OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy between Wei's triple nine needling combined with esculin and digitalis glycosides eye drops and esculin and digitalis glycosides eye drops alone for presbyopia complicated with visual fatigue of liver depression and spleen deficiency. METHODS: Forty-six cases (92 eyes) with presbyopia complicated with visual fatigue of liver depression and spleen deficiency were randomly divided into an observation group (23 cases) and a control group (23 cases, 2 cases dropped off). The cases in the observation group were treated with Wei's triple nine needling and esculin and digitalis glycosides eye drops. The acupoints included Shangming (Extra), Chengqi (ST 1), Cuanzhu (BL 2) to Jingming (BL 1), Sizhukong (TE 23) to Taiyang (EX-HN 5), etc; the needling was given once every other day, three times a week, and the eye drops were given one drop each time, three times a day. The cases in the control group were only treated with the eye drops. Both groups were treated for 7 days as one course of treatment, and 2 courses of treatment were given. The visual fatigue core symptoms score, adjustment amplitude, adjustment lag and best average corrected visual acuity were observed in the two groups before treatment, 1 week and 2 weeks into treatment, respectively. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the visual fatigue core symptoms scores in the two groups were decreased after 1-week and 2-week treatment (P<0.05); in the observation group, the adjustment amplitude was increased after 2-week treatment (P<0.05), while in the control group, the adjustment amplitude was increased after 1-week and 2-week treatment (P<0.05); in the observation group, the adjustment lag was decreased after 1-week and 2-week treatment (P<0.05). After 2-week treatment, the visual fatigue core symptoms score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group, and the adjustment amplitude was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in adjustment lag and best average corrected visual acuity between the two groups after 1-week and 2-week treatment (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Wei's triple nine needling combined with esculin and digitalis glycosides eye drops could improve the visual fatigue and eye regulation ability in patients with presbyopia complicated with visual fatigue of liver depression and spleen deficiency, and the effect is better than esculin and digitalis glycosides eye drops alone.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Asthenopia ; Depression ; Digitalis Glycosides ; Esculin ; Humans ; Liver ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Presbyopia ; Spleen ; Treatment Outcome

Noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium is a rare congenital cardiomyopathy caused by arrest of normal endomyocardial embryogenesis. Isolated right ventricular noncompaction (IRNC) is an even rarer form of this disease. We report herein on a 68 year-old male diagnosed with IRNC who presented with right-sided heart failure, without involvement of the left ventricle. Diagnosis was achieved with the aid of echocardiography and ventriculography. Medical treatment including prescription of diuretics, a calcium channel blocker, and digitalis, improved both the symptoms and right ventricular function.
Calcium Channels ; Cardiomyopathies ; Diagnosis ; Digitalis ; Diuretics ; Echocardiography ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; Heart Failure ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Male ; Myocardium ; Pregnancy ; Prescriptions ; Ventricular Function, Right

OBJECTIVES: The present study assessed more than 800 potential risk factors to identify new predictors of breast cancer and compare the independence and relative importance of established risk factors. METHODS: Data were collected by the Women's Health Initiative and included 147,202 women ages 50 to 79 who were enrolled from 1993 to 1998 and followed for 8 years. Analyses performed in 2011 and 2012 used the Cox proportional hazard regression to test the association between more than 800 baseline risk factors and incident breast cancer. RESULTS: Baseline factors independently associated with subsequent breast cancer at the p<0.001 level (in decreasing order of statistical significance) were breast aspiration, family history, age, weight, history of breast biopsies, estrogen and progestin use, fewer live births, greater age at menopause, history of thyroid cancer, breast tenderness, digitalis use, alcohol intake, white race, not restless, no vaginal dryness, relative with prostate cancer, colon polyps, smoking, no breast augmentation, and no osteoporosis. Risk factors previously reported that were not independently associated with breast cancer in the present study included socioeconomic status, months of breast feeding, age at first birth, adiposity measures, adult weight gain, timing of initiation of hormone therapy, and several dietary, psychological, and exercise variables. Family history was not found to alter the risk associated with other factors. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that some risk factors not commonly studied may be important for breast cancer and some frequently cited risk factors may be relatively unimportant or secondary.
Adiposity ; Adult ; Biopsy ; Birth Order ; Breast ; Breast Feeding ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cohort Studies ; Colon ; Continental Population Groups ; Digitalis ; Estrogen Replacement Therapy ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Live Birth ; Menopause ; Obesity ; Osteoporosis ; Polyps ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Social Class ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Weight Gain ; Women's Health

Digoxin, also known as digitalis, is a purified cardiac glycoside extracted from the foxglove plant, Digitalis purpurea. Digoxin-mediated cardiac glycoside toxicity due to accidental plant ingestion can occur. Presently, a 69-year-old woman visited our emergency department with epigastric pain, nausea and vomiting after ingestion of a plant. Physical examination and initial laboratory blood test results were within normal limits. An electrocardiogram (ECG) showed sinus bradycardia with first degree AV block and diffuse ST-segment depressions in a "scooping" pattern. The plant was identified as D. purpurea, and the patient's serum digoxin level was 2.89 ng/mL. The patient was treated conservatively in the absence of any life-threatening event. Recovery was uneventful.
Aged ; Atrioventricular Block ; Bradycardia ; Depression ; Digitalis ; Digoxin ; Eating ; Electrocardiography ; Emergencies ; Female ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Nausea ; Physical Examination ; Plants ; Vomiting

Persistent atrial standstill is an extremely rare arrhythmia that was first described by Chavez et al. Electrocardiographically, atrial standstill is characterized by bradycardia, the absence of a P wave, and a junctional narrow complex escape rhythm. Atrial standstill is usually classified into two types. The transient type is observed in drug intoxication, such as with digitalis or quinidine, and hyperkalemia. The persistent type is uncommon, often accompanied by syncopal attacks or brain embolism. We report a case of persistent atrial standstill in an 83-year-old man who was treated with implantation of a permanent pacemaker.
Aged, 80 and over ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Bradycardia ; Cardiomyopathies ; Digitalis ; Electrocardiography ; Genetic Diseases, Inborn ; Heart Atria ; Heart Block ; Humans ; Hyperkalemia ; Intracranial Embolism ; Quinidine ; United Nations

Accelerated idioventricular rhythm is defined as a ventricular rhythm of 60-100 beats per minute or a ventricular tachycardia that does nor exceed 120 beats per minutes. Although, it rarely converts to a fatal arrhythmia like ventricular fibrillation, it needs to be differentiated from AIVR, which is from another origin. AIVR may occur due to ischemic heart disease (ST elevated myocardial infarction), cardiomyopathy, rheumatic fever and digitalis intoxication. We report here on a case of AIVR that was related to desflurane administration.
Accelerated Idioventricular Rhythm ; Anesthesia ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cardiomyopathies ; Digitalis ; Isoflurane ; Methyl Ethers ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Rheumatic Fever ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Ventricular Fibrillation

Although Nerium indicum poisoning is a globally rare occurrence, Nerium oleander poisoning is known to occur frequently in the Mediterranean regions. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of accidental Nerium indicum poisoning in Korea. Its poisoning symptoms and signs are similar to that of digitalis poisoning, because of the presence of cardiac glycosides in Nerium indicum. A 16-year-old boy was admitted to the emergency department four hours prior to the accidental ingestion of Nerium indicum petals. The patient complained of nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. His initial vital signs were stable; laboratory blood test results were within normal levels, except for the blood digoxin level (1.5 ng/dL). An electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis showed normal sinus rhythm, progressive PR prolongation and second-degree Morbiz type I AV block. Conservative treatments including activated charcoal administration were conducted, because toxic symptoms and signs were not severe. The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit for close observation. His ECG was converted to normal rhythm after 1 day and the toxic symptoms and signs were completely resolved after 4 days.
Adolescent ; Atrioventricular Block ; Cardiac Glycosides ; Charcoal ; Digitalis ; Digoxin ; Dizziness ; Eating ; Electrocardiography ; Emergencies ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea ; Mediterranean Region ; Nausea ; Nerium ; Vital Signs ; Vomiting

Toad toxin has digitalis-like cardioactive effects that include bradycardia, varying degrees of atrioventricular block, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac death. We report here on a 54-year-old man who had varying degrees of atrioventricular block and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia two hours after he ate a bowl of toad soup.
Amphibian Venoms* ; Atrioventricular Block ; Bradycardia ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Digitalis* ; Humans ; Hyperkalemia* ; Middle Aged ; Poisoning* ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Ventricular Fibrillation

The medical treatment of heart failure has evolved over the past 40 years, from the use of diuretics and digitalis in the 1960s to the use of inotropic agents and vasodilators in the 1970s. However, while vasodilators and inotropic drugs immediately improved symptoms, hemodynamics and functional status, in the long term they either did not affect or worsen the natural history of heart failure. In the late 1980s and 1990s heart failure has evolved into a more complex and interactive pathophysiologic disorder. As the importance of neurohormonal changes in the pathogenesis of worsening heart failure is elucidated, newer medications aimed at counteracting such changes are becoming more important in the medical therapy of heart failure. For example, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors improve function and survival in adults with heart failure, and they probably do the same in children with systemic ventricular dysfunction. Beta-blockers has also been established as an effective therapy for adults with heart failure with beneficial effects on survival and ventricular function. While data for the pediatric population are limited, early studies suggest that beta-blockers may work well in children with heart failure. This review will address the current thinking and therapeutic modalities used today in the treatment of heart failure syndrome.
Adult ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; Child ; Digitalis ; Diuretics ; Heart Defects, Congenital* ; Heart Failure* ; Heart* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Natural History ; Thinking ; Vasodilator Agents ; Ventricular Dysfunction ; Ventricular Function

The concerns about the safety issues of medicinal herbs are increasing. There are typical medicinal herbs that affect the cardiovascular system such as digitalis and aconitium. Digitalis is one of the main drugs in use to manage a heart disease under the controlled safety and effectiveness. On the contrary, the Aconitium plant's roots are potentially poisonous and can cause serious complex ventricular arrhythmias and fatalities due to their low safety margin. However, the herb has been used in traditional Chinese medicine mainly to treat musculoskeletal disorders, without any safety control. Natural products including herbs derived from plants are not always safe. The use of medicinal herbs needs medical validation in terms of their safety and effectiveness through a scientific inspection and strict standardization for the quality control. Therefore it is urgent to initiate a nation-wide reporting system to timely document any side effects from medicinal herbs adversely affecting the public health.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Biological Products ; Cardiovascular System ; Digitalis ; Heart Diseases ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal* ; Public Health ; Quality Control