Objective: To observe the effects of herb-partitioned moxibustion and ginger-partitioned moxibustion on the growth of colon tumors in rats with colitis-associated colon cancer (CACC), and explore the mechanism of moxibustion intervening CACC through the purinergic receptor P2X ligand-gated ion channel 7 (P2X7R)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway. Methods: A total of 26 male Sprague-Dawley rats were selected. According to the random number table method, 6 rats were selected as the normal group. The remaining 20 rats were injected intraperitoneally with azoxymethane (AOM) combined with oral dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) to prepare the CACC model. After the model was successfully established, 2 rats were randomly selected for model identification. The remaining 18 rats which were successfully modeled were randomly divided into a model group, a herb-partitioned moxibustion group and a ginger-partitioned moxibustion group, with 6 rats in each group. Moxibustion intervention was performed in the herb-partitioned moxibustion group and the ginger-partitioned moxibustion group at Qihai (CV 6) and bilateral Tianshu (ST 25). Moxibustion was performed twice at each point each time, once a day, at a 1-day interval after 6 consecutive interventions, for a total of 30 interventions. After intervention, the colon tumor load, pathological change and histopathological score were observed. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of VEGF, P2X7R, phospho-STAT3 (p-STAT3), and nuclear factor-kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65) proteins in rat colon tissue. Western blot was used to detect the levels of p-STAT3 and NF-κB p65 proteins in rat colon tissue. Results: Compared with the normal group, the colon tumor load and histopathological score in the model group were significantly increased (both P<0.001), and different grades of dysplasia were observed in colon tissue from the model group, reaching the degree of adenocarcinoma; the expression level of P2X7R protein in colon tissue was significantly decreased (P<0.001), and the expression levels of p-STAT3, NF-κB p65 and VEGF proteins were significantly increased (all P<0.001) in the model group. Compared with the model group, the colon tumor load, colon histopathological score and the levels of p-STAT3, NF-κB p65 and VEGF proteins in colon tissue were significantly decreased (all P<0.05) in the herb-partitioned moxibustion group and the ginger-partitioned moxibustion group while the expression levels of P2X7R protein in colon tissue were significantly increased (both P<0.05). Conclusion: Both herb-partitioned moxibustion and ginger-partitioned moxibustion can reduce the colon tumor load in CACC rats and delay the progression of colon adenomas. The mechanism may be mediated by the P2X7R/STAT3 pathway to inhibit STAT3 phosphorylation, thereby reducing VEGF protein expression.

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects of close reduction combined with minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis for distal fracture of tibial shaft.

METHODSFrom March 2009 to May 2013, there were 124 patients (89 males and 35 females, 30 of them were injured in a traffic accident and 94 were falling down in daily life, the ages ranging from 21 to 81 years old) who suffered from distal fracture of tibial shaft. Sixty-six patients (48 males and 18 females, 45 cases of type A, 12 cases of type B and 9 cases of type C) were treated with close manipulative reduction combined with minimally invasive percutaneous plate fixation. After close reduction, a minimal incision was made and a anatomic plate was inserted just along the medial tibia periostea, and then the fracture was fixed without fracture exposure. The other 58 patients (41 males and 17 females, 41 cases of type A, 10 cases of type B and 7 cases of type C) were treated with conventional open reduction and internal fixation. Length of the incision, operating time, early postoperative pain (recorded using the Visual Analog Scale score) and the outcome results (recorded using the evaluation standard of Johner-Wruhs) were compared.

RESULTSThe length of incision was meanly (7.34 ± 1.42) cm in MIPPO group and (21.82 ± 2.35) cm in ORIF group; operation time was (44.48 ± 10.00) min in MIPPO group and (59.42 ± 11.84) min in ORIF group. The postoperative radiographs verified good position of all screws and satisfactory bone fracture reduction in both groups. All the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 10 to 24 months (mean 15.2 months) in both groups. In MIPPO group,only one patient had delayed union and got union after Chinese herb therapy. The other 65 patients got bony union during 15 to 20 weeks. While in ORIF group, 3 patients suffered from nonunion and received reoperation with bone grafting, and 4 patients got bone infection.

CONCLUSIONTreatment of distal fracture of tibial shaft, combined with close reduction and MIPPO technique, has the advantages such as less invasion, less damage of blood supply, simplified procedure of operation and higher union rate, which is an ideal methods and is accordant to the biological demand.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Plates ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Manipulation, Orthopedic ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Tibial Fractures ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of argon plasma coagulation (APC) in the treatment of large airway obstruction.

METHODSTotally 389 patients with treacheobronchial stenosis were treated with APC (ARCO3000 type) by bronchoscopy. The stenoses were caused by carcinomas (203 cases, 52.2%), metastatic tumors (67 cases, 17.2%), benign tumors (18 cases, 4.6%), granulomas (93 cases, 23.9%) and other lesions (8 cases, 2.1%). The rate of recanalization, relief of the symptoms, and complications were analyzed.

RESULTS1121 times of APC treatment were performed in the 389 patients. Complete recanalization was achieved in 138 cases (35.5%), partial in 143 (36.8%), mild in 55 (14.1%) and none in 53 (13.6%). The major complications included: super-ventricular tachycardia in 136 cases (34.9%), bleeding in 51 (13.1%), decrease in blood oxygen saturation in 48 (12.3%), asphyxia in 33 (8.5%), ventricular or super-ventricular arrhythmia in 24 (6.2%), short-term aggravation of airway obstruction in 18 (4.6%), and tracheal perforation in 3 (0.78%). All those complications were treated with various measures and no patient died of the complications during the procedure.

CONCLUSIONArgon plasma coagulation is effective and relatively safe in relieving the obstruction and dyspnea in patients with large airway obstruction caused by various reasons. However, for the patients with severe airway obstruction, argon plasma coagulation sometimes may cause severe or even lethal complications. Critical consideration of the indication, operators' skill and taking more precautions during the procedure are required to ensure the safety of argon plasma coagulation treatment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Argon ; therapeutic use ; Bronchial Diseases ; etiology ; surgery ; Bronchial Neoplasms ; complications ; Bronchoscopy ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Electrocoagulation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tracheal Neoplasms ; complications ; Tracheal Stenosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVESalt-sensitivity plays an important role in essential hypertension and is associated with more severe target organ injury and higher mortality in patients with essential hypertension. However, the pathologic mechanism of salt-sensitivity is poorly understood and endothelial dysfunction might be involved in salt-sensitive hypertension. We, therefore, observed the endothelial function changes by measuring plasma and urine nitric oxide (NO) concentrations in salt-sensitive (SS) normotensive and mild hypertensive subjects underwent various salt loading protocols and the effects of potassium supplement.

METHODSThirty-nine normotensive and mild hypertensive subjects (< 160/100 mm Hg), aged 16-60, were enrolled and the study protocol is as follows: 3 days baseline investigation, 1 week low-salt loading (3 g/day), 1 week. high-salt loading (18 g/day) and 1 week high-salt loading plus potassium chloride (4.5 g/day).

RESULTSPlasma and urine NO levels were significantly lower in SS (n = 8) subjects at baseline, low-salt and high-salt loading phases compared with salt-resistant subjects (SR, n = 31) and oral potassium supplement to SS subjects with high salt loading significantly increased plasma and urine NO levels.

CONCLUSIONEndothelial function is impaired in normotensive and mild hypertensive SS subjects. Oral potassium supplement could improve endothelial function in normotensive and mild hypertensive SS subjects.

Adult ; Antihypertensive Agents ; Blood Pressure ; Endothelium ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; urine ; Potassium, Dietary ; administration & dosage