OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy differences between dog-days medicinal vesiculation and regular-day medicinal vesiculation for perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR), and observe their effects on serum immune globulin E (IgE) and interleukin-4 (IL-4).

METHODSSeventy-two patients were randomly divided into a dog-days moxibustion group (34 cases) and a regular-day moxibustion group (38 cases). In the dog-days moxibustion group, medicinal vesiculation was applied on the 1st dog-day, 2nd dog-day and last dog-day in summer by lunar calendar, 3 treatments per dog-day for totally 9 times. In the regular-day moxibustion group, the moxibustion was given on the regular day for continuous 9 times. The symptom score, rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) and the level of IgE and IL-4 were compared before and after treatment in two groups; the short-term and two-year efficacy evaluation were performed too.

RESULTSThe short-term total effective rate was 88.2% (30/34) in the dog-days moxibustion group, which was not significantly different to 86.8% (33/38) in the regular-day moxibustion group (P>0.05). The long-term total effective rate was 97.1% (33/34) in the dog-days moxibustion group, which was significantly superior to 81.6% (31/38) in the regular-day moxibustion group (P<0.05). After treatment, the serum IgE, IL-4 and RQLQ were significantly reduced (all P<0.01), but the difference between two groups was not significant (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONMedicinal moxibustion could be taken as a regular treatment for PAR, which could be performed during the whole year, and dog-days moxibustion could be considered as an enhanced method for prevention and treatment of PAR.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To study the clinical and the epidemiological features of hospitalized children with influenza virus infection. Methods Two hundred and fifty-three inpatients with laboratory-confirmed influenza virus infection from 1999 to 2008 were reviewed for analyzing the clinical and epidemiological characteristics. Type A and B influenza viruses in the nasopharyngeal aspirates were detected by immunofluorescence assay. Mann-Whitney U test were performed for comparing the median age and the length of hospitalization. Chi-square test was performed for comparing the proportion of patients with fever and cough. Results Among 253 hospitalized children aged between 5 days and 127 months, 182 (71.9%) were boys and 71 (28. 1%) were girls. The median age was 18 months. Fifty-three cases were infants younger than 6 months. 95 cases were children aged between 6 months and 2 years, 85 cases were aged between 2 years and 5 years and 20 cases were older than 5 years. The diagnosis of influenza-related admission included pneumonia (190 cases), bronchitis (49 cases) and upper respiratory tract infection (14 cases). Eleven cases developed febrile convulsion, 6 cases had acute exacerbation of asthma and 3 cases had concomitant viralencephalitis. Twenty-nine cases had basic diseases. Cough and fever were the most common symptoms. Two hundred and thirty-eight cases presenting cough and 209 case presenting fever. Sixty-seven percent (140/209) had high fever with body temperature higher than 39 ℃. The average duration of fever was (5. 0 ±2. 9) days. Fever and cough were both more common in children older than6 months (X2 = 22. 895,P<0. 01; X2 = 16. 992,P<0. 01, respectively). Febrile convulsion occurred in children older than 2 years. Fifteen point five (39/251) developed leukocytopenia. Conclusions Children younger than 5 years old are at high risk of influenza-related hospitalization. We should emphasize influenza vaccination in previously healthy children aged between 6 months and 5 years and children with underlying diseases.

Abortion, Habitual ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Antibodies, Anticardiolipin ; blood ; Aspirin ; administration & dosage ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Heparin ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; methods ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Pregnancy

Adult ; Burns, Chemical ; complications ; Humans ; Male ; Nitriles ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; etiology

Objective Hepatitis C virus patients are often accompanied by insulin resistance and diabetes.To probe the relative factors of abnormal glycometabolism in chronic HCV infections.Methods A total of 1 039 treatment-naive patients that were confirmed chronic HCV infected were enrolled in the study.The demographics,biochemical index parameters and other data about liver function and HCV viral load were got from infectious disease department of Jurong Pepole's Hospital in China.Results A total of 140 (13.5％) patients were diagnosed with some forms of abnormal glycometabolism.The body mass index (BMI) (x2 =9.231,P =0.010),waist circumference (x2 =7.984,P =0.018),systolic blood pressure (x2 =16.366,P ＜0.001),diastolic blood pressure (x2 =13.970,P =0.001),alanine aminotransferase(ALT) (x2 =4.809,P =0.028),HCV-RNA viral load (t =-3.818,P ＜0.001) were significantly different between non-diabetic HCV patients and abnormal glycometabolism patients.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that ALT(OR =2.986,95％ CI:1.171-7.615) and HCV-RNA viral load (OR =2.061,95％ CI:1.165-3.644) were found as risk factors in multivariate regression analysis for patients with chronic hepatitis C who had abnormal glucose metabolism.Conclusions Chronic hepatitis C patients with higher ALT and HCV-RNA level were more probably to suffer from abnormal glycometabolism.In order to find potentially novel risk factors of HCV with abnormal glucose metabolisn,further studies about genetic and other clinical factors need to be processed.

Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Male ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency ; etiology ; Tricuspid Valve Prolapse ; congenital

Objective To study the morphological changes of the cyctic duct in bile duct stones secondary to choledocholithiasis.Methods The results of imaging examinations before cholecystectomy and biliary exploration with laparoscopy and cholechodoscopy were respectively analyzed in 108 patients.Meanwhile, the cystic duct morphology, diameter and dilatation during the operation were determined to investigate the features of changes in its morphology.Results Gallstones were confirmed in all of the 108 cases by B-model ultrasonography preoperatively.The gallstone was positive in common bile duct in 76 cases.Common bile duct dilatation was seen in 75 cases and cystic duct dilatation in 21.Common bile duct dilatation was found in 81 cases by MRCP and in 45 by CT.Cystic duct dilatation was found in 36 cases by MRCP and in 19 by CT.Cystic duct variety was found in 9 cases by MRCP.Laparoscopic transcyctic common bile duct exploration(LTCBDE)was performed in those patients with short and wide cystic duct.Conclusion MRCP is the effective method for considering the outlooks of the cystic duct in bile duct stones secondary to choledocholithiasis.

Anion Exchange Protein 1, Erythrocyte ; metabolism ; Breast ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Female ; Fibrocystic Breast Disease ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism

Objective To study the complications after laparoscopic bile duct exploration.MethodsTwo approaches for bile duct exploration were used in 105 patients: (1) laparoscopic transcystic common bile duct exploration (LTCBDE) was used for patients with gallstones with choledocholithiasis and cystic duct dilation. No T tube was used for drainage, (2) Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) was used for patients with gallstones with choledocholithiasis but without cystic duct dilation. The common bile duct was sutured primarily without T tube drainage in those patients with a small number of stones. T tube drainage was used in those patients with many stones or severe edema at the lower end of the common bile duct. ResultsWe carried out LTCBDE+ LC in 70 patients and LCBDE+LC in 35 patients, 14 patients had T tube drainage and 21 patients had no T tubes in the latter group of patients. Postoperatively, there were ascites in 17 patients (LTCBDE 6 and LCBDE 11 ), biliary peritonitis in 5 patients (1 LTCBDE and 4 LCBDE), abdominal pain in 13 patients (LTCBDE 4 and LCBDE 9), and fever in 11 patients (LTCBD 3 and LCBDE 8). All the complications responded to conservative treatment. 14 patients in the LCBDE group had residual stones.Choledochoscopy was used to remove the residual stones.There was no pancreatitis. Conclusions Adequate preoperative workup, good clinical judgment and precise treatment skill help to reduce complication rates after operation for gallstones with choledocholithiasis.

Objective To evaluate regional blood flow occlusion (RBFO) in hepatectomy for liver neoplasms. Methods In this study, hepatic tumors were resected under RBFO in 28 cases (RBFO group), and under Springle's technique (control group) in 24 cases. The Child-Pugh classifications of liver function were grade A in all patients. The ligature ribbon was put in liver parenchyma around tumor to block the blood supply before resecting the tumor under guiding of B sounography in RBFO group. Anesthesia time, blood loss and transfusion, hospitalization, change of liver function and complications were compared between the two groups. Results Blood loss, anesthesia time and postoperative hospital stay were (340±92) ml, (98.4±25.0) min, ( 10.2±2.3 ) d in RBFO group and (620±124) ml, ( 135.8±47.5 ) min, (16.5±5.1 ) d, respectively, in control group, differences were all significant between the two groups (P <0.01, t = 9.222,9.328 and 5.875, respectively). On post-op day 2, ALT (U/L) was (378.4±35.2) vs. (539.2±115.4) (t=7.012, P<0.01), TBIL (37.5±11.2) vs. (51.8±29) mmol/L(t=8.818, P<0.01),PT (17.4±2.4) vs. (20.4±2.8) see(t =4.16, P<0.01) in RBFO group and control group, respectively. ALT was (57.1±15.5) vs. (98.1±21.2) U/L(t =8.039),TBIL (25.4±4) vs. (46.3±13) mmol/L(t=8.085),PT (13.2±4.2) vs. (15.7±2.2) see (t=2.621)on post-op day 7 respectively, again the differences were all significant between the two groups (all P<0.01). Conclusion Regional blood flow occlusion is an effective technique to control blood loss during hepatectomy for liver neoplasms.