OBJECTIVETo explore the better therapy for chronic tension-type headache (CTTH).

METHODSTwo hundred and eighty-eight cases were randomized into a sticking needling group (150 cases) and an acupuncture group (138 cases). In the sticking needling group, the manual sticking needling technique was adopted to stimulate the galea tendon-muscle node. In the acupuncture group, the conventional acupuncture therapy was applied to Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Fengchi (GB 20), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Touwei (ST 18), Hegu (LI 4), etc. The treatment was given once a day, and 30 days made one session. After two sessions of treatment and after three months follow-up, CTTH score (including the score of headache attack frequency and the score of headache severity) was observed and compared before and after treatment separately. The efficacy was evaluated in two groups.

RESULTSCTTH score was all reduced after treatment in the two groups (both P<0.01), the score in the sticking needling group was lower than that in the acupuncture group (2.38 +/- 1.22 vs 4.16 +/- 2.54, P < 0.01). The effective rate was 97.3% (146/150) in the sticking needling group, which was better than 88.4% (122/138) in the acupuncture group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe manual sticking needling technique at galea tendon-muscle node achieves the superior results of reducing the pain attack frequency and severity of CTTH as compared with the acupuncture therapy of the routine acupoint selection.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscles ; physiopathology ; Tendons ; physiopathology ; Tension-Type Headache ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To evaluate the effect of multiplex polymerase chain reaction(Multiple-PCR) in identification of Brucella strains.Methods Six standard Brucella strains (Brucella abortus,Brucella melitensis,Brucella suis,Brucella canis,Brucella ovis,Brucella neotomae) were used as positive controls and Escherichia coli O∶157 and Yersinia enterocolitica O∶9 were used as negative controls.A total of 29 Brucella strains were tested.Brucella strains were amplified by BCSP31-PCR and the species of Brucella with positive results were identified with Multiple-PCR method.Results The results of all 29 amplified Brucella strains were positive with BCSP31-PCR.The identified results of all Brucella strains were positive with Multiple-PCR,including 20 strains of Brucella melitensis,5 isolates of Brucella suis,3 strains of Brucella abortus and 1 strain of Brucella canis.Conclusion Multiple-PCR method is a rapid,specific,simple and low risk method for identification of Brucella species.

Objective To investigate children′s myelodysplastic hematopoietic cells reaction to interleukin (IL)-15.Methods CD 34 + cells in bone marrow from 18 myelodysplast syndrome(MDS) patients were purified by an immunomagnetic beads sorting system. Apoptosis of hematopoietic precursors was assayed by propidium iodine staining and flow cytometric analysis.Results On 8th cultured day,when IL-15 concentration was between 0-100 ng/ml,it could suppress apoptosis of hematopoietic cells in MDS patients in a dose-and- time dependent manner. IL-15 in study group significanthy lower than that of control group.Conclusion IL-15 may partly suppress apoptosis of hematopoietic cells in MDS patients.

Cognitive deficits due to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affect patients’ social and occupational functioning and lead to social costs. Thus, it is important to understand the nature and extent of PTSD-related neurocognitive deficits to clarify the mechanisms underlying cognitive changes, identify factors that interfere with treatment, and help interpret clinical profiles. This study reviewed recent studies on the relationships between PTSD and neurocognitive domains. The magnitude of the influence of PTSD differs across cognitive function domains. Also, the extent of the effect on any given domain may also differ according to the type of trauma experienced by the subject. In addition to its negative effects on cognitive functioning, PTSD was associated with increased response to threats or trauma-related stimuli, which compromised task performance. Although each PTSD symptom may have a different effect on each cognitive function, it was difficult to generalize the results. This study is significant in that our conclusions, which emerged through a review of studies regarding the relationship between PTSD and cognitive functioning, provide a theoretical basis for further research.

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of Deduhonghua-7 powder on liver fibrosis and its correlation with matrix metalloproteinases ( MMPs) and transforming growth factor β1 ( TGF-β1 ) .Methods The rats were divided into 4 groups, blank group, model group, control group, experiment group, 8 rats each group.The CCl4 was used to induce rat liver fibrosis.The control group was given colchicine pill, CMC sodium cellulosate was used to prepare 2% of colchicine suspen-sion, once time per day, 0.2 mL · kg-1 each time.The experiment group was given Deduhonghua-7 powder, CMC sodium cellulosate was used to prepare 3% of Deduhonghua-7 powder suspension, once time per day, 0.2 mL· kg -1 each time; blank group and model group were given same volume of pure water.All rats were sacrificed after 40 days of medication.Western blot was acted to detect the matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13),tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) protein expression.The PCR was used to detect the changesoftype Ⅰ, Ⅲ collagen, TGF -β1 mRNA gene expression.Results The MMP-1, MMP -13 protein expression in rats of model group was down -regulated compared with blank group ( P<0.05 ).The TIMP-1 protein expression was up-regulated compared with blank group ( P<0.05 ) . The mRNA expressions of typeⅠprocollagen, typeⅢprocollagen and TGF-β1 were increased compared with blank group(P<0.05).The MMP-1, MMP-13 protein expression of control group and experiment group were significant-ly up-regulated compared with model group.The TIMP-1 protein expression significantly down-regulated compared with model group.The mRNA gene expression of type I procollagen, typeⅢprocollagen and TGF-β1 were down-regulated compared with model group ( P<0.05 ).Conclusion Deduhonghua-7 powder regulate and maintain the stabilization of MMP/TIMP to block the expression of TGF-βand inhibit the transcription of type I,Ⅲ collagen and TGF-β1 mRNA to reach the purpose of detention of occurrence and development of liver fibrosis.

OBJECTIVETo observe therapeutic effects of different acupuncture methods for recovery of mimetic function in the patient of spontaneous facial paralysis.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-four cases of facial paralysis were randomly divided into a mimetic muscle acupuncture group (mimetic muscle group, n = 79) and a routine acupoint group (n = 55). The mimetic muscle group were treated by encircling needling frontal belly of epicranial muscle, orbicular muscle of eye, orbicular muscle of mouth and buccinator muscle, and the routine acupoint group with acupuncture at Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6), Yangbai (GB 14), Sibai (ST 2), Cuanzhu (BL 2), etc. on the affected side. Their therapeutic effects were compared after they were treated for 2 courses.

RESULTSThe effective rate and the good rate were 94.9% and 92.4% in the mimetic muscle group and 70.9% and 52.7% in the routine acupoint group, respectively, with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of needling the mimetic muscle on spontaneous facial paralysis is superior to that of the routine acupuncture therapy.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Facial Muscles ; physiopathology ; Facial Paralysis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Liver abscess is a rare disease but shows a high mortality rate. The standard treatment is complete drainage of the abscess through surgery or insertion of a percutaneous catheter and proper antibiotic treatment. However, successful percutaneous drainage in a multiseptated abscess has several drawbacks, such as the necessity for inserting more than one catheter for proper drainage, a necessity for repetitive cathterization and moreover, the ultimate failure of effective drainage causing surgery to become inevitable. The authors used 80,000 IU urokinase three times per day over 5 days to lyse the fibrous septum in a 9-year-old child with multiseptated liver abscess. Catheter drainage with urokinase under radiologic intervention yielded successful a outcome in the treatment of a multiseptated liver abscess.
Abscess ; Catheters ; Child ; Drainage* ; Humans ; Liver Abscess* ; Liver* ; Mortality ; Rare Diseases ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator*

BACKGROUND: The etiology of choledochal cysts is unknown, but the theory of pancreatobiliary reflux through an anomalous pancreatobiliary ductal union (APBDU) is widely accepted. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between choledochal cysts and APBDUs in children. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 33 pediatric patients with choledochal cyst who had undergone excision of the whole extrahepatic bile duct along with hepaticoenterostomy at the Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, from 1993 to 1998. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 51 months, and the ratio of males to females was 1:2.3. Anatomical types were Ia (n=17, 52%), Ic (n=11, 33%), III (n=1, 3%), and IVa (n=4, 12%) in the Todani classification of biliary cysts. We performed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, or intraoperative cholangiopancreatography in all cases. An APBDU was identified in 24 patients (73%): right angle union (n=11, 33%), acute angle union (n=11, 33%), or a complex union (n=2, 6%) in the Todani classification of APBDUs. Type Ia cystic lesions correlated with right angle unions whereas Type Ic cylindrical lesions correlated with acute angle unions. The mean age of patients with a Type Ic, acute angle union was older than that of patients with a Type Ia, right angle union. In Type Ic, the amylase levels in serum and bile were elevated, but in Type Ia, they were not. CONCLUSIONS: APBDUs correlated highly with the shape of the extrahepatic dilatation, the age at onset, and the reflux of pancreatic juice. We think the excision of the entire extrahepatic duct along with a hepaticoenterostomy and appropriate evaluation of the APBDU are essential for the treatment of choledochal cysts in children.
Amylases ; Bile ; Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic ; Child* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance ; Choledochal Cyst* ; Classification ; Dilatation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pancreatic Juice ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: This study determined the clinicopathologic characteristics in young patients with thyroid carcinoma. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 39 patients who were <20 years of age when diagnosed between January 1985 and December 2008. RESULTS: The mean age was 17.28 years (range, 4~20 years). There were 33 females and 6 males, with a mean follow-up period of 110 months (range, 1~263 months). The initial surgery consisted of total thyroidectomy in 29 patients (74%), and lobectomy and isthmectomy in 10 patients (25%). The mean size of the tumors was 2.56 cm (range 0.4~7 cm), and 31 (79%) of 39 patients had perithyroidal tissue invasion. Papillary and follicular carcinoma was reported in 31 (79%) and 6 patients (15%), respectively. Three patients had a recurrence and no patients had progression of metastasis at the time of diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Further collaborative studies are needed to refine the surgical approach, particularly the extent of lymph-node dissection, radioactive iodine dosing, and clinical approach.
Diagnosis* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Iodine ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in and implications of preoperative and postoperative serum uric acid levels in patients with living donor nephrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 207 patients between 1998 and 2007 at our hospital undergoing living-donor nephrectomy for kidney transplantation. The serum uric acid level and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were measured preoperatively and at 1 year postoperatively. We also analyzed multiple independent variables such as age, sex, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), serum total cholesterol, hemoglobin, hematocrit, total protein, albumin, calcium, and phosphorus. RESULTS: The mean age of the study patients was 38.3+/-10.8 years. The mean serum uric acid concentration at 1 year after kidney donation was higher than preoperatively (5.05+/-1.39 mg/dl preoperatively vs. 5.85+/-1.14 mg/dl postoperatively) and was significantly greater in patients with hyperuricemia (uric acid> or =6.8 mg/dl) than in patients without hyperuricemia (uric acid < 6.8 mg/dl): 1.63+/-0.75 mg/dl vs. 0.69+/-0.66 mg/dl, respectively. The multivariate analysis showed that preoperative serum uric acid was the primary predictive factor of postoperative serum uric acid (r=1.136, p=0.001), and preoperative GFR was an independent secondary predictive factor (r=-0.004, p=0.047). The receiver operator characteristics (ROC) curves for the preoperative serum uric acid cutoff of 5.7 mg/dl showed the highest sensitivity and specificity of 96% and 86%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that preoperative serum uric acid and GFR were important predictive factors of postoperative serum uric acid after living-donor nephrectomy. Therefore, in the selection and management of kidney donors, not only patients with a low GFR but also those with high uric acid (serum uric acid > or =5.7 mg/dl) require careful observation before and after living-donor nephrectomy.
Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Calcium ; Cholesterol ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Hematocrit ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Hyperuricemia ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation ; Living Donors ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nephrectomy ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tissue Donors ; Uric Acid