Adolescent ; Calculi ; Humans ; Male ; Nose Diseases ; Turbinates

Bronchi ; abnormalities ; Bronchial Diseases ; congenital ; diagnosis ; Child, Preschool ; Constriction, Pathologic ; congenital ; Diagnostic Errors ; Female ; Foreign Bodies ; diagnosis ; Humans

Aged ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal/physiology* ; Vibration

OBJECTIVETo study on academic point of view of the book, A General Survey of Moribustion.

METHODSStudy academic thought of the book and clarify academic origin and characteristics of the book.

CONCLUSIONProcessing of argyi leaf, manufacture of mugwort floss and size of moxa cone have a certain technique standards in the book. The book indicates that small cones should be used with more times of moxibustion. and the properties of mugwort floss are not dry and heat, but are warm and moist and mild, moxibustion not only can be used to treat cold syndrome but also can be used to treat heat syndrome; the body can response to the external moxibustion. The above points of view have still guiding significance in nowadays.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Artemisia ; Books ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVEVasoconstriction and vascular hypersensitivity to serotonin were previously shown in animal models of adventitia injury. We investigated the contribution of angiotensin II (AngII)/AngII receptors and oxidative stress to vascular contractility and reactivity in this model.

METHODSWistar Kyoto rats were divided into 3 groups: normal (n = 6, no any intervention, only for measuring the serum AngII concentration), vehicle (n = 12, collared), and valsartan (n = 12, collared + valsartan 30 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1)). After one week of treatment, adventitia injury was induced by positioning a silicone collar around the right carotid artery for one week. Blood flow and vascular reactivity to serotonin were determined one week after injury, the blood from left ventricle was taken to measure the serum AngII concentration by ELISA, and carotids were harvested for morphometry and Western blot analysis.

RESULTSAdventitia injury induced lumen cross-sectional area reduction (-44% vs. -5%), media diameter increase (62% vs. 10%), blood flow reduction [(2.79 ± 0.22) vs. (4.33 ± 0.84) ml/min] were significantly attenuated by valsartan. The increased vascular reactivity sensitivity to serotonin in vehicle group was also significantly reduced in valsartan group. Serum AngII concentration was significantly increased in vehicle group [(45.21 ± 4.52) pg/ml vs. (19.83 ± 0.5) pg/ml in normal rats, P = 0.0148] and the expression of AngII type 1 (AT(1)) receptor, AngII type 2 (AT(2)) receptor, as well as p22(phox) in collared arteries were significantly upregulated. Valsartan did not affect the AT(1) receptor expression but further increased serum AngII concentration [(89.73 ± 20.44) pg/ml vs. (45.21 ± 4.52) pg/ml, P = 0.001], and AT(2) receptor expression, while downregulated p22(phox) expressions.

CONCLUSIONSCollar-induced adventitia injury resulted in chronic vasoconstriction and vascular hypersensitivity to serotonin via increased serum AngII level, upregulated AngII receptors expression in the vascular well, and activated local oxidative stress. These changes could be blocked by valsartan suggesting a crucial role of AngII/AngII receptors on vascular contractility and reactivity changes in this model.

Angiotensin II ; metabolism ; Animals ; Carotid Arteries ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Connective Tissue ; pathology ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Receptors, Angiotensin ; metabolism ; Tetrazoles ; pharmacology ; Valine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Valsartan ; Vasoconstriction ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of rhizoma sparganii and radices zedoariae on hepatic fibrosis.

METHODThe rat immunohepatic fibrosis model was made by intraperitoneal injection of porcine serum and treated with rhizoma sparganii and radices zedoariae. The ALT, GGT, TP, ALb, A/G, IVC, LN, HA and the pathological change of the liver were observed.

RESULTRhizoma sparganii and radices zedoariae could increase TP, ALb, A/G, decrease ALT, GGT, IVC, LN, HA and improve the pathological change.

CONCLUSIONRhizoma sparganii and radices zedoariae can protect hepatic cells, alleviate degeneration and necrosis, recover structure and function, and reduce the proliferation of fibrous tissue.

Animals ; Curcuma ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Magnoliopsida ; chemistry ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Rhizome ; chemistry

Objective To evaluate the effects of 'patch-skill'in the management of refractory bleeding during the process of open heart surgery.Methods Between May 2007 to Oetober 2008,7 patients undergoing open-heart surgery experienced active bleeding.Autologous perieardial patches were used in 6 patients, and polyester patch in the other one.The patches were sutured continuously by 5-0 Prolene suture.Results The 24 hour chest tube output was less than 500 ml in all 7 cases after operation.There were no death, secondly active bleeding,or mediastinal in-faction.Conclusion The'patch-skill' can effectively control the refractory bleeding during open heart surgery.Au-tologous perieardial patehe is the first choice because it has multiple advantages.The polyester patch ean be used al-ternatively when autologous pereardiurn cannot be used (for various reasons such as edema and infection).

OBJECTIVEThe study was designed to investigate the expression patterns of metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 protein in invasive breast carcinoma and to determine the clinicopathological and prognostic values of its various localization and relation to the tumor phenotypes.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry was performed on paraffin-embedded tissue array from 263 invasive breast carcinomas to investigate the protein expressions of MMP-13, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, HER2, MMP-2, MMP-9 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1, TIMP-2.

RESULTSMMP-13 protein was detected in the cytoplasm of carcinoma cells and peritumoral fibroblasts. High level expression of MMP-13 protein in tumor cells was associated with more lymph node involvement and higher tumor grade (both P < 0.01), and positively correlated with HER2 (P = 0.015) and TIMP-1 protein (P < 0.01) expression in carcinoma cells. Moreover, high expression of MMP-13 was associated with shortened overall survival for the entire patient population and the patient group with positive lymph node. Tumor cell derived MMP-13 had different impact on patients with different HER2 status. Peritumoral fibroblasts derived MMP-13 protein, although correlated with tumor cell derived MMP-13 and associated with lymph node stage and HER2 expression, was found having less prognostic impact. Univariate survival analysis showed that the tumor size, grade, lymph node status, PR status, HER2 expression, tumors TIMP-1 and MMP-13 expression were prognostic factors. However, multivariate survival analysis showed that only tumor size, lymph node status, HER2 expression, tumors TIMP-1 and MMP-13 were independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONMMP-13 protein expressed by tumor cells correlates with the invasion and metastasis of breast carcinoma, and therefore, may serve as a poor prognostic marker for the patient.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 ; analysis ; genetics ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; analysis ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Neoplasm Staging ; classification ; Prognosis ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; analysis ; Receptors, Estrogen ; Receptors, Progesterone ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of top pruning on fruiting characters of Platycodon grandiflorum, and find the suitable stage, in which seed growth and development furtherly.

METHODOne-year old seedlings were chosen and planted in field. Plant height, branching number, fruit number per plant, 1000 grains weight were measured during growth and development period, respectively.

RESULTThe treatment of top pruning postponed in turn the flowering date, lowered the plant heights and the fruit number per plant, increased the branching number and influenced significantly on 1000 grains weights.

CONCLUSIONThe suitable stage of top pruning for producing seeds was from June 20th to July 5th.

Crops, Agricultural ; growth & development ; Fruit ; growth & development ; Platycodon ; growth & development

BACKGROUNDObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome has a negative impact on the health of millions of adolescents and youth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations of OSA syndrome with obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors among adolescents and youth at risk for metabolic syndrome (MS).

METHODSA total of 558 subjects aged 14-28 years were recruited from the Beijing Child and Adolescent Metabolic Syndrome Study. Each underwent a 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), echocardiography, and liver ultrasonography. Anthropometric measures, blood levels of glucose, lipids, and liver enzymes were assessed. Subjects with high or low risk for OSA were identified by Berlin Questionnaire (BQ).

RESULTSAmong the subjects in obesity, 33.7% of whom were likely to have OSA by BQ. Subjects with high risk for OSA had higher neck and waist circumference and fat mass percentage compared to those with low risk for OSA (P < 0.001). Moreover, significant differences in levels of lipids, glucose after OGTT, and liver enzymes, as well as echocardiographic parameters were found between the two groups with high or low risk for OSA (P < 0.05). The rates of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (71.0% vs. 24.2%), MS (38.9% vs. 7.0%), and its components in high-risk group were significantly higher than in low-risk group.

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of OSA by BQ was high in obese adolescents and youth. A high risk for OSA indicates a high cardiometabolic risk. Mechanisms mediating the observed associations require further investigation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Beijing ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; complications ; epidemiology ; Obesity ; complications ; epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Waist Circumference ; physiology ; Young Adult