Doctor WANG Zhi-zhong in the Southern Song Dynasty proposed the acupoint view of "location of disease", which explained the connotation of acupoints from the angle of clinic. Its meaning included two levels, one level meant pathological change on the body surface, that was the location of acupuncture diagnosis-treatment, and the other one indicated that the body surface which was the reflecting point of pathological change on the distal area or inside the body was the location of acupuncture diagnosis-treatment. The specific connotations of clinical acupoints were: location of pathogenic factors or reflection of pathogenic factors, regularity between acupoints un- der disease and specific organ, morphological differences and positioning variability after acupoints under disease, and acupoints examination, diagnosis and treatment.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; history ; China ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine in Literature ; Meridians

Objective To study the value of DSA for hepatic vascular anatomy,and to evaluate the efficacy of portal vein occlusion in rabbits with hepatic VX2 tumor.Methods Twenty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups with 10 in each group,including test group A and positive control group B of ham operation.For the test group A,portal branch ligation(PBL)was performed for the left external branch after 3 weeks of the tumor implantation to the left external lobe.Two weeks later,the DSA of hepatic artery and portal vein were performed in all of the rabbits.Results The total displaying effectiveness of the branches of hepatic artery by DSA was better than that by vascular perfusion.There was hypovascular blood supply to hepatic artery implantation of the tumor in the test group A,comparing with that of the group B.Conclusion DSA can clearly display spacial details of the hepatic vascular anatomy in rabbits,and play an important role in post-procedual evaluation of the portal vein occlusion in rabbits.

OBJECTIVETo study the method and effects of multi-stage manipulative reduction and homemade splint fixation in the treatment of tibia shaft fractures.

METHODSTwenty-two patients (16 male and 6 female) were involved the retrospective study. The average age was 33 years (from 6 to 54 years). Single tibia shaft fracture was in 15 cases and tibiofibular fracture in 7 cases. Fracture site: 3 cases were in the upper part of the tibia, 4 in the middle part and 15 in the lower part. Fracture pattern: oblique fracture was in 8 cases, spiral fracture in 5 cases, comminuted fracture in 4 cases and transverse fracture in 5 cases. All the patients were treated with multi-stage manipulative reduction and homemade splint fixation.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up from 3 to 15 months (mean 6 on months). There were malunion of fracture in 1 case, delayed union in 1 case and nonunion in 1 case. The results were excellent in 18 cases, good in 3 cases and poor in 1 case according to WANG Xu-dong assessment criteria.

CONCLUSIONOn the base of traditional manipulative reduction and splint fixation, multi-stage manual correction could stabilize the broken part and prevent displacement. It had the characteristics of easy operation, reliable fixation, rapid union of fracture, few complications and influences on joint function. Multi-stage manipulative reduction and homemade splint fixation is one of the most reliable methods for closed tibia fracture.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Fracture Fixation ; Fractures, Closed ; surgery ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Musculoskeletal Manipulations ; Retrospective Studies ; Splints ; Tibial Fractures ; surgery ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical characteristics of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) among younger adults and to explore the possible mechanisms of early myocardial infarction, combined with the newly discovered risk factors of coronary heart disease.

METHODSData on comparative analysis to the exposure rates of the risk factors and inducing factors of non-CAD patients with two groups of AMI patients including younger adults group (< or =40 years old) and aged adults group (> or =50 years old). Coronary angiography was applied.

RESULTSThere were differences noticed between the frequencies of risk factors of the two AMI groups. In younger adults group the exposure rates of smoking, hyperlipidemia, positive family history, C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen were markedly higher, while in elderly group the exposure rates of hypertension, smoking, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, CRP, fibrinogen and homocysteine (HCY) were markedly higher (P < 0.05). Although the clustering status of risk factors of the younger adult group was not higher than that of the elderly group. There were obvious inducing factors before the patients were attacked by AMI and the inducing factors inclined to cluster, which had obvious dose-reaction relationships with the occurrence of AMI in young people.

CONCLUSIONEarly AMI of younger adults might relate to the clustering status of inducing factors. The coexistence of several kinds of inducing factors was resulted in the occurrence of AMI of the atherosclerosis (As) and non-As patients by means of myocardial ischemia accumulation effect.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Atherosclerosis ; epidemiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Coronary Angiography ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Myocardial Ischemia ; epidemiology ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical value of imaging diagnosis of the vertebral injury in earthquake.

METHODSTwenty-two cases of the vertebral injury in earthquake with clinical and imaging data were analyzed retrospectively. All of the cases were performed X-ray plain film examination, CT in 20 cases and MRI in 15 cases.

RESULTSImaging examination can establish definitive diagnosis in all cases. In the 22 cases, the vertebral compression fracture was found in 20 cases, and vertebral bursting fracture in 2 cases,single-level vertebral fracture in 12 case,and multiple-level vertebral fracture in 10 case. Among the 31 vertebral bodies of fracture, the fracture of cervical vertebra, thoracic vertebra, lumbar vertebra and sacral vertebra was found in 3, 12, 14, 2 vertebral bodies, respectively.

CONCLUSIONImaging examination is the most valuable examination method in diagnosis of the vertebral injury in earthquake. It can not only make definitive diagnosis, but also play an important role in selection of therapeutic method.

Adult ; Aged ; Earthquakes ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Injuries ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods

The phylogenetic relationships of the genus Atractylodes DC. was analyzed using the nuclear ribosomal ITS and three chloroplast fragments, including atpB-rbcL, psbB-psbF and trnL-trnF intergenic spacer (IGS) sequences. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that A. lancea subsp. luotianensis and A. lancea, A. chinensis var. liaotungensis and A. coreana form monophyletic terminal clade, separately. The trees, within each the pairwise genetic distances, did not support Hu's classification. Authors suggested that A. lancea Subsp. luotianensis should be included in A. lancea rather than be treated as a separate subspecies. A. carlinoides was placed in the basal position of Atractylodes, which had a distant relationship with the others of the genus. The results lead us to suggest that A. chinensis var. liaotungensis be put into A. coreana, A. chinensis as a subspecies of A. lancea.
Atractylodes ; classification ; genetics ; DNA, Intergenic ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Genes, Plant ; Phylogeny

OBJECTIVETo assess a multi-center study effectiveness of clinical pathways based on integrative medicine (IM) for chronic heart failure (CHF) patients.

METHODSA combined method of historical control study and clinical study on concurrent control was used. After the standard management for clinical pathways was carried out in four hospitals at home, the effects on hospitalization days, medical expenses, clinical efficacy, patient satisfaction, and quality of life were assessed.

RESULTSResults of non-concurrent historical control study showed that: the hospital stay was significantly shorter in the pathways group than in the retrospective group (12.59 days vs 18.44 days), and the total cost of hospitalization was significantly reduced in the pathways group (yen 9 051.90 vs yen 11 978.40), showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). Moreover, the effect on the heart function was better in the pathways group than in the retrospective group (the markedly effective rate: 45.60% vs 21.90%; the total effective rate: 96.80% vs 86.10%), showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). Results of clinical study on concurrent control showed that the hospital stay was significantly shorter in the pathways group than in the control group (11.19 days vs 13.21 days), showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). The average total cost of hospitalization was significantly lower in the pathways group than in the control group (yen 8 656.80 vs yen 11 609.70), showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). As for clinical efficacy of Chinese medical syndrome, the total effective rate was higher in the pathways group than in the control group (97.10% vs 93.62%), showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). The markedly effective rate of heart function was better in the pathways group than in the control group, showing statistical difference (49.30% vs 38.30%, P < 0.05). The overall satisfaction was higher in the pathways group than in the conventional group (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the mortality within 3 months after discharge from hospital, and the readmission rate due to heart failure between the two groups (P > 0.05). But there was statistical difference in the quality of life (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe pathway could shorten the hospitalization time, decrease the cost of hospitalization, improve the clinical efficacy, improve patients' quality of life and satisfaction, therefore, it could be spread nationwide.

Chronic Disease ; Critical Pathways ; Heart Failure ; nursing ; therapy ; Hospitalization ; economics ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Length of Stay ; Patient Satisfaction ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study mtDNA, GJB2, GJB3 and determine gene mutation situs and frequency in Uighur and Han people with hereditary nonsyndromic hearing loss, and to compare the differences of gene mutation situs and frequency between Uighur and Han people.

METHODSBlood samples were obtained from 93 patients (43 Uygur and 50 Han) with hereditary non-syndromic hearing loss and 110 normal people (56 Uygur and 54 Han). Genomic DNA was extracted from isolated leukocytes, and amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR products of GJB3 were sequenced directly; while PCR products of mitochondrial DNA 12S rRNA A1555G point mutations were analyzed by PCR-Alw26I digestion, and positive ones were further sequenced. GJB2 genes of 83 patients (43 Uygur and 40 Han) with hereditary non-syndromic hearing loss and 98 normal people (46 Uygur and 52 Han) were directly sequenced.

RESULTSAmong GJB3 genes of 93 patients, 2 cases of 33C-T, 2 cases of of 766G-A, 7 cases of 357C-T, and 4 cases of 798C-T were detected. Mitochondrial DNA 12SrRNA A1555G mutation was detected in 8 patients (2 Uygur and 6 Han). Nine kinds of base changes of GJB2 were detected: 109G-A, 233-235delC, 79G-A, 196G-A, 341A-G, 564G-A, 380G-A, 71G-A, and 35delG. In the control group, detected GJB3 mutations included 4 cases of 357C-T, 5 cases of 798C-T, and 2 cases of 93C-T; while 9 kinds of base changes of GJB2 were detected: 341A-G, 380G-A, 457G-A, 79-GA, 109G-A, 281A-G, 21G-T, 171G-T, and 368C-A. For mtDNA 12SrRNA A1555G, the difference between study group of and control group of Han people was statistically significant (P < 0.05). For GJB2 mutation 79G-A, the difference between study group and control group was statistically significant (P < 0.05) in both Uygur and Han people; while for GJB2 mutation 341A-G, the difference in study group between Uygur and Han people was statistically significant (P < 0.05). And for GJB3 mutation 798C-T, the difference was statistically significant both between study group and control group, and between Uygur and Han people (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIn Xinjiang, mutation rate was high for mtDNA 12SRNA A1555G. while GJB3 gene mutations were not the main cause of the hereditary nonsyndromic hearing loss. There were certain ethnic and geographical characteristics of GJB2and GJB3 mutations.

Adolescent ; Base Sequence ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Connexin 26 ; Connexins ; genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Female ; Hearing Loss ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; genetics ; Humans ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; RNA, Ribosomal ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe Notch1 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and investigate its relation with microvascular angiogenesis in the tumor.

METHODSTissue slices of 40 cases ESCC (cancer group) and 8 cases normal esophagus tissues (normal group) were obtained to analyze the expression of Notch1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) using immunohistochemistry and estimate the microvessel density (MVD) in the tumor.

RESULTSNotch1 expression was significantly lower in the cancer group than in the normal group (P<0.05). In the cancer group, Notch1 expression was higher in highly differentiated than in poorly differentiated tumors (P<0.05) regardless of tumor infiltration or lymph nodes metastasis (P>0.05). VEGF expression and MVD were significantly higher in cancer group than in normal group, and showed significant differences between tumors with different differentiation degrees, infiltration and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that Notch1 expression was inversely correlated to VEGF expression.

CONCLUSIONNotch1 may be an anti-oncogene in ESCC and affects cell differentiation in early stage of the malignancy. Abnormally low expression of Notch1 in ESCC may be one of the upstream factors to induce high expression of VEGF and increased MVD. The Notch1 pathway might play a key role in microvascular angiogenesis in ESCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; metabolism ; Capillaries ; growth & development ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Receptor, Notch1 ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the predictive values of Tokuhashi score, revised Tokuhashi score and Tomita score systems for life expectancy and treatment options in patients with spinal metastasis.

METHODSFrom February 1996 to January 2009, spinal operations in 104 cases with spinal metastasis were performed in our hospital. There were 65 males and 39 females, with an average of 53.4 years (median 52.5 years). To calculate AUC (area under the curve) values of Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves of three scores, and to analyze the accuracy of prediction of life expectancy. To compare the actual survival time with the expected survival time of the three scores by Kaplan-Meier method. Spearman correlation analysis was performed between the survival time and three scoring systems.

RESULTSAll cases were followed-up with an average duration of 10.9 months, and 77 patients died. AUC analysis of ROC curves showed that the difference of the accuracy of the three scores was not significant. AUC in all groups of Tokuhashi Score was low, with a poor diagnostic accuracy. In the "died within 3 months" and "died within 6 months" groups of revised Tokuhashi score, the accuracy was low, while high in the other two groups. The AUC values of Tomita score in "died within 6 months" and "died within 24 months" were high, with a great diagnostic accuracy while the other two groups were low with a low diagnostic accuracy. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the actual survival time in all three scores was not entirely consistent with the expected survival time. Tokuhashi score and revised score were positively correlated with the survival time while that of Tomita score was negative.

CONCLUSIONAll the three prognosis scores in patients with spinal metastasis were closely related with survival time. The combination of Tokuhashi score and Tomita score may be applied to better predict postoperative survival prognosis and guide the surgical options for patients with spinal metastasis.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Life Expectancy ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Severity of Illness Index ; Spinal Neoplasms ; secondary ; surgery ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult