OBJECTIVETo observe effects of different interference orders of acupuncture and exercise therapy on the therapeutic effect.

METHODSThe patients of hemiplegia after stroke in the stage of recovery were randomly divided into two groups: raising handclasp of Bobath after electroacupuncture at Quchi (LI 11) and Hegu (LI 4) on the affected side or electroacupuncture at Quchi (LI 11) and Hegu (LI 4) on the affected side after raising handclasp of Bobath. The changes of SEP on the affected side were recorded and compared.

RESULTSSEP on the affected side significantly increased in the patients after treatment of simple electroacupuncture or exercise therapy (P < 0.01), with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was a very significant difference in SEP on the affected side between the group of exercise treatment after electroacupuncture and the group of electroacupuncture after exercise therapy (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBoth electroacupuncture and exercise therapy can immediately improve SEP of the patient in the recovery stage, and the groups of the different interference orders of electroacupuncture and exercise have different effects on SEP, and raising handclasp of Bobath after electroacupuncture is better for improvement in cerebral function of the patient.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory ; Exercise Therapy ; Female ; Hemiplegia ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; physiopathology ; therapy

Brain Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Nestin ; metabolism ; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Temporal Lobe ; Vimentin ; metabolism

In the present study, we reported distribution of ER alpha and ER beta mRNAs in the hypothalamus of young and old ovariectomized (OVX) rhesus macaques. The ER alpha were detected in all six major vestiblular nuclei which included arcuate nucleus (ARC) , paraventricularis nucleus (PVN) , periventricular nucleus (PeriV) , supraoptic nucleus (SON) , medial prioptic nucleus (MPN) and lateral hypothalamus area (LHA). However, the ER beta mRNA can also detected in those nuclei excerpt SON, but the signals of ER beta mRNA were weaker than those of ER alpha mRNA. We observed that the degree of expression of ERs mRNA were different in most nucleus of old and young monkeys. The ER alpha mRNAs were highly expressed in ARC and SON in young monkeys compared with old monkeys. Moderate amount of ERalpha mRNAs hybridization signals and weak signals were observed in LHA, and MPN both in young and old monkeys. In contrast, only lower level of ER alpha hybridization signal were observed in PVN and PeriV in young monkeys, and the signals of ER alpha were very low in those nucleus of old monkeys. In general, the expression of ER beta mRNA were weaker than that of ER alpha mRNA in above nucleus excerpt LHA. The relatively higher density of ER beta hybridization signals have been observed in the LHA in young monkey compared with old monkeys. Low amount of ER beta mRNA hybridization signals were observed in the ARC, PVN and MPN, and no age differences were seen in PVN and MPN of those monkeys. In PeriV, we observed some signals in young monkey and a few signals in old monkeys. It was different from the rodent in which we did not found ER beta hybridization signal in SON. This study showed that both of the two estrogen receptors not only had the same pattern of expression but also had many different patterns of expression. The different expression of ER alpha and ER beta mRNAs in the young and old monkey brain may imply diverse functions in different regions of the monkey brain.

OBJECTIVETo observe effects of different interference orders of electroacupuncture and exercise therapy on the therapeutic effect of hemiplegia after stroke.

METHODSThe patients of hemiplegia due to stroke were randomly divided into a group A and a group B. The group A were treated by exercise therapy after electroacupuncture (EA) and the group B by EA after exercise therapy. Fugl-Meyer evaluation (FME), modified Barthel index (MBI) and amplitude of somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) on the affected side before treatment and after one therapeutic course (2 weeks) were recorded and compared in the two groups.

RESULTSBefore and after treatment, FME were 31.760 +/- 4.438 and 76.640 +/- 3.621, and MBI were 26.520 +/- 2.413 and 62.360 +/- 3.700 in the group A; and FME were 32.480 +/- 5.903 and 65.640 +/- 5.212, and the MBI were 28.000 +/- 3.383 and 54.480 +/- 5.205 in the group B, respectively, with very significant differences in FME and MBI in the two groups (all P < 0.01); and the different values before and after treatment in the two indexes in the group A were better than those in the group B (all P < 0.05). There was a very significant difference in the amplitude of SEP before and after treatment in the group A (P < 0.01) and no significant difference in the group B, and there was no significant difference between the two groups in the different value of the amplitude of SEP.

CONCLUSIONCombination of any orders of electroacupuncture and exercise therapy can improve limb function of the patient with hemiplegia after stroke, but the therapeutic effect of exercise therapy after EA is better.

Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; methods ; Exercise Therapy ; methods ; Female ; Hemiplegia ; physiopathology ; rehabilitation ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Stroke Rehabilitation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors of the serious complications related with double-J ureteral stent placement following percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).

METHODSClinical data were reviewed for 272 patients treated with PCNL and indwelling double-J stents between January, 2014 and April, 2016. The risk factors of serious complications were identified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSSerious complications of double-J ureteral stenting occurred in 63 patients (23.1%). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the ureter abnormalities (β=1.735, P=0.000, OR=5.670), stent indwelling duration (β=1.206, P=0.028, OR=3.340), gender (β=0.895, P=0.016, OR=2.446), preoperative urinary tract infection (β=0.849, P=0.020 , OR=2.338) and stent size (β=0.847, P=0.011, OR=2.333) were all risk factors of serious complications related with the procedure.

CONCLUSIONMale patients are exposed to a higher risk of serious complications following PCNL. Effective management of urinary tract infection and choice of appropriate stent size in cases of ureteral abnormalities help to reduce these complications. The double-J stent should be withdrawn as soon as possible in patients with good postoperative recovery.

Female ; Humans ; Kidney Pelvis ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous ; Postoperative Period ; Risk Factors ; Stents ; adverse effects ; Ureter ; surgery ; Ureteral Obstruction ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo establish an animal model of sulfur mustard (SM)-induced acute lung injury in rats through different routes and compare the morphological changes in lung tissue and cells.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-six male rats were selected and randomly divided into 5 groups, namely peritoneal cavity SM group (n=32), trachea SM group (n=32), peritoneal cavity propylene glycol group (n=32), trachea propylene glycol group (n=32), and normal control group (n=8). The rats in peritoneal cavity SM group were injected intraperitoneally with diluted SM (0.1 ml, 8 mg/kg), and the rats in trachea SM group were injected intratracheally with diluted SM (0.1 ml, 2 mg/kg). Once the rats were sacrificed at 6, 24, 48, and 72 h after SM treatment, morphological changes in lung tissue and cells were observed by light and electron microscopy.

RESULTSIn the peritoneal cavity SM group, the epithelial cells of bronchioles maintained intact with increased exudate and bleeding in alveolar cavity and large areas of pulmonary consolidation under the light microscope. In the tracheal SM group, focal ulcer formed in the epithelial cells of bronchioles with increased exudate and bleeding in alveolar cavity, partial pulmonary consolidation, and compensatory emphysema in peripheral alveolar space under the light microscope. The alveolar interval areas were widened obviously in both groups in a time-dependent manner. Under the electron microscope, we observed local loss of cellular membrane in type I alveolar epithelium, broken or lost microvilli in cells of typeⅡalveolar epithelium and fuzzy mitochondrial crista as well as the appearance of ribosome detached from rough endoplasmic reticulum in both two groups. Compared with those in the trachea SM group and the control group, the ratio of the alveolar septum average area to the visual field area in the peritoneal cavity SM group at 6, 24, 48, and 72 h was significantly higher (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe lung tissue injury through the intraperitoneal route is more severe than that through the tracheal route, while focal ulceration of bronchioles epithelial cells appears in the case of tracheal route. The degree of injury increases over time in both groups, and the cellular damage is approximately the same in both groups.

Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lung ; pathology ; Male ; Mustard Gas ; toxicity ; Peritoneum ; Pulmonary Alveoli ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Rats ; Trachea

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical effect of spinal cord decompression and lavage therapy on chronic cervical spinal cord injury and explore the possible mechanism.

METHODSFifty-seven patients with chronic cervical spinal cord injury treated in our hospital from January, 2008 to January, 2015 were enrolled, including 17 with multilevel cervical disc herniation, 25 with long segmental ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, 13 with hypertrophy or calcification of neck ligamentum flavum, and 2 with old cervical fractures. Open-door spinal canal laminoplasty via a posterior approach and decompression in simple extramedullary decompression was performed in 31 cases (group A), and open-door spinal cord incision decompression via a posterior approach, saline irrigation, and spinal canal laminoplasty in intramedullary decompression was performed in 26 cases (group B). The pre-operative cerebrospinal fluid in group B patients was collected to examine the inflammatory factors. All the patients were followed up and evaluated for pre- and postoperative JOA scores to calculate the improvement rate with regular examinations by X-ray, CT or MRI.

RESULTSImaging examinations 2 weeks after the operation showed obvious relief of the primary lesion in both groups, and the improvement of high signals was better in group B than in group A. The mean improvement rate at 12 months after the operation was 52.33% in group A and 61.52% in group B (P<0.05), and the mean JOA score was significantly higher in group B than in group A (14.80∓1.51 vs 13.58∓0.56; P<0.05). Cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in 3 cases, epidural hematoma in 2 cases, internal fixation loosening in 1 case in group A; portal shaft fracture and internal fixation loosening occurred in 1 case in group B. Postoperative recovery time was shorter in group B and entered the platform phase in 3 months. The inflammatory factors IFN-γ, IL-17F, IL-6 and sCD40L were all significantly higher than the normal levels after spinal cord injury, and the increment of IL-6 was the most conspicuous (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONIntramedullary and extramedullary decompression can achieve better outcomes than extramedullary decompression in patients with chronic cervical cord injury. This may be related not only to relieving adhesions and secondary compression by cutting the dura under the microscope, but also to removal of local inflammatory factors.

OBJECTIVETo establish a method for amplifying specific 16S rDNA fragment of algae related with drowning and test its value in drowning diagnosis.

METHODSThirty-five rabbits were randomly divided into 3 the drowning group (n=15), postmortem water immersion group (n=15, subjected to air embolism before seawater immersion), and control group(n=5, with air embolism only). Twenty samples of the liver tissues from human corpses found in water were also used, including 14 diatom-positive and 6 diatom-negative samples identified by microwave digestion-vacuum filtration-automated scanning electron microscopy (MD-VF-Auto SEM). Seven known species of algae served as the control algae (Melosira sp, Nitzschia sp, Synedra sp, Navicula sp, Microcystis sp, Cyclotella meneghiniana, and Chlorella sp). The total DNA was extracted from the tissues and algae to amplify the specific fragment of algae followed by 8% polyacrylamide gelelectrophoresis and sliver-staining.

RESULTSIn the drowning group, algae was detected in the lungs (100%), liver (86%), and kidney (86%); algae was detected in the lungs in 2 rabbits in the postmortem group (13%) and none in the control group. The positivity rates of algae were significantly higher in the drowning group than in the postmortem group (P<0.05). Of the 20 tissue samples from human corps found in water, 15 were found positive for algae, including sample that had been identified as diatom-negative by MD-VF-Auto SEM. All the 7 control algae samples yielded positive results in PCR.

CONCLUSIONSThe PCR-based method has a high sensitivity in algae detection for drowning diagnosis and allows simultaneous detection of multiple algae species related with drowning.

Animals ; Autopsy ; Cadaver ; DNA, Ribosomal ; isolation & purification ; Diatoms ; genetics ; Drowning ; diagnosis ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; isolation & purification ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo explore the difference of genes expression profiles between focal cerebral ischemia tissue and that treated with Baicalin using cDNA microarray.

METHODThe total RNAs were isolated from rat brains of sham-operation, vehicle (focal cerebral ischemia of rat brain) and baicalin-treated groups. mRNAs were reversely transcribed to cDNA with incorporation of fluorescent dUTP (Cy5 or Cy3 dUTP) to prepare hybridization probes. The PCR products of 4096 genes were spotted on the chip after a serial of treatment. The mixed probes were hybridized to the cDNA microarray. Axon Genepix 4000B and GenePixPro 3.0 software were used to scan and analyze the fluorescent signals.

RESULTThe expressions of 199 and 12 genes were found up-regulated and down-regulated, respectively, in the vehicle group compared with the sham-operation one. But the numbers of genes whose expressions were up-regulated and down-regulated were 89 and 88, respectively, when comparing the gene expression in the Baicalin-treated rat brain with that in the vehicle group. Moreover, one down-regulated and three up-regulated genes in the vehicle group were up-regulated and down-regulated in the Baicalin-treated group, respectively. Expressions of three up-regulated genes in the vehicle group were further reinforced in the Baicalin-treatment group.

CONCLUSIONMultiple pathways and nodes may be involved in the pharmacological effect of Baicalin on brain ischemia.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Flavonoids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; GTP-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pyruvate Kinase ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Scutellaria ; chemistry ; Vimentin ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlations of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) with the clinicopathological characteristics, prognostic events, and survival outcomes in esophageal cancer (EC) patients.

METHODSThe PubMed, Web of Science, Embase database and Cochrane database were searched for studies reporting the outcomes of interest. The studies were selected according to established inclusion/exclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of the studies was performed using Review Manager 5.3 and Stata12.0 software with the odds ratio (OR), risk ratio (RR) , hazard ratio (HR) , and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) as the effect indexes.

RESULTSNineteen studies involving a total of 1766 patients were included in the analysis. Significant correlations of CTCs and DTCs were found with the clinicopathological parameters including the tumor stage (OR=1.95), depth of invasion (OR=1.99), lymph node metastasis (OR=2.44), distal metastasis (OR=5.98), histological differentiation (OR=1.67) and lymphovascular invasion (OR=4.48). CTCs and DTCs were also correlated with the prognostic events including relapse (RR=6.86) and metastasis (RR=3.22) and with the survival outcomes including the overall survival (OS) overall analysis (HR=3.46) and disease-free survival/progression-free survival (DFS/PFS) overall analysis (HR=3.00).

CONCLUSIONCTCs and DTCs are significantly associated with an advanced tumor stage, depth of tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis before therapy, differentiation, lymphovascular invasion, relapse and metastasis in patients with EC. They are also significantly correlated with a poorer survival for OS and DFS/PFS to serve as clinical and prognostic predictors in patients with EC.

Disease-Free Survival ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; Odds Ratio ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Survival Analysis