Adolescent ; Amiodarone ; therapeutic use ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Emergency Medical Services ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Prognosis ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; complications ; pathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo search for an effective method for treatment of intestinal metaplasia of gastric mucosa in the patient of chronic atrophic gastritis.

METHODSFifty-one cases of chronic atrophic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia were randomly divided into a treatment group (n = 26) and a control group (n = 25). The treatment group were treated with acupuncture at main acupoints: Zhongwan (CV 12), Zusanli (ST 36), Neiguan (PC 6), Gongsun (SP 4), and oral administration of modified Sijunzi Decoction, and the control group with the modified Sijunzi Decoction. After treatment for 3 months, clinical symptoms, results of gastroscopy and pathological changes of gastric mucosa were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in improvement of the clinical symptoms between the two groups (P > 0.05); the total effective rate of 88.46% for gastroscopy in the treatment group was better than 64.00% in the control group (P < 0.05); and the total effective rate of 84.62% for pathological improvement of intestinal metaplasia in the treatment group was superior to 64.00% in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture combined with Chinese drug is a better therapy for intestinal metaplasia of gastric mucosa in the patient of chronic atrophic gastritis.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Gastric Mucosa ; Gastritis, Atrophic ; therapy ; Humans ; Metaplasia

In this paper, a method based on the convex hull algorithm is presented for extracting modelling data from the locations of catheter electrodes within a cardiac chamber, so as to create a 3-D model of the heart chamber during diastole and to obtain a good result in the 3-D reconstruction of the chamber based on VTK.
Algorithms ; Body Surface Potential Mapping ; methods ; Catheter Ablation ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods

OBJECTIVETo determine actinoside C in the leaves of Actinidia kolomikta with different growth periods.

METHODThe separation was performed at 25 degrees C on ZORBAX Extend C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm), using amixture of methanol and water (51:49) as a mobile phase. The flow rate was 1.2 mL x min(-1), and the wavelength for measurement was 267 nm.

RESULTThe results showed that the contents of actinoside C in the leaves of A. kolomikta were variety in different growth periods. Actinoside C could reach its highest content in the middle ten days of June, then the content would decrease in the middle ten days of July slightly, it could reach their lowest content in the middle ten days of August.

CONCLUSIONThe optimal collective date for A. kolomikta are in the middle ten days of June.

Actinidia ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Flavones ; analysis ; chemistry ; Glycosides ; analysis ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Seasons

OBJECTIVEThe choice of surgical approaches for salvage surgery based on the location and invasion of recurrent and residual lesions of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), surgical results, complications, and survival were assessed.

METHODSThirty-seven cases with recurrent and residual lesions of NPC underwent salvage surgery between March 1991 and January 2005 were analysed retrospectively. Of 37 patients, 23 were men and 14 women, with a median age of 46.5 years (26 - 57 years); 4 were at stage I, 10 at stage II, 14 at stage III, and 9 at stage IV; 5 cases were with cervical metastasis, including 3 cases of N1 and 2 cases N2. All recurrent and residual lesions of NPC were determined by biopsy. On the location and invasion of recurrent and residual lesions of NPC, 8 cases underwent endoscopic resection of lesions, 12 cases of the palate nasopharyngectomy, 5 cases of maxillary swing, 4 cases of maxillary swing plus prerenal approach, 2 cases of lateral rhinotomy plus coronal flap approach, and 6 cases transfacial plus nasal pyramid swing approach. Five cases with cervical metastasis received neck dissection in addition to the operations for recurrent and residual lesions of NPC. Postoperatively 31 cases received radiotherapy with dosage of 60 Gy, among them 15 cases with concurrent chemoradiation therapy, and 6 cases with clear surgical margin did not received radiotherapy or chemotherapy. The cases were followed up for 12 - 72 months, with a median of 45 months.

RESULTSTotal resection for the recurrent and residual lesions of NPC accounted for 91.8% (34/37) and subtotal resection for 8.2% (3/37). The accident of perioperative complications was 24.3% (9/37). The 3- and 5-year overall disease-free survival rates (DFSR) were 62.1% and 43.3%, respectively. The 3- and 5-year overall survival rates (OSR) were 72.9% and 51.3%, respectively. The 5 year DFSR of cases at stage I-IV were 100%, 40%, 28% and 11% (χ(2) = 10.0, P < 0.01), respectively. The 5 year OSR were 100%, 70%, 35% and 28% (χ(2) = 11.5, P < 0.01), respectively.

CONCLUSIONSSalvage surgery is a justified treatment for the recurrent and residual lesions of NPC, by which some patients with recurrent and residual lesions of NPC can be salvaged.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; surgery ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Salvage Therapy ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the dynamic changes of cardiomyocyte apoptosis and the role of death receptor apoptotic pathway in a rat model of coronary microembolization (CME).

METHODSAdult rats were randomized to coronary microembolization (CME group, n = 63) or sham-operated group (S group, n = 55). CME model was established by aortic injection of 0.1 ml microspheres (42 microm, 3 x 10(4)/ml) into the left ventricle when the ascending aorta was temporarily clamped.S group received 0.1 ml saline injection and survived rats were randomly examined at 0, 3, 6, 12 and 24 hour post CME (n = 10 each). Heart function was evaluated by echocardiography. Myocardium sample was stained with hematoxylin-eosin and hematoxylin-basic fuchsin-picric acid to detect infarct areas. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was detected with TUNEL staining. The expression of caspase-3 and caspase-8 was measured by Western blot analysis.

RESULTSCompared with S group, the left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly decreased and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was significantly increased in CME group (all P < 0.05) except 0 hour CME group. The infarct sizes were similar in 3 hour, 6 hour, 12 hour, and 24 hour CME groups (P > 0.05). The apoptosis index (AI) in CME group were significantly higher at each time point compared to S group (P < 0.05) except 0 hour CME group and peaked at 6 hours. Apoptotic cardiomyocytes were found mainly in the myocardial microinfarcted area and border zones. The relative expression of caspase-3 and caspase-8 in CME group were both significantly increased at 3 hours and peaked at 6 hour post CME (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCardiomyocytes apoptosis was significantly increased after coronary microembolization via activating death receptor apoptotic pathway in this coronary microembolization model.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Male ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Death Domain ; metabolism ; Thromboembolism ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the prevention effect of salidroside on contrast-induced-nephropathy (CIN) and its underlying mechanism.

METHODSA total of 24 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups with 6 in each group. Rats were firstly administrated with normal saline (control and model groups), N-acetylcysteine (NAC, NAC group) and salidroside (salidroside group) for 7 days before model establishment in each group, respectively. Histopathological analysis was performed by periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. Oxidative stress related parameters including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), angiotensin II (Ang II), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), mRNA and protein levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity were measured.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the levels of MDA, Ang II and 8-OHdG were all significantly increased and levels of SOD, NO, and eNOS mRNA and protein were decreased significantly in the model group (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the NOS activity was also significantly decreased in the model group (P<0.05). In addition, the levels of these parameters were all improved in the NAC (P<0.05) and salidroside groups and no significant different was found between these two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSalidroside can be the potential substitute of NAC to prevent CIN. The underlying mechanism may be associated with oxidative stress damage caused by contrast agents.

Acetylcysteine ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Contrast Media ; adverse effects ; Cytoprotection ; drug effects ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Kidney ; drug effects ; pathology ; Kidney Diseases ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Phenols ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of active components of Danshen and Shanzha of different matching proportions on atherosclerosis (AS), in the expectation of obtaining the optimum combination method.

METHODAtherosclerotic rats were fed with high fat diet, and injected with vitamin D3 and ovalbumin. Aqueous extracts of Danshen (DSA) and Shanzha (SZA) and lipophilic extracts of danshen (DSL) were adopted for a low, medium and high-dose orthogonal experiment, to observe the effect of their different matching proportions on lipid level, oxidative stress, endothelial function and inflammatory reaction. The principal component analysis and cluster analysis were adopted for the multi-objective optimization of experimental results.

RESULTCompared with the model group, all of samples with different proportions of DSA, DSL and SZA showed effect in lowering lipid level, scavenging free radicals, reducing endothelial dysfunction and inhibiting inflammation. According to the variance analysis, DSA2-SZA2-DSL1, DSA3-SZA2-DSL1, DSA3-SZA3 -DSL3 and DSA3-SZA1-DSL1 were the optimal proportions for lowering lipid level, scavenging free radicals, reducing endothelial dysfunction and inhibiting inflammation, respectively. According to the results of the multi-objective optimization, DSA2-SZA1-DSL2 was the optimal proportions of anti-AS.

