Objective: To observe the short-term and long-term efficacy of acupuncture and traction plus Ba Duan Jin (Eight-brocade Exercise) in treating discogenic low back pain (DLBP). Methods: Sixty patients were divided into an observation group and a control group using the random number table method, with 30 cases in each group. The control group was intervened by acupuncture and traction, while the observation group was given additional Ba Duan Jin (Eight-brocade Exercise) practice. The intervention lasted for a total of 1 month, with a follow-up study conducted 6 months later. The visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores in the two groups were compared before and after treatment, and the efficacy was compared at the end of the treatment between the two groups; the relapse rate was compared at the 6-month follow-up between the two groups. Results: The pain VAS and ODI scores decreased after treatment in both groups, and the intra-group differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05); the pain VAS and ODI scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group after treatment with statistical significance (both P<0.05). At the 6-month follow-up, the relapse rate was 10.3％ in the observation group versus 48.0％ in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: The combination of acupuncture, traction and Ba Duan Jin (Eight-brocade Exercise) is an effective method for DLBP and patients who received this method are less likely to relapse.

Antibodies, Monoclonal ; metabolism ; CD79 Antigens ; metabolism ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nose Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; virology ; Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; virology ; Plasmacytoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; virology

Objective To compare the serum levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1,bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-4 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and RA with interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD).Methods Twenty-eight RA-ILD patients,32 patients with RA but without ILD and 20 normal controls were enrolled.The RA-ILD group was further divided into early group and late group.All the observed subjects were analyzed using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the determination of serum TGF-β1 and BMP-4 levels.The relationship between the serum levels of TGF-β1,BMP-4 and laboratory examinations were investigated.Comparisions between groups were tested by one-way ANOVA analysis and ttest.Correlation of indexs were observed by Spearman method.Results Patients in the RA-ILD group were older than RA group in disease onset age,in addition,patients with ILD had better joint function and higher serum rheumatoid factor titers.The occurrence time of interstitial lung disease was 2-6 years after the onset of arthritis,with an average time of (3.0±1.2) years.The TGF-β1 levels in the RA-ILD group were slightly higher,but not statistically significant than other groups (P＞0.05).The TGF-β1 serum levels in the early RA-ILD patients were significantly increased than those of the late RA-ILD group and the RA group.BMP-4 levels in patients with RA-ILD group were less than RA without ILD group and healthy control group,and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).BMP-4 level in early RA-ILD group was significantly decreased than those of the late RA-ILD group and RA group.No correlation between the serum BMP-4,TGF-β1 level (P＞0.05) no assay result correlated with laboratory parameters including ESR,CRP,RF and anti-CCP antibodies (P＞0.05).Conclusion TGF-β1 serum levels are increased and BMP-4 levels are decreased in early RA-ILD patients.The serum levels of TGF-β1 and BMP-4 may be indicatior for asymptomatic ILD and reflect disease progression.

Aged ; Bronchoscopy ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stents ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; complications ; Tracheal Stenosis ; etiology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effects of combined type external fixator in treating complex tibial metaphyseal fractures.

METHODSFrom January 2007 to July 2012, 34 patients with complex tibial metaphyseal fractures were treated with combined type external fixator in different stagings. There were 23 males and 11 females, with a mean age of 41.3 years (ranged, 16 to 63), and the course of disease were from 1 h to 8 d. In the patients, 31 cases were open fractures, 11 cases with type II, 13 cases with type III A, 7 cases with type III B according with Gustilo classification; 19 cases were tibia plateau fractures, 6 cases with type II, 1 case with type IV, 5 cases with type V, 7 cases with type VI according to Schatzker classification; 15 cases were distal tibial fractures (one were bilateral fractures), 2 fractures with type A2, 1 fracture with type A3, 1 fracture with type C1, 5 fractures with type C2, 7 fractures with type C3 according to AO classification. Rasmussensn scoring system and AOFAS Ankle Hind-foot Scale were respectively used to assess the joint function of knee and hip.

RESULTSWound surface of 19 patients obtained at phase I healing and 15 patients obtained at phase III healing. Superficial wound infections occurred in 2 cases and bone non-union necessitated reoperation occurred in 2 cases (final fractures obtained bone healing after the second operation). All patients were followed up from 6 to 38 months with a mean of 14.3 months. At the final follow-up,according to Rasmussensn scoring system, 5 fractures got excellent results, 11 good, 3 fair, the mean Rasmussen score was 23.58 +/- 3.98; according to AOFAS Ankle Hind-foot Scale, 5 fractures got excellent results, 8 good, 3 fair, the mean AOFAS Ankle Hind -foot Scale was 80.75 +/- 14.21.

CONCLUSIONCombined type external fixator can well maintain the stability of the fractures, had advantages of low incidences of soft tissue complications and less influence to joint motion in treatment of complicated tibial metaphyseal fractures. However there were some limitations in long-term use.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation ; instrumentation ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Recovery of Function ; Tibial Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects of adiponectin on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and the potential mechanisms in rats.

METHODSThirty-two male rats aged 8 weeks were randomly assigned to sham operation (sham), myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (MIR), diltiazem treatment (diltiazem) or adiponectin administration (APN) groups (n = 8 each). MIR rats underwent left anterior descending artery (LAD) occlusion for 30 min followed by 60 min reperfusion. Diltiazem (7 microg/g) and APN (120 ng/g) were given by caudal intravenous injection at the end of 30 min ischemia and the beginning of reperfusion for rats in diltiazem or APN groups. Animals were sacrificed after 60 min reperfusion for determining the myocardial nitric oxide (NO), Caspase 3, activity of AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK) and concentration of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma). Apoptotic cells were stained by Caspase 3 Activity Assay Kit and mitochondria in myocardial cells were observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM).

