Atrial fibrillation ( AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia in clinical practice and it is associated with an in-creased thromboembolism risk , due mainly to embolism from the left atrial appendage ( LAA) .Percutaneous left atrial appendage clo-sure ( PLAAC) provides a valid alternative to oral anticoagulation ( OAC) mainly in patients who cannot tolerate this therapy due to a high bleeding risk .Recent studies showed PLAAC can substantially reduce stroke incidence .This article reviews the safety and efficacy of PLAAC preventing thromboembolism by retrospectively analyzing related studies of PLAAC .

Funnel Chest ; complications ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Kidney ; abnormalities ; Male ; Prune Belly Syndrome ; complications ; Situs Inversus ; complications ; Spleen ; abnormalities

Objective To investigate the feasibility and efficacy of posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy (PRA).Methods From September 2013 to September 2015,the clinical data of 35 patients who underwent posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy were reviewed.There were 14 males and 21 females,aged 15-70 years,with the average of 45.8 years.Preoperative CT scan showed 19 adrenal tumors in the left side,16 in the right side,and one case with the left adrenal adenoma combining with right renal cyst.Tumor diameter is between 10 ～ 60mm,with the average of 31mam.Twenty-two cases were diagnosed as primary aldosteronism,4 pheochromocytoma,and 9 non-functional adrenal tumor.The posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy were performed in all of the cases,which are under general anesthesia with tracheal intubation and prone position with hip joints and knee joints flexion of 90.Results Thirty-five operations were successfully completed via the posterior approach demonstrating clear anatomical layers.The operation time was 38-138min(mean 70 min),the drainage tube indwelling duration was l-Sd(average 2d),and the hospital stay was 2-6d (average 4d).Total costs of hospitalization were 14 789-31 992 yuan RMB,with an average of 21 239 yuan RMB.No complications occurred during the perioperative period.The average follow-up was 11 months,and no complications such as tumor recurrence occured.Conclusions Retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy provided clear anatomical views.It could be a safe and effective operation for the treatment of adrenal tumors.

Objective To determine whether an environmental intervention tailored to each patient's allergic sensitization and environmental risk factors could improve asthma-related outcomes. Methods Irritant or allergen sensitivity determined by the patient's exposure history and confirmed with skin test. Patients were asked to record 2-week days without symptoms, days off-work(or school) and ?2-agonist puffs. Pulmonary function was also examined. Ninety-six asthmatics with atopic asthma (aged 16-78 years) were randomly assigned to a control group, an intervention group that received an educational handout monthly for 2 months. Asthmatics of both groups inhalded budesonide at a daily dose 200-800 ?g and ?2-agonist as needed. Environmental intervention lasted six months and included education and remediation for exposure to allergens. The control group had no special recommendations. Results The intervention group had more days without symptoms compared with the control group (13.4 vs.10.1days, P

The pediatric risk of mortality Ⅲ(PRISM Ⅲ) score and pediatric critical illness score(PCIS) are physiology-based scores for assessing the severity of illness and mortality risk in pediatric patients.The PRISM Ⅲscore was revised version of the PRISM and was first developed in 1996.It includes 17 physiologic variables subdivided into 26 ranges.It had been validated by numerous studies worldwide and is the most widely known and used at pediatrics intensive care unit(PICU).The PCIS was first developed in 1995 in China,which included 10 physiologic variables.It had been validated by numerous studies nationwide and was simple,effective and suitable to Chinese situations.The scoring systems also can be used for quality assessments,grading the severity of illness in clinical study,and(stu)-dies of ICU resource utilization and management.There were no such study for validating the PRISM Ⅲ at present,comparing the performance of the PRISM Ⅲ score and the PCIS in China.

Objective To investigate the feasibility and efficacy of posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy (PRA).Methods To review the clinical data of 35 patients who underwent posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy from September 2013 to September 2015.There were 14 males and 21 females, aged 15-70 years, with an average of 45.8 years.Preoperative CT scan was performed to determine the size, shape and location of the tumor.Tumor diameter 10-60 mm, average 31 mm.Results 35 operations were successfully accomplished via the posterior approach.The operation time was 38-138 min (mean 70.1 min) ,and the drainage tube indwelling time was 1-5 d(average 2.1 d) ,the hospital stay was 2-6d(average 3.7 d).Total hospital costs were 14 789-31 992 yuan, average of 21 239 yuan.No complications occurred during the perioperative period.Conclusions Posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy might provide clear anatomical views.It could be a safe and effective operation for the clinical treatment of adrenal tumors.

Objective To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of danshenfenzhen and nutritional support in treating congestive heart failure accompanied with malnutrition on the basis of common treatment.Methods 42 cas- es of congestive heart failure accompanied with malnutrition were randomly divided into 2 groups:test group 21 cases (danshenfenzhen and nutritional support) and control group 21 cases(free diet),in the test group intravenous drip danshenfenzhen and vein nutrition were given if the internal nutrition can not provide enough energy on the basis of count of energy consumption,the serum albumin,total blood lymph cells and body weight were measured.Results After 14 days' treatment in the test group,the serum albumin,body weight and the total lymph cell increased signifi- cantly while in the control group,the serum albumin,body weight and the total lymph cells decreased significantly. Conclusion Intravenous drip danshenfenzhen and nutritional support can improve nutritional status and cardiac function of patients with congestive heart failure accompanied with malnutrition.

Family Schisandraceae is composed of two genera Schisandra and Kadsura, which are quite different in regard to the used part and medical function. Traditionally, the fruits of Schisandra plants were called 'Wuweizi' used as tonic for neurasthenia, antitussive, and sedative agents. The stems and roots of Kadsura plants, with names related to 'XueTeng', possess activating blood circulation and eliminating stasis and are used for the treatment of rheumatism, fractures and irregular menstruation. The dried fruit of Schisandra chinensis was recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2010 Edition) as 'Wuweizi', while the dried fruit of S. sphenanthera was recorded as an official origin of 'Nanwuweizi'. Historically, there was no evidence that the fruits of Kadsura plants were substituted as 'Wuweizi' either in ancient literatures or contemporary marketing. However, genus Kadsura is still popularly called 'Nanwuweizi' and plant K. longipedunculata is regarded as the origin of 'Nanwuweizi', thus this will cause confusion as well as misunderstanding of genus Kadsura. The authors recommended, therefore, the Chinese name of genus Kadsura should be 'Lengfantengshu' and K. longipedunculata with the name of 'Lengfanteng' in order to guarantee the drug authenticity.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical significance of pattern visual evoked potential (P-VEP) parameters on amblyopic patients with normal-vision atfer pleoptic therapy. Methods:We investigated 60 amblyopic children (8-12 years old) who gained normal-vision atfer pleoptic therapy. hTese patients were assigned to a unilateral amblyopia group (40 patients)and a bilateral amblyopia group (20 patients). Another 20 healthy children served as a control group. All patients underwent a full initial ophthalmologic and orthoptic evaluation. P-VEP test was performed in all. Amplitude and latencies were analyzed and compared among groups. The latencies of P100 waves in the amblyopic eyes were used to generate a multiple linear regression formula from sex, ifrst treatment age, baseline visual acuity, and cycloplegic refraction. Results:hTere was no signiifcant difference in the mean levels of best-corrected visual acuity among groups (P>0.05). A signiifcant prolongation of the latency and a decrease of amplitude of P100 waves were observed in the unilateral amblyopia group and the bilateral amblyopia group compared with the healthy control group (P<0.05). Amplitude and latencies of the fellow eyes in the unilateral amblyopia group were abnormal compared with the healthy control group (P<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the latencies of P100 waves were signiifcantly correlated with the ifrst treatment age, baseline visual acuity, and cycloplegic refraction (R2=0.52, P<0.05). Conclusion:Deifcits exist in the fellow eyes and in normal-vision eyes atfer pleoptic therapy. hTe delayed P100 latency is affected by the ifrst treatment age, baseline visual acuity, and cycloplegic refraction. Traditional amblyopic therapy may be not enough for vision function recovery.

C.citratus has been usedin many countries with a long history.Traditionally,it is applied as a food seasoning in cooking.It is also used in tea beverage and folk medicine as well.Modern application of C.citratus is focused on the development of citronella oil,which can be used for food additives,disinfectants,cosmetics,drugs and etc.C.citratus is also a potential plant in landscaping.Its special lemony flavor contains chemical constituents,mainly including citral,myrcene,linalool,geraniol,nerol,citronellol,and etc.The modern research showed that C.citratus had the main effects of anti-microbial,anti-inflammation,analgesia,anti-oxidation,anti-tumor,anti-anxiety,anti-hypertension,antihyperglycemia,and etc.With further studies,some new pharmacological properties of C.citrates are going to be discovered gradually.It is worthy of further research and development to meet the needs of the health industry.