CONCLUSIONAll of active components of Danshen and Shanzha of different matching proportions show the anti-AS effect in rats to varying degrees, but with different focus in different matching proportions.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Phenanthrolines ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

BACKGROUNDPulmonary vein (PV) isolation has been developed to treat patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), and the electrophysiological endpoint of PV isolation is the disappearance or dissociation of pulmonary vein potentials (PVPs). Pulmonary vein tachycardia (PVT) is the dissociated PV rhythm with a rapid rate. However, the characteristics and significance of PVT after pulmonary vein isolation in patients with AF remains unclear.

METHODSFrom June 2003 to June 2005, a total of 285 consecutive patients with drug refractory AF were included in this study, and they underwent segmental pulmonary vein ablation (SPVA) or circumferential pulmonary vein ablation (CPVA). PV isolation was the initial endpoint for both approaches with documenting disappearance or dissociation of PVPs. PVT was characterized as dissociated activities within PVs with a circle length (CL) of < 300 ms, and was classified into organized PVT or disorganized PVT according to the variance of CL. Systematic follow-up was conducted after initial procedures. Continuous variables were analyzed by Student's t test and categorical variables were analyzed by chi-square test.

RESULTSThree hundred and fifteen PVs were ablated in 85 patients underwent SPVA approach, 400 circular lesions surrounding ipsilateral PVs (including 790 PVs) were produced in the rest of 200 patients received CPVA approach. Electrical isolation was achieved in all of these PVs. Of these, PVPs were abolished in 89.8% (992/1105) of the ablated PVs, dissociated PV rhythms were documented in the rest 10.2 % (113/1105) of the treated PVs. Among the 113 dissociated PV rhythms, 28 met the criteria of PVT with mean CL of (155 +/- 43) ms (2 PVTs in 2 patients received SPVA, 26 PVTs in 18 patients underwent CPVA). PVT was more frequently documented in patients underwent CPVA approach [9.0% (18/200) vs 2.3% (2/85), P = 0.04]. During the 6-month follow-up, it was indicated that no significant difference existed in AF free rate between patients with PVT and those without PVT (P = 0.75).

CONCLUSIONSPVT dissociated from LA activations can be documented after PV isolation, especially in patients underwent CPVA approach. However, PVT does not affect the follow-up results.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Veins ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Tachycardia ; etiology

Objective: Taking electronic-eye (visual analyzer) technique,based on the powder color of Andrographis Herba,to investigate the applicability of electronic-eye technique and evaluate the quality of Andrographis Herba with different commercial specifications. Method: HPLC was employed to determine contents of andrographolide,dehydroandrographolide,14-deoxyandrographolide,neoandrographolide in 50 batches of Andrographis Herba with different commercial specifications(stems,leaves and aerial parts).Color of these samples were measured by electronic-eye technique.The data were analyzed by principal component analysis(PCA) and Pearson correlation analysis.The ability of electronic-eye to distinguish the different commercial specifications of Andrographis Herba was investigated and the correlation of chroma space system parameters (L^*,a^*,b^*) with active components was investigated. Result: There was remarkable difference in contents of 4 diterpenoids in Andrographis Herba from different parts,their contents in leaves was the highest,followed by the aerial parts(mixture of stems and leaves),and their contents in stems was the lowest.The results of PCA was divided into two classes,namely the stem part,leaf and aerial parts,indicating that electronic-eye could be used to distinguish the quality of Andrographis Herba.The correlation results showed that there were significant negative correlation(P<0.01) between L^*(lightness value) and the contents of andrographolide,dehydroandrographolide,14-deoxyandrographolide,neoandrographolide and the total content of these 4 components.In addition,L^* of samples that did not conform to the lower limit of determination in the 2015 edition of Chinese Pharmacopeia was ≥ 69.5,and the L^* of more than 90% of the samples in accordance with the requirements was <69.5. Conclusion: Electronic-eye technique provides a new method and idea for the quality evaluation of Andrographis Herba.