Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Myelitis ; complications ; therapy

Objective To investigate the prognostic value of heart rate turbulence (HRT) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods From October 2006 to May 2009, a total of 96 elderly CHF inpatients were selected, and the clinic data were recorded. Based on the echocardiogram and dynamic electrocardiogram, the differences of sinus HRT index of patients with different cardiac function classification were analyzed. During 9-28 months medical follow-up, the treatment endpoint was death from heart disease. Based on Logisitc regression, the prognostic values of HRT, age, hypertension, diabetes, myocardial infarction (MI), left ventricular ejection fraction, ACEI and β- adrenergic blocker for death of CHF patients were analyzed.Results There was no significant difference in HRT between grade Ⅱ and grade Ⅲ cardiac function (χ~2 = 1.60, P>0. 05), and between grade Ⅲ and grade Ⅳ cardiac function (χ~2 = 1.43, P>0. 05). But there was significant difference in HRT between grade Ⅱ and grade Ⅳ cardiac function patients χ~2 =9.84, P<0. 05), and HRT was weaken in grade Ⅳ group. The average follow-up time was (18. 0±9.6) months. Of all 96 patients, there were 34 dead of heart disease. There were correlations of death of CHF with HRT, low LVEF (≤ 45%), age (≥65 years), diabetes, MI and classification of heart function. Conclusions The sinus HRT in CHF patients has a favorable prognostic value.

The effect of PubMed on the development of biomedical journals and the role of its Linkout function in extending the effect of journals were analyzed , followed by a description of the technologies and methods for the full-text seamless link of journal Websites and PubMed using its Linkout function with Biomedical and Environmental Sciences as an example .

Background & Objective: Early life stresses, such as social isolation, have lasting effects on the development of emotion and behavior, in which vasopressin plays important roles. This study aimed to assess the possible association of central release of vasopressin with social isolation. Methods: The social isolation model was performed in male mice who endured 6-week social isolation after weaning. Vasopressin expression in the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVN) was measured with immunohistochemistry. Released vasopressin from PVN was measured with radioimmunoassay. Results: Vasopressin immunoreactive cells number decreased in the PVN, medial parvocellular division in social isolation-reared mice, compared to the group-reared counterparts. Social isolation decreased short social exposure-induced vasopressin release from PVN. Isolation-reared mice exhibited anxiogenic profile and difficulty in social recognition. Conclusions: This study provides new evidence for the important role of vasopressin in the development of emotional and social behaviors.

Objective To respectively analyze the patterns and possible predictors of recurrent strokes among patients with initial ischemic stroke.Methods Three hundred and sixty-one patients with recurrent strokes (acute ischemic stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage) after initial ischemic strokes were collected from Jan 2004 to Dec 2009.The data about conventional risk factors such as smoking,heavy alcohol drinking,hypertension,diabetes,hyperlipidemia,heart diseases,head trauma,migraine,family history of cardiovascular disease,and the use of preventive medications were collected and analyzed among patients with different types of recurrent strokes.Results Patients (n =361) were divided into ischemic stroke group (n =321) and hemorrhagic stroke group (n =40) according to the recurrent stroke type.The ischemic stroke group was further divided into the anterior circulation stroke subgroup (n =234),the posterior circulation stroke subgroup (n =75) and watershed cerebral infarction or multiple infarction subgroup (n =12).Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that older age at initial stroke onset (OR =1.036,95 ％ CI 1.006-1.067,P =0.02) and hyperlipidemia (OR =2.253,95 ％ CI 1.092-4.647,P =0.028) were both the independent risk factors for the recurrent ischemic stroke.Comparing the subgroups,multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that atrial fibrillation (OR =4.217,95％ CI 1.489-11.942,P =0.007) was the independent risk factor for the recurrent ischemic stroke in the posterior circulation territory.Conclusion Aging and hyperlipidemia are possible predictors of recurrent ischemic stroke after the initial ischemic stroke which would be useful for individualized secondary prevention of stroke.

BACKGROUND:Complex scapular fractures were mainly treated by implant fixation. Standard fixation approach (Judet approach) had long incision and big trauma. With the application of spiral CT and three-dimensional reconstruction, minimal y invasive incision could be designed before implant fixation, and then fixation could be finished by physicians. Thus, trauma was reduced and repair effect was elevated. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of the three-dimensional reconstruction design combined with titanium plate reconstruction or lag screw for treatment of scapular fractures. METHODS:From February 2007 to January 2012, 33 cases of scapular fractures were enrol ed from Department of Orthopedics, No. 1 Hospital of Qinhuangdao in China. They were scanned by three dimensional reconstruction of CT before implant fixation to identify the regions needed to be repositioned and fixed. Thus, minimal y invasive incision of implant fixation was designed. The dissection of skin, subcutaneous tissue and muscle was reduced. Reposition was performed. Titanium plate and/or lag screw were used for fixation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The operation lasted for 90-130 minutes in 33 patients, with intraoperative blood loss for 300-400 mL. Fracture was total y healed, and the healing time was 2-4 months. The fol ow up lasted for 12-24 months. According to Hardegger standard, there were excellent in 17 cases, good in 12 cases, average in 3 cases and poor in 1 case, with an excellent and good rate of 88%. These results suggested that three-dimensional reconstruction design combined with minimal y invasive incision treatment for scapular fractures showed fewer traumas, can complete the satisfactory fracture reduction and implant fixation, and obtain good repair effect.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of donepezil for post-stroke aphasia. Methods Sixty patients with acute post-stroke aphasia were divided into treatment group and a control group. All patients had been treated for secondary prevention according to the guideline. The treatment group received donepezil hydrochloride (5 mg/d) for 12 weeks. The efficacy of treatment was measured by comparing the changes of scores of Western Aphasia Battery ( WAB) between baseline and 12 weeks later. Results Compared with the baseline, the changes of scores of all items of WAB and Aphasia Quotient ( AQ) in both group after 12 weeks follow-up were great, however, the change of AQ was significantly greater in donepezil group (34. 14 ± 17. 70) than that in control group (20. 69± 17. 26) (P =0. 004). The patients in donepezil group also showed significant recovery in spontaneous speech, comprehension, repetition, and naming than those in control group (P <0. 05 ). The rate of significant improving in donepezil group was 60. 0% which was significantly greater than that in control group ( 26. 7% ) ( P = 0. 009 ). Conclusion There are spontaneous recovery of post-stroke aphasia within 3 months. Donepezil may facilitate the recovery in spontaneous speech, comprehension,repetition,and naming functions.

Objectives To identify the prevalence and risk factors that were associated with poststroke cognitive impairment(PSCI)among a large cohort of consecutive ischemic stroke patients.Methods 526 consecutive patients.who had suffered from ischemic stroke 3 months ago were recruited in this study. Patients were classified as having no cognitive impairment(NCI),cognitive impairment but no dementia (CIND)and vascular dementia(VaD)according to their cognitive function.They were also categorized as with subcortical ischemic vascular diseases(SIVD)or cortical ischemic vascular diseases(CIVD)with neuroimaging findings.Their demographic data.vascular risk factors and stroke characteristics were also dacumented.Results The overall prevalence of PSCI(CIND+VaD)Was 36.7%.Compared with the NCI subjects.PSCI SObjects were older,more dominant femininely,less educated,with more cases of right hemi-paralysis and higher depression scores.but did not have more specific vascular risk factor.Separately,VaD patients demonstrated lower economic level,less spouse-caring,more prevalence of dysphasia,hisher rate of incontinence and more cases with CIVD.while CIND patients had more cases with SIVD.The VaD patients had more cortical lesions and lower depression scores than the CIND patients.On logistic regression analysis,older age,female gender,lower economic level,dysphasia,SIVD,CIVD and hisher depression scores were independent risk factors for PSCI.ConclusionPSCI is common among ischemic stroke patients and related to demographic factors.stroke types,and depression.

OBJECTIVETo explore metabolite profiling changes in serum of rats with pi-qi deficiency syndrome (PQDS) and pi-yang deficiency syndrome (PYDS) based on liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer (LC-MS) technique, and to explore the essence of Pi-deficiency syndrome (PDS) from small molecule metabolite level.

METHODSTotally 21 male SD rats of SPF grade were randomly divided into three groups, the normal control group, the PQDS group, and the PYDS group, 7 in each group. Rats in the PQDS group overate for 1 day and fasted for 2 days. They drank freely and then swam to be exhausted in water at 35 degrees C - 37 degrees C for 15 successive days. The PYDS model was established by the same method for PQDS rats plus drenching 20% Folium sennae water extract (2 mL/100 g), once in the morning and once in the evening for one successive week. After modeling, models were evaluated according to rat general state, changes in body weight and rectal temperature. Serum metabonomic profiles were detected using LC-MS technique. Difference in inter-group metabolite spectrograms was analyzed using orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). Potential biomarkers related to syndrome types in rat serum were selected via the parameter of variable importance in the projection (VIP).

RESULTSThe weight of rats in the PQDS group and the PYDS group decreased more significantly after modeling. The difference in prepost weight was statistically significant from that of the normal control group (P < 0.01). It was more obviously lowered in the PYDS group than in the PQDS group (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group, the rectal temperature of rats in the PYDS group and the PQDS group decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). It decresed more in the PYDS group than in the PQDS group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the normal control group, levels of PC(19:0)/PE(22:0), PC(17:0)/PE(20:0), capric acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, malic acid, glucose increased; arachidonic acid, linolenic acid, lauric acid, androsterone, 4-heptanone, dihydroxyacetonephosphate (DHAP) (6:0), and uridine decreased in the PYDS group and the PQDS group. Compared with the PQDS group, levels of PC(22:1), PC (22:6), PE (18:0)/PC (15:0), retinol, and deoxycytidine increased significantly in the PYDS group; PC (18:1), PC(19 :3), PC (20:3), PC (17:0)/PE (20:0), PC (19:1)/PE (22:1), PC (19:0)/PE (22:0), PC (17:1)/PE (20: 1), PC (16:1)/PE (19:1), cholic acid, hippuric acid, furoic acid, undecanedicarboxylic acid, palmitoleic acid, hydroxy stearic acid, eicosatrienoic acid, phenylalanine, tyrosine, glutamic acid, serine, carbamoyl aspartic acid, palmitoyl carnitine, tetradecanoyl carnitine, acetylcarnitine, and linoleylcarnitine decreased more significantly in the PYDS group.

CONCLUSIONSComparative contents of various serum metabolites changed significantly in PQDS and PYQS model groups. Some potential small molecular biomarkers related to PDS were preliminarily identified. These results might provide some data reference for exploring scientific connotation and pathological mechanisms of PDS.

Animals ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Discriminant Analysis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry ; Metabolome ; Metabolomics ; Qi ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Yang Deficiency ; blood

OBJECTIVETo explore the intervention of Huayu Qutan Recipe (HQR) on liver SREBP-2 signal pathway of hyperlipidemia rats of Pi deficiency syndrome (PDS).

METHODSTotally 100 SPF grade SD rats were randomly divided into the blank control group, the hyperlipidemia group, the hyperlipidemia treatment group, the PDS hyperlipidemia group, and the PDS hyperlipidemia treatment group, 20 in each group. Common granular forage was fed to rats in the blank control group. High fat forage was fed to rats in the hyperlipidemia group and the hyperlipidemia treatment group. Rats in the PDS hyperlipidemia group and the PDS hyperlipidemia treatment group were treated with excessive labor and improper diet for modeling. They were administered refined lard by gastrogavage (3 mL each time, twice per day) and fed with high fat forage on the odd days, and fed with wild cabbage freely on even days. The modeling lasted for 30 days. Rats in the hyperlipidemia treatment group and PDS hyperlipidemia treatment group were administered with Huayu Qutan Recipe (20 mL/kg) by gastrogavage, once a day, for 30 successive days. Levels of serum cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and serum amylase (AMY) were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer. D-xylose excretion rate was determined using phloroglucinol method. Morphological changes of liver and the lipid deposition in liver were observed using HE stain and oil red O stain respectively, mRNA and protein expression levels of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR), cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase 1 (CYP7A1), LDL-R, and sterol regulatory element binding protein-2 (SREBP-2) were detected using real time RT-PCR and Western blotting.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, serum levels of TC (1.84 ± 0.19 mmol/L, 2.23 ± 0.43 mmol/L) and LDL-C (0.99 ± 0.24 mmol/L, 1.13 ± 0.56 mmol/L) were higher in the hyperlipidemia group and the PDS hyperlipidemia group, serum levels of HDL-C (0.41 ± 0.66 mmol/L, 0.41 ± 0.11 mmol/L) and AMY activities (351 ± 45 mmol/L, 153 ± 30 mmol/L) were lower, and urinary D-xylose excretion rates were lower (26.9 ± 2.1 ng/mL, 15.0 ± 1.7 ng/mL) (all P < 0.05). Lipid deposition occurred in liver cells. Much fat vacuoles occurred in the cytoplasm. Expression levels of HMGCR, CYP7A1, LDL-R, and SREBP-2 mRNA and proteins in liver significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Compared with the hyperlipidemia group, serum levels of TC and LDL-C significantly increased (P < 0. 05), AMY activities and urinary D-xylose excre- tion rates significantly decreased in the PDS hyperlipidemia group (P < 0.01). A large amount of lipid deposition occurred in liver. The atrophy of liver cells was obviously seen. Expression levels of CYP7A1, LDL-R, and SREBP-2 mRNA and proteins in liver were significantly lower (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Serum levels of TC and LDL-C significantly decreased (P < 0.05), AMY activities and urinary D-xylose excretion rates significantly increased in the hyperlipidemia treatment group (P < 0.01). Expression levels of CYP7A1, LDL-R, and SREBP-2 mRNA and proteins in liver were significantly increased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Compared with the PDS hyperlipidemia group, serum level of TC significantly decreased (P < 0.05), HDL-C levels, AMY activities and urinary D-xylose excretion rates significantly increased in the PDS hyperlipidemia treatment group (P < 0.01),expression levels of CYP7A1, LDL-R, and SREBP-2 mRNA and proteins in liver were significantly increased (P < 0.01). Similar changes occurred in the two treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONSPi deficiency exacerbates abnormal serum TC level and the lipid deposition in liver. These might be related to regulating expression levels of LDL-R, HMGCR, and CYP7A1 genes in the SREBP-2 signal pathway. HQR could regulate this pathway to intervene abnormal metabolism of TC.

Animals ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Hyperlipidemias ; drug therapy ; Liver ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 2 ; metabolism ; Triglycerides