Objective To study the association between pulse wave velocity and conventional atherosclerotic risk factors in patients with essential hypertension. Methods Automatic pulse wave velocity (PWV) measuring system was applied to examine carotid-femoral PWV (CFPWV) and carotid-radial PWV (CRPWV) as the parameters reflecting central elastic large arterial and peripheral muscular medium-sized arterial elasticity, respectively. Six hundred sixty four hypertensive patients aged 18-82 years (353 males and 311 females, mean age 52.1?12.8 years) were recruited. Blood pressure, fasting glucose, uric acid and cholesterol were measured. Results CFPWV and CRPWV significantly increased with the increase of the blood pressure level (both, P

Objective: Accumulating evidence shows that hypertension is a chronic low-grade inflammatory disease,and inflammatory reaction is involved in the formation and progress of target-organ damage in hypertension.The authors aimed to explore the changes in the serum levels of interleukin-6(IL-6),soluble CD40 ligand(sCD40L),metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9),tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1(TIMP-1),lipid profile and left ventricular structure in patients with essential hypertension.Methods: The serum levels of IL-6,sCD40L,MMP-9 and TIMP-1,along with blood lipids were determined and echocardiography was performed to evaluate the cardiac structure and function of 158 hypertension patients and 22 age-and sex-matched controls.Results: The hypertension patients exhibited higher levels of IL-6(P

PURPOSE: To investigate the changes and correlations of the serum inflammation factors levels and left ventricular (LV) structure and function in patients with acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was performed on 70 STEMI patients and 70 control subjects. Serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L), metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) were measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and cardiac structure and function were assessed by echocardiography at admission and 3-year follow-up. RESULTS: We found that the levels of serum IL-6, sCD40L and MMP-9 increased steadily among control subjects, remote myocardial infarction and acute STEMI patients, and the level of TIMP-1 elevated remarkly at 3-year follow-up visit in STEMI. The admission level of serum MMP-9 positively correlated with LV end-diastolic and end-diastole volume (r=0.294, p=0.022; r=0.269, p=0.036, respectively), and TIMP-1 positively correlated with E/A ratio (r=0.278, p=0.044) at 3-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: The study indicates that admission levels of serum MMP-9 and TIMP-1 closely correlated with left ventricular structure and function, which may be involved in the process of post-infarction remodeling of myocardium.
Aged ; CD40 Ligand/blood ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-6/blood ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9/blood ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction/*blood/*physiopathology ; Prospective Studies ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1/blood ; Ventricular Remodeling/*physiology

OBJECTIVEAtopic dermatitis affects children's behavioral, emotional and psychological development. This study aimed to investigate the quality of life in infants with atopic dermatitis.

METHODSThe quality of life in 43 children with atopic dermatitis between the age of 3-6 months was assessed by the Childhood Atopic Dermatitis Impact Scale (CADIS). The severity of atopic dermatitis was determined by the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCOARD).

RESULTSThe scores of SCORAD and CADIS in children with atopic dermatitis were 56.9+/-11.1 and 38.0+/-7.9 respectively. There was a positive correlation between the CADIS and SCORAD scores (rho=0.934, P<0.05). The CADIS score was positively correlated with the area of skin lesions (rho=0.581, P<0.01), erythema (rho=0.417, P<0.01), excoriations (rho=0.579, P<0.01), edema/exanthema papulosum (rho=0.595, P<0.01), oozing/crusts (rho=0.436, P<0.01), skin dryness (rho=0.343, P<0.01), pruritus and sleeplessness (rho=0.344, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAtopic dermatitis adversely affects the quality of life in children with atopic dermatitis. The worse quality of life is associated with more severe atopic dermatitis.

Dermatitis, Atopic ; psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Quality of Life

A new benzene derivative microintegerrin C (1) and a new norsesquiterpenoid microintegerrin D (2), along with six known compounds (3-8), were isolated and identified from stems and leaves of Micromelum integerrimum by various chromatographies such as silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, RP-18 column chromatography and HPLC. Their structures were mainly identified based on the spectral data analysis such as 1D-, 2D-NMR and HR-EI-MS. All known compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Rutaceae ; chemistry ; Sesquiterpenes ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation between hand and face-mouth, so as to provide nerve reflex basis for the theory "Hegu (LI 4) regulates face and mouth".

METHODSSeven hundred and sixty-three participants who met the inclusive criteria were divided into different age groups. The skin around participants' thenar eminence was gently scraped to be observed whether there was an involuntary movement around the face or mouth, which was palmomental reflex. The results of palmomental reflex were recorded.

RESULTSThe total occurrence rate of palmomental reflex was 46.26%. For those who were 0 to 1 years old, the palmomental reflex was all positive; for those who were 21 to 36 years old, the positive rate was 20.45%, which was the lowest; for those who were 65 to 85 years old, more than half of them were positive. The majority of those who were 0 to 2 years old were bilateral positive palmomental reflex, while the majority of those who were 65 to 85 years old were unilateral positive palmomental reflex.

CONCLUSIONThere is a certain connection between hand and face-mouth. The occurrence rate of palmomental reflex changes from high to low over age increasing, and then changes from low to high with the aging, presenting a "high-low-high" U-shaped curve, which is possible related to the growth and recession of nervous system.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Face ; physiopathology ; Female ; Hand ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mouth ; physiopathology ; Reflex ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate the capacity of atopy patch test in diagnosis of food allergy in children with atopic dermatitis (AD).Methods Egg and milk,as the most common food allergens among Chinese children,were employed in this study.Skin prick test (SPT) and atopy patch test (APT) with fresh egg and milk were carried out in 68 children with AD.Oral food challenges in an open style were performed to confirm the diagnosis of food allergy.Resuits Of these patients,58(85.3%)were sensitive to egg,40(58.8%)to milk and 34(50.0%) to both.Of 98 patients with positive challenge,47 showed late response,10 immediate reactions.and 41 mixed reactions.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value (PPV),negative predictive value (NPV) and the agreement with food challenges in diagnosis of egg/milk allergy were 96.6%/67.5%.90.0%/82.1%,98.2%/84.4%,81.8%/63.9% and 95.6%/73.5%,respectively for APT alone,37.9%/30.0%,100%/89.3%,100%/80.0%,21.7%/47.2% and 47.1%/54.4%,respectively for SPT alone.APT was found to be more sensitive in diagnosis of late-phase reactions than SPT (P<0.01).No significant difference was found in the sensitivity between APT alone and the combination of APT and SPT in parallel algorithm for diagnosis of egg or milk allergy (x2=0.509,0.549,both P>0.05) or in the specificity between APT alone and that in serial algorithm( P=1.000;x2=3.514,P>0.05).Conclusions APT is superior to SPT in diagnosis of late responses to food,and the combination of SPT and APT does not facilitate the diagnosis of food or milk allergy compared with APT alone.

Applying multi-media combined with case teaching method to optimize pediatric dermatology teaching and clinical practice.The data of typical cases were collected by multi-media method,which can visually describe the characteristics of the cases and help students master the knowledge of pediatric dermatology by personal involvement.It can also cultivate students′ ability to analyze and solve problems as well as alleviate the conflicts between the clinical practice and lack of teaching case resources under the intense doctor-patient relationship.In conclusion,it is a teaching reform which deserves extending and applying.

Objective To investigate the clinical value for treatment of diabetic foot with PTA and PTA combined cinepazide maleate.Methods In 24 cases of diabetic associated vascular disease of lower limb,12 cases were treated with PTA and other 12 cases were treated with PTA combined einepazide maleate,We analysed and compared clinical effects before and after the procedure,together with 3 months follow up.Results In patients treated with PTA,the clinical symptom scores of posttreatment and follow-up decreased;ABI and TcPO_2 increased significantly.The clinical symptom score and ABI of follow-up remained,stable,but TcPO_2 decreased significantly.Control angiography showed improvement in degree of vascular stenosis and peripheral staining of 11 patients after treatment.The vascular patency remained in 12 patients and the peripheral staining decreased in 7 patients on follow-up.In patients treated with VIA combined cinepazide maleate,the clinical symptom score,ABI and TcPO_2 after treatment and on follow-up showed no signifcant changes compared with those in patients treated by PTA.F,Control angiography showed that the degree of vascular stenosis and peripheral staining were improved in 12 patients after treatment.The vascular pateney was maintained and peripheral staining was improved on follow-up.Before and after treatment,there were no significant differences in clinical symptom score.ABI and TcPO_2 between patients treated with PTA and PTA combined cinepazide maleate,however,there were significant differences in clinical symptom score and TcPO_2 on follow-up.Conclusion PTA can significantly improve clinical symptom of diabetic foot and the application of cinepazide maleate is a benefitial and necessary supplement.PTA combined cinepazide maleate can be taken as one of the conventional treatment plans for diabetic foot.(J Intervent Radiol,2007,16:811-815)

20 beats/ h);⑤ normal control group(n=20):healthy person without OSAS or hypertension.The serum level of IL-6, sCD40L,hsCRP,sICAM-1,VACM-1 are determined by ELISA method.Results The serum level of IL-6, sCD40L,hsCRP,sICAM-1,VCAM-1 in patients of OSAS alone group or HT alone group is higher than that of normal control group;whereas,the serum level of IL-6,sCD40L,hsCRP,sICAM-1,VCAM-1 in patients with hy- pertension co-existed OSAS are furthermore higher than that of OSAS alone group,hypertension alone group(P