OBJECTIVETo seek for a good therapy for childhood hyperkinetic syndrome (CHS).

METHODSTwo hundred and ten patients of CHS were randomly divided into three groups, the Yizhi mixture (YZM) group, the Ritalin group and the combined treated group, 70 in each group. They were treated with YZM alone, Ritalin alone and combined YZM and Ritalin respectively for 12 weeks. The effect was assessed by Conners' questionnaire for hyperkinetic scoring, Achenbach's questionnaire for behavior estimation, clinical general image questionnaire and Tess's questionnaire before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe total effective rate in the YZM group, Ritalin group and combined treated group was 75.7%, 74.2% and 82.8% respectively, and the markedly effective rate in the three groups was 44.3%, 45.7% and 80.0% respectively. By chi 2 test, comparison among the three groups showed that the difference of the total effective rate was insignificant, while that of the markedly effective rate was significant (chi 2 = 23.31, P < 0.01). Further analysis conducted by partitioning method to make comparison between each two groups showed that the markedly effective rate was significantly higher in the combined treated group than that in the YZM group (chi 2 = 18.98, P < 0.01) and in the Ritalin group (chi 2 = 17.62, P < 0.01). The low hyperkinetic score, behavior score, achievement of Chinese and mathematics in the CHS patients were improved after treatment, the improvements were significantly higher in the combined treated group than those in the other two groups (P < 0.05, by q-test). Moreover, the soft nerve signs and abnormal encephalogram were significantly improved in the combined treated and the YZM groups, and the side-effect occurred in the two groups was less than that in the Ritalin group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of combined treatment of YZM and Ritalin was better than that of YZM or Ritalin alone.

Adolescent ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; drug therapy ; Central Nervous System Stimulants ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Methylphenidate ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy

A LC-MS method was established for the determination of the protein binding rates of oleanolic acid in human plasma and serum albumin. The equilibrium dialysis combined with LC-MS to determine the total concentration in plasma and free drug concentration of oleanolic acid was carried out. The human plasma protein binding rates of oleanolic acid at three concentrations were 79.6%, 81.9% and 63.3%, respectively. The human serum albumin protein binding rates of oleanolic acid at three concentrations were 53.5%, 56.6% and 47.7%, respectively. The method is shown to be simple, accurate, sensitive and specific for the determination of biological samples. The protein binding rates in human plasma and serum albumin were of high strength.
Chromatography, Liquid ; methods ; Dialysis ; Humans ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Oleanolic Acid ; blood ; Protein Binding ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Serum Albumin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the characteristics of occupational exposure of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in coke oven workers.

METHODSSamples were collected individually and PAHs concentration in the ambient air were assayed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) were introduced to assess the carcinogenic potency.

RESULTSThe levels of PAHs occupational exposure in oven workers at topside was higher than at side oven and bottom oven (P < 0.05). Non-carcinogenic PAHs were more than 70% of total PAHs and benzo[a]pyrene accounted for 65.5% approximately 72.4% of total benzo[a]pyrene equivalents. Total occupational exposure level of PAHs in coke oven workers was positively related to the content of benzo[a]pyrene and pyrene, respectively (r(2) = 0.84, r(2) = 0.94, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCoke oven workers were exposed to a high level of PAHs which possessed some extent of carcinogenic potency, and benzo[a]pyrene is the chief carcinogenic substance.

Benzo(a)pyrene ; analysis ; toxicity ; Carcinogens ; analysis ; toxicity ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Coke ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; Polycyclic Compounds ; analysis ; toxicity

OBJECTIVETo investigate the drug resistance of pathogenic bacteria of nosocomial infections in the surgical intensive care unit.

METHODSThe drug resistance of pathogenic bacteria of nosocomial infections in the SICU in our hospital from January 2001 to December 2004 were analyzed.

RESULTSThe average nosocomial infections rate was 11.3%. The major sites of nosocomial infections were respiratory tract (30.9%), abdominal cavity (29.0%), bloodstream (9.7%) and biliary ducts (7.2%). The most common pathogens were pseudomonas aeruginosa (11.6%), methicillin-resistant coagulase negative staphylococci (11.1%) and candida albicans (9.7%). ESBLs-producing strains accounted for 66.2% and 58.5% of escherichia coli and klebsiella spp. respectively. Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus accounted for 94.7% and methicillin-resistant coagulase negative staphylococci accounted for 88.2% in staphylococcus aureus and coagulase negative staphylococci. Carbapenems were the most powerful antibiotics against enterobacteriaceae. The non-fermenters were high resistant to antimicrobial agents. Vancomycin was the most potent antimicrobial against gram positive cocci. Amphotericin B was the most active antibiotic against fungi.

CONCLUSIONSMost strains of pathogens were antibiotic resistant in SICU. The main pathogenic bacteria of each infection site were different. So it is essential to establish nosocomial infections surveillance system in order to prevent, control and treat nosocomial infections effectively.

Bacterial Infections ; microbiology ; prevention & control ; Cross Infection ; microbiology ; prevention & control ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of combined use of stanazolol (ST) on the final adult height (FAH) in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP) and apparently decreased linear growth during gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog (GnRHa) therapy.

METHODSixty-three girls with ICPP and decreased velocity of growth of height (HV<4 cm/yr) during GnRHa therapy were divided into 3 groups based on the following types of interventions:group 1 (n = 20), GnRHa+ST [25-30 µg/(kg·d) every 3-month followed by 3-month discontinuation], group 2 (n = 21), GnRHa+recombinant human growth hormone [rhGH, 1-1.1 U/(kg·w)], group 3 (n = 22), GnRHa alone.HV, the advancement of bone age (BA) for chronological age (CA) (ΔBA/ΔCA) and FAH were compared among groups.

RESULT(1)Total duration of ST combination therapy was (12.22 ± 3.62) months, while total duration of combination of rhGH was (13.22 ± 6.80) months. (2)HV increased significantly in both group 1 [ (2.79 ± 0.60) cm/yr vs. (6.27 ± 1.98) cm/yr, P < 0.01] and in group 2 [(2.80 ± 0.50) cm/yr vs. (6.25 ± 1.98) cm/yr, P < 0.01] during combined therapy, but maintained at low levels in group 3 [(3.95 ± 1.10) cm/yr vs. (3.34 ± 0.95) cm/yr, P > 0.05].No significant differences of ΔBA/ΔCA were found among the three groups [0.25(0.11∼0.28), 0.22(0.15∼0.31),0.19(0.10∼0.32), P > 0.05]. (3)FAH was significantly higher than predicted adult height (PAH) before combined therapy, as well as higher than target height (THt) in both group 1 [(156.25 ± 2.90) cm vs. (150.78 ± 3.70) cm, P < 0.01, (156.25 ± 2.90) cm vs. (153.94 ± 2.62) cm, P < 0.01], and in group2 [ (157.33 ± 4.69) cm vs. (152.61 ± 3.92) cm, P < 0.01, (157.33 ± 4.69) cm vs. (154.39 ± 4.72) cm, P = 0.01].In group 3, FAH was similar to PAH [(153.88 ± 2.6) cm vs. (152.54 ± 5.86) cm, P > 0.05], and was less than THt [(153.88 ± 2.6) cm vs. (155.60 ± 4.52) cm, P = 0.02]. (4)In girls treated with ST, no hirsutism, clitorism or hoarse voice was recorded.No polycystic ovary syndrome was found by B-mode ultrasound.

CONCLUSIONIntermittent combined use of low dose ST therapy can increase HV and thus improve FAH in girls with ICPP and apparently decreased linear growth during GnRHa therapy.

Body Height ; drug effects ; Bone Development ; Child ; Child Development ; drug effects ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Growth Disorders ; drug therapy ; Human Growth Hormone ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Puberty, Precocious ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Stanozolol ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To summarize the experience of microsurgical operation via single nostril-sphenoid sinus approach or via subfrontal approach on giant pituitary adenoma. Methods Microsurgical operations were performed on 51 cases of giant pituitary adenoma via single nostril-sphenoid sinus approach (n=13) or via subfrontal approach (n=38). Results Total resection was achieved in 18 cases by the operation via subfrontal approach, most resection in 13 cases, partial resection in 4 cases, postoperative death in 3 cases. Another a few patients were operated via single nostril-sphenoid sinus approach, in which total resection was executed in 7 cases, most resection in 4cases, partial resection in 2 cases. The statistical differences in the total removal rate and curative effect were meaningless between the two groups. Conclusion The giant pituitary adenoma can be treated by microsurgical operation via single nostril-sphenoid sinus approach or via subfrontal approach. The cure rate of giant pituitary adenoma can be increased by postoperative treatments with bromocriptine and γ-knife.

OBJECTIVETo compare efficacy differences between fire filiform needle combined with mild moxibustion and gabapentin combined with sham acupuncture for postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).

METHODSOne hundred cases of PHN were randomly divided into a needle group and a medicine group, 50 cases in each one. In the needle group, pricking method of fire filiform needle was given at the Ashi points, and then mild moxibustion was applied for 15 min. In the medicine group, the oral administration of gabapentin capsule and sham acupuncture at non-acupoints in the distal end of lesions were applied. The treatment was required for 21 days in both groups. The visual analogue score (VAS) was recorded before treatment and on the 1st day, 2nd day, 3rd day, 6th day, 9th day and 12th day of treatment. The most severity of pain within last 24 h, preset severity of pain, immediate analgesia effect and starting time of pain relief were observed, also the efficacy was assessed and improvement of symptoms was observed in the follow-up visit.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 94.0% (47/50) in the fire filiform needle group, which was superior to 86.0% (43/50) in the medicine group (P < 0.05). Compared with medicine group, the VAS of the most severity of pain within last 24 h was obviously reduced after the 2nd treatment in the fire filiform needle group while that of present severity of pain was relieved after the 1st treatment (both P < 0.05). The immediate analgesia effect in the fire filiform needle group was obviously superior to that in the medicine group in the first three times of treatment (all P < 0.05). The average time of pain relief was (3.91 +/- 0.82) days in the fire filiform needle group, which was significantly earlier to (6.53 +/- 1.13) days in the medicine group (P < 0.05). 26 cases were cured in the fire filiform needle group in the follow-up visit, which was superior to 2 cases in the medicine group (P < 0.05). The improvement of VAS, pain range and sleep quality in the needle group were also superior to those in the medicine group (all P < 0.05). The direct medical cost in the fire filiform needle group was (232.32 +/- 48.108) yuan, which was significantly lower than (466.00 +/- 41.09) yuan in the medicine group (P < 0.05). There was only one case of adverse effect in the medicine group during the treatment.

CONCLUSIONThe fire filiform needle combined with mild moxibustion could obviously relieve the pain in PHN patients, which has superior immediate analgesia effect and pain relieving time compared with gabapentin, which also has less adverse effects and cheap cost.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; therapy ; Pain Measurement ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To compare the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic versus open pancreaticoduodenectomy.Methods:The clinical data of 989 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy at Hunan People's Hospital from January 2015 to December 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 349 patients in the laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) group and 640 patients in the open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD) group. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to match the baseline data of the two groups at a 1: 1 ratio. Data including operation time, intraoperative bleeding, postoperative hospital stay, bile leakage, pancreatic fistula and wound infection were compared between the two groups.Results:After PSM, there were 345 patients in each of the 2 groups. When the LPD group was compared with the OPD group, there were no significant differences in postoperative mortality, reoperation, intraoperative blood transfusion, pancreatic fistula, bile leakage, abdominal hemorrhage, abdominal abscess, severe complications, and pulmonary complication rates. The number of lymph node dissected, R 0 resection and overall survival rates between the two groups were also not significantly different ( P>0.05). However, the operation time of the LPD group (478.2±91.3) min was significantly longer than that of the OPD group (410.8±62.0) min ( P<0.05). On the other hand, the postoperative hospitalization time (10.8±4.3) d, intraoperative bleeding (322.0±362.6) ml, wound infection rate 1.2% (4/345) in the LPD group were significantly better than those in the OPD group [postoperative hospitalization time (12.5±7.9) d, intraoperative bleeding (478.8±570.2) ml, and wound infection rate 5.8% (20/345)] ( P<0.05) . Conclusion:LPD was safe and feasible, and it achieved similar curative effect as OPD.

This study, based on the findings for Perilla resources, aimed to describe the species, distribution, importance, features, utilization and status of quantitative Perilla resources in China. This not only helps people to know well about the existing resources and researching development, but also indicates the overall distribution, selection and rational use of Perilla resource in the future. According to the output types, Perilla resources are divided into two categories: wild resources and cultivated resources; and based on its common uses, the cultivated resources are further divided into medicine resources, seed-used resources and export resources. The distribution areas of wild resources include Henan, Sichuan, Anhui, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangsu and Zhejiang. The distribution areas of medicine resources are concentrated in Hebei, Anhui, Chongqing, Guangxi and Guangdong. Seed-used resources are mainly distributed in Gansu, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Chongqing and Yunnan. Export resource areas are mainly concentrated in coastal cities, such as Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong and Zhejiang. For the further study, the essential oil of leaf samples from different areas were extracted by the steam distillation method and analyzed by GC-MS. The differences in essential oil chemotypes among different Perilla leaves were compared by analyzing their chemical constituents. The main 31 constituents of all samples included: perillaketone (0.93%-96.55%), perillaldehyde (0.10%-61.24%), perillene (52.15%), caryophyllene (3.22%-26.67%), and α-farnesene (2.10%-21.54%). These samples can be classified into following five chemotypes based on the synthesis pathways: PK-type, PA-type, PL-type, PP-type and EK-type. The chemotypes of wild resources included PK-type and PA-type, with PK-type as the majority. All of the five chemotypes are included in cultivated resources, with PA-type as the majority. Seed-used resources are all PK-type, and export resources are all PA-type. The P. frutescens var. frutescens include five chemotypes, with PK-type as the majority. The PK-type leaves of P. frutescens var. acuta are green, while the PA-type leaves are reddish purple. The P. fruteseens var. crispa was mainly PA type with reddish purple leaves. The differences of the main chemotypes provide a scientific basis for distinguishing between Zisu and Baisu in previous literatures. Based on the lung toxicity of PK and the traditional use of Perilla, the testing standard of essential oil and Perilla herb shall be built, and PA type is recommended to be used in traditional Chinese medicine.

BackgroundNanotechnology is emerging as a promising tool to perform noninvasive therapy and optical imaging. However, nanomedicine may pose a potential risk of toxicity during in vivo applications. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential toxicity of rare-earth nanoparticles (RENPs) using mice as models.

MethodsWe synthesized RENPs through a typical co-precipitation method. Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were randomly divided into seven groups including a control group and six experimental groups (10 mice per group). ICR mice were intravenously injected with bare RENPs at a daily dose of 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/kg for 7 days. To evaluate the toxicity of these nanoparticles in mice, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to assess their uptake in mice. In addition, hematological and biochemical analyses were conducted to evaluate any impairment in the organ functions of ICR mice. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by a one-way ANOVA test was used in this study. A repeated measures' analysis was used to determine any significant differences in white blood cell (WBC), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and creatinine (CREA) levels at different evaluation times in each group.

ResultsWe demonstrated the successful synthesis of two different sizes (10 nm and 100 nm) of RENPs. Their physical properties were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and a 980 nm laser diode. Results of MRI study revealed the distribution and circulation of the RENPs in the liver. In addition, the hematological analysis found an increase of WBCs to (8.69 ± 0.85) × 10/L at the 28 day, which is indicative of inflammation in the mouse treated with 1.5 mg/kg NaYbF:Er nanoparticles. Furthermore, the biochemical analysis indicated increased levels of ALT ([64.20 ± 15.50] U/L) and CREA ([27.80 ± 3.56] μmol/L) at the 28 day, particularly those injected with 1.5 mg/kg NaYbF:Er nanoparticles. These results suggested the physiological and pathological damage caused by these nanoparticles to the organs and tissues of mice, especially to liver and kidney.

ConclusionThe use of bare RENPs may cause possible hepatotoxicity and nephritictoxicity in mice.