OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy differences between acupoint catgut embedding and Kuntai capsule for perimenopausal syndrome, so as to provide an effective treatment method for perimenopausal syndrome.

METHODSThirty-three cases in the embedding group were treated with acupoint catgut embedding at back-shu points and front-mu points of liver, spleen and kidney combined with syndrome differentiation and disease differentiation, ten days per times; the Kuntai group was treated with oral administration of Kuntai capsule, 4 capsules each time, three times per day. The Kupperman index (KI) was observed in the two groups before treatment after 10 days, 30 days and 60 days of treatment, respectively; the efficacy was evaluated according to the ratio of KI.

RESULTSAfter the treatment, as treatment proceeded, the score of KI and ratio of KI were gradually reduced in two groups; the score of KI and ratio of KI in the embedding group after 10 days of treatment was lower than those in the Kuntai group (both P<0.05); after 10 days of treatment, the total effective rate was 36.4% (12/33) in the embedding group, which was superior to 3.0% (1/33) in the Kuntai group (P<0.05); however, after 30 days and 60 days of treatment, the differences of each index between two groups were not statistically significant (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONBoth the acupoint catgut embedding and Kuntai capsule could reduce the score of KI and improve clinical symptoms, and the acupoint catgut embedding has certain advantage on the early stage of treatment.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Adult ; Catgut ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Perimenopause ; physiology ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of warm needling plus Chinese medication for external application in treating post-stroke shoulder pain. Method Two hundred patients with post-stroke shoulder pain were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 100 cases each. The two groups both received rehabilitation training for shoulder joint. In addition, the treatment group was given warm needling plus Chinese medication for external application, while the control group was given warm needling. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, upper-limb Fugl-Mayer Assessment (FMA) and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) were adopted to evaluate the two groups before and after the treatment. The clinical efficacies of the two groups were also compared. Result The total effective rate was 100.0％ in the treatment group versus 87.0％ in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). The VAS, FMA and MBI scores were significantly changed after the treatment in both groups (P<0.01). After the treatment, the VAS, FMA and MBI scores of the treatment group were significantly different from those of the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion Warm needling plus Chinese medication for external application and rehabilitation training can obviously reduce post-stroke shoulder pain, and enhance the upper-limb motor function and activities of daily living.

Adolescent ; Adult ; B-Lymphocyte Subsets ; Carrier State ; blood ; Child ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect of the extracts from Decoction for resuscitation (DRE) and its component herbs on prostacyclin (PGI2), thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and nitric oxide (NO) release from rat vascular endothelial cells under hypoxia.

METHODAfter treatment with the extracts from DRE and its component herbs, the contents of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1alpha(6-keto-PGF1alpha), thromboxane B2 (TXB2) as well as nitrite (NO), which were degradation products of PGI2, TXA2 and NO respectively, in culture medium of rat vascular endothelial cells under hypoxia were measured with radioimmunoassay and Griess Reaction.

RESULTCompared with the control group, the results indicated that DRE, prepared licorice root extract (LE), dried ginger extract (GE), aconite root extract (AE), extracts of aconite root and prepared licorice root (ALE), extracts of aconite root and dried ginger (AGE) increased significantly the content of 6-keto-PGF1alpha and the ratio of 6-keto-PGF1alpha/TXB2, but had no effect on the content of TXB2 in culture medium of rat vascular endothelial cells under hypoxia. The content of 6-keto-PGF1alpha in the DRE group was higher than that in the groups of LE, GE, AE, ALE, AGE. The ratio of 6-keto-PGF1alpha/TXB2 in the DRE group was higher than that of the groups of GE, AE, ALE. Compared with the control group, DRE, LE, GE, AE, ALE, AGE increased significantly the content of NO2- in culture medium of rat vascular endothelial cells under hypoxia. Moreover, the content of NO2- in the DRE group was higher than that of the groups of GE, AE, ALE.

CONCLUSIONThe results suggested that DRE increased significantly the content of PGI2 and the ratio of PGI2/TXA2 as well as the content of NO. The effect of DRE on the parameters in culture medium of rat vascular endothelial cells under hypoxia was better than that of the extracts from its component herbs.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha ; metabolism ; Aconitum ; chemistry ; Animals ; Aorta, Abdominal ; cytology ; Cell Hypoxia ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Ginger ; chemistry ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; chemistry ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Thromboxane B2 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the protective effects of hirudin on acute experimental intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) by observing the changes of histologic pathology and brain water content as well as GFAP-positive cells in the perihematomal brain regions.

METHODThe models of rat ICH were made with infusion of autologous blood into the right neucleus caudatus. The rats were divided randomly into control group, intracerebral hemorrhage group and treating group with hirudin. Brain water content was measured, and pathological and GFAP changes were observed.

RESULTThe pathological impairation after ICH were gradually deteriorated and peaked at the third day. Brain water content after ICH was gradually increased and obviously after one day(P < 0.05) and peaked at the third day. GFAP-positive cells were gradually increased and peaked at the seventh day after ICH. In the treating groups, the pathological impairation and brain water content as well as the GFAP-positive cells were decreased as compared to those in the intracerebral hemorrhage group and the control group. And the positive correlation between GFAP-positive cell numbers and brain water content were shown by linear regression.

CONCLUSIONThe local administration of hirudin, a special inhibitor of thrombin, has protective effects within the first week after ICH.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Hirudins ; pharmacology ; Male ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo analyze the risk factors of colorectal cancer-related anemia.

METHODThe clinical data of 319 patients with colorectal cancer were retrospectively analyzed for the possible risk factors of tumor-related anemia including tumor location, clinical stage, clinical symptoms, pathology, gender, and age.

RESULTSOf these 319 cases, 141 (44.20%) had anemia. The incidence of anemia was 62.20% among patients with right hemicolon cancers (including caecum cancer), and was 23.82% among patients with rectal cancer and 36.23% among those with transverse descending or sigmoid colon cancer. Cardia insufficiency, melena, tumor location, T staging, hypoproteinemia were also found to be related with anemia. Anemia and hypoproteinemia were the risk factors for perioperative blood transfusion (odds ratio = 3.004, odds ratio = 8.356, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSThe colorectal cancer-related anemia is not associated with the clinical stage of the tumor, while cardiac insufficiency, melena, tumor location, tumor stage, and hypoproteinemia constitute the possible risk factors. Anemia and hypoproteinemia are the risk factors of perioperative blood transfusion.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anemia ; etiology ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) in the treatment for obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).

METHODSTwenty-one cases of obesity and 9 cases of type 2 DM received the LRYGB. Weigh changes, excess body weight lose rate (EWL%) and blood glucose level were measured after surgery and occurrence of complications was observed postoperatively.

RESULTSLRYGB procedures in all the 30 cases were successfully performed with no conversion to open surgery. Average operation time was 168 minutes (110-270 mins), volume of blood loss during the surgery was 24.0 ml (10-75 ml). Twenty-one cases of simple obesity received follow-up from 2 months to 5 years. Body weight and BMI decreased significantly in one month [(85.1+/-10.1) kg vs (97.2+/-15.0) kg, 31.2+/-2.2 vs 35.3+/-3.5, both P<0.01] and to a minimal level in 2 to 3 years [(66.8+/-9.2) kg, 24.3+/-1.1], and then maintained at this level. EWL% was correspondingly higher (all P<0.05). Nine type 2 DM patients were followed up for 3 to 8 months, fasting blood glucose and blood glucose OGTT2 hours decreased significantly [(5.9+/-1.4) mmol/L vs (12.6+/-2.6) mmol/L, (7.8+/-1.4) mmol/L vs (17.8+/-4.1) mmol/L, both P<0.05], of whom 4 patients with obesity decreased in BMI significantly (P<0.05), and 5 patients without obesity had no significant changes in BMI (P>0.05). Five cases (16.7%) had postoperative complications, including 1 case of death due to acute fulminant pancreatitis, 1 case of mesenteric hiatal hernia with obstruction in line for reoperation, and the other 3 cases of healing by conservative therapy.

CONCLUSIONSTreatment of obesity and type 2 DM by LRYGB surgery is feasible with significant short term result. Long term outcome needs further observation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; surgery ; Female ; Gastric Bypass ; methods ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity, Morbid ; surgery ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDBlood culture contamination is a significant adverse event. The aim of this project was to evaluate the efficacy of a strict blood collection procedure in reducing the blood culture contamination rate.

METHODSA prospectively controlled study was performed in two different medical areas in Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) for 16 months (from May 2006 to September 2007). In test group, a strict blood collection procedure was carried out by trained nurses with the veinpuncture sites were scrupulously disinfected with 2.5% tincture of iodine plus 70% alcohol. In control group, commonly used procedure in PUMCH was performed with 0.45% chlorhexidine acetate plus 0.2% iodine. Blood culture positive results for 4 target organisms (Coagulase-negative staphylococci, Propionibacterium acnes, Corynebacterium species and Bacillus species) were further assessed by physicians from infectious department to determine whether a sample was true positive (pathogen) or false positive (contamination).

RESULTSTotal 9321 blood culture collections were analyzed. The blood culture contamination rate in test group was significantly lower than that in control group (5/3177 (0.16%) vs. 77/6144 (1.25%); χ(2) = 13.382, P < 0.001). The most common contaminant was Coagulase-negative staphylococcus (76.83%). The average cultural time during which contaminated samples became positive was longer than that for true pathogen samples (42.0 hours vs. 13.9 hours, P = 0.041).

