of the subclavian artery and radial artery are the most common among the vascular tortuosities of the radial artery approach. The overall rate of transradial procedural success was 96.1%. Procedural failure was more common in patients with anomalous radial artery approach than in patients with normal radial artery approach (22.8% vs. 1.8%, P = 0.000). According to multivariate Logistic regression analysis, age (OR = 2.695, 95%CI 2.232 - 3.253, P = 0.000), female gender (OR = 5.127, 95%CI 3.000 - 8.762, P = 0.000), height (OR = 0.612, 95%CI 0.465 - 0.807, P = 0.000), body mass index (OR = 2.377, 95%CI 1.834 - 3.082, P = 0.000), hypertension (OR = 1.668, 95%CI 1.132 - 2.458, P = 0.010), hyperlipidemia (OR = 1.273, 95%CI 1.425 - 2.049, P = 0.034) and smoking (OR = 5.750, 95%CI 3.636 - 9.093, P = 0.000), were independently associated with arterial tortuosities of the radial artery approach. Female gender was independently associated with arterial variations of the radial artery approach (OR = 3.613, 95%CI 3.208 - 7.826, P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONSThe diameters of the radial and ulnar arteries between the Han people and the Zhuang people in southern Chinese populations are similar. In a transradial operation, the most southern Chinese populations, the use of a 6F sheath and guiding catheter is safe, and using a 7F sheath and guiding catheter is feasible in some selected patients. Radial arterial tortuosities and variations in southern Chinese populations are relatively common and are a significant cause of the failure of transradial coronary procedure. Old age, female gender, short stature, high body mass index, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and smoking, were independently associated with an increased risk of arterial tortuosity. In addition, female gender was an independent predictor of arterial variations.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; methods ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Coronary Disease ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radial Artery ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of balloon dilation (BD) with gastroscope in treatment of esophageal stricture in children.

METHODSBD was performed in 12 children aged 5 - 59 months, average age 26 months, course of disease was 2 - 26 months, with esophageal stricture, 7 cases with anastomotic strictures secondary to surgical repair of esophageal atresia, 3 with congenital esophageal stenosis, 2 with corrosive esophageal strictures. All procedures were performed under tracheal intubation and intravenous anesthesia using the 3rd grade controlled radial expansion (CRE) esophagus-balloon with gastroscope. Firstly the balloon was inserted into the esophagus through mouth, then put in the gastroscope. Under the direct guidance of gastroscope the balloon was positioned across the stricture, then the balloon was filled with saline to get needed pressure and maintained for 3 minutes. The procedure was repeated 3 times at an interval of 3 minutes. The abdominal pain, melena and vomiting were observed, as well as the diet taken thereafter, the size of the stricture and the nutrition status were observed for 3 to 12 months after the dilation.

RESULTSTwenty-two dilations were performed in 12 cases, 19 succeeded, 3 cases developed complication during the dilation, the total success rate was 86%. The procedure failed in 3 cases and succeeded in 9 cases, the effective rate was 75%. Follow-up and repeated gastroscopy were performed within 3 to 12 months after the dilation, the diameter of the stricture was 9-13 mm, compared with 2-8 mm before the dilation. Eight of the children could take solid food and nutritional status was improved.

CONCLUSIONSBD with the 3rd grade CRE esophagus-balloon under gastroscopy is a simple and effective method to treat esophagus stricture in children, especially for anastomotic strictures secondary to surgical repair of esophageal atresia.

Catheterization ; methods ; Child, Preschool ; Esophageal Stenosis ; therapy ; Gastroscopes ; Humans ; Infant ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigative vacA, cagA and iceA genes dominant genotypes of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) isolated from children suffering from gastric and duodenal diseases in Guangzhou area.

METHODSTotally 105 children who underwent gastroscopy in Guangzhou Children's Hospital were enrolled into this study. From each patient, 3 biopsy specimens from the gastric antrum were taken, one was used for rapid urease test, one for histological examination, and one for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detecting ureA, vacA, cagA, and iceA genes. DNA was prepared directly from the biopsy specimens from the gastric antrum using a QIAamp DNA mini kit (Qiagen, Germany) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Then 11 primers were used for detecting the genotypes including ureas, (s1, s1a, s1b, s1c, s2) and m (m1, m1T, m2) region of vacA, cagA and iceA (iceA1 and iceA2) genotypes in the 105 children. The distribution of the genotypes of Hp was analyzed.

RESULTAmong the 105 children, only 52 children were positive by the three methods, among these 52 children, 26 were boys and 26 girls. Hp vacA s1as1c/m2 was detected in 43 out of 52 children (82.7%), s1as1c/m1T in 9.6% (5/52), m region that could not betyped was 7.7% (4/52). No strains presented genotypes vacA s1b, s2, m1. The comparison of the positive ratio of vacA s1as1 c/m2 detected in the children infected with Hp and that of the other combination of signal region and middle region was statistically significantly different (P < 0.01). With regard to cagA gene, cagA(+) gene and cagA(-) gene were found in 90.4% (47/52) and 9.6% (5/52) of the children, respectively. The cagA(+) gene was more frequent in the children infected with Hp. Single iceA1 was detected in 78.8% (41/52) children, and single iceA2 was detected to be 1.9% (1/52), multiple strains infection of iceA1 and iceA2 were detected in 3.8% (2/52) children, iceA1 and iceA2 were not detected in 15.4% (8/52), the comparison of the positive ratio of iceA1 detected in the children infected with Hp and that of the other genotypes was statistically significantly different (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe s1as1c/m2, cagA and iceA1 were the dominant genotypes of Hp in the children in Guangzhou area and s1as1c/m2, cagA and iceA1 were the dominant genotypes combination of Hp in the children in this area.

Antigens, Bacterial ; genetics ; therapeutic use ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Genes, Bacterial ; drug effects ; genetics ; Genotype ; Helicobacter Infections ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Helicobacter pylori ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pyloric Antrum ; microbiology

OBJECTIVETo illustrate the diagnostic value of Th1/Th2 cytokine pattern in childhood hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and its diagnostic accuracy.

METHODThe BD(TM) CBA Human Th1/Th2 Cytokine Kit II was used to measure the serum Th1 and Th2 cytokines, including Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, IL-4 and IL-2 in 50 patients with de novo HLH admitted to our hospital from Oct. 2005 to Aug. 2009. The above cytokine levels were also determined in 250 healthy volunteers and 235 patients with sepsis as controls.

RESULTThe primary features of these patients were prolonged high-grade fever (50/50), hepatomegaly (44/50), splenomegaly (38/50), hemocytopenia (47/50), hyperferritinemia (49/50), coagulopathy (44/50), hemophagocytosis in bone marrow (42/50), liver dysfunction (42/50) and hypertriglyceridemia (42/50). The IFN-γ, TNF, IL-10, IL-6, IL-4 and IL-2 levels for healthy children were (4.6 ± 1.8) ng/L, (4.0 ± 1.2) ng/L, (6.5 ± 1.3) ng/L, (6.0 ± 1.5) ng/L, (2.9 ± 0.8) ng/L and (2.6 ± 0.7) ng/L, while the median levels of them in acute phase of HLH children were 1138.5 (49.2 - 5000.0) ng/L, 3.4 (1.0 - 25.1) ng/L, 740.5 (26.5 - 5000.0) ng/L, 66.1 (3.9 - 4472.6) ng/L, 3.9 (1.0-32.8) ng/L and 4.0 (1.0 - 51.1) ng/L, respectively. The cytokine levels decreased to 9.1 (1.9 - 180.1) ng/L, 2.9 (1.0 - 11.0) ng/L, 11.4 (2.9 - 184.2) ng/L, 6.5 (1.0 - 44.8) ng/L, 2.7 (1.0 - 6.5) ng/L and 4.1 (1.0 - 12.0) ng/L respectively after remission. The IFN-γ, IL-10 and IL-6 levels in acute phase were significantly higher than those after remission and those of the healthy control (P all < 0.001). IL-4, IL-2 and TNF slightly elevated or at normal range in acute phase of HLH. The patients with sepsis showed a different cytokine pattern, with an extremely high level of IL-6 (median: 251.3 ng/L, range: 8.4- > 5000.0 ng/L) and moderately elevated level of IL-10 (median: 46.5 ng/L, range: 3.1 - 5000.0 ng/L), whereas IFN-γ was only slightly elevated (median: 9.2 ng/L, range: 1.3 - 498.8 ng/L). When the criteria for HLH set as the following: IFN-γ > 100 ng/L, IL-10 > 60 ng/L and the concentration of IFN-γ higher than that of IL-6, the specificity reached as high as 98.7% and the sensitivity was 88.0% for the diagnosis of HLH among patients with HLH and sepsis. Meanwhile, the positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) could reach 93.6% and 97.5%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe significant increase of IFN-γ and IL-10 with slightly increased level of IL-6 is a sensitive and specific cytokine pattern for childhood HLH, which is helpful for its diagnosis and differential diagnosis.

Adolescent ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cytokines ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic ; blood ; diagnosis ; Male ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Th1 Cells ; metabolism ; Th2 Cells ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood