Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Short-Wave Therapy ; Spinal Diseases ; therapy ; Thoracic Vertebrae

The influence of low tube voltage in dual source CT (DSCT) coronary artery imaging on image quality and radiation dose and its application value in clinical practice were investigated. Totally, 300 cases of chest pain with low body mass index (BMI <18.5 kg/m(2)) subjected to DSCT coronary artery imaging were prospectively enrolled. The heart rate in all patients were greater than 65/min. The retrospective ECG gated scanning mode and simple random sampling method were used to assign the patients into groups A, B and C (n=100 each). The patients in groups A, B and C experienced 120-, 100-, and 80-kV tube voltage imaging respectively, and the image quality was evaluated. The CT volume dose index (CTDIvol) and dose length product (DLP) were recorded, and the effective dose (ED) was calculated in each group. The image quality scores and radiation doses in groups were compared, and the influence of tube voltage on image quality and radiation dose was analyzed. The results showed that the excellent rate of image quality in groups A, B and C was 95.69%, 94.72% and 96.33% respectively with the difference being not statistically significant among the three groups (P>0.05). The CTDIvol values in groups A, B and C were 51.35±12.21, 21.28±7.13 and 6.34±3.34 mGy, respectively, with the difference being statistically significant (P<0.05). The ED values in groups A, B and C were 9.27±1.63, 4.56±2.29 and 2.29±1.69 mSv, respectively, with the difference being statistically significant (P<0.05). It was suggested that for the patients with low BMI, the application of DSCT coronary artery imaging with low tube voltage can obtain satisfactory image quality, and simultaneously, significantly reduce the radiation dose.

The Her-2 proto-oncogene encodes a 185kDa transmenbrane glycoprotein p185 which has intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity. It is overexpressed in several malignant human tumors like breast cancer. A chimeric antibody by assembling a single-chain Fv antibody and a human IgG1 Fc fragment was constructed. This chimeric antibody reacts with tumor surface antigen p185c-erbB-2 specifically. In order to put the antibody into clinical application, two steps purification method was used to attain the antibody’s purity more than 95%. Both the lyophilized pharmaceutical formulations of the antibody were found. The formulations can keep the stability and activity of the antibody for at least one year. These results were the foundation of the chimeric antibody for cancer therapy.

OBJECTIVETo assess the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at key acupoints combined with the routine rehabilitation training of limb function on spasmodic hemiplegia after cerebral infarction.

METHODSEighty-six cases were randomized into an acupuncture combined with rehabilitation group (group A, 44 cases) and a rehabilitation group (group B, 42 cases). In group A, the key acupoints were selected from head, face, chest, abdomen, shoulder, back, hands, feet and ankles such as Cuanzhu (BL 2), Danzhong (CV 17), Jianyu (LI 15) and Yanglao (SI 16) were stimulated with acupuncture. In combination, the routine limb rehabilitation training was applied, once every day. In group B, the routine limb rehabilitation training was applied alone. In both groups, 10 treatments made one session and 2 sessions were required totally. Before and after treatment, Fugl-Meyer scale and functional independent measurement (FIM) scale were adopted to assess the limb motor level and the activity of daily life in the patients respectively. The modified Ashworth scale was used to assess the effect of anti-spasm.

RESULTSThe total effective rate of anti-spasm was 90.9% (40/44) in the group A, which was superior to 73.8% (32/42) in the group B (P < 0.05). After 2 sessions of treatment, Fugl-Meyer score and FIM score were all improved in both groups (all P < 0.05) and the results in the group A were better than those in the group B (all P < 0.05). Additionally, the improvement of FIM score after the 1st session of treatment in the group A was better as compared with the group B, indicating the significant difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at key acupoints combined with rehabilitation therapy effectively relieves the spasmodic condition of the patients with post-stroke spasmodic hemiplegia, improves the limb function and the life activity of the patients.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Cerebral Infarction ; complications ; Female ; Hemiplegia ; etiology ; rehabilitation ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

The influence of low tube voltage in dual source CT (DSCT) coronary artery imaging on image quality and radiation dose and its application value in clinical practice were investigated. Totally, 300 cases of chest pain with low body mass index (BMI <18.5 kg/m(2)) subjected to DSCT coronary artery imaging were prospectively enrolled. The heart rate in all patients were greater than 65/min. The retrospective ECG gated scanning mode and simple random sampling method were used to assign the patients into groups A, B and C (n=100 each). The patients in groups A, B and C experienced 120-, 100-, and 80-kV tube voltage imaging respectively, and the image quality was evaluated. The CT volume dose index (CTDIvol) and dose length product (DLP) were recorded, and the effective dose (ED) was calculated in each group. The image quality scores and radiation doses in groups were compared, and the influence of tube voltage on image quality and radiation dose was analyzed. The results showed that the excellent rate of image quality in groups A, B and C was 95.69%, 94.72% and 96.33% respectively with the difference being not statistically significant among the three groups (P>0.05). The CTDIvol values in groups A, B and C were 51.35±12.21, 21.28±7.13 and 6.34±3.34 mGy, respectively, with the difference being statistically significant (P<0.05). The ED values in groups A, B and C were 9.27±1.63, 4.56±2.29 and 2.29±1.69 mSv, respectively, with the difference being statistically significant (P<0.05). It was suggested that for the patients with low BMI, the application of DSCT coronary artery imaging with low tube voltage can obtain satisfactory image quality, and simultaneously, significantly reduce the radiation dose.
Adult ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Chest Pain ; diagnostic imaging ; Coronary Angiography ; methods ; Coronary Vessels ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of different reference point on intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) measurement.

METHODSNine critically ill patients with risk of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) were studied from July 2008 to June 2010, all of the patients were equipped with abdominal cavity drain and urinary drainage tube. By which IAP was measured using direct and indirect methods respectively. The symphysis pubis, phlebostatic axis and the midaxillary line at the level of the iliac crest were defined as reference points. According to the different reference point, three sets of IAP measurements were obtained in the supine position with each method and kept as IAP(S), IAP(P), IAP(I). Bland-Altman method analysis and Pearson's correlation were performed to evaluate the relationships between results from different reference points with direct and indirect methods. Paired t-test was performed to evaluate the differences among different reference points.

RESULTSSixty measurements of IAP(S), IAP(P) and IAP(I) were obtained. In direct measurement through abdominal cavity drain, IAP(I) (13.8 ± 3.9) mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) was significantly higher than IAP(P) (12.8 ± 3.6) mmHg and IAP(S) (9.1 ± 3.6) mmHg, P < 0.05; while in indirect measurement through urinary drainage tube, IAP(I) (12.7 ± 3.2) mmHg was significantly higher than IAP(P) (11.7 ± 2.9) mmHg and IAP(S) (7.9 ± 3.0) mmHg too, P < 0.05. In either direct or indirect method, IAP(P) was higher than IAP(S), P < 0.05. And good correlations were found among IAP(S), IAP(P) and IAP(I).

CONCLUSIONSIn the supine position, pressure obtained via the bladder could reflect authentic IAP. But selection of reference point has great impact on IAP measurement.

Abdominal Cavity ; physiopathology ; Aged ; Critical Illness ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Manometry ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Pressure

The paper takes hypertension literature on CNKI as its study subject and adopts knowledge map to analyze research institution distribution,team modes and cooperation degrees formed among authors,transformation of study contents over the years,current study hotspots and future emphases for study in domestic hypertension field,giving a full picture of domestic status and trend of hypertension.

OBJECTIVETo explore the differences in brain activation between musicians and non-musicians by use of functional MRI.

METHODSTwelve right-handed musicians and twelve right-handed non-musicians were recruited in the study. During a listening task, they were scanned on the Sigma 1.5T scanner (GE) while they were passively listening to several segments of music of "the Butterfly Love" and the white noise with same physical energy.

RESULTBoth musicians and non-musicians demonstrated bilateral transverse gyrus weak activated while listening to the white noise. But when listening to music, they showed bilateral temporal areas strongly activated including superior temporal gyrus, transverse gyrus and some middle temporal areas. Moreover, musicians showed relative left dominance (10/12), whereas non-musicians demonstrated right dominance(11/12). Furthermore,besides bilateral temporal areas, more and stronger activated areas were found in musicians such as cuneus, precuneus,medial frontal and left middle occipital gyrus.

CONCLUSIONThere are different neuro-patterns between musicians and non-musicians.

Adult ; Brain ; anatomy & histology ; physiology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Music ; Temporal Lobe ; physiology

BACKGROUNDAn inflammatory response leading to organ dysfunction and failure continues to be a major problem after injury in many clinical conditions such as sepsis, severe burns, and trauma. It is increasingly recognized that atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) possesses a broad range of biological activities, including effects on endothelial function and inflammation. A recent study has revealed that ANP exerts anti-inflammatory effects. In this study we tested the effects of human ANP (hANP) on lung injury in a model of oleic acid (OA)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in rats.

METHODSRats were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 6 in each group). Rats in the control group received a 0.9% solution of NaCl (1 ml × kg(-1) × h(-1)) by continuous intravenous infusion, after 30 minutes a 0.9% solution of NaCl (1 ml/kg) was injected intravenously, and then the 0.9% NaCl infusion was restarted. Rats in the ALI group received a 0.9% NaCl solution (1 ml × kg(-1) × h(-1)) intravenous infusion, after 30 minutes OA was injected intravenously (0.1 ml/kg), and then the 0.9% NaCl infusion was restarted. Rats in the hANP-treated ALI group received a hANP (0.1 µg × kg(-1) × min(-1)) infusion, after 30 minutes OA was injected intravenously (0.1 ml/kg), and then the hANP infusion was restarted. The anti-inflammation effects of hANP were evaluated by histological examination and determination of serum cytokine levels.

RESULTSSerum interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α were increased in the ALI group at six hours. The levels of all factors were significantly lower in the hANP treated rats (P < 0.005). Similarly, levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α were higher in the lung tissue in the ALI group at six hours. hANP treatment significantly reduced the levels of these factors in the lungs (P < 0.005). Histological examination revealed marked reduction in interstitial congestion, edema, and inflammation.

CONCLUSIONhANP can attenuate inflammation in an OA-induced lung injury in rat model.

Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Animals ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; therapeutic use ; Disease Models, Animal ; Inflammation ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Male ; Oleic Acid ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of von Hippel-Lindau(VHL) gene on growth of EL-4 solid tumors in vivo.

METHODSC57BL/6 mice model of solid tumors was established by subcutaneous injection of EL-4 lymphoma cells. Mice were randomly divided into two groups as treatment group (n=6) and control group (n=6) when tumor diameter increased to 0.1 cm and 0.4 cm respectively. Plasmid pcDNA3-VHL was injected into solid tumor in treatment group, empty pcDNA3 vector in control group. The growth of tumor was observed. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis were used to examine the transgenic expression of VHL, hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF)-1alpha, bcl-2 and VEGF. Microvessel density (MVD) and apoptosis index (AI) of tumors were also detected.

RESULTSVHL gene transfer eradicated tumors with small size (0.1 cm diameter), but it only retarded the growth of large tumors (0.4 cm diameter). VHL was overexpressed, the expression levels of VEGF, HIF-1alpha and bcl-2 were reduced in treatment group compared with those in the control group. The level of MVD was significantly lower in treatment group (P< 0.05), but AI was higher in treatment group compared with those in the control group (P< 0.01).

CONCLUSIONVHL gene therapy can inhibit the growth of EL-4 solid tumor in vivo.

Animals ; Female ; Genetic Therapy ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neoplasms, Experimental ; blood supply ; therapy ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; therapy ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein ; therapeutic use