Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of cerebral palsy children with liver strong spleen weak syndrome treated with integrated traditional Chinese medicine therapy. Methods Eighty cerebral palsy children with liver strong spleen weak syndrome were divided into treatment group (40 cases) and control group (40 cases). Patients in control group were treated with conventional therapy (including exercise therapy, occupational therapy, guidance education, physical factors, and psychological therapy), and patients in treatment group were treated with integrated traditional Chinese medicine therapy (acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine medicated bath) additionally. Three months were set for a course of treatment, and the whole treatment lasted for a total of four courses. TCM clinical symptoms were scored every six months, muscle tone (MAS), gross motor function (GMFM), and daily life activity ability (MBI) were evaluated every three months for both groups. Results There were significant differences in the total scores of TCM clinical symptom, MAS, GMFM, and MBI at different treatment time points in the two groups, compared with that before treatment (P<0.01). There were significant differences in the total scores of clinical symptom for Chinese medicine, MAS, GMFM, and MBI at different treatment time points for treatment group, compared with that of control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Integrated traditional Chinese medicine therapy (acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine medicated bath) for cerebral palsy children on the basis of western medicine therapy can more effectively improve function and life quality of children patients.

Objective To observe the effect of spleen-warming and kidney-tonifying therapy on Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway of cerebral infarction sequelae patients. Methods A total of 60 cerebral infarction sequelae patients with spleen and kidney(yang) deficiency were divided into control group and treatment group, 30 cases in each group. The two groups were given function rehabilitation training following by the theory of modern rehabilitation medicine, and additionally the treatment group was treated with spleen-warming and kidney-tonifying herbs orally. The treatment period for the two groups averaged 3 months. Before and after treatment, the scores of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptoms and signs, peripheral blood TLR4 mRNA expression level, and the inflammation-related factors in the two groups were observed, and the observation parameters were compared with 30 healthy volunteers. Meanwhile, the changes of modern rehabilitation evaluation indexes were also evaluated before and after treatment. Results (1) After treatment, the Fugl-Meyer scores for motor function and Modified Barthel Index(MBI) scores for activities of daily living in the treatment group were obviously increased(P < 0.05 or P < 0.01 compared with those before treatment); the MBI scores in the control group was much increased(P < 0.05 compared with those before treatment), but the Fugl -Meyer scores only showed an increasing trend(P > 0.05). (2) After treatment, the predominant symptoms and signs of hemiplegia, facial distortion and dysphasia in the two groups were much improved(P < 0.01 compared with those before treatment), and the improvement in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group(P < 0.05). The control group had no significant effect on relieving the symptoms and signs of dizziness and blurred vision, numbness of limbs, spontaneous sweating, shortness of breath and weakness, and darkish tongue(P > 0.05 compared with those before treatment); the treatment group had obvious effect on the above symptoms and signs, and the effect was superior to that in the control group(P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).(3) For the inflammation-related factors, tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α) level in the treatment group was much decreased and even arrived to the normal level(P > 0.05), and TNF-α level in the control group was decreased but did not arrive to the normal level(P < 0.05); levels of interleukin(IL)-1β, IL-6 and TLR4 mRNA in the two groups were decreased but did not arrive to the normal(P < 0.01), and the decrease in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group(P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). (4) During the treatment period, no obvious adverse effect was found in the two groups. Conclusion Oral use of spleen -warming and kidney –tonifying Chinese medicine combined with modern rehabilitation therapy is effective for the treatment of the sequelae of cerebral infarction patients by relieving the clinical TCM symptoms, and one of the therapeutic mechanisms is probably related with the TLR4 signaling pathway through regulating the expression of inflammatory factors.

OBJECTIVETo construct a three-dimensional (3D) liver model of Wuzhishan mini-pig for virtual liver surgeries.

METHODSThe biliary tree and hepatic arteries of Wuzhishan mini-pig were perfused with perchloroethylene and ethyl acetate along mixed with lead oxide, and the hepatic vein and portal vein were perfused with a mixture of dental base acrylic resin and lead oxide. The sectional images were acquired using a 64-slice spiral CT, and the 3D models of the portal vein, hepatic vein, biliary tree, hepatic arteries, and liver parenchyma were reconstructed using Mimics software; the resection image of the liver was also designed. The intrahepatic vascular cast was prepared by corroding the soft tissue with hydrochloric acid.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONThe intrahepatic vascular cast obtained fully retained the vascular architecture and displayed the fifth- and sixth-level branches of the hepatic vein and portal vein and the third- and fourth-level branches of the artery and bile duct. The 3D model of liver allowed stereoscopic and accurate display of the third- and fourth-level branches of the hepatic vein and portal vein and the second- and third-level branches of the artery and bile duct. The 3D model showed fewer branches but represented the structural distribution identical to the cast. The 3D model could clearly display the spatial relationship between the vasculature and the soft tissue in virtual resection of the liver tissues, and thus provides a useful model for training of laparoscopic liver resection.

Animals ; Bile Ducts ; Hepatic Artery ; Hepatic Veins ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Liver ; anatomy & histology ; Models, Anatomic ; Portal Vein ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; Tomography, Spiral Computed