Clinical Profile and Significance of Mucocutaneous Lesions of Primary Sjögren's Syndrome: A Large Cross-sectional Study with 874 Patients / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Mucocutaneous lesions are common features of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), but only a few studies have focused on them. To demonstrate the profile of mucocutaneous lesions of pSS and further explore their potential clinical significance, we performed a cross-sectional study on 874 patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Demographic data, clinical manifestations, and laboratory results of 874 pSS patients were collected. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of mucocutaneous lesions. Differences in primary symptoms and systemic impairments between the two groups were analyzed. Results of laboratory tests were also compared after excluding those who had taken corticosteroid from both groups. One-year follow-up was done, and occurrences of various new complications were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 874 pSS patients, 181 patients had mucocutaneous lesions, accounting for 20.7%. Multiple mucocutaneous manifestations were displayed, and the top four most common types of lesions were purpuric eruptions (39.8%), urticaria (23.8%), Raynaud's phenomenon (14.9%), and angular stomatitis (9.9%). Incidences of pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, pulmonary bullae, leukopenia, and anemia were significantly higher among patients with mucocutaneous lesions (P < 0.05). Increase in IgG and decrease in C4 among patients with mucocutaneous lesions displayed statistical significance after excluding patients from both groups who had taken corticosteroid (P < 0.05). After one-year follow-up, patients with mucocutaneous lesions presented a slightly higher incidence of new complications compared to those without.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Mucocutaneous manifestations of pSS patients were common and diverse. Patients with mucocutaneous manifestations had more systemic damages, higher level of IgG, and lower level of serum C4, suggesting a higher activity of the primary disease.</p>

Gastric dynamics analysis of TEAS combined SNP induced general anesthesia when controlled hypotension dropped to 60% of the MAP baseline / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of gastric dynamics by transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) combined general anesthesia when controlled hypotension dropped to 60% of the mean arterial prenssure (MAP) baseline, and to provide experimental evidence for organ protection in clinical controlled hypotension.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighteen male beagles were randomly divided into three groups, the general anesthesia group (blank), the general anesthesia induced controlled hypotension group (control), and the general anesthesia combined TEAS induced controlled hypotension group (experiment), 6 in each group. Controlled hypotension was performed in the latter two groups with isoflurane inhalation and intravenous injection of sodium nitroprusside (SNP). The mean arterial pressure (MAP) was lowered to 60% of the MAP baseline and kept for 60 min. Controlled hypotension was not performed in Beagles of the control group. For Beagles in the experiment group, TEAS [2/100 Hz, (4 ± 1) mA] was applied to bilateral Hegu (LI4), Quchi (LI11), Zusanli (ST36), and Sanyinjiao (SP6) from stable physiological conditions to the end of maintaining stages. Changes of EGG frequencies and EGG amplitudes were monitored. Serum levels of gastrin (GAS) and motilin (MTL) were also detected at corresponding time points during and after experiment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>As for the pressure control effect of TEAS combined general anesthesia in the controlled hypotension, during the process of controlled hypotension (T1-T4), MAP levels of two controlled pressure groups remained relatively stable, and were kept at 60% of the MAP baseline. When the blood pressure dropped to the target low MAP and maintained at 60 min (T1-T4), EGG amplitudes of Beagles in all the three groups showed decreasing tendency. But it was more obviously lower than its basic level in the control group (P <0.05), while it was not obviously decreased in the experiment group (P < 0.05). EGG frequencies of Beagles in all the three groups showed no obvious change during this stage. By the end of the MAP rising stage (T8), the EGG amplitude of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group and the blank group (P < 0.05), while it didn' t show any obvious increase in the control group. During this period, EGG frequencies of the two controlled hypotension groups decreased more than those of the blank group. Two h after rising blood pressure (at T9), EGG amplitudes and frequencies in the two controlled hypotension groups basically restored to their respective baselines and levels of the blank group at T9. At 2 h (T9) after controlled hypotension, serum levels of GAS and MTL were lower than those of basic levels in the two controlled hypotension groups (P <0.05). However, serum levels of GAS and MTL had an increasing trend in the two controlled hypotension groups at 24-72 h (T10-T12). Besides, the increasing speed and amplitude was better in experiment group than in the control group at T10-T12. However, there was no statistical difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). At 72 h (T12) serum levels of GAS and MTL had basically restored to their basic levels in the two controlled hypotension groups and that of the blank control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EGG amplitudes could be effectively improved in TEAS combined general anesthesia for controlled hypotension at 60% of the MAP baseline, the recovery of the serum GAS level accelerated, gastric power improved and stomach protected.</p>

