OBJECTIVEIn order to improve the irrigation for Panax notginseng growing seedlings, different mulching ways were carried out to investigate the effects of double mulching.

METHODField experiment was applied to study soil moisture, soil temperature and bulk density of different mulching ways while the germination rate and seedlings growth also were investigated.

RESULTCompared with the traditional single mulching with pine leaves or straw, double mulching using plastic film combined with pine leaves or straw could reduce 2/3 volumes of irrigation at the early seedling time Double mulching treatments didn't need to irrigate for 40 days from seeding to germination, and kept soil moisture and temperature steady at whole seedling time about 30% and 9.0-16.6 degrees C, respectively. The steady soil moisture and temperature benefited to resist late spring cold and germinate earlier while kept germination regularly, higher rate and seedlings quality. In contrast, single mulching using pine leaves or straw had poor soil moisture and temperature preserving, needed to irrigate every 12-day, meanwhile dropped the germination and booming time 14 days and 24-26 days, respectively, reduced germination rate about 11.3%-8.7%. However, single pine leaves mulching was better than straw mulching. In addition, though better effects of soil moisture and temperature preserving as well as earlier and higher rate of germination with single plastic films mulching had, some disadvantages had also been observed, such as daily soil temperature changed greatly, seedling bed soil hardened easily, more moss and weeds resulted difficulty in later management.

CONCLUSIONTo the purpose of saving water and labor as well as getting higher germination rate and seedlings quality, double mulching using plastic films combined pine leaves at the early time and single mulching removing plastic films at the later time is suggested to apply in the growing seedlings of P. notoginseng.

Agriculture ; methods ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Fertilizers ; analysis ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Quality Control ; Seedlings ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Soil ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo observe therapeutic effect of abdominal cluster-needling combined with sacro-iliac-needling on chronic pelvic inflammation.

METHODSOne hundred and ten cases of pelvic inflammation were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group. The treatment group of 70 cases were treated by abdominal cluster-needling combined with sacro-iliac-needling; the control group of 40 cases were treated by oral administration of Fuyankang tablet. Their therapeutic effects were compared.

RESULTSThe cured rate and the total effective rate were 75.7% and 97.1% in the treatment group, and 37.5% and 85.0% in the control group, respectively, with significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of abdominal cluster-needling combined with sacro-iliac-needling is significantly better than that in the control group for chronic pelvic inflammation.

Abdomen ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Inflammation

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of ultrasound and MRI in fetal bronchopulmonary sequestration (BPS). Methods The 7 pregnant women with suspected fetal BPS were examined with a 1.5 T MR unit within 24 h after prenatal ultrasound in Hubei Maternal and Children's Hospital during July 2013 to February 2015. The imaging protocol included half-fourier acquisition single shot turbo SE (HASTE), true fast imaging with steady state precession (True FISP) in axial, frontal and sagittal planes relative to the fetal thorax. Prenatal MRI findings have been compared with postnatal enhanced computed tomography or biopsy. Results The locations of BPS were in left side in 5 cases and in right side in 2 cases. One case was complicated with congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM) of lung. Ultrasound showed the intrathoracic mass as a hyperechoic lesion and the feeding artery could be found by Doppler ultrasonography. T2WI could reveal not only the hyperintense lesions with clear boundary, but also the hypointense feeding artery originating from systemic circulation. Compared with pathological examination or enhanced CT, both of the ultrasound and the MRI could locate the lesions;however 2 feeding arteries were misjudged. Conclusions Prenatal ultrasound is the first-choice diagnostic modality for BPS. MRI can demonstrate the location, morphology and the feeding arteries of the fetal BPS, and also estimate the volume of normal lungs, which could be an important supplement to prenatal ultrasound in prenatal diagnosis and prognostic prediction of BPS.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of balloon dilation (BD) with gastroscope in treatment of esophageal stricture in children.

METHODSBD was performed in 12 children aged 5 - 59 months, average age 26 months, course of disease was 2 - 26 months, with esophageal stricture, 7 cases with anastomotic strictures secondary to surgical repair of esophageal atresia, 3 with congenital esophageal stenosis, 2 with corrosive esophageal strictures. All procedures were performed under tracheal intubation and intravenous anesthesia using the 3rd grade controlled radial expansion (CRE) esophagus-balloon with gastroscope. Firstly the balloon was inserted into the esophagus through mouth, then put in the gastroscope. Under the direct guidance of gastroscope the balloon was positioned across the stricture, then the balloon was filled with saline to get needed pressure and maintained for 3 minutes. The procedure was repeated 3 times at an interval of 3 minutes. The abdominal pain, melena and vomiting were observed, as well as the diet taken thereafter, the size of the stricture and the nutrition status were observed for 3 to 12 months after the dilation.

RESULTSTwenty-two dilations were performed in 12 cases, 19 succeeded, 3 cases developed complication during the dilation, the total success rate was 86%. The procedure failed in 3 cases and succeeded in 9 cases, the effective rate was 75%. Follow-up and repeated gastroscopy were performed within 3 to 12 months after the dilation, the diameter of the stricture was 9-13 mm, compared with 2-8 mm before the dilation. Eight of the children could take solid food and nutritional status was improved.

CONCLUSIONSBD with the 3rd grade CRE esophagus-balloon under gastroscopy is a simple and effective method to treat esophagus stricture in children, especially for anastomotic strictures secondary to surgical repair of esophageal atresia.

Catheterization ; methods ; Child, Preschool ; Esophageal Stenosis ; therapy ; Gastroscopes ; Humans ; Infant ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effect of a 10-day sequential therapy which was made up of omeprazole, clarithromycin, amoxicillin-clavulanate and metronidazole for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection in children.

METHODA total of 214 children with abdominal pain, who were confirmed to have Hp infection through endoscopy, biopsy, and Hp culture. The 214 cases were randomly divided into four groups. A 10-day sequential therapy group accepted omeprazole 0.8 - 1.0 mg/(kg·d) plus amoxicillin-clavulanate 50 mg/(kg·d) for five days and omeprazole 0.8 - 1.0 mg/(kg·d), clarithromycin 20 mg/(kg·d) and metronidazole 20 mg/(kg·d) for the remaining five days. The 7-day triple therapy group, 10-day triple therapy group and 14-day triple therapy group received omeprazole 0.8 - 1.0 mg/(kg·d), amoxicillin-clavulanate 50 mg/(kg·d) and clarithromycin 20 mg/(kg·d) for 7 days,10 days,14 days, respectively. All drugs were given twice daily. All these patients received (13)C urea breath test ((13)C-UBT) four weeks after the treatment.

RESULTFinally, 199 patients were followed up, and the total rate of loss to follow-up was 7.0% (15/214). Hp eradication rate was 85.2% and 90.2% in the 10-day sequential therapy group on intention to treat (ITT) and per protocol (PP) analyses, 66.0% and 71.4% in the 7-day triple therapy group on ITT and PP analyses; 60.0% and 67.3% in 10-day triple therapy group on ITT and PP analyses, and 78.8% and 82.0% in patients who received the 10-day sequential regimen on ITT and PP analyses, respectively. By ITT analysis, there was significantly difference between the 10-day sequential therapy group and 7-day or 10-day triple therapy group (P < 0.05), while no significant difference was found between the 10-day sequential therapy group and 14-day triple therapy group (P > 0.05). The results of the ITT analysis and the PP analysis were the same. The four groups had neither significant difference in abdominal pain relief (P > 0.05) nor in incidence of adverse reactions (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe 10-day sequential regimen was significantly more effective than both 7-day triple regimen and 10-day triple regimen, while had the same eradication rate compared with the 14-day sequential therapy. But 10-day triple regimen to eradicate Hp infection in children had the advantages such as short course of treatment and better compliance.

Administration, Oral ; Adolescent ; Amoxicillin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Anti-Ulcer Agents ; administration & dosage ; Breath Tests ; methods ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Clarithromycin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Helicobacter Infections ; drug therapy ; Helicobacter pylori ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Male ; Metronidazole ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Omeprazole ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo probe the effect of sodium para-aminosalicylate (PAS-Na) on concentration of amino acid neurotransmitters including glutamate (Glu), glutamine (Gln), glycine (Gly) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in basal ganglia of subacute manganese (Mn)-exposed rats.

METHODSForty Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into the control, Mn-exposed, low dose PAS-Na (L-PAS) and high dose PAS-Na (H-PAS) groups. Rats in experiment groups received daily intraperitoneally injections of manganese chloride (MnCl₂ · 4H₂O, 15 mg/kg), while rats in control group received daily intraperitoneally injections of normal saline (NS), all at 5 days/week for 4 weeks. Then the rats in PAS groups followed by a daily subcutaneously dose of PAS-Na (100 and 200 mg/kg as the L-PAS and H-PAS groups, respectively) for another 3 and 6 weeks; while the rats in Mn-exposed and control group received NS. The concentrations of Glu, Gln, Gly and GABA in basal ganglia of rat was detected by the high performance liquid chromatography fluorescence detection technique.

RESULTSAfter treating with PAS-Na for 3 weeks, the concentration of Gly in the Mn-exposed rats decreased to (0.165 ± 0.022) µmol/L (control = (0.271 ± 0.074) µmol/L, Mn vs control, t = 4.65, P < 0.05). After the further 6-week therapy with PAS-Na, the concentrations of Glu, Gln, Gly in the Mn-exposed rats were lower than those of the control rats ((0.942 ± 0.121), (0.377 ± 0.070), (0.142 ± 0.048), (1.590 ± 0.302), (0.563 ± 0.040), (0.247 ± 0.084) µmol/L; t = 7.72, 5.85, 4.30, P < 0.05); and also lower than in L-PAS and H-PAS groups, whose concentrations were separately (1.268 ± 0.124), (1.465 ± 0.196), (0.497 ± 0.050), (0.514 ± 0.103), (0.219 ± 0.034) µmol/L (L-PAS Glu and Gln vs Mn, t = 3.87, 3.77, P < 0.05; H-PAS Glu, Gln and Gly vs Mn, t = 6.78, 4.70, 3.42, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe toxic effect of manganese on Glu, Gln and Gly in basal ganglia of Mn-exposed rats is obvious, especially appears earlier on Gly. The toxic effect still continues to develop when relieved from the exposure. PAS-Na may play an antagonism role in toxic effect of manganese on concentration of Glu, Gln and Gly in basal ganglia of Mn-exposed rats.

Amino Acids ; metabolism ; Animals ; Basal Ganglia ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Glutamic Acid ; metabolism ; Male ; Manganese ; toxicity ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium Salicylate ; pharmacology ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate and compare the short-term outcome of patients with low-middle frequency sudden deafness treated with alone or combination treatment.

METHODSFrom August 2007 to October 2011, 205 patients with the diagnosis of low-middle frequency sudden deafness who were from 33 different clinical centers were recruited. All patients were followed up for four weeks from the initial examination. Patients were treated with steroid , Ginaton, batroxobin respectively, or Ginaton and steroid combination treatment.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 90.73%. In Ginaton group, the total effective rate was 87.27%, 89.19% in steroid group, 87.80% in batroxobin group, and 95.83% in Ginaton and steroid group. Considering the total effective rate, there was no statistical difference between four groups (χ(2) = 7.98, P = 0.54). The clinical cure rate for steroid alone was 81.01%, Ginaton alone 76.36%, batroxobin alone 68.29%, and Ginaton and steroid combination treatment 80.56%. There were no clinically significant differences between the different treatments (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe low-middle frequency sudden deafness tends to have a relatively favorable prognosis. The steroid played a good effect in the treatment. But different treatments either improving the microcirculation of inner ear or alleviating edema blood has undifferentiated results. Therefore the combination therapy may be more effective.

Batroxobin ; China ; epidemiology ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; classification ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Humans

Objective To examine the relationship between traditional Chinese medical (TCM)constitution and chronic diseases in order to provide suggestions to TCM health care and health management among community residents.Methods 3100 residents over 50 years old in 4 communities from Jiangdong district were selected by random sampling method. TCM constitution and prevalence of chronic diseases of residents were investigated by physical examination and questionnaire.Results 34.57% of the residents were living with the constitution of yin -yang harmony,while the constitution of phlegm -dampness was 21.38% which accounted for the most part of 8 biased constitutions.The percentages of constitution of blood stasis and phlegm-dampness among residents with chronic diseases were 22.77%and 2.57% respectively,which were significantly higher than those without (15.77% and 0.33% respectively).The percentage of constitution of blood stasis or phlegm-dampness among residents with hypertension was higher than those without.While among hyper-lipidemia residents,the positive rates of constitution of blood stasis,phlegm-dampness and allergic were higher,among residents with diabetes or cardio-cerebro-vascular diseases the positive rate of constitution of blood stasis was higher.Exercise,smoking and sleeping behavior were related to TCM constitution.The proportion of constitution of qi asthenia,damp-heat and qi stagnation among residents with low body mass index (BMI<18.5)was significantly larger.Conclusion TCM constitution among the middle -aged and the elderly was correlated to chronic diseases.Lack of exercise,smoking,irregular sleeping and low or high BMI were positively related to biased constitutions.

This study was purposed to evaluate the effects of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) on hematopoietic reconstruction and survival in beagles exposed to mixed fission neutron and γ-ray. 13 beagles were unilaterally exposed to single dose of 2.3 Gy 90% neutrons. The experiments were divided into 3 groups: irradiation control group (no any treatment, n = 4), supportive care group (n = 5) and rhG-CSF plus supportive care group (n = 4, abbreviated as rhG-CSF group) in which the beagles were subcutaneously injected with 200 µg/kg of rhG-CSF early at half an hour and 24 hours post-irradiation respectively. The results showed that 2.3 Gy 90% neutron irradiation induced a severe acute radiation sickness of bone marrow type. The administration of rhG-CSF increased the survival rate from 60% in supportive care group to 100%. Twice injection of rhG-CSF in the first 24 hours reduced duration of neutropenia, enhanced neutrophil nadir and promoted neutrophil recovery when compared with control cohort administered clinical support. The number of colony-forming cells (CFU-GM, CFU-E, and BFU-E) in peripheral blood of rhG-CSF treated canines increased 2-to 5-fold relative to those of the supportive care group on day 3. All canines treated with rhG-CSF achieved hematopoietic reconstruction as evidenced by the pathological section of sternum while severe shortage of hemopoietic cells remained in the cohorts given supportive care alone. It is concluded that the combination of supportive care and high-dose rhG-CSF can accelerate hematopoietic recovery and enhance survival of dogs exposed to 2.3 Gy mixed neutron and gamma ray.
Animals ; Dogs ; Gamma Rays ; adverse effects ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Hematopoietic System ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Neutron Diffraction ; Recombinant Proteins ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Survival Rate

Child ; Family ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Skin Diseases ; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/etiology*