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Objective: To observe the effects of acupuncture at the Governor Vessel acupoints plus language training on the language function and cerebral blood flow in patients with motor aphasia after ischemic stroke. Methods: Eighty-six patients were randomized into a control group and an observation group, with 43 cases in each group. Conventional symptomatic treatment was offered to both groups. Besides, the control group received language training, while the observation group received language training plus additional acupuncture at the Governor Vessel acupoints. Before and after treatment, the aphasia battery of Chinese (ABC) and Chinese functional communication profile (CFCP) were tested, and the mean velocity (Vm) and resistance index (RI) of the left middle cerebral artery (MCA) were detected. Results: The total effective rate was higher in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the observation group gained higher scores in oral expression, comprehension, repeating, naming objects, reading, and writing, as well as the general score of ABC (all P<0.05), higher than those in the control group (all P<0.05). The CFCP score increased in both groups after intervention, showing significant intra-group differences (both P<0.05), and the CFCP score was higher in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, Vm of the left side MCA increased in the control group (P<0.05), while no significant change was observed in RI (P>0.05); in the observation group, Vm of the left side MCA increased and RI decreased significantly compared with the baseline (both P<0.05), and were markedly different from those in the control group (both P<0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture at the Governor Vessel acupoints plus language training can produce valid efficacy in treating motor aphasia after ischemic stroke; it can notably improve the language function, everyday oral communication ability, and increase cerebral perfusion of the patients.
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AIM: To analyze the value of 24 - hour intraocular pressure ( IOP) monitoring in suspected glaucoma patients. METHODS: Totally 48 suspected glaucoma (96 eyes) were selected for 24 - hour IOP monitoring by using Accupen tonometer (24 - 3000) and non - contact tonometer (NCT, CT-80A) from 9 30 to 7 30 next day (once in 2h). During 07 30 to 21 30, patients were measured in sitting position,while during 23 30 to 05 30 in both sitting and supine position. RESULTS:A morning peak of IOP was shown at 7 30 in traditional position by using two measures with 22.05士3 608mmHg of NCT and 19.79士4.147mmHg of Accupen tonometer. The peak IOP in habitual position appeared in 5 30 with 21.64士4.814mmHg. The lowest IOP occurred in both position at 21 30 with 15. 73士3. 649mmHg. Both positions showed IOP trend of going up at night and then declining in the morning. CONCLUSION: The peak IOP in suspected glaucoma occurs mostly at early morning. Supine IOP of sleeping time is higher than that of sitting position.
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We report a 59-year-old patient with malignant acanthosis nigricans associated with metastasis of endometrial carcinoma. The patient presented papillomatosis lesions that appeared to be benign on multiple skins of body folds, particularly on lips. The lesions in lips and axilla had histological characteristic appearances of acanthosis nigricans, while the masses in abdomen and pelvis were metastasis endometrial adenocarcinoma. The article highlights the importance of biopsy and histopathological diagnosis in presumed benign lesions and the role of doctors in screening for body internal tumors.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Abdominal Neoplasms , Acanthosis Nigricans , Pathology , Adenocarcinoma , Endometrial Neoplasms , Pathology , Follow-Up Studies , Lip Diseases , Pathology , Lymphatic Metastasis , Pathology , Paraneoplastic Syndromes , Pathology , Pelvic NeoplasmsABSTRACT
Background More efforts have been made in the functional protection of the glaucoma ganglion cells (RGCs) nowadays.As main ingredient,astragalus polysaccharides (APS) enhances neuron regeneration protein expression and promotes peripheral nerve recovery.But whether APS has a protecting effect on RGCs is incompletely clear.Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of APS on the RGCs in a rat model of experimental glaucoma.Methods Forty-four SPF SD rats were divided into 4 groups randomly as follows:normal control group,negative control group,low dose APS group and high dose APS group,with 10 rats for each group.APS of 500 mg/kg or 2000 mg/kg (2.5 ml) was administered by gavage feeding once daily for 2 weeks in low dose or high dose of APS group,respectively,and the same volume of normal saline solution was applied instead of APS in the model control group.Two weeks later,aspirate 0.2 ml aqueous followed by methylcellulose injected into the anterior chamber to create the acute ocular hypertension model in the three groups above.No any intervention was performed in the normal control group.The rats were sacrificed on the fifth day after model established to take a retinal section.Ocular hypertension-induced damage was evaluated by regular retina histopathologic examination.Immunolhistochemistry for caspase-3 and TUNEL kits were used to determine the expression of caspase-3 protein in retina and apoptosis rate of RGCs.Retinal cross-sections were analyzed by Image Pro Plus 5.1 software to determine the thickness of various retinal layers and the positive staining cell density in the retinal ganglion cell layer (RGCL).Results On the fifth day after establishment of models,intraocular pressure (IOP) was significantly elevated in the model control group,low dose APS group and high dose APS group in comparison with the normal control group (t=-8.900,-10.700,-11.300,P＜0.01).Retinal morphology was normal in the rats of the normal control group,but in the model control group,rat retina was significantly thickened from severe retinal edema and cell arrangement disorder.Mild retinal abnormality was seen in the low dose APS group;while obvious retina edema was in high dose APS group.The entire retinal thickness,outer nuclear layer thickness and retinal nerve fiber thickness values were lower in the low dose APS group than those of model control group (t =-23.700,-14.770,-11.640,P＜0.01).However,no difference was found in outer nuclear layer thickness and retinal nerve fiber thickness values between high dose APS group and normal control group (t =-0.780,-0.460,P ＞ 0.05).Percentage of positive RGCs for caspase-3 protein and rate of apoptotic RGCs were significantly reduced in low dose APS group compared with model control group (caspase-3:F=87.710,P=0.001;RGCs apoptosis:F=272.840,P＜0.01).Conclusions 500 mg/kg APS can protect retina and RGCs against ocular hypertension-induced damage.The protection of APS is non-dosedependent.
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Background Retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury is a common pathological process in ophthalmology.It can cause permanent visual impairment.The prevention and treatment of retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury is one of the focus topics at home and abroad up to now.Objective Present study was to evaluate the protective effects of geranylgeranylacetone(GGA)on retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury.Methods The retinal ischemia/reperfusion models were established in 40 SD rats by the infusion of normal saline solution into the anterior ehamber to elevate the intraoeular pressure for 1 hour and then remove the process.GGA of 2 ml (800 ms/kg)was intragastrieally administered in 20 model rats as GGA group,and the equal volume of normal saline solution was used at the same way in other 20 models as model group.Four normal matched SD rats were served as normal control group.The histological changes of retina in 6,24,48,72 hours after modeling was examined by hematoxylin-eosin staining under the light microscope.and the expression of heat shock protein 70(HSP70)and caspase-3 in retina at the time points mentioned above was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results The edema of cornea and retina of rats appeared in 1 hour and peaked in 24 hours after modeling.In 72 hours after modeling,the edema was alleviated but the disorder of retina structure was found in model group.However,although the pathological change process was similar to that of model group,the damage of retina tissue was milder in the rats of GGA group under the light microscope.HSP70 and caspase-3 were absent in the retina of normal rats.But。The expression of HSP70 in retinal ganglion cells(RGCs)was found in 6 hours after modeling,reached peak in 24 hours and declined after that in model group.The numbers of positive cells for HSP70 in retina was significantly increased in various time points in GGA group,showing statistically significant differences between model group and GGA group(P<0.05).In model group,a few of caspase-3 positive cells were found 6 hours after reperfusion and increased gradually until reaching the peak 24 hours and then decreased gradually 48 hours later.Few caspase-3 positive cells were found 72 hour8 after reperfusion.The numbers of positive cells for caspase-3 decreased in GGA group compared with model group during the experimental duration with the considerable difference between these two groups(P<0.05).Conclusion GGA could protect RGCs against isehemia/reperfusion injury by upregulating the expression of HSP70 and downregulating the expression of caspase-3 in retina.
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AIM: To investigate the relationship between levels of blood viscosity and ocular hemodynamic changes in patients of primary glaucoma (PG).METHODS: The blood rheology indices (including whole blood, plasma, packed cell, relative blood visco-sities and yield stress) were determined in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients, primary acute angle closure glaucoma (PAACG) patients, primary chronic angle closure glaucoma (PCACG) patients and normal control group (patients with senile cataract), 20 cases each group. The peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), resistant index (RI), shape of spectra and frequency of monitor of ophthalmic artery (OA) and central artery of retina (CRA) were detected with color Doppler imaging (CDI) simultaneously. Comparing to the differences of each group with t test and giving a linear relational analysis to targets between the blood viscosity and hemodynamic of primary glaucoma patients.RESULTS: The blood rheology targets in PG groups were significantly higher than those in control group except fibrinogen. Comparing to control group, PSV and EDV in PG groups were significantly decreased but RI was remarkably increased. All targets of blood viscosity in PG patients were significantly negatively correlated with the PSV, EDV of both OA and CRA, but were significantly positively correlated with RI of OA and CRA. There were no significant correlations between the blood viscosity and ocular hemodynamics in the normal control.CONCLUSION: There are ocular blood circulation obstacles in and high level of blood viscosity PG patients, CDI has an important reference value in early diagnosis and prognosis of glaucoma.