Warming acupuncture combined with "three steps and seven methods" of tuina for chronic nonspecific low back pain of yang deficiency and cold-dampness blockage: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical efficacy and possible mechanism of warming acupuncture combined with "three steps and seven methods" of tuina and simple "three steps and seven methods" of tuina in treatment of chronic nonspecific low back pain (NLBP) of yang deficiency and cold-dampness blockage.@*METHODS@#A total of 138 patients were randomized into an observation group (69 cases, 5 cases dropped off) and a control group (69 cases, 7 cases dropped off). In the control group, "three steps and seven methods" of tuina was applied. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, warming acupuncture was applied at Shenshu (BL 23), Yaoyangguan (GV 3), Mingmen (GV 4), Weizhong (BL 40) and ashi points. The treatment was given once a day, 6 times a week for 3 weeks in both groups. Before and after treatment, the short form of McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI) score, finger-to-floor distance (FFD), Schober test distance, fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire (FABQ) score and yang deficiency and cold-dampness blockage score were observed, the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) were detected in both groups. The recurrence rate was evaluated in follow-up of 6 months after treatment.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the scores of PRI, PPI, VAS, ODI, FABQ and FFD, yang deficiency and cold-dampness blockage scores were decreased compared before treatment in both groups (P<0.01), and those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.01); the Schober test distances were increased compared before treatment in both groups (P<0.01), and that in the observation group was larger than the control group (P<0.01). After treatment, the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and TXB2 were decreased compared before treatment in both groups (P<0.01), and those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.01). In follow-up, the recurrence rate was 12.8% (6/47) in the observation group, which was lower than 34.3% (12/35) in the control group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Warming acupuncture combined with "three steps and seven methods" of tuina can effectively alleviate pain in patients with chronic NLBP of yang deficiency and cold-dampness blockage, improve activity and dysfunction of waist, the clinical efficacy is superior to simple "three steps and seven methods" of tuina, its mechanism may be relate to the inhibition of inflammatory reaction.

Cost–utility analysis of screening for colorectal precancerous lesions and cancer in Beijing: A case–control study

Objective: To provide an objective cost–utility evaluation of a colorectal cancer screening program in a hypothetical general population. Materials and Methods: A cost–utility analysis was conducted comparing screened individuals with the general population. Patients were evaluated as part of the screening program which conducted colorectal cancer risk assessments and performed colonoscopies from October 2012 to May 2013. Data were compared to a hypothetical group of the same size, consisting of the general population in which no cancer screening had been conducted. The cost and utility data have been published previously. Results: The average cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) of colorectal cancer screening population was 84,092 CNY, while the average cost per QALY of the general population was 122,530 CNY. The colorectal cancer screening program saved 43,530 CNY per additional QALY. Conclusion: The colorectal cancer screening program could improve health-related quality of life and reduce medical expenditure

Regulatory Effect of Guilu Bugu Prescription in Treating Th17/ Treg Cell Factors of Patients with Postmenopausal Osteoporosis Based on Syndrome Differentiation / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy Guilu Bugu prescription in treating postmenopausal osteoporosis （PMO） with deficiency of liver and kidney Yin based on syndrome differentiation and the effect on Th17/Treg cell factors. Method:One hundred and forty patients were randomly divided into observation group （70 cases） and control group （70 cases） by random number table. Both groups' patients got basic treatment of western medicine. Patients in control group got Jintiange capsules， 3 grains/time， 3 times/day. Patients in observation group got Guilu Bugu prescription， 1 dose/day. The treatment lasted for 6 months. And the 6-month follow-up was recorded. Before treatment， at the 6th month after treatment and at the 6th month of follow-up， bone density of lumbar vertebra L2-4 were detected by DXA， and Lumbar BMD were detected by QCT. Before treatment， at the 3rd and 6th month after treatment， deficiency of liver and kidney Yin and Chinese Osteoporosis-targeted quality of life questionnaire （COQOL） were scored. Before and after treatment， Estradiol （E2）， procollagen I amino terminal pro peptide （PINP）， osteoprotegerin （OPG）， collagen I cross linked C-terminal peptide （S-CTX）， tartrate resistant acid phosphatase （TRACP）， interleukin-17 （IL-17）， IL-22， IL-10， transforming growth factor-β1 （TGF-β1） were detected， and CD4+ cells， Th17 cells and Treg cells were calculated. And the safety was evaluated. Result:At the 6th month after treatment and the 6th month of follow-up， DXA （bone mineral density and T-value of lumbar L2-4） and QCT bone mineral density increased （P<0.01）， and the figures in observation group were all higher than those in control group （P<0.01）. At the 3rd and 6th month after treatment， scores of deficiency of liver and kidney Yin and quality of life were all lower than those in control group （P<0.01）. Levels of PINP， S-CTX， TRACP， Th17 cells， ratio of Th17 and Treg， IL-17 and IL-22 were all lower than those in control group （P<0.01）， and levels of OPG， E2， Treg， IL-10 and TGF-β1 were all higher than those in control group （P<0.01）.There was no adverse reaction related to Guilu Bugu prescription. Conclusion:Based on the supplementation of calcium and vitamin D， Guilu Bugu prescription can further improve the bone mineral density， raise the estrogen level， regulate the expressions of bone metabolism markers， Th17， Treg and relevant factors， reverse the imbalance of Th17/Treg， relieve the clinical symptoms and improve the quality of life， with a better efficacy than that of Jintange capsule and a high safety.

Network pharmacology-based analysis of Chinese herbal Naodesheng formula for application to Alzheimer's disease / 中国天然药物

Naodesheng (NDS) formula, which consists of Rhizoma Chuanxiong, Lobed Kudzuvine, Carthamus tinctorius, Radix Notoginseng, and Crataegus pinnatifida, is widely applied for the treatment of cardio/cerebrovascular ischemic diseases, ischemic stroke, and sequelae of cerebral hemorrhage, etc. At present, the studies on NDS formula for Alzheimer's disease (AD) only focus on single component of this prescription, and there is no report about the synergistic mechanism of the constituents in NDS formula for the potential treatment of dementia. Therefore, the present study aimed to predict the potential targets and uncover the mechanisms of NDS formula for the treatment of AD. Firstly, we collected the constituents in NDS formula and key targets toward AD. Then, drug-likeness, oral bioavailability, and blood-brain barrier permeability were evaluated to find drug-like and lead-like constituents for treatment of central nervous system diseases. By combining the advantages of machine learning, molecular docking, and pharmacophore mapping, we attempted to predict the targets of constituents and find potential multi-target compounds from NDS formula. Finally, we built constituent-target network, constituent-target-target network and target-biological pathway network to study the network pharmacology of the constituents in NDS formula. To the best of our knowledge, this represented the first to study the mechanism of NDS formula for potential efficacy for AD treatment by means of the virtual screening and network pharmacology methods.

Effects of activation of mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 on MMP-14 and TIMP-4 in high glucose induced rat cardiomyocytes injury / 中国药理学通报

Aim To observe whether matrix metallo-proteinase-14 ( MMP-14) and tissue matrix metallopro-teinase inhibitor-4 ( TIMP-4) were involved in the car-diac-protection of mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogen-ase 2 ( ALDH2) against high glucose induced rat pri-mary cardiomyocyte injury. Methods Rat primary cardiomyocytes were cultured. The cardiomyocyte via-bility was detected by MTT assay at different concentra-tion of glucose at different time point. After established high glucose-induced cardiomyocytes injury model, cardiomyocytes were randomly divided into 4 groups:normal control group ( NG, glucose at 5.5 mmol· L-1) , NG + Alda-1 group ( Alda-1 at 20 μmol·L-1) , high glucose group ( HG, glucose at 30 mmol·L-1) and HG+Alda-1 group. The cell viability at 48 h and oxidative stress level were detected by MTT and DHE staining methods. The protein expressions of ALDH2, MMP-14 and TIMP-4 were determined by Western blot. Results The cardiomyocytes injury model was established according to the cell activity result. Com-pared with NG group, the cell viability, the protein ex-pressions of ALDH2, MMP-14, the ratio of MMP-14/TIMP-4 were decreased, TIMP-4 protein expression and the level of oxidative stress were increased in HG group. Compared with HG group, in HG + Alda-1 group, the cell viability, the protein expressions of AL-DH2, MMP-14, the ratio of MMP-14/TIMP-4 were in-creased, the levels of oxidative stress and TIMP-4 pro-tein expression were decreased. Conclusion Activa-tion of mitochondrial ALDH2 may relieve high glucose induced cardiomyocytes injury. The protective effect was likely related to the inhibition of oxidative damage, down-regulation of MMP-14 and up-regulation of TIMP-4 proteins.

Network pharmacology-based analysis of Chinese herbal Naodesheng formula for application to Alzheimer's disease / 中国天然药物

Naodesheng (NDS) formula, which consists of Rhizoma Chuanxiong, Lobed Kudzuvine, Carthamus tinctorius, Radix Notoginseng, and Crataegus pinnatifida, is widely applied for the treatment of cardio/cerebrovascular ischemic diseases, ischemic stroke, and sequelae of cerebral hemorrhage, etc. At present, the studies on NDS formula for Alzheimer's disease (AD) only focus on single component of this prescription, and there is no report about the synergistic mechanism of the constituents in NDS formula for the potential treatment of dementia. Therefore, the present study aimed to predict the potential targets and uncover the mechanisms of NDS formula for the treatment of AD. Firstly, we collected the constituents in NDS formula and key targets toward AD. Then, drug-likeness, oral bioavailability, and blood-brain barrier permeability were evaluated to find drug-like and lead-like constituents for treatment of central nervous system diseases. By combining the advantages of machine learning, molecular docking, and pharmacophore mapping, we attempted to predict the targets of constituents and find potential multi-target compounds from NDS formula. Finally, we built constituent-target network, constituent-target-target network and target-biological pathway network to study the network pharmacology of the constituents in NDS formula. To the best of our knowledge, this represented the first to study the mechanism of NDS formula for potential efficacy for AD treatment by means of the virtual screening and network pharmacology methods.

Network pharmacology study of effective constituents of traditional Chinese medicine for Alzheimer's disease treatment / 药学学报

This study aims to investigate the network pharmacology of Chinese medicinal formulae for treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Machine learning algorithms were applied to construct classifiers in predicting the active molecules against 25 key targets toward Alzheimer's disease (AD). By extensive data profiling, we compiled 13 classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas with clinical efficacy for AD. There were 7 Chinese herbs with a frequency of 5 or higher in our study. Based on the predicted results, we built constituent-target, and further construct target-target interaction network by STRING (Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins) and target-disease network by DAVID (Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery) and gene disease database to study the synergistic mechanism of the herbal constituents in the Chinese traditional patent medicine. By prediction of blood-brain penetration and validation by TCMsp (traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology) and Drugbank, we found 7 typical multi-target constituents which have diverse structure. The mechanism uncovered by this study may offer a deep insight into the action mechanism of TCMs for AD. The predicted inhibitors for the AD-related targets may provide a good source of new lead constituents against AD.

Effect of acupuncture at different time points on kidney function and oxygen free radical metabolism in rats with simulated weightlessness / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effects of pre-acupuncture and immediate acupuncture on kidney function and oxygen free radical metabolism in rats with simulated weightlessness.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty male clean-grade Wister rats were randomly divided into a normal control group, a model group, a pre-acupuncture group and an immediate acupuncture group, 5 rats in each one. The rats in the normal control group did not receive any treatment but free activities for 4 weeks. The rats in the rest groups received 4-week tail suspension to establish the model of simulated weightlessness. One week before the tail suspension, the rats in the pre-acupuncture group were treated with electroacupuncture at "Shenshu" (BL 23), "Pishu" (BL 20) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) for 30 min per treatment, once a day for 7 days. The rats in the immediate acupuncture group received tail suspension and acupuncture at the same time; during the tail suspension, the electroacupuncture was applied at "Shenshu" (BL 23), "Pishu" (BL 20) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) for 30 min per treatment, once every other day for 14 days. The colorimetric method was used to measure the content of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in serum as well as activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and content of malonaldehyde (MDA) in renal tissue in each group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the normal control group, the content of BUN in the model group was increased significantly (P<0.01), the activity of SOD and GSH-PX in nephridial tissue was significantly reduced (both P<0.01), and the content of MDA was increased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the content of BUN in the pre-acupuncture group and immediate acupuncture group was significantly reduced (P<0.01, P<0.05), the activity of GSH-PX in the pre-acupuncture group was obviously increased (P<0.05) and the content of MDA in the immediate acupuncture group was increased significantly (P<0.01). Compared with the immediate acupuncture group, the content of MDA in the pre-acupuncture group was lower (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The pre-acupuncture and immediate acupuncture both have the capacity to improve the kidney function and anti-oxygen free radical injury in rats with simulated weightlessness, however, the capacity to increase the protection ability of the kidney and eliminate free radical in the pre-acupuncture group is superior to that in the immediate acupuncture group, which is likely to be related with improving antioxidant ability of kidney.</p>

High intracellular Mg²⁺ affects the activities of L-type calcium channel in guinea- pig ventricular myocytes / 生理学报

This study is aimed to investigate the effects of high intracellular Mg²⁺ on L-type calcium channel in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. The cardiomyocytes were acutely isolated with enzyme digestion method. By adopting inside-out configuration of patch clamp technique, single channel currents of the L-type calcium channel were recorded under different intracellular Mg²⁺ concentrations ([Mg²⁺]i). In control group, which was treated with 0.9 mmol/L Mg²⁺, the relative activity of calcium channel was (176.5 ± 34.1)% (n = 7). When [Mg²⁺]i was increased from 0.9 to 8.1 mmol/L (high Mg²⁺ group), the relative activities of calcium channel decreased to (64.8 ± 18.1)% (n = 6, P < 0.05). Moreover, under 8.1 mmol/L Mg²⁺, the mean open time of calcium channel was shortened to about 25% of that under control condition (P < 0.05), but the mean close time of calcium channel was not altered. These results suggest that high intracellular Mg²⁺ may inhibit the activities of L-type calcium channel, which is mainly due to the shortening of the mean open time of single L-type calcium channel.

Chemical constituents from Lyophyllum decastes / 中国中药杂志

The chemical constituents from the fruiting bodies of Lyophyllum decastes (Fr.) Singer were studied in this paper. Thirteen compounds were isolated and purified by column chromatographies on silica gel and Sephadex LH-20. Their structures were identified by MS and NMR data analysis as adenosine (1), 2R, 3S, 4S, 8E)-2-[(2'R)-2-hydroxyheneicosanoylamino]-8-octadecene-1, 3, 4-triol (2), (2R, 3S, 4S, 8E)-2-[(2'R)-2-hydroxypentacosanoylamino]-8-octadecene-1, 3, 4-triol (3), nicotinic acid (4), (4E, 8E) -2-N-2-hydroxytetracosanoyl-1-O-beta-D-glycopyranosyl-9-methyl-4, 8-sphingadienine (5), D-mannitol (6), ergosteryl-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7), tuberoside (8), (2R, 3S, 4S, 8E)-2-[(2'R)-2-hydroxybehenoylamino]-8-octadecene-1, 3, 4-triol (9),(2R, 3S, 4S, 8E)-2-[(2'R) -2-hydroxytricosanoylamino] -8-octadecene-1, 3, 4-triol (10), (22E, 24R)-ergosta-7, 22-dien-3beta, 5alpha, 6beta-triol (11), (22E, 24R)-ergosta-5, 7, 22-trien-3beta-ol (12), and 5alpha, 8alpha-epidiory-(22E, 24R)-ergosta-6, 22-dien-3beta-ol (13), respectively. All the above compounds are first obtained from the mushroom and compounds 2-10 are reported to be obtained from the Lyophyllum for the first time.

Effect of electro-acupuncture at different acupoints on neuropeptide and somatostatin in rat brain with irritable bowel syndrome / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the regulatory effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) at acupoints Zusanli (ST36) and Hegu (LI4) on the visceral hyper-sensitivity in the rat model of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and to explore the acting targets and specialty of acupoints.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Except 8 rats of the normal control group, the rest 32 rats were prepared to set up the IBS models. IBS animal model was prepared by enema with acetic acid. Model rats were divided into three groups. Except for rats in the model group for control, those in the other two groups were treated 20 min by EA on ST36 (EA-ST36) and LI4 (EA-LI4) respectively for 2 weeks to observe the effect on behavior response of viscera sensitivity. The changes of neuropeptide (NPY), the somatostatin (SS) levels in blood and tissues of brain and intestine were monitored as well.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The volume thresholds for abdomen uplifting and back hunching were obviously increased after EA-ST36 (P<0.05), but showed insignificant change after EA-LI4. NPY contents lowered and SS contents increased in model rats; both EA-ST36 and EA-LI4 could raise the level of thalamic NPY (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively), but showed insignificant effects on NPY in colonic tissue. As for SS content, its colonic level could be reduced by EA-S36 and EA-LI4 (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively), however, its blood level was affected only by EA-ST36 (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>EA-ST36 or EA-LI4 could regulate the NPY in thalamus and SS in colonic tissue, the former could affect blood level of SS as well. It is deemed that NPY and SS may be the key substances for regulating the action of acupuncture in the brain-intestinal axis; their different levels could be regarded as an indicator for the functional difference between the acupoints.</p>

Investigation on the indication of ipsilateral adrenalectomy in radical nephrectomy: a meta-analysis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>With a trend that renal tumors are being detected at an earlier stage, classical radical nephrectomy is being reconsidered. More conservative techniques are being proposed. To clarify the indication for synchronous adrenalectomy in radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma which has been questioned since the 1980s, this study evaluates the role of adrenalectomy and recommends a new indication for adrenalectomy in renal cell carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A systemic search was performed, using PubMed and Google Scholar, of all English language studies published up to March 2012 that compared adrenalectomy with adrenal-sparing surgery, in surgery for renal cell carcinoma. We assessed preoperative imaging for adrenal involvement and the relationship of tumor location with adrenal metastases. Twenty-one studies (20 retrospective and 1 prospective) involving 11 736 patients were included.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean incidence of ipsilateral adrenal involvement from renal cell carcinoma was 4.5%. Synchronous adrenalectomy did not alter survival (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.89, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.67 - 1.19, P = 0.43; odds ratio (OR) = 1.10, 95%CI 0.84 - 1.44, P = 0.49). Upper pole tumors were not associated with a higher incidence of ipsilateral adrenal metastases. Pooled preoperative imaging: sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 92% (95%CI 0.84 - 0.97), 95% (95%CI 0.93 - 0.96), 71.6% and 98.5% respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Adrenal involvement from renal cell carcinoma is rare, even in advanced tumours. Synchronous adrenalectomy does not offer any benefit, even for "high risk" patients. We suggest that only patients with a positive preoperative adrenal finding on preoperative imaging for a solitary adrenal metastasis should undergo adrenalectomy as part of the radical nephrectomy.</p>

Massage manipulation of supplementing marrow and kneading tendon in treating 30 children with spastic cerebral palsy / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the therapeutic effect of massage with manipulation of supplementing marrow and kneading tendon (SMKT) on spastic cerebral palsy (CP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 60 children with CP were randomly assigned to the treatment group and the control group equally. All were treated with rehabilitation training, but massage with SMKT was carried out additionally for those in the treatment group, five times every week and 3 months as a therapeutic course. Clinical efficacy was assessed adopting the gross motor function measurement (GMFM-66) and the revised Ashworth scale (MAS) before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All children showed significant improvements in GMFM-66 after treatment. Compared with baseline, the improvement was statistically significant (P <0.01). Significant difference was also found between the 2 groups in MAS and in GMFM scores after treatment (P <0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Massage with SMKT manipulation shows a better effect than rehabilitation training therapy alone in treating spastic CP.</p>

Compare of laparoscopic and open surgery for radical cystectomy with orthotopic ileal neobladder / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the clinical therapeutic effect and complications of laparoscopic radical cystectomy with orthotopic ileal neobladder (LRC-INB) with open radical cystectomy with orthotopic ileal neobladder (ORC-INB).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 171 patients were evaluated, including 63 cases with ORC-INB and 108 cases with LRC-INB from June 1994 to May 2007 at our institution. The parameters analyzed included perioperative data, postoperative complications, new bladder function and effect of tumor control.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no significant difference in demographic characteristics of patients between these 2 groups. The mean operating time was 330 min in the LRC group and 310 min in the ORC group (P > 0.05). The mean blood loss was 320 ml in the LRC group and 1100 ml in ORC group (P < 0.001). The mean oral intake after operation was 2.4 days for LRC group and 4.5 days for ORC group (P < 0.001). No perioperative death was occurred in both groups. The complication rate was 18.5% in LRC group, while 30.0% in ORC group (P < 0.05). Twelve months after operation, the day-time and night-time continence rate were 90.7% and 82.6% for the LRC group, 88.3% and 81.6% for the ORC group respectively (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference of VOL, pressure and residual urine volume (RUV) of neobladder between these 2 groups. Surgical margin were tumor free for 107 cases except one T4 case in laparoscopic group had positive margin (P > 0.05). The mean number of removed lymph node were 12 and 8 in LRC and ORC group respectively (P < 0.05). The 2 years tumor free survival rate of the same stage or grade was no significant different (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>LCR had advantages of less blood loss, shorter oral intake time, less postoperative complications, comparable continent rate and short-term tumor control with ORC. Long-term follow up is needed to confirm the oncological outcome.</p>

Laparoscopic radical cystectomy with orthotopic ileal neobladder in the female: report of 14 cases / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Bladder carcinoma is the most common malignant urological tumor in China. We present our preliminary experience and results of laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) with orthotopic ileal neobladder in female patients with bladder carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From February 2003 to February 2008, 14 female patients with bladder carcinoma underwent LRC with orthotopic ileal neobladder. Nine of these patients underwent hysterectomy and ovariectomy, and the other 5 had preservation of the uterus and ovarian appendage. Standard bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy was followed by radical cystectomy that was completed laparoscopically with hysterectomy and ovariectomy when needed. The tumor was removed by a 4 - 5 cm lower midline abdominal incision, followed by the construction of ileal neobladder and the extracorporeal anastomosis of ureter-neobladder. The neobladder was anastomosed to the urethral stump under a laparoscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean operative time and blood loss in the 14 patients were 350.2 minutes and 349.8 ml, respectively. Postoperative complications included uretero-pouch anastomotic stricture in 1 patient and pouch-vaginal fistula in 1 patient. Follow-up time of all patients ranged from 3 to 60 months, and 12 patients were followed up for more than 6 months and achieved micturition in half a year. One patient had occasional day-time urinary incontinence and 2 had night-time incontinence. Two patients who had undergone hysterectomy and ovariectomy had voiding difficulties after one year, which was treated by intermittent self-catheterization. The mean volume of the neobladder and the residual urine were 333.6 ml and 31.2 ml, respectively. Surgical margins were tumor free for all patients. One patient had bone metastasis and died 11 months after the operation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>LRC with orthotopic ileal neobladder in female patients is a technically feasible, safe and mini-invasive procedure with a low morbidity and acceptable neobladder function. Long-term follow-up is required to confirm the neobladder function and oncological outcomes.</p>

Needle laparoscopic varicocelectomy / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>We evaluated our method and effects of needle laparoscopic varicocelectomy for the treatment of varicocele.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>72 patients (105 lateral) diagnosed varicocele were performed laparoscopic varicocelectomy under epidural combined intravenous anesthesia from Feb, 2003 to Apr, 2005. Two 2 mm incisions and one 5 mm incision were made on the midline of lower abdomen, by which two 2 mm trocars and one 5 mm trocar were introduced. Vessel-sealing device (Ligasure) was used to seal the internal spermatic veins.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All operations were completed successfully. Mean operation time was 15 minutes unilateral and 21 minutes bilateral. The patients were hospitalized for 3 to 5 days after procedure. Follow-up was scheduled for 6 to 12 months and there was no recurrence.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Needle laparoscopic varicocelectomy gives favorable effect with minimal invasion, rapid recovery, which is the best choice for the treatment of varicocele.</p>

Study on identification of wild and cultirated Radix Scutellariae in different growing years / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify Radix Scutellariae (Huangqin) of different growth years, to distinguish whether it's wild or cultivated and to provide useful information for the quality control of Huangqin crude drug.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>By using morphological and histological methods, we studied 87 individuals of 45 specimens from 12 habitats of 5 provinces of China, which grew wild or were cultivated in different growing years. Moreover, 22 commercial samples of Huangqin from 7 provinces were also investigated.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The identification was performed base on morphological and histological characteristics, such as, the shape, color, cork, remaining stems, decayed central xylem, and vessels arrangement, xylem cork ring, growth rings, etc.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>We established an identification method for distinguishing Huangqin wild or cultivated in different growing years. Furthermore, the structure of annual rings in the transection of Radix Scutellariae has been discovered for the first time.</p>

Validity and reliability of the Demirjian distinguish software on estimating dental age / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the validity and reliability of the Demirjian distinguish software on dental age estimation.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The dental age of 60 children were estimated with both the software three times and manual measures.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The correlation coefficients of dental age estimated by the software and by manual measure was 0.974 (female) (P > 0.1) and 0.970 (male) (P > 0.05); the coefficients of interclass correlation of each dental age estimated by the software was 0.977 (female) (P > 0.1) and 0.977 (male) (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Demirjian distinguish software has high validity and reliability in estimating dental age.</p>

Laparoscopic radical cystectomy with orthotopic ileal neobladder: report of 33 cases / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) with orthotopic ileal neobladder is now applied to treat invasive bladder cancer, however, it has not been well codified and illustrated. We describe in this paper a technique step by step that we have developed in 33 patients and achieved excellent results.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The surgical procedure can be divided into eight steps: laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy and mobilization of the distal ureters; exposing Denonvillier's space and the posterior aspect of prostate; exposing retropubic space and anterior surface of the bladder; dividing the lateral pedicles of the bladder and the prostate; dividing the apex of the prostate; extracorporeal formation of the ileal pouch; extracorporeal implantation of the ureters; and laparoscopic urethra-neobladder anastomosis. This operation was performed in 33 patients, 29 males and 4 females, with muscle invasive bladder cancer between December 2002 and September 2004.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The operating time was 5.5-8.5 hours with an average of 6.5 hours; the estimated blood loss was 200-1000 ml with an average of 460 ml. The surgical margins of the bladder specimen were negative in all patients. There was no evidence of local recurrence at follow-up of 1-21 months in all the patients. However lymph node metastases were found in one case at 9 months postoperatively. Most of patients achieved urine control 1 to 3 months after surgery. The daytime continence rate was 94% (31 cases) and nighttime continence rate was 88% (29 cases). Urodynamic evaluation was performed between 3 and 6 months postoperatively for all cases. The mean value of neobladder capacity was (296 +/- 37) ml. The mean value of maximum flow rate was (18.7 +/- 7.1) ml/s. The mean residual urine volume was (32 +/- 19) ml. In all cases, excretory urography at 1 to 2 months postoperatively demonstrated slightly dilated upper urinary tracts without ureteral obstruction, which resolved at follow up. Cystography showed neobladders being similar in shapes to normal. Two small ureteral nipples with intermittently efflux of urine were observed at cystoscopy in most patients. Postoperative complications occurred in 6 of 33 patients (18%), including pouch leakage in 2 cases, pelvic infection in 1, partial small bowel obstruction in 2 and neobladder-vaginal fistula in 1.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The LRC with orthotopic ileal neobladder is a feasible option for bladder cancer when radical cystectomy is indicated. The extracorporeal formation of the ileal pouch and ureteral implantation through a small lower midline incision can simplify the complexity of the procedures, shorten the duration of surgery and reduce the medical expenses.</p>

Expression and biology identification of the human epididymis-specific gene ESC42 in E. coli / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To provide materials for the study of the function of ESC42 protein specifically expressed in the human epididymis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The ESC42 gene was amplified from the human epididymis cDNA library by PCR and then cloned into prokaryotic expression vector pGEX-4T-1, expressed and purified by recombinant DNA techniques. The specificity of ESC42 protein was identified by Western blot and MALDI-TOF-MS. The database was searched by Ms-Fit.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The recombinant plasmid expressed a Mr 38 x 10(3) fusion protein in E. coli at a level of 30% of the total protein, and the purity was as high as 99%. The ESC42 protein was identified by ESC42 monoclonal antibody and its molecular weight was 11 978.12, tested by MALDI-TOF-MS. The peptide mass fingerprint analysis showed that the coverage rate of the sequence reached 48% with 100% matching. The motif scan in Prosite database reveal that ESC42 belonged to the beta-defensin family and had antibacterial activity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Obtaining high purity of rhESC42 protein may lay a foundation for the study of its functions.</p>