OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and safety of extracorporeal shock wave (ESW) in the treatment of pain symptom of type III B prostatitis.

METHODSWe treated 50 cases of type III B prostatitis by ESW once a week for 4 weeks. Then we evaluated the clinical effect and safety of the therapy based on the NIH-CPSI scores, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, IIEF-5 scores, prostate volume and morphous, state of urination, color of urine, results of routine semen analysis, and changes of cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β) in expressed prostatic secretion (EPS).

RESULTSAll the patients successfully accomplished the treatment. Compared with the baseline, decreases were observed after 4 weeks of cytokine treatment in the pain scores (14. 61 ± 1. 82 vs 9. 36 ± 1. 47, P <0. 01), urination symptom scores (4. 59 ± 1. 01 vs.4. 66 ± 0. 89, P >0. 05) , quality of life scores (6. 51 ± 1. 03 vs 4. 56 ± 1. 02, P <0. 01), NIH-CPSI (25. 43 ± 1. 72 vs 18. 28 ± 2. 32, P <0. 01 ), and VAS (6. 59 ± 1. 10 vs 3. 02 ± 1. 07, P < 0. 01). The concentration of IL-6 in the EPS was significantly increased ([55.82 ± 6. 28] vs [86.59 ± 4. 55] ng/ml, P <0. 01) , while the level of TNF-α ([3.89 ± 0. 12] vs [3. 19 ± 0.22] ng/ml, P<0.01) and that of IL-1β ([3.21 ± 1.01] vs [1.48 ± 0.95] ng/ml, P< 0. 01) remarkably reduced after treatment. However, there were no statistically significant differences in IIEF-5 scores (18. 58 ± 2. 03 vs 18. 51 1. 89, P >0. 05) or various sperm parameters before and after treatment (P >0. 05). And no significant changes were observed in the prostate volume, morphous or internal echoes.

CONCLUSIONThe ESW therapy is effective and safe for the pain symptom of type III B prostatitis.

Adult ; Body Fluids ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain ; etiology ; metabolism ; Pain Management ; methods ; Prostatitis ; complications ; metabolism ; therapy ; Quality of Life ; Spermatozoa ; physiology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; Ultrasonic Therapy ; methods ; Urine

Objective: To explore the clinical characteristics of ST elevation and non-ST elevation acute myocardial infarction (AMI) related with left circumflex artery (LCX) occlusion. Methods: Clinical data of 86 consecutively enrolled patients with LCX occlusion -related AMI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were retrospectively analyzed. According to manifestations of electrocardiography, the patients were divided into ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) group (n=32) and non STEMI (NSTEMI) group (n=54). Clinical features and prognosis were compared between two groups. Results: Compared with NSTEMI group, there were significant increase in serum level of creatinine [(80±23) μmmol/L vs. (100±30) μmmol/L], in rates of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation （IABP）support (3.7% vs. 18.8%), usage of invasive respiratory machine (1.9% vs. 15.6%), ischemic mitral reflux (13.0% vs. 40.6%), complete atrioventricular block (0 vs. 9.4%), proportion of left coronary artery dominant type (7.4% vs. 28.1%) and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter [LVEDd,（46±4）mm vs.（48±5）mm?]; And significant decrease in percentage of triple-vessel coronary disease (72.2% vs. 46.9%) in STEMI group, P<0.05 or <0.01. There was no significant difference in mortality rate during admission (3.1% vs. 0, P>0.05) between STEMI group and NSTEMI group. Conclusions: Compared with patients with NSTEMI, patients with STEMI have poorer heart function in patients with left circumflex artery occlusion, which may be related to more left coronary dominance.

Objective To study the different biomechanics surgical effects of posterolateral fusion , the transverse fusion and the interbody fusion. Method Scan CT was followed with preprocess of images. The Mimics , HyperMesh and Geomagic Studio Reverse engineering softwares were used to establish the modles of lumbar fusion , then the finite element computation was conducted by using the Abaqus finite element software. Result The EF of each lumbar modle was established , the EF of the interbody fusionwas rised evidently. After the fusion , the stress of the adjacent lumbar were also rised, among them the stress of the upper adjacent segment in tnterbody fusion was the most in extension and rotation , with statistical significance ( P < 0 . 05 ) . In the antexion the stress of the transverse fusion was the most, and the new type of posterolateral fusion least, three of them all hadstatistical significance (P<0.05). In the lateral flexion, they had no statistical significance (P>0.05). About the under adjacent sengment, in the extension and antexion, the stress of the interbody fusion was the most, and the new type of posterolateral fusion was the least, the three of them all haved statistical significance (P<0.05, respectively). In the rotation and lateral flexion, with no statistical significance (P>0.05). Conclusion After the fusion, the EF of the lumbar and the stress of the lumbar disc are all established, the interbody fusion is most, while the others are lower.

OBJECTIVETo study possible mechanisms of Shangjuxu (ST37) and the large intestine.

METHODSTotally 40 SD rats were selected. The distension of end colon was used as injured afferent stimulus. Activities of locus coeruleus (LC) neurons were recorded by extracellular microelectrode technique. Shangjuxu (ST37) and Hegu (L14) were needled to observe general features of discharge reactions, distention of colon induced discharge reactions of LC, and its effects on distention of colon induced discharge reactions of LC.

RESULTSDistention of colon could induce incrased discharge of LC neurons by 127.33% ± 45.48%. But needling at Shangjuxu (ST37) and Hegu (L14) could inhibit this injured response by 38.24% ± 7.69% and 21.29% ± 13.16% respectively (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSNeedling at Shangjuxu (ST37) and afferent signals of colon distension converged and interacted with each other. Needling at Shangjuxu (ST37) could significantly inhibit colon distension induced discharge of LC neurons, which might be one of mechanisms for Shangjuxu (ST37) and the large intestine relationship.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Colon ; Intestine, Large ; Locus Coeruleus ; physiology ; Neurons ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Syndrome and formulae (or prescription) are two key issues in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and the premise research for material basis of TCM. However, vagueness of syndromes and complexity of formulae greatly limited the evaluation to syndromes and effective substance basis of prescription. Therefore, how to solve the evaluation of syndromes, confirming the efficacy material basis in prescription are the current hot issues of international concern. To solve these problems, establishing chinmedomics by integrated serum pharmacochemistry of TCM with metabolomics technology, that is a unique method of TCM research, made outstanding contributions in solving international concerns such as the effectiveness and security aspects of TCM. On the basis of the biological characterization of syndrome, the metabolic profiling of animal models of TCM syndrome, and related metabolic fingerprints as well as metabolic biomarkers were established to evaluate the overall effects of TCM formulae and corresponding relationship of syndrome-formulae. The active constituents were screened using the plotting of correlation between (endogenous) marker metabolites and (exogenous) serum constituents (PCMS), and is ongoing verification by further biological experiments. Correlation analysis between the ingredients in the body after oral formulae and endogenous markers in vivo can be used to clarify the active ingredients and synergistic properties. This method was successfully applied for rapid discovery of potentially bioactive components and metabolites from TCM, and through a series of studies on the chinmedomics, it proved that the established method could help to explore the effective substance for further research of TCM. As a new research approach, Chinmedomics is the best method to fit the holistic concept of TCM, and it can not only interpret the essence of syndrome but also elucidate the scientific connotation of Chinese medical formulae.
Animals ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drug Prescriptions ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Objective To assess the value of procalcitonin(PCT)measurement to differentiate infection from non-infection in critically ill patients requiring long-term immunosuppressive therapy.Methods A prospective study was conducted in patients with underlying diseases requiring corticosteroids or chemotherapy in ICU from January 2008 to December 2009.Patients were divided into the infection group and the non-infection group and their PCT levels were compared.Results A total of 103 patients (65 women)were enrolled in this prospective study[aged(47.9 ± 21.9)years old]with 84 in the infection group and 19 in the non-infection group.The baseline level of PCT was significantly higher in infection than in non-infection patients[2.58(0.08-44.65)pg/L vs 0.62(0.15-6.00)pg/L,P =0.002].Different levels of PCT were manifested in different pathogen groups with 3.41(0.45-44.65)pg/L in bacteria infection,0.99(0.28-6.67)pg/L in fungus infection,0.11(0.08-0.20)pg/L in virus infection group(P =0.018).The AUCROC of PCT was 0.867 for diagnostic bacterial infection.By multivariate analysis,the factors associated with the level of PCT were bacteria infection(OR 5.1,P =0.031)and septic shock(OR 7.5,P =0.027),while the factors not associated with the level of PCT were age,renal function,infection site and prognosis(P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions The level of PCT is increased in the critically ill patients requiring immunosuppressive therapy with infection and it can be used for diagnosis for bacterial infection.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; surgery ; Tongue ; surgery ; Uvula ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between serum load level of HBV-DNA and therapeutic effect of oxymatrine in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

METHODSForty-four patients of chronic hepatitis B were divided into two groups, the treated group was treated with oxymatrine 0.4 g/d by intramuscular injection for 3 months, the control group was treated with some liver protecting agents to estimate the therapeutic effect. The serum level of HBV-DNA was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe seroconversion rate of HBV-DNA and HBeAg in the treated group was 43.47% and 43.47% respectively, which was obviously better than those in the control group respectively (P < 0.05), the quantity of HBV-DNA decreased after treatment from 10(6.83 +/- 1.27) copy/ml to 10(3.35 +/- 3.08) copy/ml. Among them, in patient with HBeAg negative conversion, the pretreatment quantity of HBV-DNA was 10(6.30 +/- 1.42) copy/ml, while in those with no HBeAg negative conversion, it was 10(7.23 +/- 1.23) copy/ml, the difference was significant.

CONCLUSIONOxymatrine is effective in treating chronic hepatitis B. The therapeutic effect is better for patients with lower quantity of serum HBV-DNA.

Adult ; Alkaloids ; therapeutic use ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Quinolizines

BackgroundCorneal neovascularization (CNV) is a common eye disease.The researches on the pathogenesis and treatment of CNV are focus in Ophthalmology.ObjectiveThis study was to investigate the effects of culture supernatant from human amniotic epithelial cells (AECs) on CNV in vitro and its mechanism.MethodsHuman AECs were obtained from a placenta and cultured in serum-free medium for 48 hours,and the supernatant was collected.The levels of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1 Ra) and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) in the human AECs culture supernatant were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Rabbit corneal epithelial cells (CECs) were obtained and cultured in different concentrations of human AECs culture supernatant for 48 hours,serum-free medium was used as the control group.The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) mRNA in rabbit CECs were measured by quantitative real-time PCR (QRT-PCR).Human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells (UVECs) were cultured in the three mediums above,and the proliferation of human UVECs (absorbance value,A value) was tested by the cell counting kit 8 ( CCK8 ).Migration assay was performed by the wound healing method for the human UVECs.The membrane ultra-structure of human UVECs was examined under the atomic force microscope (AFM).ResultsCultured and passaged human AECs showed a positive response for keratin.The expression of VEGF mRNA (1.00±0.22) and bFGF mRNA (1.00±0.36) in rabbit CECs was suppressed by the human AECs culture supernatant,with a significant reduction in comparison with the serum-free DMEM group (2.98±0.46,2.55±0.48 )(P=0.001,0.002).The A value was significantly lowered in the human AECs culture group for 72 hours compared with the serum-free DMEM group ( 1.941 ± 0.036 versus 2.144 ± 0.059 ) ( P =0.000 ),and the bFGF-induced migration rate of human UVECs was strongly inhibited by the culture supernatant of human AECs in comparison with serum-free DMEM.The plasma membrane of human UVECs cultured with the human AECs culture supernatant was full of bumps,and decreased intercellular connection and cellular pseudopodia were found on the AFM image.The concentration of IL-1Ra was (153.56±0.36)ng/L and that of PEDF was (70.41 ±0.68 )μ,g/L in the human AECs culture supernatant.Nothing was deteched in serum-free DMEM group.Conclusions Human AECs culture supernatant suppressed the expression of VEGF and bFGF in CECs as well as the migration and proliferation of vascular endothelial cells.The effect may be associated with IL-1Ra and PEDF secreted by human AECs.These results suggest that human AECs may be a potential therapy for the inhibition of CNV.

RT-PCR amplification of ginseng ?-amyrin synthase gene was successfully performed based on the total RNAs extracted from ginseng hairy roots induced by Agrobacterium rhizogenes A4 using a modified guanidine isothiocyanate-method. Sequence analysis of this gene revealed that its sequence was consistent with the sequence of a previously reported ginseng ?-amyrin synthase gene (GenBank No. AB009030). This gene was inserted into pMD-119T simple vector and transformed into E.coli DH5?. Furthermore antisense plant expression vector of this gene was constructed using the pBI121 vector, laying foundation for studies on antisense regulation of ginseng ?-amyrin synthase gene.