[Effect of electroacupuncture on small airway function in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the regulatory effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on small airway function and exercise tolerance in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: A total of 62 patients with stable COPD were randomized into an observation group (31 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a control group (31 cases, 5 cases dropped off). On the base of routine medication and aerobic exercise, the patients of the two groups all received EA at Danzhong (CV 17), Rugen (ST 18), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zhongwan (CV 12), Tianshu (ST 25) and Yingchuang (ST 16). In the observation group, filiform needles were used and inserted perpendicularly, 3 mm in depth. In the control group, the placebo needling method was performed, in which the needle was not inserted through skin at each point. In both groups, electric stimulation with low-frequency electronic pulse instrument was exerted, with continuous wave, 2 Hz in frequency, lasting 30 min each time in the two groups. The treatment was given once every other day, 3 times a week, for 14 treatments totally. Before and after treatment, the following indexes were compared in patients between the two groups, i.e. the lung function indexes (forced expiratory volume in first second [FEV1], forced vital capacity [FVC], the ratio of FEV1 to FVC [FEV1/FVC], maximal voluntary ventilation [MVV], the percentage of maximal expiratory flow [MEF] at 25% of FVC exhaled [MEF25], MEF50 and MEF75 in predicted value), cardiopulmonary exercise test indexs (metabolic equivalent [METS], oxygen uptake per kg body weight [VO2/kg], minute ventilation [VE], the percentage of oxygen pulse [VO2/HR] in predictd value, maximal minute ventilation [VEmax], ventilatory equivalent for oxygen [VE/VO2], ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide [VE/VCO2]), 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), the total score of COPD assessment test (CAT), the modified British Medical Research Council (mMRC) score and COPD comprehensive grade. RESULTS: After treatment, FVC%, MVV%, MEF75%, MEF50%, VO2/kg%, METs%, VEmax, VO2/HR%, 6MW and the total CAT score were all improved as compared with those before treatment in the observation group (P<0.05, P<0.01). After treatment, MEF75% and the total CAT score were reduced as compared with those before treatment in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, MVV%, MEF50%, VO2/kg%, METs%, VEmax and 6MWD in the observation group were all better than those in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture can improve the respiratory function and exercise tolerance in COPD patients through removing small airway obstruction and increasing ventilation.

[Clinical features and strategies for the treatment of cervical spinal injury in aged patients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate clinical features and treatments of cervical spinal injury in aged patients. METHODS: From July 2006 to October 2011, 27 patients with cervical spinal cord injury were divided into experiment group, including 20 males and 7 females with an average age of 69 years old (ranged 65 to 78 years old). The other 22 patients with the same degree of cervical spianl cord injury and the same period hospitalization were chosen to regard as control group, including 16 males and 6 females with an average age of 47 years old (ranged 38 to 65 years old). All of them had clear history of trauma, and were admitted to hospital within one week. Clinical data and result of follow up were evaluated between two group. The function of the spinal cord was measured by Frankel classification at admission and final follow-up. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 1 year except 6 died in aged group, among which 3 paients with complications were died during hospitalization and others were out of hospital. Twenty-three cases had accompanied diseases and 24 cases occurred complications in aged group. Contrast to control group, this difference was statistically significant. At the final follow-up, there were 2 cases at Frankel grade E in aged group and 6 cases in control group. CONCLUSION: In comparison with control group, there are more accompany diseases and higher complications and mortality rates in aged group, while poor improvement of spinal cord function. This patients were mainly treated with operation, but operation method should simplify and mainly focus on effective decompression and reconstuction stability and avoid expansion operation. It's nesscerry to pay more attention to prevent and treatment of respiratory complication.

[Pedicle fixation without bone fusion for the treatement of thoracolumbar fractures through paraspinal approach].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical effects of pedicle fixation without bone fusion in treating thoracolumbar fractures through paraspinal approach. METHODS: From January 2006 to January 2009, 25 patients (15 males and 10 females) with thoracolumbar fractures were treated. The average age was 39.3 years,ranged from 17 to 49 years. According to classification, flexion fracture in 7 cases, brust fracture in 18 cases. There were no nervous injury, and radiology information showed the angle of sagittal vertebral body >20 degrees or collapse of vertebral body >40%,without vertebral injury. The operation were performed at 3 to 7 days after injury (mean 5 day). Internal fixation implants were removed at 8 to 12 months after operation. The height, kyphosis angle were measured before operation, 1 week and 24 months after operation,and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were compared before and after operation. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 24 months. Among them, 1 case was followed up at 30 months after operation. The operation time ranged from 70 to 110 (mean 90) minutes, the blood loss was 120 to 280 (mean 200) ml. The height of vertebral body and kyphosis angle were obviously corrected, and had significant differences between postoperation immediately and at the final follow-up (P<0.05). There were no differences after remove of internal fixation (P>0.05). The final ODI was (5.36 +/- 1.21)%, had statistical differences compared with preoperation (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: For flexion and burst thoracolumbar fractures without nervous injury, pedicle fixation without bone fusion is a good method,which has advantages of minimally invasive, rapid recovery, and maintain spinal motion segment.

[Study of the recognition between alpinetin and calf thymus DNA].

The recognition between alpinetin and DNA under physiological condition (pH 7.4) was investigated by fluorescence and UV-visible spectrometry. The experiment demonstrated that the fluorescence of alpinetin could be quenched by DNA. A quenching mechanism was proved to be the single static quenching procedure according to the deescalating quenching constants Ksv (3.288 X 10(3) , 2.923 X 10(3) and 2.467 X 10(3) L x mol(-1), respectively) along with the escalating temperatures (25, 32 and 39 degrees C) and the quenching rate constant Kq was greater than the maximum scatter collision quenching rate constant of various quenchers with the biomolecule. From the UV-visible spectra of alpinetin and DNA, the result showed that the UV-visible spectra of alpinetin did not changed in the presence of DNA, i. e. neither the decrease in the maximum absorbance intensity nor the red shift of the maximum absorption wavelength changed. Both the fluorescence intensity and the maximum emission wavelength of ethidium bromide-DNA system remained unchanged in the presence of alpinetin, indicating that there is no direct competition for binding DNA between alpinetin and ethidium bromide. Furthermore, DNA thermal denaturation test indicated that the fluorescence quenching effect of alpinetin with unlinking DNA was stronger than that of alpinetin with natural DNA. It was concluded that there was not intercalation binding mode between alpinetin and DNA. At the same time, fluorescence quenching effect and salt effect on the binding of alpinetin with DNA were investigated. It was shown that the major mode of recognition was groove binding between alpinetin and DNA.

[Studies on the interaction between puerarin and bovine serum albumin].

The interaction of puerarin and bovine serum albumin (BSA) under physiological condition was studied by fluorospectrophotometry. The experiment demonstrated that the quenching mechanism of puerarin a BSA was static quenching process. The quenching constant is 7.29 x 10(12) L x mol(-1) x s(-1), and the binding constant is 5.04 x 10(4) L x mol(-1). According to the Forster nonradiative energy transfer theory, the binding distance between donor (BSA) and acceptor (puerarin) was calculated to be 3.35 nm. The influence of the presence of puerarin on structure of BSA was studied by synochronous fluorescence method, the binding distance between BSA and puerarin was also measured, and the binding mechanism was discussed. In addition, the effect of some ions on the binding constant of puerarin with BSA was also studied.

[Resolution of synchronous fluorimetric spectrum for carbaryl and coumaphos and its application study].

The synchronous fluorimetric method for the simultaneous determination of carbaryl and coumaphos is described. In the Britton-Robinson buffer at pH 3.0, synchronous scanning with deltalambda= 60 nm was carried out, and the overlapped fluorimetric spectra were better separated. The two synchronous fluorimetric peaks are located at 280 and 322 nm respectively, and can be used for the determination of these two pesticides. No preliminary separation is needed. The method is simple, rapid and successfully applied to the analysis of food samples. The linear ranges of the calibration curves for carbaryl and coumaphos are 0.016-0.384 microg x mL(-1) and 0.016-0.320 microg x mL(-1), respectively. The limits of detection are 0.015 microg x mL(-1) for carbaryl, and 0.010 microg x mL(-1) for coumaphos.