Aged ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; adverse effects ; Male ; Spinal Stenosis ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo explore the time law of electroacupuncture in regulation of circadian rhythms of the organism.

METHODSEffects of electroacupuncture at "Shenshu" (BL 23) at Zi, Wu, Mao and You periods on circadian rhythms of locomotor activity and core body temperature in hamsters were observed with chronobiological research methods.

RESULTSElectroacupuncture at Wu period could decrease the amplitude of locomotor activity rhythm (P < 0.05), at Mao period could delay the peak phase of circadian rhythm and at You period could advance the peak phase of circadian rhythm (both P < 0.05); and electroacupuncture at Mao period could delay 22.36 degrees and at You period advance 39.32 degrees for the rhythm peak of the circadian rhythm of core body temperature.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture has a certain effect on circadian rhythm of locomotor activity and core body temperature.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Body Temperature ; Body Temperature Regulation ; Circadian Rhythm ; Cricetinae ; Motor Activity

OBJECTIVETo observe the impacts on skeletal fluorosis pain, joint motor dysfunction and urine fluoride excretion in the treatment with fire needle therapy, electroacupuncture and calcium carbonate D3.

METHODSThe randomized controlled trial was adopted. Ninety-five patients were randomized into a fire needle group (31 cases), an electroacupuncture group (33 cases) and a calcium carbonate D3 group (31 cases). In the fire needle group and the electroacupuncture group, Ashi points, Dazhui (GV 14), Geshu (BL 17), Quchi (LI 11), Hegu (LI 4), Xuehai (SP 10) points were selected and stimulated with fire needle and electroacupuncture separately, three times a week. In the calcium carbonate D3 group, calcium carbonate D3 tablets was prescribed for oral administration, 600 mg each time, twice a day. The duration of treatment was 2 months in the electroacupuncture group and calcium carbonate D3 group and 1 month in the fire needle group. VAS score, the range of motion (ROM) and urine fluoride value were compared before and after treatment in the patients of the three groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, VAS value and ROM were improved significantly in the patients of the three groups (all P < 0.05), the difference was not significant in comparison of the three groups (all P > 0.05). After treatment, the urine fluoride value was increased significantly in the fire needle group [(7.89 +/- 3.61) mg/L vs (9.81 +/- 4.17) mg/L, P < 0.01] and was increased in the electroacupuncture group [(7.53 +/- 3.46) mg/L vs (8.97 +/- 4.21) mg/L, P < 0.05]. The difference was not significant in comparison before and after treatment in the calcium carbonate D3 group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe fire needle therapy, electroacupuncture and calcium carbonate D3 all have the clinical value in the prevention and treatment of skeletal fluorosis and the difference in the therapeutic effect has not been discovered among them yet at present. But it has been found that the fire needle therapy and electroacupuncture display the active significance in the promotion of urine fluoride excretion.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Diseases ; drug therapy ; therapy ; urine ; Calcium Carbonate ; administration & dosage ; Electroacupuncture ; instrumentation ; Female ; Fluorides ; urine ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Needles ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To measure the expressions of cytotoxity-related cytokines in CD8+memory T cell subsets of peripheral blood in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and further analyze the relationship between the cytokine levels and MS disease severity. Methods Four-color flow cytometry was employed to detect the proportion of CD8+ memory T cell subsets expressed perforin and granzyme-B in peripheral blood of patients with MS, with other neurological disorders (OND) and of normal control (NC) group. The expanded disability status scale (EDSS) was used to reflect the disease severity at the time of blood sampling. Results Patients with MS had a decreased proportion of effector memory CD8+ T (CD8+ TEM) cells and terminal TEM cells expressed granzyme-B as compared with NC group (P＜0.05). CD8+ TEM cells expressed granzyme-B and perforin were negatively correlated to the scores of EDSS in patients with MS (r=-0.493, P=0.027; r=-0.594, P=0.009). Conclusions CD8+ TEM may be involved in the MS-related CNS inflammatory immune response. The proportion of CD8+ TEM cells expressed perforin and granzyme-B can be used to reflect the pathological severity of MS lesions to some degrees.

Adolescent ; Algorithms ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Scoliosis ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; surgery

Adult ; Aged ; Coal Mining ; Health Promotion ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Health ; statistics & numerical data ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the proportion and mechanism of relieving asthma of drug partnership comprising herbal Ephedrae & Pheretima.

METHODTo study relaxant effect on 10 micromol x L(-1) carbachol (CCh) and 10 micromol x L(-1) histamine (His) precontracted isolated tracheal rings and lowering effect on short-circuit current (Isc) increase induced by 10 micromol x L(-1) CCh with 3 proportions of 1:1, 1:3, 1:9 extract.

RESULT1:3 proportions dose-dependently relaxed CCh-precontracted isolated tracheal rings, IC50 of 1:1, 1:3 is 7.5, 15 mg x mL(-1) respectively, 1:9 could not produce 50% inhibition effect on CCh-evoked contraction; 3 proportions also dose-dependently relaxed His-precontracted isolated tracheal rings, IC50 of 1:9, 1:3 and 1:1 is 0.19, 0.61, 1.8 mg x mL(-1) respectively. On the other hand,the orders potency of the decrease effect on CCh-evoked short circuit current increase is 1:3 > 1:1 > 1:9. The difference is not significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHerbal Ephedrae & Pheretima had tracheal muscle relaxant and epithelium ion secretion inhibition effect, its mechanism of relieving asthma involved anti-CCh and anti-His effect 1:3 was the most appropriate dosage ratio in the anti-asthmatic drug partnership.

Animals ; Anti-Asthmatic Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Asthma ; physiopathology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Ephedra sinica ; chemistry ; Guinea Pigs ; Histamine Antagonists ; pharmacology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Materia Medica ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Muscle Relaxation ; drug effects ; Muscle, Smooth ; drug effects ; Oligochaeta ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo introduce a method by reversed ulnar fasciocutaneous flap incised form the ulnar side of the fifth metacarpal area for repairing the soft tissue defect of the fifth finger.

METHODSFrom May 2001 to September 2001, ten patients with the soft tissue defects of the thenar side, dorsal side or ulnar side of the fifth finger were treated with the reversed ulnar fasciocutaneous flap incised from the fifth metacarpal area. The axial line of the flap was the line from ulnar side of the head of the fifth metacarpal bone to the pisiform level. The revolving point of the flap pedicle was 0.5-1 cm near the proximal end of the metacarpal-phalangeal joint.The area of the flap was form 5.0 cm x 3.5 cm to 1.5 cm x 1.0 cm.

RESULTSAll flaps of the ten cases were alive. 5-7 months followed-up show that, after operation, the flap present sensation in 6-12 mm, with soft texture and good appearances.

CONCLUSIONSThe advantages of this operative method were as follows: the reversed ulnar fasciocutaneous flap of the fifth metacarpal area have reliable blood supply, it was easily dissected and with good texture. So far this kind of flap is a good choice in repairing the soft tissue of the fifth finger.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Fascia ; transplantation ; Female ; Finger Injuries ; surgery ; Humans ; Metacarpal Bones ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps ; Young Adult

Albuminuria ; drug therapy ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; drug therapy ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Tetrazoles ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of solid focal lesions of pancreas (s-FLPs).

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 56 s-FLPs examined with contrast agent combined with low mechanical indicators contrast-enhanced ultrasound.

RESULTSThe surrounding pancreas parenchyma enhancement time, lesion enhancement time, and peak enhancement time between different groups of s-FLPs had no significant differences (P > 0.05), while the beginning to peak enhancement time showed significant difference (P < 0.05). When using the enhancement speed as a diagnostic indicator to differentiate pancreatic carcinoma from tumor-like pancreatitis, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 90.5%, 71.4%, and 85.7% for pancreatic carcinoma and 75.0%, 91.7%, and 89.3% for tumor-like pancreatitis. When using the enhancement pattern as a diagnosis indicator to differentiate pancreatic carcinoma from tumor-like pancreatitis, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 85.7%, 78.6%, and 83.9% for pancreatic carcinoma and 75.0%, 100%, and 94.6% for tumor-like pancreatitis. When different indicators were combined, enhancement pattern and enhancement speed showed the best diagnostic results; however, the Youden index was not improved.

CONCLUSIONSDifferent s-FLPs show different enhancement findings on contrast-enhanced ultrasound. The enhancement pattern and enhancement speed are the most useful diagnostic indicators.

Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Pancreas ; diagnostic imaging ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Pancreatitis ; diagnostic imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography