OBJECTIVETo observe the effect differences on post-stroke dysphagia among acupoint injection combined with neural electrical stimulation, acupoint injection, neural electrical stimulation, and swallowing training respectively, so eligible intervention can be applied to this kind of disease.

METHODSOne hundred and eight-three patients of post-stroke dysphagia were randomized into a comprehensive treatment group (42 cases), an acupoint injection group (44 cases), a neural electrical stimulation group (49 cases) and a swallow training group (48 cases) and were treated with the comprehensive therapy of acupoint injection and neural electrical stimulation, acupoint injection, neural electrical stimulation and swallowing training separately. The treatments for 10 days made one session. There were 3 days at the interval among treatment sessions and 3 sessions were required totally. The cases in those treatment groups were blankly controlled with the other 47 patients of post-stroke dysphagia. All the patients received basic rehabilitation treatment. The modified water swallowing test was conducted to assess the efficacy before treatment, 10 days after treatment and 30 days after treatment in each group separately. The clinical efficacy, score of water swallowing test and improvement in water swallow test were compared among the groups.

RESULTSAfter 10-day treatment, the differences in efficacy and score of water swallow test were not significant in each group (all P > 0.05). After 30-day treatment, the effective rate (94.29%, 33/35) in the comprehensive treatment group was apparently better than 68.75% (22/32) in the acupoint injection group, 80.00% (32/40) in the neural electrical stimulation group, 67.50% (27/40) in the swallowing training group and 42.86% (12/28) in the blank group separately. The score in water swallow test in the comprehensive treatment group was lower than that in each of the other groups (1.37 ± 0.60 vs 2.03 ± 1.00, 1.90 ± 0.90, 2.20 ± 0.72, 2.71 ± 0.90, all P < 0.05). The differences in the effective rate and score in water swallow test were not significant among the acupoint injection group, neural electrical stimulation group and swallowing training group (all P > 0.05), which indicated that the improvement in swallowing function in the comprehensive treatment group was significantly superior to the other groups (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe comprehensive therapy of acupoint injection and neural electrical stimulation achieves the much better efficacy on post-stroke dysphagia.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders ; drug therapy ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; complications ; Treatment Outcome ; Vitamin B 12 ; administration & dosage ; Young Adult

AIM: To investigate the postoperative changes of binocular visual function in patients with congenital superior oblique palsy.METHODS: Eye position and binocular visual function were examined in 28 patients with congenital superior oblique palsy pre- and post-operatively. The results were statistically analyzed.RESULTS: The normal eye position rate after operation was 89.3%. There were 9 patients who gained simultaneous perception after operation, while 13 patients gained fusion as many as that gained stereoacuity. There was statistically significant difference between postoperative and preoperative eyes (P<0.05). Near stereoacuity was improved after operation. Patients who had better visual acuity and low strabismus degrees as well as fusion had a better recovery.CONCLUSION: The operation could improve the eye position and rebuild the binocular visual function of the congenital superior oblique palsy. The recovery of binocular visual function was related to visual acuity and strabismus degrees of the patients and whether they had fusion function.

OBJECTIVETo determine the content of baicalin in Scutellaria baicalensis callus induced by different doncentrations of exogenous hormones.

METHODHPLC system was adopted to determine baicalin in S. baicalensis callus. Chromatographic conditions: ODS column was adopted, with methanol-water-phosphate (47: 53: 0.2) as the mobile phase. The flow velocity was 1 mL x min(-1), the detective wavelength was 280 nm, and the temperature of column was room temperature.

RESULTS. baicalensis callus induced by 6-BA 1.0 mg x L(-1) + NAA 0.5 mg x L(-1) showed the highest baicalin content, up to 49.78 mg x g(-1).

CONCLUSIONThe experiment is such a simple, rapid and stable method for determining the baicalin content that it can be used for determining the baicalin content in S. baicalensis callus.

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid ; pharmacology ; Benzyl Compounds ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Flavonoids ; metabolism ; Kinetin ; pharmacology ; Naphthaleneacetic Acids ; pharmacology ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology ; Purines ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Tissue Culture Techniques ; methods

Background The domestic and international researches discovered that many proteins and enzymes of the extracellular matrix (ECM) participate in the sclera remodeling by affecting the collagen typeⅠand fibronectin.Objective This study was to investigate the effect of matrixmetalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) on expression of collagen typeⅠand fibronectin of ECM in the posterior sclera by injecting liposomes containing tissue inhibitor of TIMP-2 gene into suprachoroidal space of the form-deprivation myopia in guinea pig.Methods Form-deprivation myopia was induced by translucent goggles in 36 clean guinea pig for 2 weeks.Then the animals were randomly assigned to TIMP-2 group,empty plasmid group,saline group and 12 for each group.Liposomes of 5μl containing TIMP-2 gene,empty plasmid and saline were suprachoroidally injected in the right eye respectively,and the left eyes without any treatment were used as self-control group.Other 12 matched guinea pigs only covered the right eyes through out the experimental duration as model control group.The guinea pigs were sacrificed and the posterior sclera tissue of the eyeballs were collected at 2,7 and 14 days after injection of drug.The expressions of collagen typeⅠmRNA and fibronectin mRNA were detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).This study followed the Regulation for the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission.Results The expression level of collagen type Ⅰ mRNA in the posterior sclera of guinea pig was lower but that of fibronectin mRNA was higher in TIMP-2 group than self-control group,showing significant differences between them (P＜0.05).The expression level of collagen type Ⅰ mRNA in the posterior scleral tissue began to increase from the 2nd day after drug injection and was obviously elevated at the 7th day and then gradually decreased at the 14th day.However,the expression level of fibronectin mRNA in the posterior scleral tissue showed the opposite pattern.The expression levels of collagen typeⅠmRNA and fibronectin mRNA at the 7th after drug injection were significantly lower than that at the 2nd day or 14th day (P＜0.01).Conclusion Suprachoroidal injection of TIMP-2 in form-deprivation myopia could up-regulate the expression of collagen typeⅠmRNA and down-regulate the expression of fibronectin mRNA in the posterior scleral tissue.It may slow down the sclera remodeling of form-deprivation myopia in guinea pig in the early stage.

Female ; Humans ; Liver Failure, Acute ; blood ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Thrombelastography ; Whole Blood Coagulation Time

Objective To explore the epidemics of influenza viruses in Guangzhou area from 1998 to 2003. Methods The specimens for viral isolation were taken with swabs from children's throats and the material was inoculated into the MDCK cells and were incubated at 33 ℃ The supernatant of MDCK cells culture was tested with hemagglutination test. Results Influenza viruses were isolated from 264 of 3444 children; total positive rate of influenza virus isolation was 7.6%. The positive rate of influenza viruses was 16.8% in 1998; the prevailing strain of influenza viruses was H3N2. The influenza viruses isolation rate was 7.4% in 1999;the positive rate was 8.4% ; HIN1 occurred in 2000, the positive rate was 3.8%. H3N2 did not occur in 2001; the positive rate was 7.3% ; influenza B viruses was the prevailing strain in 2002; the positive rate was 1.7% in 2003. Influenza B viruses was Yamagata like strain from 1998 to 2001, Victoria like strain from 2002 to 2003. H9N2 avian influenza virus was isolated from a child. Conclusions Influenza was prevalent in Guangzhou in 1998, but not prevalent from 1999 to 2003. Most of influenza B viruses were Yamagata strain. There were cases avian influenza caused by H9N2 in 1999.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of 18-β glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) on the endoplasmic reticulum of nasal epithelial cells in allergic rhinitis (AR) model rats.

METHODSTotally 96 Wistar rats were randomly divided into the blank group, the AR model group, the loratadine group, the GA group, 24 in each group. AR models were established by peritoneally injecting ovalbumin (OVA). Morphological scoring was performed. GA at 21. 6 mg/kg was intragastrically administered to rats in the GA group. Nasal mucosal tissues were taken for electron microscopic examinations at the second, fourth, sixth, and tenth week after drug intervention.

RESULTSThe overlapping score was 2.10 ± 0.45 in the blank group, 5.10 ± 0.56 in the loratadine group, 5.10 ± 0.56 in the AR model group, 5.20 ± 0.78 in the GA group, showing statistical difference when compared with the blank group (P < 0.01). Results under transmission electron microscope showed that the number of the endoplasmic reticulum increased in the AR model group, with obvious cystic dilatation, a lot of vacuole formation, and degranulation. A large number of free ribosomes could be seen in cytoplasm. With persistent allergen exposure, changes mentioned above was progressively aggravated in the endoplasmic reticulum of nasal mucosal epithelium in the AR model group. But the dilation of endoplasmic reticulum, vacuole formation, and degranulation were relieved in the GA group, and got close to those of the blank group.

CONCLUSION18-β GA could improve the expansion, vacuolization, and degranulation of the endoplasmic reticulum of nasal epithelial cells in AR model rats.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; Glycyrrhetinic Acid ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Nasal Mucosa ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; drug therapy

BACKGROUNDCardiovascular complications of Kawasaki disease (KD) are a common cause of heart disease in pediatric populations. Previous studies have suggested a role for endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in coronary artery lesions associated with KD. However, long-term observations of EPCs during the natural progression of this disorder are lacking. Using an experimental model of KD, we aimed to determine whether the coronary artery lesions are associated with down-regulation of EPCs.

METHODSTo induce KD, C57BL/6 mice were administered an intraperitoneal injection of Lactobacillus casei cell wall extract (LCWE; phosphate buffered saline used as control vehicle). Study groups included: group A (14 days following LCWE injection), group B (56 days following LCWE injection) and group C (controls). Numbers of circulating EPCs (positively staining for both CD34 and Flk-1 while staining negative for CD45) were evaluated using flow cytometry. Bone marrow mononuclear cells were cultured in vitro to expand EPCs for functional analysis. In vitro EPC proliferation, adhesion and migration were assessed.

RESULTSThe model was shown to exhibit similar coronary artery lesions to KD patients with coronary aneurysms. Numbers of circulating EPCs decreased significantly in the KD models (groups A and B) compared to controls ((0.017 ± 0.008)% vs. (0.028 ± 0.007)%, P < 0.05 and (0.016 ± 0.007)% vs. (0.028 ± 0.007)%, P < 0.05). Proliferative, adhesive and migratory properties of EPCs were markedly impaired in groups A and B.

CONCLUSIONCoronary artery lesions in KD occur as a consequence of impaired vascular injury repair, resulting from excess consumption of EPCs together with a functional impairment of bone marrow EPCs and their precursors.

Animals ; Cell Adhesion ; physiology ; Cell Movement ; physiology ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Flow Cytometry ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; pathology ; Stem Cells ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo understand the characteristics of human calicivirus (HuCV) infection in infants with diarrhea in Guangzhou city and to study genotype of the virus.

METHODSThe authors collected fecal specimens from 22 children with acute nonbacterial gastroenteritis from November to December, 2001. HuCV was detected from the specimens by RT-PCR. The PCR products were cloned into the PMD18-T cloning vector and sequenced.

RESULTSHCV was detected from the specimens of 2 cases (9%, 2/22). The nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the virus strains belonged to genotype 2 of Norwalk-like viruses.

CONCLUSIONHuCV is one of the pathogens causing diarrhea in infants and young children in Guangzhou area. HuCV infection occurred sporadically in autumn and winter.

Base Sequence ; Caliciviridae ; genetics ; Caliciviridae Infections ; complications ; virology ; China ; DNA, Viral ; chemistry ; genetics ; Diarrhea, Infantile ; etiology ; Dysentery ; etiology ; Feces ; virology ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid

Blood Coagulation Disorders ; drug therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Heparin ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; blood ; complications ; urine ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; administration & dosage