INTRODUCTIONThe objective of the study is to compare the efficacy of fl at insoles, bone spur pads, pre-fabricated orthotics and customised orthotics in reducing plantar contact pressure of subjects with plantar fasciitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODSThis is a controlled non-blinded comparative study conducted in a tertiary medical institute. Thirty subjects with unilateral plantar fasciitis between the ages of 20 and 65 years were recruited at the sports medicine clinic. The contact pressures and pressure distribution patterns in both feet for each subject were measured with sensor pressure mats while standing. Repeat measurements were made with the subjects wearing shoes, fl at insoles, bone spur heel pads, pre-fabricated insoles and customised orthotics on both feet. The asymptomatic side was used as the control. Contact pressure measurements of the symptomatic and asymptomatic feet and power ratio of the pressure distribution pattern of the rearfoot were then compared.

RESULTSContact pressure was higher on the asymptomatic side due to unequal distribution of weight. Bone spur heel pads were ineffective in reducing rearfoot pressure while formthotics and customised orthotics reduced peak rearfoot pressures significantly. The power ratio of the rearfoot region decreased with the use of formthotics and customised orthotics.

CONCLUSIONPre-fabricated orthotics and customised orthotics reduced rearfoot peak forces on both sides while bone spurs heel pad increase rearfoot peak pressures. Pre-fabricated and customised orthotics are useful in distributing pressure uniformly over the rearfoot region.

Adult ; Aged ; Analysis of Variance ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Body Mass Index ; Chronic Disease ; Fasciitis, Plantar ; therapy ; Female ; Foot ; physiology ; Heel ; Heel Spur ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orthotic Devices ; Pain ; prevention & control ; Pain Measurement ; Pressure ; Young Adult

ObjectiveTo study the early diagnosis and prevention of fungal infection in severe acute pancreatitis(SAP). Method 1.SAP patients from July 1998 to June 2002 were prospectively randomized into 3 groups: garlicin prevention group, fluconazole (low dosage) prevention group and control group, the incidence of fungal infection in SAP was compared between the groups. For fungal infection patients, the fungal clearance and mortality rate were observed. 2.Clinical data of SAP patients with fungal infection and with simple bacterial infection was compared by multivariate logistic regression, and clinical characters and risk factors of fungal infection were evaluated. Results 1.There were lower incidences of fungal infection in garlicin group (16% vs. 30%,P

Objectives To develop a mathematical algorithm and a software package for the process of electronically surveying a scanned point cloud cast. To provide a principal premise to the subsequent computer aided design and computer aided manufacture (CAD/CAM) of removable partial denture framework, and to provide a method to improve quality control in the dental laboratory. Methods Point cloud data of a partially edentulous cast, a mandibular Kennedy Class Ⅱ Modification 2 arch, was captured using an optical scanning system with projective grating and high-resolution digital camera. Using commercial CAD/CAM software system (Geomagic Studio 6), this point cloud data was processed and the 3-D digital model of partially edentulous cast was reconstructed. From a suggested surveying angle the contour points of height were identified, and then the digital surveying lines were traced using Projection and Contour Extraction software package. The depth of undercut was measured and defined to determine the clasp termination of retainer. Results Electronic surveying line of 3-D digital dentition defect model was achieved. Digital surveying line defined the cast into undercut and non-undercut areas. Different virtualized paths of insertion could be automatically suggested when the cast was surveyed and analyzed from different angles. The depth of undercut was automatically measured and the retentive clasp termination was determined. Conclusions The mathematical algorithm and the software package in this study can be used to survey and analyze 3-D digital models of dentition defects, and to identify an electronic surveying line.

Objective The aim of the study was to investigate the epidemic situation,clinical symptom,diagnosis and epidemiological characteristics of human Fasciola gigantica infection in Dali,Yunnan province.It will also provide a scientific basis for fasciolosis control and prevention.Methods Epidemic data were collected and patient's clinical signs and symptoms were studied.Serum soluble antigen of Fasciola gigantica of patients and part of family members and health people in the same village was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the eggs of Fasciola gigantica in stool were observed under microscope.Sequencing and PCR amplification of Fasciola gigantica eggs had been done.Sequencing results were analyzed using basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) program of the U.S.National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and the similarity of the two in the sequence of nucleic acid was compared.Furthermore,patients were experimentally given orally therapeutic doses of Triclabendazole 10 mg·kg-1·d-1 daily for 2 days,and kept in the hospital for observation for one week.Moreover,host and vector were investigated in the surrounding ditches of Dali prefecture and Limnaea peregra snail samples were collected.All the snails were squashed by glass sheet in order to detect the cercarie.Cow dung and sheep manure was collected in the Limnaea peregra distribution environment,and the eggs in the feces were checked by microscope after washing and precipitation.Results All the 26 patients had a continued hyperpyrexia with distinct alimentary system symptoms of nausea,vomiting,stomachache,abdominal distension as well as hepatomegaly,sensitive to percussion,different levels of liver damage detected by CT.All the patients had an eaten history of raw Herba Houttuyniae and other aquatic plants,and the course of the disease was similar,with the same epidemiological characteristics.ELISA detection was used in the 26 patients,family members and other healthy population,the results of all the 26 patients were positive(100.0％,26/26) ; the positive rates of the 57 family members and other health people of the same village were 31.6％ (18/57) and 17.1％ (6/35),respectively.The results of sequencing and BLAST program showed that the pathogen was Fasciola gigantica with the similarity between 99％-100％.PCR amplification also confirmed that the eggs were Fasciola gigantica eggs with an approximately 1000 bp band on agarose gel.After treatment with Triclabendazole,body temperature of the patients dropped to normal and symptoms improved markedly.Moreover,329 Limnaea peregra snails were collected including 5 ones with redia and one-tailed cercariae which were preliminary identified as the larva of Fasciola gigantica.There were also eggs of Fasciola gigantica detected in one stool of cattle and one of goat.Conclusions Eating raw food is the leading cause of the onset of the disease.Triclabendazole is the drug of choice to treat Fasciolasis.Health education should be strengthened by government and disease prevention and control departments in order to make the local residents to understand the potential hazard of eating raw aquatic vegetable and drinking unboiled water,which is the key to prevent the occurrence of the disease.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) orthopedics formula is an important part of the prevention and treatment of orthopedics disease,which has curative effect and the advantages of the whole regulation,but it needs to strengthen its clinical development and reasonable application in clinical.In this paper,by reviewing the current clinical present situation and some problems of the research and development about the TCM orthopedics formula,research and development direction were put forward:the source of prescription,the change of disease spectrum,the clinical location,the apphcation of toxic drugs and animal materials,and the quality control of clinical trials should be paid attentions to,hoping to provide some thoughts for the research and development of TCM orthopedics formula.

