Objective: To study the effect of levothyroxine replacement therapy on improving diffused left ventricular myocardial lesions and cardiac function in patients with hypothyroidism. Methods: Our research included 2 groups: Hypothyroidism group,n=20 newly diagnosed patients and Control group, n=17 normal healthy subjects. Diffused left ventricular myocardial lesions were quantitatively evaluated by non-invasive cardiac MRI T1 mapping technique. Left ventricular myocardial T1 value and left ventricular function before and after levothyroxine replacement therapy were compared; the relationship between T1 value and thyroid function and the relationship between T1 value and the indicators of left ventricular function were analyzed. Results:①Compared with Control group, Hypothyroidism group had increased left ventricular myocardial T1 value, P<0.01, while decreased cardiac index (CI) and left ventricular peak filling rate (PFR), allP<0.05.②In patients with hypothyroidism, left ventricular myocardial T1 value was negatively related to serum FT3 level (r=-0.52,P=0.0006) and PFR (r=-0.43,P=0.0085).③Compared with pre-therapeutic condition, the patients with recovered normal thyroid function showed obviously decreased left ventricular myocardial T1 value and improved CI, PFR. Conclusion: Levothyroxine replacement therapy may improve diffused left ventricular myocardial lesions in patients with hypothyroidism, and therefore improve the cardiac function.

Objective To investigate the significance of helper T cell 1(Th1)/Th2 cytokines unbalance in children with hepatitis B virus-associated glomerulonephritis(HBV-GN).Methods The serum levels of interferon-gamma(IFN-?),interleukin-2(IL-2) and IL-4 were determined in 22 children with HBV-GN and 18 children with HBV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),respectively,and the difference of Th1/Th2 cytokines in the 2 groups.Results Serum levels of IL-2 and IFN-? in children with HBV-GN were decreased(P

Fatty Acids ; metabolism ; Humans ; Myocardial Ischemia ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus moxibustion at Ciliao (BL 32) for primary dysmenorrhea (PD) due to cold-dampness. Methods:A total of 58 cases with PD due to cold-dampness were randomly allocated into an observation group (n=29) and a control group (n=29). Patients in the observation group were treated with acupuncture and suspended moxibustion at Ciliao (BL 32), whereas patients in the control group were treated with routine acupuncture alone. After three courses of treatment, the clinical efficacy was evaluated and compared between the two groups. Results:After treatment, the symptom scores were significantly reduced in both groups (P<0.05), but there were no significant between-group differences in clinical efficacy and symptom scores (P>0.05). Conclusion: With fewer points and less pain, acupuncture-moxibustion at Ciliao (BL 32) can obtain similar effect as routine acupuncture therapy for PD due to cold-dampness.

0.05),but urine levels of MIF in children HSPN increased significantly than those in normal controls(P

Objective To investigate the clinical features and characteristic of auxiliary examination of neuralgic amyotrophy(NA).Methods8 patients with idiopathic neuralgic amyotrophy were analyzed retrospectively with literature review.Results and ConclusionAntecedent events were found before attack in 5 patients.Serious pain,which was followed by paresis and atrophy,as initial symptom,was found in 7 patients.Damage in the upper and middle trunk distribution occurred most frequently.Elevated liver enzymes were found during the early phase of their attacks in 2 patients.CSF analysis was performed in 5 patients,and mildly elevated protein was found in two.5 patients had been misdiagnosed as cervical spondylosis.After medical and/or physical therapy(6 patients with corticosteroid and physical therapy,2 only with physical therapy),all the patients had been followed up for 2～13 months.Muscle power was recovered in 67% of all the patients,partially recovered in 33%.

Humans ; Metals ; Microwaves ; adverse effects ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; analysis ; Workplace

Objective To investigate the association between peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count and the carotid intimal-medial thickness (cIMT) in middle-aged and elderly Chinese of suburban area of Shanghai.Methods A total of 2 519 subjects aged 40 years or older from Jiading District,Shanghai were recruited to undergo questionnaire interview,anthropometric measurements,fasting blood sampling,and carotid B-mode ultrasonography.After excluding subjects with biochemical index missing,WBC count ＞ 10× 109/L as well as those with known myocardial infarction,cerebral infarction,coronary heart disease,and those taking lipid-lowing agents,2 239subjects were included in this analysis.Results Increased WBC count was associated with more unfavorable metabolic risk profiles.With the increasing quartiles of WBC count,cIMT were 0.558,0.570,0.573,and 0.587mm respectively(P for trend ＜ 0.01).As compared with participants in the first WBC quartile,the risks of cIMT thickening were increased by 79％,109％ in males and 29％ in females (P＞ 0.05 in females).Multiple linear regression model showed that peripheral WBC count was an independent risk marker for cIMT thickening,especially for neutrophil and monocyte count.Conclusion A high-normal WBC count was significantly associated with cIMT thickening in middle-aged and elderly Chinese of suburban area of Shanghai,especially in males.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of auricular point sticking at different points to relieve the pain in arteriovenous fistula puncture. Methods: A total of 42 patients with arteriovenous fistula were randomized into a Shenmen (TF4) group and an Elbow (SF3) group by the random number table method, with 21 cases in each group. After enrolled into different groups, before the dialysis, patients were given auricular point sticking with Wang Bu Liu Xing ( Semen Vaccariae) seeds at Shenmen (TF4) and Elbow (SF3), respectively. Patients were asked to press the seeds themselves for 2 min each time, four times a day, and an additional 5-15 min before the arteriovenous fistula puncture. Intensive pressing was offered during the puncture, 15-20 presses for each time, and the plasters were changed every 2-3 d. The numerical rating scale (NRS) was used to score the pain level one week before and after auricular point sticking. The NRS score was then compared and analyzed. Results: The intra-group comparison showed that the changes of NRS score in both groups were statistically significant after auricular point sticking (both P＜0.05). After the treatment, there was no significant difference in NRS score between the two groups (P＞0.05). Conclusion: Auricular point sticking at Shenmen (TF4) or Elbow (SF3) can effectively relieve the pain of arteriovenous fistula puncture, and these two points have equivalent analgesic effect.

This paper sums up some studies in the last decade regarding the inhibitory effects of traditional Chinese herbs on growth factor induced proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) via directly measuring the mRNA expression of its growth factors and the related receptors by electron microscope, immunohistochemistry, blot and hybridization in situ.
Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Humans ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; metabolism ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; antagonists & inhibitors