CONCLUSIONUsing a strict blood collection procedure can significantly reduce blood culture contamination rate.

Anti-Infective Agents, Local ; pharmacology ; Bacillus ; drug effects ; Blood ; microbiology ; Blood Specimen Collection ; adverse effects ; methods ; Chlorhexidine ; pharmacokinetics ; Corynebacterium ; drug effects ; Disinfection ; methods ; Humans ; Iodine ; pharmacology ; Propionibacterium ; drug effects ; Prospective Studies ; Staphylococcus ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the biological characteristics of dermal fibroblasts of the diabetic rats with deep partial thickness scald, and to explore its relationship with delayed wound healing due to diabetes.

METHODSSprague-Dawley rats weighing 250 g were randomly divided into control (NM, n=40) and STZ-induced diabetic (DM, n=50) groups, and then deep partial thickness scald involving 10% TBSA were reproduced in the two groups. Skin samples were harvested from the wounds on 0, 3, 7, 14 and 21 post scald day (PSD) for the determination of certain histological characteristics.

RESULTSThe thickness of dermis layer in DM group before injury was obviously thinner than that in NM group (P < 0.01). There was an infiltration of a large amount of chronic inflammatory cells and increased content of cutaneous glucose in the dermal tissue in DM group (2.77 mg/g) compared with 0.85 mg/g in NM group, (P < 0.01). An accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) was found in the dermal tissue in DM group. After the scalding, the percentage of fibroblasts in S phase and hydroxyproline synthesis in DM group was evidently lower than those in NM group. But the apoptosis rate of fibroblasts was much higher in DM group than that in NM group (P < 0.05 or 0.01).

CONCLUSIONIt is found that the high contents of glucose and AGEs in diabetic skin exert untoward effects on biological characteristics of dermal fibroblast, probably constituting one of the underlying mechanisms of delay wound healing of scald in diabetic rats.

Animals ; Burns ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Glycation End Products, Advanced ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin ; metabolism ; pathology ; Wound Healing

The present study was designed to investigate the electrophysiological characteristics of rat conduit pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and the response to acute hypoxia. PASMCs of the 1st to 2nd order branches in the conduit pulmonary arteries were obtained by enzymatic isolation. The PASMCs were divided into acute hypoxia preconditioned group and normoxia group. Hypoxia solutions were achieved by bubbling with 5% CO2 plus 95% N2 for at least 30 min before cell perfusion. Potassium currents were compared between these two groups using whole-cell patch clamp technique. The total outward current of PASMCs was measured under normoxia condition when iBTX [specific blocking agent of large conductance Ca-activated K(+) (BK(Ca)) channel] and 4-AP [specific blocking agent of delayed rectifier K(+) (K(DR)) channel] were added consequently into bath solution. PASMCs were classified into three types according to their size, shape and electrophysiological characteristics. Type I cells are the smallest with spindle shape, smooth surface and discrete perinuclear bulge. Type II cells show the biggest size with banana-like appearance. Type III cells have the similar size with type I, and present intermediary shape between type I and type II. iBTX had little effect on the total outward current in type I cells, while 4-AP almost completely blocked it. Most of the total outward current in type II cells was inhibited by iBTX, and the remaining was sensitive to 4-AP. In type III cells, the total outward current was sensitive to both iBTX and 4-AP. Acute hypoxia reduced the current in all three types of cells: (1614.8+/-62.5) pA to (892.4+/-33.6) pA for type I cells (P<0.01); (438.3+/-42.8) pA to (277.5+/-44.7) pA for type II cells (P<0.01); (1 042.0+/-37.2) pA to (613.6+/-23.8) pA for type III (P<0.01), and raised the resting membrane potentials (E(m)) in all these three types of cells: (-41.6+/-1.6) mV to (-18.6+/-1.5) mV (P<0.01), (-42.3+/-3.8) mV to (-30.6+/-3.0) mV (P<0.01), (-43.3+/-1.6) mV to (-28.4+/-1.4) mV (P<0.01), for type I, II, III cells, respectively. These results suggest that acute hypoxia suppresses the potassium current and improves the E(m) in PASMCs. These effects may be involved in the modulation of constriction/relaxation of conduit artery under acute hypoxia. Different distribution of K(DR) and BK(Ca) channels in these three types of PASMCs might account for their different constriction/relaxation response to acute hypoxia.
4-Aminopyridine ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cell Hypoxia ; Male ; Membrane Potentials ; drug effects ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; physiology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; physiology ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Potassium Channels ; physiology ; Pulmonary Artery ; cytology ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley