OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy between elongated needle therapy and regular needle therapy at Tiantu (CV 22) on the basis of xingnao kaiqiao (activiting brain and regaining consciousness) acupuncture therapy so as to explore the effective therapeutic method in treatment of dysphagia induced by bulbar palsy.

METHODSSeventy one cases of dysphagia induced by bulbar palsy were randomized into two groups. The xingnao kaiqiao acupuncture therapy was applied at Shuigou (GV 26), Neiguan (PC 6), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and the others in the two groups. In the elongated needle therapy group, on the basis of xingnao kaiqiao acupuncture therapy, the elongated needle was used to puncture Tiantu (CV 22). In the regular needle therapy, the regular acupuncture technique was used at Tiantu (CV 22). In both groups, the treatment was given once a day in a week except Sunday and lasted for 4 weeks totally. Before and after treatment, the swallowing condition and the standardized swallowing assessment (SSA) were observed in the patients and the efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 97.2% (35/36) in the elongated needle therapy group, which was better than 77.1% (27/35) in the regular needle therapy group (P<0.05). After treatment, SSA score was reduced significantly as compared with that before treatment in the two groups (both P<0.05). SSA score in the elongated needle therapy group was reduced much more apparently as compared with that in the regular needle therapy group after treatment (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONOn the basis of the xingnao kaiqiao acupuncture therapy, the elongated needle therapy at Tiantu (CV 22) achieves the superior effect on bulbar palsy-induced dysphagia as compared with the regular acu- puncture at Tiantu (CV 22).

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Bulbar Palsy, Progressive ; complications ; Deglutition Disorders ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To compare the osteogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells(DPSCs)induced by osteopontin(OPN)and mineralizing culture medium(MCM).Methods:DPSCs were cultured with OPN(OPN group)and MCM(MCM group)respectively. The morphology of the DPSCs were observed under inverted microscope.The mineralize nodules were observed by alizarin red staining. RT-RCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of bone sialoprotein (BSP),Runt-related transcription factor 2(Runx-2),osteocal-cin(OCN)and collagen-1(Col-1).Results:Similar number of mineralized nodules was found in the 2 groups(P >0.05)after 28 day culture.The mRNA expression level of BSP gene in OPN group was higher than that in MCMgroup(0.864 ±0.112 and 0.514 ±0.068, P <0.05),while the expression level of Runx-2 gene in OPN group is lower than that in MCMgroup(0.186 ±0.017 and 0.324 ±0. 058,P <0.05).The expression level of Col-1 and OCN genes in both groups were similar(P >0.05).Conclusion:The capabilities of OPN and MCMin inducing osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs are similar.

Anemia, Aplastic ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Benzene ; poisoning ; Expert Testimony ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Diseases ; diagnosis

Objective To compare the efficacy of supraclavicular approach and infraclavicular approach in ultrasound-guided brachial plexus block(BPB).Methods One hundred and twenty patients,ASA Ⅰ-Ⅲ,aged 18-80 yr,scheduled for upper extremity surgeries of both gender,were randomized into two groups(n =60):supraclavicular group(group SCB)and infraclavicular group(group ICB).The anesthetic mixture consisted of ropivacaine 0.375％ and lidocaine 1％ in equal volumes with epinephrine 1∶200 000,the total dose was 0.5 ml/kg.The block performance time,duration of anesthesia and success of anesthesia(surgery was accomplished without supplementary block)were recorded.A blinded observer assessed pinprick sensory block in the seven distal nerve territories(axillary,radial,musculocutaneous,median,ulnar,medial antebrachial and medial brachial cutaneous nerves)every 5 min up to 30 min after injection.Success of nerve block,side effects and complications were recorded during and after operalion.Results Group ICB was superior in success rate of anesthesia and nerve block of ulnar,medial antebrachial and medial brachial cutaneous nerves,the rate of parasthesia was lower and the block performance time was longer compared with group SCB(P ＜ 0.05).No major complications occurred in both groups.Conclusion Under ultrasound guidance,infraclavicular BPB is superior to supraclavicular approach.

Objective To evaluate the gender differences in neuromuscular blockade induced with rocuronium in patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Methods Twenty-four ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients aged 20-59 yrs undergoing abdominal surgery under general anesthesia were enrolled in this study. Their body mass index (BMI) ranged between 18.5-25 kg?m-2. Patients with neuromuscular disease were excluded and no patient was taking any drug that might influence the effect of muscle relaxant. The patients were divided into male group ( n = 12) and female group (n = 12). The neuromuscular function was monitored and recorded using accelerography (DK-5210, Biometer, Denmark). The response of adductor pollicis muscle to train-of-four (TOF) stimulation of ulnar nerve were recorded. Body temperature was maintained at 36.0-36.9℃ and room temperature at 24-26℃ during surgery. The premedication included intramuscular atropine 0.01 mg?kg-1 and oral diazepam 10 mg. Anesthesia was induced with fentanyl 2-4 ?g?kg-1, propofol 2-3 mg?kg-1 and rocuronium 0.6 mg?kg-1. The patients were intubated and mechanically ventilated (VT = 7-10 ml RR = 12-14 bpm). PET CO2 was maintained between 35-45 mm Hg. Anesthesia was maintained with propofol by TCI (effect-site concentration was set at 3-4 ?g?ml-1) and intermittent i.v. boluses of fentanyl. Rocuronium (1 mg?ml-1) was infused and T1 was maintained at 5%-10% of the control height. At the end of surgery rocuronium infusion was terminated and neostigmine 0.05 mg?kg-1 was given i.v. .Results There were significant differences in body weight and height between male and female groups ( P

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical feature peripheral neuropathy and vasculopathy after acrylamide toxication. Methods2 young male patients with peripheral neuropathy who had exposed to acrylamide for job more than one year were reported.ResultsNeuroelectrophysiological examination showed marked abnormalities in both peripheral and central nerve conduction in both patients. Sural nerve biopsies revealed axonal degeneration, Wallerian degeneration and giant axon with accumulated neurofilaments. Additonally, vasculopathies including prominant thickness of arterial intesma and basal membrane of capillary as well as apoptosis of vascular pericyte, were evident. ConclusionAxonal degeneration and vascular involvement has been found in acrylamide toxication. Vascular impairment maybe plays an important role in the pathogenesis of neuropathy.

The on-line monitor for the changes in the content of baicalin in Scutellariae Radix formula particles during the extraction process was conducted by using near infrared spectroscopy (NIR). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used as a reference method. Kennard-Stone (KS) was used to divide sample sets, so as to compare different pretreatment methods. The synergy interval partial least squares (SiPLS) was used to screen out modeling wave band to establish partial least-squares models. The relative error method was applied to predict forecast set samples of Scutellariae Radix in three extraction phases. The results showed that the model established by Savitzky-Golay smoothing with 11 points (SG11 points) was the best, with the root mean square with cross validation (RMSECV), root mean square error of correction (RMSEC) and root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of baicalin of 0.092 7, 0.134 4 and 0.114 8, respectively, the determination coefficient R2 of greater than 0.99, and the relative error of baicalin content of less than 5%. This indicates that the on-line near infrared reflectance spectroscopy could be applied in on-line monitor and quality control of the extraction process of Scutellariae Radix formula particles.
Automation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; standards ; Quality Control ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; methods

ObjectiveTo assess the blood-saving effect of acute plateletpheresis (APP) and back-transfusion in patients undergoing open.heart surgery with CPB.MethodsThirty ASA Ⅱ or Ⅲ patients aged 41-63 yr weighing 52-72 kg undergoing open heart surgery with CPB were randomly divided into 2 groups (n =15 each):control group (group C) and APP group.In APP group,platelet-rich plasma was harvested immediately after induction of anesthesia and transfused back to the patient after termination of CPB and neutralization of heparin with protamine.In group C plateletpheresis was not performed.Hb,Plt,PT,APTT and Fib were measured before induction and at 1,24 and 48 h after operation.CPB time,aortic crossclamping time,postoperative chest tube drainage and blood product transfusion requirements were recorded.ResultsIn APP group the volume of the whole blood processed for plateletpheresis was (1285 ± 185) ml and ( 192 ± 38) ml of platelet-rich plasma was sequestered.The platelet count of the sequestered plasma was(817 ± 282) × 109/L,accounting for (21 ± 3) ％ of the total number of Pit in the whole blood volume.The plateletpheresis took (35 ± 10) min.The platelet count at 1 h after operation was significantly higher in APP group than in group C.The volume of postoperative chest tube drainage at 24 h after operation was significantly lower in APP group than in group C.Less allogeneic RBC and Plt were transfused in APP group than in group C.There was no significant difference in other variables between the 2 groups.ConclusionAPP has blood-saving effect in patients undergoing open heart surgery with CPB.

