Objective To evaluate the effects of Wuqinxi bear play on TCM symptoms and health status in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis of Qi deficiency of spleen and stomach.Methods A total of 60 patients with chronic atrophic gastritis admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology in our hospital were selected.Using random number table method,the patients were divided into the intervention group and the control group with 30 cases in each group.The intervention group adopted bear play for exercise,and the control group was treated with routine treatment and nursing.The scores of TCM symptoms and SF-36,and reports of endoscope were compared between two groups.Results The scores of TCM symptoms in the intervention group were decreased after 2 and 4 weeks' of intervention.The score of each factor in SF-36 was increased and results of endoscope report were improved after 12 weeks' intervention.The differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion Bear play can effectively alleviate symptoms of chronic atrophic gastritis of Qi deficiency of spleen and stomach,and improve patents' quality of life.

Objective To investigate the expressions of serum cystatin C CysC),retinolbinding protein (RBP),serum and urinary β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) and their effects on predicting renal damage in primary hypertension in elderly patients.Methods A total of 149 patients were divided into 3 groups of hypertension grade 1 (n =50),hypertension grade 2 (n =50) and hypertension grade 3 group (n=49).92 healthy controls who took physical examination were selected as control group.The levels of serum CysC,RBP,serum and uric β2-MG,blood urea nitrogen,creatinine and other biochemical indexes were detected.The complications of hypertension were observed.The differences in renal function indexes between groups and their correlations were analyzed.Results There were 86 cases with hyperlipidemia (57.7％),71 cases with atherosclerosis (47.7％),59 cases with type 2 diabetes mellitus (39.6％),56 cases with coronary heart disease (37.6％),and 49 cases with cerebral vascular disease (32.9％) in 149 hypertensive patients.The levels of serum CysC,RBP,serum and uric β2-microglobulin were increased in hypertensive patients as compared with healthy controls (P＜0.05 or 0.01),and the extents of increments in the above indexes were positively correlated with blood pressure level [CysC:(1.2± 0.5) mg/L,(1.7±0.6) mg/L,(2.2±0.9) mg/L;RBP:(53.1±10.2) mg/L,(65.2±16.3)mg/L,(75.8±17.5) mg/L;serum β2-MG:(2.7±1.5) mg/L,(4.0±2.1) mg/L,(4.9±2.0) mg/L;uric β2-MG:(178.3±73.9) ng/L,(237.9±78.6) ng/L,(277.5±87.5) ng/L;respectively,P＜0.05or 0.01].Conclusions Elderly hypertensive patients are complicated with a variety of diseases.The levels of serum CysC,retinol-binding protein,serum and uric β2 microglobulin have significant diagnostic values on renal impairment caused by hypertension,and can be considered as sensitive factors for early renal impairment in essential hypertension.

Objective To evaluate global and segmental right ventricular ( RV ) systolic functions in patients with excessive volume or pressure load using real‐time three‐dimensional echocardiography ( RT‐3DE) . Methods Forty‐five patients with RV volume overload ,45 patients with RV pressure overload and 45 healthy subjects were underwent RT‐3DE . RV global and segmental ( inflow ,body ,outflow ) end‐diastolic volume (EDV) ,end‐systolic volume (ESV) ,stroke volume (SV) and ejection fraction (EF) were analyzed with TomTec software . The correlations between EF with the three‐dimensional method and two‐dimensional parameters including right ventricle systolic pressure( RVSP) were discussed . Results Global EDV and ESV increased significantly in both patient groups compared with controls ( all P < 0 .05) ,but there was no difference between two patient groups ( P >0 .05) .Compensated increase of SV was found in sixty percent of patients with volume overload but none with pressure overload ( P < 0 .05) . Global EF decreased significantly in both of patient groups (all P <0 .05) ,which was more significant patients with pressure overload ( P < 0 .05 ) . Different patterns of the regional dysfunction were found among the different RV segments . No correlation was found between RVSP and global or segmental EF in patients with pressure overload . Conclusions RT‐3DE could be used to assess global and segmental RV systolic function in patients with pressure and volume overload .

Abstract: Objective　This paper aims to explore the effect of live attenuated varicella vaccine on the sensitivity of tuberculin skin test(TST), and to provide reference for tuberculin skin test in the future. Methods　TST and emergency varicella vaccine were administered to students in grade one of a high school in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, who had both TB and varicella cases. Independent-samples t test was used to analyze the mean diameter of induration of TST in day 0, day 83 and day 195. The retrospective cohort study was used to analyze the effect of live attenuated varicella vaccine on TST. 　　Results　The mean induration diameter of 45 students who participated in three TST tests on day 0, day 83 and day 195 were analyzed by independent sample t test. On day 0, there was a difference in the mean diameter of TST induration between the unvaccinated and vaccinated groups(1.630±2.837 vs 5.818±4.530) (t=-3.692, P=0.001). On day 83, there was no difference in the mean diameter of TST induration between the two groups(0.001±0.001 vs 0.114±0.533) (t=-1.000, P=0.329). On day 195, there was a difference in the mean diameter of TST induration between the two groups(1.913±3.774 vs 5.023±5.126) (t=-2.309, P=0.026). Moreover, the retrospective cohort study showed that the mean diameter of TST induration changed more significantly after inoculation with varicella vaccine, RR=6.071, 95%CI (1.667-22.116), P<0.05; After inoculation with varicella vaccine, the mean diameter of TST test did not change significantly from day 0 to day 195 with no statistical significance RR=3.474, 95%CI (0.333-36.240), P>0.05. Conclusions　Live attenuated varicella vaccine may temporarily affect the sensitivity of tuberculin skin test.

Objective To evaluate the tissue motion tracking of mitral annular displaeement(TMAD) method in the assessment of short-term effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Methods Twenty six chronic heart failure (CHF) patients with CRT were detected by TMAD. The maximal displacement of the six points of mitral annulus(DS), the standard deviation of the time to regional peak systolie displacement of the six points (Td-sd) and the maximal temporal difference of any two points(Tds-diff) were compared before and one month after CRT. And the correlation between mean displacement and left ventricular ejection fraetion(LVEF),left ventricular end systolic volume(LVESV), fraction area change (FAC) was analyzed. Results Compared with the pre-operatively, the displacement and the mean displaeement of the six points of mitral annulus were significantly increased(P<0.01),Tds diff and Td-sd were decreased(P<0.05) one month after CRT. TMAD correlated with LVEF,LVESV and FAC (r =0.419, r = 0.529, r = 0.567, P <0.05) one month after CRT. Conclusions TMAD is a new technology to evaluate the short-term effect of CRT.

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that usually takes many years from preclinical phase to prodromal phase characterized by mild symptoms before the onset of dementia. Once diagnosed with AD, the brain is already severely damaged and the disease will process quickly to the most severe stages since there is no medications that reverse the neuronal injuries in the brain. Thus, simple, inexpensive, and widely available methods for detecting potential AD patients during their preclinical phases are urgently needed. In such case, olfactory testing may offer a chance for early diagnosis of AD. However, there are limitations in these olfactory tests due to the complexity of the brain areas it extends to and the frequently olfactory fatigue occurred in the behavioral olfactory tests. Great efforts have been done epidemiologically to investigate the correlation between olfactory functions and possibility of developing AD. Different patterns of olfactory dysfunction have been found in AD at early stages and even mild cognitive impairment (MIC), but the cause of the dysfunction remained unclear. Various kinds of AD animal models have been used in the field to clarify the existence of olfactory dysfunctions and thus study the underling mechanism of the dysfunction. In this review we discuss (1) the function of Tau physiologically and pathologically; (2) the genetic background and biological characteristics of the most commonly used Tau transgenic mice; (3) the structural and molecule basis of olfaction; (4) the possible relationship between Tau pathology and olfactory dysfunction. Finally, we suggest that the tau transgenic mouse models may be helpful in studying the possible mechanisms of the dysfunction.
Alzheimer Disease ; physiopathology ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Olfaction Disorders ; physiopathology ; tau Proteins

This study was aimed to observe the natural history and evolution of cervical spondylotic myelopa-thy , explore development law of the disease incidence in order to improve the understanding of cervical spondylotic myelopathy and provide a theoretical basis for Chinese medicine treatment . Complete clinical data of 80 cervical spondylotic myelopathy cases were collected from March 1998 to July 2007 in special and ex-pert practice of Prof . Shi's out-patient department . Chinese medicine for q i-blood regulation was given in the treatment . Related measuring scales were designed . More than two-month follow-up was given through means of returning visit, telephone calls and letter inquiries. Changes of clinical symptoms, and scores of different types of evaluations were observed . The SPSS software was used in the data analysis of results from measuring scales for the objective evaluation . The results showed that there were statistical differences on the 40-score and JOA total score between initial visiting and first time follow-up ( P < 0 . 05 ) . It suggested that through Chinese medicine qi-blood regulation treatment, the scores on spinal cord function were increased compared with the previous visiting . For patients who continued long-term Chinese medicine q i-blood regulation treat-ment, there were statistical differences on the 40-score and JOA total score between the first-time follow-up and second-time follow-up ( P < 0 . 05 ) . It suggested that through continued long-term Chinese medicine q i-blood regulation treatment , the scores on spinal cord function were increased compared with the previous visit-ing . In this group of patients , there were no statistical differences on the 40-score and JOA total score be-tween the patient's initial visiting , first time follow-up , and the first-time follow-up and second-time follow-up . The scores on spinal cord function suggested that there was no obvious difference on the relieving degree between the first-time follow-up and second-time follow-up . For patients who were unable to continue the Chinese medicine qi-blood regulation treatment, no matter if it was full score on the spinal cord function in the first-time follow-up , there were statistical differences on the 40-score and JOA total score between the first-time and second-time follow-up . It suggested that the disease became worse when patients were unable to continue the Chinese medicine qi-blood regulation treatment. It was concluded that Chinese medicine qi-blood regulation treatment for cervical spondylotic myelopathy has a significant effect in both short-term and long-term treatment with steady effectiveness. Patients who continue the Chinese medicine qi-blood regulation treatment not only can prevent disease recurrence , but also can promote further relieving of disease condition .

Objective To observe the effect of cognition training on the motor and executive functioning of patients after a basal ganglia stroke.Methods Thirty patients with basal ganglia stroke were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group.The control group received standard stroke rehabilitation training,while the treatment group received in addition 2 months of cognitive function training.The executive and motor functions of all of the subjects and their facility in the activities of daily living (ADL) were tested using the Tower of Hanoi,the Wisconsin card sorting test,a Stroop-3 test and the Fugl-Meyer assessment,the Berg balance scale and the modified Barthel index before and at the end of treatment.Results After two months of training,both within-group and between group comparisons showed that the treatment group had improved significantly more in executive function,cognition and motor function.Conclusion Cognition training can improve executive function,motor function and ADL performance after a basal ganglia stroke.

Objective To evaluate effects of interleukin-36α (IL-36α) on psoriasiform skin lesions and C-C motif chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20) expression in mice.Methods Totally,30 BALB/c female mice were randomly and equally divided into 3 groups:control group treated with topical vaseline cream on the shaved back and intracutaneous injection with phosphate buffer saline (PBS),model group treated with topical imiquimod cream on the shaved back and intracutaneous injection with PBS,experimental group treated with topical imiquimod cream on the shaved back and intracutaneous injection with IL-36α solution.Psoriasis area severity index (PASI) was used to evaluate changes of psoriasiform skin lesions in mice,and light microscopy to observe morphological changes of skin lesions and to measure the thickness of the epidermis.Real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot analysis were performed to determine the expression of IL-36α in skin lesions in the control group and model group,and qRT-PCR,Western blot analysis and immunohistochemical study to evaluate changes of CCL20 levels in skin lesions.Results The model group showed significantly increased mRNA (△ Ct value:0.0195 ± 0.0059) and protein expression (3.922 ± 0.248) of IL-36α compared with the control group (mRNA:0.0012 ± 0.0004,P ＜ 0.05;protein:0.690 ± 0.025,P ＜ 0.05).The mRNA and protein expression of CCL20 were significantly higher in the experimental group than those in the model group (mRNA:2.152 ± 0.793 vs.0.999 ± 0.178;protein:0.397 ± 0.033 vs.0.145 ± 0.030;both P ＜ 0.05),and higher in the model group than those in the control group (mRNA:0.378 ± 0.075;protein:0.025 ± 0.009;both P ＜ 0.05).Immunohistochemical study showed that the expression intensity of CCL20 in skin lesions significantly increased in the experimental group compared with that in the model group (Z =2.294,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion IL-36α may aggravate psoriasiform skin inflammation in mice by promoting CCL20 expression.

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of acupoint sticking therapy with Mian Tan Gao (facial paralysis paste) plus electroacupuncture (EA) for treating peripheral facial paralysis and its influence on patients' facial nerve functions, facial disability index and clinical symptoms and signs. Methods: A total of 96 peripheral facial paralysis patients were allocated into an observation group, a medicine group and an EA group by simple randomization, with 32 cases in each group. Patients in the medicine group were treated with oral mecobalamine and prednisone acetate; patients in the EA group were treated with EA on the basis of the medicine treatment; while patients in the observation group were treated with acupoint sticking therapy with Mian Tan Gao (facial paralysis paste) plus EA. After 4-week treatment, the clinical efficacy, the adverse events, and the scores of House-Brackmann (H-B) facial nerve function grading scale, visual analog scale (VAS), clinical symptoms and signs, and facial disability index (FDI) were compared. Results: After 4-week treatment, the total effective rate was 96.9％ in the observation group, higher than 68.7％ in the medicine group and 75.0％ in the EA group (both P<0.05). After 4-week treatment, the scores of H-B grading scale, VAS and clinical symptoms and signs in the three groups dropped significantly compared with those before treatment, and the scores in the observation group were lower than those in the medicine group and EA group (all P<0.05). After 4-week treatment, the facial disability index-physical function (FDIP) in the FDI in the three groups increased significantly, with a higher value in the observation group compared with that in the medicine group and EA group (both P<0.05). The facial disability index-social function (FDIS) in the FDI dropped significantly, with a lower score in the observation group compared with that in the medicine group and EA group (both P<0.05). However, the comparisons of the items above between the medicine group and the EA group showed no statistical significance (all P>0.05). The between-group comparison of the adverse event across the three groups showed no statistical significance (P>0.05). Conclusion: Acupoint sticking therapy with Mian Tan Gao (facial paralysis paste) plus EA can decrease H-B grade, reduce pain severity and improve clinical symptoms and signs as well as the facial disability condition in peripheral facial paralysis patients. This method produced more significant efficacy compared with oral medicine and medicine plus EA.