OBJECTIVE: To observe capillary blood flow at acupoints during acupuncture treatment of primary dysmenorrhea and gain new insights into its analgesic mechanism. METHODS: Patients with primary dysmenorrhea were enrolle...OBJECTIVE: To observe capillary blood flow at acupoints during acupuncture treatment of primary dysmenorrhea and gain new insights into its analgesic mechanism. METHODS: Patients with primary dysmenorrhea were enrolled and randomly assigned to a treatment or control group. Subjects' symptoms were differentiated into variousTraditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) syndromes and treated for 10 sessions with puncturing acupuncture or self-pressing right-hand Hegu(LI 4), adding other acupoints based on syndrome. Laser speckle was used to compare the change in the vasomotor amplitude and perfusion of the capillaries in Hegu(LI 4) before and during the treatment. Each subject was required to finish the period pain symptoms observation form, verbal rating scales, numerical rating scale, pain rating index, face rating scale, Zung self-rating depression scale, Zung self-rating anxiety scale, and numerical rating scale before and after treatments. RESULTS: After 10 sessions, the symptom scores, pain index(PI), and visual analog scale(VAS) decreased significantly in treatment group. The volume of blood flow in Hegu(LI 4) declined slightly. No significant evidence supported that needling caused capillary contraction, but the capillary vasomotor amplitude at Hegu(LI 4) increased remarkably. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture can increase the capillary blood flow, thus promoting the flow of Qi and blood in terms of TCM theory, which facilitates pain relief.展开更多
AIM:To determine the factors affecting mortality in patients who developed graft-versus-host disease (GvH) after liver transplantation (LT) METHODS:We performed a review of studies of GvH following LT published in the...AIM:To determine the factors affecting mortality in patients who developed graft-versus-host disease (GvH) after liver transplantation (LT) METHODS:We performed a review of studies of GvH following LT published in the English literature and accessed the PubMed, Medline, EBSCO, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases Using relevant search phrases, 88 articles were identified. Of these, 61 articles containing most of the study parameters were considered eligible for the study. Risk factors were first examined using a univariate Kaplan-Meier model, and variables with a significant association (P < 0 05) were then subjected to multivariate analyses using a Cox proportional-hazards model RESULTS:The 61 articles reported 87 patients, 58 male and 29 female, mean age, 40.4 ± 15.5 years (range:8 mo to 74 years), who met the inclusion criteria for the present study. Deaths occurred in 59 (67.8%) patients, whereas 28 (32.2%) survived after a mean follow-up period of 280.8 ± 316.2 d (range:27-2285 d). Among the most frequent symptoms were rash (94.2%), fever (66.6%), diarrhea (54%), and pancytopenia (54%). Theaverage time period between LT and first symptom onset was 60.6 ± 190.1 d (range: 2-1865 d). The Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that pancytopenia (42.8% vs 59.3%,P = 0.03), diarrhea (39.2%vs 61.0%,P = 0 04), age difference between the recipient and the donor (14.6 ± 3.1 yearsvs 22.6 ± 2.7 years,P < 0.0001), and time from first symptom occurrence to diagnosis or treatment (13.3 ± 2.6 mo vs 15.0 ± 2.3 mo, P < 0.0001) were significant factors affecting mortality, whereas age, sex, presence of rash and fever, use of immunosuppressive agents, acute rejection before GvH , etiological causes, time of onset, and donor type were not associated with mortality risk The Cox proportional-hazards model, determined that an age difference between the recipient and donor was an independent risk factor (P = 0 03; hazard ratio, 7.395, 95% confidence interval, 1.2-46.7). CONCLUSION:This study showed that an age difference between the recipient and donor is an independent risk factor for mortality in patients who develop GvH after LT.展开更多
Restitution of normal fat absorption in exocrine pancreatic insufficiency remains an elusive goal. Although many patients achieve satisfactory clinical results with enzyme therapy, few experience normalization of fat ...Restitution of normal fat absorption in exocrine pancreatic insufficiency remains an elusive goal. Although many patients achieve satisfactory clinical results with enzyme therapy, few experience normalization of fat absorption, and many, if not most, will require individualized therapy. Increasing the quantity of lipase administered rarely eliminates steatorrhea but increases the cost of therapy. Enteric coated enzyme microbead formulations tend to separate from nutrients in the stomach precluding coordinated emptying of enzymes and nutrients. Unprotected enzymes mix well and empty with nutrients but are inactivated at pH 4 or below. We describe approaches for improving the results of enzyme therapy including changing to, or adding, a different product, adding non-enteric coated enzymes,(e.g., giving unprotected enzymes at the start of the mealand acid-protected formulations later), use of antisecretory drugs and/or antacids, and changing the timing of enzyme administration. Because considerable lipid is emptied in the first postprandial hour, it is prudent to start therapy with enteric coated microbead prior to the meal so that some enzymes are available during that first hour. Patients with hyperacidity may benefit from adjuvant antisecretory therapy to reduce the duodenal acid load and possibly also sodium bicarbonate to prevent duodenal acidity. Comparative studies of clinical effectiveness of different formulations as well as the characteristics of dispersion, emptying, and dissolution of enteric-coated microspheres of different diameter and density are needed; many such studies have been completed but not yet made public. We discuss the history of pancreatic enzyme therapy and describe current use of modern preparations, approaches to overcoming unsatisfactory clinical responses, as well as studies needed to be able to provide reliably effective therapy.展开更多
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation(No.81072760)Sino-Austrian Science and Technology Collaboration Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China(ZZ04007)Foundation for Excellent Returnees of Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the People's Republic of China,and Research on Specificity of Vasomotor Micrangium in Acupoints Transmitted along Meridians[National Program on Key Basic Research Project(973 Program),2012CB518502]
文摘OBJECTIVE: To observe capillary blood flow at acupoints during acupuncture treatment of primary dysmenorrhea and gain new insights into its analgesic mechanism. METHODS: Patients with primary dysmenorrhea were enrolled and randomly assigned to a treatment or control group. Subjects' symptoms were differentiated into variousTraditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) syndromes and treated for 10 sessions with puncturing acupuncture or self-pressing right-hand Hegu(LI 4), adding other acupoints based on syndrome. Laser speckle was used to compare the change in the vasomotor amplitude and perfusion of the capillaries in Hegu(LI 4) before and during the treatment. Each subject was required to finish the period pain symptoms observation form, verbal rating scales, numerical rating scale, pain rating index, face rating scale, Zung self-rating depression scale, Zung self-rating anxiety scale, and numerical rating scale before and after treatments. RESULTS: After 10 sessions, the symptom scores, pain index(PI), and visual analog scale(VAS) decreased significantly in treatment group. The volume of blood flow in Hegu(LI 4) declined slightly. No significant evidence supported that needling caused capillary contraction, but the capillary vasomotor amplitude at Hegu(LI 4) increased remarkably. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture can increase the capillary blood flow, thus promoting the flow of Qi and blood in terms of TCM theory, which facilitates pain relief.
文摘AIM:To determine the factors affecting mortality in patients who developed graft-versus-host disease (GvH) after liver transplantation (LT) METHODS:We performed a review of studies of GvH following LT published in the English literature and accessed the PubMed, Medline, EBSCO, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases Using relevant search phrases, 88 articles were identified. Of these, 61 articles containing most of the study parameters were considered eligible for the study. Risk factors were first examined using a univariate Kaplan-Meier model, and variables with a significant association (P < 0 05) were then subjected to multivariate analyses using a Cox proportional-hazards model RESULTS:The 61 articles reported 87 patients, 58 male and 29 female, mean age, 40.4 ± 15.5 years (range:8 mo to 74 years), who met the inclusion criteria for the present study. Deaths occurred in 59 (67.8%) patients, whereas 28 (32.2%) survived after a mean follow-up period of 280.8 ± 316.2 d (range:27-2285 d). Among the most frequent symptoms were rash (94.2%), fever (66.6%), diarrhea (54%), and pancytopenia (54%). Theaverage time period between LT and first symptom onset was 60.6 ± 190.1 d (range: 2-1865 d). The Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that pancytopenia (42.8% vs 59.3%,P = 0.03), diarrhea (39.2%vs 61.0%,P = 0 04), age difference between the recipient and the donor (14.6 ± 3.1 yearsvs 22.6 ± 2.7 years,P < 0.0001), and time from first symptom occurrence to diagnosis or treatment (13.3 ± 2.6 mo vs 15.0 ± 2.3 mo, P < 0.0001) were significant factors affecting mortality, whereas age, sex, presence of rash and fever, use of immunosuppressive agents, acute rejection before GvH , etiological causes, time of onset, and donor type were not associated with mortality risk The Cox proportional-hazards model, determined that an age difference between the recipient and donor was an independent risk factor (P = 0 03; hazard ratio, 7.395, 95% confidence interval, 1.2-46.7). CONCLUSION:This study showed that an age difference between the recipient and donor is an independent risk factor for mortality in patients who develop GvH after LT.
基金Supported by The Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service Department of Veterans Affairs,Public Health Service grants No.DK067366 and No.DK56338 which funds the Texas Medical Center Digestive Diseases Center
文摘Restitution of normal fat absorption in exocrine pancreatic insufficiency remains an elusive goal. Although many patients achieve satisfactory clinical results with enzyme therapy, few experience normalization of fat absorption, and many, if not most, will require individualized therapy. Increasing the quantity of lipase administered rarely eliminates steatorrhea but increases the cost of therapy. Enteric coated enzyme microbead formulations tend to separate from nutrients in the stomach precluding coordinated emptying of enzymes and nutrients. Unprotected enzymes mix well and empty with nutrients but are inactivated at pH 4 or below. We describe approaches for improving the results of enzyme therapy including changing to, or adding, a different product, adding non-enteric coated enzymes,(e.g., giving unprotected enzymes at the start of the mealand acid-protected formulations later), use of antisecretory drugs and/or antacids, and changing the timing of enzyme administration. Because considerable lipid is emptied in the first postprandial hour, it is prudent to start therapy with enteric coated microbead prior to the meal so that some enzymes are available during that first hour. Patients with hyperacidity may benefit from adjuvant antisecretory therapy to reduce the duodenal acid load and possibly also sodium bicarbonate to prevent duodenal acidity. Comparative studies of clinical effectiveness of different formulations as well as the characteristics of dispersion, emptying, and dissolution of enteric-coated microspheres of different diameter and density are needed; many such studies have been completed but not yet made public. We discuss the history of pancreatic enzyme therapy and describe current use of modern preparations, approaches to overcoming unsatisfactory clinical responses, as well as studies needed to be able to provide reliably effective therapy.
