Clinical relevance of Chinese syndrome factors and thromboelastography levels in patients with phlegm-heat and fu-organ excess syndrome

Objective:Syndrome differentiation is a unique part of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).Syndrome factors play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of TCM syndromes.Thromboelastography(TEG)intuitively reflects the blood status of patients with acute ischemic stroke(AIS)and is important in the treatment and prognosis of AIS.To identify the relationship between TCM syndrome factors and TEG in AIS patients and standardize TCM syndrome differentiation and treatment objectives,we designed a prospective cohort study of 103 AIS patients.Methods:We used the diagnostic criteria for AIS in the Chinese Guideline for Diagnosis and Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke 2010.Diagnosis of phlegm-heat and fu-organ excess syndrome was based on the TCM Scale for the Syndrome of Phlegm-heat and fu-organ Excess.The ischemic Stroke TCM Syndrome Factor Diagnostic Scale was used to identify and diagnose syndrome factors.General information,scores of syndrome factors and values of TEG parameters of all enrolled patients were recorded.Results:There were significant differences in internal fire and phlegm-dampness scores between patients with and without phlegm-heat and fu-organ excess syndrome(P<.05).In patients with phlegm-heat and fu-organ excess syndrome,internal fire was negatively correlated with TEG parameters R and K(P<.05)and positively correlated with alpha Angle and coagulation index(P<.01).There were no significant correlations between the two syndrome factors and MA(P Z.058)and LY30(P>.05)or between both syndrome factors and TEG parameters in patients without phlegm-heat and fu-organ excess syndrome.Conclusion:The syndrome factor internal fire is a potential predictor of increased platelet function and fibrinogen activity in AIS patients with phlegm-heat and fu-organ excess,and a potentially important predictor of blood hypercoagulability in TCM.

ANALYSIS OF CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND DEATH RELATED FACTORS OF SEVERE MECONIUM ASPIRATION SYNDROME

Objective To investigate the factors in relation with the case fatality in severe meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS). Methods Eighty-one severe MAS cases intervened by the mechanical ventilation from 9 childrens hospitals were retrospectively analyzed for the risk factors of fatality with SAS software for non-parametric rank sum test and chi-square test. Results In the 81 cases, 49 were survived (death rate 39%). The gestational age (GA), Apgars score at 1min and other complications with MAS were significantly related to the death (P <0.05). There was no difference of death rate between the patients with or without receiving endotracheal intubation and airway suctioning (P>0.05). Conclusion A higher death rate (close to 40%) of severe MAS in the middle of 1990s in major cities of China suggests that it is important to detect the intrauterine hypoxemia as it may indicated by meconium staining amniotic fluid which should be intervened early by adequate termination of pregnancy before 42 weeks. The effects of delivery room suction and conventional ventilation also need to be reevaluated.

The Comparative Study on Two Models of Syndrome Differentiation of the Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease: An Investigation Analysis of the Signs and Symptoms on 2325 Cases

Objective To realize the characteristics of "zheng" differentiation-treatment for hand, foot and mouth disease(HFMD), a new methodology of syndrome differentiation for different stages of HFMD has been explored. Methods Total of 2 325 cases with HFMD were recorded by distributing them into exterior syndrome stage, interior syndrome stage, severe syndrome stage and recovered syndrome stage, respectively, and the main symptoms and subsidiary symptoms of different stages of HFMD have been observed. The major and minor pathogenesis of HFMD in different stages were obtained, and compared with the "2010 Guideline for the Diagnosis and Treatment of HFMD". Results It was found that the major pathogenesis of exterior stage was defined as "the invation of the wenevil to the defender of the body with the collaterals got involved ", and the minor as "qi deficiency"; in interior stage, "the fury of Gan-Yang" was the main pathogenesis, and "qi in chaos and qi deficiency" was the minor; in severe syndrome stage, "the damage of heart, liver and lung" was the main pathogenesis, and "qi in chaos" was the minor; and the pathogenesis of recovered stage was "qi-yin deficiency". Compared with the "2010 Guideline for the Diagnosis and Treatment of HFMD", it showed that "the obstruction of the fei-pi qi by the mixture of shi-re evil" and "the mixture of shi-re" in vivo was quite difficult to be explained in completely different context in the general situation; in the severe stage, the TCM clinical characteristics of syndrome differentiation might lose; in the early acute severe cases, the phenomenon that xin-yang and fei-qi almost ran out was difficult to be observed, then, the line between the severe and the acute severe became vague.Conclusions The theory of syndrome differentiation by stages of HFMD was reasonable in the actual situation of clinical description on HFMD which was expected to be further tested and widely applied in the "zheng" differentiation-treatment of HFMD in the future.

C-reactive protein as a risk factor for acute coronary syndrome

Objective We assessed the levels of C reactive protein (CRP)in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) [including unstable angina pectoris (UAP), acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and sudden cardiac death (SCD)] compared with non ACS [including stable angina pectoris (SAP), old myocardial infarction (OMI) and healthy volunteers] and sought to test whether CRP are associated with clinical acute coronary syndrome. Methods Ultrasensitive immunoassay (rate nephelometry with the Beckman Array multitest immunoassay system) was used to measure CRP levels in 91 patients with ACS (20 UAP, 71 AMI including 2 SCD) and non ACS (34 SAP, 25 patients with healing phase of AMI , 41 OMI and 94 control healthy subjects). Results CRP levels were higher in ACS group (18.50±23.98 mg/L [SE 2.51, n=91]) compared with non-ACS group (3.89±7.14 mg/L [SE 0.51, n=194]) (P< 0.01). Using Logistic Regression, CRP was a potent determinant of ACS(OR=1.65). Conclusion These results suggest that CRP has a strong association with ACS, and CRP is a risk factor of ACS.

Logistic Regression Analysis of Syndrome Essential Factors in Patients with Unstable Angina Pectoris

Objective: To explore the correlation between common syndrome essential factors and the symptoms and signs of unstable angina (UA). Methods: Eight hundred and fifteen patients with UA confirmed by coronary angiography were identified from several centers. Common syndrome essential factors were selected on the basis of expert experience. The correlations between common syndrome essential factors and symptoms and signs of UA were analyzed using binary logistic regression analysis. Results: The common syndrome essential factors in unstable angina were blood stasis, qi stagnation, phlegm turbidity, heat stagnancy, qi deficiency, yin deficiency, and yang deficiency. Symptoms such as chest pain, hypochondriac distention, ecchymosis, dark orbits, dark and purplish tongue, and tongue with ecchymosis and petechiae were significant diagnostic features of "blood stasis". Aversion to cold and cool limbs, weakness in the waist and knees, and clear abundant urine were significant diagnostic features of "yang deficiency". These results were in accordance with the understanding of traditional clinical Chinese medical practice. Conclusion: This clinical study analyzed the correlations between common syndrome essential factors and the symptoms and signs of unstable angina. The results provide the basis for establishing diagnostic criteria for syndrome essential factors.

To Explore the Chinese Medicine Syndrome Types and Integrative Therapy from Clinical Relative Factors of Patients with Advanced Prostate Cancer

Current Situation and Problems of the Treatment in Advanced Prostate Cancer In recent years,the incidence of prostate cancer shows a rising trend in China with an increase of 70%and has been the first place in the growth rate of malignant tumor in the male reproductive system. Prostate cancer has become a serious threat to male senior’s health.Because of the application of

Comparative Study of Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Different Metabolically Healthy Obesity Phenotypes

Aims: Obesity is the major contributor of the metabolic syndrome (MetS), but a unique phenotype of obesity known as metabolically healthy obese (MHO) shows healthier metabolic profile; however understanding of their biochemical correlates is poorly understood. Obesity is defined by Body mass index (BMI), but controversy exists regarding ethnic-specific BMI cut-offs. The present study used the Asian Indian BMI cut-offs to assess relationships of MHO phenotypes with oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation. Methods: In this case-control study, 299 metabolically-healthy (MH) respondents were divided into four groups as per Asian criteria for obesity: MH non-obese (MHNO), MH overweight (MHOW), MHO and MH severely obese (MHSO). Their oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory markers were measured. Results: Levels of hydroxyl radicals (·OH), fluorescent oxidation products (FLOP), MDA, PCO and inflammatory markers CRP, TNF-α, IL-6 were highest in MHSO phenotype followed by the MHO, MHOW and MHNO groups (p > 0.0001), whereas antioxidant markers, CuZn-SOD, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and total antioxidant activity followed the reverse trend. The MHNO and MHOW groups showed significant difference with regard to (·OH) radicals and FLOP. Moreover, ·OH radicals, FLOP and inflammatory markers were significantly correlated to BMI in MHSO and MHO but not in MHNO and MHOW group. Conclusion: The MHO and MHSO phenotype display differences in terms of OS and inflammatory markers at lower BMI cut-offs, indicating that they may be on the way to becoming “unhealthy” obese. The lower BMI cut-offs proposed by Indian Consensus Group would help in understanding of manifestation of metabolic syndrome.

Effect of glucocorticoid treatment on insulin like growth factor-Ⅰ and its binding proteins in children with nephrotic syndrome

Objective To identify the changes in serum insulin like growth factor Ⅰ (IGF Ⅰ) and IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) in children with nephrotic syndrome (NS) and the effect of glucocorticoid on serum IGF Ⅰ and IGFBPs Methods We measured serum IGF Ⅰ and IGFBPs levels by radioimmune assay and immune radiomagnetic assay in 36 children with NS, consisting of an active stage group (ANS, n=12), a remission stage group (RE, n=12), an active stage group with glucocorticoid treatment (GNS, n=12), and a normal control group (NC, n=10) Results 1) Compared to NC, serum levels of IGF Ⅰ and IGFBP 3 were decreased ( P <0 01); serum levels of IGFBP 1 and IGFBP 2 were increased ( P <0 01) in the ANS group 2) Serum levels of IGF Ⅰ and IGFBP 3 were higher and IGFBP 1 and IGFBP 2 were lower in the RE Group than in theANS Group ( P <0 01) 3) Compared to the ANS group, serum levels of IGF Ⅰ and IGFBP 3 were increased ( P <0 01) and serum levels of IGFBP 1 and IGFBP 2 were decreased ( P <0 01) in the GNS group 4) A correlation was found between serum levels of IGFBP 3 and albumin in the active stage group ( r =0 76, P <0 01) There was also a correlation between serum levels of IGF Ⅰ and IGFBP 3 and an inverse correlation between the serum level of IGF Ⅰ and serum levels of IGFBP 1 and IGFBP 2 in the ANS group No other correlations were observed Conclusions The serum levels of IGF Ⅰ and IGFBPs are altered in children in the active stage of NS, but return to normal in the remission stage GC treatment may influence serum IGF Ⅰ and IGFBPs in children with NS Changes in IGF Ⅰ and IGFBPs levels may play a role in the growth retardation of NS children

Carpal tunnel syndrome:a retrospective analysis of 262 cases and a one to one matched case-control study of 61 women pairs in relationship between manual housework and carpal tunnel syndrome

Objectives To get a more comprehensive recognition about carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), especially the manual housework as its risk factor, and to facilitate early diagnosis and proper treatment. Methods 262 CTS patients (396 CTS hands) were analyzed retrospectively. A 1∶1 matched case control study of 61 woman pairs in relationship between manual housework and the occurrence of CTS was carried out. Results In 262 CTS patients, 84% were female, and the dominant hand was more frequently affected; repetitive and forceful movement of the hand and wrist might be associated with CTS. Typical clinical manifestations include pain and paresthesia in the median nerve territory, but 75.3% of our 396 CTS hands had all five digits involved. Conduction abnormalities appeared selectively in the median nerve distal to the wrist. In the case control study, for manual washing, rolling or kneading dough, and knitting woolen sweater, the odds ratios (OR) of CTS between high and low intensities were 3.86 (95% confidence interval 1.79-8.33, χ 2=11.76, P< 0.01), 6.25 (95% confidence interval 2.50-15.63, χ 2=15.21, P<0.01) and 1.13 (95% confidence interval 0.57-2.22, χ 2=0.125, P>0.05) respectively; and those between long and short duration (i.e. the number of years engaging in these manual housework) were 2.33 (95% confidence interval 0.63-8.64, χ 2=1.6, P>0.05), 1.88 (95% confidence interval 0.81-4.38, χ 2=2.13, P>0.05) and 1 (χ 2=0, P>0.05). Conclusions The diagnosis of CTS requires confirmation of illness history, symptoms and signs with objective electrodiagnostic tests. Manual washing and rolling or kneading dough might be associated with the onset of CTS.

Dynamic changes in blood cytokine levels as clinical indicators in severe acute respiratory syndrome

Objective To investigate the dynamic changes observed in serum levels of interleukins (ILs), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1 ) in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients.Methods Sixty-one cases of SARS with positive antibodies to SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) were classified into the following categories: initial stage (3-7 days), peak stage (8-14 days), and remission and recovery stage (15 -27 days). Forty-four healthy individuals were used as controls. Serum levels of ILs, TNF-a and TGF-p, were measured in all subjects. Serum antibodies to SARS-CoV were detected only in SARS cases.Results The mean concentration of serum IL - 6 in SARS patients did not differ from that in the control group in initial and peak stages, but became significantly higher in remission and recovery stage compared with the control group, initial and peak stages ( P<0. 01). The mean concentration of serum IL-8 in SARS patients did not differ from that of the control group in initial stage, but was significantly higher than control group in peak stage and remission and recovery stage ( P < 0. 05). And it was more significantly higher in remission and recovery stage than in peak stage ( P<0. 01). The mean concentrations of IL-16 and TNF-αin SARS patients were higher than those of the control group for every length of the clinical courses investigated, and were especially high in remission and recovery stage (P<0. 01). SARS patients experienced higher concentration of serum IL-13 compared with the controls in initial stage ( P < 0. 01), but returned to normal levels in peak stage and in remission and recovery stage. The mean concentration of serum IL-18 in SARS patients was significantly lower than that of the control group during all clinical courses ( P < 0. 05). The mean concentration of serum TGF-β1, in SARS patients was higher than that of the control group during all clinical courses. Although TGF-bbbbb1 in serum decreased in remission and recovery stage in SARS patients, the average was still higher than that of the control group (P<0. 01). Conclusions Most proinflammatory cytokines and TGF-β1, were elevated during the early phase of SARS, which may be associated with lung infiltration and proliferation. Concurrently, the mean concentration of serum IL-13 decreased gradually, and the mean concentration of serum IL-18 level in SARS patients was lower than that of the control group during all the courses of SARS, suggesting that the immune state of the patients with SARS was obviously abnormal. Observing the dynamic changes in blood cytokine levels can provide a scientific basis to assess pathogenesis and efficacy of clinical treatment of SARS.

Genetics of congenital heart defects in DiGeorge syndrome

Background Di George syndrome（DGS） is the most common microdeletion syndrome in humans and a disorder caused by a defect in chromosome 22. Almost 80% of DGS patients manifest congenital heart defects（CHD）, which are highly variable and severe. However, the genetics of CHD in DGS remain elusive. This review concludes that the TBX1 gene plays a critical role in cardiovascular defects, involving many additional genes, such as Six1, Eya1, Fgf8, Fox, and Shh. Concerning the variable manifestations of CHD in DGS,additional modifiers have been shown of involvement, such as Wnt, MOZ, micro RNAs, VEGF, and CRK.Knowledge of the genetics underlying CHD in DGS has the potential to early detection and treatment of this disease.