OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Yiqi Yangyin Huoxue Tongfu (YYHT) principle in treating diabetes mellitus type 2 of secondary failure to sulfonylurea agents.

METHODSForty patients were randomly divided into two groups, based on the unchanged previous treatment of sulfonylurea agents, Chinese decoction prescribed according to YYHT principle was given to the treated group and rosiglitazone was given to the control group. Changes of insulin sensitivity (SI), insulin response to glucose (IRG), insulin sensitive index (ISI), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), endothelin-1 (ET-1), 6-keto-prostaglandin F1alpha(6-keto-PGF1alpha) and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) were observed.

RESULTSThe total effective rate in the treated group was 71.4%, that on improving peripheral insulin resistance was 76.2%, the two parameters were similar to those in the control group. In the treated group, SI, ISI were significantly improved, and TNF-alpha, ET-1 and TXB2 significantly lowered, but no change of IRR was found.

CONCLUSIONApplication of YYHT principle in treating patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 of secondary failure to sulfonylurea agents could alleviate the peripheral resistance to insulin, inhibit TNF-alpha, and protect the vascular endothelial cells.

Adult ; Aged ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Endothelin-1 ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Sulfonylurea Compounds ; therapeutic use ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; Yin Deficiency ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo explore the change of serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and its diagnosis value in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with different degrees of liver damage.

METHODSAlanine-aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate-aminotransferase (AST) and GGT were measured in 221 CHB patients. Liver biopsy was conducted simultaneously to determine the inflammation grade and fibrosis stage of the liver tissues.

RESULTSThe rate of normal GGT in pathologically diagnosed mild and severe CHB patients was 90.4% and 12.3%, respectively (P<0.01). Increased level of GGT was parallel to the degree of liver pathological change (P<0.01). In active CHB patients, GGT rose with the ALT increase with a positive linear correlation between them (r=0.464, P<0.001). In pathologically diagnosed mild CHB patients, GGT had a tendency of rapidly declining to normal levels with ALT. In moderate CHB patients, GGT fluctuated at a relatively high level, and in severe CHB patients GGT exhibited a deviation from GGT.

CONCLUSIONSGGT is conducive to improve the coincident rate between the clinical and pathological diagnosis of CHB.

Adult ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; diagnosis ; enzymology ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Severity of Illness Index ; Time Factors ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the best choice of operation opportunity and operation plan for limb fractures combined with severe craniocerebral trauma in children.

METHODSFrom January 2005 to July 2012,36 patients with limb fractures and severe craniocerebral trauma were received,including 24 males and 12 females aged from 1 to 13 years old (mean, 6.1 +/- 3.0). The time from injury to hospital was (18.0 +/- 15.0) h. Glasgow coma score were less than 8 with an average of 6.4 +/- 1.3. AIS-ISS score were 25.9 +/- 8.1. Thirteen patients were open fracture, 23 were closed fracture. Patients were divided into immediate operation group (21 patients) received fracture fixation with 24 h, the average time was (15.0 +/- 7.4) h, and delayed operation group (15 patients) received fracture fixation after 24 h, the average time was (165.4 +/- 114.6) h. All patients were treated by open reduction, and 33 cases by internal fixation, 3 cases were external fixation. Operative time, blood loss, fracture healing time and brain trauma,physical trauma, postoperative rehabilitation situation were observed and evaluated.

RESULTSAll patients were healed at stage I ,and no dead, aggravating of coma, disorders of breathing and circulation occurred during operation. Operative time,blood loss,healing time in immediate operation group was (44.5 +/- 25.3) min, (47.1 +/- 36.5) ml, (2.7 +/- 0.5) months, respectively; while in delayed operation group was (87.0 +/- 40.0) min, (112.7 +/- 67.5) ml, (3.8 +/- 1.2) months,respectively; and there were obvious differences between two groups. There was no siginificant meaning in Glasgow coma score and Fugl-Meyer motor function between immediate operation group (4.7 +/- 0.6, 97.9 +/- 2.7) and delayed operation group (4.7 +/- 0.5, 97.7 +/- 3.9) (t = 0.23, P > 0.05; t = 0.11, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe condition of limb fractures combined with severe craniocerebral trauma in children is seriously, comfortable surgical opportunity should according to particular case, and immediate operation can performed on the condition of stabled vital signs.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; surgery ; Extremities ; injuries ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fractures, Open ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of metoprolol on cardiomyocyte apoptosis and caspase-8 activation after coronary microembolization(CME) in rats.

METHODSAdult rats were randomly assigned into CME group (intraventricular injection of 3000 microspheres with 42 µm in diameter), sham-operated group (0.1 ml saline) and CME plus metoprolol group (pretreatment with 3 bolus metoprolol 2.5 mg/kg intravenous injection at 10 minutes interval at 30 minutes before microspheres injection, n = 15, each group). Cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiography at 6 hours post various treatments. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was detected with TUNEL staining and the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-8 was detected with Western blot analysis.

RESULTSCompared with sham-operated group, LVEF (72.68% ± 3.26% vs. 82.64% ± 3.43%, P < 0.05), fractional shortening (FS) (37.46% ± 2.38% vs. 42.85% ± 3.25%) and cardiac output (CO) [(0.101 ± 0.006) L/min vs. (0.162 ± 0.008) L/min] were significantly reduced while left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd) [(6.22 ± 0.17) mm vs. (5.18 ± 0.43) mm] was significantly increased in CME group (all P < 0.05). Cardiac function [LVEF:73.94% ± 4.22%, FS:38.53% ± 2.03%, CO:(0.120 ± 0.012) L/min, LVEDd:(6.18 ± 0.27) mm] was similar in CME plus metoprolol group compared to CME group (all P > 0.05). The cardiomyocytes apoptosis rates (3.19% ± 1.23% vs. 0.18% ± 0.10%) and the levels of activated caspase-3 and caspase-8 proteins were significantly increased in CME group than in sham-operated group (all P < 0.05). The cardiomyocyte apoptosis rate (1.32% ± 0.28%) and the levels of activated caspase-3 and caspase-8 proteins were significantly lower in CME plus metoprolol group than in CME group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMetoprolol pretreatment reduced post-CME myocardial apoptosis possibly through downregulating death receptor-mediated apoptotic pathway.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 8 ; metabolism ; Coronary Occlusion ; drug therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Embolism ; drug therapy ; Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial ; Male ; Metoprolol ; therapeutic use ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Maintaining genetic diversity is a major issue in conservation biology. In this study, we demonstrate the differences of genetic diversity levels between wild and captive individuals of Elliot's Pheasant Syrmaticus ellioti. Wild individuals showed a higher genetic diversity level than that of the captive individuals. Nucleotide diversity and haplotype diversity of wild individuals were 0.00628 and 0.993, while those of captive individuals were 0.00150 and 0.584 respectively. Only 3 haplotypes of mtDNA control region sequence were identified among 36 captive individuals, while 16 unique haplotypes were identified among the 17 wild individuals in this study. One captive haplotype was shared by a wild individual from Anhui Province. It is concluded that a low number of founders was the likely reason for the lower level genetic diversity of the captive group. Careful genetic management is suggested for captive populations, particularly of such an endangered species, to maintain genetic variability levels.
Animals ; Animals, Wild ; genetics ; Animals, Zoo ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Galliformes ; genetics ; Genetic Variation ; genetics ; Haplotypes ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of HBsAg and HBcAg in hepatocytes in CHB patients, and analyze the correlation among the expression of HBsAg and HBcAg, the quantity of HBV DNA in serum, the pathology of liver tissue and the clinical manifestation.

METHODSQuantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to assay the quantity of HBV DNA in serum in 351 CHB patients. Furthermore pathological diagnosis was performed using liver biopsy to assay the expression of HBsAg and HBcAg in hepatocytes by an immunohistochemical staining technique.

RESULTSThe positive expression rate of HBsAg and HBcAg in hepatocytes was 92.3% and 76.9% respectively. Cytoplasm-membrane HBcAg expression type (75.6%) was observed in the CHB with more active inflammation, while Nucleus HBcAg expression type (24.4%) was observed in the CHB with more sedative one (P < 0.0001). The expression of HBsAg was correlated with the quantity of HBV DNA in serum (rp = 0.24, P = 0.0129), while inversely correlated with the inflammation and the fibrillation of liver tissue (rp = -0.22, P = 0.0279; rp = -0.23, P = 0.0186). The expression of HBcAg was correlated with the quantity of HBV DNA in serum (rp = 0.52, P < 0.0001), while was inversely correlated with the inflammation and the fibrosis of liver (rp = -0.33, P < 0.0001; rp = -0.34, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONCytoplasm-membrane HBcAg expression type was observed in the CHB with more active inflammation, while Nucleus HBcAg expression type was observed in the CHB with mild change. In the immunopathogenesis of the liver damage in CHB, HBcAg might be a main target antigen. HBsAg might be a sensitive index to screen HBV infection; HBcAg might probably be a reliable index to evaluate the replication of HBV

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; analysis ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; analysis ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; immunology ; pathology ; virology ; Hepatocytes ; virology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) esophagectomy in the treatment of esophageal cancer.

METHODSFrom June 2004 to October 2007, video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy was performed in 36 patients, including 29 men and 7 women with median age of 58.9 years old. The cancer located at upper segment in 5 cases, middle 25 cases and lower 6 cases. VATS approach was used to mobilize the intrathoracic esophagus and stomach was mobilized by open approach. Esophagogastric anastomosis was performed in the left neck.

RESULTSThe mean operative time was 250 minutes (190-330 min) and average time of VATS was 70 minutes. The mean hospital stay was 8.7 days. Mean lymph node harvest was 14.3 nodes. Post-operative complications occurred in 11 patients(30.6%), but no perioperative death occurred.

CONCLUSIONVideo-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy is technically feasible and safe with lower morbidity and shorter hospital stay as compared to open procedure, and may replace the open esophagectomy in selected patients.

Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted

Biopsy ; Humans ; Liver

Objectives: To investigate whether remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) applied to patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) could affect circulating miR-208b level or not. Methods:Patients diagnosed with STEMI undergoing PCI from January 2016 to July 2017 were enrolled from the Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University.The patients were randomly allocated to two groups: (1) control group (n=25), PCI alone; (2) RIC group (n=50), PCI combined with RIC (three cycles of 5 min inflation and 5 min deflation of the right lower limb with blood pressure cuff performed before reperfusion). Serum miR-208b was measured before and immediately, at 24 h, and 48 h after PCI with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: The expression of miR-208b was significantly higher immediately post PCI than that before operation in the control group (84.1±9.0 vs 77.8±9.4; P=0.032), while it was significantly lower immediately post PCI than that before operationin RIC group (71.0±9.3 vs 77.4±8.8; P=0.028).miR-208b level was similar before PCI between the control and RIC groups (P=0.874), which was significantly reduced immediately post PCI in RIC group as compared with the control group (P=0.021).The peak value of creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB) in the limb RIC group was significantly lower than that in the control group ([135.2±18.6] U/L vs [167.7±17.2] U/L; P=0.038).The area under the CK-MB curve of the RIC group was significantly smaller than that of the control group ([3 060.7±17.1] U/L vs [3 635.9±15.1] U/L); P=0.047]. The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in RIC group was significantly higher than that in the control group ([57.8±7.8]% vs [51.9±7.9]%; P=0.003) post PCI. The expression level of serum miR-208b was positively correlated with CK-MB AUC in RIC group (r=0.498, P<0.001). Conclusions: RIC of the lower limb prior to PCI could reduce miR-208b level and improve cardiac functionin STEMI patients.

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy of Chinese medicine comprehensive therapeutic project in treating the middle/late stage primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC).

METHODSWith prospective randomized controlled design, 97 patients with PHC were assigned to the test group (49 cases) treated with Chinese medicine comprehensive therapy using Oleum fructus bruceas intervention combining oral intake of Ganji Decoction and external application of Ailitong, and the control group (48 cases) treated with chemotherapeutic agents combining iodized oil chemo-embolization and analgesics. The immediate and long-term efficacy, adverse reaction, pain-relieving initial time (PRIT) and pain-relieving sustained time (PRST) of the treatment, as well as the change in relieving patients' quality of life (QOL) were observed.

RESULTSThe difference between the two groups in illness control rate was statistically insignificant (P>0.05), but the adverse reaction occurrence rate in the test group was lesser than that in the control group (P<0.05). PRIT was insignificantly different in the two groups (P>0.05), but the PRST was significantly superior in the test group than that in the control group (10.37+/-2.18 h vs 7.78+/-1.95 h, P<0.01). After treatment, the increased Karnofsky scores in the test group indicated that the patients' somatic activity, symptoms and QOL were improved significantly, which were significantly superior to those in the control group (P<0.05). The survival rate in the two groups was similar at the 3rd month after treatment, but the test group did show superiority in terms of half- and 1-year survival rate (65.9% vs 42.5% and 38.6% vs 18.1%, respectively, P<0.05). The median survival time in the test group was 8.9 months and that in the control group was 5.3 months.

CONCLUSIONChinese medicine comprehensive therapy is an effective treatment for the middle/late stage patients of PHC, and it could extend the PRST, improve the patients' QOL and long-term survival with less adverse reaction.

Administration, Cutaneous ; Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; administration & dosage ; Brucea ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; therapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Single-Blind Method ; Treatment Outcome