OBJECTIVETo analyze the rules for acupoint selection of acupuncture and moxibustion in domestic clinical treatment of perimenopausal syndrome based on data mining technology in modern times.

METHODSThe relevant literature were retrieved from Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang database on this disease treated with clinical acupuncture and moxibustion in China from 1978 to 2013. The database of acupuncture-moxibustion prescription was set up. The relevant regulations of data mining technology were used to analyze the rules for acupoint selection.

RESULTSTotally, 211 papers, 254 acupuncture-moxibustion prescriptions and 130 acupoints were included. The total frequency of acupoints application was 2193 times, with 14 meridians involved. The utilization of the acupoints in the lower limbs and on the back were 33.0% (723/2193) and 23.8% (521/2193) and those of yin and yang meridians were 51.8% (1136/2193) and 44.0% (965/2193), respectively. The utilization of the specific acupoints accounted for 88.7% (1946/2193).

CONCLUSIONIn clinical treatment of perimenopausal syndrome with acupuncture and moxibustion in modern times, the acupoint selection from involved meridians is the basis, associated with multiple methods of acupoint combination; yin and yang meridians are equally important and the specific acupoints are considered particularly critical in application.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; China ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Female ; Humans ; Perimenopause ; physiology

To investigate whether masticatory fatigue affects the fracture resistance and pattern of lower premolars restored with quartz-fiber post-core and full crown, 44 single rooted lower premolars recently extracted from orthodontic patients were divided into two groups of 22 each. The crowns of all teeth were removed and endodontically treated and then restored with quartz-fiber post-core and full crown. Twenty-two teeth in one group were selected randomly and circularly loaded at 45° to the long axis of the teeth of 127.4 N at a 6 Hz frequency, and the other group was not delivered to cyclic loading and considered as control. Subsequently, all teeth in two groups were continually loaded to fail at 45° to the long axis of the teeth at a crosshead speed of 1 mm⋅min(-1). The mean destructive force values were (733.88±254.99) and (869.14±280.26) N for the experimental and the control group, respectively, and no statistically significant differences were found between two groups (P>0.05). Bevel fracture and horizontal fracture in the neck of root were the major fracture mode of the specimens. Under the circumstances of this study, it seems that cyclic loading does not affect the fracture strength and pattern of the quartz-fiber post-core-crown complex.
Acid Etching, Dental ; methods ; Adult ; Bicuspid ; Bite Force ; Chromium Alloys ; chemistry ; Crowns ; Dental Prosthesis Design ; Dental Restoration Failure ; Dental Stress Analysis ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Materials Testing ; Methacrylates ; chemistry ; Phosphoric Acids ; chemistry ; Post and Core Technique ; instrumentation ; Quartz ; chemistry ; Resin Cements ; chemistry ; Stress, Mechanical ; Tooth Fractures ; physiopathology ; Tooth Root ; injuries ; Tooth, Nonvital ; rehabilitation

OBJECTIVEInsulin-like grouth factor-1 (IGF-1) is polypetide hormone that has demonstrated effects on neural cells. Up to now, there is few reports about the relation between serum IGF-1 and brain damage in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia. This study explored the potential role of serum IGF-1 in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

METHODSSerum levels of IGF-1 were measured using ECLIA in 57 term neonates with hyperbilirubinemia and 25 normal term neonates. Meanwhile, total serum bilirubin (TSB), unconjugated bilirubin (USB) and serum albumin (ALB) contents were measured by the automatic biochemistry analyzer and the ratio of USB/ALB (B/A) was calculated. The hyperbilirubinemia group was classified into three subgroups based on serum TSB levels: mild (221-256 micromol/L), moderate (257-342 micromol/L) and severe (>342 micromol/L). Serum TSB levels in the 25 normal neonates were less than 85 micromol/L (control group). NBNA was performed on the day of serum sample collection.

