ObjectiveTo investigate the characteristics of pelvic floor structure and electrophysiology in female patients with stroke. MethodsFrom June to December, 2020, 21 female inpatients with stroke in Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University (stroke group) were divided into urinary incontinence (UI) group (n = 6) and non-urinary incontinence (NUI) group (n = 15), and other 20 healthy subjects were as control group. They were observed with pelvic floor ultrasonography and pelvic floor surface electromyogram. ResultsAverage electromyography, integral electromyography, root mean square, mean power frequency and median frequency decreased in UI and NUI groups compared with those of the control group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between UI group and NUI group (P > 0.05). Bladder neck position, bladder neck angle, bladder neck mobility, urethral rotation angle; and anteroposterior diameter, left-right diameter and area of levator ani muscle hiatus after Valsalva's action were all not different among three groups (F < 2.484, P > 0.05). ConclusionThe activities of pelvic floor muscles decrease in female patients with stroke, without obvious changes of pelvic floor supporting structures, whatever UI.

Objective To optimize a method for extracting traditional Chinese medicine composition with insomnia,and to prepare the insomnia granules for quality control.Methods The optimal extraction process was screened by orthogonal test using high-performance liquid chromatography with geniposide as the evaluation index.The particle size,bulk density,angle of repose,moisture,solubility,hygroscopicity and loading difference of the insomnia granule were evaluated,and the difference between the trial test and the pilot test were analyzed to comprehensively monitor the quality of the insomnia granule.Results The best extraction process was to add 10 times of water and cooked it three times for 1.5 hours each time.The average yield rate of dry extract of the pilot test and trial test was 22.10％,15.52％,and the average yield of powder was 84.96％ and 93.12％,respectively.The conversion rate from the pilot test to the trial test is 76.97％.Both the trial test and the pilot test particles met the quality requirements of the 2015 edition of the pharmacopoeia.Conclusions The preparation method of the insomnia granules is simple and the quality is uniform.The results of the pilot scale showed that the conversion rate is high,the quality is controllable,and the technical feasibility of industrial production is obtained.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of heat-sensitive moxibustion on corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) in rats with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and to explore the possible mechanism of heat-sensitive moxibustion on IBS.

METHODSAccording to random number table, 56 SD male rats were randomly divided into a blank group (=8), a model group (=8), a moxibustion group (=32), and a mifepristone group (RU-486 group,=8). The rats in the blank group were treated with normal feeding; the rats in the model group, RU-486 group and moxibustion group were treated with chronic non-predictable stimulation for 21 days to establish IBS model. After model establishment, the rats in the moxibustion group were treated with moxibustion at "Mingmen" (GV 4) for 40 min, once a day for 14 days; the tail temperature was recorded every 5 min; according to the change of tail temperature, the rats were divided into a heat-sensitive moxibustion group and a non-heat-sensitive moxibustion group, and 8 rats were randomly selected in the two groups. The rats in the RU-486 group were treated with gastric administration of RU-486 for 14 days, while the rats in the blank group, model group and moxibustion groups were treated with identical volume of 0.9% NaCl. The rat general condition, body mass, behavioristics, intestinal propulsive rate and visceral sensitivity were observed in each group; ELISA method was used to detect serum CRH, ACTH and CORT; optical microscope was applied to observe the morphological changes of colon.

RESULTS(1) After model establishment, rats were in rest state, fatigued, with withered hair and dim ear; the stool was dry or watery; the body mass were slowly increased; the number of crossed grid and standing frequency were significantly reduced; visceral sensitivity was increased and intestinal propulsion rate was decreased; no obvious inflammatory cell infiltration was observed under microscope. (2) After intervention, compared with the blank group, the body mass and visceral sensitivity in the RU-486 group were not significantly different (both>0.05), but the intestinal propulsion rate was decreased significantly (<0.01). Compared with the blank group, the body mass of heat-sensitive moxibustion group and non-heat-sensitive moxibustion group was lower (both<0.01), but the visceral sensitivity and intestinal propulsion rate were similar (both>0.05). Compared with the model group, the body mass and visceral sensitivity were improved in the RU-486 group (<0.05,<0.01), but the intestinal propulsion rate was similar (>0.05). The body mass, visceral sensitivity and intestinal propulsion rate of the heat-sensitive moxibustion group and the non-heat-sensitive moxibustion group were superior to those of the model group (<0.05,<0.01), and the body mass and intestinal propulsion rate of heat-sensitive moxibustion group were superior to those of non-heat-sensitive moxibustion group (both<0.05). (3) After intervention, compared with the blank group, the contents of CRH, ACTH and CORT in the model group were significantly increased (<0.05,<0.01). Compared with the model group, the contents of CRH, ACTH and CORT of the heat-sensitive moxibustion group were statistically reduced (<0.05,<0.01), and the contents of CRH and ACTH in the non-heat-sensitive moxibustion group were statistically reduced (<0.05,<0.01); the content of CRH in the RU-486 group was reduced (<0.05), but the contents of ACTH and CORT were increased (<0.05,<0.01). Compared with the non-heat-sensitive moxibustion group, the heat-sensitive moxibustion group was better in the improvement of CRH (<0.05), but there was no significant difference of ACTH and CORT between the two groups (both>0.05).

CONCLUSIONHeat-sensitive moxibustion could reduce the contents of CRH, ACTH and CORT through the HPA axis, and improve the function of gastrointestinal motility to treat IBS.

Objective: To study the diagnostic characteristics of cardiac amyloidosis (CA) by non-invasive electrocardiography (ECG) in relevant patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 60 CA patients diagnosed in our hospital from 2008-08 to 2013-12 for their clinical and ECG characteristics. Results: There were 48 male and 12 female patients with the ratio of 4: 1. The ifrst time diagnosis rate was low and the average age for conifrmed diagnosis was at (54. 5±14. 2) years.①There were 32 (53. 3%) cases combining heart failure, 12 (20%) with pleural effusion, 20 (33. 3%) with atrial arrhythmia, 8 (13. 3%)with ventricular arrhythmia, 4 (6. 7%)with sino-atrial block, 15 (25%)with atrio-ventricular block, 4 (6. 7%) with left bundle branch block (LBBB), 5 (8. 3%)with RBBB and 8 (13. 3%)with intra-ventricular block.②There were 32 (53. 3%) cases with low voltage on limb leads, 52 (86. 7%) with pseudo-infarct pattern, 48 (60%) with ST-T abnormality and 30 (50%) combining low voltage on limb leads with pseudo-infarct pattern.③The patients combining pleural effusion and with pseudo-infarct pattern had the increased ratio of low voltage on limb leads, while there were still 22 (45. 8%) cases without pleural effusion had low voltage on limb leads.④ ECG characteristics for 60 CA patients were as follows: QRS duration (104±26) ms, QT interval (404±34) ms, QTc (462±35) ms; the R wave of avR 0. 17 mV, QRS wave 0.30 mV; the R wave of limb leads and V1-3 were all<0.5mV, the S wave of V1-3 were 0. 62mV, 1. 61mV, 1. 56mV; the R/S ratio of V1-3 were 0. 19, 0. 12, 0. 20 respectively. Conclusion: CA patients had the highest incidence of pseudo-infarct pattern; meanwhile, combining with low voltage on limb leads, pseudo-infarct with long Q or S wave and ST-T abnormality but normal QRS duration was helpful for differential diagnosis of CA in clinical practice.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of the early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) classification criteria for early RA and to assess the clinical efficacy of knee arthroscopic synovectomy for RA.Methods A total of 62 patients who had arthritic complaints with disease duration less than one year were treated with knee arthroscopic synovectomy.Patients were diagnosed as RA confirmed by changes of synoviomorphous under arthroscopy,synovial biopsy,immunological biochemical laboratory and MRI,and compared with the preoperative ERA diagnosis.The efficacy was assessed at the third months and more than 12 months after operation,including Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ),Lysholm score,laboratory parameters of erythrocyte sedi-mentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP).Results The sensitivity and specificity in the early RA classification criteria for RA diagnosis were 81.58％ and 91.67％.38 patients diagnosed as RA and the remaining 24 patients were significantly improved of HAQ,Lysholm score,ESR,CRP compared with preoperation,showed statistical difference (P ＜ 0.01).There were still statistical differences between the follow-up results of the group of patients with RA in different period after operation (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion The early RA classification criteria is worthy of clinical application,because it has the advantages of simple,practical,and is beneficial to early diagnosis of RA.The early RA patients should be treated with knee arthroscopic synovectomy as far as possible.It can improve not only the knee function,but also the general symptoms,and it can interrupt the RA pathological process,effective maintain curative effect after operation.

Objective To assess the cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) derived performance of oxygen uptake and ventilation efficiency parameters,including oxygen uptake efficiency plateau (OUEP),oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES),(V)E/(V)CO2 slope and lowest (V)E/(V)CO2,in patients with end-stage chronic heart failure(CHF) and evaluate their clinical value on monitoring cardiac function and hemodynamic status.Methods A total of 26 end-stage CHF patients considered for heart transplantation were enrolled in this study.CPET,echocardiography and invasive hemodynamic examinations with Swan-Ganz flowing balloon catheter were performed.Correlation analysis was made between oxygen uptake and ventilation efficiency parameters from CPET and echocardiographic and hemodynamic parameters.Results OUEP and OUES showed good correlation with peak oxygen consumption (peak (V)O2) (r =0.535,P ＜ 0.01 ; r =0.840,P ＜ 0.001).In end-stage CHF patients,the slope of OUEP with respect to peak (V)O2 is about 32,but the slope of OUES with respect to peak (V)O2 is only about 2.The difference was 16 times.The change of OUEP was more sensitive and significant than those of OUES and peak (V)O2 (P ＜ 0.05).OUEP,peak (V)O2 (％ pred),(V)E/(V)CO2 slope and lowest (V)E/(V)CO2 were all correlated well with non-invasive hemodynamic parameters peak cardiac output (r=0.535,P＜0.01; r=0.652,P＜0.001; r=-0.640,P＜0.001 ; r=-0.606,P=0.001 respectively) and peak cardiac index (r =0.556,P＜0.01;r =0.772,P ＜0.001; r =-0.641,P ＜ 0.001 ; r =-0.620,P ＜ 0.001 respectively) derived from CPET,but not correlated with invasive hemodynamic parameters cardiac output and cardiac index at rest (P ＞0.05).Both peak (V)O2 (％ pred) and (V)E/(V)CO2 slope were significantly correlated with invasive hemodynamic parameters systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (r =-0.424,P ＜ 0.05 ; r =0.509,P ＜ 0.01) and mean pulmonary arterial pressure (r=-0.479,P＜0.05; r=0.405,P＜0.05).Peak (V)O2(％pred)was also significantly correlated with pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (r =-0.415,P ＜ 0.05),and (V)E/(V)CO2 slope was significantly correlated with pulmonary vascular resistance (r =0.429,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The oxygen uptake and ventilation efficiency parameters derived from CPET,including peak (V)O2,OUEP,lowest (V)E/(V)CO2 and (V)E/(V)CO2 slope etc,are objectively monitoring and evaluating cardiac function and hemodynamic status.And they are useful for optimizing clinical management of patients with end-stage CHF.

Objective To assess peak oxygen consumption (peak (V)O2) derived from cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET),concentrations of NT-proBNP and echocardiographic changes in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF,＜ 40％).Methods Seventy patients were included and divided into two groups according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification:NYHA Ⅱ group (17 cases) and NYHA Ⅲ-Ⅳ group (53 cases).The basic clinical information,plasma concentration of NT-proBNP at rest,echocardiographic parameters and peak (V)O2 from CPET were compared between two groups.Correlation among peak (V)O2,NT-proBNP and echocardiographic parameters in this patient cohort was assessed and their abilities to discriminate the NYHA Ⅲ-Ⅳ grade were analyzed through c-Statistic.Results Left atrial diameter ((51.3 ±7.2) mm vs.(44.0 ±7.4) mm,P ＜0.001) was larger,plasma concentration of NT-proBNP (1 379-4 399 pmol/L vs.1 109-2 356 pmol/L,P ＜ 0.01) was higher and peak (V)O2 ((13.4 ± 3.5) ml · kg-1 · min 1 vs.(18.2 ± 3.7) ml · kg-1 · min-1,P ＜ 0.001) were significantly lower in NYHA Ⅲ-Ⅳ group than those in NYHA Ⅱ group.However,left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and LVEF were similar between two groups.Peak (V)O2 correlated significantly with NT-proBNP (r =-0.311,P ＜ 0.01),but neither peak (V)O2 nor NT-proBNP correlated with echocardiographic parameters (LA,LVEDD and LVEF).ROC analysis showed that peak (V)O2 had the strongest discriminatory power for detecting NYHA Ⅲ-Ⅳ grade patients (AUC =0.835,P ＜0.001),followed by the NT-proBNP (AUC =0.723,P ＜0.01).Conclusion Peak (V)O2 is a more sensitive parameter to detect the disease aggravation (NYHA Ⅲ-Ⅳ grade) of the CHF patients with reduced LVEF compared to plasma NT-proBNP and echocardiographic parameters (LA,LVEDD,LVEF).

Objective To explore the characteristics of ventilatory efficiency and exercise capacity during cardiopulmonary exercise testing in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).Methods Pulmonary function test,arterial blood gas analysis and cardiopulmonary exercise testing were performed in 28 IPF patients (IPF group) from April 2012 to April 2013 and 28 healthy volunteers (control group).And the relevant parameters were measured and compared.Results No significant differences existed in age [(57.8 ±9.8) vs.(59.2 ±5.5) years],gender or body mass index (BMI) [(23.8 ±2.7) vs.(25.0 ± 2.8) kg/m2,P ＞ 0.05].The paramneters of pulmonary function test,such as forced vital capacity ％ predicted (74.8 ± 14.6 vs.101.8 ± 10.8),forced expiratory volume in 1 second ％ predicted (73.8 ± 14.6 vs.97.0 ± 10.1),maximum voluntary ventilation ％ predicted (77.5 ± 14.9 vs.95.4 ±24.5),total lung capacity ％ predicted (75.6 ± 12.4 vs.99.8 ± 5.4),residual volume ％ predicted (80.7 ± 15.4 vs.95.8 ± 11.3),diffusing capacity of lung for carbon monoxide ％ predicted (66.2 ± 13.7 vs.103.2 ± 17.3) in the IPF group,were significantly lower than those of the control group (P ＜ 0.01).The parameters of arterial blood gas analysis,such as PaO2 [(72.7 ± 7.3) vs.(92.6 ± 3.8) mmHg] and SaO2 (94.3 ± 2.1 vs.98.3 ± 0.7),were lower than those of the control group (P ＜ 0.01).Thus P(A-a) O2 in the IPF group was higher than that in the control group (33.3 ± 5.7 vs.17.8 ± 1.9,P ＜0.01).These results strongly suggested that IPF group had restrictive ventilatory dysfunction and impaired gas exchange.The IPF patients had higher VE/VCO2-slope (37.4 ± 5.3 vs.25.7 ± 2.5,P ＜ 0.01) and lowest VE/VCO2 (39.2 ±6.7 vs.30.6 ± 2.7,P ＜ 0.01) than the controls; VE/VCO2 and VD/VT during every period were significantly higher in the IPF group than those in the control group (P ＜ 0.01) ; during peak exercise,peakLoad％pred (70.4 ±±29.9 vs.104.8 ±29.7,P ＜0.01) and peakVO2％pred (68.7 ±29.8 vs.98.7 ±36.4,P =0.001) were significantly lower in the IPF group than those in the control group.In the IPF group,VE/VCO2@AT,VE/VCO2-slope and lowest VE/VCO2 had a negative correlation with DLCO％pred (r=-0.589,P ＜0.01; r=-0.481,P＜0.05; r=-0.527,P＜0.05).In the IPF group,VE/VCO2@AT,VE/VCO2-slope and lowest VE/VCO2 had a negative correlation with peakVO2％ pred (r =-0.548,P ＜ 0.05 ; r =-0.539,P ＜ 0.05 ; r =-0.564,P ＜ 0.05).So the exercise tolerance and ventilation efficiency of the IPF group decreased significantly.Conclusion Cardiopulmonary exercise testing reveals that the ventilation efficiency of IPF patients decreases significantly so as to seriously affect their exercise tolerance

BACKGROUND:Because of osteoporosis, short-segment transpedicular fixation or screw-rod system fixation is prone to screw loosening depending on its poor anti-pul-out strength in patients with thoracolumbar fracture with ankylosing spondylitis.
OBJECTIVE:To probe the clinic outcomes of multi-segment transpedicle spinal fixation for thoracolumbar fractures with ankylosing spondylitis.
METHODS:Eleven patients with ankylosing spondylitis combined with thoracolumbar fracture in the Fourth Department of Orthopedics, Meizhou Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China from January 2009 to December 2012 were selected. Al the patients underwent posterior reduction and multi-segment transpedicle spinal fixation, among whom, six cases were subjected to internal fixation through the pedicle of fractured vertebra.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Al of the 11 patients were fol owed up for 13 to 36 months. Solid bone healing was achieved in al of the patients, and there were no complications related to the internal fixation systems such as loosening or breakage. Three cases of spinal cord injury achieved Frankel’s class E from class C recovery. Lumbodorsal pain rate achieved 100%according to the Japanese Orthopaedic Association scoring. Results confirmed that it is effective to treat thoracolumbar fractures with ankylosing spondylitis by posterior reduction and multi-segment transpedicle spinal fixation. Strong internal fixation and fracture union can be achieved by operation.

OBJECTIVE: To survey E-cadherin (E-cad) expression in tumor tissue and serum of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients, and to observe the clinical significance of their expression. METHODS: Forty-eight samples of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissue, 23 samples of erosive esophagitis tissue, 24 samples of normal esophagus tissue and the corresponding sera were obtained. We used immunohistochemistry (IHC) to detect expression of E-cad in the tissues and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to examine expression of E-cad in the serum. Furthermore, we collected complete clinicopathological data from the participating patients. RESULTS: The expression level of E-cad in the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissue was lower than that in normal esophagus tissues and erosive esophagitis tissues (P<0.05). Moreover, the expression level of E-cad was related to the depth of invasion, the status of lymph node metastasis and the level of differentiation of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (P<0.05). The expression level of serum E-cad of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients was obviously higher than that in the serum of normal esophagus controls and erosive esophagitis patients (P<0.05). But the expression level of E-Cad in the serum of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients was unrelated to clinicopathological features. The expression level of E-cad in the tissue was not correlated with that in the serum(P=0.134). CONCLUSION The expression of E-cad in tissues may assistin the diagnosis and prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The expression of E-cad in the serum may assistin the diagnostic screening of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, CD ; Cadherins ; blood ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged