Objective To investigate the effectiveness of panoramic mandibular index (PMI) in detecting the bone mineral density (BMD) of mandibular bone and whole-body bone in patients with chronic end-stage renal failure. Methods A total of thirty patients with peritoneal dialysis treatment were used as experimental group and 31 healthy adults were used as control group. The panoramic jaw tomography was taken for the measurement of superior PMI (sPMI) and inferior PMI (iPMI) in two groups. The dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to detect BMD of lumbar spine bone. Data were compared between two groups. The correlation of sPMI, iPMI and BMD of lumbar spine bone was analyzed. Results All indicators including sPMI(0.262 2 ± 0.026 7 vs 0.284 2 ± 0.025 4, t=3.301) , iPMI (0.314 1 ± 0.028 3 vs 0.334 1 ± 0.027 5, t=2.808) and BMD of lumbar spine bone (0.832 3 ± 0.101 0 vs 0.906 9 ± 0.113 6,t=2.709) were significantly lower in experimental group than those in control group (P＜0.01). There was a positive correlation between sPMI and iPMI with BMD of lumbar spine bone (r=0.439 and 0.389, P＜0.05). The BMD of lumbar spine bone was significantly lower in female patients than that of male patients in control group (0.849 7±0.114 7 vs 0.968 0±0.076 3,t=3.357). The BMD of lumbar spine bone was also significantly lower in female patients than that of male patients in experimental group (0.775 4±0.068 4 vs 0.882 1±0.099 9,t=3.365). There were no significant differences in values of sPMI and iPMI between male and female patients of two groups. Conclusion The BMD of mandibular bone is lower in patients with chronic end-stage renal failure than that of the normal people. PMI index is a simple and effective method to detect the BMD of mandibular bone, which can reflect the BMD of whole body bone in patients with chronic end-stage renal disease.

In recent years, the discovery and studies on aquaporin have made us have a more in-depth understanding about the physiological and pathological processes of water metabolism. Over years, however, there has been no quantitative study on the target sites of diuretic traditional Chinese medicines at the molecular level. In that case, aquaporin was found to been a new target molecule to explain the efficacy exertion of diuretic traditional Chinese medicines. By studying aquaporin, researchers can understand the implicit meaning of the diuretic effect of traditional Chinese medicines and conduct quantitative studies on the diuretic effect. So far, many scholars have conducted a series of studies in the traditional Chinese medicine field by using the findings on aquaporin and made certain advances. This article provides a summary about the efficacy exertion of diuretic traditional Chinese medicines through target molecule aquaporin.
Animals ; Aquaporins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Diuretics ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Water ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the effects of ibutilide and amiodarone on the ventricular transmural heteroge-neity of repolarization and ventricular arrhythmia for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. Methods Eighty-seven patients with paroxymal atrial fibrillation at 48 h~7 d were enrolled and randomized to two groups, ibutilide and amiodarone treat-ment groups. The successful rate of cardioversion to sinus rhythm was compared between two groups. The electrocardiograph-ic QT interval and Tpeak-end/QT ratio were also analyzed before and after treatment in two groups. Results The successful rate of cardioversion was significantly higher in ibutilide group than that of amiodarone group (61.7%vs 40.7%, P＜0.05). The QT intervals and Tpeak-end/QT ratio were both significantly increased in ibutilide group (P＜0.05), which were re-turned to the levels before treatment in 2 hours and 1 hour, respectively (P＜0.05). The QT intervals were significantly in-creased in the amiodarone group (P＜0.01), which were continued until 4 h after treatment. There were no significant differ-ences in the Tpeak-end/QT ratios before and after treatment (P>0.05). Conclusion The successful rate of cardioversion to sinus rhythm for atrial fibrillation by ibutilide was significantly higher compared with that of amiodarone. Ibutilide slightly in-creased the transmural heterogeneity of repolarization within the first hour, which may increase the risk of ventricular arrhyth-mia.

