Cysts ; congenital ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Tongue Diseases ; congenital ; diagnosis ; surgery

Antihypertensive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypertension ; therapy ; Practice Guidelines as Topic

The rapid development of computer technology, molecular pharmacology and molecular biology extremely promoted the extensive and successful application of virtual screening technique (VST) in pharmaceutical exploitation. Based on plentiful literature and their own previous work, the authors elaborated the principles, methodology and strategy of VST systematically, gave a retrospection on the application of VST in the field of TCM in the last several years, and supposed that along with deepening of understanding, VST would play a greater role in TCM.
Computational Biology ; Computer Simulation ; Drug Design ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Software ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of arthroscope-assisted surgical technique in treating knee fractures and knee peripheral fractures.Methods From September 2000 to December 2005,there were 46 cases with knee or knee peripheral fractures,in whom artbroseope-assisted surgical technique was performed in 36 cases including 24 males and 12 females,with mean age of 30.5 years (18-52 years).Of 36 cases,26 cases with patella fractures were treated by internal fixation of tension band using cancellous bone screws,four with distal end femoral fractures by retrograde interlocking using intramedullary nail and six with fractures of tibial plateau and tibial condyle crista by internal fixation u- sing cancellous bone screws.Results The mean hospitalization was eight days.A follow up for 3-36 months(average 14 months)in 36 cases showed fracture healing.Of 36 cases,32 cases regained full knee range of motion,four left with terminal flexion,with mean loss of 15?,and had thigh circumference (10 cm above knee)1.1 cm(range 0.6-2.0 cm)shorter than health side and two had slight pain in the knee joint.Lysholm knee joint function score was 86.5+7.6 for patellar fractures,tibial plateau frac- tures and condylar crista fractures.Conclusion As for knee or knee peripheral fractures,arthroscope- assisted surgical technique can provide fine monitoring,decrease trauma and complications,fixate inter- nally and help early ground exercise.

Through summarizing the literatures concerning basic and clinical study on the correlation between blood-stasis syndrome (BSS) and inflammation, reviewing close correlation of BSS with C-reaction protein, serum interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor and adhesion molecules, it was found that promoting blood circulation and removing stasis approaches could effect vitally in clinical treatment of inflammation, and the inflammation reaction shows certain effect of mediation in animal model of BSS. Accordingly, the important role played by inflammatory reaction in the occurrence and development of BSS is summarized in the paper.
Blood Coagulation ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Inflammation ; blood ; pathology ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Syndrome ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

In Taiwan, the first human-infecting H6N1 avian influenza virus was isolated in 2013. To better understand the origin, evolutionary relationship and pathogenesis of the H6N1 virus, we studied the adaptive evolution and evolutionary dynamics of the hemagglutinin (HA) genes of the H6N1 virus in Taiwan. We felt that such studies woud contribute to the further study and control of the virus. Datasets were gained from the Flu and Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) databases. Then, phylogenetic trees and evolutionary dynamics were reconstructed. The evolutionary rate and characterization of adaptive evolution were analyzed by bioinformatic methods. Results indicated that the HA genes of H6N1 in Taiwan were divided into at least five types, and that the new types that the infected human H6N1 belonged to could be local advantage type at present. Evolutionary dynamics revealed the viral population expanded first at the end of 1971, reduced sharply in 2008, and then increased slightly. Three sites were identified under positive selection, suggesting that various sites might increase the adaptive ability of the virus. Eighty-nine sites were under negative selection, revealing that these sites might play an important role in the replication and epidemiology of the virus. Interestingly, site 329 upstream from the cleavage site was also under negative selection, suggesting that this site might be associated with the virulence of H6N1. These data suggest that the HA genes of the Taiwanese H6N1 virus have been undergoing adaptive evolution, and that an outbreak may occur again. Hence, more attention should be paid to the identified sites, to enable timely monitoring and control of a future epidemic.
Animals ; Birds ; Evolution, Molecular ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; genetics ; Influenza A virus ; genetics ; Influenza in Birds ; virology ; Taiwan

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Base Sequence ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sequence Deletion ; Smoking ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and mechanism of Qingxuan Tiaoya Recipe (QXTYR) on depressing blood pressure in menopausal women with hypertension.

METHODSPatients were randomly assigned to two groups, the 44 patients in the test group were administered with perindopril tablet and QXTYR granule, while the 43 in the control group were administered with the same program, but a simulator of QXTYR was used to replace for the real one. The treatment course for them all was 2 months. Before and after treatment, the ambulatory blood pressure (ABMP), heart rate, related clinical symptoms, blood lipids, serum estradiol (E2), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ( Hs-CRP), homocysteine (HCY) and angiotensin II (Ang II) were measured.

RESULTSThe treatment in the test group showed an effect better than that in the control group in terms of reducing blood pressure variability and night-time blood pressure decrease rate (P <0.05), with the total effective rate and markedly effective rate in lowering blood pressure superior to the control group (P<0.05), alleviating symptoms as headache, soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, and insomnia (P <0.05), and decreasing levels of heart rate, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), Hs-CRP and Ang II (P <0.05), The plasma level of endogenous E2 was elevated after treatment in the test group (P< 0.05), but showed no statistical difference in the control group.

CONCLUSIONSQXTYR shows favorable effect in depressing blood pressure of menopausal women with hypertension, it can reduce blood pressure variability, improve the symptoms of the menopause syndrome, blood lipid metabolism and plasma levels of Hs-CRP, E2, and Ang II in patients, suggesting that its mechanism may be related to the functional regulation of sympathetic-vagus nerve and neuro-endocrine-immune system, and also the inhibition on the circulatory renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activity.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; Menopause ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy of the locking internal fixator (LIF), which includes the locking compression plate (LCP) and the less invasive stable system (LISS), in the proximal and distal tibial fractures.

METHODSWe did a retrospective study on a total of 98 patients with either proximal or distal tibial fractures from January 2003 to January 2007, who had received the operation with LIF by the minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) technique. The data consisted of 43 proximal tibial fractures (type AO41C3) and 55 distal tibial fractures (type AO43C3).

RESULTSNo complications were observed in all patients after operation. The mean healing time was 8.4 months (range 5-14 months). Only two cases of delayed union occurred at postoperative 10 months. No infections were reported after the definitive surgery even in the cases of open fractures. All patients reached a full range of motion at postoperative 6 to 9 months and regained the normal functions of knee and ankle joints.

CONCLUSIONUsing LIF in MIPO technique is a reliable approach towards the proximal and distal tibial fractures that are not suitable for intramedullary nailing.

Bone Plates ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Tibial Fractures ; surgery

Objective To explore the efficacy and safty of sorafenib in Child-Pugh class B to class C hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Methods In this three-center open-label study from November 2011 to May 2013, we randomly assigned 189 patients with advanced Child-Pugh class B or C HCC patients into two groups, one group with 95 patient to receive sorafenib (400 mg a time, twice a day) and the other group with 94 patients to receive best supportive care. The primary end points were progression-free survival and overall survival.
Results The median progression-free survival was 2.2 months and 1.9 months in the sorafenib group and best supportive care group respectively (Hazard ratio in the sorafenib group, 0.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.40-0.75;P=0.002). The median overall survival was 4.0 months and 3.5 months in the sorafenib group and best supportive care group respectively (Hazard ratio in the sorafenib group, 0.48;95%confidence interval, 0.35-0.68;P<0.001). The main adverse effect of sorafenib was rash and acne of the skin (in 51.7%patients). The incidences of severe rash, diarrhea, and dry skin were 5.6%, 5.6%, and 2.2%in the sorafenib group. One patient reached partial response in the sorafenib group.
Conclusions Sorafenib is safe in patients with liver function impaired advanced HCC. It is effective in terms of progression-free survival and overall survival compared with best supportive care. Liver functions are the important predictive factors.