Ginkgo leaves tablet improved the memory quotient of patients with mild cognitive impairment: a clinical observation / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Ginkgo Leaves Tablet (GLT) on memory quotient (MQ) of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and thirteen patients were randomly assigned to the control group (55 cases) and the treatment group (58 cases). Patients in the control group received dietetic therapy and physical exercises, while those in the treatment group additionally took GLT, 19.2 mg each time, three times daily. The treatment course was 12 months for all. The MQ of all the patients was assessed by WMS-RC before treatment,at 6-month of treatment, and 12-month of treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, the improvement of MQ increased in the treatment group 0.5 and 1 year after treatment (P < 0.05). The clinical efficiency of MQ obviously increased in the treatment group (48.28% and 50.00%), showing statistical difference when compared with the control group (30.91% and 27.27%, P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was statistical difference in added scores of recognition, regeneration, understanding, and recitation test at 6-month of treatment and 12-month of treatment between the treatment group and the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GLT was effective in improving MQ of MCI patients, especially in improving recognition, regeneration, understanding, and recitation test.</p>

Effects of ginkgo biloba tablet in treating mild cognitive impairment / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of Ginkgo Biloba Tablet (GBT) in treating mild cognitive impairment (MCI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 113 MCI patients including 58 outpatients at the cognitive impairment clinics of Huadong Hospital, 34 outpatients at Chinese Medicine Clinics of Dongfang Hospital, and 21 outpatients at Feng-lin Community Health Service Center, were assigned to the control group (55 cases) and the treatment group (58 cases). Basic treatment was given to them all. Those in the treatment group took GBT additionally, 1 tablet each time, 3 times a day for 12 successive months. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE) integral, clock drawing task (CDT) integral, MMSE efficacy, CDT efficacy, and dementia conversion rate were detected before treatment, half a year after treatment, and one year after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no significant difference in scores of MMSE and CDT integrals between the two groups before treatment (P>0.05). Compared with before treatment, each score in the treatment group remarkably increased in the treatment group at the 6 months and 12 months after treatment (P<0.01). They were higher than those of the control group at the same time points, showing statistical difference (P<0.01, P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the integrals of MMSE and CDT between the 6 months of treatment and the 12 months of treatment (P>0.05). The total effective rate of MMSE and CDT of the treatment group at the 6 months and 12 months after treatment (MMSE 67.24% and 65.52%; CDT 62.07% and 60.34%) all exceeded those of the control group at the same time points (MMSE 36.36% and 30.91%; CDT 34.55% and 30.91%), showing significant difference (P<0.01). There was no difference in the total effective rate of MMSE and CDT of the treatment group between the two time points (P>0.05). The dementia conversion rates at the 6 months and 12 months after treatment (1.72% and 5.17%) were lower in the treatment group than in the control group (9.09% and 14.55%), showing statistical difference (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>One-year GBT could significantly improve the cognitive function of MCI patients. It could also lower the dementia conversion rate.</p>

Effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation combined with general anesthesia for controlled hypotension on heart function and oxidation resistance of myocardium / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the intervention effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint sitmulation (TEAS) on heart under limiting level of controlled hypotension.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighteen male Beagles were randomly divided into a general anesthesia group, a control group and an experimental group, 6 dogs in each group. All animals were applied with general anesthesia, and the animals of the control group and the experimental group were administered with combination of isoflurane and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) for controlled hypotension to 30% mean arterial pressure (30% MAP) of base line for 60 min. In the experimental group, TEAS (2 Hz/100 Hz, 6-8 mA) was applied to "Hegu" (LI4), "Zusanli" (ST 36), "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) and "Quchi" (LI 11) from the beginning of physiological conditions stability to the end of maintained low MAP for 60 min. Creatine kinase isoenzymes MB (CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were detected at the base line and 2 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h after operation. Total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in myocardium were observed at 72 h after operation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The peak of LDH arrived at 24 h after operation and then restored in 3 groups. Compared with basal level, the activity of LDH in controlled group at 72 h after operation was significantly increased (P < 0.05), and in the other two groups no obvious change (P > 0.05). The activity of CK-MB arrived to peak from 2 h to 24 h after operation, and then came back gradually in 3 groups. Compared with postoperative 72 h of the same group, the control group at 48 h significantly increased (P < 0.05), while the other two groups had no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). The content of MDA at 72 h after operation in controlled group was higher significantly than that in the general anesthesia group and the experimental group (both P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TEAS combined with anesthesia for controlled hypotension can elevate myocardial effect of anti-oxide free radical, reduce the postoperative release of LDH and CK-MB, so as to produce myocardial protection.</p>