Objective To investigate the clinical features of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and clarify the long-term prognosis of acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) and acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN). Methods We conducted an analysis of the clinical data of 50 patients with GBS treated in our hospital between 2003 and 2007. According to the eleetrophysiological criteria, the eases were classified into AIDP (n=24) and AMAN eases (n=22), with 4 eases of unknown classification. The patients unable to walk upon discharge were followed up for more than 6 months, and the clinical features and prognosis of the two groups were compared. Results The age, gender, cranial nerve involvement, Hughes grade at the initial neurological examination and at the time of symptom peak did not differ significantly between the patients with AIDP and AMAN (P>0.05), and most of the AMAN patients had a good recovery. The number of patients capable of walking at one month after the onset was comparable between the two groups (P>0.05). In AMAN group, the percentages of patients with slow recovery and those having rapid recovery were significantly higher than those in AIDP group (P<0.05). Conclusion The clinical recovery of AMAN patients can be either rapid or prolonged, and rigorous immunotherapy should be administered to achieve early recovery and ensure more favorable outcomes of the patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between PPAR coactivator 1 (PGC-1), nuclear respiratory factor (NRF), mitochondrial transcription factor A (mtTFA) expressions of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and development of atherosclerosis in a rabbit model.

METHODSAtherosclerotic model was established by feeding the rabbits with high-fat diet for 4, 8 and 12 weeks (n = 10 each). Another 8 rabbits fed with normal diet served as normal controls. Intima-media ratio, mRNA and protein expressions of PGC-1, NRF, mtTFA and SMemb, a marker for synthetic VSMC, were detected on aorta specimens.

RESULTSWith the blood lipid increased, the intima-media ratio rose from (0.031 +/- 0.010) microm up to (0.814 +/- 0.258) microm during 12 weeks. Increasing SMemb means that synthetic VSMC grew more and more. The expressions of PGC-1 became significant after 4 weeks (P < 0.01), while that of NRF-1 and mtTFA rose significantly after 8 weeks (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe PGC-NRF-mtTFA pathway might play a critical role in VSMC proliferation and development of atherosclerosis.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; blood ; metabolism ; pathology ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Mitochondrial Proteins ; metabolism ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; metabolism ; Nuclear Respiratory Factor 1 ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Trans-Activators ; metabolism ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism

The operation and application of Tiantu (CV 22) in emergency are discussed in the paper. The stimulating methods at Tiantu (CV 22) are acupuncture and pressing technique. The correct insertion of needle and proper depth and direction of insertion are required during acupuncture. The pressing technique stress the pressing strength and pressing time. Acupuncture or pressing technique is suitable for the emergent measurement of asthma, asthmatic breathing, coma, blockage of phlegm, hiccup, sore throat, etc. It is indicated that Tiantu (CV 22) is the key point in the emergency and phlegm resolving. Based on the characteristics of the point as promoting qi circulation, reducing the reversed qi and resolving phlegm, in light of the proper points combination by different syndromes and in terms of the correct and safe stimulating methods, Tiantu (CV 22) can achieve the immediate therapeutic effects in the emergent situations.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Asthma ; therapy ; Emergency Medicine ; Humans ; Qi

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects on the lower limbs function after lumbar or sacral nerve root transferring to reconstruct urination function.

METHODSNine patients with bladder dysfunction and normal lower limb function after spinal cord injury were treated with anastomosis the S2 or S3 nerve root with the normal lumbar or sacral nerve root to reconstruct a new bladder artificial reflex arc. Then the alterations on the sensation and motor function of the lower limb after the surgery were observed.

RESULTSMyodynamia of the legs decreased slightly, and the decreasing about half grade of the myodynamia in the plantar flexion of the ankles were detected in 4 of 9 patients with S1 transferring. And the myodynamia recovered 3 months postoperatively. No obvious decreasing of the myodynamia appeared in the other cases.

CONCLUSIONNo obvious effects on the motor function can be found after the single lumbar or sacral nerve root transferring to reconstruct urination function.

Adult ; Exercise ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; innervation ; physiopathology ; Lumbosacral Region ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reflex ; Rhizotomy ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; complications ; physiopathology ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Bladder ; innervation ; physiopathology ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic ; etiology ; physiopathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo observe the different impacts of electrolytic iron, FeSO4, and NaFeEDTA on body iron store of anemic school students.

