Objective To explore the changes of weight,body mass index(MBI),serum glucose,serum insulin in sodium valproate(VPA)-treated children with epilepsy.Methods The study was carried out in 30 epileptic children treated with VPA for 3 months.Weight,height,serum glucose and insulin levels were conducted before and after VPA treatment.Serum insulin levels were detected by radioimmunoassay.Results After 3 months' treatment,body weight [(15.68?3.82)kg vs(19.64?4.75)kg,t=3.56 P0.05].Conclusions VPA therapy can make insuline weight,BMI,serum insulin increased and may lead to insulin resistance.Insulin resistance may be one of the reasons for weight gain in VPA-treated patients.

Objective To study the feasibility of defining the internal gross tumor volume (IGTV) of hepatocellular carcinoma applying the enhanced four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) images with deformable registration technology.Methods Ten HCC patients who accepted radiation therapy were selected in this study.The 4DCT in free breathing,non-enhanced 3DCT and arterial phase enhanced 3DCT in end inspiration breath holding associated with active breathing coordinator were acquired sequentially.4DCT were sorted into ten series CT images according to breath phase,and named CT00,CT10..…CT90.Gross tumor volume (GTV) were contoured on different CT series and the IGTV1 was merged by ten phases GTVs of 4DCT.The GTV of enhanced 3DCT was registered to different CT series of 4DCT and the IGTVDR was obtained by merging the GTVs after deformable registration.The target volumes differences were compared by paired t-test.Results The edge of tumor was difficult to define on 4DCT and non-enhanced 3DCT images.The enhanced 3DCT image showed clearer tumor edge,and the GTV increased by mean 37.99％ compared to GTV on 4DCT different series images and non-enhanced 3DCT image (P =0.002).The GTV after deformable registration on 4DCT different phase images increased by mean 36.34％ (P =0.011),which were similar to GTV on enhanced 3DCT image (P =0.632).The IGTVDR increased by 19.91％ (P =0.017),compared to IGTV1.Conclusions The contrast-enhanced 4DCT image which was obtained by combining enhanced 3DCT and 4DCT images with deformable registration technology could raise the position precision of the HCC IGTV effectively.

Objective To analyze the efficacy and prognosis of different antiviral agents on compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis.Methods Eight hundred and sixty-five cases of Hepatitis B patients with compensated cirrhosis were randomly divided into five groups:A group(n =143,subcutaneous injection interferon 3 million U every other day for 48 weeks),B group(n =171,orally treatment with lamivudine 100 mg/d for 48weeks),C group(n =137,orally treatment with adefovir 10 mg/d for 48 weeks),D group(n =83,oral treatment with entecavir O.5 mg/d,for 48 weeks) and E group(n =331,treated with general hepatoprotective drugs).Clinical symptoms and signs,changes in liver function were observed and prothrombin time activity degrees (PTA),quantitative HBV-DNA,HBeAg seroconversion and HBeAg/HBeAb conversion situation were detected.Results There were significant differences on HBeAg seroconversion between A group and other four groups after treated for48 weeks(31.5％ vs 13.5％,22.6％,18.1％,5.7％,x2 =58.56,P ＜0.01) and at the end of follow up (33.1％ vs 14.2％,23.3 ％,23.6％,6.4％,x2 =52.87,P ＜ 0.01).Patients' condition in A,B,C,D groups progressed slowly,and their incidence rates of decompensate cirrhosis were significantly lower than that in group E(x2 =122.41,P ＜ 0.01).The incidence rate of liver cancer in group A was significantly lower than that in B,C,D,E groups (x2 =19.61,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion Antiviral therapy of interferon and nucleoside drugs can slow the progression of compensated Hepatitis B cirrhosis and reduce the incidence rates of decompensate cirrhosis.And interferon can significantly reduce the incidence rate of liver cancer.

AIM:To observe the changes in serum cytokines in patients with lumbar disc herniation(LDH) following Shenshi Tongluo therapy(discharging damp and dredging collaterals).METHODS:①Forty-three patients with LDH(cold-damp arthralgia type) were selected from Wangjing Hospital,China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences from February to December 2005,and randomly divided into experimental group(n =22) and control group(n =21).The informed consent was obtained from all subjects.Meanwhile,30 healthy volunteers were selected as controls.②The patients in the experimental group orally took modified Semen Coicis decoction(Semen Coicis,eucommia bark,Radix dipsaci,cocculi,Chinese clematis root,caulis millettiae,angelica root,achyranthis,and paeoniae radix) according to Shenshi Tongluo therapy,one dose daily for 4 weeks.The patients in control group took Yaotong Ning capsule,4 pills per day,once daily for 4 weeks.③ Contents of serum interleukin-1 ?(IL-1?),IL-6,tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF-?) in patients were detected using radioimmunoassay before and after treatment.Clinical outcome was evaluated using visual analog scale(VAS) and assessment criteria for low lumbar pain of Japanese Orthopedic Association(JOA).RESULTS:①Contents of serum IL-1?,IL-6,and TNF-? in patients were higher than healthy people(P

Objective To provide updated recommendations for further adjustment of iodine deficiency disorders control strategy by evaluating awareness of the dangers of iodine deficiency disorders and their prevention and control measures among local residents and the willingness of choosing iodized or non-iodized salt in urban communities of Jiangsu province.Methods Trained health service workers did questionnaire investigation on iodine deficiency disorders prevention knowledge by calling computer-randomly selected family telephone numbers in every two blocks of provincial capital (Nanjing) and coastal city (Nantong) in Jiangsu province in 2010.The survey topics covered include:when supplied with both non-iodized and iodized salt,what kind of salt the local residents chose and the reasons; residents awareness of the dangers of iodine deficiency disorders and their prevention and control measures; resident's personal information(including only occupational category and age group).Key fields were rechecked from 10％ randomly selected valid questionnaires.Results Four hundred and fifty-five valid questionnaires were obtained by calling 2021 randomized telephone numbers in Nanjing and Nantong cities.After 10.1％(46/455) of the valid questionnaires were rechecked,the total coincidence rate was 87.0％(40/46).In the two cities,there were 73.2％ (333/455) of those 455 respondents saying they would choose iodized salt when iodized and non-iodized salt were supplied at the same time.There were 69.0％(314/455) of respondents had heard of iodine deficiency disorders,of which 79.6％(250/314) of them were aware of the dangers of iodine deficiency is endemic goiter,and 10.8％ (34/314) of them knew that iodine deficiency can cause varying degrees of mental damage.With respect to useful preventive methods of iodine deficiency disorders,there were 69.4％ (218/314) respondents know that eating iodized salt,and 41.1％ (129/314) respondents know that taking laver or kelp would prevent iodine deficiency disorders.Conclusions Remarkable achievements on iodine deficiency disorders health promotion and health education have been gained in urban communities of both the provincial capital and the coastal city Jiangsu province.However,some of the people are still not very clear why we should eat iodized salt.Salt industry in the current management system,is still premature to provide iodized salt and non-iodized salt simultaneously now.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperoxaluria, Primary ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Kidney Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Male ; Recurrence

OBJECTIVETo study the optimum acupuncture treatment program and the mechanism for treatment of cerebral infarction.

METHODSSixty-three cases were randomly divided into 9 groups. The four factors, times of manipulation, the retaining time of the needle, acupuncture instrument and acupoints,and their corresponding three levels were adopted respectively in treatment of each group. Then nerve function defect score and insulin resistance were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe acupoints, the times of manipulation and the retaining time of the needle have significant effects on nerve function defect and insulin resistance (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), and the acupuncture instrument has a significant effect on insulin resistance (P < 0.01). The choice of acupoints was the most important factor for acupuncture treatment of cerebral infarction.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture for regulating The Governor Vessel with twice manipulations and retaining the needle for 60 min is optimum treatment program for cerebral infarction. The good regulating effect of acupuncture on insulin resistance is one of the mechanisms of achieving the therapeutic results.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Cerebral Infarction ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Needles

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Female ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of L-carnitine (LC) on the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells and on the count and motility of epididymal sperm in rats with diabetes mellitus (DM).

METHODSTwenty-four SD rats (200-230 g) were randomly divided into a control group, a DM model group and an LC group. After the establishment of DM models in the latter two groups by injection of streptozotocin (STZ) at 65 mg/kg, the controls and DM models were treated intragastrically with physiological saline, while the rats in the LC group with LC at 300 mg/kg, all for 6 consecutive weeks. Twenty-four hours after the last administration, all the rats were killed for the detection of the count and motility of epididymal sperm and the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells.

RESULTSThe motilities of caput and cauda epididymal sperm were (53.7 +/- 1.8)% and (60.3 +/- 1.6)% in the LC group, significantly higher than in the DM model group ([32.2 +/- 2.0]% and [40.5 +/- 1.4]%, P < 0.05), but remarkably lower than in the control ([63.1 +/- 2.4 ]% and [68.9 +/- 1.3]%, P < 0.05). The count of cauda epididymal sperm was (25.5 +/- 1.1) x 10(6)/100 mg in the DM models, and was increased to (32.0 +/- 1.5) x 10(6)/100 mg after LC treatment (P < 0.05), but still markedly lower than in the controls ([37.8 +/- 1.1] x 10(6)/100 mg) (P < 0.05). The apoptosis rate of spermatogenic cells was (52.5 +/- 4.4)% in the DM model group, and it was reduced to (35.3 +/- 3.5)% after LC administration (P < 0.05), but still significantly higher than in the control group ([3.7 +/- 1.3]%) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIntragastrically gavage of LC at 300 mg/kg for 6 weeks increased the epididymal sperm count, improved sperm motility, and reduced the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in rats with DM.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carnitine ; pharmacology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; physiopathology ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects

BACKGROUNDThe relationship between cyclosporine-induced chronic nephrotoxicity (CAN) and renin-angiotensin II in humans is still contradictory. This study was conducted to detect the levels of renin and angiotensin II (ANGII) both in renal tissue and plasma from kidney transplantation patients suffering from CAN.

METHODSTwenty-six patients with allograft biopsy-proven CsA-related chronic nephrotoxicity (CAN group) and chronic rejection (control group) were enrolled in this study. Renal tissues were subjected to immunohistochemical staining with renin and ANGII antibodies. Renin and ANGII plasma levels were measured when the biopsy was performed. The relationship between expression of renin or ANGII and clinicopathological manifestations were also investigated. The cyclosporine plasma level was obtained 2 hours after morning dose (C2). In vitro, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and rat mesangial cells (MC) were incubated with different concentrations of CsA (0, 250, 500, 1000 microg/L) for 24 hours. Secretion and expression of renin and ANGII was measured by radioimmunoassay or immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSRenal pathological scores for renin and ANGII expression were significantly higher in specimens of CAN than in controls (P < 0.05). The plasma levels of renin, ANGII and C(2) in the CAN group were higher than the control group, but no significant difference was found ((0.37 +/- 0.12) ng x ml(-1)x h(-1) vs (0.20 +/- 0.10) ng x ml(-1) x h(-1), P = 0.076; (122.69 +/- 26.73) pg/ml vs (121.88 +/- 36.35) pg/ml, P = 0.977; (719.04 +/- 55.89) ng/ml vs (658.80 +/- 90.78) ng/ml, P = 0.196, respectively). In vitro, renin as well as ANGII expression increased significantly in both HUVEC and MC after the cells were incubated with CsA for 24 hours (P < 0.05). CsA also stimulated the secretion of ANGII in HUVEC and MC in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONSRenal allograft biopsy is important to differentiate chronic CsA-related nephropathy from chronic rejection. The intrarenal renin angiotensin system plays an important role in CsA-related chronic nephropathy. The histological lesions of CsA nephrotoxicity fail to correspond spontaneously to either the change of C2 level or the change of renin and ANGII plasma level. CsA stimulates the secretion of ANGII and the expression of renin and ANGII in HUVEC and MC. Blockage of RAS may be helpful for therapeutic intervention in the progression of CsA-related chronic nephropathy.

Adult ; Aged ; Angiotensin II ; analysis ; blood ; Cyclosporine ; adverse effects ; Endothelial Cells ; chemistry ; drug effects ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; adverse effects ; Kidney ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renin ; analysis ; blood ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; drug effects