Adult ; Dust ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neural Networks (Computer) ; Occupational Exposure ; Silicosis ; diagnosis ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; methods

AlM: To evaluate the function of the microprobe dredging technology in the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction ( MGD ) and to provide fast, efficient, economical and practical method of treatment for meibomian gland dysfunction ( MGD) .
METHODS:The 100μm diameter stainless steel wire was made as the microprobe with the total length of 3cm, which the needle was about 5mm and hand shank was about 2. 5cm. Selected 140 cases with dry eyes of meibomian gland dysfunction ( MGD ) , patients were divided into two groups and made them have comparability. Observation group ( n = 70 ) used microprobe to dredge meibomian gland pipe accompanied with drugs, hot compress and meibomian gland massage treatment. The control group (n=70) was given conventional drugs, hot compress and meibomian massage treatment. To compare the tear break-up time ( BUT) , efficient rate and the cure rate of the two groups after treatment of 1d, 1wk, 2wk, 1 mo, 2mo and 3mo.
RESULTS: BUT were significantly prolonged in observation group and control group after treatment, and the observation group improved more obviously; the efficient rate and cure rate of the observation group were significantly higher than that of the control group after 1d, 1wk, 2wk, 1mo, 2mo and 3mo treatment.
CONCLUSlON: Using microprobe to unclog the meibomian gland tube can provide the fast and efficient, economical and practical treatment for meibomian gland dysfunction ( MGD ) , which can be promoted in the clinical practice.

Objective To explore the effect of doctor-patient interaction based on information platform on hypertensive patients' self-efficacy and treatment compliance in community. Methods A convenience sampling method was used, and 280 patients with hypertension in Huaxin community health service centre were included. Patients were divided into interactive group (89 cases) and control group (191 cases) according to their wishes. Control group received a regular follow-up at community clinics, while interactive group participated in the doctor-patient interaction based on information platform at the same time of regular community clinic visit for 3 months. All patients were investigated using Self-efficacy Assessment Scale for Hypertensives and Treatment Compliance Questionnaire before and after intervention, which was used for effectiveness analysis. Results Before intervention, two groups showed no significant difference in self-efficacy (t=1.635,P>0.05), but there was significant difference in treatment compliance [interactive group:8.00(5.00) vs. control group:10.00(3.00)] (Z=4.409,P<0.05). After the intervention, two groups showed no significant difference in treatment compliance (Z=0.784,P>0.05), but there was significant difference in self-efficacy (interactive group:34.42 ± 4.49 vs. control group:32.63 ± 5.53) (t=2.867, P<0.01), which in interactive group was higher. Before and after the intervention, self-efficacy and the treatment compliance had significantly increased in interactive group (P<0.05). while not significantlyincreased in control group (P>0.05). Before intervention, there was a significant positive correlation between the total score of self-efficacy and treatment compliance(r=0.500, P<0.001), drug therapy compliance (r=0.327, P<0.001) and Non-drug treatment compliance (r=0.469, P<0.001) in two groups, while there was lower positive correlation after intervention. Conclusion The doctor-patient interaction project of community hypertension supervision based on informatization platform is effective on the improvement of self-efficacy and the treatment compliance through the enhanced doctor-patient communication, particularly in promoting the role of self-efficacy to accelerate the improvement of health behaviors, compliance behavior and treatment compliance.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship of the common Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome pattern of chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) with the contents of substance p and beta endorphin in the plasma, and provide reference data for the clinical diagnosis, differentiation and treatment of CPPS by TCM.

METHODSWe observed 98 cases of CPPS, which were classified into a lower-part damp-heat invasion group (group A, n = 32), a blood stasis-induced collateral obstruction group (group B, n = 34), and a damp-heat stagnation group (group C, n = 32) according to the TCM syndrome differentiation. Another 35 normal healthy young men were enrolled as controls. We measured the contents of substance p and beta endorphin in the plasma by immunoradiometry and ELISA, and analyzed their relationship with the TCM syndrome pattern.

RESULTSThe contents of plasma substance p were significantly higher in groups A ([1135.76 +/- 166.45] pg/ml), B ([1 337.84 +/- 170.81] pg/ml), and C ([1 210.01 +/- 162.27] pg/ml) than in the control ([574.99 +/- 113.09] pg/ml) (all P < 0.01), while the contents of plasma beta endorphin in groups A ([212.70 +/- 29.49] pg/ml), B ([157.99 +/- 24.01] pg/ml), and C ([180.81 +/- 20.20] pg/ml) were remarkably lower than that in the control ([274.73 +/- 27.64] pg/ml) (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONIn the plasma of CPPS patients, the content of substance p is significantly elevated and that of beta endorphin markedly reduced, which suggests that they may be involved in the inflammatory reaction of CPPS. The levels of plasma substance p and beta endorphin can be used as valuable reference for the TCM classification of chronic prostatitis.

