Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; Humans ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy

Objective To explore the effects of virtual reality (VR) combined with motor imagery therapy on the upper limb function of hemiplegic stroke survivors.Methods Thirty-nine hemiplegic stroke patients were divided randomly into a treatment group (n =20) and a control group (n =19).Both groups were treated with motor imagery therapy,but the treatment group also received VR training lasting 20 min/day,6 days/week for 8 weeks.All of the patients were assessed with the Fugl-Meyer (FMA) upper limb assessment,the modified Barthel index (MBI) and electromyography at the beginning and after eight weeks of treatment.Results Before the intervention there was no significant difference between the groups in any of the assessments.After eight weeks of treatment,all the assessment results in the treatment group were significantly better than those in the control group.Conclusion Virtual reality combined with motor imagery therapy can distinctly improve the upper limb motor function of hemiplegic stroke survivors and their ability in the activities of daily living.

Objective To analyse the relative factors of the linear growth velocity(GV)in girls with central precocious puberty(CPP)during gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog(GnRHa)therapy,and to investigate the factors affecting the height gain during two-year GnRHa treatment.Methods In 86 girls aged (8.04?1.28)years with CPP treated with GnRHa for more than 2 years,the data including target height,age of onset,pubertal course,chronological age,bone age,linear GV,serum estradiol level and mature index of vaginal smear were analyzed,then the correlations and stepwise regression were performed.Results During GnRHa therapy,GV decreased year by year.The GV in the second year(GV_(2nd))was negatively correlated with the age of onset,bone age(BA_0,BA_2)and chronologic age(CA_0,CA_2)at the onset and by the end of the first year of GnRHa therapy(r=-0.37,-0.59,-0.57,-0.51 and-0.52,respectively,all P

Objective: To observe the effect of L-carniti ne (L-CN) in the treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF). Meth ods: Fifty-six cases of chronic CHF randomly received routine treatment (Digitalis, diuretics, vasodilator, ACEI or βblocker) or L-CN (3.0 g/d ,V D×10 d) with routine therapy. Results: The treatment efficiency of L-CN group and control group were 89.3% and 60.7% (P<0.01), respect ively. No adverse reactions related to the drug were observed. Conclusio n: L-CN with routine therapy might be a safe way to the treat CHF.

OBJECTIVE To observe the effects of Yunpi Rougan Fang on serum and colon tissue serum serotonin(5-HT),vasoactive peptide(VIP)and substance P(SP)in constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome rats,to explore its possi-ble mechanism and relevance.METHODS 42 SPF Wistar rats,Six rats were randomly selected as normal group,the remai-ning 36 rats were modeled by ice water for 14 d,evaluation model,30 rats were randomly selected and randomly divided into Chinese medicine high,medium and low dose group,western medicine group,model control group,each group had 6 rats.The Chinese medicine low,middle and high dose groups were treated with 12.2,24.4,48.8 g/(kg·d),Mosapride group with moxapril suspension 1.35 mg/(kg·d)gavage,model control group and blank group were given equal amount of distilled water to fill the stomach.After 14 d,the levels of 5-HT,VIP and SP in the serum and the levels of 5-HT and VIP in the colon tissue were measured.RESULTS Compared with the blank group,the expression of 5-HT and VIP in serum and colon tissue immu-nization in the model control group was increased significantly(P<0.01),the expression of SP in serum was decreased(P<0.05).Different doses can decrease the levels of serum 5-HT and VIP in C-IBS model rats(P<0.01),significantly increased the serum SP level(P<0.05).Immunohistochemical results showed that the expression of 5-HT in colon tissue was signifi-cantly decreased(P<0.05),and the expression of VIP was significantly decreased(P<0.01).Although the expression of each treatment group no significant difference(P >0.05),from the numerical changes,Yunpi Rougan Fang was superior to mosapride and showed dose-dependency.CONCLUSION Yunpi Rougan Fang can obviously improve the symptoms of constipation in C-IBS model rats,by reducing the expression of 5-HT and VIP,improving the expression of SP to regulate intestinal function,which plays a therapeutic role in C-IBS.

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of Equiguard in old patients with Shen-yang deficiency syndrome (SYDS).

METHODSTwenty old patients with diagnosis matching the criteria of SYDS selected from out-patients were administered with Equiguard capsule 3 times per day, 0.70 g each time for 3 successive months. The changes in general condition, peripheral blood picture, function of the liver and kidney, and sex hormones before and after treatment were observed. The changes in the American Urinary Surgery Association (AUA) score of prostatism, urosis and residue urine in the urinary bladder were also estimated.

RESULTSAfter the 3-month treatment, no significant change was found in the patients' general condition, peripheral blood picture, liver and kidney function and sex hormones, while the symptoms of prostatism and urosis were markedly improved (P<0.01), and the volume of residue urine in the urinary bladder was obviously reduced.

CONCLUSIONEquiguard shows a significant therapeutic effect in treating old patients with SYDS, which could effectively improve the symptoms of prostatism and urosis in patients and is highly safe.

Aged ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Syndrome ; Yang Deficiency ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of antisense RNA of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) on rat liver fibrosis.

METHODSGene recombinant techniques were used to construct a rat antisense RNA of CTGF recombinant plasmid which could be expressed in eukaryotic cells. The recombinant plasmids were encapsulated with lipofectamine and then transducted into a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced rat liver fibrosis model. Expression of CTGF was assessed by RT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Immunohistochemistry was used to identify type I and III collagens. HE stained liver slides were used for pathological study.

RESULTSThe mRNA and protein expression of CTGF in the fibrotic liver transfected with antisense-CTGF were significantly decreased compared with those of the controls (P<0.01). The depositions of type I and type III collagens were also decreased (P<0.05). Antisense-CTGF also minimized the pathological fibrosis in the rat livers (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe results demonstrate that the antisense RNA of CTGF recombinant plasmid has certain effects in preventing liver fibrosis and makes it a possible candidate for use in future gene therapy.

Animals ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; genetics ; Genetic Therapy ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; pathology ; Male ; Plasmids ; RNA, Antisense ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the factors involved in the development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and to provide the preliminary data for the evaluation of current criteria for ROP screening.

METHODPremature infants with birth body weight (BBW) ≤ 2000 g or gestational age (GA) ≤ 34 weeks in the two hospitals in Zhejiang between March 2005 and November 2008 were recruited and examined by indirect ophthalmoscopy. The records were analyzed.

RESULTOne thousand two hundred and twenty-five premature infants were included. Of them, 713 were male and 512 female. There were 179 twins and 21 triplets in the premature infants. The incidence of ROP was 10.8% (132 in 1225 patients). There were 12 cases (0.98%) to the point of pre threshold ROP. 4 cases (0.3%) developed threshold ROP. Only one case developed pre threshold ROP of low risk among 65 cases without history of oxygen treatment (1.5%). The percentage has significant difference compared to that of cases with history of oxygen (χ(2) = 5.115, P < 0.01).Between ROP and Non-ROP groups, there was significant difference in BBW(F = 26.39, P < 0.001), gestational age (F = 19.73, P < 0.001), but there was no significant difference in sex (χ(2) = 0.279, P > 0.05) or twins and triplets (χ(2) = 3.449, P > 0.05). The incidence of ROP among premature infants with BBW ≤ 1000 g was more than three times of that with BBW > 1000 g, and the incidence of ROP among premature infants with GA ≤ 28 weeks was about 2.5 times of that with GA > 28 weeks. Logistic regression analysis indicated that less BBW or shorter GA or undulation of blood oxygen concentration was a significant risk factor involved in the development of ROP (r = 0.57, P < 0.05). All ROP patients were cured.

CONCLUSIONLess BBW, shorter GA and undulation of blood oxygen concentration are the important risk factors for the development of ROP. Premature infants with BBW ≤ 1000 g or GA ≤ 28 weeks, who had oxygen history, should be given very special attention in the ROP screening. The current criteria for ROP screening should be narrowed. In general, the ROP screening has lowered the incidence of blindness among children by investigating and treating ROP timely.

China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Male ; Neonatal Screening ; Retinopathy of Prematurity ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo analyze multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains in 2000 and 2005, and get a primary knowledge of MLST Characterization of MRSA.

METHODSSequence analysis was conducted on seven allelic genes of 29 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains and 2 methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) strains and the allelic profiles were gained from internet database.

RESULTSAll 12 MRSA strains in 2000 were sequence type (ST) 239 and 10 MRSA strains in 2005 were ST239, while 7 MRSA strains in 2005 were new types, ST5 (41.18%, 7/17). ST6 and ST630 were allelic profiles of 2 MSSA strains. ST239 was the most prevalent allelic profile (75.86%, 22/29), while ST5 was the second prevalent allelic profile (24.14%, 7/29) among all isolates.

CONCLUSIONST239 and ST5 are the most prevalent MRSA clones in this research. MRSA strains have different allelic profile from MSSA strains. MLST might provide an unambiguous method for assigning MRSA and MSSA isolates to known clones or assigning them as novel clones via the internet. Further studies need to be taken by increasing strains.

Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Bacterial ; genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; classification ; drug effects ; genetics

Objective To evaluate the role of cerebral state index(CSI),burst suppression (BS)and electromyograph(EMG)in monitoring coma/consciousness depth and damage degree of brain. Methods CSM was done in 50 cases with brain injury and coma to analyze its relation with physical reflection,auditory evoked potential(AEP),Glasgow coma score(GCS)and Glasgow outcome scale (GOS).Results As scale range meaning from consciousness to deep coma and to brain death,CSI 0- 100 was positively correlated with coma depth,coma score of GCS and physical reflection.CSI changes under invariable ache stimulation in combination with BS and EMG can accurately estimate prognosis and quantify changes of brain function.Conclusions The quantifiable digit of coma/consciousness depth and damage degree in brain function by CSM can attain real time judgment of dynamic evolvement course of coma and objective guide clinical therapy and assure prognosis,as will change absolutely scoring coma/ consciousness depth and prognosis under current state of artificial diversity and lacking objective evi- dences.