Clinical Observations on Acupuncture Point Injection plus Wen Dan Decoction for Cervical Vertigo of Wind-phlegm Stagnation Type / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture point injection plus Wen Dan decoction in treating cervical vertigo of wind-phlegm stagnation type. Method Sixty patients with cervical vertigo of wind-phlegm stagnation type were randomized to treatment and control groups, 30 cases each. The control group was treated with Betahistine mesilate tablets and the treatment group, acupuncture point injection plus Wen Dan decoction in addition. One course of treatment consisted of 14 days. The effects on cervical vertigo were evaluated after two courses of treatment. Result The total efficacy rate was 90.0% in the treatment group and 73.3% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). Blood lipid levels, hemorheological indicators, and bilateral vertebral artery (VA) and basilar artery (BA) mean flow velocity were better in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture point injection plus Wen Dan decoction based on Betahistine mesilate tablets has clinically a better therapeutic effect on cervical vertigo of wind-phlegm stagnation type.

Characteristics of complex chromosomal rearrangement in Chinese male carriers and its impact on male fertility / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the characteristics of complex chromosomal rearrangement (CCR) in Chinese male carriers and its influence on male fertility.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using the G band technique, we conducted karyotype analysis on the peripheral blood lymphocytes of 1,625 Chinese males with reproductive problems. We also searched CNKI and Wanfang database for CCR-related literature published between January 1984 and November 2013, followed by statistical analysis on the CCR characteristics and reproduction-related data of the CCR carriers.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Two CCR carriers were found among the 1,625 males and another 47 cases identified from the databases. Among the 49 CCR carriers, there were 17 three-way exchange cases (34.7%), 17 double two-way exchange cases (34.7%), and 15 exceptional cases (30.6%), with no statistically significant differences in the incidence of the three types (P > 0.05). Azoospermia- or oligospermia-induced infertility was found in 19 (38.8% ) of the CCR carriers. A total of 87 pregnancies were achieved in the other 30 (61.2%), among which spontaneous abortion occurred in 75.9% (66/87), dead fetus and malformed infant death in 9.2% (8/87), and phenotypically normal offspring in 14.9% (13/87). Recurrent abortion was associated frequently with breakpoints on CCR-involved chromosomes 6, 7, 8, 11, and 16, while dyszoospermia mostly with breakpoints on CCR-involved chromosomes 10 and 14. The breaking occurred more than 3 times at 1p22, 1q25, 2q31, 5p13, 5q35, 6q23, 8q13, and 20p13. Moreo- ver, the breakpoints at 2q31, 5q35, and 8q13 were particularly related to recurrent abortion, while that at 1p22 only to dyszoospermia.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CCR is extremely rare. Male CCR carriers are often identified through reproductive problems and have high risks of infertility and abnormal pregnancy and a very low rate of normal newborns. In addition, chromosomes and breakpoints involved in CCR may affect the fertility of male CCR carriers, and some particular chromosomal breakpoints may play a key role in gametogenesis.</p>

Effect of fibrinogen, fibrin and fibrin (ogen) degradation products on the tissue plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 expressions of vascular endothelial cells in coculture system / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of fibrinogen (Fg), fibrin (Fb) and fibrin (ogen) degradation products (FDPs) on tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) expressions of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in coculture system.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fg, Fb and FDPs at various concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0 g/L) were added to the transwell coculture system of HUVECs and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) for 24 hours. The expressions of tPA and PAI-1 at mRNA level were examined by RT-PCR and tPA and PAI-1 protein and activity were detected by ELISA and substrate chromogenic assays.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>tPA expression was not affected by Fg. Fg at concentrations between 3.0 - 4.5 g/L significantly enhanced the mRNA expression, protein content and activity of PAI-1, while expression of PAI-1 was significantly inhibited by Fg at concentration of 6.0 g/L. Fb at concentrations between 3.0 - 4.5 g/L significantly up-regulated mRNA expression, increased protein content and down-regulated activity of tPA. Fb (1.5 - 4.5 g/L) also enhanced the mRNA expression, increased protein content and activity of PAI-1. FDPs at concentrations 3.0 - 6.0 g/L down-regulated the expression of tPA and FDPs at concentrations 1.5 - 6.0 g/L significantly enhanced PAI-1 mRNA expression.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Fg, Fb and FDPs play important roles in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis by modulating the expression of tPA and PAI-1 of endothelial and SMCs.</p>

A study on genetic epidemiology of cerebral infarction / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the genetic model of cerebral infarction and to examine the relationship between cerebral infarction and genetic factor.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A matched case-control study including 112 pairs pedigrees was carried out. Using the Li-Mantel-Gart method and the Falconer method to estimate the segregation ratio and the heritability of cerebral infarction.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The prevalence rate of the first-degree and the second-degree relatives in cases was significantly higher than that in controls. The segregation ratio was 0.143 7 (0.113 0 - 0.174 4), significantly lower than 0.25, which showed that cerebral infarction did not possess the characteristics of monogenetic model. The results showed that the heritability of the first-degree and the second-degree relatives were 47.84% and 40.95% higher in male's than in female's.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Cerebral infarction was a polygenetic disease, and the genetic factors played an important role in the occurrence of cerebral infarction, especially in males.</p>