This study was aimed to observe clinical efficacy of Bushen Huoxue Kaiqiao (BSHXKQ) treatment of diabetes-induced vascular mild cognitive impairment . A total of 30 cases of diabetes-induced vascular mild cognitive impairment were randomly divided into the treatment group ( 15 cases ) and the control group ( 15 cas-es). The treatment group received free-fried BSHXKQ prescription (Cistanche 10 g, Shichangpu 5 g, Sanqi 2 . 5 g ) for treatment 3 times a day , and in combination of 30 mg of nimodipine , 3 times a day . In the con-trol group , 30 mg of nimodipine was orally administrated 3 times a day . The treatment was continued for 6 months. Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADL), Montreal Cognitive Assessment Beijing Edition ( MoCA ) and TCM Syndrome Score were used in the evaluation before and after the treatment . The results showed that the rate of progress was in both groups after treatment . In the treatment group , the rate was 86 . 70%, and in the control group the rate was 33 . 33%. The total effective rate in the treatment group was superior to the control group ( P < 0 . 05 ) . There were statistical significances in the MoCa Scale , ADL Scale and TCM Syndrome Score before and after treatment in each group ( P < 0 . 05 ) . The treatment ef-fect in the treatment group was superior to the control group ( P < 0 . 05 ) . There was no statistical significance in the incidence of adverse events in both groups . It was concluded that the effect of BSHXKQ prescription in the treatment of diabetes-induced vascular mild cognitive impairment was superior to nimodipine in improving activities of daily living , cognitive function , degree of dementia and TCM syndrome score . There was no differ-ence in the incidence of adverse events compared with nimodipine .

OBJECTIVEThe traditional gracilis musculocutaneous flap is supplied by a branch of deep femoral artery, which enters the muscle in between the upper and middle third of it. So the flap barely reaches the pelvis and perineum region for reconstruction. By exploring the blood supply pattern we tried to rotate the flap Upon at the higher point starting at the obturator foramen in order to let it cover a bigger area.

METHODSanatomical reviewing of the blood supply of the gracilis branches of obturator, medial femoral circumflex and deep femoral arteries. Based on this a new type of longitudinal gracilis musculocutaneous flap supported only by the obturator artery was designed to reach the pelvis, female genitalia, pubic symphysis, inguinal area easily.

RESULTSThe new kind of flap has been applied to 9 patients for deformity repairing and tissue replacement in the pelvic and perineal area. All the flaps survived and achieved satisfactory result with 3 months to 3 years' follow up.

CONCLUSIONSLongitudinal gracilis musculocutaneous flaps supplied by the obturator artery can be used as regular musculocutaneous flap clinically.

Female ; Femoral Artery ; surgery ; Humans ; Muscle, Skeletal ; blood supply ; transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply

OBJECTIVE: To develop the visual uroflow scale (VUS), analyze the relationship of VUS score and index of free uroflowmetry, assess urination function preliminarily and improve the work efficiency in the clinic. METHODS: Male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) patients, who attended the Department of Urology in Peking University People's Hospital from March 2016 to March 2017, were assessed for their urination function according to the Visual Uroflow Scale without help from clinicians before undertaking a free uroflowmetry test. And afterwards, a free uroflowmetry was undertaken, and variables including maximal flow rate (Qmax), the average flow rate (Qave) and voiding volume (VV) was obtained. During the study, 124 cases were collected and 53 cases met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were included in the study cohort. The Spearman correlation analysis was used for analyzing the correlation of VUS scores with free uroflowmetry variables and age. The validity of VUS was evaluated. RESULTS: Most of the patients could choose the very figure matched with self-condition by first instinct without any help from the clinician. The data were analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis. In the present study, voiding time was positively correlated with the VUS score (correlation coefficient, 0.62, P < 0.05). In the present cohort, the patients chose the third and fourth figures to take longer time to urinate, implying worse LUTS situation. Flow time and VUS scores were positively correlated (correlation coefficient, 0.61, P < 0.05). The patients with higher VUS scores would spend more time on urinate, no matter how long urinary hesitation was. Both Qmax and Qave were negatively correlated with the VUS score (correlation coefficient －0.54, －0.62, P < 0.05). The study illustrated that the VUS score suggested that the Qmax basically and further reflected the urination function. And its relationship to age revealed the decreased urination function of aging male, which had reached a consensus. CONCLUSION Development of VUS has helped the clinician assess the urination function preliminarily at the first time. Patients are assessed for a VUS score before getting surgery or receiving the drug for treatment, and can be re-assessed after. The VUS score can provide an objective quantitative basis to evaluate the treatment efficacy. In addition, considering that it is convenient, timesaving and easy to understand, the VUS is available for follow-up.
Cohort Studies ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Male ; Urination ; Urodynamics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) in the proliferation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) in hypoxia conditions.

METHODSThe following groups in this study were set up: control group, hypoxia group, 50 micromol/L CQ + hypoxia group, 50 micromol/L CQ group. The viability of PASMCs in every group was detected by MTT assay. Autophagic vacuoles in the cells were observed by MDC staining. Protein expression of microtubule associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) was measured by Western blot. Migration of PASMCs was detected by wound healing assay.

RESULTSCompared with control group, no effect on the viability of PASMCs was observed treated by CQ alone. In 1% hypoxia group, cell viability increased significantly compared with that in control group. The number of autophagic vacuoles and the rate of cell migration and also protein expression of LC3-II were also markedly increased. Compared with hypoxia group, addition of CQ increased the number of autophagic vacuoles and the levels of LC3-II protein, but decreased the proliferation and migration of PASMCs.

CONCLUSIONHypoxia could activates autophagy and contributes to proliferation and migration of PASMCs, and autophagy inhibitor CQ could decrease the effect of hypoxia on PASMCs through inhibiting autophagy process.

Autophagy ; drug effects ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Movement ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Chloroquine ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; Pulmonary Artery ; cytology

Objective To observe the oral part of the facial artery and facial vein and to provide anatomical data for clinical applica-tion. Methods The origin, branches, course, diameter, position of oral part of facial artery and facial vein were observed on 32 fixed cada-ves (64 sides). Results The position relation between the facial artery and facial vein is non-constant. Measure the distance from inferior border of mandible to corner of the mouth, angulus mandibulae, mental protuberance midpoint. It is (5. 49 ± 0. 63) cm, (2. 50 ± 0. 89) cm and (6. 20 ± 1. 68) cm in the left side respectively, and (5. 69 ± 0. 72) cm, (2. 56 ± 1. 08) cm and (6. 85 ± 1. 86) cm in the right side re-spectively. The diameter of facial artery in inferior border of mandible is (0. 33 ± 0. 08) cm in the left side and (0. 38 ± 0. 07) cm in the right side;while the diameter of facial vein is (0. 40 ± 0. 12) cm in the left side and (0. 42 ± 0. 18) cm in the right side. The facial artery and facial vein are not concomitant and they are not asymmetry also. The position of superior labial artery arteries is constant, but the position of inferior labial artery arteries have more variations. Conclusion The branches, course, diameter and position of oral part of facial artery and facial vein have a number of variations. The superior labial artery arteries could be positioned more easily than inferior labial artery arter-ies. Being familiar with their distribution is of great importance for clinical application.

INTRODUCTIONUndergraduate evidence-based practice (EBP) is usually taught through standalone courses and workshops away from clinical practice. This study compared the effects of 2 clinically integrated educational strategies on final year medical students.

MATERIALS AND METHODSFinal year medical students rotating to the general medicine service for a 2-week internship were randomly assigned to participate in a weekly EBP-structured case conference focusing on students' primary care patients (Group A, n = 47), or to receive a weekly didactic lecture about EBP (Group B, n = 47). The teaching effects of these 2 interventions were evaluated by a validated instrument for assessment of EBP related knowledge (EBP-K), attitude (EBP-A), personal application (EBP-P), and anticipated future use (EBP-F) on the first and last days of rotation.

RESULTSAll scores improved significantly after the 2-week EBM-teaching for both groups. When compared to Group B, students in Group A had significantly higher post-intervention scores of EBP-K (21.2 ± 3.5 vs 19.0 ± 4.6; ie. 57.8 ± 72.9% vs 29.1 ± 39.1%; P <0.01) and EBP-P (18.7 ± 4.3 vs 15.3 ± 3.9; ie. 28.5 ± 25.5 % vs 14.1 ± 18.7 %; P <0.001). In contrast, the scores of EBP-A and EBP-F were similar between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONStructured case conference, when compared to the didactic lectures, significantly improved EBP-K and EBP-P for final year medical students.

Adult ; Education, Medical, Undergraduate ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; education ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Taiwan ; Teaching ; methods ; Young Adult

Erythropoietin is an endogenous 34 000 glycoprotein hormone composed of 165 amino acids. EPO is mainly derived from the liver of the fetus and synthesized in the kidney after birth, but is secreted by the liver, kidney, brain, reproductive system, bone marrow macrophage and mammary gland. The production of EPO is regulated by hypoxia-inducible factors. EPO can significantly stimulate the proliferation and survival of red blood cells and promote hematopoiesis; it has been used clinically to treat chronic renal anemia, anemia caused by bone marrow tumors and myelodysplasia. EPO has a wide range of physiological functions and it is found in all systems of animal life. Apart from promoting hematopoiesis, EPO also promotes angiogenesis, and shows brain protection, kidney protection, heart protection, regulation of metabolism, regulation of inhalation, protection of the digestive system and reproductive system. Animals without EPO can hardly survive. It illustrates that EPO plays an important role in life.

Objective To explore the correlation between childhood trauma and plasma adiponectin levels in patients with depression.Methods A total of 121 patients with depression and 39 healthy controls(control group)were enrolled.Childhood trauma questionnaire(CTQ-SF)was used to assess the experience of childhood abuse and neglect,and the patients with depression were divided into trauma group(n=53)and non-trauma group(n=68)according to the CTQ-SF score.The 17-item Hamilton depression scale-17(HAMD17)and the Hamilton anxiety scale(HAMA)were used to evaluate the severity of depression and anxiety symptoms,respectively.Plasma adiponectin levels of subjects were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results The plasma adiponectin level of trauma group[3.82(2.44,4.92)μg/mL]was significantly lower than that of non-trauma group[4.64(2.98,6.43)μg/mL,P=0.01]and the control group[6.29(4.54,7.51)μg/mL,P＜0.01].The plasma adiponectin level of non-trauma group was lower than that of the control group(P＜0.01).Correlation analysis showed that plasma adiponectin level in patients with depression was negatively correlated with childhood trauma(r=-0.34,P＜0.01).Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that plasma adiponectin level was negatively correlated with childhood trauma scores in patients with depression(β=-0.05,P＜0.01).Conclusions Patients with depression who have experienced childhood trauma have lower plasma levels of adiponectin,and childhood trauma may be associated with decreased plasma adiponectin levels in patients with depression.

Objective To study the portal venous systemic thrombosis (PVST) in early acute pancreatitis (AP) and its correlations with the classification and severity of AP. Methods A total of 396 patients with AP were admitted to the affiliated hospital of north sichuan medical college from January 2013 to May 2017 and underwent MRI in the early stage of AP. PVST was evaluated on the T1WI, T2WI fat-suppression, and dynamic-enhancement sequences. Evaluating the MR imaging, AP was graded as mild, moderate, and severe AP based on the MR severity index (MRSI) and was also classified into interstitial edematous AP and necrotizing AP. According to the New Revised Classification of AP 2012, AP in the clinic setting was graded as mild, moederately severeand severe AP. χ2 test or Fisher exact test calculated the differences of the prevalence of PVST in different severity and classification of AP, Mann-Whitney U test calculated the difference of hospitalization time between patients with PVST and those without PVST. Results Among the 396 patients with AP, PVST was detected in 30 patients (7.5％,30/396), it formed most frequently in splenic vein(73.3％, 22/30), followed by portal (30.0％, 9/30) and superior mesenteric(16.7％, 5/30) veins. According to MRSI, there were 205, 177, and 14 patients with mild, moderate, and severe AP, respectively;among mild, moderate, and severe AP, there were 2, 21, and 7 patients with PVST, respectively (χ2=41.455, P<0.01), there were also statistical differences in the prevalence of portal and splenic vein thrombosis (P<0.05), but there was no statistical difference in the prevalence of superior mesenteric vein thrombosis (P>0.05). Three hundred and eleven patients had interstitial edematous AP and 65 patients had necrotizing AP, among which there were 11 and 19 patients with PVST(χ2=48.447,P<0.01), the prevalence of portal, splenic and superior mesenteric vein thrombosis in necrotizing AP were all higher than that in interstitial edematous AP (P<0.05). Based on the New Revised Classification of AP 2012, there were 194, 184 and 18 patients with mild, moderately severe, and severe AP, respectively; among mild, moderately severe, and severe AP, there were 0, 25, and 5 patients with PVST, respectively (χ2=42.130, P<0.01), there was no statistical differences in the prevalence of portal, splenic and superior mesenteric vein thrombosis (P>0.05). Patients with PVST and those without PVST in the early AP, the hospitalization time [median (interquartile range)] were 18 (13 to 22) days and 13 (10 to 19) days (Z=-2.913, P=0.004). Conclusion PVST in early AP presented more frequently with the increase in severity of AP based on both the MRSI and Newly Revised Classification of AP 2012, along with longer duration ofhospitalization.

Objective To explore the dosimetric differences of radiotherapy plan for cervical cancer with 4 different fluence smoothing (FS) parameters using Monaco treatment planning system (Monaco TPS). Methods Fifteen patients with ⅠB2 stage cervical cancer in our hospital were enrolled in this study. And a 2 Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) plan for each patient were completed by Monaco 5.11 TPS according to the X-Ray Voxel Monte Carlo (XVMC) method. For each plan was optimized by FS function, with the level of Off, Low, Medium and High. To compare the difference of plan optimization time, conformity index (CI), Homogeneity index (HI), D_mean, D_min, D_2% of PTV，dose to the organ at risk (OAR)，the number of Segments# and MU#，estimated total delivery time (ETDT), quantum Efficiency (QE) of the plans, the formation of Segments# with the same angle and verification of inserting 729 two-dimensional matrix into PTW octavius 4D module of different FS function levels, with the precondition of the Prescription isodose curve covering 95% of the target area. The data was analysed by multivariate factor analysis with the application of SPSS, and P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. And the Planned revenue score of different FS levels was also calculated. Results Except for the D_min of PTV (the lowest value is (32.09 ± 0.26) Gy for the Off group, and the highest value is (35.98 ± 0.42) Gy for the High group), V₄₀ of the rectum (the lowest value in the Medium group is 55.88% ± 2.02%, and the highest value in the High group was 61.90% ± 2.98%) and bladder (the lowest value was 45.01% ± 2.08% in the Medium group, and the highest value is 50.45% ± 1.98% in the High group), the V₂₀ (the lowest value High group was 49.05% ± 1.98%, the highest value Off group was 56.52% ± 1.75%) of femoral head (P < 0.05), there was no significant difference of the dose assessment results for PTV and OARs in 4 different FS function levels. In the High level, the ETDT, QE and MU# were showed better than other groups evidently, however, the number of Segments# showed no significant difference. The plan validation results was increased with the improvement of FS function level, and the level of High was considered to be the optimal. To compare the score of overall benefits of the plan, the level of Medium (−17.18 ± 0.05) got the highest score, and the Low group (−17.58 ± 0.05) and the High group (−17.42 ± 0.06) have similar scores, and Off group (−18.81 ± 0.08) has the lowest score. Conclusion Different FS levels of the Monaco 5.11 TPS can optimize the radiotherapy plan for cervical cancer, but the level of Medium is considered to be the most applicable.