Objective To study the functional and ultramicrostructural effects of melatonin on hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal(HPA) axis in normal and diabetic rats.Methods By means of radioimmunoassay we observed the effects of three doses of melatonin(0.5mg/kg for low,10mg/kg for medium,50mg/kg for high) and lipoicin on level of CRH,ACTH and COR in normal and diabetic rats' plasma for three weeks respectively.The ultramicrostructural changes of hypophysis and pituitary gland after melatonin treatment were also observed under transmission electron microscope(TEM).Results 1.Compared with control groups,the CRH level of melatonin groups in normal and diabetic rats notably reduced(P

The therapeutic effect of acupuncture in treating the patients with urine retention after spinal and craniocerebral injuries was observed.Methods:Eighty patients with urine retention were divided into treatment group and control group.The patients in the treatment group were treated by puncturing Baliao (BL 31-34),Zhongii(CV 3) and Guanyuan (CV 4).The patients in the control group were treated by routine therapy of Western medicine.Resuits:In treatment group,33 cases were cured,5 cases got effectiveness and 2 cases had no effectiveness.In control group,25 cases were cured,7 cases got effectiveness and 8 cases had no effectiveness.Conclusion:The therapeutic effect of acupuncture was superior to that of routine therapy of Westem medicine in treating urine retention following spinal and craniocerebral injuries.

Objective This study aimed to explore clinical characteristics of four types of obesity based on metabolic classification. Methods Forty-eight obese patients were divided according to their clinical characteristics into 4 groups including metabolic healthy obesity (MHO), hypometabolic obesity (LMO), hypermetabolic obesity (HMO), and metabolic obesity with inflammation (IMO). 20 normal weight individuals were also recruited as a control group. Body fat, body weight, visceral index, and basal metabolism were measured by Omron body fat meter. Fat content and its distribution were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. All participating patients underwent various tests for 75 g oral glucose tolerance, blood glucose, insulin, C peptide. Lipid profile, thyroid function and sex hormones levels, and inflammation factors were also measured. Results (1)Patients in MHO group had higher body fat content, but had no metabolic disorder and inflammation. Their hormones levels were normal. (2) Lower metabolic rate and lower hormones levels were found in the patients in LMO group with increasing visceral fat. Trunk/subcutaneous fat mass was significantly higher than that in MHO group(1. 19 ± 0. 25 vs 0. 97 ± 0. 32, P<0. 05). There were abnormal lipid and glucose metabolism in LMO group. The insulin action index was significantly lower than that in MHO group(0. 006 6 ± 0. 002 7 vs 0. 012 1 ± 0. 009 5, P<0. 05). The area under the curve of glucoseconcentrationwassignificantlyhigherinLMOgroupthanthatinMHOgroup[(18.71±8.68vs12.70±4.63) mmol/L, P<0. 05]. (3)Heart rate and blood pressure were higher in HMO group. The heart rate was significantly increased compared with that in MHO group [(90. 50 ± 8. 24 vs 73. 20 ± 14. 11) beat/min, P<0. 05]. The waist circumference was significantly larger than that in MHO group [(111. 88 ± 10. 54 vs 98. 05 ± 15. 56) cm, P<0. 05]. (4) In IMO group, insulin action index was significantly lower than MHO group (0. 007 0 ± 0. 003 3 vs 0.0121±0.0095,P<0.05). ThetrunkfatmassanduricacidlevelsweresignificantlyhigherthanMHOgroup [(17236.38±4610.60vs15816.10±5453.42)gand(468.28±121.32vs376.84±97.14) μmol/L,bothP<0. 05]. Patients in IMO group had acanthosis nigricans, but their glucose level was relatively normal. Conclusion The metabolic-based obese diagnosis is essential for understanding the obesity etiology and providing individualized treatment.

OBJECTIVETo study the functional and ultramicrostructural effects of alpha lipoic acid on hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in normal and diabetic rats.

METHODSUsing radioimmunoassay we observed the effects of three doses (1, 20, and 100 mg/kg) of alpha lipoic acid injected intraperitoneally for 3 weeks on the plasma levels of CRH, ACTH and COR in normal and diabetic rats. The ultramicrostructural changes of the hypophysis and pituitary gland after alpha lipoic acid treatment were observed under transmission electron microscope.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, CRH level in lipoicin-treated normal and diabetic rats was significantly reduced (P<0.05). ACTH level of the 3 lipoicin doses groups of normal rats decreased, and a significant reduction occurred in medium-dose lipoicin group of diabetic rats (P<0.05). COR level showed the same changes as CRH level in normal rats, but decreased significantly in high- and medium-dose lipoicin groups of diabetic rats. Lipoicin treatment produced no apparent effect on the ultramicrostructures of the hypophysis and pituitary gland cells, which were the targets of diabetic lesions with low metabolism functions. Lipoicin treatment obviously enhanced the hypophysis and pituitary gland cell metabolism function to resist diabetic oxidative stress.

CONCLUSIONLipoicin can inhibit the HPA axis directly or indirectly in normal and diabetic rats.

Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System ; drug effects ; physiology ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Pituitary-Adrenal System ; diagnostic imaging ; drug effects ; physiology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thioctic Acid ; pharmacology ; Ultrasonography

A method for simultaneous determination of the shikonin, acetyl shikonin and β, β'-dimethylpropene shikonin in Onosma hookeri and the chromatographic fingerprint was estabished by HPLC-DAD on an Agilent Zorbax SB-column with a gradient elution of acetonitrile and water at 0.8 mL x min(-1), 30 degrees C. The quality assessment was conducted by comparing the content difference of three naphthoquinone constituents, in combination with chromatographic fingerprint analysis and systems cluster analysis among 7 batches of radix O. hookeri. The content of the three naphthoquinone constituents showed wide variations in 7 bathces. The similarity value of the fingerprints of sample 5, 6 and 7 was above 0.99, sample 2 and 3 above 0.97, sample 3 and 4 above 0.90, and other samples larger than 0.8, which was in concert with the content of three naphthoquinone constituents. The 7 samples were roughly divided into 4 categories. The results above indicated that the using of this medicine is complex and rather spotty. The established HPLC fingerprints and the quantitative analysis method can be used efficiently for quality assessment of O. hookeri.
Boraginaceae ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Naphthoquinones ; analysis ; Plant Roots ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo search for the best therapy for simple obesity.

METHODSEighty cases were randomly divided into 3 groups. The body acupuncture group were treated based on the syndrome of heat of stomach and intestine, syndrome of spleen deficiency and stagnation of dampness, and syndrome of spleen and kidney yang-deficiency; the auricular and body acupuncture group were treated by the syndrome treatment of body acupuncture combined with auricular point sticking; the observation group were treated by the combined auricular and body acupuncture treatment plus moving cupping on back-shu points. Body weight, BMI, body fatd, blood lipids and clinically main symptoms before and after treatment were investigated.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 69.6% in the body acupuncture group, 76.0%. in the auricular and body acupuncture group, and 90.6% treated in the observation group, with significant differences in the therapeutic effect, clinically main symptoms, external indexes of obesity and kidney ang-blood lipid metabolism between the observation group and the body acupuncture group. The various indexes in the auricular and body acupuncture group were superior to those iwere tthe body acupuncture group, with no significant differences in most indexes.

CONCLUSIONAuricular and body acupuncture combined with moving cupping at back-shu points has obvious therapeutic effect on simple obesity and this is a better therapy for simple obesity.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Acupuncture, Ear ; methods ; Adult ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Obesity ; blood ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the change of zygomatic and temporal soft tissue after coronal incision.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed in 33 patients who received firm fixation for unilateral zygomatic comminuted fracture through semi-coronal incision. All the patients were followed up for more than one year. Craniofacial anthropometric measurement through 3D-CT reconstruction and facial profile was performed. The difference between the operated side and healthy side was analyzed.

RESULTSAt the temporal concave point, the soft tissue thickness at healthy side was (1.60 +/- 0. 97) mm more than that at operated side, showing a significant difference between them (P < 0.01). While the soft tissue thickness was not statistically different between two sides at zygion, malar prominence, zygomaxillare, and temporal convex point (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe soft tissue atrophy may happen at temporal fat pad after semi-coronal incision, but not at zygomatic area. Intraoperative precise dissection and less stretch of soft tissue may be helpful to avoid the postoperative facial asymmetry.

Adipose Tissue ; anatomy & histology ; Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Comminuted ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Scalp ; surgery ; Young Adult ; Zygomatic Fractures ; surgery

One hundred and ninety-three type 2 diabetic patients of average age of 70.3 years (96 males and 97 females), receiving insulin treatment at Diabetes Clinic of Caoyang Subdistrict Community Health Service Center from April to October 2018 were enrolled in the study. During the first visit, the average times of insulin injection pen needle use in the past month and the reason for repeated use were investigated; and the patients were informed that under the medical insurance policy in Shanghai, the reimbursement rate of the needles was increased to 80%. The patients were regularly instructed on the use of insulin needles in the follow-up visits. After 5 months the times of each insulin needle use were surveyed again. The first survey showed that 97.5% (188/193) of patients reused insulin needles, and each needle was used for (11.8±9.8) times; while the second survey showed that each needle was used for (4.4±4.4) times. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that the reuse behavior was affected by the frequency of education given by medical staff and the patient′s perception on expensiveness of the needles. It is suggested that clinical health education and fully informing medical insurance policy is important for the behavior change of reusing insulin injection pen needles in diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of different treatment options for the flat type of sudden hearing loss.

METHODSProspective, multi-center clinical study was carried out using internationally used standardized clinical research method. Patients with the flat type of sudden hearing loss between 18 and 65 years old, within two weeks duration, and without any medical treatment were recruited. Treatment options were randomly selected according to the designed random table.

RESULTSFrom August 2007 to October 2011, 402 patients with the flat type of sudden hearing loss who met the criteria (account for 39.26% of the total number of patients) from the 33 hospitals were collected; the total effective rate was 82.59%, and no significant difference was detected between different treatments, (χ(2) = 10.95, P = 0.28). In the 402 cases, 139 were cured (34.58%); 118 were markedly improved (29.35%); 75 were effective (18.66%); 70 were invalid (17.41%).

CONCLUSIONSThe therapeutic efficacy of flat type of sudden hearing loss overall is good; the treatment of improving the inner ear blood rheology and/or reducing blood fibrinogen has clinical significance; the therapeutic efficacy of using glucocorticoid systemically is good as well; there is no obvious difference between combination and single medication.

Adult ; Aged ; Ear, Inner ; Glucocorticoids ; therapeutic use ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; therapy ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the significance of early screening of pediatric developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) and congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) using ultrasonography and establish a simultaneous screening model for pediatric DDH and CMT.

METHODSFrom January, 2013 to January, 2016, a total of 5060 pediatric patients with suspected DDH and CMT underwent ultrasonic examinations. The diagnostic results of the two diseases were classified into different clinical types, and Chi-square test was used to analyze the one-way relationship between different types of DDH and CMT; correspondence analysis was used for multivariate analysis of the variables. Chi-square test was used to analyze the difference between the detection rates in suspected CMT patients and the normal population.

RESULTSGrafIIa type DDH was associated with mass-type CMT in the children (χ=331.800, P<0.001). DDH of GrafIIb, GrafIIc, Graf III, and Graf IV types were related with non-tumor type of CMT. The children with a suspected diagnosis of CMT showed a significantly higher detection rate of DDH than the normal subjects (χ=321.889, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONDDH is closely related with CMT. Early simultaneous screening of DDH and CMT can help to improve the early diagnosis rate of CMT in children.