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.

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.

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

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

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

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Glomus versiforme and Trichodema harzianum on the growth and quality of Salvia miltiorrhiza continuous cropping under field conditions. The field plot experiment was conducted, these active components in the plant were analyzed by HPLC, the root diseases incidence rate of S. miltiorrhiza determined by observation and counting, and relative parameters were measured. The data was statistically processed. The result showed that inoculation of G. versiforme and combined inoculation of G. versiforme with T. harzianum significantly decreased the root diseases incidence rate of S. miltiorrhiza, and combined inoculation of G. versiforme with T. harzianum was better than other treatments. All treatments improved accumulation of active ingredients in root. Inoculation of G. versiforme and combined inoculation of G. versiforme with T. harzianum significantly increased the content of salvianolic acid B and cryptotanshinone of root (P < 0.05), Inoculation of G. versiforme, T. harzianum and combined inoculation of G. versiforme with T. harzianum significantly enhanced the content of tanshinone I and tanshinone II(A) of the root (P < 0.05). It may conclude that inoculation of G. versiforme and combined inoculation of G. versiforme with T. harzianum can effectively reduce the root diseases incidence of continuous cropping S. miltiorrhiza, and improve the quality of S. miltiorrhiza.
Antibiosis ; physiology ; Benzofurans ; metabolism ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; metabolism ; Glomeromycota ; physiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Phenanthrenes ; metabolism ; Plant Diseases ; microbiology ; Plant Roots ; growth & development ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; growth & development ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Trichoderma ; physiology

Objective To improve the diagnosis and treatment of ureteral cancer. Methods A retrospective analysis of 24 cases of primary ureteral cancer treated from January 1990 to March 2005 was performed.The diagnostic value of ultrasound,IVU,CT,MRU and the patients' outcomes were reviewed. There were 19 males and 5 females aged 38-72 years(mean,59 years).The tumors were on the left side in 16 cases and on the right in 8.Of the 24 cases,17(71%)had gross hematuria and 7(29%)had micro- scopic hematuria.Urine cytology was performed in 16 cases with a positive rate of 6.3%.B-ultrasonic exami- nation showed hydronephrosis in 19 cases(79%)and low-echo space-occupying disease of middle-inferior ureter in 3(12%).IVU demonstrated hydronephrosis in 20 cases(83%)and filling defect of the diseased ureter in 3(12%).Retrograde pyelography showed filling defect of the diseased ureter in 16(76%)of 21 cases(5 cases had failure of intubation).CT scan was performed in 20 cases,indicating thickening of the ureteral wall and infiltration of the cancer in 14(70%).In 3 cases who had undergone spiral CT thin layer scan and 1 of 3 cases who had undergone MRU,the definite diagnosis was made.Results All the 24 pa- tients underwent surgical treatment.Among them,nephroureterectomy and bladder cuff or partial resection were performed in 18 cases,and nephrectomy and partial ureterectomy in 6 cases.Postoperative pathology showed transitional cell carcinoma in 23 cases,and adenoma in 1.Of the 14 cases during 1990-1999 peri- od,1,5,3,2,2 and 1 cases had survival time of 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 years,respectively.Of the 10 cases during 2000-2005 period,3 were lost to follow-up;2 survived for 3 years and 2,for 1 year;the other 3 who have survived near 5 years have been followed till now.Conclusions IVU and retrograde urography are the most common diagnostic measures for primary ureteral cancer.They can be used in combination with other imaging study to reduce missed diagnosis rate.The 5-year survival rate was lower because of late pathologic stage of the tumors in the patients of this series.