Objective: To observe the therapeutic efficacy of music electric stimulation of points in treating anxiety. Methods: By adopting a design of multi-centered randomized controlled trial (RCT), a total of 270 patients with anxiety were randomized into a treatment group and a medication group. The treatment group was intervened by music electric stimulation of points, while the medication group was intervened by oral administration of doxepin. The two groups were evaluated by using Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAMA) and Chinese revised edition of self-rating anxiety scale (SAS-CR) before and after the intervention. The therapeutic efficacies were also compared. Results: The total effective rate was 93.6% in the treatment group versus 92.3% in the medication group, and the between-group difference was statistically insignificant (P>0.05). After the treatment, the aggregate scores of HAMA and SAS-CR were significantly changed in both groups (both P<0.001), and the inter-group differences were statistically insignificant (P>0.05). Conclusion: Music electric stimulation of points can produce equivalent efficacy in treating anxiety compared to doxepin. Thus, it can be taken as a choice in the treatment of anxiety.

Objective To explore whether autoreactive antibody presents in patients with sporadic idiopathic hypoparathyroidism(sIHP).Methods The subjects including 26 patients with sIHP and 112 genealogical members as well as 60 age-and sex-matched healthy controls.Anti-parathyroid antibodies in the sera were assayed by indirect immunofluorescence.The levels of calcium,phosphorus and magnesium as well as intact parathyroid hormone(iPTH)in the sera were tested.Results Positive autoantibodies against parathyroid tissue were demonstrated in 10 patients(38%)with sIHP,significantly higher than that of in genealogical members(10%,?~2=13.42,P

OBJECTIVETo assess the role of probiotics in the prevention of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and to investigate the risk factors for NEC.

METHODSA total of 2528 hospitalized neonates between January 2002 and May 2005 were assigned into either receiving prophylactic use of probiotics bifoco (Prevention group, n=1182) or without probiotics supplementation (Control group, n = 1346). The incidence of NEC was compared between the two groups. The risk factors for NEC were investigated by conditional logistic regression multifactorial analysis.

RESULTSThere were 19 cases of NEC in the Control group (1.41%), but only 6 cases in the Prevention group (0.51%) (P < 0.05). Gestational age (OR = 5.521), hypoxicdouble ended arrowischemic encephalopathy (OR = 3.887), specticemia (OR = 4.854) and critical illness scores (OR = 5.989) were the risk factors for NEC, while the prophylactic use of probiotics was an independent protective factor for NEC (OR = 0.255).

CONCLUSIONSThe prophylactic use of probiotics may reduce the incidence of NEC in neonates.

Case-Control Studies ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing ; prevention & control ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Probiotics ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo review the literature on the clinical progress in cauda equina syndrome (CES), including the epidemic history, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment policy and prognosis. Data sources All reports on CES in the literature were searched in PubMed, Ovid, Springer, Elsevier, and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Disk using the key terms "cauda equina syndrome", "diagnosis", "treatment", "prognosis" and "evidence-based medicine". Study selection Original milestone articles and critical reviews written by major pioneer investigators about the cauda equina syndrome were selected.

RESULTSCES is rare, both atraumatically and traumatically. Males and females are equally affected. The incidence of CES is variable, depending on the etiology of the syndrome. The most common cause of CES is herniation of a lumbar intervertebral disc. CES symptoms may have sudden onset and evolve rapidly or sometimes chronic ally. Each type of CES has different typical signs and symptoms. Low back pain may be the most significant symptoms, accompanied by sciatica, lower extremities weakness, saddle or perianal hypoesthesia, sexual impotence, and sphincter dysfunction. MRI is usually the preferred investigation approach. Patients who have had CES are difficult to return to a normal status.

CONCLUSIONSThe diagnosis of CES is primarily based on a careful history inquiry and clinical examination, assisted by elective radiologic investigations. Early diagnosis and early surgical decompression are crucial for a favorable outcome in most CES cases.

Evidence-Based Medicine ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Polyradiculopathy ; diagnosis ; etiology ; pathology

At present, the modernization of Chinese medicine preparations (CMPs) is still a challenging task. The 3 typical Chinese medicine materials (CMMs) used for preparing CMPs are the powders, extracts, and components of Chinese medicine and their properties of CMMs are important for designing CMPs. Basing on our long term research, we have established a property system for CMMs according to the state of CMMs under an exactly condition and according to the interaction characteristics between substances. The property system could be divided into 5 categories: material composition, spatial structure, body property, surface property, physicochemical properties, and they could also be divided into 18 subcategories. Furthermore, we also established the corresponding index and characterization system, where the 61 indexes and characterization techniques were systematically summarized. At last, we hope that the article will promote the modernization of CMPs.

Objective: To investigate the long-term outcome of anterior decompression and bone graft fusion for cervical spondylotic myelopathy(CSM) and factors affecting the outcome. Methods: Two hundred and forty-five patients with CSM were treated with anterior cervical decompression and auto iliac bone graft fusion, of whom 31 had a second operation between 4 months and 2 years after operation. Follow-up studies were carried out within 5 to 15 years after operation, averaging 6.8 years. Results: Function evaluation: excellent in 118 cases (48.16%), good in 71 (28.98%), passable in 35 (14.29%) and poor in 21 (8.57%). According to the 40 points score method, there was an average of 8 point increase in all cases, of which 101 were between 36 to 40 points, 54 between 31 to 35 points. Conclusion: The long-term outcome of surgical treatment for CSM is definite. Significant factors affecting the outcome include timing of operation, degree of pathology and technique of surgery.

Objective To investigate the performance of triple rule-out with(M-slice spiral CT in the combined examination of pulmonary artery,thoracic aorta and coronary artery for patients with acute chest pain.Methods Seventy patients who presented with acute chest pain were included in the study.All of the patients underwent retrospective ECG-gated 64-slice computed tomography triple rule-out examination to evaluate the pulmonary arteries,thoracic aorta and coronary arteries.Multi-planar reconstruction(MPR), maximum intensity projection(MIP),curved-planar reconstruction(CPR)and volume rendering(VR) were used to display pulmonary arteries,thoracic aorta and coronary arteries.We evaluated the image quality of coronary artery and the enhancement of the pulmonary artery and thoracic aorta to estimate if the examination can fulfill the clinical demand for the differential diagnosis of acute chest pain.Results The mean scan time was(8.5?1.0)s,and the dose of contrast medium injected was 100 ml.There were 95.7%(67/70)of patients whose CT values detected in the pulmonary artery and thoracic aorta after enhancement were ≥200 HU.The image quality of 85.8%(720/839)coronary segments was classified as excellent,8.6%(72/839)as good,and 5.6%(47/839)as poor.There were 20 cases with coronary stenoses≥50%,2 cases with pulmonary embolism,and 2 cases with aortic dissection.Conclusion The triple ride-out examination with 64-slice spiral CT could depict pulmonary artery,thoracic aorta,and coronary artery in 8 s with good image quality.It has great potential in the etiological diagnosis for the patients with acute chest pain.

Objective： This study was designed to determine the serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), soluble Fas (sFas), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in colorectal cancer and analyze their clinical significance. Methods： Serum sFas and IL-6 were tested in pre-operated and post-operated 162 patients with colorectal cancer using double antibody sandwich ELISA method, serum CEA and immune indicators were also examined. Results： Levels of serum CEA, sFas and IL-6 [(32.52± 10.81)μ g/L, (20.97± 8.19) ng/L, (36.87± 11.20) ng/L, respectively] in the colorectal cancer patients with the positive rate (sFas： 53.7％ ;IL-6： 67.91％ ; CEA： 41.98％ ) were significantly higher than those in healthy control group and benign patients （ P<0.01), the post operated patients showed a lower levels CEA, sFas, and IL 6 than the pre operation patients （ P< 0.01） , serum levels of sFas and IL 6 in post operated patients were the lowest. Serum sFas level was correlated with tumor metastases, serum concentration of IL 6 was correlated strongly with tumor size and metastases (P< 0.01). Serum concentration of sFas was correlated negatively with lymphocyte transformated rate, NK or LAK killing rate, and had marked correlation among CEA, IL 6, and sFas. Conclusion： The positive rates of serum sFas and IL 6 in the colorectal carcinoma patients were higher than those of the serum CEA. Serum sFas and IL 6 levels reflected indirectly situation of proliferation and metastases in tumors. sFas may inhibit the patients immune function and tumor cells apoptosis, and IL 6 may accelerate proliferation of the colorectal carcinoma cells. These results indicate that combinative measuring of the serum levels of CEA, sFas, and IL 6 may be an useful method for clinical diagnosis, disease prognosis, and treatment effect in colorectal patients.

OBJECTIVETo study the feasibility and early results of radical resection of esophageal carcinoma using single-port thoracoscopy combined with laparoscopy.

METHODSFrom March 2010 to December 2010, 6 patients with esophageal carcinoma underwent radical resection by single-port thoracoscopy combined with laparoscopy in the General Hospital of People's Liberation Army. With the patients at a supine position, laparoscopy was performed to complete stomach mobilization and abdominal lymph node dissection. Thoracoscopy was then carried out with the patients lying on the left to mobilize the esophagus and dissect thoracic lymph nodes. Finally, the stomach was pulled into the thoracic cavity via the hiatus of the diaphragm to construct a tube-like stomach, which was then anastomosed to the esophagus using the OrVil system.

RESULTSNo patient was converted to open surgery during the operation. The total operative time ranged from 200 to 320 min. The mean laparoscopic time was 75(range, 45-90) min, and the mean thoracoscopic time 160(120-240) min. The mean intraoperative blood loss was 220(160-300) ml. The mean lymph node retrieval was 12(9-18). No anastomotic fistula, chylothorax, lung infection were found postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONAfter esophageal resection using single-port thoracoscopic and laparoscopy, reconstruction using OrVil system is safe and feasible.

Aged ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thoracoscopy ; methods

Hydrogen sulfide,as a third gas signal molecule and neurotransmitter,can play a neuroprotective role by anti-oxidative stress,anti-inflammatory response,metabolic inhibition and other mechanisms.It is of great significance for the occurrence and development of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease(AD)and Parkinson's disease(PD)mediated by neuroinflammation.This article reviews the research progress of hydrogen sulfide and neuroinflammation and its mediated neurodegenerative diseases,so as to provide new ideas for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.