OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture for glaucoma-induced optic atrophy. METHODS: A total of 70 patients (89 affected eyes) with glaucoma-induced optic atrophy were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 35 cases in each group. The control group was given basic western medicine treatment. In the observation group, on the basis of the treatment in the control group, acupuncture was applied at main acupoints i.e. Baihui (GV 20), Shangjingming (Extra), Chengqi (ST 1), Fengchi (GB 20), Zusanli (ST 36), combined with supplementary acupoints based on syndrome differentiation, once every three days, twice a week. The treatment for 3 months was required in both groups. Before treatment, after treatment and in follow-up of 6 months after treatment, the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), indexes of visual field (visual field index [VFI], mean deviation [MD], pattern standard deviation [PSD]) and mean thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) were observed in the two groups. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, BCVA was decreased after treatment and in follow-up in the control group (P<0.05); in the follow-up, BCVA in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). On each time point before and after treatment, there was no significant difference within or between the two groups (P>0.05). After treatment and in the follow-up, the mean thickness of RNFL was larger than the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION On the basis of the basic western medicine treatment, acupuncture can delay the decline of vision and the thinning of retinal nerve fiber layer in patients with glaucoma-induced optic atrophy.
Humans ; Retinal Ganglion Cells ; Glaucoma/therapy* ; Optic Atrophy/therapy* ; Intraocular Pressure ; Acupuncture Therapy

BACKGROUND: It has been a global trend that increasing complications related to pelvic floor surgeries have been reported over time. The current study aimed to outline the development of Chinese pelvic floor surgeries related to pelvic organ prolapse (POP) over the past 14 years and investigate the potential influence of enhanced monitoring conducted by the Chinese Association of Urogynecology since 2011. METHODS: A total of 44,594 women with POP who underwent pelvic floor surgeries between October 1, 2004 and September 30, 2018 were included from 22 tertiary academic medical centers. The data were reported voluntarily and obtained from a database. We compared the proportion of each procedure in the 7 years before and 7 years after September 30, 2011. The data were analyzed by performing Z test (one-sided). RESULTS: The number of different procedures during October 1, 2011-September 30, 2018 was more than twice that during October 1, 2004-September 30, 2011. Regarding pelvic floor surgeries related to POP, the rate of synthetic mesh procedures increased from 38.1% (5298/13,906) during October 1, 2004-September 30, 2011 to 46.0% (14,107/30,688) during October 1, 2011-September 30, 2018, whereas the rate of non-mesh procedures decreased from 61.9% (8608/13,906) to 54.0% (16,581/30,688) (Z = 15.53, P < 0.001). Regarding synthetic mesh surgeries related to POP, the rates of transvaginal placement of surgical mesh (TVM) procedures decreased from 94.1% (4983/5298) to 82.2% (11,603/14,107) (Z = 20.79, P < 0.001), but the rate of laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (LSC) procedures increased from 5.9% (315/5298) to 17.8% (2504/14,107). CONCLUSIONS: The rate of synthetic mesh procedures increased while that of non-mesh procedures decreased significantly. The rate of TVM procedures decreased while the rate of LSC procedures increased significantly. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT03620565, https://register.clinicaltrials.gov.
China ; Female ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures/adverse effects* ; Humans ; Pelvic Floor/surgery* ; Pelvic Organ Prolapse/surgery* ; Surgical Mesh/adverse effects* ; Treatment Outcome ; Vagina

Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional ; Funnel Chest/surgery* ; Humans ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right/diagnostic imaging* ; Ventricular Function, Right

Aim To determine the effect of cornel iri-doid glycoside ( CIG ) on human hepatocyte cell line (L-02) injured by D-galactosamine (GalN) and tumor necrosis factor-α( TNF-α) .Methods Firstly, CIG was extracted , separated and purified . Cell lesion model injured by D-GalN/TNF-αwas tested by MTT method.T-AOC, SOD, MDA and calcium ion concen-tration were taken as indicators to study the effects of CIG on L-02 cell injured by D-GalN/TNF-α.The ex-pression of p-PERK, p-eIF-2α, caspase-3 protein were detected by Western blot .Results 44 mg · L-1 D-GalN and 100 μg · L-1 TNF-αwere suitable for L-02 cell lesion model.CIG high, middle, low concentra-tion group could significantly increase the L-02 cell ac-tivity by 21％, 13％, 8％, respectively and SOD activity and T-AOC ability as well compared with model group.At the same time, they markedly reduced the MDA activity except the low concentration .Three con-centrations of CIG could reduce the expression of endo-plasmic reticulum stress related protein PERK , eIF-2αand apoptosis-associated protein caspase-3. Conclu-sions CIG could protect L-02 cells injured by D-GalN/TNF-α.Increasing the cellular antioxidant abili-ty, reducing the damage of endoplasmic reticulum stress and the expression of apoptosis-associated protein may be the possible mechanism .

OBJECTIVETo compare therapeutic effects between Kirschner wire fixation after early debridement (Kirschner wire group) and staged plate fixation (plate group) in the treatment of open calcaneal fractures.

METHODSFrom January 2001 to May 2008, 55 patients (58 feet) with open calcaneal fractures were reviewed,the mean age was 36.8 years(ranged, 19 to 65 years) and the average visit time was 3 hours (ranged, 30 min to 7 h). All the patients were divided into two groups: Kirschner wire group and plate group. There were 20 males (20 feet) and 9 females (9 feet) in Kirschner wire group, in which 15 feet were type I, 13 feet were type II, 1 foot was type III A according to Gustilo classification and 9 feet were type II, 18 feet were type III, 2 feet were type IV according to Sanders classification. The patients in Kirschner wire group were treated with early debridement, fracture reduction and Kirschner wire fixation, and the soft tissue defects were covered with VSD temporarily, and then were enveloped by skin or flap grafts at the second stage. There were 18 males (19 feet) and 8 females (10 feet) in the plate group, in which 13 feet were type I, 14 feet were type II, 2 feet were type III A according to Gustilo classification and 11 feet were type II,15 feet were type III, 3 feet were type IV according to Sanders classification. The patients in the plate group were treated with early debridement, and plate internal fixation with were performed when the wound became stabilization.

RESULTSTwenty-three feet (15 patients) in the Kirschner wire group and 22 feet (13 patients) in the plate group were followed, the duration ranged from 10 to 36 months, with an average of 24 months. Compared with preoperative ones, the heel height, width, Böhler angle and Gissane angle of calcaneal got improvements. According to AOFAS ankle-foot evaluation system, 11 feet got an excellent result, 8 good in the Kirschner wire group; 2 feet had wound local skin necrosis and cured by dressing; 1 foot had a large area of skin necrosis and deep infection; 1 foot had chronic osteomyelitis. All above 4 feet underwent arthrodesis later. As comparison, 7 feet got an excellent result, 4 good in the plate group; 2 patients had mild complications of wounds; 1 patient had chronic osteomyelitis after early debridement; 10 patients had wound complications after internal fixation, including 7 patients with skin necrosis, superficial infection in 3 patients. There were statistical significant in radiological indicators and AOFAS ankle-foot scores between two groups. But there were no significant differences in early postoperative complications between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONEarly debridement and Kirschner wire fixation for the treatment of open calcaneal fractures has fewer early complications, which is a simple, safe and effective method.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Plates ; Bone Wires ; Calcaneus ; injuries ; surgery ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Fractures, Open ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To identify the epidemic characteristics and risk factors of an emerging infectious disease-severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) in Hubei province.Methods Active surveillance program on SFTS was set up in monitoring sites-hospitals,at the township level or above,in Suizhou,Huanggang and Wuhan from January to December,2010.Specific surveillance program on SFTS was launched across the province in hospitals above the county level.Cases that matched the definition of surveillance case were identified and reported to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCs).Cases were interviewed and their blood samples collected and detected using PCR and virus isolation.We also conducted serum antibody surveys among healthy population and livestock and surveillance on vector ticks in those high-epidemic areas.Results 188 cases that matched the definition of surveillance case and 21 deaths were reported in 11 cities,32 countries and 100 towns in 2010,with an incidence rate of 0.33/106.The fatality rate was 11.2％.Data showed that the patients were from hilly areas at the altitude elevated between 28-940 meters.The epidemic period was between April and December with the peak from May to September.The youngest case was an 11-year old,while the eldest was 81 with median age as 56-year old.95.3 ％ of the patients were farmers.All Patients did not have the history of traveling,two weeks before the onset of SFTS.93.6％ of the patients engaged in different kind of work which was associated with agriculture.52.8％ of the patients had been exposed to ticks.22.0％ of the patients had been bitten by ticks.Skin injury was found in 64.2％ of the patients.Samples from 129 cases (68.6％) were collected and detected,with 67.4％ of them (87 cases) showed positive by Real time-PCR for SFTS virus.An elevation in antibody titer by a factor of four or evidence of sero-conversion was observed in 11 patients; SFTS virus was isolated from 2 patients.The total antibody positive rates were 3.8％,55.0％ (6/11 ),36.7％ (2/3) and 80.0％ (4/5) respectively in healthy population,dogs,sheep and cows.Ticks from grass,cattle and sheep were detected positive by Real time-PCR.Conclusion Most cases of SFTS in Hubei were infected by SFTS virus,and cases of livestock were infected by SFTS virus.Ticks might serve as an important vector.Skin injury,exposure to tick bites seemed to be the risk factors.

Objective To analyze the surveillance data on hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) including the epidemiological characteristics and trend of the disease,in 2010.Methods Descriptive methods were conducted to analyze the surveillance data in 2010 which were collected from the internet-based National Notifiable Disease Reporting System and 40 HFRS sentinels in China.Results There were 9526 cases of HFRS reported in 2010 in the country with an annual morbidity of 0.71/105,which was higher than that reported in 2009.And the case fatality rate in 2010 was 1.24％.During the year 2010,most cases were reported in spring and autumn-winter season,with November as the peak month.The proportion of cases reported in autumn-winter season was higher than that in spring.The number of cases reported in males was higher than that in females among all the age groups,and similar pattern of mortality could be seen in most of the age groups.The percentage of cases over 60 years old had increased in recent years.Farmers were still under the highest risk.Density and the virus-carrying rate of animal hosts,as well as the infection rate were relatively stable and similar to the previous findings.As to the prevailing species,Apodemus agrarius and Rattus norvegicus were still the most common and leading animal hosts.However,the dominant species in sentinel of Yunnan were Rattus flavipectus and Eothenomys miletus respectively,and a new hantavirus called LUXV was found,namely Eothenomys miletus.Conclusion HFRS cases were widely distributed in most provinces of China,but cases mainly focus on certain areas and present the nature of aggregation.The risk of outbreak could not be ruled out for variety of factors.Population characteristics and seasonal fluctuation had been changing.

Objective Using simple quantitative methods to describe the seasonal distribution of rabies in different provinces of China and to analyze how it was influenced by geographical settings,to provide evidence for risk assessment and prediction of potential epidemics of rabies.Methods A total number of 17 800 clinical and laboratory confirmed rabies cases,reported by 29 provinces,from 2005 to 2011 and related data were collected from National Disease Reporting Information System.Data on related latitudes and longitudes of different provinces were obtained from the National Geographic Information Center.Excel 2003 was used to draw the national and provincial seasonal distribution curves while SPSS 18.0 was used to calculate parameters as P25,P50,P75,inter-quartile range Q and kurtosis so as analyze the linear correlation between P25,kurtosis and the latitude of different provinces respectively.Results The nation-wide incidence of rabies was low in February.The peaks fell in summer and autumn,especially in August.Seasonal distribution curves of P25,P50,P75,inter-quartile range (Q) and kurtosis were different among provinces.Compared to the low latitude areas,high latitude areas had higher P25,smaller Q and higher kurtosis.In 9 provinces where the annual reported number of cases more than 100,the related coefficients (r) between latitude and both P25,kurtosis were 0.9342 and 0.8528 respectively (P＜0.05).Conclusion There was a distinct seasonality of rabies occurrence in China which was correlated to the geographical settings which was more obvious in the higher latitude areas.

Objective To analyze the epidemiologic and surveillance data of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HERS) in China, from 2005 to 2008, to describe the epidemiology and trend of HERS. Methods Descriptive epidemiology were studied to analyze the surveillance data from 2005 to 2008, collected from both the internet-based national notifiable disease reporting system and 40 HFRS sentinel sites developed since 2005 in 40 counties around China. Results A total of 56 077 HERS cases and 692 deaths reported in China with case fatality rate as 1.23%. Morbidity and mortality had been annually decreasing since 2004. The top 7 provinces with HFRS cases were Heilongjiang, Lianning, Jilin, Shandong, Shaanxi, Hebei and Zhejiang, which had a total of 44 081 cases reported, accounting for 78.61% of the total number of cases, in the nation. More cases were reported in spring and autumn-winter season, with the peak in November. Cases reported in males were 3.13 times of the females and most cases seen in young and middle-aged farmers. The density and the virus carrying rate of animal hosts and the distribution of dominant species were relatively stable and similar to the previous findings. Apodemus agrarius and Rattus norvegicus were still the most common and predominant animal hosts. No genetic mutation of Hantavirus was detected in the surveillance program. Conclusion The continuous descending trend of the HERS epidemics could be related to the successful strategies on comprehensive prevention and control measures, as controlling the number of rodents and vectors, carrying out HERS vaccination campaign and health education by the local health care takers in the recent years. Implementation of the new national Expanded Program of Immunization on HFRS vaccine in high-risk areas may further reduce the epidemics. However,both the density and the virus carried rate among the host animals remain high in some areas, together with the emergence of new epidemic areas, all call for more attention to be paid on the disease.

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between physical and biological effects of alternating magnetic field and study the influence of the magnetic field on the reproductive function of murine testes.

METHODSThirty ICR mice were randomized into 5 groups: normal control, X-ray radiation, weak magnetic field (1000 Hz), 1 h strong magnetic field and 2 h strong magnetic field (2000 Hz). The mice were sacrificed at 7 days after the exposure for the analysis of testicular sperm motility, observation of histopathological changes in the testis by HE staining and evaluation of the changes by modified Johnsen grade criteria.

RESULTSThe rates of sperm motility were (42.37 +/- 10.24)% in the normal control group, (39.00 +/- 12.35)% in the X-ray radiation group, (36.00 +/- 17.28)% in the weak magnetic field group, (10.72 +/- 5.67)% in the 1 h strong magnetic field group and (4.44 +/- 2.87)% in the 2 h strong magnetic field group, respectively. Johnsen's scores decreased and the testis damage increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONMagnetic field, either strong or weak, may damage the testis function by inducing injury to seminiferous tubules and Leydig cells, thickening of the basal membrane, derangement, exfoliation, massive apoptosis and necrosis of spermatogenic cells in the lumen, situation of the epididymis, and consequently the absence of sperm.

Animals ; Electromagnetic Fields ; adverse effects ; Leydig Cells ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Sperm Motility ; Testis ; cytology ; pathology ; radiation effects