Objective To investigate the effect of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) agonist pioglitazone on white matter lesions and spatial memory function in chronic hypertensive rats.Methods Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group (n =6),a hypertensive group,(n =15),and a pinglitazone group (n =15).A model of stroke-prone renovascular hypertensive rat (RHRSP) was induced by the two-kidney two clip method in the hypertensive group and pioglitazone group.At 8 weeks after procedure,the rats were administered intragastrically.10 mg/(kg · d) pioglitazone was given in the pioglitazone group and an equal volume of saline was given in the hypertensive group.Blood pressure was monitored via caudal artery every 2 weeks before procedure,before administration,and after administration,respectively.After 12 weeks of continuous administration,Loyez staining was used to observe the degree of leukoaraiosis,and Morris water maze test was used to detect spatial memory function.Results After modeling,the blood pressure of RHRSP increased gradually.It was significantly higher than the sham operation group (all P =0.001).There was no significant difference in blood pressure between the hypertensive group and the pioglitazone group (P =0.897).The Morris water maze test showed that escape latencies of the sham operation group and the pioglitazone group were significantly shorter than the hypertensive group (all P ＜0.05).The numbers of crossing hidden platform in the 3 groups of rats were 5.200 ± 1.798,4.560 ± 1.592,and 2.333 ± 1.978 times,respectively.There were significantly differences (F =8.143,P =0.001).Both the sham operation group and the pioglitazone group were significantly more than the hypertensive group (all P ＜0.05).Loyez staining showed that the grades of white matter lesions in corpus callosum of the sham operation group,the hypertensive group,and the pioglitazone group were 0.333 ± 0.516,2.600 ± 0.507,and 0.500 ± 0.522,respectively.There were significantly differences among the 3 groups (F =25.652,P =0.000).The grade of the sham operation group and the pioglitazone group was significantly lower than the hypertensive group (all P＜ 0.05).Conclusions PPARγ agonist pioglitazone may protect the spatial memory function by relieving white matter lesions of the chronic hypertensive rats.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of Yigan Fupi Decoction (YFD) in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) patients.

METHODSA randomized controlled clinical trail was carried out in patients with IBS-D. All patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group (58 cases, treated with YFD) and the control group (58 cases, treated with Pinaverium Bromide Tablet). The treatment course was 4 weeks for all patients. The total effective rate, the stool property and state, the quality of life (QOL), and TCM syndrome efficacy were assessed by IBS bowel symptom severity scale (IBS-BSS), IBS defecation state questionnaire (IBS-DSQ), IBS quality of life questionnaire (IBS-QOL), and traditional Chinese medicine pattern curative effect scoring system (TCM-PES) before and after treatment.

RESULTSThere was no statistical difference in the total effective rate between the two groups (82.76% vs. 77.59%, P > 0.05). The treatment group was superior in the total IBS-BSS integral to the control group (P < 0.05). The total effective rate of improving the stool property was better in the treatment group than in the control group (81.03% vs. 72.41%, P < 0.05). Besides, the number of days for emergent defecation among 10 days was less in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The improvement of the total IBS-QOL integral and the total integral of TCM syndrome were better in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.01). The total effective rate of TCM-PES was better in the treatment group than in the control group (84.48% vs. 70.69%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONYFD was effective in the treatment of IBS-D patients of Gan-qi invading Pi syndrome, and could effectively relieve bowel symptoms, improve the stool property and the defecation frequency, elevate their QOL, and attenuate Gan-qi invading Pi syndrome with favorable safety and compliance.

Adult ; Diarrhea ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Morpholines ; therapeutic use ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To research the morphological classification of inferior angle of scapula based on CT 3D reconstruction and its clinical significance. Methods A total of 290 scapular bones data were collected from People's Hospital of Lu Xian County and measured based on CT 3D reconstruction. The scapular bones images were reconstructed by CT 3D technique. Reference points; g was the inferior scapular angle, n was the inferior glenotubular nodule, m was the intersection of the scapular ganglion and the medial edge of the scapula, k was the upper scapular angle, r was the notch of the scapular glenoid, h was the intersection of point g to mr. The parameters of inferior angles of 290 scapular bones, including the thickness of point g (the thickest part of inferior angle of the scapula), the length of the line gn, line gm, and line gh, and the angle of ∠ ngm, ∠ gmk (the projection of the scapular coronal plane), and ∠ gmk' (the projection of the scapular sagittal plane) were observed and measured by CT 3D technique. Results Under the CT three-dimensional reconstruction, the inferior angle of scapula was classified into three types; accessory angle-type ( 175, 60. 34%), U-type ( 81, 27. 93%) and V-type (34, 11. 73%). In addition, there was a significant difference between the auxiliary angle type and the V type on the thickest part of the g point and gn (P<0.05); U-type and V-type with paragonai gm-significant difference (P<0.05); There was a significant difference between the auxiliary angle type and the U shape on gh (P<0.05); there was a significant difference between the auxiliary angle type and the U shape on ∠ gmk' (P<0.05). There was a significant difference in the inferior angle of the bilateral scapula on mngm (P<0.05). Conclusion Based on the result of CT three-dimensional reconstruction, the inferior angle of scapulae have three anatomical types, with the accessory angle-type as the main type, and the morphology and classification of it are of certain clinical implication.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Chinese materia medica (CMM) combined chemotherapy on the recurrence, metastasis, and the disease free survival (DFS) of stage II and III colorectal cancer (CC) patients after radical cure.

METHODSRecruited were 366 inpatients and outpatients with stage II and III colorectal cancer (CC) from Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, and Tumor Department of Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2002 to December 2008. A non-randomized concurrent control method was adopted. Patients were assigned to the combination group (treated by CMM + chemotherapy, 189 cases) and the chemotherapy group (177 cases) according to whether they were willing to receive the CMM treatment for more than 6 successive months. By using follow-ups at clinics, by letter, and by telephone, the DFS, 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year DFS ratios were observed. The correlations between DFS and the gender, age, tumor location, staging of clinical pathology, pathological type, chemotherapeutic cycle, radiotherapy, CMM treatment, end point event (recurrence and metastasis) were analyzed.

RESULTSThe recurrence or metastasis occurred in 145 cases (39. 61%) of the 366 patients. Of them, local recurrence occurred in 17 cases (11.72%), liver metastasis in 45 cases (31.03%), lung metastasis in 52 cases (35.86%), and metastasis in other parts in 53 cases (36.55%). Results of one-factor analysis showed six factors such as the tumor location, pathological type, staging of clinical pathology, chemotherapeutic cycle, radiotherapy, and CMM treatment were correlated with the DFS, showing statistical difference (P<0.01, P<0.05). Results of multifactor analysis showed staging of clinical pathology, chemotherapeutic cycle, and CMM treatment were correlated with the DFS, showing statistical difference (P<0.01). Results of stratified study on the staging of clinical pathology indicated that the primary tumor location (P=0.016) and the pathological type (P=0.047) were the independent predictors for DFS of stage II CC. The median DFS of the two groups could not be calculated. Results of stratified study on the stages of clinical pathology indicated that CMM treatment (P=0.000) and chemotherapeutic cycle (P=0.017) were independent predictors for DFS of stage III CC. As for comparing the composition ratio of the two therapeutic cycles, results showed the baselines of the chemotherapeutic cycle of the two groups were balanced. Further comparison showed the median DFS for the chemotherapy group at stage III was 24. 16 months, while it could not be calculated in the combination group. The DFS, 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year DFS ratios were 92%, 72%, 61%, and 59%, respectively in the stage III CC combination group, while they were 74%, 50%, 36%, and 20%, respectively in the stage IlI CC chemotherapy group.

CONCLUSIONCMM combined chemotherapy could prolong the DFS of stage III CC patients after radical cure.

Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; mortality ; pathology ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Phytotherapy

The method of triggering the respirator to perform airfeed by the management of the diaphragmatic electromyography (EMG) signal is introduced in this paper. By using LabVIEW, an analysis software of the diaphragmatic electromyographic (EMG) signals is developed to filter the diaphragmatic EMG signal. The characteristics of the filtered signal is analyzed to catch the inspiratory onset, and then a series of signals are sent out duly to trigger the respirator to perform airfeed, and thus the patient's respiration can be synchronized with the respirator.

Objective:To investigate the effect of rapamycin eluting coronary stent for inhibition of neointimal hyperplasia in diabetic porcine model.Methods:There were two groups in this study. Diabetic group, n=12, diabetic porcine model was established by a single dose of streptozotocin, and rapamycin eluting coronary stents were randomly implanted into 2 of the major epicardial coronary arteries. Control group, n=12, with non-diabetic porcine. The degree of neointimal hyperplasia evaluated by coronary angiography, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and histopathology were compared between two groups respectively at 6 months of the event. Results:The distribution of vessels received stents, reference vessel diameters and post-procedural minimal luminal diameter were comparable between two groups. All animals received angiographic follow-up at 6 months of time. In Diabetic group, the degree of stent stenosis (35.6%±9.2% vs. 7.9%±3.1%,P<0.001), late lumen loss (0.32±0.09 mm vs. 0.09±0.04 mm,P<0.001), the thickness of neointima by IVUS examination (0.35±0.12 mm vs. 0.11±0.08 mm,P<0.05) and area stenosis by IVUS (1.29±0.51 mm~2 vs. 0.26±0.11 mm~2, P<0.001); and histopathological examination (1.24±0.76 mm~2 vs. 0.19±0.08mm~2, P<0.05) were significantly higher than those in Control group. Conclusion: The neointimal hyperplasia after rapamycin eluting stent implantation was significantly severe in the diabetic porcine models than those in non-diabetic ones.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effect of manipulative reduction and lateral percutaneous K-wire fixation on supracondylar humerus fractures.

METHODSFrom Feb. 2004 to Jun. 2010,128 cases of supracondylar humeros fractures in children (96 boys and 32 girls) were treated by manipulative reduction and lateral percutaneous K-wire fixation. The average age of the children was 8 years old ranging from 2 to 15 years. Among them, 112 cases were extension fractures, 16 were flexion type; 102 cases belonged to ulnar deviation, and 26 cases belonged to radial deviation. After treatment, the elbow flexion range and carrying angle of the children were measured under the Flynn evaluation standard while considering the postoperative complications status to analyze the clinical effect on manipulative reduction and lateral percutaneous K-wire fixation.

RESULTSAll these children were followed up from 2 to 36 months (16 months on average). According to Flynn evaluation standard,the result were excellent in 116 children (90.6% of the total patients), good in 11 (8.6%), fair in 1 (0.8%). No infection, no ischemic muscular atrophy and no nerve damage had been found during the treatment.

CONCLUSIONThe manipulative reduction and lateral percutaneous K-wire fixation of supracondylar humerus fractures in children has small wound, is stable and reliable, easy to be operated, safe and effective and low cost. What's more, it can also avoid the complication caused by conservative treatment and operation. It is a good treatment of supracondylar humerus fractures in children.

Adolescent ; Bone Wires ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Humeral Fractures ; therapy ; Male ; Manipulation, Orthopedic ; methods

The shape and structure of granules are controlled by the granulation process, which is one of the main factors to determine the nature of the solid dosage forms. In this article, three kinds of granules of a traditional Chinese medicine for improving appetite and promoting digestion, namely, Jianwei Granules, were prepared using granulation technologies as pendular granulation, high speed stirring granulation, and fluidized bed granulation and the powder properties of them were investigated. Meanwhile, synchrotron radiation X-ray computed micro tomography (SR-µCT) was applied to quantitatively determine the irregular internal structures of the granules. The three-dimensional (3D) structure models were obtained by 3D reconstruction, which were more accurately to characterize the three-dimensional structures of the particles through the quantitative data. The models were also used to quantitatively compare the structural differences of granules prepared by different granulation processes with the same formula, so as to characterize how the production process plays a role in the pharmaceutical behaviors of the granules. To focus on the irregularity of the particle structure, the box counting method was used to calculate the fractal dimensions of the granules. The results showed that the fractal dimension is more sensitive to reflect the minor differences in the structure features than the conventional parameters, and capable to specifically distinct granules in structure. It is proved that the fractal dimension could quantitatively characterize the structural information of irregular granules. It is the first time suggested by our research that the fractal dimension difference (Df,c) between two fractal dimension parameters, namely, the volume matrix fractal dimension and the surface matrix fractal dimension, is a new index to characterize granules with irregular structures and evaluate the effects of production processes on the structures of granules as a new indicator for the granulating process control and optimization.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Fractals ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Powders ; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship ; Synchrotrons ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects of minocycline against hair follicle damage induced by cytosine arabinoside (Ara-c).

METHODSAn in vitro organ culture of mouse vibrissa follicles was used and different concentrations of Ara-c and minocycline were added in the culture media. The total growth length, growth speed and growth period of hair were observed with invert microscopy and the survival of hair bulb cells was measured by MTT method.

RESULTMinocycline (0.3 x 10(-6) approximately 10(-5) mol/L) improved hair follicle total growth length, growth speed and hair growth period and also improved survival of hair bulb cells in vitro organ culture, which were inhibited by Ara-c.

CONCLUSIONMinocycline can protect hair follicle directly from damage induced by Ara-c.

Animals ; Cytarabine ; toxicity ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Hair Follicle ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Minocycline ; pharmacology

In order to improve synchrony between a ventilator and its patient, a new method for triggering a ventilator based on diaphragmatic electromyogram (EMG) is introduced. The methods to extract and process diaphragmatic EMG signals are studied. It has been shown that the characteristic parameters of a respiration activity, such as inspiratory beginning point, expiratory beginning point and respiration period, can be detected from diaphragmatic EMG envelop instead of traditional flux curve. A new parameter, designated as diaphragmatic "Intensity of EMG" for short "IEMG", is defined. Repeat respiration tests have disclosed that there is relatively high correlation between the diaphragmatic IEMG curve and its corresponding cubage curve. These results primarily demonstrate that the new synchronization method may be feasible.
Diaphragm ; physiology ; Electromyography ; Humans ; Positive-Pressure Respiration ; methods ; Respiration ; Respiration, Artificial ; methods ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; therapy ; Respiratory Muscles ; physiology ; Work of Breathing ; physiology