Acute Disease ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; Bronchodilator Agents ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Male ; Theophylline ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: To investigate the effect of combining acupuncture and auricular point sticking on heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with post-stroke depression (PSD). Methods: A total of 80 cases with PSD were randomized into a treatment group and a control group. The control group was intervened by oral administration of paroxetine hydrochloride, whereas the treatment group received acupuncture plus auricular point sticking base on the same oral administration. The Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) and HRV were measured before and after treatment in both groups. Results: The individual and global scores of HAMD significantly dropped after 8 weeks of treatment in both groups (all P<0.05). In the treatment group, anxiety/somatization factor, sleep disturbance, hopelessness factor, cognition factor and global score were significantly different from those in the control group (all P<0.05). The 24 h standard deviation of all normal-to-normal R-R interval (SDNN), standard deviation of 5-minute average of normal R-R intervals (SDANN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), percent of differences between adjacent normal R-R intervals >50 ms (PNN50) and high frequency (HF) were increased while low frequency (LF) and LF/HF decreased significantly after 8 weeks of treatment in both groups (P<0.05). All items in the treatment group were significantly different from those in the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Combining acupuncture and auricular point sticking can enhance the conventional medical treatment for HRV in patients with PSD.

Objective To evaluate the functional outcome,predicting response and toxicity of CT- guided permanent implanted ~(125)I seed branchytherapy for metastatic cancers in vertebrae.Methods Forty three vertebrae with metastatic cancer were treated by CT-guided percutaneous permanent implanted ~(125)I seed branchytherapy in 15 patients.There were 8 male and 7 female patients with average age of 54.6 years and 2 to 5 vertebrae involved in this group.According to the size of tumor,the optimal activity and quantity of seeds were calculated by TPS and correlative formula.~(125)I seeds were implanted percutaneous puncture under CT- guidance with coaxial needles to pass the normal osseous tissue for approaching the lesions including 3 routes of pedicnlar lateral and anterior ways.The distance between seeds and posterior border of vertebral body was over 3 nun(3-10mm).Permanent ~(125)I seed implantation brachytherapy for paraspinal metastatic lesions were also taken place.Results Mean follow-up time was 12.3 months(range 3-30 months)and outcome was evaluated clinically and radiographieally in 10 of 15 procedures,with 5 only on clinical data.No new pain occurred at 11 sites with no previous complaint.The pain was completely controlled at 18/32 sites,partial control at 14/32 sites.No complications correlated to the radiotherapy damage of nerve and spinal cord were found.Conclusion The procedure of CT-guided permanent implanted ~(125)I seeds brachytherapy for vertebral metastatic cancers is a safe effective and minimal invasive method with few complications.It is beneficial not only for pretherapeutic metastasis but also for recurrent tumors after radiotherapy;bearing rather high tolerance and safety.(J Intervent Radiol,2007,16:834-837)

Objective To describe the MRI features and pathologic findings of biliary cystadenocarcinoma(BCAC)and to assess the diagnostic value of MRI in those tumors.Methods Five cases of BCAC were collected.All cases were proved by pathology.Non-enhanced and multiphase-enhanced MRI were performed in all cases.MRCP were performed in two cases.The MRI features of the five cases were reviewed retrospectively and correlated with pathologic findings.Results Histological evidence demonstrated five cases of BCAC.Four cases were solitary,whereas the other case was multifocal.All cases were solid and cystic lesions.Two cases were unilocular,whereas the other three cases were multilocular. Multiple mural nodules and irregular thickening cystic walls were presented in all cases.The cystic parts of the lesions were homogeneous in signal intensity and showed no enhancement after contrast administration in the five BCAC.Septa were present in three BCAC with multilocular cyst.On MRCP the bile duct dilatation was found in two BCAC.Conclusion MRI can reveal the characteristic findings of BCAC and accurate preoperative diagnosis can be made.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) plus Tanbo-plucking the trigger points for scapulohumeral periarthritis (SP). Methods:A total of 80 patients with SP were randomized into an observation group and an EA group by the random number table, with 40 cases in each group. The EA group was treated with EA therapy, and the observation group was treated with EA therapy plus Tanbo-plucking the trigger points. After treatment, the visual analog scale (VAS) and Melle scores of the two groups were compared to evaluate the improvement of shoulder pain and functional activity, and meanwhile the clinical efficacy was observed. Results: After treatment, the total effective rate of the observation group was 95.0％ and the cure and markedly effective rate was 72.5％. The total effective rate of the EA group was 87.5％ and the cure and markedly effective rate was 42.5％. There was no significant difference in the total effective rate between the two groups (P>0.05). The cure and markedly effective rate of the observation group was higher than that of the EA group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). After treatment, the intra-group differences in VAS and Melle scores of both groups were statistically significant (bothP<0.001). The inter-group differences in the changes of the VAS and Melle scores after treatment were statistically significant (bothP<0.001). Conclusion: EA plus Tanbo-plucking the trigger points has a better curative effect than EA therapy alone in the treatment of SP.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), multipotent stem cells, can replicate as undifferentiated cells and have the potential to differentiate into different lineages of mesenchymal tissues, including bone, cartilage,endothelial, neural, smooth muscle, skeletal myoblasts, and cardiac myocyte cells. The ischemia-induced death of cardiomyocytes results in scar formation and reduced contractility of the ventricle. Several preclinical and clinical studies have supported the notion that MSCs therapy may be used for cardiac regeneration.When transplanted into the infracted heart, MSCs prevent deleterious remodeling and improve recovery, but the mechanism is not clear. In this work,we review evidence and new prospects that support the use of MSCs in cardiomyoplasty.

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ultrasonically activated hematoporphyrin on ultrastructure of ehrlich ascites tumor(EAT) cells and to evaluate the potential mechanism of action inducing this cytotoxicity. Methods EAT cells in vitro were exposed to ultrasound at 2^0?MHz and 1^5?W/cm+2 for 3?min in the presence or absence of hematoporphyrin.The changes of ultrastructure of sample preparation for different time were observed by transmission electron microscope. Results The degree of destruction of treated EAT cells was enhanced with the increasing of time for the sample preparation.The sites destroyed mainly involved cell membrane,mitochondrion,endoplasmic reticulum and cell nuclei.Furthermore,morphoiogical characters of ultrasound-activated hematoporphyrin induced apoptosis were observed on EAT cells.Conclusion The killing of tumor cells was ascribed mainly to the damage of ultrastructure induced by ultrasound in combined with hematoporphyrin,apoptosis was also induced during ultrasound and hematoporphyrin killing process.;

Adolescent ; Apolipoproteins E ; blood ; Humans ; Hyperlipoproteinemias ; complications ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Kidney Diseases ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Kidney Glomerulus ; blood supply ; pathology ; Male ; Thrombosis ; pathology

Objective:To observe the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture plus Tai Ji Quan (Tai Chi) in recovering the neurological function and treating depression state in post-stroke depression patients,together with a 12-month follow-up.Methods:A total of 105 eligible post-stroke depression patients were randomized into an acupuncture plus Tai Ji group (53 cases) and a control group (52 cases) based on their visiting sequence.The patients all received routine treatment and rehabilitation training for stroke.In addition,the control group was given oral administration of citalopram hydrobromide tablets,1 month as a course of treatment,for 3 courses in total.Meanwhile,the acupuncture plus Tai Ji group received acupuncture and practiced Tai Ji Quan,for 1 month and 12 months respectively.Before the intervention,after 1-month intervention and 12 months later,the National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS),Barthel index (BI) and Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) were adopted for efficacy evaluation.Results:Prior to the intervention,there were no significant differences in HAMD,NIHSS and BI scores between the two groups (all P＞0.05);after 1-month intervention,there were significant between-group differences in NIHSS,BI and HAMD scores (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01);the 12-month follow-up revealed significant between-group differences in NIHSS,BI and HAMD scores (all P＜0.01).In the treatment of stroke,the total effective rate was 84.4％ in the acupuncture plus Tai Ji group,significantly higher than 68.9％ in the control group (P＜0.05);in the treatment of depression,the total effective rate was 86.7％ in the acupuncture plus Tai Ji group,significantly higher than 77.8％ in the control group (P＜0.05).Conclusion:Acupuncture plus Tai Ji Quan can produce a significant efficacy in improving the limb motor function and depression in post-stroke depression patients.

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is an amphiphilic phospholipid ubiquitously present in the inside of the membrane of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. In mammalian cells, there are two synthetic pathways for PS that are different from those of bacterial biosynthesis. The translocation of sperm PS from the inner to the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane is considered to be associated with sperm apoptosis and male infertility. The level of PS externalization in human sperm is used as an indicator for the evaluation of sperm quality. Fast separation of PS-externalized sperm at the molecular level by flow cytometry or magnetic activated cell sorting can effectively improve the quality of sperm and the success rate of assisted reproductive technology. This paper reviews the structure properties, distribution, biological activity and synthesis of PS, as well as its association with male reproduction.
Animals ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; metabolism ; Male ; Phosphatidylserines ; biosynthesis ; metabolism