RESULTSSerum IGF-1 levels in the mild, moderate and severe hyperbilirubinemia groups (39.38+/- 8.42, 30.77+/- 4.65 and 26.34+/- 2.05 ng/L, respectively) were obviously lower than those in the control group (50.16+/- 15.73 ng/L) (P< 0.01). There were significant differences among the three hyperbilirubinemia subgroups in serum IGF-1 levels (P< 0.01). Mean NBNA scores in the mild, moderate and severe hyperbilirubinemia groups (35.01+/- 2.26, 32.45+/- 2.74 and 26.77+/- 5.02, respectively) were significantly lower than those in the control group (38.24+/- 0.78) (P< 0.01). Significant differences in the NBNA scores were noted among the three hyperbilirubinemia subgroups (P< 0.01). Serum IGF-1 levels were positively correlated to NBNA scores (r=0.603, P< 0.01) and negatively correlated to the ratio of B/A (r=-0.483, P< 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSSerum IGF-1 levels decreased obviously in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia and correlated to the severity of disease. IGF-1 might be associated with bilirubin-induced brain damage.

Bilirubin ; blood ; Brain ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia, Neonatal ; blood ; complications ; Infant Behavior ; Infant, Newborn ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; analysis ; Male

BACKGROUNDBiofilms have given new insights to the understanding of pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However, the link between biofilms formation and local inflammatory response remains poorly defined in CRS with nasal polys. The aim of this study was to determine the potential association of the presence of biofilms in the nasal mucosal tissues with clinical features in Chinese patients, which had CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP).

METHODSA total of 19 patients with CRSwNP and 12 patients with non-CRS were subjected to endoscopic surgery and their nasal mucosal tissue specimens were examined histologically and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Their demographic and clinical features were recorded.

RESULTSThirteen (68.4%) out of the 19 specimens from patients with CRSwNP, but none from control patients, were positive for biofilms that displayed typical characteristics of bacterial and fugal structures. The presence of biofilms in the nasal mucosal tissues was associated with significantly greater values of purulent nasal discharge and preoperative Lund-Kennedy scores, higher levels of serum total IgE and percentages of subjects with endoscopic surgery (ESS) history in patients with CRSwNP, and more severe inflammation in the nasal mucosal tissues of patients with CRSwNP.

CONCLUSIONOur study demonstrated the presence of biofilms in the nasal mucosal tissues of many patients, contributing to the understanding of the pathogenic process of CRSwNP in Chinese patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Biofilms ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Mucosa ; pathology ; Nasal Polyps ; etiology ; microbiology ; pathology ; Rhinitis ; etiology ; microbiology ; pathology ; Sinusitis ; etiology ; microbiology ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of multidrug resistance (MDR) gene-associated proteins (MRP) in gastric carcinoma, and their effects on the postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and the prognosis of patients.

METHODSThe expressions of ToPo II, MRP, GST-pi in 99 patients with gastric carcinoma were detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression and its relationship to the pathological data were analyzed. The positive expression of MRP and GST-pi, and the negative expression of ToPo II were considered as risk factors. Patients were divided into two groups: a high risk drug-resistant group (2-3 risk factors) and the low risk drug-resistant group (0-1 risk factors). Postoperative recurrence, survival rate, and efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy were compared between two groups.

RESULTSThe positive rate of ToPo II was 74.7%, and the expression was associated with types and differentiation of the tumor. The positive rate of GST-pi was 49.5%, and the expression was related to the gender and the differentiation. The positive rate of MRP was 40.4%, and there was no relationship between the MRP expression and the pathological finding. There were no significant differences in the recurrence, time to recurrence, and the 5-year survival rate between the positive and negative group of the three proteins (P>0.05). Recurrence was found in 25 cases(55.6%) in the high risk drug-resistant group and the mean time to recurrence was (15.2+/-8.1) months. The time to recurrence was shorter in the low risk drug-resistant group [(21.3+/-11.1) months, P<0.05] , but there was no significant difference in the recurrence rate between two groups (P>0.05). The 5-year survival rate of the high risk drug-resistant group and the low risk drug-resistant group was 44.4% and 55.6% (P>0.05). The 5-year survival rates of patients with or without chemotherapy in the high risk drug-resistant group were 45.8% and 42.9% (P>0.05). The 5-year survival rates of patients with or without chemotherapy in the low risk drug-resistant group were 70.4% and 40.7%. The survival rate of patients with chemotherapy was higher than that of the patients without chemotherapy (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of ToPo II, MRP and GST-pi is associated with the efficacy of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. Chemotherapy appears to be more beneficial to patients with low risk drug-resistance.

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; metabolism ; Adult ; Aged ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; DNA Topoisomerases, Type II ; metabolism ; Female ; Glutathione S-Transferase pi ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Postoperative Period ; Prognosis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism

UNLABELLEDTo study the clinical significance of the expression of antiapoptosis gene, survivin and bcl-2, and proapoptosis gene, Fas and bax, in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), RT-PCR was used to examine the expression of survivin and flow cytometry (FCM) to detect the expression of Fas, bcl-2, bax and bcl-2/bax ratio in 68 cases of AML. The results demonstrated that: (1) The positivity of survivin mRNA expression was significantly higher in AML compared to control (70.6% vs 30%, P < 0.05). (2) The expression of Fas and bcl-2 in AML before treatment was significantly higher than that in control (P < 0.001), but the bax expression did not (P > 0.05). (3) The survivin-positive AML cases showed a significantly lower Fas and higher bcl-2 expression in comparison with survivin-negative ones (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively), but the bax did not (P > 0.01). (4) Survivin-positive AML cases had a lower CR rate as compared with survivin-negative cases (64.6% vs 90%, P < 0.05). (5) The survivin-positive CR cases showed a decreased expression of Fas and bcl-2 after treatment in comparison with pretreatment expression (P < 0.001), but the bax expression remained unchanged before and after therapy. The survivin-positive NR cases showed a significantly decreased Fas and increased bcl-2 expression as compared with pretreatment expression (P < 0.001). bcl-2/bax ratio was also significantly higher in NR cases.

IN CONCLUSION70.6% AML cases showed positive for survivin expression with a lower CR rate, the survivin-positive AML showed a low Fas with high bcl-2 expression and bcl-2/bax ratio as compared to the survivin-negative cases.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Bone Marrow Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger ; drug effects ; genetics ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; fas Receptor ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo explore the location of the anterior border of facets and the posterior border of vertebral bodies in lower cervical spine,and to provide a quantitative data to evaluate the correct length of transarticual screws in lower cervical spine during procedure.

METHODSOne hundred standard lateral X-ray films and fifty CT films on cervical spine were used to measure the distance of the anterior border of facets and the posterior border of vertebral bodies in lower cervical spine. HS, HM and HI were defined as parameters, which means the distance between the anterior border of the superior (HS), median (HM) and inferior (HI) part of facets and the posterior border of corresponding vertebral bodies. The value will be negative if the anterior border of the facet located before the vertebral body.

RESULTS'HS > HM > HI' was found in all facets in lower cervical spine. The anterior border of the facet in C(3,4) located before the posterior border of the vertebral body of C3. The anterior border of C(4,5) and C(5,6) was inclined to posterior. The anterior border of C(6,7) located after the posterior border of the vertebral body of C6. The pattern of HS increased from C(3,4) to C(6,7), the minimal (0 +/- 0.25) mm and the maximal (2.91 +/- 1.05) mm. The tendency of HM raised from C(3,4) to C(6,7), the minimal (-1.57 +/- 0.53) mm and the maximal (1.54 +/- 0.39) mm. The pattern HI added from C(3,4) to C(6,7), the minimal (-2.03 +/- 0.40) mm and the maximal (1.08 +/- 0.70) mm.

CONCLUSIONDuring the implantation of the transarticular screws, the tip of the screws should be 0-2 mm before the posterior border of the vertebral body of C3 at C(3,4), 0-2 mm after that of C4 at C(4,5), 0.5-2.5 mm at C(5,6) and 1-3 mm at C(6,7). The quantitative location between the anterior border of facets and the posterior border of the corresponding vertebral bodies can offer an indirect method to evaluate the correct length of transarticual screws in lower cervical spine during procedure.

Cervical Vertebrae ; chemistry ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Zygapophyseal Joint ; chemistry ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo explore the treatment of anterior decompression and reconstruction for burst thoracolumbar fractures with anterior and median column injury and to evaluate the therapeutic effect.

METHODSThirty-four patients suffering from burst thoracolumbar fractures with anterior and median column injury (male 22 and female 12, aged from 20 to 63,with an average of 40.5 years) were treated by anterior decompression and reconstruction from May 2001 to October 2006. Operative duration, bleeding and the neurological function of patients were recorded.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up from 3 to 60 months and the average time was 24.5 months. Operative duration was (178 +/- 65) min. The volume of bleeding was (1 750 +/- 950) ml and the volume of autotransfusion was (950 +/- 750) ml. Cobb angle were corrected from 27.0 degrees +/- 6.5 degrees to 3.0 degrees +/- 1.5 degrees. All fractures obtained fusion. No failure of internal fixation and formation of false joint happened.

CONCLUSIONThe technique of anterior decompression and reconstruction for burst thoracolumbar fractures with anterior and median column injury is effective, with which the decompression and reconstruction of the spinal stability can be performed under direct vision at one stage, and the sagittal alignment can be corrected at the same time. The procedure will be more smoothly by the application of the intraoperative autotransfusion.

Adult ; Decompression, Surgical ; methods ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study the distribution of genomovars and microevolution of Yersinia pestis in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

METHODSPrimer pairs targeting the twenty-two different regions(DFRs) were designed for detecting the presence or deletion of each DFR in 297 strains isolated from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

RESULTS9 genomovars, i. e. Genomovar 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, new type and Ype-ancestor were identified in the Marmota himalayana plague focus of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Among these genomovars, genomovar 5,8 and 10 were dominant types. The total rate of the three genomovars was 80.6% (204/253) and the genomovars in different regions were different. All of 44 strains of Y. pestis in the Microtus fuscus plague focus of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau belonged to genomovar 14.

CONCLUSIONThe distribution of genomovars of Y. pestis in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau had remarkable characteristics geographically. Based on the distribution of genomovars of Y. pestis, the routes of transmission and microevolution of Y. pestis were proposed.

Biological Evolution ; China ; Geography ; Humans ; Plague ; transmission ; Yersinia pestis ; genetics

Background: The development of auditory and speech perception ability of children with hearing loss is affected by many factors after they undergo cochlear implantation (CI). Age at CI (CI age) appears to play an important role among these factors. This study aimed to evaluate the development of auditory and speech perception ability and explore the impact of CI age on children with prelingual deafness present before 3 years of age. Methods: Two hundred and seventy-eight children with pre-lingual deafness (176 boys and 102 girls) were included in this study, and the CI age ranged from 6 to 36 months (mean age, 19 months). Categorical auditory performance (CAP) was assessed to evaluate auditory ability, and the speech intelligibility rating was used to evaluate speech intelligibility. The evaluations were performed before CI and 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months after CI. Results: The auditory ability of the pre-lingually hearing-impaired children showed the fastest development within 6 months after CI (k = 0.524, t = 30.992, P < 0.05); then, the progress started to decelerate (k = 0.14, t = 3.704, P < 0.05) and entered a plateau at the 24th month (k = 0.03, t = 1.908, P < 0.05). Speech intelligibility showed the fastest improvement between the 12th and 24th months after CI (k = 0.138, t = 5.365, P < 0.05); then, the progress started to decelerate (k = 0.026, t = 1.465, P < 0.05) and entered a plateau at the 48th month (k = 0.012, t = 1.542, P < 0.05). The CI age had no statistical significant effect on the auditory and speech abilities starting at 2 years after CI (P < 0.05). The optimal cutoff age for CI was 15 months. Conclusions Within 5 years after CI, the auditory and speech ability of young hearing-impaired children continuously improved, although speech development lagged behind that of hearing. An earlier CI age is recommended; the optimal cutoff age for CI is at 15 months.