RESULTSThe myocardial Caspase 3 level was significantly increased [(168.50 +/- 30.08) micromol/L vs. (53.25 +/- 11.41) micromol/L, P < 0.01], AMPK activity, PPARgamma and NO concentrations were significantly reduced in MIR group compared with those in sham group (all P < 0.05) [(0.74 +/- 0.59) IU/ml vs. (25.63 +/- 4.61) IU/ml, P < 0.01; 0.1894 vs. 0.7949, P < 0.01; (6.359 +/- 1.355) micromol/L vs. (10.396 +/- 1.901) micromol/L, P < 0.01], these effects could be significantly reversed by APN. In comparison with MIR group, the levels of Caspase 3 in cardiac muscles were significantly lowered in Adiponectin group [(88.75 +/- 6.92) micromol/L vs. (168.50 +/- 30.08) micromol/L, P < 0.01], whereas the level of AMPK and PPARgamma, NO concentration in the cardiac muscle was remarkably increased [(27.22 +/- 4.76) IU/ml vs. (0.74 +/- 0.59) IU/ml, P < 0.01; 0.8613 vs. 0.1894, P < 0.01; (15.755 +/- 1.045) micromol/L vs. (6.359 +/- 1.355) micromol/L, P < 0.01]. APN also preserved the function and structure of mitochondria in rats post ischemia/reperfusion injury. The protective pharmacologic actions of APN were superior to that of diltiazem.

CONCLUSIONAdiponectin could protect myocardial tissues from myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats, possibly by upregulating myocardial AMPK and PPARgamma expressions and preventing myocardial cells from apoptosis.

AMP-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Adiponectin ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Diltiazem ; pharmacology ; Male ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; PPAR gamma ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Colectomy ; Colorectal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVESTo investigate and discuss the role of CT in the diagnosis and treatment of comminutive distal radius fractures.

METHODSOne hundred and eleven consecutive patients (118 cases of fractures) who were admitted to Jishuitan hospital from January 2003 to January 2005 were included in this study. These patients all need operative treatment and accepted CT scans for better understandings of these injuries and helping to make operation plans.

RESULTSafter comparing the results of X planes and CT scans, considerable differences existing between the two examinations were found in the measurements of articular compression and step-off, gapping, comminution degree and subdislocation. This difference was manifested not only in the alteration of quantity but also in the change of quality.

CONCLUSIONSComputed tomography can provide more vivid and detailed information of fractures for practitioners. Undoubtedly, CT is especially valuable in the evaluation of severity degree and stability of comminutive distal radius fractures, thus it helps us to determine whether operation is obligatory and choose the best method and approach of operation. Moreover, CT can also clearly show the important parts of fractures which need special attention in the process of operation. At the same time, practitioners are required to understand the indications of CT examination completely and know how to choose scan planes properly.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Fractures, Comminuted ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radius Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of growth hormone (GH) on penile erection after reconstruction of cavernous nerves using sural nerve as an interposition nerve graft in rats.

METHODSTwenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats (3-4 ms of age and 300-400 g in weight) were randomly divided into 2 groups: nerve graft group and GH group, each electrostimulated to determine the erectile potency 2 and 4 months after nerve graft (followed by hypodermic GH injection). The nNOS-positive nerve fibers in the corpora cavemosa were examined by streptavidin-peroxidase immunohistochemistry technique (SP method). Image analysis was used to calculate the area stained in pixel.

RESULTSElectrostimulation at 2 months produced 31.25% of erections in the GH group but none in the grafted rats. There was a significant difference in the erection rate produced by electrostimulation between the two groups at 2 months (P < 0.05). The pixel of the expression of nNOS-positive nerve fibers in the GH group (38971 +/- 7692) was also greater than that of the graft group (16538 +/- 3179, P < 0.05). At 4 months, 43.75% of the graft group and 75% of the GH group produced erections upon electrostimulation, with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). The pixels of the expression of nNOS-positive nerve fibers were 79276 +/- 12,021 and 91348 +/- 18965, respectively (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGH can accelerate the regeneration of cavernous nerves after bilateral nerve grafting, and GH administration may present a new physiological approach to the treatment of erectile dysfunction after radical pelvic surgery.

Animals ; Growth Hormone ; pharmacology ; Male ; Nerve Regeneration ; drug effects ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; analysis ; Penile Erection ; drug effects ; Penis ; enzymology ; innervation ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sural Nerve ; transplantation

In this study, Actin, 18S rRNA, PAL, GAPDH and CPR of Artemisia annua were selected as candidate reference genes, and their gene-specific primers for real-time PCR were designed, then geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, Delta CT and RefFinder were used to evaluate their expression stability in the leaves of A. annua under treatment of different concentrations of Cd, with the purpose of finding a reliable reference gene to ensure the reliability of gene-expression analysis. The results showed that there were some significant differences among the candidate reference genes under different treatments and the order of expression stability of candidate reference gene was Actin > 18S rRNA > PAL > GAPDH > CPR. These results suggested that Actin, 18S rRNA and PAL could be used as ideal reference genes of gene expression analysis in A. annua and multiple internal control genes were adopted for results calibration. In addition, differences in expression stability of candidate reference genes in the leaves of A. annua under the same concentrations of Cd were observed, which suggested that the screening of candidate reference genes was needed even under the same treatment. To our best knowledge, this study for the first time provided the ideal reference genes under Cd treatment in the leaves of A. annua and offered reference for the gene expression analysis of A. annua under other conditions.
Artemisia annua ; drug effects ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cadmium ; pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; drug effects ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; standards ; Reference Standards