Analysis of treating syndrome by I-Ching navel acupuncture / 中国针灸

Based on the theories of I-Ching and umbilicus-hologram, the navel acupuncture is considered as a new acupuncture therapy that only acupuncture at Shenque (CV 8). It has a good effect on the treatment of syndrome and provides a new treatment idea for syndrome. This article presents the definition, etiology and treatment of syndrome, and introduces the application of umbilical-holographic, the principle and method of positioning and needle-inserting, the adjustment of therapies and the analysis of cases, in order to introduce the idea of treating syndrome by I-Ching navel acupuncture.

Effect of miRNA-106a expression on the prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the expression of miRNA-106a gene in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its association with clinicopathological features and prognosis of ESCC patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was used to determine the expression of miRNA-106a gene in esophageal cancer tissue and corresponding normal mucosa of 81 cases. Immunohistochemical technique was applied to detect the expression of p53, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2), DNA topoisomerase II (Topo II) and multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP). The association of miRNA-106a expression with clinicopathological features, expression of related proteins, and prognosis of the patients was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 81 cases, under-expression of miRNA-106a gene was found in 48 cases (59.3%), normal expression in 22 cases (27.2%), and overexpression in 11 cases (13.6%). The expression of miRNA-106 gene was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis, pathological stage, and nerve invasion (all P < 0.05), significantly associated with expression of p53 (P = 0.006), and not significantly associated with expressions of HER-2, Topo II and MRP proteins (all P > 0.05). The expression of miRNA-106a gene was also significantly associated with progression-free survival (PFS, P = 0.032), but not significantly with overall survival (OS, P = 0.486). The results of Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that the PFS of ESCC patients was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.029), but not correlated with the age, gender, tumor length, T stage, degree of differentiation, nerve invasion, and miRNA-106a expression (all P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In esophageal squamous cell carcinomas, the miRNA-106a gene is under-expressed, with tumor suppressor function, and may be regarded as a biological marker to assess the prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.</p>

Ultrasound guidance for brachial plexus block decreases the incidence of complete hemi-diaphragmatic paresis or vascular punctures and improves success rate of brachial plexus nerve block compared with peripheral nerve stimulator in adults / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The use of traditional techniques (such as landmark techniques, paresthesia and peripheral nerve stimulator) for upper-limb anesthesia has often been restricted to the expert or enthusiast, which was blind. Recently, ultrasound (US) has been applied to differ blood vessel, pleura and nerve, thus may reduce the risk of complications while have a high rate of success. The aim of this study was to determine if the use of ultrasound guidance (vs. peripheral nerve stimulator, (PNS)) decreases risk of vascular puncture, risk of hemi-diaphragmatic paresis and risk of Horner syndrome and improves the success rate of nerve block.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A search strategy was developed to identify randomized control trials (RCTs) reporting on complications of US and PNS guidance for upper-extremity peripheral nerve blocks (brachial plexus) in adults available through PubMed databases, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase databases, SinoMed databases and Wanfang data (date up to 2011-12-20). Two independent reviewers appraised eligible studies and extracted data. Risk ratios (OR) were calculated for each outcome and presented with 95% confidence intervals (CI) with the software of Review Manager 5.1.0 System (Cochrane Library).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sixteen trials involving 1321 adults met our criteria were included for analysis. Blocks performed using US guidance were more likely to be successful (risk ratio (RR) for block success 0.36, 95%CI 0.23 - 0.56, P < 0.00001), decreased incidence of vascular puncture during block performance (RR 0.13, 95%CI 0.06 - 0.27, P < 0.00001), decreased the risk of complete hemi-diaphragmatic paresis (RR 0.09, 95%CI 0.03 - 0.52, P = 0.0001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>US decreases risks of complete hemi-diaphragmatic paresis or vascular puncture and improves success rate of brachial plexus nerve block compared with techniques that utilize PNS for nerve localization. Larger studies are needed to determine whether or not the use of US can decrease risk of neurologic complications.</p>

Impact of lymphocytes subgroups in peripheral blood on survival rate of patients with gastric cancer / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the change of lymphocyte subgroups in the peripheral blood of patients with gastric carcinoma and its association with survival.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Flow cytometry was used to examine the subgroups of lymphocytes (CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+), CD4(+)/CD8(+), CD19(+), CD25(+), CD44(+) and NK cells) in the peripheral blood of 833 gastric carcinoma patients prior to any therapy. Patients were divided into the high expression group and lower expression group according to the average test values of 96 healthy control subjects. Survival rate was compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with control group, the levels of CD3(+) and CD8(+) T cell in patients were significantly lower, while the levels of CD4(+), CD19(+), CD25(+), CD4(+)/CD8(+), CD44(+), and NK(+) cells were significantly. The differences were statistically significant(P<0.05). Three-year survival rates of gastric cancer patients with high CD19(+) expression (n=444) and cases with low CD19(+) expression (n=389) were 36.4% and 18.5%, respectively(P<0.05). The expressions of other seven types of lymphocytes were not associated with survival rates (all P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Significant changes in lymphocyte subgroups exist in the peripheral blood of patients with gastric carcinoma. Patients with high CD19(+) expression have better survival.</p>

Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion versus posterior open-surgery in treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis / 中华骨科杂志

ObjectiveTo compare the clinical results between minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar(mini-TLIF) and posterior open surgery in treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis.MethodsFrom March 2008 to August 2010,a total of 49 cases with lumbar spondylolisthesis underwent surgical intervention were retrospectively analyzed,including 23 cases with mini-TLIF and 26 with open surgery.Operation time,intra-operative bleeding,and radiation exposure times were recorded.Pre- and postoperative back pain was assessed by visual analogue scale(VAS),and lumbar function was evaluated by Oswestry disability index (ODI).The clinical results were assessed by Macnab criterion,and the pre and postoperative radiologic parameters were compared.ResultsThe mean follow-up time was 11 months(ranged,9-22).Both groups got good clinical results and satisfactory radiologic parameters.The group of mini-TLIF was superior to the group of open surgery in intra-operative bleeding,VAS of the second day postoperatively and the willingness of reoperation(P＜0.05).The ODI in the patients with open surgery were decreased from 31.2％±8.2％ to 16.1％±6.8％ corresponding to the pre-oporation and the final follow-up.The ODI in the patients with mini-TLIF were decreased from 34.4％±11.7％ to 15.3％±4.3％ corresponding to the pre-operation and the final follow-up.There is no significant difference of the change of ODI between two groups (t=0.673,P=0.412).The group of mini-TLIF need more operation time and were exposed to more X-ray when compared to the open surgery group(P＜0.05).ConclusionMini-TLIF and open surgery can both get satisfactory clinical outcomes in treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis.Mini-TLIF was superior to open surgery in intra-operative bleeding and VAS of the second day postoperatively,but it needs more operation time and radiation exposure.