Case-Control Studies ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; adverse effects ; Pelvic Pain ; blood ; classification ; Prostatitis ; blood ; classification ; Substance P ; blood ; Syndrome ; beta-Endorphin ; blood

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy difference in the treatment of chronic pelvic pain syndrome of Sev-damp-heat stagnation pattern between acupoint catgut embedding therapy and western medication.

METHODSenty cases were randomized into a catgut embedding group (40 cases) and a western medication group (30 cases) at the ratio of 4 : 3. In the catgut embedding group, the catgut embedding therapy was applied to Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Quchi (LI 11), Huiyin (CV 1), Zusanli (ST 36), Zhongji (CV 3), Shenshu (BL 23), etc. The treatment was given once every two weeks, the treatment for 4 weeks was as one session and totally 2 sessions were required. In the western medication group, tamsulosin hydrochloride capsules 0. 2 mg, oral administration, once a day, and Indometacin sustained release tablets, 75 mg, once a day, 3 tablets each time were prescribed. The symptom score of TCM, score of NIH Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI), lecithin body number in prostatic fluid, (SAS) score of Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and score of Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were compared before and after treatment in the patients of the two groups. The efficacy was evaluated in the two groups.

RESULTS(1)The total effective rate was 91. 9% (34/37) in the catgutembedding group and was 86. 2% (25/29) in the western medication group. The efficacy in the catgutembedding group was better than that in the western medication group (P<0. 05). (2) The symptom score of TCM was all reduced significantly after treatment in the two groups (both P<0.01), and the result in the catgut embedding group was superior to the western medication group (6.42 +/-2. 81 vs 10. 99+/-3. 11 ,P<0. 01). (3) Lecithin body number was increased apparently in the two groups after treatment (both P<0.01), and the result in the catgut-embedding group was superior to the western medicine group (33.56+/-5.88 vs 29. 78+/-7. 06,P<0. 05). (4) Total score of NIH-CPSI, score of pain, score of SAS and score of SDS were all improved apparently after treatment in the two groups (all P<0. 01), and the results in the catgut embedding group were superior to the western medication group (P<0. 01, P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe acupoint catgut embedding therapy achieves the superior efficacy on chronic pelvic pain syndrome of damp-heat stagnation pattern as compared with conventional western medicine. This therapy relieves clinical symptoms, improves the states of anxiety and depression and increases lecithin body number obviously.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Catgut ; utilization ; Chronic Disease ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pelvic Pain ; therapy ; Prostatitis ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate three-axis otoconia maneuver (TOM) for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Methods The data from twenty BPPV patients who received three-axis otoconia maneuver treatment and 20 BPPV patients who received canalith repositioning (CRP) maneuver treatment were analyzed retrospectively. Results There were 17 patients received 1 TOM session and 3 patients received 2 TOM sessions while 16 patients received 1 CRP session and 4 patients received 2 CRP sessions. The chi-square (x2) test was used in evaluating the association between two independent samples in a contingency table. Both methods had no statistically significant. The significance level for statistical tests was 5% (α = 0. 05). Conclusions Three-axis otoconia maneuver could be effective used in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo with the advantage of repeatedly practicable and instrumental.

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical effect and complications of subfascial breast augmentation and submammary breast augmentation.

METHODFrom Sept. 2009 to May 2012 , 25 patients with subfascial breast augmentation and 31 patients with submammary breast augmentation were observed. The postoperative results including visible implant edge or ripple, upper pole of the implant and long-term implant ptosis were compared respectively. The complications including hematoma, infection and capsular contraction were also recorded.

RESULTS56 cases were followed up for 2 months to 26 months. The incidence rate of visible implant edge or ripple was 4.0% (1/25 ) in the subfascial group and 29.0% (9/31) in the submammary group, showing a significant difference between them ( PC 0.05). The incidence rate of convex upper pole of the implant was 8.0% (2/25) in the subfascial group and 35.5% (11/31) in the submammary group, showing a significant difference between them ( P < 0.05). Long-term implant ptosis was not found in the two groups. The incidence rate of hematoma was 4.0% (1/25) in the subfascial group and 6.5% (2/31) in the submammary group, infection was not found. The incidence rate of capsular contraction was 8.0% (2/25) in the subfascial group and 12.9% (4/31) in the submammary group, showing no statistical difference between them ( P > 0.05 ).

CONCLUSIONSSubfascial breast augmentation has more clinical advantages compared with submammary breast augmentation, but no evident difference was found in the common complication rate, such as capsular contraction.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Mammaplasty ; adverse effects ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the differences of systolic segmental motion of left ventricle (LV) in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) using illustration of the bull eye (IBE) from real-time three-dimensional echoeardiography(RT-3DE). Methods Quantitative analysis of LV segmental function was made in 43 patients with DCM by IBE. Percentage of compensated segments(PCS) was determined according to the segmental distribution by different color from IBE. Maximal exeursion(Emax),minimal excursion(Emin), average excursion (EA), standard difference of excursion(SD) and dispersion of excursion(Edis) were calculated. Results PCS in patients with DCM was 27.22%. Significant differences between DCM group and control group in Emax, Emin, EA,SD and Edis were observed( P <0. 001 ). Significant difference in segmental motion of LV was existed in patients with DCM and its distribution of motion seems tendency of irregularity. Conclnsions PCS and Edis from IBE might provide a convenient and macroscopic modality in selection of treatment and evaluation of prognosis in patients with DCM.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of down-regulating Smoothened (SMO) gene expression through short hairpin RNA (shRNA) on the proliferation of breast cancer stem cells.

METHODSHuman SMO shRNA was designed, synthesized chemically, and transfected into MCF-7 cells to down-regulate SMO gene. By using G418, stable cells with down-regulated SMO were selected. In vitro proliferation of these cells was measured by CCK8 assay. The proportion of CD44(+)/CD24(-) cells was detected by flow cytometry and the mammospheres formation was determined by suspension sphere culture. The expression of SMO, GLI1 and Oct4 was detected by Western blot. In vivo, the volume of tumor was measured every 3 days and the expression of SMO, GLI1 and Oct4 detected by Western blot.

RESULTSIn vitro, the cells were transfected with SMO-shRNA and selected by G418 after 21 days. SMO-shRNA effectively down-regulated the expression of SMO gene and protein, and inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 and markedly reduced the proportion of CD44(+)/CD24(-) cells and mammospheres. In vivo, SMO-shRNA treatment of MCF-7 significantly inhibited the volume of tumor. The positive rate of SMO in negative control and SMO-shRNA group was 5/5 and 2/5, respectively. The expression of SMO, GLI1 and Oct4 in different groups were 0.72 ± 0.17 and 0.21 ± 0.09, 1.21 ± 0.21 and 0.47 ± 0.12, 0.83 ± 0.13 and 0.25 ± 0.07. SMO, GLI1 and Oct4 down-regulation significantly suppressed at protein levels (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe shRNA by chemical synthesis can effectively down-regulate SMO gene expression and inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer stem cells.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Down-Regulation ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Hyaluronan Receptors ; metabolism ; MCF-7 Cells ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; pathology ; Octamer Transcription Factor-3 ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; genetics ; metabolism ; Smoothened Receptor ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Tumor Burden ; Zinc Finger Protein GLI1

OBJECTIVETo retrospectively analyze and evaluate the results of treatment for atlantoaxial instability or dislocation employing pedicle screws of atlas and axis.

METHODSThirty-one patients (23 male and 8 female) with atlantoaxial instability or dislocation were stabilized using pedicle screws of atlas and axis between May 2005 to January 2008. The patients ranged in age from 17 to 67 years (mean 43.5 years). Patients consisted of chronic odontoid fracture in 17, Os odontoideum in 8, fresh odontoid fracture in 4, transverse ligament rupture in 1, rheumatoid arthritis in 1. Clinical features included neck pain in 31; restricted neck movement in 28, varying degrees of spastic quadriparesis in 19. All patients underwent posterior C(1) to C(2) pedicle screw fixation. Operative time, intraoperative blood loss, complications were recorded, neurological and radiographic studies were carried.

RESULTSMean follow-up time was 13 months. Operative time averaged 2.5 h. Mean intraoperative blood loss was 300 ml. A patient had postoperative wound infection and was treated conservatively with antibiotics and local wound care. A patient developed pulmonary artery embolism and got well with anticoagulation. Satisfactory stability was achieved in all cases with no vascular and C(2) neuralgia. Average JOA score in 19 cases increased at final follow-up (P < 0.01). Solid fusion was achieved in 29 cases, fusion rate was 93.6%.

CONCLUSIONSStabilization of atlantoaxial complex via pedicle screws of atlas and axis has advantages of intraoperative restoration, easier placement of screw, solid fixation. It is a safe and effective treatment modality for posterior C(1-2) fusion.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Atlanto-Axial Joint ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; surgery ; Joint Instability ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult