Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; Humans ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy

Adult ; Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia ; physiopathology ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Dermatomycoses ; drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; drug therapy ; Skin Diseases ; drug therapy ; Skin Diseases, Viral ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) with branch-foundation acupoint combination on the indices regarding pituitary-target gland axis in aging rats with yang deficiency, so as to explore its regulating mechanism on aging rats with yang deficiency.

METHODSForty healthy Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomly divided into a normal control group, a model group, an EA group and an EA control group, 10 rats in each group. Except the normal control group, the rats in the rest 3 groups were all treated with subcutaneous injection of D-galactose for 40 d, followed by intramuscular injection of hydrocortisone for 7 d to establish aging model with yang deficiency. After the successful establishment of model, the EA group was treated with EA at "Guanyuan" (CV 4), "Housanli" (ST 36) and "Baihui "(GV 20) while the EA control group was treated with EA at "Zhongji" (CV 3) "Yinlingquan" (SP 9) and "Yintang" (GV 29); the rats in the normal control group and model group were immobilized and fixed during the same time period. The treatments were given 6 times per week totally for 4 weeks. With radiation immunity analysis method, the 8 biological indices of pituitary-target gland axis, including thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), tetraiodothyronine-4 (T4), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), corticosterone (CORT), estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were detected to observe the changes of their content.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the serum level of TSH, T3, T4 and E2 were reduced in the model group (P<0.05, P< 0.01) while those of ACTH, CORT, FSH and LH were increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the serum level of TSH, T3, T4 and E2 were increased in the EA group (P<0.05, P<0.01) while those of ACTH, CORT, FSH and LH were significantly reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the EA control group, the content of TSH was increased in the EA group without statistical significance (P>0.05), that of T3, T4 and E2 was increased (all P<0.05) and that of ACTH, CORT, FSH and LH was significantly reduced (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe electroacupuncture with branch-foundation acupoint combination has benign regulating effects on the key hormones of pituitary-target gland axis, which could effectively improve the dysfunction of pituitary-target gland axis that is caused by aging with yang deficiency; the efficacy of electroacupuncture with branch-foundation acupoint combination is superior to that of adjacent control acupoint combination.

Acupuncture Points ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; blood ; secretion ; Aging ; blood ; metabolism ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Electroacupuncture ; Estradiol ; blood ; secretion ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; secretion ; Humans ; Pituitary Gland ; secretion ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thyroid Hormones ; blood ; secretion ; Yang Deficiency ; blood ; metabolism ; therapy

Adult ; Antigens, CD20 ; metabolism ; Empyema, Pleural ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; virology ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; virology ; Male ; Pleural Neoplasms ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; virology ; Radiography

OBJECTIVETo study on the reliability of the Akagi line as a reference axis to guide for rotational alignment of the proximal tibial component in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) the rotational alignment reference bony landmarks of the proximal tibial component on magnetic resonance image (MRI) were measured.

METHODSFrom January 2010 to December 2013, 80 normal knees of Chinese volunteers including 35 males and 45 females with an average age of (35.4±6.1) years were reviewed. The images of the knees were obtained by MRI. The surgical epicondylar axis (STEA) was identified in the femoral transverse sections and then was projected to the side of tibia, forming the SETA'. A line connecting the medial border of the patellar tendon and the middle of the posterior cruciate ligament insertion (Akagi line) and its vertical line (AK), as well as a line connecting the medial 1/3 of the patellar tendon and the middle of the posterior cruciate ligament insertion and its vertical line (AP), were identified in the tibial transverse sections. The angles were measured between the AK, AP and STEA'.

RESULTSThe angle between AK and STEA' was (0.59±2.07)°, and there was no significant difference between the two lines (t=-2.54, P=0.13). The mean angle between AP and STEA' was (3.21±2.04)°, and there was a significant difference between the two lines (t=14.05, P<0.05). There was a significant difference between the AK and AP (t=-11.68, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe reliability of the Akagi line as a reference axis to guide for rotational alignment of the proximal tibial component in TKA is good.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reproducibility of Results ; Rotation ; Tibia ; surgery

Objective To evaluate the value of fMRI guided brain surgery for the lesions in or around Broca's area.Methods Forty-three patients with lesions in or adjacent to the Broca's area were studied.fMRI imaging was obtained by BOLD technique with the tasks of reciting.Fiber tract imaging of white matter was obtained by DTI technique.All functional imaging and anatomic imaging were transferred to neuronavigation system.The technique of direct cortical stimulation was used to validate the language cortex in fMRI.The lesions were resected in microscope.Results Broca's area activation was detected in 38 cases..The distance between the fMRI peak and direct cortical stimulation was rated as overlapping (<1 cm diatance) in 25 cases and neighbouring (<2 cm diatance) in 11 cases.Total lesion resection was achieved in 17 cases, subtotal resection in 14 cases, and partial resection in 12 cases.Postoperative neurological functions were improved in 8 cases, unchanged in 31 cases, and temporary worsen in 4 cases.Conclusions The identification of the Broca's area by reciting task in fMRI is sensitive and precise.The fMRI is helpful to decrease the side effect injury in the brain surgery for the lesions in or around the Broca's area.

OBJECTIVETo explore the diagnostic value of 3D-indirectmagnetic resonance (MR) arthrography in detecting meniscustears of the knees.

METHODSForm January 2013 to January 2014, routine plain MR of the knees followed by the 3D-indirect MR arthrography was performed in 42 patients with suspected meniscal tears clinically. There were 31 males and 11 females, with an average age of 38.4 years old (ranged, 21 to 67 years old). The duration of the course ranged from 2 h to 15 d. The clinical symptom was knee pain. All the patients got subsequently arthroscopic examination or operation. The sensitivity and specificity of routine plain MR and 3D-indirect MR arthrography were compared based on the results of arthroscopic examination or operation.

RESULTSThe signal intensity in the area of meniscal tears on image of 3D-indirect MR arthrography was obviously higher than that of routine plain MR. The sensitivity of 3D-indirect MR arthrography was 85.79% (87/102), while the routine plain MR was 52.94% (54/102), and the specificity improved from 67.78%(61/90) to 86.67%(78/90). The difference was statistically significant (χ2 = 25.90, P < 0.01; χ2 = 9.13, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONIn comparison with the routine plain MR findings, 3D-indirect MR arthrography demonstrates meniscus tears of the knee with the better sensitivity and specificity.

Adult ; Aged ; Arthrography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Knee Injuries ; diagnosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tibial Meniscus Injuries

OBJECTIVETo determine the mechanism of pseudo-tears of the lateral meniscus caused by the transverse geniculate ligament (TL) and the miniscofemoral ligament(MFL) and to investigate a method to differentiate pseudo-tears from true tear of the lateral meniscus.

METHODSForm June 2012 to February 2014, MR examinations of 72 knees (44 left knees and 28 right knees) without tear of the lateral meniscus verified by arthroscopy were performed in the sagittal and coronal plane. There were 41 males and 31 females in the group, with an average age of 33.7 years old (ranged from 25 to 61). The MR appearance of the TL and the MFL was carefully observed.

RESULTSThere existed fatty tissue in the gap between the TL and the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus and its central tendinous attachment. On the sagittal images, the fatty tissue formed a linear high-signal cleft between the TL and the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus. This might be mistaken as an oblique tear within the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus. It was called as pseudo-tears of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus. In sagittal plane, the MFL was identified as a circle-like or short stick-like area of low signal intensity anterior or posterior to the posterior cruciateligament. Nevertheless, a belt-shaped area of low signal intensity from the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus to lateral facet of the medial femoral condyle was identified in the coronal plane. A linear area of high signal intensity between the MFL and the lateral meniscus was found in sagittal plane, which might be mistaken as an oblique tear within the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus. It was called pseudo-tears of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus. The occurrence rate of the TL was 34.7% (25/72). The prevaleribe of pseudo-tears of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus was 18 cases. The shape of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus was regular, and the course of the pseudo-tears cleft was oblique. The occurrence rate of the MFL was 73.6% (53/72), which included the anterior MFL 23.6% (17/72), the posterior MFL 70.8% (51/72) and the two ligaments coexisted 16.7% (12/72). The prevalence of pseudo-tears of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus was 25 cases. All observed pseudo-tears had either in posteroinferiorly oblique direction (19/25) or in vertical direction (6/25).

CONCLUSIONBased on the location and direction of pseudo-tears and observation in the continuous sagittal plane and the coronal plane, pseudo-tears is easily differentiated from the true tear of the lateral meniscus

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Injuries ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Knee Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Menisci, Tibial ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Tibial Meniscus Injuries

OBJECTIVEMyriocin (ISP-1) is a new type of immune inhibitor extracted from cordyceps sinensis. This study was to observe the effects of ISP-1 on the expression of cell cycle regulatory protein D1 (cyclinD1) in high glucose-induced hypertrophy rat glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs).

METHODSRat GMCs were cultured in vitro and divided into three groups: high glucose (450 mg/dL D-glucose), normal glucose (100 mg/dL D-glucose, control) and ISP-1 (450 mg/dL D-glucose plus 100 μg/mL ISP-1). The protein expression of cyclinD1 was detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe expression of cyclinD1 in GMCs in the high glucose group increased significantly in a time-dependent manner compared with that in the control group. ISP-1 treatment significantly inhibited the up-regulated expression of cyclinD1 induced by high concentration glucose, and the expression of cyclinD1 was restored to the level of the control group 48 and 72 hrs after ISP-1 treatment.

CONCLUSIONSHigh concentration of glucose can up-regulate the expression of cyclinD1 in GMCs. ISP-1 may inhibit the up-regulated expression of cyclinD1, which might contribute to the protective effect of ISP-1 against GMC hypertrophy induced by high glucose.

Animals ; Cyclin D1 ; analysis ; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated ; pharmacology ; G1 Phase ; Glucose ; toxicity ; Hypertrophy ; Mesangial Cells ; chemistry ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley