OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of Xiaobai Mixture (XBM) in treating vitiligo.

METHODSSeventy-four patients with vitiligo were randomly divided into the XBM group treated with XBM and the control group treated with 8-MOP. The therapeutic effect, nail-fold microcirculation, plasma endothelin-1, serum immunoglobulin were observed and compared.

RESULTSThe therapeutic effect of XBM was better than that of 8-MOP (P < 0.05). XBM could also obviously improve the nail-fold microcirculation, elevate the plasma endothelin-1 level and lower the serum IgG (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONXBM has superiority in treating vitiligo.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Male ; Microcirculation ; Middle Aged ; Nails ; blood supply ; Phytotherapy ; Vitiligo ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo verify the efficacy of primary hypertension treated with acupuncture at acupoints selected according to syndrome differentiation and probe into the mechanism of acupuncture for primary hypertension.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-five cases of primary hypertension were randomized into an observation group (108 cases) and a control group (27 cases). In either group, Fengchi (GB 20), Quchi (LI 11), Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were selected conventionally. In observation group, on the basis of the acupoints selected above, the supplementary points were selected according to syndrome differentiation in Chinese medicine and the control group was selected main points only, once per day. After 15 days acupuncture, the efficacy and changes in microcirculation of nail fold were observed.

RESULTSThe remarkable effective rate and the total effective rate were 29.6% (32/108) and 84.2% (91/108) in observation group respectively, which were superior to 18. 5% (5/27) and 70.4% (19/27) as compared with control group separately (both P < 0.05). After treatment, the microcirculation of nail fold was all improved in two groups, of which blood flow state integral, peripheral capillary loop state integral and the total integral were all improved obviously (all P < 0.05). The improvements in observation group were much more significant than those in control group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture is effective significantly on primary hypertension and the point selection according to syndrome differentiation can improve the efficacy, which is probably relevant with the reduction in the peripheral vascular resistance due to the improvements of microcirculatory state in mechanism.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Male ; Microcirculation ; Middle Aged ; Nails ; blood supply

OBJECTIVETo study the replantation methods and clinical results of amputated fingertip.

METHODSFrom October 2007 to June 2011, 18 fingers of 13 cases were replanted with anastomosis of palm vein and retaining the nail, including 9 males and 4 females,with an average age of 26 years old ranging from 17 to 45 years old. The time from injury to therapy was from 30 min to 5 h, time of broken finger ischemia was from 1.5 to 7 h. All broken fingers were preservation under normal temperature.

RESULTSAll fingers were survived, no vascular crisis happened. All cases were followed up from 3 to 24 months with an average of 14 months. The length and shape of replanted fingers were similar to that of the healthy side. The new nails were smooth, the function was perfect,the sense of pain and touched sensation had been recovered. Their two-piont discriminations ranged from 3 to 6 mm with an average of 5 mm. According to the assessment standard of Chinese Medical Association of Hand Surgery, the results were excellent in 14 cases, good in 3 cases, poor in 1 case.

CONCLUSIONFingertip replantation with anastomosis of palm vein and retaining the nail is regained satisfactory appearance and function of the digits with a high survival rate.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; methods ; Female ; Fingers ; surgery ; Hand ; blood supply ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nails ; surgery ; Replantation ; methods ; Veins ; surgery ; Young Adult

Systemic sclerosis is a connective tissue disease characterized by alterations in microvascular structure and function. In these patients, numerous studies have demonstrated a relationship between capillary morphology and peripheral blood perfusion. Nailfold videocapillaroscopy reveals the peripheral microvascular morphology and thus allows classification and scoring of capillary abnormalities with respect to different microangiopathy patterns (early, active, and late). Laser Doppler flowmetry and laser speckle contrast analysis can be used to estimate cutaneous blood flow through microvessels and to assess and quantify blood perfusion at peripheral sites. These two methods are also used to identify changes in digital blood perfusion after the infusion of vasodilators.
Blood Flow Velocity ; Humans ; *Laser-Doppler Flowmetry ; *Microcirculation ; Microscopic Angioscopy/*methods ; Microvessels/*pathology/*physiopathology ; Nails ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Regional Blood Flow ; Scleroderma, Systemic/*diagnosis/pathology/physiopathology ; Skin/*blood supply ; Vasodilator Agents/diagnostic use ; *Video Recording

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) has been used to examine morphological and functional microcirculation changes in connective tissue diseases. It has been demonstrated that NFC patterns reflect abnormal microvascular dynamics, which may play a role in fibromyalgia (FM) syndrome. The aim of this study was to determine NFC patterns in FM, and their association with clinical features of FM. METHODS: A total of 67 patients with FM, and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls, were included. Nailfold capillary patterns were quantitatively analyzed using computerized NFC. The parameters of interest were as follows: number of capillaries within the central 3 mm, deletion score, apical limb width, capillary width, and capillary dimension. Capillary dimension was determined by calculating the number of capillaries using the Adobe Photoshop version 7.0. RESULTS: FM patients had a lower number of capillaries and higher deletion scores on NFC compared to healthy controls (17.3 +/- 1.7 vs. 21.8 +/- 2.9, p < 0.05; 2.2 +/- 0.9 vs. 0.7 +/- 0.6, p < 0.05, respectively). Both apical limb width (microm) and capillary width (microm) were significantly decreased in FM patients (1.1 +/- 0.2 vs. 3.7 +/- 0.6; 5.4 +/- 0.5 vs. 7.5 +/- 1.4, respectively), indicating that FM patients have abnormally decreased digital capillary diameter and density. Interestingly, there was no difference in capillary dimension between the two groups, suggesting that the length or tortuosity of capillaries in FM patients is increased to compensate for diminished microcirculation. CONCLUSIONS: FM patients had altered capillary density and diameter in the digits. Diminished microcirculation on NFC may alter capillary density and increase tortuosity.
Adult ; Capillaries/*pathology/physiopathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Fibromyalgia/*diagnosis/pathology/physiopathology ; Humans ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; Male ; Microcirculation ; *Microscopic Angioscopy ; Nails/*blood supply ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Regional Blood Flow

Adult ; Aged ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hemorheology ; Humans ; Male ; Microcirculation ; drug effects ; Middle Aged ; Migraine Disorders ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Nails ; blood supply ; Phytotherapy