100 inpatients with heart failure were divided into two groups: 50 with preserved LVEF and 50 with reduced LVEF. Another 50 age-matched healthy subjects served as the control group. The severity and etiology of heart failure, tissue Doppler imaging indexes (Sm;Ea;Aa;E/Ea) and plasma BNP concentrations were compared among the three groups. There was no difference in terms of NYHA classification between groups of preserved LVEF and reduced LVEF. Hypertension and DM are more common in the group of preserved LVEF. The index of Sm decreased most significantly in the group of reduced LVEF, and was negatively correlated with the BNP concentration (r = -0. 35, P ＜ 0. 05 ). The ratio of E/Ea increased gradually among the three groups, and was positively correlated with the BNP concentration ( r = 0. 728, P ＜ 0. 05 ). The LV filling index E/Ea and the BNP concentration may be helpful in the diagnosis of heart failure patients with preserved LVEF.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical features of tumors primarily in the pterygopalatine fossa, and the efficiency of surgical management for these lesions. METHODS The clinical data of 7 cases with tumors primarily in the pterygopalatine fossa were retrospectively studied. Three of them were primary diseases, i.e. fibrous histiocytoma, neurofibroma and cholesteatoma. The other 4 cases were secondary tumors mainly located in pterygopalatine fossa. There were 1 case with epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma, 1 case with adenoid cystic carcinoma , 1 case with recurrent inverted nasal papilloma, 1 case with recurrent malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Approaches to tumors in pterygopalatine fossa lesions included lateral rhinotomy, and transnasal or transantrum approaches under the nasal endoscope. RESULTS The patient suffered from adenoid cystic carcinoma developed local recurrence 4 months after operation, and extended resection of the recurrent tumor with laser was performed again. No further recurrence was found after following-up for 3 years. Neither local recurrence nor regional metastasis was found in the remaining 6 cases with a follow-up period of 2 to 4 years. The main complication was oronasal fistula. CONCLUSION CT scan or MRI is the main method to the early diagnosis of pterygopalatine fossa tumors. Lateral rhinotomy, endoscopic trasnnasal or transantrum approaches are feasible procedures to resect the tumors.

There are many subjects for the diagnosis and treatment of vertigo/dizziness.Only by standardized diagnosis and treatment can we avoid misdiagnosis and mistreatment.First,terminology standardization should be applied,including how to interpret sudden hearing loss,vestibular migraine and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo to Chinese nomenclature and to describe deafness and hearing loss correctly.Second,the key points of differential diagnosis of central and peripheral vestibular diseases must be accurately grasped,conducting clinical work under the guidance and consensus of diagnosis and treatment of relevant vestibular diseases and mastering the new concepts and new developments at home and abroad in order to promote the level of the diagnosis and treatment of vertigo/dizziness.

Objective: To elucidate the differences in manual acupuncture effectiveness at sensitized points by investigating the mechanisms of local skin action at different sensitization points in rats with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods: Forty Sprague–Dawley rats were equally divided into control, model (1 mg of monoiodoacetate into the right knee joint cavity), sham operation, manual acupuncture at right Tianjing acupoint (MAR-SJ 10), and left SJ 10 groups. Safranine-O and fast green staining were used to assess the modeling. The morphological and functional changes in mast cells (MCs) were assessed during acupoint sensitization using toluidine blue and immunofluorescence staining. The levels of serotonin, histamine, substance P (SP), and tryptase at skin acupoints and serum levels of IL-β, IL-6, and TNF-α were detected using ELISA. Results: After 14 days of treatment, the number of MCs and their degranulation rates were statistically higher in the model group than in the control group (both P < .001). After applying acupuncture, the levels of 5-HT, HA, and SP at skin acupoints were lower than those in the model group (all P < .05), and tryptase level was higher (both P < .05). Tryptase level was higher on the skin at the MAL-SJ 10 acupoint than that on the MAR-SJ 10 acupoint (P = .004). Compared with the model group, the serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in the MAR-SJ 10 and MAL-SJ 10 groups were lower (all P < .05). Conclusion Acupuncture at KOA-sensitized acupoints mitigates joint injury in KOA rats and may bidirectionally regulate local MCs of these acupoints. This finding not only enhances the reference value of sensitizing points in clinical diagnosis and treatment, but also contributes to the understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying acupuncture intervention at sensitizing points.

This study explored the variation of bursting force of multi-chamber infusion bag with different geometry size, providing guidance for its optimal design. Models of single-chamber infusion bag with different size were established. The finite element based on fluid cavity method was adopted to calculate the fluid-solid coupling deformation process of infusion bag to obtain corresponding critical bursting force. As a result, we proposed an empirical formula predicting the critical bursting force of one chamber infusion bag with specified geometry size. Besides, a theoretical analysis, which determines the force condition of three chamber infusion bag when falling from high altitude, was conducted. The proportion of force loaded on different chamber was gained. The results indicated that critical bursting force is positively related to the length and width of the chamber, and negatively related to the height of the chamber. While the infusion bag falling, the impact force loaded on each chamber is proportional to the total liquid within it. To raise the critical bursting force of in fusion bag, a greater length and width corresponding to reduced height are recommended considering the volume of liquid needed to be filled in.