OBJECTIVETo find a method without corticosteroids, aspirin or heparin for treatment of anticardiolipin antibody-positive early recurrent spontaneous abortion (AARSA).

METHODSTwenty-three patients of AARSA in the treated group were treated with Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) plus human chorionic gonadotropin and progesterone, and 18 patiens in the control group were treated with multi-vitamin only. The change of anticardiolipin antibody was determined by enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSAfter treatment, anticardiolipin antibody negative converted in 20 cases (86.9%) of the treated group. The cure rate of abortion in the treated group was 82.6% (19/23), which was raised to 95% (19/20) in those patients with antibody negative conversion, while in the control group, it was 16.7% (3/18) merely, comparison between the two groups in cure rate showed significant difference (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCHM plus human chorionic gonadotropin and progesterone could cure AARSA effectively.

Abortion, Habitual ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Abortion, Spontaneous ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Adult ; Antibodies, Anticardiolipin ; blood ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Phytotherapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Progesterone ; therapeutic use

The paper is aimed to establish a method of residue analysis for thiamethoxam and to study its degradation dynamic and final residue and its standard of safe application of thiamethoxam on Lonicera japonica. Samples extracted with methanol by ultrasonication were purified with dichloromethane by liquid-liquid extraction and SPE column and analysed by HPLC-UV. The results showed that average rate was 84.91%-94.44% and RSD 1.74%-4.96% with addition of thiamethoxam in respectively diverse concentration, which meets inspection requirement of pesticide residue. Two kinds of dosages of thiamethoxam were treated- varying from recommended dosage (90 g x hm(-2)) to high dosage (135 g x hm(-2)), Results of two years test showed that thiamethoxam was degraded more than 90% seven days after application and the half - life period of thiamethoxam was 1.54-1.66 d. The digestion rate of thiamethoxam was fast in the L. japonica. The recommended MRL of thiamethoxam in the L. japonica is 0.1 mg x kg(-1), the dosage of 25% thiamethoxam WDG from 90-135 g x hm(-2) is sprayed less than three times a year on L. japonica and 14 days is proposed for the safety interval of the last pesticide application's and harvest's date.
Agriculture ; methods ; standards ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Flowers ; chemistry ; growth & development ; parasitology ; Half-Life ; Insect Control ; methods ; standards ; Insecticides ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; Lonicera ; chemistry ; growth & development ; parasitology ; Neonicotinoids ; Nitro Compounds ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; Oxazines ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; Pesticide Residues ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; Plant Diseases ; parasitology ; prevention & control ; Thiazoles ; adverse effects ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of the thickness of periodontal ligament on the fracture resistance of root and post-core system.

METHODSForty-five simulated roots in the same length, taper and diameter were made of polymethacrylate (PMMA). Then the wax patterns of post-cores were cast. Soft lining material was used to simulated periodontal ligament. And each specimen was embedded in acrylic resin and then fixed in a special jig on the universal load-testing machine. A compressive load was applied at a 90-degree angle to the long axis of the core until fracture, at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. The maximum of load and the displacement were recorded.

RESULTSThe mean values of load in root and post-core system were 148.033 N, 161.889 N, 168.667 N, 181.589 N, 194.622 N, and the mean values of displacement were 1.965 mm, 2.837 mm, 3.327 mm, 3.927 mm, 5.326 mm.

CONCLUSIONThe fracture resistance and displacement of root and post-core system with the same quality and altitude periodontal ligament are associated with the thickness of periodontal ligament when the range of thickness is from 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm.

Acrylic Resins ; Dental Restoration Failure ; Dental Stress Analysis ; Humans ; Periodontal Ligament ; Post and Core Technique ; Tooth Fractures ; Tooth Root

From the perspective of standardization development of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) information,the paper puts forward the categorizing and coding scheme of clinical TCM information,builds a frame of basic clinical TCM information classification,which consists of 6 Grade 1 categories,30 subcategories and a few detailed categories,to provide standardized support for informatization and standardization study in the area of TCM.

OBJECTIVETo study the feasibility to repair the peripheral nerve gap with tissue engineering scaffold complex that is composed of medical biodegradable material agarose hydrogel and nerve growth factor (NGF).

METHODSChitosan tube containing agarose hydrogel and NGF was transplanted to bridge a 10 mm gap of injured sciatic nerve in rat. Chitosan duct without agarose hydrogel and NGF was used as negative control, while autograft nerve as positive control. Sixteen weeks after operation, the regeneration of nerve fiber was observed with morphological and immunohistochemistrical methods.

RESULTThe number and diameter of regenerating nerve fibers bridged by the scaffold complex of agarose hydrogel and NGF were better than negative control group (P < 0.01) and reached the level of autograft nerve group.

CONCLUSIONSThe new type of tissue engineering scaffold complex of agarose hydrogel and NGF may provide a microenvironment, as well as autograft nerve, to promote nerve regeneration. This technique may benefit patients with nerve injury in the future.

Absorbable Implants ; Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; Chitosan ; Disease Models, Animal ; Feasibility Studies ; Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate ; Male ; Nerve Growth Factors ; pharmacology ; Nerve Regeneration ; drug effects ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; Peripheral Nerves ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Prosthesis Implantation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sepharose ; Stents ; Tissue Engineering ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between CYP1A1 genetic polymorphism and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) in Chengdu of China.

METHODSMspI and Ile/Val genotypes of CYP1A1 gene were detected with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and allele-specific amplification-PCR (ASA-PCR) in a case-control study, including 100 cases of ICP and 100 controls.

RESULTSThere was no significant correlation between MspI polymorphism and ICP susceptibility (P>0.05). However, the Ile/Val+Val/Val genotypes of CYP1A1 significantly increased the risk of ICP (P=0.047, OR=1.768).

CONCLUSIONThe Ile/Val polymorphism in exon 7 of CYP1A1 may be associated with the susceptibility of ICP in Chengdu. The MspI polymorphism of CYP1A1 is not associated with the risk of ICP in Chengdu.

Case-Control Studies ; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic ; genetics ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo compare plasma concentrations of biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction between patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) and essential hypertension (EH), and to determine whether elevated levels of these biomarkers could predict development of early organ damage.

METHODSThirty-six PA patients and 39 EH patients matched for age, sex, blood pressure and duration of hypertension were included in this study. Plasma levels of biomarkers reflecting endothelial dysfunction (von Willebrand factor, vWF; soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1, sICAM-1; and oxidized low density lipoprotein, ox-LDL) were detected and compared between PA and EH patients. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) determined by echocardiography, 24-hour urinary protein quantitative determination and urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) were analyzed to evaluate early organ damage. Left ventricular hypertrophy was defined as LVMI > 125 g/m(2) in men and > 120 g/m(2) in women, and UAER between 20 µg/min and 200 µg/min was defined as microalbuminuria.

RESULTSvWF [(122.3 ± 53.8)% vs. (113.1 ± 68.3)%], sICAM-1 [(401.0 ± 74.1) µg/L vs. (300.9 ± 87.0) µg/L], ox-LDL [(13.6 ± 10.0) U/L vs. (8.1 ± 5.9) U/L], LVMI [(124.7 ± 33.6) g/m(2) vs. (109.1 ± 25.7) g/m(2)], 24-hour urinary protein quantitation [24 h UPQ, (0.17 ± 0.10) g vs. (0.09 ± 0.04) g] and UAER [(25.9 ± 7.7) µg/min vs. (9.7 ± 5.9) µg/min] were significantly higher in PA group than in EH group (all P < 0.05). Elevated plasma vWF, sICAM-1 levels and plasma aldosterone concentration independently predicted microalbuminuria. Whereas, elevated plasma vWF and ox-LDL levels, plasma aldosterone concentration and systolic blood pressure independently predicted left ventricular hypertrophy.

CONCLUSIONPatients with PA have severer endothelial dysfunction reflected by multiple biomarkers and earlier organ damage than patients with EH, and plasma aldosterone concentration and multiple endothelial dysfunction biomarkers could independently predict early organ damage.

Albuminuria ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Hypertension ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; von Willebrand Factor ; metabolism

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Only moderate to severe Crohn's Disease (CD) patients without a satisfactory conventional therapy effect are eligible to get reimbursement from the National Health Insurance of Taiwan for using adalimumab. These are more stringent criteria than in many Western countries and Japan and Korea. We aim to explore the efficacy of using adalimumab in CD patients under such stringent criteria. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted in nine medical centers in Taiwan and we collected the results of CD patients receiving adalimumab from Sep 2009 to Mar 2014. The clinical characteristics, response measured by CDAI (Crohn's Disease Activity Index), adverse events and survival status were recorded and analyzed. CR-70, CR-100, and CR-150 were defined as attaining a CDAI decrease of 70, 100 or 150 points compared with baseline. RESULTS: A total of 103 CD patient records were used in this study. Sixty percent of these patients received combination therapy of adalimumab together with immunomodulators. CR-70 was 68.7%, 74.5% and 88.4% after week 4, 8 and 12 of treatment, respectively. The steroid-free rate, complications and survival were 47.6%, 9.7% and 99% of patients, respectively. In considering the mucosal healing, only 25% patients achieve mucosal healing after treatment for 6 to12 months. Surgery was still needed in 16.5% of patients. Combination treatment of adalimumab with immunomodulators further decreased the level of CDAI at week 8 when compared with the monotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Even under the stringent criteria for using adalimumab, the response rate was comparable to those without stringent criteria.
Adalimumab ; Crohn Disease* ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* ; Japan ; Korea ; National Health Programs ; Retrospective Studies ; Taiwan*

BACKGROUNDBacterial vaginosis (BV) is one of the most common infectious diseases among sexually active women and is associated with the increased acquisition of a variety of sexually transmitted diseases. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of a non-antibiotic sucrose gel against an antibiotic metronidazole gel for the treatment of BV.

METHODSA randomized, double-blinded, multi-center, parallel-group, placebo-controlled phase III clinical trial was conducted at eight hospitals in China. A total of 560 subjects with clinically diagnosed BV were randomly assigned into three groups for vaginally receiving sucrose, metronidazole, and placebo gels, respectively, twice daily for five consecutive days. The efficacy of therapeutic cure, defined as an achievement of both microbiologic cure (a Nugent score of 3 or less) and clinical cure (a resolution of the clinical findings from the baseline visit), was evaluated at the 1st and 2nd test-of-cure (TOC) visits at 7-10 and 21-35 days after the start of treatment, respectively.

RESULTSTherapeutic cure rates for sucrose, metronidazole, and placebo gel groups were 83.13%, 71.30% and 0.92%, at the 1st TOC, and 61.04%, 66.67% and 7.34%, at the 2nd TOC, respectively. While there was no significant difference between the sucrose and metronidazole gel groups at the 2nd TOC (P = 0.305), and sucrose gel was more effective than metronidazole gel at the 1st TOC (P = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONThese findings suggest that sucrose gel restores normal vaginal flora more rapidly than metronidazole gel and can be used as a novel treatment for BV.

Administration, Intravaginal ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Metronidazole ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Sucrose ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Vaginosis, Bacterial ; drug therapy ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDComputed tomography (CT) is better than routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting intracranial calcification. This study aimed to assess the value of MR susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) in the detection and differentiation of intracranial calcification and hemorrhage.

METHODSEnrolled in this study were 35 patients including 13 cases of calcification demonstrated by CT and 22 cases of intracerebral hemorrhage. MR sequences used in all the subjects included axial T1WI, T2WI and SWI. The phase shift (PS) of calcification and hemorrhage on SWI was calculated and their signal features on corrected phase images were compared. The sensitivity of T1WI, T2WI and SWI in detecting intracranial calcification and hemorrhage was analyzed statistically.

RESULTSThe detection rate of SWI for cranial calcification was 98.2%, significantly higher than that of T1WI and T2WI. It was not significantly different from that of CT (P > 0.05). There were 49 hemorrhagic lesions at different stages detected on SWI, 30 on T2WI and 18 on T1WI. The average PS of calcification and hemorrhage was +0.734 +/- 0.073 and -0.112 +/- 0.032 respectively (P < 0.05). The PS of calcification was positive and presented as a high signal or the mixed signal dominated by a high signal on the corrected phase images, whereas the PS of hemorrhage was negative and presented as a low signal or the mixed signal dominated by a low signal.

CONCLUSIONSSWI can accurately demonstrate intracranial calcification, not dependant on CT. Being more sensitive than routine MRI in detecting micro-hemorrhage, SWI may play an important role in differentiating cerebral diseases associated with calcification or hemorrhage.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Brain Diseases ; diagnosis ; Calcinosis ; diagnosis ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; diagnosis ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged