OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy difference in the treatment of chronic pelvic pain syndrome of Sev-damp-heat stagnation pattern between acupoint catgut embedding therapy and western medication.

METHODSenty cases were randomized into a catgut embedding group (40 cases) and a western medication group (30 cases) at the ratio of 4 : 3. In the catgut embedding group, the catgut embedding therapy was applied to Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Quchi (LI 11), Huiyin (CV 1), Zusanli (ST 36), Zhongji (CV 3), Shenshu (BL 23), etc. The treatment was given once every two weeks, the treatment for 4 weeks was as one session and totally 2 sessions were required. In the western medication group, tamsulosin hydrochloride capsules 0. 2 mg, oral administration, once a day, and Indometacin sustained release tablets, 75 mg, once a day, 3 tablets each time were prescribed. The symptom score of TCM, score of NIH Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI), lecithin body number in prostatic fluid, (SAS) score of Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and score of Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were compared before and after treatment in the patients of the two groups. The efficacy was evaluated in the two groups.

RESULTS(1)The total effective rate was 91. 9% (34/37) in the catgutembedding group and was 86. 2% (25/29) in the western medication group. The efficacy in the catgutembedding group was better than that in the western medication group (P<0. 05). (2) The symptom score of TCM was all reduced significantly after treatment in the two groups (both P<0.01), and the result in the catgut embedding group was superior to the western medication group (6.42 +/-2. 81 vs 10. 99+/-3. 11 ,P<0. 01). (3) Lecithin body number was increased apparently in the two groups after treatment (both P<0.01), and the result in the catgut-embedding group was superior to the western medicine group (33.56+/-5.88 vs 29. 78+/-7. 06,P<0. 05). (4) Total score of NIH-CPSI, score of pain, score of SAS and score of SDS were all improved apparently after treatment in the two groups (all P<0. 01), and the results in the catgut embedding group were superior to the western medication group (P<0. 01, P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe acupoint catgut embedding therapy achieves the superior efficacy on chronic pelvic pain syndrome of damp-heat stagnation pattern as compared with conventional western medicine. This therapy relieves clinical symptoms, improves the states of anxiety and depression and increases lecithin body number obviously.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Catgut ; utilization ; Chronic Disease ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pelvic Pain ; therapy ; Prostatitis ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship of the common Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome pattern of chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) with the contents of substance p and beta endorphin in the plasma, and provide reference data for the clinical diagnosis, differentiation and treatment of CPPS by TCM.

METHODSWe observed 98 cases of CPPS, which were classified into a lower-part damp-heat invasion group (group A, n = 32), a blood stasis-induced collateral obstruction group (group B, n = 34), and a damp-heat stagnation group (group C, n = 32) according to the TCM syndrome differentiation. Another 35 normal healthy young men were enrolled as controls. We measured the contents of substance p and beta endorphin in the plasma by immunoradiometry and ELISA, and analyzed their relationship with the TCM syndrome pattern.

RESULTSThe contents of plasma substance p were significantly higher in groups A ([1135.76 +/- 166.45] pg/ml), B ([1 337.84 +/- 170.81] pg/ml), and C ([1 210.01 +/- 162.27] pg/ml) than in the control ([574.99 +/- 113.09] pg/ml) (all P < 0.01), while the contents of plasma beta endorphin in groups A ([212.70 +/- 29.49] pg/ml), B ([157.99 +/- 24.01] pg/ml), and C ([180.81 +/- 20.20] pg/ml) were remarkably lower than that in the control ([274.73 +/- 27.64] pg/ml) (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONIn the plasma of CPPS patients, the content of substance p is significantly elevated and that of beta endorphin markedly reduced, which suggests that they may be involved in the inflammatory reaction of CPPS. The levels of plasma substance p and beta endorphin can be used as valuable reference for the TCM classification of chronic prostatitis.

Case-Control Studies ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; adverse effects ; Pelvic Pain ; blood ; classification ; Prostatitis ; blood ; classification ; Substance P ; blood ; Syndrome ; beta-Endorphin ; blood

Objective To investigate the correlation between CT perfusion parameters of pulmonary carcinoma and standardized uptake values(SUV)derived from ~(18)F-fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography(~8F-FDG PET)and tumor microvessel density(MVD),and to determine the validity of CT perfusion in assessing tumor angiagenic activity of pulmonary carcinoma.Methods Fifty patients(mean age 57.5,17 females)with pulmonary carcinoma underwent CT perfusion using 16-slice helical CT.Blood flow(BF,ml?100g~(-1)?min~(-1)),blood volume(BV,ml?100g~(-1)),mean transmit time(MTF,s)and permeability surface area product(PS,ml?100g~(-1)?min~(-1))were analyzed.SUV of PET was calculated in 14 patients.The CD34 immunohistochemical staining was used for tumor microvessel counting.CT perfusion parameters of pulmonary carcinoma were correlatively studied with SUV and tumor MVD.Pearson's correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the association between CT perfusion parameters and SUV and MVD.Results The average values of BF,BV,MTT and PS were 97.30 ml?100g~(-1)?min~(-1), 8.86 ml?100g~(-1),6.75 s and 34.52 ml?100g~(-1)?min~(-1),respectively.The average value of MVD was 61.82/FOV.The mean value of SUV was 5.96.There was positive correlation between BF and SUV(r= 0.727,P

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a common condition obsessing urologists and patients. It is also known as a heterogeneous syndrome, with varied etiologies, progression courses and responses to treatment. Based on the deeper insights into its pathogenesis and re-evaluation of its clinical trials, a novel phenotypic classification system UPOINT has been developed, which clinically classifies CP/CPPS patients into six domains: urinary (U), psychosocial (P), organ-specific (O), infection (I) , neurologic/systemic (N) and tenderness of pelvic floor skeletal muscles (T), and directs individualized and multimodal therapeutic approaches to CP/CPPS. This review systematically summarizes the theoretical foundation, clinical characteristics of UPOINT and treatment strategies based on the UPOINT phenotypic classification system.
Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Pelvic Pain ; classification ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Phenotype ; Prostatitis ; classification ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Severity of Illness Index

BACKGROUNDThere is no validated blood biomarker available for glioma management. Invasive growth is the key feature of glioma. We assessed the clinical usefulness of plasma tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1), which has less molecular weight than metalloproteinases, as a potential blood biomarker for glioma.

METHODSA total of 285 patients and 59 normal subjects were studied. Plasma concentration of TIMP-1 was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Plasma TIMP-1 was compared between normal and glioma patients, between patients with different pathological grades, and between patients with different prognoses. Longitudinal changes in plasma TIMP-1 during treatment were also evaluated. Plasma matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 level was also assayed and its clinical usefulness was compared with that of TIMP-1.

RESULTSPlasma TIMP-1 and MMP-9 were both increased in glioma patients compared with normal controls (TIMP-1: P < 0.001; MMP-9: P = 0.007). Plasma TIMP-1 increases with increased tumor grade. In Grade IV gliomas, plasma TIMP-1 significantly increased after "successful removal" of the tumor (paired samples t-test, before operation vs. during chemotherapy without recurrence, t = -2.131, P = 0.038), but did not change significantly at the time of tumor recurrence (during chemotherapy without recurrence vs. after tumor recurrence, t = -0.652, P = 0.632). High plasma TIMP-1 level correlated with better survival in Grade IV glioma patients (hazard ratio: 0.550, 95% CI: 0.101-1.000, P = 0.036). In Grade IV gliomas, patients with higher plasma TIMP-1 had significantly longer survival time than those with lower plasma TIMP-1 level (25.23 vs. 18.95 months, log-rank P = 0.045). Plasma MMP-9 did not show significant association with either the pathological grade or the prognosis of glioma patients.

CONCLUSIONSPlasma TIMP-1 is associated with the diagnosis and prognosis of glioma patients. It appears to have better usefulness for guiding clinical decision making than plasma MMP-9. Further studies in an expanded patient population are needed to better define its clinical usefulness.

Adult ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Glioma ; blood ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; blood

OBJECTIVEThis study was to investigate the relationship among zinc, acid phosphatase levels in seminal plasma and sperm parameters in infertile male.

METHODSThe activities of zinc and acid phosphatase in seminal plasma were detected and leucocytes was stained and counted in 169 infertile men and 21 normal fertility as control.

RESULTSAcid phosphatase levels in infertile groups were significantly lower than those in the normal control when grouped both in terms of sperm vitality and density( P < 0.01), but no statistical differences were observed among infertile groups (P > 0.05). Further, zinc levels in necrospermia groups were lower than those in the control (P > 0.05). The leucocyte numbers in infertile groups were larger than those in the control when grouped according to sperm density (P < 0.001), and the same results were obtained when grouped in terms of sperm vitality except in the necrospermia group (P > 0.05). Acid phosphatase and zinc levels were not correlated with leucocyte counting (r = 0.088, P = 0.162; r = 0.119, P = 0.057).

CONCLUSIONThe descent of acid phosphatase and ascent of leucocyte number in seminal plasma can result in the fall of sperm vitality and density, and can be used to be diagnostic indexes of male infertility. Seminal zinc levels in infertile groups were lower than those in the control, but there was no statistical significance.

Acid Phosphatase ; analysis ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; metabolism ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Semen ; chemistry ; cytology ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Zinc ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo isolate, identify and culture human spermatogonial stem cells (SSC) and then obtain purified and enriched human SSCs for research and application.

METHODSWe detected the expression of CD90 in the human testis using the immunofluorescence technique and isolated human testicular spermatogenic cells by two-step enzymatic digestion, followed by differential plating and magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) with CD90 as an SSC marker. Then we identified the isolated CD90-positive spermatogenic cells by RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry, and meanwhile cocultured them with Sertoli cells in SG medium in vitro.

RESULTSThe isolated CD90-positive cells showed a relatively homogeneous characteristic in size and morphology and expressed the genes specific for human SSCs, with high expressions (90.5%) of GFRA1, GPR125, and UCHL1. After coculture with Sertoli cells in the SG medium for 2 weeks, the isolated CD90-positive cells maintained a good activity.

CONCLUSIONCD90 can be regarded as a speci- fic marker for human SSCs and used to obtain highly enriched human SSCs by differential plating and MACS. Furthermore, the isolated human SSCs can be cultured in SG medium in vitro.

Adult Stem Cells ; cytology ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Cell Separation ; methods ; Cell Shape ; Cell Size ; Coculture Techniques ; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; metabolism ; Sertoli Cells ; Spermatogonia ; cytology ; Testis ; metabolism ; Thy-1 Antigens ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Ubiquitin Thiolesterase ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate the accuracy of 64-slice CT in the diagnosis of coronary in-stent restenosis (ISR).Methods Fourteen patients with 37 implanted coronary stents were examined by both 64-slice CT angiography (CTA) and conventional coronary angiography(CCA).The diagnosis of ISR was evaluated by two methods(visual inspection and the measurement of the in-stent contrast attenuation)on CTA.The accuracy of the two methods in the diagnosis of ISR was compared with reference to CCA.Results ISR(＞50%)was found on CCA in 11 stents.CTA with visual inspection and with measurement of in-stent CT attenuation correctly detected ISR in 2 and 3 stents respectively with reference to CCA.The sensitivity, specificity,positive predictive value and negative predicitive value of the two methods were 18%,69%, 20%,67% and 27%,81%,38%,72%,respectively.There was no significant difference (P＞0.05) between the accuracy of two methods.Conclusion The ISR was very difficult to diagnose by 64 slice CT, but the high specificity of 64-slice CT study implied an important role in excluding ISR.

Objective To explore the self-face recognition and its relationship to empathy in patients with schizophrenia.Methods Sixty-two schizophrenic patients and fifty -four healthy subjects were assessed with the self-face recognition task (SFRT) and the interpersonal reactivity index-C (IRI-C).Results The SFRT reaction time in the patients group( (2188 ± 1138) ms) was significantly longer than that in the control group( ( 1152 ± 326) ms) (P ＜ 0.01 ) ;the accuracy in the patients group ( (80 ± 16) ％ ) was significantly lower than that in the control group ( (88 ± 6) ％ ) (P ＜ 0.01 ).The IRI-C total scores,the subscores in perspective taking,the subscores in fantasy and empathic concern of IRI-C were significantly lower in the patients group(respectively(44.82 ± 10.50),(8.98 ± 3.56),( 11.87 ± 4.38 ),( 14.73 ± 4.00) ) than those in the control group ( respectively (49.85 ± 10.28),( 10.78 ± 3.86),( 14.98 ± 6.12),( 17.39 ± 4.56) ) ; the subscore in personal distress of IRI-C in the patients group(9.37 ± 5.12) was significantly higher than those in the control group(6.52 ± 3.89) ( P＜ 0.01 ).There was significant positive correlation between the accuracy for self-face recognition in SFRT and the subscore in fantasy of IRI-C ( r =0.322,P ＜ 0.05 ),the reaction time of SFRT had significantly positive correlation with the subscore in personal distress.Conclusion Schizophren patients have general impairments of self-face recognition and empathic abilities,and the self-face recognition is related to the empathic abilities.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of kinetic rectification acupuncture in treating acute facial neuritis. Method Sixty patients with acute facial neuritis were randomized to observation and control groups. The observation group received kinetic rectification acupuncture and the control group, conventional acupuncture alone. Acupuncture was given five times a week, five times as one course. The therapeutic effects were evaluated after three courses of treatment. Result The total efficacy rate was 93.3% in the observation group and 73.3% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). The latencies and amplitudes of the frontal muscle, orbicularis oculi muscle and quadrate muscle of upper lip improved in the two groups after treatment and had statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences (P < 0.01). There were statistically significant differences in the pre-/post-treatment difference values of the latencies and amplitudes of the frontal muscle and orbicularis oculi muscle (P<0.01) and no statistically significant difference in the pre-/post-treatment difference values of the latency and amplitude of the quadrate muscle of upper lip (P>0.05) between the two groups. Conclusion Kinetic rectification acupuncture has a marked therapeutic effect on acute facial neuritis. This study provides a particular therapeutic method for clinical practice.