OBJECTIVETo study the clinical efficacy of Chinese herbal retention enema combined with intrauterine douching for patients with endometritis diagnosed by hysteroscopy. They failed in in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)-embryo transfer (ET) treatment.

METHODS131 patients received hysteroscopy after they failed in routine IVF/ICSI-ET treatment. Of them, 66 patients diagnosed as endometritis were enrolled as the test group and 65 patients without endometritis were enrolled as the control group. Chinese herbal retention enema combined with intrauterine douching was performed on patients in the test group before the next IVF/ICSI, while direct IVF/ICSI was performed on those in the control group. The embryo implantation rate and the clinical pregnancy rate were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe clinical pregnancy rate and the embryo implantation rate were 48.5% and 24.2% respectively, while they were 29.2% and 14.9% respectively in the control group, showing significant difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONChinese herbal retention enema combined with intrauterine douching could improve the embryo implantation rate and the clinical pregnancy in patients with endometritis.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Embryo Transfer ; Endometritis ; therapy ; Enema ; methods ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Hysteroscopy ; methods ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Therapeutic Irrigation ; methods ; Treatment Failure

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between compositions of hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome among residents aged > or =20 years.

METHODSA stratified cluster sampling was conducted with 7887 dwellers recruited and examinaed. Blood samples were then collected for serum detection. Available data was analyzed using SPSS 13.0.

RESULTSThe incidence rates of obesity, hypertension and hyperglycemia for hyperuricemia were 53.4% with OR = 2.568 (95% CI: 2.103-3.137), 38.8% with OR= 2.157 (95% CI: 1.856-2.508) and 21.9% with OR = 1.850 (95% CI: 1.552-2.205) respectively. Along with the increase of uric acid, body mass index changed the most followed by triglyceridemia. The change of hyperglycemia for men and cholesterol for women were not prominent. Conclusion The relationship between compositions of hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome was close, suggesting that hyperuricemia might serve as one of the compositions of metabolic syndrome and could contribute to the prevention and control of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

Adult ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperuricemia ; complications ; epidemiology ; Incidence ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; complications ; epidemiology ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors of hyperuricemia among residents aged >/= 20 years.

METHODSA community based case-control study was conducted in 286 patients with 858 controls without hyperuricemia. Available data were analyzed by mono-factorial and multi-factorial logistic regression methods using SPSS 10.0 software.

RESULTS17 factors related to exposure were identified for hyperuricemia the mono-factorial analysis when; five factors were selected through multiple factoral logistic regression model at P = 0.05 level. The risk factors on hyperuricemia were: hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 3.069), alcohol consumption (OR = 2.032), obesity (OR = 1.802), taste of spicy food (OR = 1.877) and hyperglycemia (OR = 1.622).

CONCLUSIONHyperuricemia is a disease associated with environment and style-life. Changing lifestyle, such as decreasing alcohol consumption and adopting proper structure of diet may prevent or decrease the chance of getting hyperuricemia and gout.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alcohol Drinking ; adverse effects ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Diet ; Female ; Gout ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Hyperuricemia ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Life Style ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; complications ; Risk Factors ; Sampling Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo observe the change of cytokine interleukin IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) occurred in acute paraquat (PQ) poisoning rats and to investigate the mechanism of acute lung injury caused by paraquat (PQ) poisoning.

METHODSAll 72 healthy adult Wistar rats were random assigned into normal control groups, paraquat high dose group (120 mg/kg), paraquat middle dose (60 mg/kg) group, paraquat low dose group (30 mg/kg). Three observing periods of time included 8, 24, 72 h and the standards of TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-10 were determined.

RESULTSEvery index of the PQ group was significantly higher than that in the NS group at the same period of time (P<0.05 or P<0.01). In the 72 h group, the high dose group was significantly higher than the middle and low dose group (P<0.05), and there was no significantly difference between the middle and low dose group (P>0.05). For the comparison of index in the same dose group, the group of 72 h was much higher than 8 h group and 24 h group (P<0.05), and there was no difference between the 8h group and 24 h group (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe cytokine may play an important role in paraquat-induced acute lung tissue injury.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Cytokines ; blood ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-1beta ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of carboxymethyl chitosan calcium (CCC) on concentration of lead, calcium and zinc, and the liver antioxidative capacity in lead poisoned mice.

METHODSMice were randomly divided into 7 groups, including normal group, calcium carbonate group, lead-model group, and three experimental groups treated with CCC in three different doses, and the CaNa2EDTA positive control group. The lead poisoned mice model was established by giving water contained with lead acetate. CCC was administrated to mice i.g. once a day. Thirty days later, mice were killed and the concentrations of lead, calcium and zinc in blood, liver, brain and femur were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Maleic dialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in liver were measured by using assay kit.

RESULTSCCC significantly reduced the concentration of lead in blood, brain, liver and femur from about 1.56 microg/g, 13.38 microg/g, 16.15 microg/g, 1011.62 microg/g to about 0.50 microg/g, 5.57microg/g, 5.64 microg/g, 457.86 microg/g, and markedly increased the concentration of calcium in femur in lead poisoned mice. CCC had no significant side-effects on concentration of zinc in lead poisoned mice. The antioxidative profile was favorably changed as manifested by decreasing the level of MDA, increasing the activities of SOD, GSH-Px and T-AOC in livers of the in lead poisoned mice.

CONCLUSIONCCC might significantly advance the excretion of lead, increase the concentration of calcium in femur and the antioxidative capacity in lead-loaded mice.

Animals ; Brain Chemistry ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Chitosan ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Female ; Femur ; chemistry ; Lead ; metabolism ; Lead Poisoning ; metabolism ; Liver ; chemistry ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Zinc ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDAtrial fibrillation (AF) is accompanied by atrial structural remodeling. Calpain activity is induced during AF. To test a causal relationship between calpain activation and atrial structural changes, N-acetyl-Leu-Leu-Met (ALLM), a calpain inhibitor, was utilized in a canine AF model.

METHODSFifteen dogs were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham-operated group, control group and calpain inhibitor group; each with 5 dogs. Sustained AF was induced by rapid right atrium pacing at 600 beats per minute for 3 weeks. ALLM was administered at a dosage of 1.0 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) in the calpain inhibitor group. Three weeks later, the proteolysis, protein expression of TnT and myosin, calpain I localization and expression and structural changes were examined in left atrial free walls, right atrial free walls and the interatrial septum respectively. Atrial size and contractile function were also measured by echocardiography.

RESULTSLong-term rapid atrial pacing induced marked structural changes such as enlarged atrial volume, myolysis, degradation of TnT and myosin, accumulation of glycogen and changes in mitochondrial shape and size, which were paralleled by an increase in calpain activity. The positive correlation between calpain activity and the degree of myolysis (r(s) = 0.90 961, P < 0.0001) was demonstrated. In addition to structural abnormalities, pacing-induced atrial contractile dysfunction was observed in this study. The pacing-induced atrial structural alterations and loss of contractility were partially prevented by the calpain inhibitor ALLM.

CONCLUSIONSActivation of calpain represents key features in the progression towards overt structural remodeling. Calpain inhibitor, ALLM, suppressed the increased calpain activity and reversed structural remodeling caused by sustained atrial fibrillation in the present model. Calpain inhibition may therefore provide a possibility for therapeutic intervention in AF.

Animals ; Atrial Fibrillation ; pathology ; Calpain ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dogs ; Heart Atria ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Myosins ; analysis ; Troponin T ; analysis

BACKGROUNDTranscatheter occlusion has been applied to treat ostium secundum atrial septal defect (OS ASD) since 1997. During the clinical practice, several postoperative complications including arrhythmia have been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the value of the ratio of atrial septal occluder (ASO) versus atrial septal length (ASL) for predicting arrhythmia occurrence after transcatheter closure in children with OS ASD.

METHODSSix hundred and fifty-one children diagnosed with OS ASD underwent occlusion procedures after completing routine examinations. The onsets and types of arrhythmia both during and after the occlusion procedures were monitored. Treatments were given based on the individual types of arrhythmia. The binary logistic regression analysis and receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used in the analysis of value of the ratio of ASO/ASL for predicting postoperative arrhythmia occurrence.

RESULTSTranscather occlusions were conducted in 651 children, among whom 7 children had different types and degrees of arrhythmia, with an incidence of 1.1%. The types of arrhythmia included sinus bradycardia, atrial premature beats, bundle branch block, and different degrees of atrioventricular block. Normal electrocardiograph findings were resumed in these 7 patients following active therapies such as corticoids, nutrition, and surgeries. The binary logistic regression and ROC analysis suggested that the ratio of ASO/ASL exhibited an intermediate predictive value for predicting arrhythmia occurrence after occlusion procedures. A cut-off value of 0.576 in the ratio provided a sensitivity of 87.5% and a specificity of 76.2% with an area under the ROC curve of 0.791 (95% confidence intervals, 0.655-0.926; P < 0.05) in predicting arrhythmia occurrence after the closure procedures.

CONCLUSIONSThe ratio of ASO/ASL might be a useful index for predicting arrhythmia occurrence after closure procedures in children with OS ASD.

Adolescent ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; diagnosis ; Atrial Septum ; surgery ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Female ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; diagnosis ; Septal Occluder Device

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the influence of combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy for early postoperative pulmonary function, and to study the relative factors for postoperative pulmonary complications.

METHODSFrom September 2009 to December 2010, 61 patients with esophageal cancer had undergone esophagectomy surgery, of which 32 patients had undergone combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy (CTLE group), and 29 patients had undergone open three-field esophagectomy (open group). Pulmonary function, including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) were measured on the 1(th) preoperative day, 5(th) and 10(th) postoperative day, and arterial blood gas analyses were performed during the same period. Meanwhile, pain scores and other potentially relevant factors were recorded as well.

RESULTSPreoperative pulmonary function and arterial blood gas analysis, including FEV(1)%, FVC%, PaO2 in two groups had no significant difference (t = -1.608 to 0.709, P = 0.113 to 0.481). On the 10(th) postoperative day, FEV(1)%, FVC%, PaO2, and SaO2 of two groups were significantly different (FEV(1)%: 77% ± 17% vs. 53% ± 13%, t = 6.241, P = 0.000; FVC%: 78% ± 13% vs. 57% ± 16%, t = 5.549, P = 0.000; PaO2: (87 ± 9) mmHg vs. (79 ± 14) mmHg, t = 2.477, P = 0.017; SaO2: 96% ± 3% vs. 94% ± 2%, t = 2.313, P = 0.024; 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa). Pain score of CTLE group was lower than open group, and the scores of two groups had significant difference before the 5(th) day after surgery (t = -4.398 to -1.815, P = 0.000 to 0.049). Postoperative pulmonary complications of CTLE group was lower than open group (6/32 vs. 12/29, χ(2) = 3.745, P = 0.049).

CONCLUSIONSCombined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy has advantages on early postoperative pulmonary function. It can relatively reduce the incidence of pulmonary complications after surgery.

Aged ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Thoracoscopy

OBJECTIVETo assess the effectiveness and safety of non-permanent filter in preventing pulmonary embolism (PE) caused by deep venous thromboembolism (DVT).

METHODSThe clinical data of 12 patients who were implanted with non-permanent filter for documented deep venous thromboembolism in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from September 2003 to June 2006 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSAmong these 12 patients, 10 were implanted with temporary filters, and 2 with retrievable filters. All the 12 operations were successful without major complications. In the 10 patients who received temporary filters, filters were smoothly removed after 4 weeks in 9 patients, while one patient was further treated with anticoagulation therapy for 12 weeks because large emboli were entrapped by filter. In the 2 patients who received retrievable filters, filter were smoothly removed 2 weeks later in one patient; however, in another patient, the filter was left inside because large emboli were entrapped by filter. In all the 12 patients, emboli were entrapped in 6 filters (50%), in which the emboli were larger than 2 cm in 2 patients, larger than 1 cm but less than 2 cm in 1 patient, and less than 1 cm in 3 patients. PE scanning was performed in 10 patients before primary implantation, and PE was found in 5 patients. PE scanning was performed in 8 patients 6 months after implantation, and minor PE was found in 4 patients, whose symptoms and affected pulmonary artery were obviously improved. All patients received regular follow-up (ranged from 3 months to 2 years), 1 patient died of malignant tumor 4 months after operation, 1 patient suffered inferior vena cava occlusion due to large emboli entrapped by the temporary filter, and 1 patient experienced the recurrence of symptomatic DVT. Symptoms were improved in all the 5 patients with PE.

CONCLUSIONSNon-permanent filter can safely and effectively protect patients from PE. More standardized criteria for placement and protocols to ensure timely removal should be developed and implemented.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; blood supply ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Embolism ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Retrospective Studies ; Vena Cava Filters ; Vena Cava, Inferior ; Venous Thrombosis ; complications

Objective: To compare the therapeutic efficacy between warm needling moxibustion and electroacupuncture (EA) in the treatment of simple obesity due to yang deficiency of the spleen and kidney. Methods: Seventy patients with simple obesity due to yang deficiency of the spleen and kidney were randomly divided into a warm needling moxibustion group and an EA group, with 35 subjects in each group. Same major acupoints were selected for the two groups, including Shuifen (CV 9), Guanyuan (CV 4), Daheng (SP 15), Shuidao (ST 28), Shousanli (LI 10), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Taixi (KI 3). The warm needling moxibustion group received warm needling moxibustion, while the EA group received EA treatment. The interventions were performed once every other day, with 15 treatments as one course. The therapeutic efficacy, body weight and body mass index (BMI) were then observed and compared. Results: The total effective rate in the warm needling moxibustion group was 85.7％ versus 77.1％ in the EA group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The warm needling moxibustion was remarkably superior to the EA in weight loss and lowering BMI, both with statistical significance (P<0.05, P<0.01). At the three-month follow-up, the body weight and BMI further decreased in the warm needling moxibustion group (both P<0.05), and the levels were lower than those in the EA group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion: Warm needling moxibustion can produce reliable and consistent efficacy in the treatment of simple obesity due to yang deficiency of the spleen and kidney. Compared with EA, warm needling moxibustion shows advantage in both short-term and long-term efficacies, and thus is worth promotion in clinical practice.