In this paper, the process performance indexes (PPIs) P(p) and P(pk) were introduced and applied to evaluate the process capability and quality consistence of Chinese medicine products. The historical quality analysis data of Qingkailing injection were collected and taken as the research object. The confidence intervals of P(p) and P(pk) were estimated based on the Bootstrap sampling methods. Results showed that the value and width of the confidence interval P(p) of were smaller that of P(pk) suggesting that the P(pk) index was more sensitive than P(p) in process capability analysis. Within the production period concerned, the P(pk) values estimated from different quality indexes of Qingkailing injection, such as baicalin, cholic acid, geniposide and total nitrogen, were 1.122, 2.055, 1.564 and 0.891, respectively. It could be found that the cholic acid had the highest process capability, followed by the geniposide and baicalin. The total nitrogen had the lowest process capability, indicating that it is necessary to reinforce the quality management of total nitrogen related manufacturing processes. The case studies demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of PPIs, which are convenient to be used in production practice of Chinese medicine.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; standards ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; standards ; Injections ; Quality Control

Objective To compare the clinical value of three visual rating scales (VRS) for white matter lesions (WML) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).Methods Totally 184 subjects (including 107 AD patients,47 MCI patients and 30 normal controls)were recruited.All subjects underwent comprehensive neuropsychological tests and were examined with a standard protocol of MR imaging.WML burden was rated with the Age-Related White Matter Changes (ARWMC) rating scale,Cholinergic Pathways Hyperintensities Scale (CHIPS) and Fazekas scale.Consistence of the three rating scales were analyzed,and detection results of WML in AD/ MCI/NC group with the three rating scales were compared.The relationship between WML and cognitive function in AD and MCI groups were explored.Results ARWMC rating scale,CHIPS and Fazekas scales were moderately to highly correlated with WML (r=0.61-0.78,all P＜0.01).ARWMC showed that WML were in the left and right frontal lobes in AD and MCI groups and in the right frontal lobe and left temporal lobe in NC group,which had significant differences (F=4.20,4.69,4.69,3.36,respectively,all P＜0.05).WML in the left temporal lobe had a significant difference between MCI group and NC group (F=3.36,P＜0.05).CHIPS showed that WML in the front left side of centrum semiovale in AD and MCI groups had significant difference as compared with that in NC group (F=4.88,P＜0.05),and WML in the rear right side of low external capsule had a significant difference between AD and NC groups (F=3.04,P＜0.05).Fazekas scale showed that there was no difference in WML among AD,MCI and NC groups.ARWMC showed that scores of WML in right temporal lobe were positively correlated with concentration and visual construction,and bilateral basal ganglia were negatively correlated with the concentration.Fazekas scale showed that scores of WML in periventricular were negatively correlated with concentration,MMSE and orientation,scores of WML in deep white matter were negatively correlated with concentration,abstraction and judgment,and the whole scores were negatively correlated with concentration.CHIPS showed that the scores of WML in the rear left side of low external capsule were negatively correlated with short-term memory in MCI group.Conclusions The three rating scales well consistent with each other.ARWMC rating scale and CHIPS can detect the differences in WML between AD,MCI and NC groups.The scores of CHIPS in WML are related with cognition in MCI group,while scores of ARWMC and Fazekas scale in WML are correlated with many aspects in cognitive function in AD group.In general speaking,CHIPS in MCI patients and ARWMC rating scale in AD patients show more advantages in the detection of WML and have better correlation with cognitive function.