Objective To observe the therapeutic effects of balloon dilatation with ice water and room temperature water on cricopharyngeal achalasia after brainstem stroke.Methods Forty dysphagic patients with cricopharyngeal achalasia after brainstem stroke were recruited.Twenty patients assigned to experimental group were treated by balloon dilatation with ice water and low frequency elecrtrical stimulation.Twenty patients assigned to control group were treated by balloon dilatation with room temperature water and low frequency electrical stimulation.Results After treatment,36 out of the 40 patients of the two groups could eat pasty food independently without choking.Videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) showed that the cricopharyngeal sphincter relaxed and the foods passed successfully when swallowing bolus,and no aspiration happened.In comparison,the level of cricopharyngeal opening,the number of patients with nasogastric tube remained and eating normally,and the scores of functional oral intake scale (FOIS) between the two groups showed no significant difference (P ＞ 0.05).The average treatment sessions,average hospitalization days and average treatment cost in treatment group were significantly less than those in the control group(P ＜0.05).Conclusion Cricopharyngeal achalasia can be treated effectively by balloon dilatation with ice water or with room temperature water combined with low frequency electrical stimulation,but treatment course of balloon dilatation with ice water were significantly shorter than that of balloon dilatation with room temperature water.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; adverse effects ; methods ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Minority Groups

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of low-tube-voltage, low injection rate, low contrast agent dosage in combination with iterative model reconstruction ( IMR) algorithm in CT angiography ( CTA) of the head-and-neck vessels .Methods Sixty patients who underwent CT angiography of the head-and-neck vessels were randomly divided into groups A and B with 30 cases in each group .Patients in group A received a conventional scan with 120 kVp and filterback projected ( FBP) reconstruction .Patients in group B received a low-dose scan with 80 kVp, and image reconstruction with FBP ( group B1) and IMR (group B2)algorithm.The contrast agent protocol were as follows: the injection time in all patients was 10s, the injection rate was 4.5-5.5 ml/s in group A while 3.5-4.0 ml/s in group B.The CT values of artery, image noise, signal to noise ratio ( SNR) and contrast to noise ratio ( CNR) were measured and compared among three groups with One-way ANOVA analysis . Image quality was evaluated by two radiologists with five scale method , and compared with Kruskal-Wallis test .The CT dose index volume (CTDIvol) and dose length product ( DLP) were recorded and compared between groups with two independent samples t-test.Results The image quality scores of groups A , B1and B2 were 3-5, 2-4 and 3 -5, respectively .Image quality of twelve patients in group B 1 couldn′t meet the diagnostic requirements but none in group A and B 2.The objective image parameters SNR and CNR for group B 2 were equal to group A ( P >0.05), while those for group B1 were lower than group A (t=13.39, 9.45, P<0.05) and group B2 (t=-12.14, -9.96,P<0.05).CTDIvol and DLP for group B were separately 80.9%, 81.3%lower than those of group A(t=39.1, 32.2,P<0.05).The injection rate and contrast agent volume for group B were separately 22.0%, 22.1% lower than those of group A ( t=20.8, 20.8, P<0.01) .Conclusions It is feasible in CT angiography of the head-and-neck vessels with lower tube-voltage, lower injection rate, lower contrast agent dose and combining with iterative model reconstruction algorithm.This protocol can reduce the radiation dose by 81.3% while maintaining image quality .Trial registration Chinese clinical trial registry ,ChiCTR-BOC-16010060.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy and efficacy sustainable time of acupuncture in knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

METHODSThe non-randomized concurrent control trial was adopted. One hundred and ninety-three cases of KOA were divided into an immediate acupuncture group (group A, 97 cases) and a delayed acupunc-weeks at the end of treatment. In group B, the same acupuncture therapy was applied after waiting 4 weeks. The acupoints in the two groups were Liangqiu (ST 34), Dubi (ST 35), Zusanli (ST 36), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Xuehai (SP 10), Xiyan (EX-LE 4), Xiyangguan (GB 33). WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMasters Universities Osteoarthritis) was used for the assessment of the primary index and VAS (visual analogue scale) was for the secondary index. The evaluation was accomplished by the patients at the beginning of trial, on the 4th and 8th weeks. In each group, 72 patients finished the trial and the data of the lost cases were included in the final data analysis.

RESULTSIn the 4th week of trial, WOMAC score was (25. 8+/-22.0) in group A difference (P<0. 001). VAS scorewas (31. 8+/-24. and was (43.8+/-22.2) in group B, indicating the significant 6) in group A and was (56. 6 +/-25. 8) in group B, indicating very significant difference (P<0. 001). In the 8th week, the efficacy was reduced slightly in the follow-up of group A, but it was improved apparently as compared Acupuncture relieves joint pain and improves joint function obviously.by th patiĩeffr,a Mtaetfti-?an tf ri-with that before treatment.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture relieves joint pain and improves joint function obviously.The effect of acupuncture is still sustainable in 4 weeks after terminating the treatment.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Arthralgia ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Acupuncture Therapy ; Altitude ; Animals ; Brain Edema ; prevention & control ; Female ; Hypoxia, Brain ; therapy ; Male ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, Adenosine A1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of fusion tumor vaccine in tongue cancer treatment.

METHODSHuman macrophages fused with human tongue carcinoma cell line Tca8113 cell. The fusion cells were selected by magnetic cell sorting (MACS) and cultured. The biological properties of fusion cells and anti-tumor immune response in vitro induced by fusions were observed.

RESULTSIn contrast to Tca8113, the fused cells grew significantly slow in vitro. The expression of MHC I, II antigen of the fusion cells which was detected by flow cytometry (FCM) was higher than that of Tca8113. The fused cells significantly increased the proliferation of mixed lymphocyte and induced their cytotoxicity on parental Tca8113.

CONCLUSIONSThe fusion tumor vaccine of macrophages and OSCC cells increase in vitro immunogenicity significantly. This indicates that fusion tumor vaccine could be a new method of anti-tumor immunotherapy, which has important potentials for effective individualized human OSCC vaccine.

Animals ; Cancer Vaccines ; immunology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; immunology ; Cell Fusion ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Histocompatibility Antigens ; immunology ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Macrophages ; immunology ; Rats ; Tongue Neoplasms ; immunology

Objective To study the outcomes and influencing factors of the conversion from normal glucose tolerance -hyperinsulinemia (NCT-HINS) to diabetes in the population of a community in Beijing.Methods All the subjects investigated received 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for diabetes screening carried out in May, 2006 and May, 2008. Data were calculated to analyze the outcomes and influencing factors of the conversion. HINS was diagnosed if fasting serum insulin & 15 mIU/L and/or 2-hour serum insulin after glucose loading ≥ 80 mIU/L Results The prevalence of NGT-HINS in the community in 2006 and 2008 was 5.28% and 8.67% (P<0.01) respectively and that of diabetes mellitus (DM) and impaired glucose regulation (IGR) was 3.52% , 6.56% in 2006 and 4.42% ,6.47% in 2008.The probability of the conversion from NGT-HINS to IGR and DM was 18.6% and 2.3% , being much higher than that from normal glucose tolerance- normoinsulinemia (NGT-NINS) (5.4% and 0.7% , P <0.01). However, the probability of the conversion from NGT-HINS to DM was 2.3% , which was much lower than that from IGR (26.3% , P <0.01). The reason might be that individuals with NGT-HINS had a higher waist circumference, BMI, fasting plasma glucose, 2 h plasma glucose and TG but a lower HDL-C than individuals with NGT-NINS in 2006. The HOMA β-cell function index/HOMA insulin resistance index (HBCI/IR) of individuals with NGT-HINS was much lower than that of individuals with NGT-NINS, but much higher than that of individuals with IGR. Logistic regression analysis showed that age, TG and HBCI/IR were the major influencing factors of the conversion from NGT to glucose metabolic disorders.Conclusions The probability of conversion from NGT to DM was increased remarkably when HINS was diagnosed. The reason might be that individuals with NGT-HINS suffered more metabolic risk factors and had a decreased β-cell function. Therefore, individuals with NGT-HINS should be paid attention to in diabetes prevention study.

OBJECTIVETo explore the association between chorioamnionitis and brain injury in preterm infants.

METHODSA total of 88 preterm infants (28-34 weeks), who were born between June 2008 and June 2011, were divided into a case group (n=41) and a control group (n=47) according to whether or not they had chorioamnionitis. All the infants were examined by brain ultrasonography periodically after birth and underwent brain diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) between 3 and 7 days after birth. The two groups were compared in terms of the incidence of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) and periventricular and intraventricular hemorrhage (PVH-IVH) by brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the corrected gestational age of 40 weeks.

RESULTSThere was statistical significance in the incidence of PVL between the case and the control groups (32% vs 6%; P<0.05), but no significant difference in the incidence of PVH-IVH between the two groups (27% vs 23%; P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSChorioamnionitis is associated with brain injury in preterm infants, increasing the incidence of PVL but having little influence over the incidence of PVH-IVH.

Cerebral Hemorrhage ; epidemiology ; Chorioamnionitis ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Leukomalacia, Periventricular ; epidemiology ; Male ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVETo observe the expression of Schwann cell marker GFAP and myoepithelial cell marker alpha-SMA in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), and to evaluate the relationship of GFAP, alpha-SMA and perineural invasion in ACC.

METHODSImmunohistochemical SABC method, double-label immunofluorescence and CLSM were used to detect the expression of GFAP and alpha-SMA proteins in salivary ACC tissue samples.

RESULTSIn salivary ACC tissue samples, both GFAP and alpha-SMA proteins were positive, which were coexpressed in cytoplasm of the same onco-myoepithelial cells.

CONCLUSIONSThere may be Schwann cell differentiation in onco-myoepithelial cell of salivary ACC, and it may be the pathological base of perineural invasion in salivary ACC.

Actins ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Humans ; Muscle Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Salivary Gland Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Schwann Cells ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects and prognosis of surgical treatment in primary gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).

METHODSThe clinicopathological data of 73 patients with primary GIST underwent operation from April 1997 to December 2007 was retrospectively analyzed, and the prognosis was evaluated too.

RESULTSAmong the 73 cases, 68 cases received complete tumor resection, among which 12 cases underwent laparoscopic operation; while palliative resection and biopsy only were carried out in the other 5 cases. There was significant difference in survival rate between the two groups (P = 0.000). The 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rates of the 66 cases had been followed up was 91.0%, 78.2% and 74.1%, respectively. The malignancy risk grades of GIST was related to the survival rates on statistical analysis (P = 0.002). Significant differences were found in the survival rates between the patients with very low grade, low grade and high grade malignancy tumors (P = 0.012, 0.002).

CONCLUSIONSComplete tumor resection should be emphasized in primary GIST, and more attention should be paid to the initial surgical treatment. Extended surgical resection is required for tumors of higher malignancy risk. The indications of laparoscopic surgery in GIST should be selected with caution for tumor complete resection.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Analysis