Animals ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Syncope, Vasovagal ; metabolism ; physiopathology

Objective:To investigate serum level of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA).Methods:VEGF ELISA Quantikine kit.The serum RF level was also d etermined using Beckman Array 360.Results:The serum concen tration of VEGF was significantly higher in patients with RA than in healthy co ntrol(P＜0.01).Conclusion:It suggests that VEGF is involved in the pathog enesis of RA and that measurment of serum concentration of VEGF is noninvasive, usful method for monitoring the disease activity of RA.

Chronic Disease ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; Humans

ObjectiveTo compare the effect of patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) and patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) on pulmonary function in post-thoracotomy patients.Methods33 ASA Ⅰ～Ⅱ patients undergoing selective esophagectomy were randomly divided into the PCEA group (n=16, treated with morphine plus bupivacaine) and PCIA group (n=17, treated with morphine plus droperidol) for 3 days postoperatively. Pulmonary function indices including respiratory rate (RR), tidal volume (Vt), vital capacity (Vc) and pulse oximetry (SpO2) were recorded before operation and on the first 2 days after operation. Pain scores with visual analogue scale (VAS) at rest, deep breathing and with cough, and adverse effects were also recorded.ResultsRR increased, Vt , Vc and SpO2 decreased markedly in both groups postoperatively compared with the base line (P<0.01), but there were no significant differences between two groups. VAS scores were much lower in PCEA group, especially, when the patient was at deep breathing or during coughing (P<0.001).ConclusionPCEA is superior to PCIA in pain relief, but contributes no more than PCIA in improving pulmonary function in post-thoracotomy patients.

ObjectiveTo compare the effects of patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) and patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) on postoperative nausea and vomit (PONV) in gynecologic and obstetric patients. Methods56 gynecologic or obstetric patients (ASA Ⅰ～Ⅱ) scheduled for lower abdominal surgeries were randomly allocated to receive either 1 mg/ml morphine plus 0.1 mg/ml droperidol intravenously (group PCIA) or 0.1 mg/ml morphine plus 0.125% bupivacaine (group PCEA-Ⅰ) or 0.1 mg/ml morphine plus 0.1 mg/ml droperidol plus 0.125% bupivacaine (group PCEA-Ⅱ) epidurally. 4, 24, and 48 h after operation, pain scores with visual analogus scale (VAS), sedation scores with Ramesay and the incidences of nausea, vomiting, pruritus, respiratory depression were assessed. ResultsVAS scores in the two PCEA groups were much lower than that of PCIA (P<0.01). The incidences of nausea and vomiting in PCEA-Ⅱ group were significantly lower than those in PCIA group (P<0.05), incidences of other side-effects such as pruritus, respiratory depression etc. were similar between the three groups (P>0.05). ConclusionThe regimen morphine/droperidol/bupivacaine by PCEA shows superiorities in relieving pain and reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting in gynecologic and obstetric patients.

Aged ; Dermatomyositis ; complications ; diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Female ; Hoarseness ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Humans

Abstract?AIM: To investigate the influence of propylene glycol mannite sulfate ( PGMS ) on the expression of tumor necrosis factor -α( TNF-α) and interleukin-1β( IL-1β) , in diabetic retinopathy by a rat model, to study the mechanism of PGMS against diabetic retinopathy, and provide a reliable theoretical and experimental evidence for the PGMS to be applied to clinical prevention and treatment of diabetic retinopathy.?METHODS: Male Wistar rats were randomized into 4 groups, normal control group, diabetic control group and PGMS in group, the PGMS in groups included the doses of 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg. 1% streptozotocin ( STZ) of 60 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected in rats to establish the diabetic models. The PGMS with the doses of 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg were used to gavage in different groups of models for 12wk.Twelve weeks later, the animals were sacrificed and retinas were isolated. The aqueous humors and serums were taken, expressions of TNF-αand IL-1βprotein in retinas, aqueous humors and serums were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) , respectively.The location and the expression of TNF-αand IL-1βprotein in retina tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry.?RESULTS: Twelve weeks after the use of PGMS, the level of blood glucose was not changed.ELISA showed that the expression of TNF-αand IL-1βprotein in serum and retina was significantly increased in diabetic control group than in normal control group(P<0.05), but in the groups which PGMS was given reduced, lower than those in diabetes mellitus( DM) group, especially as the concentration of PGMS increased ( P<0.05 ).But the levels of aqueous humor's TNF-αand IL-1βproteins in PGMS group were not reduced.Immunohistochemistry showed that the TNF -α protein was almost not expressed in normal control group. But the TNF-αprotein was highly expressed in diabetic control group. The expression mainly located in the ganglion cell layer, the inner plexiform layer, outer plexiform layer and pigment epithelium. The TNF-αprotein was weakly expressed at the group of 50mg/kg PGMS, the TNF-αprotein was almost not expressed at the group of 100mg/kg PGMS.When the normal control group was detected, the IL-1βprotein was weakly expressed in the outer plexiform layer.But the IL-1βprotein was also highly expressed in diabetic control group.The expression mainly located in the inner plexiform layer, outer plexiform layer and pigment epithelium. The IL -1βprotein was weakly expressed at the group of 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg PGMS.?CONCLUSION:PGMS can treat the diabetic retinopathy by downregulating the expressions of TNF-αand IL-1βin early diabetic retinopathy.PGMS maybe have a good control effect on early diabetic retinopathy.

OBJECTIVETo explore the risk factors of low back pain (LBP) among greenhouse vegetable planting farmers and estimate the level of the effects.

METHODSA self-made questionnaire based on the Dutch Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and the Nordic Questionnaire was conducted to 639 greenhouse vegetable planting farmers and then structural equation model was used to analyze the risk factors of LBP in SmartPLS software.

RESULTSThe coefficient of determination of the model was 0.827, and the structural coefficients of dynamic loads, static loads, force exertion, ergonomic environment and repetitive loads on LBP were 0.21, 0.43,0.27, 0.045 and 0.034 respectively, and the total effects of the above latent variables on LBP were 0.21, 0.43,0.27, 0.33 and 0.034 respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe main risk factors of LBP among greenhouse vegetable planting farmers were static loads, ergonomic environment, force exertion and dynamic loads.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; etiology ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Vegetables

UNLABELLEDOBJECTIVE; To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Jiangtang Xiaozhi Capsule (JTXZC) in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) of qi-yin deficiency phlegm-stasis inter-obstruction syndrome (QYDPSIOS), and to observe its effect on inflammatory factors and fibrinolytic factors.

METHODSBy adopting a randomization grouping, parallel control, and prospective study, 73 T2DM patients of QYDPSIOS were assigned to two groups by random digit table, the Pioglitazone Tablet group (36 cases, as the control) and the JTXZC group (37 cases). All patients maintained their basic therapies and lifestyle as previous after recruitment. Patients in the JTXZC group took JTXZC, 4 pills each time, three times per day, while those in control group took Pioglitazone Tablet, 15 mg each time, once daily. The therapeutic course for all was 8 weeks. The body weight (BW), the height, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and scoring of Chinese medicine (TCM) symptoms were observed. Levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2 h postprandial blood glucose (2 h PBG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAL-1) were detected. The safety indices such as liver and renal functions and adverse reactions were also observed.

RESULTSCompared with before treatment, BW, BMI, HbA1c, and PBG were obviously lower after 8-week treatment than before treatment in the JTXZC group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in post-treatment BW, BMI, HbA1c, or 2 h PBG between the two groups (P < 0.05). Compared with before treatment, levels of TNF-alpha and PAI-1 were lowered after 8 weeks of treatment in both groups (P < 0.01). The level of NF-kappaB was obviously lowered after 8 weeks of treatment in the control groups (P < 0.05), but it also decreased in the JTXZC group with no statistical difference. The scorings of CM symptoms were somewhat improved after treatment in the two groups (P < 0.01). Besides, better effects were obtained in the JTXZC group (P < 0.05). No severe adverse event occurred in either group during the whole therapeutic course.

CONCLUSIONSJTXZC showed similar therapeutic effect to pioglitazone. Both of them could effectively improve patients' clinical symptoms, the inflammation and fibrinolytic activities in different pathways, with no severe adverse reaction.

Adult ; Aged ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Qi ; Thiazolidinediones ; therapeutic use ; Yin Deficiency ; drug therapy

Humans ; Inflammation ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Pneumonia ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Qi ; Syndrome