Objective To assess the characteristics of the dysfunction of semicircular canal in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and the relationship with the ectopic otoconia.Methods There were 214 patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo( BPPV),including 107 cases of posterior semicircular canal canalithasis(PSC-Can) 80 cases of horizontal semicircular canal canalithasis( HSC-Can),27 cases of horizontal semicircular canal cupulolithiasis (HSC-Cup).One hundred and ninety (88.8％)patients were accompany with relevant diseases while 24 ( 11.2％ ) cases were not.They accepted low,middle and high frequency vestibular function tests,including caloric test ( CT),head shaking test (HST) and video head impulse test(vHIT) respectively.The parameters of the unilateral weakness(UW),head shaking nystagmus (HSN) and video head impulse test gain(vHIT-G) were observed.Patients classified into three groups (PSC-Can,HSC-Can,HSC-Cup) according to the involvement semicircular canal.The results of the three tests were analyzed with SPSS16.0 software.Results The positive cases of the three tests were vHIT:15 (7.0％),HST:52(24.3％ ),CT:152(71.0％ ),a statistically significant difference(P ＜ 0.05) was found between the three tests.When compared the Calorie Test,HST and vHIT between the BPPV patients with and without relevant diseases,there were no significant differences ( P ＞ 0.05 ).The variance without statistical significance(P ＞ 0.05) was showed between three tests' results in each groups,it was also showed that the variance between the three groups in each tests reached no statistical significance(P ＞0.05 ).The test of affected side UW between PSC-Can,HSC- Can and HSC-Cup showed the variance without statistical significance( F =0.970,P =0.383 ). Conclusions The lesion of semicircular canals has the same etiological factors with the utricle pathological change in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo,and the dysfunction mostly happens in low frequency range of semicircular canal frequency band. The ectopic otoconia is not the main etiological factors for that.HST and vHIT of middle and high frequency can not be ultimately used for the screening test evaluating due to the semicircular canal function in BPPV.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of vertebral height restoration of vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebra compression fractures (VCFs).

METHODSFrom October 2004 to June 2007, a total of 37 patients with 40 VCFs were treated by vertebroplasty. There were 12 males and 25 females with a mean age of (72.4 +/- 12.7) years (ranged, 48 to 87). Pain easement state was evaluated by visual analog scale (VAS) before and after operation, as well as in followed-up. Preoperative and postoperative vertebral height, kyphosis angle at fractured levels were measured on X-rays.

RESULTSAll of patients were followed-up for 12 to 47 months (averaged, 35.8 +/- 9.6). The VAS score was 8.4 +/- 1.6 before operative, 2.1 +/- 1.2 at the 2nd day after operative, there were significant difference between pre-and postoperative (P < 0.05); the average follow-up VAS was 1.6 +/- 0.9, there were significant difference as compared with the preoperative (P < 0.05). Lateral X-ray showed that the preoperative degree of vertebral height in the of anterior and middle vertebral were (72.0 +/- 10.6)% and (68.0 +/- 15.6)%, and postoperative were (76.0 +/- 8.6)% and (73.0 +/-6.1)%, respectively. There were no significant difference in vertebral height between preoperative and postoperative. The vertebral kyphosis angle was corrected from preoperative (7.8 +/- 2.7) degree to postoperative (8.1 +/- 2.3) degree.

CONCLUSIONVertebroplasty is a safe and effective method for treatment of osteoporotic VCFs, it can relieve the pain effectively. Failure to restore vertebaral height does not seem to interfere with the excellent pain management.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Fractures, Compression ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis ; complications ; Radiography ; Spinal Fractures ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Spine ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Vertebroplasty ; methods

Background:The symptomatic bradyarrhythmia is Class Ⅰ indication for pacing therapy which is not a radical cure.The present study aimed to assess the feasibility and to present the initial results of the restricted ablation of the parasympathetic innervation surrounding sinus and atrioventricular (AV) nodes for treating patients with bradyarrhythmia.Methods:A total of 13 patients with cardiogenic syncope were included from May 2008 to June 2015.Under the guidance of fluoroscopy and/or three-dimensional geometry by 64-slice spiral computed tomography,atrial activation sequence in sinus rhythm was mapped.Chamber geometry was reconstructed manually or automatically using the Niobe Ⅱ magnetic navigation system integrated with the CARTO-remote magnetic technology (RMT) system.Cardioneuroablation was targeted at the high-amplitude fractionated electrograms surrounding the regions of His bundle and the site with the earliest activation in sinus rhythm.Areas surrounding the sinus node,AV node,and the phrenic nerve were avoided.Results:Thirteen patients completed the studies.Ablation was successfully performed in 12 patients and failed in one.The high-frequency potential was recorded in atrial electrograms surrounding the sinus or AV nodes in all the patients and disappeared in 15 s after radiofrequency applications.The vagal reaction was observed before the improvement of the sinus and AV node function.No complications occurred during the procedures.Patients were followed up for a mean of 13.0 ± 5.9 months.During the follow up ten patients remained free of symptoms,and two patients had a permanent cardiac pacemaker implanted due to spontaneous recurrence of syncope.The heart rate of post-ablation was higher than pre-ablation (69.0 ± 11.0 vs.49.0 ± 10.0 beats/min,t =4.56,P =0.008).The sinus node recovery time,Wenckebach block point,and atrium-His bundle interval were significantly shorter after ablation (1386.0±165.0 vs.921.0 ±64.0ms,t=7.45,P=0.002;590.0±96.0 vs.464.0± 39.0ms,t=2.38,P=0.023;106.0±5.0 vs.90.0 ± 12.0 ms,t =9.80,P =0.013 before and after ablation procedure,respectively).Conclusions:Ablation of sinoatrial and AV nodal peripheral fibrillar myocardium electrical activity might provide a new treatment to ameliorate paroxysmal sinus node dysfunction,high degree AV block,and vagal-mediated syncope.

The distal tibiofibular syndesmosis is a critical structure in maintaining the ankle stability. Syndesmotic injuries are usually associated with ankle fractures and high fibula fractures. Non-isolated and partially isolated syndesmotic injuries are involved in unstable injuries, which need to operative treatment. Partially isolated syndesmotic injuries belong to stable injuries, which should be treated with non-operative management. It is becoming clear that early fixation and stabilization for unstable injuries are probably better than non-treatment or delayed treatment. It still remains without consensus of accurately defining stable from unstable injuries and sufficiently differentiating between acute and chronic injuries. Because of stability, fixation type, and duration, the clinical efficacy is different. Screw fixation is a gold standard treatment of syndesmotic injury. However, it remains controversial that whether removal of the syndesmotic screw is required and effect of the level of syndesmotic screw insertion, limited micro-movement is one of disadvantages of screw fixation. Micro-movement of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis has been paid more and more attention. Dynamic fixation is a viable alternative to the static fixation device, with lower re-operation rates and less complications, which has obtained a great short-term clinical efficacy. However, further long-term studies should be carried out to confirm this clinical efficacy. Optimized treatment strategies considering stability of syndesmotic injury, duration, and fixation type can help to improve clinical efficacy.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect and the mechanism of Danhong Injection (DI), Ligustrazine Injection (LI), and adsorbable biomembranes in preventing the adhesion of tendons and tissues.

METHODSTotally 120 patients all suffering from simple flexor digitorum tendon rupture on the hand zone two damaged by sharp weapons were randomly assigned to Group A (Dikang adsorbable biomembrane), Group B (Tianxinfu adsorbable biomembrane), Group C (Tianxinfu adsorbable biomembrane + Ligustrazine group), and Group D (Tianxinfu adsorbable biomembrane + DI group) in accordance with random digit table, 30 cases in each group. Indicators such as total active movement (TAM) of the hand tendon, Minnesota manual dexterity test (MMDT), and finger flex strength test (FFST) were observed.

RESULTSThe TAM and the favorable rate were higher in Group C and D than in Group A and B at post-operative 4 and 8 week (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference between Group C and D (P > 0.05). Each index of MMDT was lower in Group C and D than in Group A and B (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in FFST among all the 4 groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCombined application of LI or DI with Tianxinfu adsorbable biomembranes could effectively prevent the adhesion of tendons. DI showed equivalent effect as LI did. Besides, the combined application was superior in preventing adhesion to using Xintianfu adsorbable biomembrane or Dikan adsorbable biomembrane alone.

Absorbable Implants ; Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Membranes, Artificial ; Middle Aged ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; prevention & control ; Pyrazines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Tendon Injuries ; surgery ; Tissue Adhesions ; prevention & control ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo compare the hemodynamic responses to orotracheal intubation via fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB) with conventional orotracheal intubation via direct laryngoscope (DLS) in children under general anesthesia.

METHODSForty-three American Society of Anesthesiologist grade I-II children undergoing the elective plastic surgery and requiring orotracheal intubation were randomly allocated to either the DLS group (n = 20)or the FOB group (n = 23). After standard intravenous anesthetic induction, orotracheal intubation was performed using a DLS or a FOB. Noninvasive systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), and rate-pressure product (RPP) were recorded before and after anesthetic induction, at intubation, and 5 minutes after intubation with 1 minute interval.

RESULTSIn the DLS group, SBP, HR, and RPP at intubation increased significantly compared to their postinduction values (P < 0.05),but blood pressure, HR and RPP at intubation didn't differ from their preinduction values. The maximal values of SBP, HR and RPP during the observation (from the beginning of intravenous anesthetic induction to 5 minutes after intubation) were significantly higher than their preinduction values (P < 0.05). In the FOB group, blood pressure, HR and RPP at intubation increased significantly compared to their preinduction and postinduction values (P < 0.05), and the maximal values of blood pressure, HR and RPP during the observation were significantly higher than their preinduction values (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in blood pressure and RPP at each time point during the observation between the two groups. The HR at intubation were significantly higher in the FOB group than in the DLS group (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was observed in the HR values at other time points during the observation between the two groups. There were also no significant differences in the maximal values of blood pressure, HR and RPP or the times to reach their maximal values between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONGeneral anesthesia of clinical standard depth can not effectively inhibit the pressor and tachycardiac responses caused by fiberoptic orotracheal intubation in children. As compared with DLS, FOB has no special advantages in preventing the cardiovascular stress responses to orotracheal intubation in children.

Anesthesia, General ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Bronchoscopes ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Heart Rate ; physiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; Laryngoscopes ; Male ; Surgery, Plastic

OBJECTIVEto investigate the effect of deoxypodophyllotoxin (DOP) on membrane potential of dorsal unpaired median neurons (DUM, neurons) and its correlation with sodium channel.

METHODSDUM neurons were labeled with DiBAC4(3). Laser scanning confocal microscope was used to monitor the changes of membrane potential at real time on these neurons that were treated with different concentrations of the DOP. The effect of sodium channel blocker tetrodotoxin (TTX) on the changes was also observed.

RESULTSmembrane potential depolarization induced by the DOP peaked at 5 min and became stabilized after 8min. After compared with fluorescence intensity without treatment, the normalized fluorescence intensity was 69.6 ± 3.0, 72.1 ± 2.7, 77.8 ± 3.6, 86.2 ± 3.1 in cells which were treated with 1, 5, 25, 125 micromol/L DOP, respectively. These numbers were significantly lower than those from untreated control cells (P < 0.01). When DUM neurons were co-incubated with 1 micromol/L TTX for 20 min, then treated with 25 micromol/L DOP, the intensity changed to 63.6 ± 5.4, which was similar to that of the control (P > 0.05). This indicated that the effect of DOP could be completely inhibited by TTX.

CONCLUSIONDOP induced membrane depolarization of DUM neurons in the range of 1 approximately 125 micromol/L and the sodium channel should be involved in this process.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Ganglia, Invertebrate ; drug effects ; physiology ; Membrane Potentials ; drug effects ; physiology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; physiology ; Periplaneta ; drug effects ; physiology ; Podophyllotoxin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Sodium Channels ; metabolism