Atrial Fibrillation ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the dynamic change of Th1/Th2 cytokines in serum, peritoneal lavage fluid (PLF) and splenic macrophages (SM) in rats with severe peritonitis, and to observe the therapeutic effects of recombinant interleukin-12 (rIL-2) and Shenmai injection (SMI), a Chinese medicinal preparation.

METHODSSevere peritonitis (SP) model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of E. coli and B. frag, and mild peritonitis (MP) model was induced by cecal ligation and punching. Then the following experiments were done: (1) Survival rates of animals after every 6 hrs in the 72 hrs after modeling were recorded, serum and PLF levels of cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and interleukin-10 (IL-10), 6 hrs, 12 hrs, 24 hrs and 48 hrs after modeling were measured. (2) Model rats were treated with rIL-12 or SMI, the survival rate was recorded and serum levels of TNF-alpha, INF-gamma, and IL-10 before and after treatment were measured, and (3) amount of these cytokines produced by SM were determined 6 hrs, 12 hrs and 24 hrs after treatment. The survival rates and levels of cytokines were then compared between the groups (model group treated with rIL-12 or SMI, untreated model group, and blank group).

RESULTSSerum and PLF levels of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha at all the time points in SP rats were significantly lower than those in MP rats while those of IL-10 6 hrs and 12 hrs after modeling were significantly higher in the former than that in the latter (P < 0.05). IFN-gamma secretion of SM in SP rats was significantly higher than that in MP rats 6 hrs after modeling (P < 0.05). Administration of rlL-12 or SMI given before modeling could improve the survival rate of the model rats (P < 0.05) and cause significant increase of the serum level and SM secretion of IFN-gamma.

CONCLUSIONImbalance in promoting/antagonizing inflammatory cytokines and Th2 response dominance appear in SP rats early at the initiating stage, and SM secretion of inflammation promoting factor also reduces. Administration in time of rIL-12 and SMI, may increase the survival rate, and its mechanism may be related with their immuno-stimulating action.

Animals ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-12 ; pharmacology ; Male ; Peritonitis ; drug therapy ; mortality ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Sepsis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; mortality ; Severity of Illness Index ; Survival Rate ; Th1 Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Th2 Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

The clinical practice of China's integrative medicine (IM) and international integrative medicine was reviewed. As for the existent problems, we raised some personal ideas from the aspects of policies and regulations, safety, efficacy, and educational training, etc.
China ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on proliferation and differentiation of endogenous neural stem cells after acute spinal cord half cut-off in rats. MethodsThe differences of proliferation and differentiation of endogenous neural stem cells between injured group and intervention group were compared. ResultsThere were remarkable differences between injured group and intervention group. ConclusionHBO can promote the proliferation and differentiation of the neural stem cells in rats after spine cord injury.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effectiveness of transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy (TUSV) combined with finasteride in the treatment of recurrent hemospermia.

METHODSThis study included 32 patients with recurrent hematospermia, with the disease course of 3 months to 4 years. After administration of finasteride at 5 mg/d for 2 weeks, the patients underwent TUSV for both exploration of the causes and treatment, followed by medication with finasteride at the same dose for another 2 weeks. Postoperative follow-up was conducted for observation of the outcomes and complications.

RESULTSTUSV was successfully accomplished in all the 32 cases, which revealed 16 cases of seminal vesiculitis, 10 seminal calculi, 1 seminal vesicle cyst, 2 seminal vesicle polyps, and 3 seminal vesicle abscess. The operative time was 20 to 51 (31.0 +/- 5.2) minutes. Postoperative complications included 1 case of acute epididymitis and 3 cases of breast discomfort within the first 4 weeks. No incontinence, urethral stricture, rectal injury, retrograde ejaculation, and sexual dysfunction occurred postoperatively. All the patients but 1 were followed up for 6 months to 2 years. Twenty-nine of the cases were cured, and 2 experienced recurrence.

CONCLUSIONTransurethral seminal vesiculoscopy combined with finasteride is safe and effective for the treatment of recurrent hemospermia.

Adult ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Finasteride ; therapeutic use ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemospermia ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Background Stromal cell-derived factor-1_?(SDF-1_?)has been demonstrated to be essential for stern cell mobilization/homing.Recent evidence indicates that SDF-1_? has been expressed in injured carotid arter- ies.Besides,high SDF-1_? plasma levels are clinically associated with stable coronary artery disease.Objective To investigate whether SDF 1 involves in mobilization of endothelial progenitor cells(EPC)and reendothelialization after vascular injury.Methods SDF-1_? was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot in carotid arteries of mice at different time points after wire-induced injury.SDF-1_? determination in peripheral blood samples and BM was per- formed by SDF-1_? enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)kit.EPC in peripheral blood collected at different time points after vascular injury were quantified by flow cytornetry.In subgroup,blocking SDF-1 rnonoclonal anti- body was injected,peripheral blood EPC were quantified after vascular injury and reendothelialization of injured ar- teries was determined 14 days later.Results Expression of SDF-1_? was evident at day 1,and peaked at day 3 after arterial injury.A rise in plasmatic concentration of SDF-1_? and a significant reduction of SDF-1_? in bone marrow concentration was noticed at all time points following injury.The amount of circulating EPC was increased shortly after induction of vascular injury and persisted up to 7 days(P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of monocyte releasing tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in severe sepsis (SS) patients, and the regulatory effect of emodin and Shenmai Injection (SMI) on monocyte response.

METHODSocyte (PBMC) sampled from SS patients due to severe abdominal inflammation and healthy controls, PBMC were incubated with or without LPS, respectively. PBMC media pretreated with emodin and SMI, and then the levels of cytokine factors including TNF-alpha and IL-10 in supernatants were determined after stimulated with or without LPS in the two groups. Normal PBMC stimulated with LPS based on incubated with either normal serum or SS serum, and the levels of TNF-alpha and IL-10 in supernatant of normal PBMC and SS serum dealing with emodin or SMI after cultured and stimulated with LPS were determined, respectively.

RESULTSThe levels of TNF-alpha and IL-10 were significantly higher in SS patients than those in the healthy adults. The contents of TNF-alpha and IL-10 increased in response to LPS in PBMC of healthy adults, and the excretion of TNF-alpha was significantly attenuated whereas IL-10 significantly increased in septic PBMC than basal content. Both of the two traditional Chinese medicines had significantly effect in stimulating PBMC secretion in healthy adults and SS patients. In normal PBMC, emodin attenuated TNF-alpha and IL-10 release in response to LPS, and SMI significantly inhibited TNF-alpha release. As to septic PBMC, emodin significantly stimulated TNF-alpha and IL-10 release and SMI significantly increased the concentration of TNF-alpha in the SS patients. Incubation of normal PBMC with septic serum attenuated TNF-alpha production, whereas increased IL-10 release. Emodin could significantly decrease the level of IL-10, and SMI recovered TNF-alphareleasing and had no effect on IL-10.

CONCLUSIONThe level of TNF-alpha significantly decreased accompanied with an anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 significantly increased of PBMC in SS patients. Monocyte exhibits the different response of inflammatory or anti-inflammatory factor which may be one of the reasons of imbalance of immune function in SS patients. Both of emodin and SMI may have regulatory effect on excretion of PBMC in SS patients, but they play a role in different ways.

Adult ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Emodin ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Injections ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Monocytes ; drug effects ; immunology ; Sepsis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of rituximab in treating patients with refractory and/or relapsing thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).

METHODSTotally three patients received rituximab as salvage therapy in our hospital. Rituximab was administered at a weekly dose of 375 mg/m(2) for 2 or 4 consecutive weeks. After clinical remission, patients were followed up every 3 months.

RESULTSAll three patients achieved complete remission. The median time to platelet count recovery was 7 days (4-12 days) after the first rituximab infusion. During the follow-up (median: 12 months; range: 9-18 months), no patients experienced relapse. No side effect was noted during treatment and follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONTherapy with rituximab is effective and well tolerated for patients with refractory or relapsing TTP.

Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic ; drug therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Rituximab ; Salvage Therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo assess the effectiveness and safety of intratympanic versus systemic steroid therapy in the initial treatment of idiopathic sudden hearing loss.

METHODSAn extensive search of the literature was performed in Pubmed and other available database from January, 1980 to November, 2011. After filtering by the criteria of Cochrane Collaboration, a meta-analysis was conducted.

RESULTSNine studies met the criteria for meta-analysis, for idiopathic sudden hearing loss patients without diabetes received intratympanic steroid therapy, the improvement rate (RR = 1.11,95% CI = 0.96-1.28, P = 0.15) did not show any significance when compared with the patients received systemic therapy. While a significant difference of improvement rate occurred between intratympanic and systemic steroid therapy in the idiopathic sudden hearing loss patients with diabetes (RR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.02-1.50, P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONFor the initial therapy of idiopathic sudden hearing loss patients without diabetes, systemic steroid treatment still remains the first choice, but for the idiopathic sudden hearing loss patients with diabetes, intratympanic steroid treatment should be used for the initial treatment.

Administration, Oral ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Dexamethasone ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; drug therapy ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Methylprednisolone ; Steroids ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Tympanic Membrane

Objective To described the prevalence of school physical violence behaviors and to explore its associated factors among middle school students in Beijing. Methods In 2009, a randomly selected cross- sectional survey was conducted among 5718 students in grades 7 to 12 in Beijing. A self-report anonymous questionnaire involving physical violence at school and sociodemographic variables, such as sex, grades, family economic status and family structure, peer relationships, and communication with their parents etc. were completed by students themselves.Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between physical violence and sociodemographic variables. Results Among the students, 14.3% reported that they had had physical violence behavior in school during the past 12 months. Male students had been more likely to have physical violence behaviors than female students (Male 25.2%, Female 5.1% ). For both male and female students, poor school cohesion were the risk factors of physical violence behaviors (Male OR=1.060, Female OR=1.065). For male students, factors as father' s lower education level (OR=1.653 ), remarried/single-parent families ( OR = 1.834 ), low-grade ( grade 7 OR = 5.291; grade 11 OR =1.526) , poor school performance (OR=1.470) etc were the risk factors of physical violence behaviors; while better-off family economic status (OR=0.546), good peer relationships (OR=0.618) , and easy to communicate with the father (OR=0.756) were the protective factors of physical violence behaviors. For female students, easy to communicate with her mother (OR = 0.358)were the protective factors of physical violence behaviors. Conclusion For male and female students, the prevalence of school physical violence and its related factors were different. Actions on prevention against physical violence behaviors should be fully considered, including factors as gender, personal characteristics, family, school and peers etc.