In order to develop characteristic folk medicine resources in Jiangxi, a pharmacognostical study was systematically performed for four different origin plants of Sikuaiwa, the result of study provides the microscopic features of powder and tissue of the crude drug. The research provided reference for the identification of Sikuaiwa, as well as a theoretical basis for the further development and the formulation of quality standards.
Magnoliopsida ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Medicine, Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo observe therapeutic effect of photoelectric treatment instrument on simple obesity.

METHODSSixty cases of simple obesity were randomly divided into two groups, 30 cases in each group. The treatment group were treated with photoelectric treatment instrument combined with acupuncture, i.e. after acupuncture, the electrodes of XS-998A photoelectric treatment instrument were placed at points of the abdomen, with the laser out-put head on Shenque (CV 8), Shuifen (CV 9) or the parts with much fat, or close to the liver area for the patient of fat liver. The control group were treated with routine acupuncture alone. Changes of main symptoms and signs, and BMI before and after treatment were investigated in the two groups.

RESULTSThe symptoms and signs, and BMI were more significantly improved in the treatment as compared with the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture combined with laser radiation at the relative area on the abdomen can increase the therapeutic effect on obesity.

Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Obesity ; therapy

It was widely believed that the interaction between rice and rice blast fungus can be interpreted by the gene-for-gene hypothesis. Two interaction models between rice blast fungus and anti-disease genes had been briefed. They were receptor-ligand model and guard model. The progress of research about molecular marker and position on avirulence genes of the pathogens of rice blast (Magnaporthe oryzae) was reviewed, and the methods to clone and the cloned avirulence genes of rice blast fungus were also summarized.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the epidemiological characteristics of tic disorders (TD) among pupils in the Shunde Longjiang area, and their relationship to trace elements.

METHODSA cross-sectional study of 4062 children aged 6-12 years, who were selected from the Shunde Longjiang area by stratified cluster sampling to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of TD, was conducted, and blood concentrations of trace elements in children with TD were determined. Forty normal children were selected as controls.

RESULTSThe overall prevalence rate of TD was 2.98%; the prevalence rates of transient tic disorder, chronic motor or vocal tic disorder and Tourette's syndrome were 3.62%, 2.39% and 1.21% respectively. Boys had a significantly higher prevalence rate of TD than girls (3.92% vs 1.96%; P<0.05). There were no significant differences in blood copper, manganese and magnesium levels between children with TD and normal children (P>0.05), however, children with TD had a significantly increased blood lead level and significantly decreased blood zinc and iron levels compared with the normal children (P<0.05). No significant differences in trace elements were found between children with different subtypes of TD (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTD is common in children aged 6-12 years and more prevalent in boys than in girls. High blood lead level and zinc and iron deficiencies may be one of the causes of TD, and thus should be considered during therapy.

Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Iron ; blood ; Lead ; blood ; Male ; Tic Disorders ; blood ; epidemiology ; Trace Elements ; blood ; Zinc ; blood

OBJECTIVEImprovement in lung function was reported after acupuncture treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but little is known about the underlying mechanisms. Because an immune response imbalance could be seen in COPD, we hypothesize that electroacupuncture (EA) may play a role in regulating inflammatory cytokines and contribute to lung protection in a rat model of smoke-induced COPD.

METHODSA COPD model using male Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to cigarette smoke was established. The rats were randomly divided into four groups (control, sham, COPD, and COPD plus EA), and COPD model was evaluated by measuring pulmonary pathological changes and lung function. EA was applied to the acupuncture point Zusanli (ST36) for 30 min/d for 14 d in sham and COPD rats. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was used to measure levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and malonaldehyde (MDA).

RESULTSCompared with the control rats, COPD rats had significant changes in lung resistance (RL) and lung compliance (CL) (both P<0.01), bronchi and bronchiole airway obstruction (P<0.01), and levels of MDA, TNF-α, and IL-1β (P<0.01). There were no significant differences between the control and the sham groups. Compared with the COPD rats, the COPD plus EA rats had decreased RL and increased CL (both P<0.05), and reduced bronchi and bronchiole airway obstruction (P<0.05, P<0.01, respectively), while levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and MDA in BALF were lowered (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). However, TNF-α and IL-1β levels of the EA group rats remained higher than those of the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONEA at ST36 can reduce lung injury in a COPD rat model, and beneficial effects may be related to down-regulation of inflammatory cytokines. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects may prolong the clinical benefit of EA.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Electroacupuncture ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; immunology ; Male ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; etiology ; immunology ; therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo study the applications of bone grafts from the cranium or mandible in the repair of posttraumatic deformities of the nose.

METHODSFrom 1997 to 2002, a total of 44 patients, who presented with secondary nose deformity as well as facial fractures, were reconstructed by autogeneous outer table grafts of the calvarial or mandibular bone after facial skeleton reposition. In this series, 32 cases used the calvarial bone, 12 cases used the mandible bone, which was harvested through a coronal incision and an oral approach respectively.

RESULTSThe surgical incisions healed primarily in all patients with minimal scar. The facial appearance was greatly improved. No implant infection, extrusion and shift were observed in the postoperative follow-up of 6 months to 2 years. There was not obvious bone resorption, nor donor site morbidity.

CONCLUSIONAutogeneous calvarial and mandibular bone was an ideal material of bone graft in reconstruction of severe posttraumatic deformities of the nose. Compared with other autogeneous and alloplastic materials, the outer table of the calvarial and mandibular bone produced less morbidity of the donor site, invisible scar, no rejection and less resorption.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Facial Injuries ; complications ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Mandibular Injuries ; complications ; surgery ; Mandibular Prosthesis Implantation ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Nose ; injuries ; Patient Satisfaction ; Radiography ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skull ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo report our experience of ultrasound guided transperineal 6-core prostate biopsy (UG6CPB) in the diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa).

METHODSIn a prospective study, we performed UG6CPB in 104 suspected PCa patients with tPSA more than 4 microg/L and analysed the positive rate and complications of the diagnostic approach.

RESULTSPCa was detected in 24 of the 104 patients (23%), with low grade Gleason 2 to 4 in 3 cases (12.5%), intermediate grade Gleason 5 to 7 in 15 (62.5%) and high grade Gleason 8 to 10 in the remaining 6 (25%). Complications included temporary hematuria in 5 patients (4.8%), mild postbiopsy perineal discomfort in 5 (4.8%) and fever in 4 (3.8%). TPSA > or =10 microg/L, fPSA > or = 2 microg/L, fPSA/tPSA < 0.16, PSAD > or = 0.2 and prostate volume < 40 ml were the significant influencing factors of biopsy positive rate (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONUG6CPB is an exact and a safe way of detecting PCa.

Biopsy, Needle ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Perineum ; Prospective Studies ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo summarize the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) in post-operative neurosurgical patients.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 7 patients who experienced pulmonary thromboembolism after neurosurgical operations in our department from October 2009 to March 2010.

RESULTSOf these 7 patients, 6 were confirmed with computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and 1 was diagnosed according to the clinical manifestations and other diagnostic examinations. All the patients were treated initially with low-dose heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin and then with warfarin. Two patients were implanted with permanent inferior vena cava filters before anticoagulation. One received anticoagulant therapy and died of respiratory failure due to pulmonary embolism on the fourth post-operative day. Six patients were discharged after significant improvement.

CONCLUSIONSMany risk factors may cause PTE peri-operatively. Post-operative CTPA may be indicated. Anticoagulation and other management strategies may be applied to improve the outcome.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; Postoperative Complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Pulmonary Embolism ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVEThis paper presents a new method of skeleton reconstruction for oblique facial clefts using autogenous bone of the mandibular outer table.

METHODSIn the operation, the mandibular outer table was harvested through the intraoral approach. Assisted with internal rigid fixation technique, the mandibular outer table was used to reconstruct the naso-orbital framework as inlay or onlay bone graft.

RESULTSFrom 1993 to 2001, seven cases of oblique facial clefts were repaired with mandibular outer table bone graft. Postoperative follow-up for 6 months to 3 years demonstrated that the grafted bone healed well with the adjacent bones. No obvious bone resorption was observed. The facial appearance was improved greatly.

CONCLUSIONSThe mandibular outer table, with similar bone density to the calvarium, is easy to harvest without donor site scar. The method is quite ideal for skeleton reconstruction of oblique facial clefts.

Adolescent ; Bone Transplantation ; Child ; Facial Bones ; abnormalities ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; transplantation ; Nasal Bone ; abnormalities ; Orbit ; abnormalities ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the method to obtain good aesthetic and functional results in surgical management of craniomaxillofacial fibrous dysplasia and correct the grotesque deformity.

METHODSAccording to the type of the lesions, different excision and reconstruction methods were used.

RESULTS19 cases (4 monostotic cases and 15 polyostotic cases) were surgically treated. The period of follow-up range from 9 months to 5 years, all patients obtained satisfactory aesthetic and functional results. No relapse happened during follow up.

CONCLUSIONSBased on modern craniomaxillofacial techniques and computer aided design, extensive radical excision and craniomaxillofacial skeleton reconstruction could be safely accomplished, and the better results were obtained, both aestheticly and functionally.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Transplantation ; Child ; Computer-Aided Design ; Craniofacial Abnormalities ; surgery ; Facial Bones ; Female ; Fibrous Dysplasia of Bone ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Skull ; Surgical Flaps ; Young Adult