Objective To compare the realtime effects of scalp cluster acupuncture versus nape cluster acupuncture on the cerebral blood flow in patients with vertigo due to cerebral circulation insufficiency (CCI). Methods Fifty-seven patients with vertigo due to CCI were randomized into a treatment group of 29 cases and a control group of 28 cases. The treatment group was intervened by scalp cluster acupuncture, while the control group was by nape cluster acupuncture. The systolic blood flow velocity (Vs), diastolic blood flow velocity (Vd), and mean blood flow velocity (Vm) of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), internal carotid artery (ICA), basilar artery (BA), posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA), and vertebral artery (VA) were observed before and after intervention by Transcranial Doppler (TCD). Results After intervention, the Vs, Vd, and Vm of MCA, ICA, BA, PICA and VA were significantly changed in the treatment group (P＜0.01, P＜0.05). The blood velocities of MCA, ICA, VA, and PICA were significantly changed after intervention in the control group (P＜0.01). The Vs and Vm of BA were significantly changed in the control group after intervention (P＜0.05). There were no significant differences in comparing the blood velocities of the observed arteries between the two groups after intervention (P>0.05). Conclusion Scalp cluster acupuncture and nape cluster acupuncture both can improve the Vs, Vd, and Vm of the low-velocity cerebral arteries.

Aim To investigate the effects of iptakalim(IPT),a novel K_(ATP) opener,on the functions of endothelin system in human pulmonary artery endothelial cells.Methods Primary cultured human pulmonary artery endothelial cells were incubated with different concentrations iptakalim for 24 h.The levels of ET-1 in medium were observed by radioimmunoassay.Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)was performed to analyze the expression of ET-1 and ECE.Results When endothelial cells were incubated with IPT at concentrations above 10 μmol·L~(-1),the levels of ET-1 release in medium and the levels of ET-1 mRNA were significantly inhibited.When endothelial cells were incubated with IPT at concentrations above 1 μmol·L~(-1),the levels of ECE mRNA were significantly inhibited.Conclusions IPT can inhibit the expression of ET-1 and ECE mRNA from human pulmonary artery endothelial cells, thus it inhibits the secretion of ET-1 from endothelial cells. Iptakalim may serve as a promising candidate drug to treat pulmonary hypertension.

BACKGROUND:Several studies have attempted to apply mouse nerve growth factor to local lesions of peripheral nerve and found that local injection of mouse nerve growth factor can promote nerve recovery, which is superior to systematic application. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the clinical effects of gelatin sponge infiltrated by mouse nerve growth factor in the repair of peripheral nerve injury. METHODS:Thirty-six patients with single peripheral nerve injury, including 16 males and 20 females, aged 18-48 years, were randomly divided into two groups: 18 patients in case group underwent debridement and neuroanastomosis, and then the injured nerve was wrapped by gelatin sponge which was infiltrated by mouse nerve growth factor and folowed by plaster fixation, anti-inflammatory therapy, neurotrophy and circulation improvement therapy; the other 18 patients in control group were treated only with debridement and neuroanastomosis and other conventional therapies. At 4 weeks after treatment, electrophysiological examination was performed. In addition, sensory and motor function of the distal end of injured nerve was evaluated at 6 months after treatment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Sensory evoked potential and motor evoked potential showed that the recovery rate was 78% (n=14) and 83% (n=15) respectively in the case group, while 57% (n=10) and 66% (n=12) in the control group. There was significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The total effective rate was 94.4% (n=17) in the case group and 83.3% (n=15) in the control group, which were statisticaly better in the case group than the control group (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that it is significantly effective to treat peripheral nerve injury by gelatin sponge infiltrated by mouse nerve growth factor that has good biocompatibility.

BACKGROUND:Currently, there are large numbers of studies related to the association between colagen type I alpha1 (COL1A1) Sp1 polymorphism and bone mineral density and fracture risk, but the results are inconsistent. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the impact of the COL1A1 Sp1 polymorphism on bone mineral density and fracture by using the Meta-analysis. METHODS:We comprehensively searched the eligible studies for the present meta-analysis through MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE databases. Pooled odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of Sp1 polymorphisms for bone mineral density and fracture risk were obtained, with attention to study quality and publication bias. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:A total of 32 studies met the inclusion criteria, among which, 22 studies evaluated the Sp1 polymorphism and fracture risk. Significant associations were found in five genetic models. In the stratified analysis by region, the same results were found in the Europeans but not Americans and Asians. Thirteen studies evaluated the Sp1 polymorphism and low bone mineral density risk. A similar result was obtained. However, the analysis of bone mineral density data showed an increased relation between Sp1 polymorphism and low bone mineral density in Europeans and Americans but not in Asians. Overal, the current meta-analysis concludes that the COL1A1 Sp1 polymorphism is associated with low bone mineral density and fracture risk, especialy in Europeans. However, susceptibility to them varies markedly among populations from different regions.

Objective To investigate the effects of vacuum suction stereo-dynamic interferential electrotherapy and McKenzie therapy on lumbar disc herniation in aged patients.Methods 70 aged patients with lumbar disc herniation are randomly divided into two groups,experiment group and control group.Each contained 35 patients.Both are treated 15 min daily with the SD5101 therapeutic.For the experiment group,McKenzie therapy is employed 3～4 times per day additionally.They were evaluated with Graded Efficacy For Relieving Lumbar Pain before and after treatment.Follow-up observation lasted for 10 months to record the time of treatment and recurrence rate of both groups.Results For short-term curative effect,no statistical differences were observed between these two groups(P>0.05).For the curative effects on single-segment or multi-segment lumber disc herniation,statistical differences were observed before and after treatment in each group(P<0.05),but were not between them(P>0.05).The curative effects are negatively correlated with the course of treatment(For experiment group:r=-0.72;For control group:r=-0.64).No statistical differences were observed between these two groups in terms of the total correlation coefficient(P>0.05).The time of treatment in experiment group is shorter than that in control group(P<0.05).The recurrence rate in experiment group is lower than in control group(P<0.01).Conclusion Vacuum suction stereo-dynamic interferential electrotherapy combining with McKenzie therapy is an efficient method in treating aged patients with lumbar disc herniation.

Objective To investigate the clinical feactures of patients with numerous dilated Virchow-Robin space in basal gangalia.Methods Eight patients with cribriform state in striatum in brain MRI at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from March 2013 to October 2013 were enrolled.The clinical data including age,gender,common vascular risk factors and clinical manifestations were analyzed.Cognitive functions,balance and gait disturbance,as well as activity of daily living were assessed.Results All of the eight patients are male,aged from 69 to 80.All the patients had a history of hyperlipidemia,while 7 of them had hypertension.The primary complaint was either gradual motor function decline or memory impairments (3/8),or dizziness (1/8).The other 4 of them were diagnosed as stroke or transient ischemic attack.Among the 8 patients,four had mild deterioration in activity of daily living function (Barthel index 65-85).Cognitive impairment was common (8/8,the Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores 19-27),while word recall was the mostly affected cognitive domain (8/8).Gait and balance dysfunction were found in three patients (3/8,Tinetti scores ≤ 24).Conclusions Man is more likely to have predisposition to cribriform state in striatum.Mild cognitive impairments and gait abnormality are common clinical manifestations of the disease.

Objective To investigate the related risk factors of the previous cemented vertebral body re-wedge after percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP).Methods In this retrospective case-control study,clinical data of 617 patients treated by PKP from December 2008 to November 2014 were analyzed.According to whether the cemented vertebra wedged again,the patients were divided into cemented vertebral re-wedge group (n =12) and non-cemented vertebral re-wedge group (n =605).The data of age,preoperative bone density,preoperative vertebral osteonecrosis,intraoperative bone cement injection amount,postoperative bone cement leakage,postoperative bone cement filling,postoperative recovery rate of vertebral wedge angle,and presence or absence of adjacent old vertebral wedging were recorded in two groups.All patients were followed up for one year,and the data were summarized and statistically analyzed.Results Single factor analysis showed the factors of whether there were adjacent old vertebral wedge,preoperative vertebral osteonecrosis,cystic bone cement filling,different wedge angle recovery rate,and emergence of previous cemented vertebral body re-wedge after PKP were statistically significant between two groups (P ＜ 0.05).There was no obvious statistical difference in age,preoperative bone density,intraoperative bone cement injection amount,and intervertebral bone cement leakage between two groups (P ＞ 0.05).Multivariate Logistic stepwise regression analysis showed cystic bone cement filling,preoperative vertebral osteonecrosis,adjacent old vertebral wedging,and higher recovery rate of vertebral wedge angle were prone to appear previous cemented vertebral body rewedge (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Relatively higher recovery rate of vertebral wedge angle,previous adjacent old vertebral wedge,vertebral osteonecrosis,and cystic bone cement filling are risk factors closely related to cemented vertebral re-wedge after PKP,which gives a good reference to assess surgical risk,avoid risk factors and choose right surgical techniques.

Objective To analyze the change in infrared(IR)spectral information and to screen out the classification of major compounds affecting information difference in IR spectra of Trichosanthes before and after steaming. Methods The similarity between the original IR fingerprint and the first derivative IR fingerprint of Trichosanthes and their steamed products was calculated by using the Computer Aided Similarity Evaluation System. The principal component analysis(PCA)model and the partial least squares dis-criminant analysis(PLS-DA)model of IR spectral data of Trichosanthes before and after steaming were established by using SIMCA-P 11 statistical software for PCA and PLS-DA,and the classification of major compounds affecting information difference in IR spectra of Trichosanthes before and after steaming was selected by 3D scatter plot,load 3D scatter plot and variable important in project(VIP) value. Results The similarity between the original IR fingerprint and first derivative IR fingerprint of Trichosanthes and their steamed products were 0.9165 and 0.2832. Seven VIP>1 spectral peaks were screened out by using SIMCA-P 11 statistical software,of which,the absorption peak of 1456 cm-1 was νc=c,the absorption peak of 1726 cm-1 was νc=o and the VIP values were 1.6290 and 1.4256 respectively. Conclusion The categories of compounds of Trichosanthes before and after steaming did not change,but the chemical components changed. Compounds of Trichosanthes before and after steaming affect the difference in IR spectral information may mainly contain C=C-C=C or C=O or both of them.

Objective To analyze the changes in the chemical components in Fructus Trichosanthes before and after the pro?cessing of steaming,so as to explore the material basis of the pharmacodynamic changes between Trichosanthes and steamed Tricho-santhes.Methods The peaks matching data of Fructus Trichosanthes and steamed Fructus Trichosanthes were obtained by using the similarity evaluation system for chromatographic fingerprints of traditional Chinese materia medica.The principal component analysis (PCA)model and the partial least squares discriminant analysis(PLS-DA)model for the analysis of the Fructus Trichosanthes and steamed Fructus Trichosanthes data were established using the SIMCA-P 11 statistical software for PCA and PLS-DA,from which the score chart,load chart and Variable Importance(VIP)value were obtained,so as to identify the main different components in Fructus Trichosanthes and steamed Fructus Trichosanthes.Results The PCA(R2X=0.96,Q2=0.552)model and PLS-DA(R2Y=0.917,Q2=0.579)model were established,and 8 chromatographic peaks with significant difference in peak area were selected.Among them,two of the chromatographic peaks were assigned to be 5-hydroxy methyl furfural and vanilla acid,and 5-hydroxy methyl furfural had the largest VIP value.In addition,an unknown component was also found in the steamed Fructus Trichosanthes,which was generated in the process of steaming and needed to be identified in future studies.Conclusion The content of some chemical components in Fruc?tus Trichosanthes were changed after the process of steaming,and the processing of steaming also caused the formation of an unknown chemical component.5-Hydroxy methyl furfural and vanillic acid seem to be a likely choice for exploring the material basis of the phar?macodynamic changes in Fructus Trichosanthes after the processing of steaming.

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this investigation is to find out a method to evaluate dental manpower resources.

METHODSWe selected population, GDP, number of dentist and number of different oral health professionals from certain internet stations, published books and journals from 1996 to 2000 as our investigating data.

RESULTSData was collected from 100 countries. Our investigation found that the design of dental manpower index to evaluate dental manpower resources was effective and convenient.

CONCLUSIONDental manpower index is a good method to evaluate dental manpower resources.