Epilepsy is a common disease in the elderly, but drug therapy for epilepsy faces difficulties due to comorbidities, drug combinations and altered pharmacokinetics in the elderly.This article reviews the selection, adverse reactions, metabolism and drug interactions of epilepsy drugs in the elderly.

Objective To study the protective effects of aspirin on renal lesions in diabetic rats.Methods The model of diabetic rats was induced by streptozotocin.The diabetic rats were treated with 10 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1) aspirin for 6 weeks.The urinary albumin excretion and creatinine clearance(Ccr) were tested.The expression of TGF-?1 in renal cortex of diabetic rats was determined by immunohistochemical staining.Results The Ccr was decreased in diabetic rats with the treatment of aspirin for 6 weeks and the urinary albumin excretion was not obviously decreased.The immunohistochemical staining of TGF-?1 in aspirin-treated group was significantly decreased than that of the control group(P

Objective To investigate the possible causes of the different diagnostic sensitivity of voluntary single fiber electromyography (SFEMG) and repetitive nerve stimulation(RNS) in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). Methods The voluntary SFEMG and RNS at low rates were recorded successively from the same extensor digitorum communis (EDC) muscle on the same day in 67 patients with MG. Results The diagnostic sensitivity of SFEMG and RNS was 92.5% and 50.7%, respectively, with the former statistically significantly higher than the later. The percentage of decrement of RNS was positively correlated with 3 SFEMG parameters, i.e. the mean jitter, percentage of abnormal pairs of potential and percentage of impulse blocking. Among the 34 cases with significant decrement on RNS, 2 had no impulse blocking and the maximum decrement reached 62%, while 33 cases with normal RNS had up to 58% of impulse blocking. Conclusion The voluntary SFEMG was more sensitive than RNS in diagnosing MG even in the same muscle. The blocking phenomenon observed in voluntary SFEMG was not completely corresponding to the decrement in RNS.The possible explanations were partly because that RNS recorded the total muscle fibers response in surface of the muscle and SFEMG examined the increasing or blocking at individual motor end-plates, and partly because that the voluntary SFEMG and RNS might explored endplates belonging to different motor units.

Objective To discuss the diagnostic value of ultrasonography in piriformis syndrome . Methods Ultrasonography was performed in thirty‐eight patients with unilateral piriformis syndrome and forty healthy volunteers . The morphological structures and the internal echoes of their bilateral piriformises and sciatic nerves were observed and their thicknesses were measured . These parameters of the patients and voluteers were recorded and compared . Results The ultrasonographic images of piriformis and sciatic nerve of the healthy voluteers showed no abnormal change . The thickness difference of their bilateral piriformises and sciatic nerves had no statistical significance ( P > 0 .05 ) . The ultrasonography image of the morphological structure and the internal echo of the sick side piriformis and sciatic nerve of the patients with piriformis syndrome showed a change ,that the sick side piriformis was significantly thicker than the healthy side piriformis [(25 .74 ± 3 .12) mm vs (22 .48 ± 2 .60) mm , P < 0 .05] . The area under the operator characteristic curve ( AUC ) for the thickness difference of bilateral piriformises in diagnosing piriformis syndrome was 0 .896 ,with the optimal cut‐off value of 2 .15 mm . However ,the thickness difference of their bilateral sciatic nerves had no statistical significance ( P >0 .05) . Conclusions Ultrasonography can show piriformis and sciatic nerve clearly . The ultrasonographic images and the thickness difference of the bilateral piriformises is helpful to diagnose piriformis syndrome ,and can provide more informations for clinic .

OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression of plasma thrombospondin-1(TSP-1) at different time in protein-overload rats and to analyze the relationship between plasma TSP-1 expression and renal interstitial fibrosis. METHODS: Forty-five male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a bovine serum albumin (BSA) group and a control group after uninephrectomization. Rats with protein overload nephropathy induced by intraperitoneally injected BSA were used as a model (control group received saline). At the 1st, 5th, and 9th weekend, the level of 24 h proteinuria and renal function was assessed. Pathological changes were observed by electron and fluorescent microscopy. The expression of plasma TSP-1 was detected by Western blot. The relationship between plasma TSP-1 and tubulointerstitial lesions (TIL) score was analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-four hour proteinuria and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) significantly increased in protein-overload rats compared with those in the control group. While protein-overload rats developed more severe fibrosis in the tubular and interstitium. Glomerulosclerosis index and TIL score were upregulated compared with those in the control group. The expression of TSP-1 increased significantly at the 5th and 9th weekend. The expression of TSP-1 was positively correlated with TIL score (r=0.836, P<0.01). CONCLUSION Plasma TSP-1 expression is positively correlated with renal interstitial fibrosis in protein-overload rats. Plasma TSP-1 may be used for an important biomarker of renal interstitial fibrosis.
Animals ; Fibrosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental ; pathology ; Kidney ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Nephrectomy ; Nephritis, Interstitial ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thrombospondin 1 ; blood

Objective To analyze and set up the effective dose of different ionizing radiation for tunnel construction workers. Methods A total of five tunnels constructed using drilling and blasting methods were selected as the research subjects using the convenient sampling method. The workplace γ radiation effective dose, radon concentrations, and radioactive activity concentrations were detected, and on-site surveys were conducted to estimate the internal and external irradiation doses and total effective doses for workers in different work sites. Results Radiological hazards in tunnels constructed using drilling and blasting methods included radon and its progeny, γ radiation, radioactive dust (uranium-238, radium-226, thorium-232, and potassium-40) and others. The average total effective dose of ionizing radiation exposure for tunnel construction workers was (6.730 1±1.541 1) mSv. The average dose of radon and its progeny was (6.163 0±1.512 8) mSv, radioactive dust was (0.014 6±0.009 1) mSv, γ radiation was (0.552 6±0.138 7) mSv. The dose of radioactive dust of radon and its progeny was 0.24%. Radon and its progeny contributed more to the radioactive dose than radioactive dust and γ radiation (all P<0.05). Among all the radioactive dusts, the dose contribution ranked from highest to lowest was thorium-232, uranium-238, and radium-226. Conclusion For tunnel construction workers, the largest contribution to the effective dose of ionizing radiation exposure is from radon and its progeny for internal irradiation, followed by γ radiation for external irradiation. The contribution of radioactive dust to internal irradiation dose can be considered negligible.

OBJECTIVETo establish a clinical classification of pulmonary embolism (PE), and to evaluate the optional treatment strategies for different types of PE.

METHODSFrom December 1995 to July 2001, 45 patients with acute PE were hospitalized, of which 33 received intravenous thrombolytic therapy or interventional treatment.

RESULTSMisdiagnostic rate in the 45 patients with acute PE during first visit was 62.2% and mortality rate was 28.9%. Misdiagnostic rate in acute PE patients who had undergone surgery was 82% and mortality rate was 73%. The effective rate of thrombolytic therapy was 77.7%. Clinical symptoms rapidly disappeared in massive PE patients treated with interventional therapies.

CONCLUSIONSIntravenous thrombolytic therapy is one of the most effective methods for treating acute PE. Application of interventional therapy for severe acute PE is also promising.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anticoagulants ; therapeutic use ; Diagnostic Errors ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Embolism ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Thrombolytic Therapy

Clinical manifestations and genes of a case from a family with pseudoachondroplasia caused by COMP gene mutation treated in the Department of Pediatrics of the First People′s Hospital of Yunnan Province were retrospectively analyzed.The male patient aged 3 years and 3 months old had a history of slow growth for 1 year.Physical examinations showed that the patient′s height: 87.5 cm (less than -3 SD), 55.0 cm on top, 32.5 cm on bottom, mild O-leg, Nervous system physical examination suggested normal muscle strength of lower limbs and low muscle tone.Genetic examination revealed that the heterozygous gene variation of exon 11 of the COMP gene was chr19: 18897437 A >g [hg19], nm_000095.2, c.1159T >c, p.CY3 387 Arg, namely the transformation of cysteine to arginine at position 1159 of the translation product protein.Genetic testing is an important basis for the diagnosis of pseudoachondroplasia.It can avoid mistreatment, so as not to affect the predicted adult height of children.

Dementia superposed on delirium is common in the elderly.It has poor prognosis,high in-hospital mortality,increased medical costs and high risk of rehospitalization,causing the serious consequences on the health.This paper reviews the concept,epidemiology,risk factors,clinical manifestations,assessment methods,diagnosis,and treatment of delirium superimposed on dementia.

OBJECTIVETo report the initial application of brain protection device in the dilatation and stenting of atherosclerotic stenosis of the carotid and vertebral artery.

METHODSEighteen patients with 21 atherosclerotic stenoses of the carotid or vertebral artery underwent dilatation and/or stenting with brain protection device (filterwire or angioguard). The clinical results were summarized and the indispensability and feasibility of the device was discussed.

RESULTSWith the aid of brain protection device, endovascular dilatation and (or) stenting were performed in all the patients with 21 stenoses of the carotid or vertebral artery. The interventional manipulation was successful and no complications occurred.

CONCLUSIONSBrain protection device is helpful to decrease the embolic complication caused by atherosclerotic plaque and thromboembolus and to increase the security of interventional therapy, during the dilatation and/or stenting of stenosis of the carotid or vertebral artery.

Adult ; Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; adverse effects ; methods ; Carotid Stenosis ; therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intracranial Embolism ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Protective Devices ; Stents ; adverse effects ; Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency ; therapy