METHODSFour hundreds anemic students at the age of 11-18 years were divided into four groups. Of which, three consumed different iron fortificants from wheat flour as food vehicle for six months and one consumed non-fortified flour (control). The fortification level of electrolytic iron, FeSO4, and NaFeEDTA was 60 mg Fe/kg, 30 mg Fe/kg, and 20 mg Fe/kg, respectively. Blood samples were collected at 0, 2, 4, and 6 months and hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin (SF), and transferrin receptor (TfR) were measured.

RESULTSThe hemoglobin levels in three intervention groups increased, the increments of Hb in the NaFeEDTA group were significantly higher than that in the other groups. SF and TfR levels increased in the tested groups and body iron store in the NaFeEDTA group was higher than that in the other groups. These parameters did not show any significant changes in the control group.

CONCLUSIONNaFeEDTA and FeSO4 fortified wheat flour has positive impacts on iron status in anemic students and NaFeEDTA is more effective than FeSO4, while electrolytic iron is less effective in improving iron store in anemic students.

Adolescent ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; drug therapy ; Child ; Dietary Supplements ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Edetic Acid ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Female ; Ferric Compounds ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Flour ; analysis ; Food, Fortified ; Humans ; Iron ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Iron, Dietary ; Male ; Nutritional Status ; Triticum

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Embolectomy ; Humans ; Male ; Pulmonary Embolism ; therapy ; Thrombolytic Therapy

OBJECTIVEThis project aims to investigate the nutrition status of children aged from 6 to 23 months living in Beichuan and Lixian where were seriously affected by the earthquake in 2008.

METHODSThe height, body weight and hemoglobin concentration were measured for 478 children from Leigu township, Qushan township in Beichuan county and Zagunao township, Xuecheng township and Putou township in Lixian county; the number of group 6 - 11, 12 - 17, 18 - 23 months were 190, 144, 144 respectively. The height for age (HAZ), the body weight for age (WAZ) and the weight for height (WHZ) were calculated respectively. The low weight, stunting, wasting prevalence, anemic rate were analyzed.

RESULTSThe WAZ scores of 6 - 23 months males and females in Beichuan county and Lixian county ranged from -0.97 to -0.13 and from -0.67 to -0.23, HAZ scores ranged from -1.23 to -0.31 and from -1.25 to -0.38, respectively. The WAZ (-0.89 ± 1.16) and HAZ (-1.20 ± 1.60) of 18 - 23 months infants in Beichuan county were significantly different from the WAZ and HAZ of 6 - 11 months (WAZ: -0.32 ± 0.92; HAZ: -0.58 ± 0.98) and 12 - 17 months (WAZ: -0.47 ± 1.00; HAZ: -0.68 ± 1.34) infants (F values were 7.161 and 4.584, respectively; all P values < 0.05). The WAZ (-0.63 ± 1.03) and HAZ (-1.11 ± 1.15) of 18 - 23 months in Lixian county infants were significantly different from the WAZ and HAZ of 6 - 11 months (WAZ: -0.23 ± 0.93; HAZ: -0.51 ± 1.55) infants and 12 - 17 months (WAZ: -0.58 ± 0.52; HAZ: -0.80 ± 1.19) (F values were 3.156, 4.345, all P values < 0.05). The prevalence of low weight infants (18 - 23 months) these two counties were 15.6% (12/77) and 9.1% (6/66), respectively. The prevalence of stunting in Beichuan and Lixian have reached 26% (20/77) and 24.2% (16/66), respectively. The wasting rate of 18 - 23 months infants had reached 9.1% (7/77) in Beichuan. The total anemia prevalence among infants reached 49.6% (123/248) and 78.8% (178/226) in Beichuan and Lixian, respectively. The prevalence of moderate anemia have reached 7.7% (19/248) and 19.9% (45/226), respectively.

CONCLUSIONAfter the earthquake in Beichuan, Lixian, the growth of infants aged 6 to 23 months old was below average. The prevalence of anemia was high. The malnutrition status of infant and young children aged from 18 to 23 months in Beichuan and Lixian was more serious, should be targeted of nutrition interventions.

China ; epidemiology ; Disasters ; Earthquakes ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Male ; Malnutrition ; epidemiology ; Nutritional Status

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) on inflammatory mediators in children with severe hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), and to investigate its clinical efficacy.

METHODSA total of 36 children with stage IV HFMD were enrolled and randomly divided into conventional treatment group and CVVH group (n=18 each). The children in the CVVH group were given CVVH for 48 hours in addition to the conventional treatment. The levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and lactic acid in peripheral venous blood, heart rate, blood pressure, and left ventricular ejection fraction were measured before treatment and after 24 and 48 hours of treatment.

RESULTSAfter 24 hours of treatment, the conventional treatment group had a significantly reduced serum IL-2 level (P<0.01), and the CVVH treatment group had significantly reduced serum levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α (P<0.05). After 48 hours of treatment, both groups had significantly reduced serum levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α (P<0.01), and the CVVH group had significantly lower levels of these inflammatory factors than the conventional treatment group (P<0.01). After 48 hours of treatment, heart rate, systolic pressure, and blood lactic acid level were significantly reduced, and left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly increased in both groups, and the CVVH group had significantly greater changes in these indices except systolic pressure than the conventional treatment group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSCVVH can effectively eliminate inflammatory factors, reduce heart rate and venous blood lactic acid, and improve heart function in children with severe HFMD.

Child, Preschool ; Cytokines ; blood ; Female ; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease ; immunology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Hemodynamics ; Hemofiltration ; Humans ; Infant ; Inflammation Mediators ; blood ; Male ; Ventricular Function, Left

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical feature of patients with atrial septal defects (ASD) and the safety and efficacy of transcatheter closure of ASD in elderly patients.

METHODSBetween May 2000 and June 2010, 82 patients aged (64.5 ± 3.8) years underwent attempted transcatheter ASD closure. Right heart catheterization was performed before intervention. Echocardiography was made at 1 day, 1, 3, 6 months after the procedure. The pre- and post-closure clinical feature, pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and cardiac function were evaluated.

RESULTSIn 82 patients, 37 (45.1%) patients were associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The systolic PAP and mean PAP [(44.1 ± 12.4) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) and (25.2 ± 6.8) mm Hg, respectively] were measured by right heart catheterization before the procedure. One patient was unsuitable for closure because of severe PAH. The remaining 81 patients underwent successful ASD closure without major complications. After closuring, systolic PAP decreased from (52.7 ± 10.3) mm Hg to (31.8 ± 6.3) mm Hg (P < 0.05), and mean PAP descended from (30.9 ± 4.7) mm Hg to (21.8 ± 3.4) mm Hg (P < 0.05) in the 36 patients with PAH. The cardiac function improved post procedure. There were 6 new-onset atrial fibrillations during follow up.

CONCLUSIONSASD in elderly patients are commonly associated with PAH. Transcatheter ASD closure is safe and effective in the majority of elderly patients.

Aged ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Female ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical feature and the effects of transcatheter closure of adult patients with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).

METHODSBetween January 2000 and April 2009, 139 patients [22 male, aged from 40 to 74: (49.8 +/- 6.8) years] with PDA were hospitalized in our hospital. Clinical data and effects of transcatheter closure of PDA were analyzed.

RESULTSThere were 64 patients with NYHA classI, 53 with class II, 16 with class III and 6 with class IV before procedure. In 139 patients, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) was found in 107 out of 139 patients (77.0%). Transcatheter PDA closure was not performed in 3 patients due to severe PAH and successfully performed in the remaining 136 patients (97.8%) without major complications. Post procedure aortic angiography evidenced minor residual shunt in 14 cases, small residual shunt in 2 cases and moderate shunt in 1 case. The NYHA class was significantly improved and the PAH significantly reduced [sPAP: (47.3 +/- 23.9) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) vs. (28.1 +/- 12.3) mm Hg, P < 0.01] post procedure.

CONCLUSIONPAH and heart failure were commonly associated with PDA in adult patients. Transcatheter PDA closure is safe and effective in these patients except those with severe PAH.

Adult ; Aged ; Cardiac Catheterization ; adverse effects ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; complications ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome