Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; methods

Objective To compare the effect of transthoracic contrast echocardiography (cTTE) with transesophageal contrast echocardiography (cTEE) for detecting right to left shunt (RLS) in patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO). Methods The prospective study was conducted in 29 consecutive patients with PFO who suffered from cryptogenic stroke and/or migraine. Contrast echocardiography was performed in all 29 patients. The cTTE was performed using transducer with second harmonic imaging modality (transmitting frequency 1.7 MHz, receiving frequency 3.4 MHz). The cTEE was performed using transducer with frequency 7 MHz. Ten milliliter saline solution of contrast were rapidly administrated through an antecubital vein. According to whether microbubble (MB) appearing in left atrium after complete opaciifcation of right atrium within the ifrst 3 circles, the results were classiifed by a four-level semi-quantitative categorization:Level 1 (no PFO-RSL), no MB in left atrium; Level 2 (small PFO-RSL) 1-10 MBs; Level 3 (medium PFO-RSL) 10-30 MBs;Level 4 (large PFO-RSL)>30 MBs. Results The total detection rate of PFO-RSL was signiifcant different between cTTE and cTEE (86.2%vs 55.2%,χ2=5.711, P=0.017). In cTTE there were 4 cases at level 1, 1 case at level 2, 5 cases at level 3 and 19 cases at level 4. In cTEE there were 13 cases at leverl 1, 2 cases at level 2, 6 cases at level 3 and 7 cases at level 4. The comparison of semi-quantitative grading derived from cTTE and cTEE was also signiifcant different (Wilcoxon signed ranks test showed Z=-3.789, P=0.000). Conclusions The efifciency in detection of PFO-RLS with cTTE was better than with cTEE. Compared with cTEE, cTTE was easier in practice and brought less discomfort and complications to patients.

Abscess ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; surgery ; Bacteria, Aerobic ; isolation & purification ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Spleen ; pathology ; surgery ; Splenic Diseases ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the CT manifestations of Meckel's diverticulum and its complications in children. Methods Retrospective analysis of Clinical and CT findings in 25 cases with pathologically proved Meckel's diverticulum. The unenhanced and contrast-enhanced CT were obtained in all patients. Results (1)The direct signs: the diverticulum cannot be shown in 5 cases; the diverticulums were found around the navel or in lower right abdomen in 20 cases. The blind-ending fluid-filled or gas-filled structures were found in 9 cases, with heterogeneous ring-enhancement. The tubercle-like structures were detected in 11 cases, which showed no enhancement in 4 cases, and homogeneous enhancement in 3 cases,and heterogeneous enhancement in 4 cases. (2) The indirect signs included intestine obstruction in 8 cases,swelling fat layer surrounding the diverticulum in 9 cases, free gas around the diverticulum in 3 cases,thickened mesentery in 8 cases, ascites in 4 cases, and intussusception due to inverted Meckel's diverticulum with "target sign" in 1 case. (3) CT classification: with diverticulitis or diverticular bleeding in 20 eases; with intestine obstruction or intussusception in 8 cases; bands-caused obstruction in 7 cases;intussusception in 1 case; with perforation in 3 cases. Conclusion Meckel's diverticulum and its complications have typical CT findings, and CT can clearly demonstrate diverticulum's shape, margin,internal components and surroundiug tissues.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect and mechanism of Kangxianling (KXL, a TCM herbal compound) on renal interstitial fibrosis induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO).

METHODSEighteen male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, 6 in each group, the sham operated group, the model group, and the KXL group. Renal interstitial fibrosis model was established in rats by UUO. After rats were raised for additional 14 days, their body weight, serum levels of creatinine (SCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were analyzed. Then rats were sacrificed, their renal pathology examined by HE staining and PASM staining; expressions of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) mRNA, and a-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), TGF-beta1 receptor I (TbetaR I), TGF-beta1 receptor II (TbetaR II) and hepatocyte growth factor receptor (C-Met) protein in kidney tissue were determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting respectively.

RESULTSSCr and BUN in the model group were significantly higher than those in the sham operated group (P <0.05). Expressions of TGF-beta1 mRNA and a-SMA, TbetaR I , TbetaR II and C-Met protein in kidney tissue in the model group significantly up-regulated and mRNA expression of HGF significantly down-regulated, and obvious hyperplasia of the base member of glomeruli was seen. After intervention with KXL, BUN content significantly lowered, alpha-SMA, TbetaR I and TbetaR II protein expression decreased and HGF mRNA expression up-regulated significantly in the treated group, with slight pathological changes only shown as mild hyperplasia of the base member of glomeruli and renal tubules.

CONCLUSIONKXL could inhibit the protein expressions of a-SMA, TbetaR I , TbetaR II and increase the mRNA expression of HGF, which is a protective factor against renal fibrosis. Therefore, it is effective in alleviating the renal interstitial fibrosis and improving the renal function in UUO rats.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Fibrosis ; prevention & control ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Nephritis, Interstitial ; etiology ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Nephrosclerosis ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Phytotherapy ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Ureteral Obstruction ; complications

Objective To analyse the necessity of colposcopic directed biopsy to vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) before hysterectomy due to early stage cervical cancer (stage Ⅰ) or high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Methods A total of 669 patients who underwent a hysterectomy due to early stage cervical cancer (stage Ⅰ) and CINⅢin Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University,from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2013 and followed up, 99 patients with VAIN were enrolled. The clinical data and following up the prognosis were prospectively analyzed retrospectively. Results The occurrence rate of VAIN before and after hysterectomy due to cervical dysplasia was 14.8%(99/669), the occurrence rate and the grade of VAIN showed that significantly increased from CINⅢto cervical cancer stageⅠ(P<0.05);Only 15 patients enrolled had undergone vaginal wall biopsy by colposcopy pre-hysterectomy, including 11 patients who were diagnosed with VAINⅡ-Ⅲand underwent vagina extended resection during the hysterectomy. The 5 year recurrence rate of vaginal stump VAIN after hysterectomy was 12.1%(12/99) and the progression rate was 4.0%(4/99), the recurrent rate was 2.0%(2/99). Conclusions For all the patients who are planning to undergo hysterectomy due to stageⅠcervical cancer and CINⅢ, routine upper side of the vagina wall colposcopic-directed biopsy pre-hysterectomy is strongly recommended. All the patients after hysterectomy due to cervical dysplasia should be followed up regularly within 3 years after hysterectomy.

Objective To investigate the relationship between cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and high-risk (HR)HPV infection among late pregnant women.Methods From Aug.2007 to Feb.2010,168 women at 13 to 32 gestational weeks undergoing prenatal examination in Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital went through three stage cervical disease screening,including 21 women with cervicitis and 147 women with C1N (42 women with CIN Ⅲ,37 women with CIN Ⅱ and 68 women with CIN Ⅰ ).Hybrid capture assay version Ⅱ ( HC- Ⅱ ) test was used to measure HR-HPV DNA load,and the logarithmic transtormation (log10) was performed.All 168 women were followed up to postpartum 3 -6 months.HR-HPV infections rates of cervicitis and different CIN,the rate of HR-HPV infection turned naturally negative at postpartum of 3 to 6 months,and HR-HPV load at pregnancy and 3 -6 months postpartum were observed.Results ( 1 ) HR-HPV infection rate:CIN Ⅲ,Ⅱ,Ⅰ and cervicitis pregnant women's HR-HPV positive infection rates were 98％ (41/42),86％ ( 32/37 ),76％ ( 52/68 ) and 62％( 13/21 ) respectively,which reached statistical difference (P =0.002).(2) HR-HPV naturally negative:the rate of pregnant women with different levels of CIN who turned HR-HPV naturally negative within 3 -6 months of postpartum were CIN Ⅲ 5％ (2/41),CIN Ⅱ 47％ (15/32),CIN Ⅰ 52 ％ (27/52) and cervicitis 10/13,which also reached statistical difference among those four groups (P =0.000).(3) HR-HPV load:pregnant women with different grade of CIN and cervicitis HR-HPV DNA load were CIN Ⅲ 2.02 ng/L(1.53,2.67 ng/L),CIN Ⅱ 1.94 ng/L ( 0.75,2.75 ng/L),CIN Ⅰ 2.04 ng/L (0.08,2.95 ng/L) and cervicitis 1.98 ng/L( -0.07,2.47 ng/L).There was no significantly different HPV load in women with cervicitis and different CIN (P =0.719).At 3 -6 months postpartum,HR-HPV load was CIN Ⅲ1.55 ng/L(0.90,2.10 ng/L),which was significantly higher than the amount of CIN Ⅱ 0.09 ng/L(-0.69,1.74 ng/L),CIN Ⅰ 0.48 ng/L( -0.56,2.2 ng/L) and cervicitis -0.46 ng/L ( -0.78,1.40 ng/L,P =0.036).Conclusions With the increasing of CIN grade,the rate of HR-HPV infection in pregnant women was increased,however,the rate of HR-HPV turning negative naturally at 3 -6 months postpartum decreased.With different CIN grade during pregnancy,HR-HPV DNA load did not change significantly,but HR-HPV DNA load increased at 3 -6 months of postpartum.HR-HPV DNA loads with the same grade of CIN and cervicitis during pregnancy higher than that of postpartum among pregnant women.

OBJECTIVETo explore the therapeutic effect of qi benefiting blood activating method (QB-BAM) on acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) patients with blood stasis syndrome (BSS) by observing its effect on plasma fibrinogen (Fg) and D-dimer (D-D) levels.

METHODSSixty AECOPD patients with BSS were randomly assigned to the treated group and the control group, 30 in each group. All patients received conventional therapy for AECOPD. Those in the treated group were additionally injected with Shengmai Injection and Tanshinone IIA Injection. Clinical efficacy and indices including levels of Fg, D-D, PaO2, and PaCO2 were measured and compared before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe effective rate was 93.3% (28/30 cases) in the treated group, higher than that of the control group [73.3% (22/30 cases) , P < 0.05]. There was no significant difference in all indices between the treated group and the control group before treatment (P >0.05). After treatment all indices were significantly improved in the two groups (P < 0.01). But in the treated group levels of Fg and D-D decreased more and levels of PaO2 increased more (P < 0.01). Plasma levels of Fg and D-D levels were negatively correlated with PaO2 (r = -0.493, r = -0.438, P < 0.01) before treatment, and also negatively correlated with PaO2 (r = -0.452, r = -0.325, P < 0.01, P < 0.05) after treatment, but they were not significantly correlated with PaCO2 before and after treatment (P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONSQBBAM could play a therapeutic role in improving prethrombotic states of AECOPD patients with BSS. Plasma levels of Fg and D-D were related to the severity of AECOPD.

Acute Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products ; Fibrinogen ; Hemostatics ; Humans ; Plasma ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; drug therapy ; Qi

To assess the relationship between pronuclear scoring and day-3 embryo quality and pregnancy outcome and to determine the clinical value of pronuclear stage scoring system in human in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) program, a pronuclear scoring system was used to score zygotes 16-20 h after insemination during conventional IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The embryos were classified into groups Z1, Z2, Z3 and Z4. Comparisons were made of the rates of arrested embryos and excellent embryos on day 3. Comparisons of pregnancy outcome were made only in those patients in whom cohorts of similarly Z-scored embryos were transferred. The results showed that there were less arrested embryos and more excellent embryos on day 3 in groups Z1 and Z2 than those in group Z3 and Z4. More embryos arrested and less excellent embryos developed in group Z4 than group Z3. The clinical pregnancy rates resulting from the transfer of single pronuclear score homologous embryo types were similar among groups Z1, Z2 and Z3. Implantation rates of group Z1 were higher (P<0.05) than that of group Z3. These findings suggests that pronuclear scoring can predict developmental ability on day 3 and implantation potential. A evaluation that combines the Z-score and day 3 embryo morphology is useful in the determination of the most viable embryos and the number of embryos for transfer.
Cell Nucleus/*metabolism ; Embryo Implantation ; Embryo Transfer/*methods ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Infertility/therapy ; Models, Biological ; Oocytes/metabolism ; Ovary/*metabolism ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Spermatozoa/metabolism

Objective To evaluate and summarize the possibility and experience of reconstructive vascular operation for V-shaped kinking of internal carotid artery.Methods Reconstructive vascular operation was performed in 11 patients with symptomatic V-shaped kinking of internal carotid artery,admitted to our hospitals from July 2008 to May 2010; 7 of them underwent eversion endarterectomy simultaneously.Results One patient with severe distortion appeared mild agitation,insomnia and headache 3-5 d after the operation,but 1 week later,the system disappeared completely.CTA right after the operation showed that the distortion vascular was straight with good vascular patency.All patients rechecked MR diffusion weighted imaging 1 week after the operation,showing that 2 patients had fresh lacunar infarction in the operation side.Carotid ultrasonography showed no restenosis recurrence,distortion or hemodynamic disorders 3 and 6 months after the operation.1patient rechecked CT brain perfusion imaging 6 months after the operation,showing obviously improved perfusion.Follow up for 6 months reviewed no other new infarction lesions,no obvious nervous signs or symptoms appeared; no one reappeared TIA or had operative complications.Obvious improvement of spirit and reaction was noted in a patient with slow response.Conclusion Reconstructive vascular operation is an effective surgical approach in kinking and coiling of the internal carotid artery.