OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical outcomes of percutaneous intervertebral foramina endoscopic lumbar discectomy for elder patients with lumbar spinal stenosis syndrome.

METHODSFrom July 2006 to July 2011, 60 elder patients with lumbar spinal stenosis syndrome were treated with surgical operation, including 32 males and 28 females with an average age of (66.7 +/- 2.5) years old ranging from 72 to 83 years. These patients were divided into the traditional surgery group and percutaneous intervertebral foramina endoscopic discectomy groups (PTED group), 30 cases in each group. The index of the preoperative and postoperative, operative incision visual analogue scale (VAS) of two groups were compared. The Oswestry disability index (ODI) of two groups at 6, 24 months of the follow-up were also evaluated on activity of daily living.

RESULTSThe average operative time, the average blood loss, the number of cases using analgesic drug, hospitalization time of PTED group were better than those of the traditional surgery group (P < 0.05). The improvement of incision VAS in PTED group was better than that in the traditional surgery group (P < 0.05). All patients were followed up for 24 months at least. The ODI at 1, 24 month after operation were better than that of preoperative in two group respectively (P < 0.05), but the improvement of PTED group was better than that of the traditional surgery group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPTED has the advantages of smaller incision, less bleeding, less postoperative stay and hospitalization time, tissue trauma and quicker recovery. It is a safe and efficacious minimally invasive surgical technique for elder patients with lumbar spinal stenosis syndrome.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Decompression, Surgical ; Diskectomy, Percutaneous ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Spinal Stenosis ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the concentration of stresses at the cervix with simulating restoration of tooth defects.

METHODSA two-dimensional finite element model of a mandible first premolar with defect from longitudinal section was developed. The model was simulatedly restored, respectively by composite resin and glass ionomer cement, and then investigated stress variation in the cervical area.

RESULTSIn the restored models, both of materials improved the concentration of stresses at the cervical area. The composite resin and the glass ionomer cement restorations made the maximum principal stresses declined respectively to 36.2 MPa and 42.5 MPa, which were close to the value of normal tooth in the deepest area of defects.

CONCLUSIONThe concentration of stresses are improved in the cervical area with teeth defects restored.

Composite Resins ; Dental Restoration, Permanent ; Finite Element Analysis ; Glass Ionomer Cements ; Humans ; Tooth Abrasion ; physiopathology ; therapy

To raise the syndrome sequence quantification, differentiation and classification algorithm based on data envelopment analysis for solving the modeling issue of syndrome differentiation and classification of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This algorithm has three steps: first, in order to obtain basic units for explaining pathogenesis, and establish a syndrome collection on this basis mechanisms of syndrome differentiation and classification were analyzed and classified according to TCM theory, mechanisms of syndrome differentiation and classification were analyzed and classified according to TCM theory; second, regularity and syndromes of corresponding prescriptions were sought according to the incidence and development progress of syndromes, and mathematical tools of data envelopment analysis were used to calculate state data of syndromes in each stage and obtain quantitative syndrome sequence; finally, syndrome sequence was taken as the measurement standard to quantify candidate syndromes and diagnostic information, and the similarity was calculated to obtain the matching degree between diagnostic information and candidate syndromes, so as to complete the syndrome differentiation and classification calculation. According to the results of model-based reasoning, the algorithm could indicate the regularity implied in prescription materials, and grasp the dynamic process of syndromes in an all-round way, and its results were verified through calculation and analysis on clinical cases. At least, it provides an idea for quantitative modeling of TCM.
Data Mining ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Models, Theoretical ; Phytotherapy

OBJECTIVETo study a population of rheumatoid arthritis patients and determine the extent of periodontal disease in these patients, in order to investigate the relationship between periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

METHODSThe experimental group was composed of 70 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and the control group consisted of 70 age- and gender-matched individuals without rheumatoid arthritis. The relationship between periodontal status in rheumatoid arthritis and control groups as well as the relationship between periodontal status and rheumatological findings in patients were analyzed.

RESULTSThe percentage of periodontal disease was statistically significant between experimental and control group (P < 0.01). The difference of average number of missing teeth and bleeding on probing in the experimental group and control group were not statistically significant (P >0.05). There were more number of periodontal disease index 5 or 6 in experimental group than in control group ( P < 0.05). Rheumatoid arthritis patients with moderate to severe bone loss had deeper degree of morning stiffness, erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels and serum C-reactive protein levels than patients with no or mild bone loss.

CONCLUSIONIndividuals with rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to experience periodontal disease compares to healthy subjects. They are also very likely to suffer from moderate to severe periodontitis.

Adult ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Periodontal Diseases ; Periodontitis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between tobacco smoking, drinking and p53 alteration in esophageal carcinoma.

METHODSLiterature on the relationship between p53 alteration in esophageal carcinoma and tobacco smoking, drinking through Meta-analysis were reviewed.

RESULTSIn 14 selected papers related to tobacco smoking, pooled odds ratio (OR) of tobacco smoking with P53 overexpression and p53 alteration were 1.99 (95% CI: 1.30- 3.06) and 1.64 (95% CI: 1.13 - 2.37), respectively (P < 0.05). Pooled OR of tobacco smoking with p53 mutation was 1.11 (95% CI: 0.47 - 2.76) (P > 0.05). In 11 selected papers on alcohol drinking, pooled OR of drinking with P53 overexpression, p53 mutation and p53 alteration were 1.30 (95% CI: 0.83 - 2.04), 1.13 (95% CI: 0.67 - 1.90) and 1.22 (95% CI: 0.87 - 1.72) respectively (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere were significant relations between tobacco smoking and p53 alteration while there were no significant relations between alcohol drinking and p53 alteration.

Alcohol Drinking ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; etiology ; genetics ; Female ; Genes, p53 ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Peripheral nerve impairment is a common complication in surgery, which repair relates directly to the recovery of motor function and sensory function. Clinical researchers always do nerve sutrure using microsurgical technique and adjuvant treatment to improve peripheral nerve regeneration. Western medicine used usually of adjuvant drugs, such as neurotrophic factors, are limited by their defects in clinical application. Traditional Chinese medicine classifies peripheral nerve impair as paralysis and arthromyodynia, considers that it is the result of defects of meridian and vessels, QI and blood, bones and muscles. So, drugs used usually are QI invigorating herbs, blood circulation promoting herbs for unblocking collaterals, and nourishing herbs, including astragali, hedysari, ginkgo leaf, angelica, danshen root, paeoniae radix, epimedium, chuanxiong, and common basic formulas, such as Buyang Huanwu decoction, Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu decoction, Huoxue Kangyuan decoction, compound radix hedysari, etc. To be ready for further study and development, we review the traditional Chinese medicine and formulas in this article.
Animals ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Nerve Regeneration ; drug effects ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; drug therapy ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the applicability of Porthsmouth modified physiological and operative severity score for the enumeration of mortality and morbidity (P-POSSUM) in predicting the mortality of the patients undergoing hip joint arthroplasty.

METHODSA total of 141 patients (75 males and 66 females, aged 63.22 years+/-14.45 years on an average) undergoing hip joint arthroplasty during January 2002 and March 2005 were studied retrospectively with P-POSSUM. Their average physiological score and operative severity score were 17.48+/-5.16 and 12.43+/-3.05, respectively. The predicted postoperative mortality with P-POSSUM was compared with the observed value. Subgroup analysis was performed to investigate the predictive capability of P-POSSUM. POSSUM scoring system was used as the control.

RESULTSThree patients died after operation in this study actually. The average physiological scores were 32.33+/-9.87 in the death group and 17.16+/-4.56 in the survival group. The former was obviously higher than the latter, which showed statistical difference between the two groups (Wilcoxon rank sum test, P<0.05). Perfect agreement was found between the observed death number and the predicted death number calculated by P-POSSUM (Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel chi(2) test, P>0.05), though POSSUM overestimated the overall mortality.

CONCLUSIONSP-POSSUM can predict the mortality accurately in the patients undergoing hip joint arthroplasty, which is superior to POSSUM.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; mortality ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Severity of Illness Index

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical application value of 8.5/11.5 F transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of refractory hematospermia.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 78 cases of refractory hematospermia diagnosed and treated by 8.5/11.5 F transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy from June 2012 to June 2014. The patients underwent serum PSA examination, transrectal ultrasonography, seminal vesicle ultrasonography, and pelvis CT or MRI before surgery, and all received transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy under the 8.5/11.5 F rigid ureteroscope.

RESULTSOperations were all successfully accomplished, which revealed abnormal opening of the ejaculatory duct in 5 cases, mucosal inflammatory hyperemia in the prostatic utricle and seminal vesicle in 78, dark red mucilage substance in the seminal vesicle in 34, seminal vesicle stones in 19, small polyp in the seminal vesicle in 2, and ejaculatory duct or seminal vesicle cyst in 4. All the patients received symptomatic treatment during the surgery. After surgery, hematouria was found in 13 cases, which disappeared within 2 weeks, pelvic hematoma in 1 case, which was cured by conservative treatment within 3 months, and epididymitis in 2 cases, which was controlled by anti-infection treatment. Hematospermia recurred in 3 cases during the 1-year postoperative follow-up.

CONCLUSION8.5/11.5 F transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy, with its advantages of easy operation, wide field of vision, large channel for operation, and few complications, deserves general clinical application in the diagnosis and treatment of refractory hematospermia.

Calculi ; Ejaculatory Ducts ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Epididymitis ; etiology ; Hemospermia ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Postoperative Period ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Seminal Vesicles ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Urethra

Objective: The neuropeptide oxytocin has been found to improve human social cognition and promote prosocial behavior. However, itis still unclear about the mechanisms underlying these effects of oxytocin on neural processes, such as visual perception and awareness.Especially, it is still unclear whether oxytocin influences perceptual salience of social stimuli in the absence of awareness. Methods: In a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial we applied an interocular suppression paradigm and eye tracking methods: to investigate the influence of intranasally administered oxytocin on perceptual salience of social stimuli. Suppression times andpupillometric data were measured during subjects being presented with gradually introduced pictures of social stimuli (neutral expressionfaces) or nonsocial stimuli (grayscale watch pictures) that were suppressed and invisible in 10 men who were administered 24 IU oxytocinand 10 men who were administered a placebo. Results: The results demonstrated that the oxytocin group perceived social stimuli more quickly accompanied by subsequent larger increasingpupil diameter than nonsocial stimuli, indicating an increased unconscious salience of social stimuli. Conclusion These findings provided new insights into oxytocin’s modulatory role to social information processing, suggesting that oxytocinmight enhance attentional bias to social stimuli even after removal of awareness. Psychiatry Investig 2020;17(4):292-298

Ureteral fibroepithelial polyp accompanied by intussusception is a rare occurrence. Currently, most ureteral polyps could be removed readily by ureteroscopy. Nevertheless, endoscopic resection can be difficult in patient with a large polyp, especially accompanied by an intussusception. We described our experience and laparoscopic technique for treatment of a symptomatic 63-year-old woman who presented with a pedunculated, 9-cm-long, left lower ureteral, fibroepithelial polyp accompanied by a 2-cm-long intussusception.
Female ; Humans ; Intussusception ; pathology ; surgery ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Polyps ; pathology ; surgery ; Ureter ; pathology ; surgery