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a clinical common and frequent ly-occurring disease,traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Chinese medicine have certain advantages for patients in the treatment of early-middle period KOA.In this paper,by reviewingthe clinical feature,evaluation methods and present status of treatment of KOA,the evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine of KOA was proposed.the disease characteristics and clinical localization and clinical characteristics of TCM should be paid attention to,so as to select the evaluation method that can reflect the treatment of characteristics.

Knee osteoarthritis(KOA) is a clinical common and frequently -occurring disease,traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Chinese medicine has a certain advantage for patients in the treatment of early-middle period.In this paper,review the clinical feature,evaluation methods and present status of treatment of KOA,offer the evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine of KOA,should pay attention to the disease characteristics and clinical localization and clinical characteristics of TCM,select the evaluation method that it can reflect the treatment of characteristics.

Objective To determine the antioxidant activity of different polar fractions of Jasmine leaves.Methods The extract of jasmine flo wer leaves was extracted with petroleum ether,ethyl acetate and n-butanol to obtain the petroleum ether,ethyl acetate,n-butanol and water fractions.The scavenging abilities of different polar fractions of jasmine leaf on 1,1-two-2-three nitro phenyl hydrazine (DPPH) free radicals,ABTS + radicals,O2-radicals,OH-radicals and the reduction of Fe3 +,Fe2+ were investigated and were compared with that on 2,6-tert butyl -4-methyl phenol (BHT).Results All the fractions had the ability to scavenge DPPH free radicals and ABTS + radicals.The petroleum ether fracton had the strongest ability to scavenge oxygen anion radicals and the ability of different fractions to scavenge hydroxyl radicals was n-butanol ＞ ethyl acetate ＞ petroleum ether ＞ water.For the ability to restore Fe3 +,the most powerful was water reducing part,the weakest was the ethyl acetate part,for the ability of chelating Fe2+ ethyl acetate part was higher than BHT,and the n-butanol part was the weakest.Conclusion The different polar fractions of Guangxi Jasmine leaves had certain antioxidant activity.

Objective To evaluate in vitro synergy between palmatine and commonly used antibiotic against main clinical isolated strains in recent three years.Methods All of 118 strains isolated in recent three years and 2 standard strains were studied.Minimal inhibition concentrations (MIC) were tested by agar dilution method and combination effects were measured by checkerboard method.Results Palmatine showed moderate in vitro activity against Staphylococcus.Synergy was detected with palmatine in combination with levofloxacin against gram-positive and negative strains,though synergistic rate less than 20％.Synergy was not show between palmatine and linezolid.Additive effect was found widely between palmatine and two agents against almost all tested species.Conclusion The results of in vitro synergy tests may be different sometimes on account of various strains,methods,etc.So,more deeper understanding of action mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine and correlation between in vitro test and clinical outcomes will help medical to select antibiotic more suitablly.

Background RhoA/ Rho kinase (ROCK) pathway is involved in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PASMC) proliferation. Inhibition of ROCK has been proposed as a treatment for PAH. But the mechanism of RhoA/ROCK pathway and its downstream signaling in proliferation of human PASMCs is unclear. We investigated the effect of fasudil, a selective ROCK inhibitor, on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) induced human PASMC proliferation, and the possible association between RhoA/ROCK and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK),p27KiP1.Methods Human PASMCs were cultured with the stimulation of 10 ng/ml PDGF, and different concentrations of fasudil were added before the addition of mitogen. Cell viability and cell cycle were determined with MTT and flow cytometry respectively. ROCK activity, ERK activity and protein expression of proliferating cell nuclear angigen (PCNA) and p27Kip1 were measured by immunoblotting.Results By MTT assay, PDGF significantly increased the OD value that represented human PASMC proliferation, and pretreatment with fasudil significantly reversed this effect in a dose-dependent manner. After PDGF stimulation, the percentage of cells in S phase increased dramatically from 15.6％ to 24.3％, while the percentage in G0/G1 phase was reduced from 80.6％ to 59％. And pretreatment with fasudil reversed the cell cycle effect of PDGF significantly in a dose-dependent manner. PDGF markedly induced ROCK activity and ERK activity with a peak at 15 minutes, which were significantly inhibited by fasudil. In addition, fasudil significantly inhibited PDGF-induced PCNA expression and fasudil also upregulated p27Kip1 expression in human PASMCs, which decreased after PDGF stimulation.Conclusion RhoA/ROCK is vital for PDFG-induced human PASMC proliferation, and fasudil effectively inhibited PDGF-induced human PASMC proliferation by up-regulation of p27Kip1, which may be associated with inhibition of ERK activity.