To compare the short-and long-term effect of two minimal invasive surgical therapies including keyhole approach endoscopic surgery(KAES)and stereotactic aspiration plus urokinase(SAU)in treating basal ganglia hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage(hICH). The clinical data of 117 hICH patients(63 received KAES and 54 received SAU)were retrospectively analyzed.The operation time,blood loss during surgery,and drainage time were compared between two groups.The residual hematoma volume,hematoma clearance rate(HCR),Glasgow coma scale(GCS)score,and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)score were recorded at baseline and in the ultra-early stage,early stage,and sub-early stage after surgery.The 30-day mortality and serious adverse events were assessed and the 6-month modified Rankin scale(mRS)score was rated. Baseline data showed no significant difference between these two groups.Compared with the SAU group,the KAES group had significantly longer operation time,more intraoperative blood loss,and shorter drainage time(all <0.001).In the ultra-early stage after surgery,HCR was significantly higher in the KAES group(<0.001),whereas in the early and sub-early stage,HCR showed no significant differences(all >0.05).In the ultra-early and early stage,the GCS and NIHSS scores showed no significant differences between two groups(all >0.05),whereas in the sub-early stage,the NIHSS score was better in the SAU group(=0.034).The 30-day mortality and incidences of serious adverse events showed no significant difference(all >0.05).The good recovery(mRS≤3)at 6-months follow-up showed no significant difference between the two groups(=0.413). Both KAES and SAU are safe and effective in treating basal ganglia hICH.In the ultra-early stage after surgery,KAES achieves better residual hematoma volume and HCR,and patients undergoing SAU quickly catch up.The short-and long-term effectiveness of SAU is comparable or even superior to KAES.
Basal Ganglia ; Humans ; Intracranial Hemorrhage, Hypertensive ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

This study examined the prevalence of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) among residents aged &ge;50 years living in Yongchuan district of Chongqing. Stratified cluster sampling was employed in random selection to estimate the prevalence of glaucoma from April to June, 2005. Twenty-nine villages or neighborhood communities were randomly selected in urban area (Zhongshan Road), suburban area (Shanjiao Town) and exurban area (Zhutuo Town) of this district. All the respondents underwent detailed ophthalmic examinations. The examinations included questionnaire investigation, visual acuity test, naked-eye examination, measurement of peripheral anterior chamber depth (Van Herrick's technique), detection of intraocluar pressure (IOP) with a Perkins hand-held applanation tonometer (HA-2) and examination of the optic disc by using a 78 diopters (D) lens (including the cup-disc ratio, cup/disc ratio asymmetries, horizontal and vertical diameter, notching and optic disc hemorrhages). A total of 5938 residents were actually examined, and the response rate was 85.19%. The crude prevalence of POAG was 0.86% (n=51/5938, 95% CI 0.64%-1.11%). There were 24 males and 27 females in the glaucoma group. The glaucoma prevalence was not significant different in case number between the male and female subjects (P=0.4900). Furthermore, no association between age or schooling and POAG was noted (P=0.8030, 0.0734). Out of 51 subjects with POAG, unilateral glaucoma-related blindness occurred in 38 subjects (74.5%) and bilateral glaucoma-related blindness was found in 7 subjects (13.7%). This study exhibited that the prevalence of POAG was 0.86% among residents aged &ge;50 years living in Yongchuan District of Chongqing. The vision loss caused by POAG in this population was obviously higher than that previously reported in other studies. Glaucoma management, detection of affected persons and handling of the burden of glaucoma should be the priorities of the agenda of local health authorities of Western China.
Aged ; Blindness ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Gonioscopy ; methods ; Health Surveys ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Vision Disorders ; diagnosis ; epidemiology

Objective To study the effect of low-frequency suprathreshold repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the unaffected hemisphere on recovery of motor function in patients with acute stroke. Methods A total of 26 patients with middle cerebral artery territory infarction were randomly assigned to unaffected hemisphere stimulation group and control group (not receiving any stimulation,n=13).The patients in the stimulation group were treated with rTMS 3 to 5 d after the onset of symptoms with the frequency of 1 Hz and 70％ of the intensity (about 2.1T actual output) and the 1200 pulses per day for 10 consecutive d.The motor evoked potential (MEP) latency,central motor conduction time (CMCT),scores of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and modified Barthel index (MBI) of the affected brain region were recorded on the 1 st of experiment (before the treatment),10 and 40 d after treatment. Results The scores of clinical futction scale and neuroelectrophysiologic parameters before treatment had no statistical significance between the 2 groups (P＞0.05).The scores of clinical function scale after the treatment in the 2 groups were obviously higher than those before treatment (P＜0.05). And the improvement of motor function in the unaffected hemisphere stimulation group was statistically obvious as compared with that in the control group (P＜0.05):the score of NIHSS and the MBI in the stimulation group were obviously higher than those in the control group (P＜0.05).The neuroelectricity physiological indexs in the 2 groups after treatment gained improvement in comparision to those before treatment:the MEP latency on the 40th d of treatment and CMCT on the 10th and 40th d of treatment in the unaffected hemisphere stimulation group was significantly different as compared with those before treatment (P＜0.05); the CMCT on the 10th and 40th d of treatment in the unaffected hemisphere stimulation group was shorter as compared with that in the control group. Conclusion The frequency of 1 Hz and 70％ of the intensity (about 2.1T actual output) in rTMS of the unaffected hemisphere can shorten CMCT and improve the motor function in patients with acute stroke.

OBJECTIVETo detect the serum specific proteins in tumor-like polypoid lesions of the gallbladder patients and establish diagnostic model.

METHODSSurface enhanced laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) technique and WCX Magnetic Beads were used to detect the serum proteomic patterns of 23 patients with tumor-like PLG, 21 patients with non tumor-like PLG and 26 normal persons. Biomarker Wizard and Biomarker Patterns Software were used in combination to analyze the data.

RESULTSPreliminary screening out 22 representative specific proteins for the diagnosis of the tumor-like PLG. Analysis system under the conditions set selected 3 specific proteins to establish diagnostic model for the tumor-like PLG. The sensitivity and specificity of the model for the diagnosis of the tumor-like PLG were 100% and 89.4%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSELDI-TOF-MS technique can select specific protein of the tumor-like PLG, and establish diagnostic model of the tumor-like PLG.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Blood Proteins ; analysis ; Female ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyps ; diagnosis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

OBJECTIVETo compare the expression of metallothionein (MT) genes and proteins in six human pancreatic cancer cell strains and two human pancreatic cancer drug-resistant cell strains and to explore the relationship between the expression of the MT and pancreatic cancer cell chemo-resistance.

METHODSReverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to determine the MT isoform-specific mRNA, and cadmium/hemoglobin saturation-electrochemistry to determine MT protein levels.

RESULTSMT protein expression in the pancreatic cancer cell strains was encoded by MT-1A, MT-1B, MT-1E, MT-1F, MT-1G, MT-1X, and MT-2A genes. The expression of MT proteins was upregulated and MT-1B, MT-1E, MT-1X, MT-2A genes overexpressed in human pancreatic cancer drug-resistant cell lines (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONExpressions of MT proteins and genes correlate with the proliferation and chemoresistance of human pancreatic cancer cell strains.

Cell Division ; genetics ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Humans ; Metallothionein ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo measure the effect of laser fluence and scanning velocity on ablation efficiency of enamel and dentin.

METHODSTwo extracted human incisors and two molars were cut transversely along the axial plane with a diamond saw to obtain dentin and enamel slices with thickness of about 1 mm. Samples were fixed on a motorized translation stage, the linear reciprocating movement in the plane perpendicular to the direction of laser incident was programmed by the controller, and the laser focused on the tooth surface, then 36 ablation lines on enamel and 48 ablation lines on dentin were produced. A femtosecond laser system with wavelength of 800 nm, pulse width 30 fs, repetition frequency 1000 Hz was used, and the diameter of the focused spot was approximately 25 µm. A group of different fluence (1.33, 1.77, 2.21, 4.42, 8.85, 17.69 J/cm(2) for enamel and 0.44, 0.66, 0.88, 1.33, 1.77, 2.21, 4.42, 6.63 J/cm(2) for dentin) and two scanning velocity (10 mm/s and 20 mm/s) were tested. Confocal laser scanning microscope was used to measure the ablation volume.Ablation efficiency for enamel and dentin was then calculated.

RESULTSUnder the fluence of 8.85 J/cm(2) there was the highest ablation efficiency for enamel, 18.703×10(-3) mm(3)/J (20 mm/s), and the highest ablation efficiency for dentin was found under the fluence of 2.21 J/cm(2), ie.223.458×10(-3) mm(3)/J (20 mm/s).

CONCLUSIONSFluence and scanning speed of this femtosecond laser can affect ablation efficiency for both enamel and dentin, and this suggests that with appropriate choice of fluence and scanning speed we can improve the ablation efficiency for enamel and dentin.

Dental Enamel ; radiation effects ; Dentin ; radiation effects ; Humans ; Incisor ; anatomy & histology ; Lasers ; Molar ; anatomy & histology

The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of the single and mixed decoction of Thallus laminariae (kelp) and Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) on the metabolism and their difference. The mixed decoction of kelp and licorice and the single decoction were made and intragastrically administered to the SD rats. The effect on system metabolism, the toxicity of liver and kidney were assessed by GC-MS profiling of the endogenous molecules in serum, routine biochemical assays and histographic inspection of tissues from SD rats, separately. The mixed decoction of kelp and licorice induced more obvious pathological abnormalities in SD rats than a single decoction of kelp, while the extracts of licorice did not show any pathological change. Neither the mixed, nor the single decoction showed abnormal histopathology. After intragastric administration of extracts for 5 days, the mixed decoction induced a decrease of ALT (no significant change in the groups of single decoction) and an increase of BUN (so did the single decoction of kelp). Metabolomic profile of the molecules in serum revealed that the metabolic patterns were all obviously affected for the three groups, i.e., the mixed and single decoction of kelp and licorice. The rats given with the single decoction of kelp showed a similar pattern to that of the mixed decoction, indicating that the kelp primarily contributed the perturbation of metabolism for the mixed decoction. All three groups induced a decrease of branched chain amino acids, TCA cycle intermediates and glycolysis intermediates (e.g., pyruvic acid and lactic acid) and an increase of 3-hydroxybutyric acid. Kelp decoction showed stronger potential in reducing TCA cycle intermediates and glycolysis intermediates than the other two groups, while the levels of branched chain amino acids were the lowest after licorice extracts were given. These results suggested that the effect of the mixed decoction on metabolism was closely associated with both kelp and licorice. The continuous administration of single decoction of kelp and the mixed decoction of licorice and kelp resulted in pathological abnormalities in kidney of SD rats. The mixed decoction of kelp and licorice distinctly perturbed sera molecules and hence system metabolism, which showed associated with those of kelp and licorice. Although the metabolic effect was associated with both kelp and licorice, the results suggested kelp contributed to it primarily.

Objective To study clinical data of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) induced by left main (LM) artery occlusion,and to find out the clinical characteristics.Method From Janurany 1995 to May 2006,there were 15 patients with AMI related with LM obstruction from 1793 AMI patients,in whom primary PCls were performed.All patients were male with a mean age of (60.6?10.4) years old (ranging from 43 to 85 years old).The clinical and interventional data were retrospectively analyzed.Results Cardiogenic shock occurred in 10 patients at admission.Primary PCls were performed with intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) in all patients.Nine patients died during short follow-up,and the mortality was 60%.Three-month follow-up was made in the all survival patients,and one patient died after 4 years.Analysis showed good collateral circulation flow from right coronary artery to left coronary artery before operation affected the short-term prognosis.Conclusions AMI related with left main artery obstruction was critically fatal with high occurrence of cardiogenic shock and high mortality.Prognosis differs at,cording to different degree of collateral circulation.Primary PCI with IABP provides a promising strategy to improve clinical outcomes.

OBJECTIVETo explore the prognostic impact of post primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) reperfusion status on outcome in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed in 964 patients undergoing primary PCI for STEMI. Electrocardiogram and TIMI myocardial perfusion grade (TMPG) were analyzed by reader blinded to the clinical course. Patients were divided to four groups according to ST segment resolution (STR) and TMPG: group A were patients with good STR and TMPG(425/964), group B were patients with poor STR and good TMPG (239/964), group C were patients with good STR and poor TMPG (113/964) and group D were patients with poor STR and TMPG (113/964).

RESULTSAlthough TIMI grade III flow was achieved after mechanical reperfusion, abnormal reperfusion was still present in about 1/3 patients as shown by poor STR or TMPG. Older age, cardiac dysfunction and diabetes, prolonged time of pain to balloon/emergency room are independent risk factors for abnormal reperfusion post PCI. Major adverse cardiac events events in hospital (RR = 64. 63, P < 0.01) and during follow up (RR = 11.69, P < 0.01) were significantly higher in group D than in group A.

CONCLUSIONPoor post PCI reperfusion status is associated with higher in hospital and during follow up major adverse cardiac events event in STEMI patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Myocardial Reperfusion ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo discuss how some pre-analysis processes influence the results of semen analysis and how to minimize their influence on the accuracy of laboratory results based on the concept of total quality management (TQM).

METHODSWe conducted semen quality analyses for 21 male volunteers, who had abstained from tobacco and alcohol for over 72 days for the purpose of fertilization, before and after the abstinence, and obtained their seminal parameters at 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 hours after semen sample collection.

RESULTSSperm concentration, sperm motility and the percentage of grade a + b sperm were significantly higher after the abstinence of tobacco and alcohol than before (P < 0.01). With the lengthening of post-ejaculation time, there was a significant decrease in sperm motility and the percentage of grade a + b sperm (P < 0.05), but not in sperm concentration (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONA lot of factors may affect the results of semen analysis, including the subjects' habits of drinking and smoking and the length of time after semen collection. Therefore, every procedure of semen analysis has to be dealt with very carefully so as to meet the requirements of TQM and achieve most reliable results for clinical use.

Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Quality Control ; Semen Analysis ; methods ; standards ; Smoking Cessation ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Temperance