OBJECTIVETo introduce the clinical application of venous nutrition flap pedicled by medial plantar artery of the hallux on the medical aspect of the foot.

METHODSBased on the anastomoses between the medial plantar artery of the hallux and the nutritional vein, the flap was designed with the perforator of medial plantar artery adjacent to the first metatarsal bone as the rotation point. The flap axis was along the vein at the medial aspect of the foot between rotation point and medial malleolus.

RESULTS5 cases were treated with primary healing and complete survival flaps. The patients were followed up for 1-12 months with good match of texture and color.

CONCLUSIONSThe venous nutrition flap pedicled by medial plantar artery of the hallux on the medical aspect of the foot can be transpositioned to repair the defect at forefoot.

Arteries ; Forefoot, Human ; Hallux ; blood supply ; Humans ; Metatarsal Bones ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Veins ; Wound Healing

Objective To establish a molecular technique of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing to identify pathogenic fungi species from the fungal sinusitis tissues. Methods Total 270 sinusitis tissues samples were collected by endoscopic surgery from 2006 to 2008. The histopathology, organize spring clip culturation and ITS region (ITS region region of fungal rRNA, including ITS1-5. 8S rRNA-ITS2) sequencing were employed simultaneously. And then to evaluate the ITS sequencing as the tool for identification of pathogenic fungi directly from clinical samples. Results Of the 270 samples, histopathology positive rate was 80.0% (216/270) , organize spring clip positive rate was 80.0% (216/ 270), fungal culturation positive rate was 53.0% (143/270) , ITS region sequencing positive rate was 63. 0% [ (134 +28 +8)/270], There were 22 species and 6 genera identified by fungal culturation, and 32 species identified by ITS region sequencing. Conclusion ITS region sequencing will become a applicable tool in clinical laboratory in future.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Shadu Cao Mixture (SDCM, traditional Chinese medicine) on immune functions of immunosuppression mice.

METHODSFifty BALB/C mice were randomly divided into blank control group, model group, SDCM low-dose, middle-dose and high-dose group. Except the blank control group, other groups were intraperitoneal injected with cyclophosphamide (40 mg/kg) to establish immunosuppression mice model. The blank control group and model group received gavage administration with nonnal saline, while the other groups received gavage administration with different doses of SDCM (10, 20, 40 m/kg for 15 days) respectively. The number of leukocytes and serum levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in peripheral blood, spleen index, and the function of NK cells were measured.

RESULTSCompared with the model group , SDCM increased the number of leukocytes and serum concentrations of IL-2, TNF-α and IFN-γ in peripheral blood and improved the spleen index and the function of NK cells significantly (P < 0.05-0.01).

CONCLUSIONSDCM could remarkably enhance the immune functions of immunosuppression mice induced by cyclophosphamide.

Animals ; Cyclophosphamide ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Immunosuppression ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Spleen ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

To explore the prevention effect of the joint combination of Yindanxinnaotong soft capsule (YDXNT) and exercise (swimming) on atherosclerotic rats. The method of 3 x 3 factorial design, including two factors (YDXNT and swimming) and three levels (0, 1, 2 g x kg(-1) YDXNT; 0, 0.5, 1 h swimming), was mainly adopted. The atherosclerotic rat model was established by ligating their left common carotid arteries and feeding high-fat diet. After 8 weeks, blood samples were collected from their thoracic aorta to determine blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, fibrinogen (FIB), nitric oxide (NO), 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) endothelin (ET) and thromboxane B2 (TXB2). The tissues of left common carotid arteries of the rats were collected to detect the positive expression of SM22alpha and determine the semi-quantitation through the immunohistochemical staining. The result showed that the combination of YDXNT and swimming can significantly decrease the plasma viscosity (F = 3.241, P = 0.017), the high and low shear blood viscosity (F = 6.444, P = 0.001; F = 3.002, P = 0.024) and FIB (F = 4.046, P = 0.005). The increased NO and 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) and the decreased ET and TXB2 indicated a significant interaction (P < 0.05). The swimming showed an obvious main effect in the expression of up-regulated protein SM22alpha (F = 8.088, P = 0.001). The study suggested that the combined administration of YDXNT and swimming could improve the hemorheological parameters of atherosclerotic rats, protect the vascular endothelium, inhibit the vascular remodeling in atherosclerosis and positively prevent the atherosclerosis.
Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Blood Viscosity ; drug effects ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Exercise Therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Microfilament Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Muscle Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Swimming

Objective To develop an early-warning indicator system of brucellosis outbreak. Methods The methods of literature review and expert discussion were used to formulate the initiatory framework and indicators, and then Delphi method was used to filter indicators, discuss the boundary of indicators and determine the weighting coefficient. Results The average length of service provided by experts who engaged in prevention and control of brucellosis was (25.10 ± 8.80) years and the positive coefficient of the consultant experts of the two-round results were 95% and 68%, respectively. Kendall coefficients were 0.35, 0.54 and X2R value were 81.31 and 285.27, respectively and P value was all less than 0.01. Five first-level indicators(the host animal, high-risk groups,social environment, index case and the level of previous disease) and 13 secondary indicators were selected to develop the early-warning indicator system of brucellosis outbreak. The weight coefficients of the five first-level indicators were 0.21, 0.22, 0.17, 0.21 and 0.19, respectively. Conclusions The early-waming indicator system of brucellosis outbreak is initially established. We propose to develop the early-warning programs according to local conditions and the indicator system.

OBJECTIVETo study the impact of organized stroke ward on the therapeutic effect in stroke patients.

METHODSA total of 2637 patients with acute stroke were randomly assigned to organized stroke ward or the general ward for treatment, and the rates of mortality, nonrecovery, improvement, and recovery were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe rates of mortality, nonrecovery, improvement, and recovery in 5 years were 2.00%, 0.90%, 74.94% and 22.16% respectively in the organized stroke ward group, as compared to 3.26%, 1.02%, 74.01% and 21.71% in the general ward group, respectively. The mortality rate was significantly lower in organized stroke ward (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found in the rates of nonrecovery, improvement, or recovery between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONAdmission of the stroke patients in organized stroke ward for treatment can be associated with lowered mortality rate.

Female ; Hospital Units ; standards ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Patient Care Team ; organization & administration ; Stroke ; mortality ; therapy ; Stroke Rehabilitation ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation between Beijing genotype (Beijing family) strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and drug resistance.

METHODSA computer retrieval of Medline, Embase, SCI, EBSCO, CNKI, Weipu and Wanfang databases from 1990 to 2010 was conducted. A total of 525 articles exploring the relationship of Beijing genotype of MTB and drug resistance were found through literature search. Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a Meta-subgroup analysis was conducted in Beijing genotype of MTB and drug resistance.

RESULTSA total of 38 articles were selected, including 22 articles on isoniazid resistance, 24 articles on rifampin resistance, 19 articles on ethambutol resistance, 18 articles on ethambutol resistance, 26 articles on multi-drug resistance (MDR). Meta-subgroup analysis showed that in China, there was an association between Beijing genotype and resistance to rifampin, ethambutol and MDR: rifampin (OR = 1.62, 95%CI: 1.13 - 2.31), ethambutol (OR = 1.67, 95%CI: 1.16 - 2.40), MDR (OR = 1.79, 95%CI: 1.20 - 2.68); in Russia, there was an association between Beijing genotype and resistance to isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol and MDR: isoniazid (OR = 4.82, 95%CI: 3.19 - 7.29), rifampin (OR = 4.84, 95%CI: 3.84 - 6.10), ethambutol (OR = 3.32, 95%CI: 2.51 - 4.40), MDR (OR = 5.42, 95%CI: 3.36 - 8.74); in Vietnam, there was an association between Beijing genotype and resistance to isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol and MDR: isoniazid (OR = 2.12, 95%CI: 1.55 - 2.91), rifampin (OR = 4.71, 95%CI: 3.01 - 7.36), ethambutol (OR = 3.78, 95%CI: 1.63 - 8.77), MDR (OR = 4.21, 95%CI: 1.58 - 11.18); in other countries, there was an association between Beijing genotype and resistance to isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol and MDR: isoniazid (OR = 1.69, 95%CI: 1.19 - 2.42), rifampin (OR = 2.48, 95%CI: 1.92 - 3.19), ethambutol (OR = 3.04, 95%CI: 2.13 - 4.33), MDR (OR = 2.36, 95%CI: 1.52 - 3.68).

CONCLUSIONBeijing genotype of MTB was positively associated with three kinds of first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs (isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol) and MDR, and the relationship intensity was different in different countries.

Antitubercular Agents ; pharmacology ; China ; DNA, Bacterial ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; Genotype ; Humans ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; drug effects ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Russia ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant ; genetics ; microbiology ; Vietnam

OBJECTIVETo investigate the advantage of CT and MRI image fusion in determining the target precisely during 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for cranial carcinoma.

METHODSTwenty-five patients received CT and MRI examination simultaneously for localizing the tumor and defining target before 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy. The target defined by MRI image was used as gross tumor volume, whereas CT value was used to calculate dose, making plan for radiotherapy. The difference between the target defined by CT and MRI was compared.

RESULTSAll the 25 patients underwent CT and MRI image fusion for localizing the tumor and defining the target in order to make anatomic symbol and surface symbol superposed. The number of tumor nodual detected by CT was as same as that found by MRI in 23 cases except two. Compared with the GTV defined by MRI image, it was larger in 10 cases by CT image, whereas smaller in 15 cases. The response rate assessed by MRI image was 64.0% (CR + PR) at the end of radiotherapy.

CONCLUSIONCT and MRI image fusion technique is more precise than either by CT or MRI alone in defining the GTV of 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for cranial carcinoma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; methods ; Remission Induction ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Tumor Burden ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the systemic changes of iron metabolism following manganese exposure.

METHODSNinety-seven welders and 91 workers with no history of exposure to manganese were recruited from the same factory in Beijing serving as the exposure group and the control group respectively. The welding rods used were type J422. The concentration of the manganese in the air of the work place was determined respectively with the national standard method. The serum iron and manganese, ferritin, transferrin and transferrin receptors were measured with the graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry and ELISA in both groups.

RESULTSThe permissible concentration-STEL of ambient Mn in welders' breathing zone ranged from 0.53 mg/m(3) to 2.19 mg/m(3), while the permissible concentration-TWA of ambient Mn was between 0.29 mg/m(3) and 0.92 mg/m(3) in the breathing zone of the workplace. Serum Mn and Fe concentrations in welders were about 1.40 times (P < 0.0l) and 1.2 times (P < 0.01), respectively, higher than those of control subjects. At the same time, the transferrin concentrations in serum were significantly higher (about 1.2 times, P < 0.05) in welders than in controls. In contrast, transferrin receptors were significantly lower (about 1.2 times) in exposed subjects than controls (P = 0.001). There was no difference in serum ferritin between the two groups (P = 0.112). Although there was no significant trend, the serum ferritin level was increased by 18% in comparison with that of the control. The abnormal percentage of serum Fe and Serum Mn in welders were 55.67% and 67.01% respectively, higher than those of control subjects. In addition, the correlations between all indicators and the duration of employment were not observed.

CONCLUSIONThe long term exposure to the manganese can induce the disorder of the iron metabolism, which is found in the expression of increase of the serum iron and transferrin as well as the decrease of transferrin receptors.

Female ; Ferritins ; blood ; Humans ; Iron ; metabolism ; Iron Metabolism Disorders ; chemically induced ; Male ; Manganese ; adverse effects ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Receptors, Transferrin ; blood ; Transferrin ; analysis ; Welding

AIMTo study the effect of lidocaine-dodecanol binary eutectic system on the transdermal permeation of lidocaine.

METHODSBinary eutectic mixture of different proportions of lidocaine and dodecanol were prepared and the patch containing the binary eutectic mixture was developed. The solubilities of pure lidocaine and lidocaine from the binary eutectic system were determined in pH 7.9 phosphate buffer. The transdermal flux of lidocaine from the patches containing the binary eutectic system and pure lidocaine were measured using Franz-type single diffusion cell.

RESULTSThe melting point of the lidocaine-dodecanol binary eutectic system was markedly lower than that of pure lidocaine. The steady state transdermal flux of lidocaine from the patch of the binary eutectic system was six times as much as that of pure lidocaine patch.

CONCLUSIONThe lidocaine-dodecanol binary eutectic system could produce high thermodynamic activity of the drug and the high driving force for transdermal permeation of lidocaine.

Administration, Cutaneous ; Anesthetics, Local ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Animals ; Dodecanol ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Stability ; Guinea Pigs ; Lidocaine ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Skin Absorption ; Solubility