Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of tacrolimus and cyclophosphamide (CTX) on lupus nephritis.Methods The clinical trials on treatment of lupus nephritis with tacrolimus and CTX published before October 2012 were searched at Cochrane library,PubMed,OVID,Wanfang database,Chinese Journal full-text Database,Chongqing Weipu Database by using the methods of Cochrane systematic review.At the same time the information from related journals,professional data and network were hand-searched.The homogeneous evaluation was performed by Meta-analysis.Statistical analysis of clinical data was performed by using Stata11 software.Results A total of 4783 reports were found,while only 9 papers (8 randomized controlled trials and 1 cohort study) met the inclusion criteria.Tacrolimus group got better complete remission ratio (Z =4.05,P ＜ 0.01),similar partial remission ratio (Z =0.44,P =0.661),and better overall remission ratio (Z =4.29,P ＜ 0.01) as compared with CTX group.There were no significant differences between tacrolimus group and CTX group in the incidence of infection (Z=1.75,P=0.081),renal damage (Z=0.88,P=0.38) and abnormal glucose metabolism (Z =1.91,P =0.070).Side effects such as liver function impairment (Z =2.65,P＜0.01),gastrointestinal discomfort (Z=2.31,P＜0.05),menstrual disorders (Z=3.88,P＜0.01),bone marrow suppression (Z =3.29,P ＜ 0.01) in tacrolimus group were lower than those in CTX group.Conclusions Compared with CTX,tacrolimus has better complete remission ratio and overall remission ratio,with less side-effects in the treatment of lupus nephritis.However,large scale,multicenter,well-designed clinical trials should be adopted to further confirm the conclusions.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical symptom and effect of arthroscopic treatment of symptomatic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) cysts of the knee.

METHODSClinical data from 12 symptomatic ACL cysts patients from January 2005 to December 2010 were retrospectively analyzed,including 8 males and 4 females,with an average age of (33.7±9.5) years old (ranged, 19 to 53 years old). The locations were the left knee in 5 cases and the right knee in 7 cases. The disease duration ranged from 3 to 48 months,with a mean of (15.8±13.2) months. All cysts were arthroscopically resected. Range of motion was measured preoperatively and postoperatively, and Lysholm scoring system was used to evaluate the knee function.

RESULTSAll the incisions healed by first intention, and no complications occurred. Twelve patients were followed up for an average of (32.3±6.6) months(ranged, 24 to 48 months). The symptoms of arthralgia,swelling and interlocking of the affected knees disappeared. There was no recurrence during the follow-up. There were significant differences in the range of motion and Lysholm score between pre-operation and post-operation.

CONCLUSIONArthroscopic surgery, showing its advantages of minimal invasion and rapid recovery,is an effective measure in the treatment of ACL cysts.

Adult ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Arthroscopy ; methods ; Cysts ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Range of Motion, Articular

This paper has briefly analyzed the publication status of Chinese stomatology papers in 2009 with statistics from Journal Citation Reports provided by Thomson Scientific. Only those papers with the first author coming from the mainland of China were included for calculations. We have found a significant increase in the number of SCIE-indexed papers, most of which were published by six dental institutions in China. Among all Chinese medical institutions, West China School of Stomatology Sichuan University is the first dental institution to enter the top-20 list with the most publications, and it also ranks the 9th in the number of outstanding articles. West China School of Stomatology Sichuan University and the Forth Military Medical University are the only two dental institutions in China which have published SCIE-indexed papers over a hundred. The former has published the most SCIE-indexed stomatology papers, while the latter has the highest average impact factor. As the laboratories and funds in China have close connections with various dental hospitals, the pratice of translational medicine in dentistry is fast and fluent.
China ; Dentistry ; Humans ; Journal Impact Factor ; Periodicals as Topic ; statistics & numerical data

To study the protective effect of Danshen Tongluo capsule on rat hearts in the myocardial infarction (MI) model. After being fed with high fat diets for one month, the SD rats were randomly divided into the sham group and the model group according to the left ventricular ejection fraction (EF). The MI model group was duplicated by ligating coronary artery and then divided into five groups: the model group, the positive control group (model + captopril), the small dose group (model + Danshen Tongluo), the medium dose group (model + Danshen Tongluo) and the high dose group (model + Danshen Tongluo). Four weeks later, changes in myocardium ultra-structure were observed by hemodynamics, cardiac ultrasound and electron microscope. The results showed: (1) All doses of Danshen Tongluo capsule could significantly reduce the left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) (P <0.01), increase the maximum internal pressure of the left ventricle (+ dp/dtmax), and lower the drop rate of left ventricular pressure (- dp/dtmax), with statistical significances in medium and high dose groups; (2) The B ultrasound results showed increase in EF and left ventricular shortening fraction (FS) in all dose groups of Danshen Tongluo capsule; (3) The medium dose group showed significant decrease in myocardial infarction index (P <0.01) and injured and fractured myofilament and sarcomere of ischemic myocardium in myocardial ultra-structure; All of Danshen Tongluo capsule-treated groups revealed reduction in myocardial injury and myocardial infraction area. The study preliminarily proves that Danshen Tongluo capsule can improve hemodynamic function, and has a protective effect on myocardial ischemia.
Animals ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Hemodynamics ; drug effects ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; ultrastructure ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ventricular Function, Left ; drug effects

OBJECTIVEThe protection rate of inoculation with BCG vaccine is only 50 percent, and most of patients with tuberculosis had a history of BCG vaccine inoculation. Adenosine (ADO) has an immunomodulating effect; it promotes immune reaction by increasing number of macrophage and enhancing phagocytosis. The present study was designed to investigate if combined use of adenosine with BCG enhances the anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis effect of macrophage in mice.

METHODSFifty BALB/C mice were divided randomly into 3 groups: BCG group (n = 21), BCG plus ADO group (n = 21) and control group (n = 8). The mice in BCG and BCG plus ADO groups were inoculated with 0.1 ml BCG intradermally and the mice in BCG plus ADO group were injected intraperitoneally with ADO 30 mg/(kg.d) for 5 days. The mice in BCG group and control group were injected with NS 0.1 ml/d for 5 days. Six weeks after the last injection, all mice were challenged with intravenous 1 x 10(6) CFU human Mycobacterium tuberculosis virulent strain. After challenging, lung and spleen specimens were taken at the 10th, 20th and 30th days from the mice of BCG and BCG plus ADO groups and at the 30th day from mice in control group. The pathological examinations of lung and spleen sections were performed after HE staining and acid-fast staining, and detection of cell apoptosis was also performed.

RESULTSConsolidation with neutrophil infiltration was found in most of the lung tissue taken at the day 30; there were a lot of tuberculous granulomas and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the lungs of control group. The alveolar septum in BCG gradually became wide and in interstitium lymphocyte infiltration dominated, and there were less tuberculous granulomas but there were large number of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the lungs from 10th to 30th days after challenging. The widening of alveolar septum and consolidation of lung tissue in BCG plus ADO group became milder with monocytes infiltration, and there were few tuberculosis granulomas and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the lungs from 10th to 30th days after challenging.

CONCLUSIONADO could increase the number of monocyte-macrophages and promoted anti-bacterial effects of these cells.

Adenosine ; administration & dosage ; immunology ; Animals ; BCG Vaccine ; administration & dosage ; immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Injections, Intradermal ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; immunology ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; drug effects ; Phagocytosis ; drug effects ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; immunology ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of transcatheter closure of paravalvular leak (PVL) with Chinese-made occluder.

METHODSFive PVL patients were involved in this study, 2 out of the 5 patients underwent aortic mechanical valve replacements, 2 underwent mitral bioprosthetic valve replacements, and the remaining 1 underwent double mechanical valve replacement.Left ventricular end diastolic diameter, left atrial diameter and the systolic pulmonary artery pressure were assessed by echocardiography before and post the procedure.

RESULTSComplete occlusion without residual regurgitation was achieved in 2 patients with aortic PVL, for the 3 patients with mitral PVL, there was only tiny or mild mitral paraprosthetic leak remained post closure procedure. Cardiac perforation and pericardium tamponade occurred in 1 patient with aortic PVL during interventional closure and the patient recovered post emergent pericardiocentesis. Transient severe hemolysis and hemoglobinuria occurred in 3 patients with mitral PVL post closure procedure and they recovered after 1 to 3 weeks conservative therapy. During 3 months follow up, left ventricular end diastolic diameter [(52.2 ± 6.8) mm vs. (61.1 ± 7.2) mm, P < 0.05], the systolic pulmonary artery pressure [(40.0 ± 5.4) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) vs. (57.0 ± 3.6) mm Hg, P < 0.05] and left atrial diameter of mitral PVL patient [(49.0 ± 4.3) mm vs. (56.0 ± 6.3) mm, P < 0.05] were significantly reduced compared to before closure procedure.

CONCLUSIONPercutaneous or transapical left ventricular access closure of PVL is feasible, effective and relative safe in selected patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aortic Valve ; surgery ; Cardiac Catheterization ; methods ; Contraindications ; Female ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies

Cryptosporidium andersoni ATP-binding cassette (CaABC) is an important membrane protein involved in substrate transport across the membrane. In this research, the nucleotide binding domain (NBD) of CaABC gene was amplified by PCR, and the eukaryotic expression vector of pEGFP-C1-CaNBD was reconstructed. Then, the recombinant plasmid of pEGFP-C1-CaNBD was transformed into the mouse intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) to study the iron transportation function of CaABC. The results indicated that NBD region of CaABC gene can significantly elevate the transport efficiency of Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, and HCO3 - in IECs (P<0.05). The significance of this study is to find the ATPase inhibitors for NBD region of CaABC gene and to inhibit ATP binding and nutrient transport of CaABC transporter. Thus, C. andersoni will be killed by inhibition of nutrient uptake. This will open up a new way for treatment of cryptosporidiosis.
ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/*chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Calcium/metabolism ; *Cloning, Molecular ; Cryptosporidiosis/parasitology ; Cryptosporidium/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Humans ; Iron/metabolism ; Mice ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Protozoan Proteins/*chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Alignment

OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical experience from treatment of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

METHODSRetrospective analysis of seven patients with SARS in Ditan hospital treated since April 22 in 2004 was performed.

RESULTSIn the 7 patients, 2 were male, 5 were female, and the average age was (35.3 plus/minus 11.3) years. The main clinical manifestations were fever, cough, minor or serious dyspnea, nausea, signs of injury to other organs, and so on. The treatment regiments included oxygen, small dosage and short period of methylprednisolone (1 to 2 mg/kg), use of ventilator, psychological intervention, and treatment of underlying diseases, after which, all the 7 patients recovered.

CONCLUSIONRational use of methylprednisolone and timely use of ventilator were the key steps of treatment.

Adult ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; therapeutic use ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Cross Infection ; drug therapy ; therapy ; transmission ; Female ; Humans ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; therapy ; transmission ; Ventilators, Mechanical

OBJECTIVETo analyze and summarize the clinical and pathological characteristics of intracranial haemangioblastoma and to improve surgery effect.

METHODSeventy-two patients with intracranial haemangioblastoma who were proven by operation and pathology from 1970 to 1988 were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSIntracranial haemangioblastoma tends to occur in the hemisphere of cerebellum (83 tumours, 87%) and the age of them ranged from 20 to 40 years (47 cases, 58.3%) mostly. The ratio of men (46 cases) was higher than women (26 cases). The diagnosis of the disease depends on CT and MR substantive haemangioblastoma. The most effective and reliable treatment of intracranial haemangioblastoma is surgical resection.

CONCLUSIONIntracranial haemangioblastoma is benign tumour which can be, cured by total surgical resection. The key recurrence factors include the young age of initial onset, mistaken exploration and incomplete extirpation of tumour.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Brain Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Child ; Female ; Hemangioblastoma ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of orientation to the mechanical alignment of lower limbs in high tibial osteotomy (HTO).

METHODSFrom March 2005 to July 2010, the data of 57 patients (63 knees) with medial compartment osteoarthritis were retrospectively analyzed. There were 24 males and 33 females with an average age of 52 years (ranged, 34 to 68). HTO was used in all the patients, and with wire the exact orientation to the mechanical alignment of lower limbs was performed in order to obtain good angle of intercepted bone. X-rays of full-length lower limbs were done at the 3rd month after operation and final follow-up, in which femorotibial angle would be observed. Clinical results were evaluated according to Hospital for Special Surgery knee scores (HSS) including pain, function, activities, myodynamia, deformity and instability.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 24 to 60 months with an average of 36.7 months. All osteotomy site achieved radiographic healing. The femorotibial angle was corrected from preoperative (182.8 +/- 2.9) degrees to postoperative (167.6 +/- 2.5) degrees and (168.1 +/- 2.5) degrees at final follow-up (compared with preoperative data, P < 0.01). Pain relieved and genu valgum recovered. HSS score improved from preoperative 69.5 +/- 7.1 to postoperative 91.1 +/- 4.9 and 92.2 +/- 5.6 at final follow-up. According to HSS standard, 43 knees got excellent results, 18 good and 2 fair.

CONCLUSIONThe orientation to mechanical alignment of lower limbs using wire during operation of HTO is a good method in correcting femorotibial angle and treating medial compartment osteoarthritis of the knee. Moreover, the method is simple and precise for orthopedist.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; surgery ; Osteotomy ; methods ; Tibia ; surgery