OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of integrative medical treatment (IMT) with serial Chinese recipes on quality of life (QOF) of rehabilitation stage in SARS patients.

METHODSEighty-five SARS patients of rehabilitation stage were enrolled in the clinical study. They were divided into the IMT group (62 patients received serial Chinese recipes and western medicine) and the control group (23 patients received western medicine alone). The serial Chinese recipes were given according to patients' syndrome, one dose per day for oral intake for 3 weeks. QOF scoring in patients was observed.

RESULTSQOF scoring in the IMT group before treatment was not significantly different from that in the control group. After 3 weeks treatment, it improved to some extent in both groups, but the improvement in the IMT group was superior to that in the control group in respect of total score and score of psychologic emotional factors.

CONCLUSIONSerial Chinese recipe could improve QOF of rehabilitation stage in SARS patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Convalescence ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ofloxacin ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Quality of Life ; Ribavirin ; therapeutic use ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; drug therapy ; immunology ; rehabilitation

A quantitative analysis method of multi-components with a single marker (QAMS) for simultaneous determination of six marker compounds (one from phenolic acids and five from phthalides) in Chuanxiong Rhizoma was established by applying HPLC and using butylidenephthalide as the internal reference substance. And also the feasibility and accuracy of the established method for quality evaluation and application of Chuanxiong Rhizoma were investigated and validated. The analysis was performed with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile - 0.2% aqueous formic acid. The flow rate was 1.0 mL . min-1 and the column temperature was maintained at 30 °C. The detection wavelengths were set at 252 nm (for ferulic acid, Z-ligustilide, and butylidenephthalide) and 266 nm (for senkyunolide I, senkyunolide A, and coniferyl ferulate), separately, and 20 µL was injected for analysis with gradient elution. The results showed that there were no significant differences observed between the HPLC-QAMS method and the external standard method (RSD <5%). The relative correction factors were credible (RSD < 5%) in changed chromatographic conditions. The established HPLC-QAMS method can be accurately used for simultaneously evaluating and controlling the quality of Chuanxiong Rhizoma with multi-components.
4-Butyrolactone ; analogs & derivatives ; Acetonitriles ; Benzofurans ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Coumaric Acids ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; standards ; Hydroxybenzoates ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the imaging characteristics and diagnostic value of tri-phase dynamic enhancement scan with CT for acute renal infarction. Methods The image features of CT plain scan and tri-phase dynamic enhancement scan of 10 patients (19 sides) with acute renal infarction were retrospectively analyzed, and the CTA expression of 6 patients were observed. Results Fourteen acute renal infarction lesions of 10 cases were diagnosed. The CT scan showed there were 4 cases with enlargement of kidney, and the other 6 cases were of no abnormality. The tri-phase enhancement CT scan showed there were 6 cases of unilateral renal infarction and 4 cases of bilateral renal infarction, which totally involving 14 sides. The acute renal infarction lesions lacked of high density region in the corticomedullary in cortical phase, and there were wedge-shaped hypodense area, even low density of full kidney in parenchymal phase and pyelographic phase. The a-cute renal infarction lesions were revealed better in parenchymal phase and pyelographic phase than in cortical phase. Six cases of CTA re-vealed the responsible vessels of renal infarction lesions and the other vascular diseases. Conclusion CT tri-phase dynamic enhancement scan has important value in the diagnosis of acute renal infarction, and CTA can identify the responsible vessels of renal infarction lesions.

The chromatographic fingerprint was established by eluting with the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and 0.2% formic acid water on an Agilent TC-C18 (2) column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm). Six chromatographic peaks were identified by HPLC-MS/MS method. Ten batches of Glycyrrhizea Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle were determined, and the similarity was arranged from 0.72 to 0.99. Good precision, stability and repeatability were obtained, and this study provides a reference for the quality control of Glycyrrhizea Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle.
China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the relationship between carotid intima media thickness (IMT) and pulse pressure index (PPI) in elderly hypertensive patients.PPI was defined as 24 h mean pulse pressure(PP)/24 h mean SBP.Methods One hundred and three elderly hypertensive patients were categorized by PPI level:group A (PPI

Homocysteine ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Nutrition Disorders ; complications ; Male ; Methylmalonic Acid ; urine ; Skin Diseases ; etiology ; Vitamin B 12 ; administration & dosage

Objective To explore the morphologic features of the biceps reflection pulley through the comparative study of the thin sec -tional anatomy based on the Chinese Visible Human ( CVH) and MRI sectional anatomy of the biceps reflection pulley ,and to provide ima-ging anatomic data for the diagnosis of lesions .Methods The thin slices of sagittal oblique plane and coronal oblique plane by visualization -al reconstruction based on 5 data set of the Chinese visible human ( CVH) were compared with the corresponding MR images from 20 shoulder joints of the normal volunteer individuals with routine MRI ,5 shoulders without abnormalities with MR arthrography .The detailed sectional a-natomy structure of the the biceps reflection pulley was marked from the CVH ,routine MRI and MR arthrography one by one with Photoshop CS2 software.Results The main three components of the biceps reflection pulley including the coracohumeral ligament (CHL),the superior glenohumeral ligament ( SGHL) ,and the long head of the biceps tendon ( LBT) were markedly displayed on the CVH and MRI .The CHL was markedly displayed on the sagittal oblique , using plain MRI .The SGHL was markedly displayed on the CVH , especially in the transverse plane.The LBT was markedly displayed on the CVH ,especially in the coronal oblique plane parallel to the LBT .The biceps reflection pulley was markedly displayed on the sagittal oblique plane with CVH and MR arthrography .The SGHL was perpendicular to the CHL , with T-shaped link anterior to the LBT on the sagittal oblique plane .Conclusion It is complementary for MRI and CVH displaying the components of the biceps reflection pulley .The sagittal oblique plane is the best position for displaying the components and adjacent structures of the bi -ceps reflection pulley ,which provide helpful position mark for the diagnosis of the lesions in the rotator interval .

Objective To evaluate the diagnosis of frozen shoulder with the coracohumeral ligament on the coronal oblique plane with MRI.Methods There were 60 patients(120 shoulder joints)in control group,with 30 males and 30 females,the mean age was 50.5 years old.There were 72 shoulder joints in 72 patients of frozen shoulder group(50 femles and 22 males with a mean age of 53.5 years)with clini-cal evidence and MR imaging evidence of frozen shoulder.These were prospectively analyzed to identify the CHL visualization rate and meas-ure the maximum thickness of the CHL.Results The CHL visualization rate on the coronal oblique plane in the control group was 86.7%(104 /120),and the frozen shoulder group was 87.5%(63 /72),the difference was not significant(P >0.05).The CHL visualization rate on the axial view in the frozen shoulder group was 19.4%(14 /72)and the control group was 24.2%(29 /120),the difference was not signifi-cant(P >0.05).The CHL thickness on the coronal oblique plane (n =63)in the patients with frozen shoulder was (4.37 ±1.71)mm, which was significantly greater than (2.84 ±0.79)mm ofpatients in the control group(n =104),the difference was significant(P <0.001). The CHL thickness on the axial plane(n =14)in the patients with frozen shoulder was (3.93 ±1.49)mm,which was significantly greater than (2.29 ±0.65)mm of patients in the control group(n =29),the difference was significant(P <0.001).Conclusion A thickened CHL is highly suggestive of frozen shoulder,which is 4.37 mm on the coronal oblique plane.

OBJECTIVEHereditary multiple exostoses (HME) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by formation of benign cartilage-capped tumors (exostoses), typically located at the juxtaepiphyseal regions of long bones. It is genetically heterogeneous with at least three chromosomal loci: EXT1 on 8q24.1, EXT2 on 11p11, and EXT3 on 19p. EXT1 and EXT2 have been cloned and are responsible for over 80% of cases. A Chinese family with HME has been analyzed in the present study.

METHODSLinkage analysis was firstly performed to determine which of the three EXT genes could be the candidate gene, then mutation screening by PCR and direct sequencing was carried out.

RESULTSA novel nonsense mutation (c.1006C>T) in exon 6 of EXT2, which converts the codon CAA (Gln) to the stop codon (TAA) (Gln336X), was identified. Next, prenatal diagnosis was performed and the pregnancy was determined to be normal.

CONCLUSIONA new EXT2 nonsense mutation was found in a Chinese family with hereditary multipe exostoses. The information was used for a case of prenatal diagnosis.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Codon, Nonsense ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; genetics ; Exostoses, Multiple Hereditary ; genetics ; Family ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases ; genetics ; Pedigree

BACKGROUNDResistin, a novel adipokine linked to insulin resistance and obesity in rodents, which is derived mainly from macrophages and identified in atheromas in human, has been shown to play a potential role in atherosclerosis. Resistin levels were reported to increase in coronary artery disease (CAD), while data concerning resistin in different stages of CAD in Chinese people are lacking. The aim of this study was to assess whether plasma concentrations of resistin differed between patients with unstable and stable angina pectoris.

METHODSPlasma resistin levels were determined by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 46 patients with unstable angina (UAP), 37 with stable angina (SAP) and 31 control subjects.

RESULTSPlasma concentrations of resistin were significantly increased in UAP group (geometric mean (interquartile range) 12.09 ng/ml (8.40, 18.08)) in comparison with SAP (9.04 ng/ml (7.09, 11.44)) and control groups (8.71 ng/ml (6.58, 11.56)). No differences in resistin levels were found between patients with SAP and controls. We also found that plasma resistin positively correlated with leukocyte counts (r = 0.21, P = 0.027), high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (r = 0.25, P = 0.008), and endothelin-1 (r = 0.21, P = 0.025) after adjustment for age, sex and BMI.

CONCLUSIONResistin may be involved in the development of CAD by influencing systemic inflammation and endothelial activation.

Aged ; Angina, Unstable ; blood ; Body Mass Index ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Resistin ; blood