Objective: To observe the therapeutic efficacy of acupoint application at different groups of acupoints in treating bronchial asthma in remission stage. Methods:A total of 120 patients with bronchial asthma in remission stage were recruited and divided by the random number table method into acupoint application group 1, acupoint application group 2 and acupoint application group 3, with 40 cases in each group. In all the three groups, Tiantu (CV 22), Dazhui (GV 14) and Feishu (BL 13) were selected, with Dingchuan (EX-B 1) added in acupoint application group 1, Shenshu (BL 23) added in acupoint application group 2, and Gaohuang (BL 43) added in acupoint application group 3. Before intervention, one month and 3 months after intervention, clinical symptoms, peak expiratory flow (PEF) andforced expiratory volume in 1 second percentage of predicted value (FEV1％) of the three groups were observed, and their clinical efficacies were evaluated. Results: Comparing the therapeutic efficacy regarding traditional Chinese medicine symptoms and signs, after 1-month treatment, the total effective rate was 87.5％ in acupoint application group 1, versus 62.5％ in acupoint application group 2 and 55.0％ in acupoint application group 3, and the between-group differences were statistically significant. After 3-month treatment, the total effective rate was 95.0％ in acupoint application group 1, versus 70.0％ in acupoint application group 2 and 65.0％ in acupoint application group 3, and the between-group differences were statistically significant. After intervention, the three groups all showed significant improvements in pulmonary function with statistical significance; among the three groups, the improvement in acupoint application group 1 was more significant than that in the other two groups. Conclusion: Tiantu (CV 22), Dazhui (GV 14) and Feishu (BL 13) as basic prescription plus Dingchuan (EX-B 1) can improve symptoms of bronchial asthma in remission stage, and it works better in improving pulmonary function than the basic prescription plus Shenshu (BL 23) or Gaohuang (BL 43).

BACKGROUND: The majority of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from atopic eczema skin produce toxins like enterotoxin B or toxic shock syndrome toxin-1(TSST-1) as a superantigen and these toxins may contribute to the exacerbation of this skin disease. OBJECTIVE: We designed this study in order to investigate the effect of toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 on IL-4, interleukin-10(IL-10), interleukin-12(IL-12) and IFN- r production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from normal and atopic patients. METHODS: Peripheral mononuclear cells obtained from ten patients with severe atopic dermatitis and ten healthy volunteers were stimulated with TSST-1 and cultured for 4 days. The amount of IL-4, IL-10, IL-12 and IFN- r in the culture supernatants were determined by a solid-phase enzyme- linked immunosorbant assay. RESULTS: l. After stimulation with TSST-1, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12 and INF- r, production of peripheral mononuclear cells from both atopic patients and healthy volunteers were increased. 2. After stimulation with TSST-1, the amount of IFN- r in the culture supernatants was significantly greater in the healthy controls than in the atopic patients. 3. After stimulation with TSST-1, the amount of IL-10 in the culture supernatants was significantly greater in the healthy controls than in the atopic patients. CONCLUSION: This data indicates that TSST-1 induces Thl-type and Th2-type cytokines associated with parallel Thl and Th2 stimulation in atopic patients and healthy donors. In addition, peripheral mononuclear cells from atopic patients have a diminished capacity to synthesize IFN- r and IL-10 in vitro in response to stimulation with TSST-1. Our results suggest that TSST-1 is not considered as a really important aggravating factor in atopic dermatitis.
Cytokines ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Enterotoxins ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma* ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-12 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukins* ; Shock, Septic* ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Tissue Donors*

ObjectiveTo understand the distribution of interleukin(IL)-28B gene polymorphisms in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfected Han patients in Hubei Province.MethodsOne hundred Han patients with anti-HIV and anti-HCV double positive in Hubei Province were enrolled.HCV RNA level was detected by fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and genotyping of IL-28B gene was pcrformed by sequencing.The data were analyzed by chi square test.ResultsThe proportion of IL-28B C/C genotype was 95.0 ％ in target population,arnong which 21.1％ (20/95) were HCV RNA negative.While there were no HCV RNA negative cases in C/T and T/T genotypes (0/5;x2 =1.043,P=0.588).ConclusionAmong HIV/HCV coinfccted Han patients in Hubei Province,the proportion of IL-28B C/C genotype is high.

OBJECTIVE: Dynamic observation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA load before and after the treatment in patients with Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), predicting the incidence of distant metastasis and offering more personalised choice of therapies. METHOD: Fifty-four cases of patients with NPC were taken by fluorescence quantitative PCR assay of EBV DNA load before and after the treatment, all patients were followed up according to plan and carried out the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULT: EBV DNA load in plasma of patients with NPC can partly reflect the clinical characteristics of patients; EBV DNA load in some patients with distant metastasis was higher than those patients with continuous remission when they were not started treatment (P < 0.05); For those patients whose EBV DNA copies were lower than 20,000 copies/mI before the treatment, the progression-free survival and overall survival rates were higher than those high expression patients, and the difference were statistically significant (PF < 0.01 and P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The EBV DNA load in the plasma of NPC patients can partly predict the occurrence of distant metastases before treatment.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; therapy ; virology ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Viral Load ; Young Adult

Objective To analyze the impact of multiple factors on the incidence of pneumothorax associated with CT-guided transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy.Methods The sign of pneumothorax after 162 cases(lesion diameter from 1cm to 6cm)CT-guided transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy was observed and its relationship with multivariate factors were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression model.Results Thirty-two cases presented pneumothorax accounting for 19.8%.Single variate analysis showed that the sign of pneumothorax ralated to intercurrent COPD,distance from lesion and chest wall,needle dwelling time and lesion diameter.67 patients of intercurrent COPD with postoperative pneumothorax occurred in 22 cases (32.8%);With respect to those having lesions close to the chest wall(48 cases),and the cases with the distance between the chest wall and lesions less than 2cm(55 cases)and greater than 2cm(59 cases), the postoperative pneumothorax occurred in 0,14(25.5%),18(30.5%)cases respectively;For those patients with needle in the chest residence time of less than 10 minutes(82 cases),10—20 minutes (51 cases),more than 20 minutes(28 cases)after the occurrence of pneumothorax were 8(9.6%), 10(19.6%),14(50%)cases respectively;In contrast,those with lesion diameter less than 2 cm (65 cases),2—4cm(52 cases),more than 4cm(45 cases)were 19(29.2%),8(15.4%) and 5(11.1%)respectively.The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the prior three factors were risk factors of pneumothorax(OR=4.652,4.030,2.855 respectively).Conclusions To avoid the pneumothorax,caution must be taken with respect to CT-guided transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy, patients with intercurrent COPD,long distance between lesion and chest wall,and smaller lesion diameter. For operation the needle dwell time within thorax should be minimized.

Objective To study the clinical outcomes of titanium-coated interbody fusion system in treating lumbar isthmic spondylolisthesis.Methods A retrospective study was made in 22 cases with lumbar isthmic spondylolisthesis including 15 with degree I spondylolisthesis and seven with degree II spondylolisthesis treated by posterior lumbar interbody fusion using titanium-coated fusion cages from June 2002 to December 2003 in our hospital.There were six males and 16 females,with age range of 41-68 years(mean 52.5 years).In all cases,double cages were implanted with additional posterolateral bone graft,supplemented with pedicle screw systems.The average preoperative and postoperative disc space height,foraminal height,segmental and lumbar lordosis,spondylolisthesis and domain of sagittal rotation on flexion-extension radiographs were measured and fusion state observed.The Oswestry disability index (ODI)was used to evaluate the clinical outcome.Results The fusion rate was 95.4%.There was significant recovery of disc space height,foraminal height and domain of sagittal rotation.ODI decreased significantly.Conclusion The anatomic titanium-coated fusion system is effective and safe in treatment of lumbar isthmic spondylolisthesis because it has advantages in restoring sagittal alignment and keeping bony endplate intact.

Objective To investigate the diagnosis and the microsurgical treatment of intramedullary hemangioblastoma in cervical spinal cord.Methods The signs of MRI,and the results of operations were analysed in 26 patients with the tumors.Rusults The tumors can be classified into two types:Solid type (14 cases)and cystic type(12 eases).All the tumors underwent total removal and were all hemangioblastoma confirmed by histopathologic examinations.Postoperatively,neurological status were improved in 17 patients, remained in 7 cases and worse in 2 cases.Conclusion For intrameduUary hemangioblastoma of cervical spinal cord MRI is of significant importance in the diagnosis of localization and the nature of the tumors which is conductive to selecting appropriate operative methods.There is high risk in operating at cervical section,but microsurgical total resection is the optimal method to stop the development of the clinical presentation.Opera- tive methods varied with the different typer of the tumor.It is the most important principal that dissection is performed along the correct interface and the tumor should be removed en bloc after it is devascularized.

We analyzed the genetic characteristics of coxsackievirus A4 (CV-A4) based on the entire VP1 coding region. Samples were isolated from patients with acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) in Shaanxi, China from 2006 to 2010. We wished to ascertain the predominant genotype and the relationship between CV-A4 infection and AFP. Sixty-eight non-polio enteroviruses were inoculated onto RD cells (to increase the virus titer) and molecular typing was undertaken. The entire VP1 coding region was amplified. Percentage of CV-A4 was 10.3% (7/68). Analyses of genetic identify and creation of phylogenetic trees revealed that CV-A4 could be classified into A, B and C genotypes. Seven CV-A4 strains from Shaanxi and other CV-A4 strains from China formed an independent evolution lineage located in group 4 and belonged to the C2 sub-genotype. These data suggested that CV-A4 strains of sub-genotype C2 were the predominant genotypes in China. These strains co-evolved and co-circulated with those from other provinces in China, so continued monitoring of CV-A4 (by clinical and genetic surveillance) should be enhanced.
China ; Enterovirus A, Human ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Enterovirus Infections ; virology ; Genotype ; Humans ; Paralysis ; virology ; Phylogeny ; Viral Proteins ; genetics

Ameloblastoma is a histologically benign tumour originating from epithelial components of the embryonic tooth, arrested developmentally prior to enamel formation. Clinically this tumour is locally invasive, potentially lethal and occasionally shows malignant features with systemic metastases. The maxilla is by far less frequently affected than the mandible. We have experienced a case of multicystic ameloblastoma originating from right maxilla. The patient was 39-year-old male who complained pain and numbness on right cheek. The patient was treated with subtotal maxillectomy by midfacial degloving approach. The final histopathologic diagnosis was a acanthomatous ameloblastoma.
Adult ; Ameloblastoma* ; Cheek ; Dental Enamel ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Male ; Mandible ; Maxilla* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Tooth

PURPOSE: We reviewed the efficiency of the lateral plate fixation in 15 cases of intercondylar fracture of the humerus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen patients was treated by open reduction and internal fixation with lateral plate for intercondyle fracture of humerus. Plate was applied along the lateral aspect of the lateral column and lag screw was inserted in the medial column through the plate. When instability of the medial column was persisted after lateral plating, medial plate was applied posteriorly. RESULTS: There were nine C2 fracture and six C3 fracture by AO/ASIF classification. All of them had comminution at the lateral column. All fractures united at 18.7 weeks in average (range, 10-28 weeks) . Seven cases presented limitation of motion of the elbow joint and five of them underwent adhesiolysis of elbow joint. Finally, range of motion of the elbow joint was flexion contracture 16 degree to further flexion 127 degree in average. Elbow function was classified as thirteen excellent or good, one fair, and one poor. CONCLUSION: In this study, lateral plating with or without medial plate provided suffient rigidity for early motion and was worthful for treatment of the comminuted intercondylar fracture of the humerus.
Classification ; Contracture ; Elbow ; Elbow Joint ; Humans ; Humerus* ; Range of Motion, Articular