[Dumai moxibustion combined with low-dose tadalafil for erectile dysfunction: Evaluation of therapeutic effect].

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of dumai (governor meridian) moxibustion combined with low-dose tadalafil in the treatment of ED with decline of vital gate fire.

Methods: We enrolled in this study 130 ED patients with decline of vital gate fire who met the inclusion criteria and equally randomized them into a control and an experimental group, the former treated with low-dose tadalafil tablets at 5 mg once a day while the latter by dumai moxibustion once a week in addition, all for 4 weeks. Of the total number of subjects, 62 in the control group and 63 in the experimental group completed the experiment.

Risks and predicting factors of bleeding complications in hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure.

Background/aims: This study aimed to provide supporting evidence for prevention and prognostic evaluation of bleeding complications in the early stage by exploring the risk and predicting factors in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF).

Materials And Methods: A total of 101 hospitalized patients with ACLF were retrospectively included from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2015. The patients were divided into bleeding (n=38) and nonbleeding groups (n=63).

Organ-associated pseudosarcomatous myofibroblastic proliferation with ossification in the lower pole of the kidney mimicking renal pelvic carcinoma: A case report.

Background: Organ-associated pseudosarcomatous myofibroblastic proliferation (PMP) is a very rare disorder. In the urogenital tract, PMP preferentially involves the urinary bladder; kidney involvement is rare. Here, we report a rare case of PMP with ossification in the lower pole of the kidney, which mimics urothelial carcinoma or an osteogenic tumor.

A Modification of the Stapled TransAnal Rectal Resection (STARR) Procedure for Rectal Prolapse.

Purpose: This study was designed to assess the safety, efficacy, and postoperative outcomes of the modified Stapled TransAnal Rectal Resection (modified STARR) in patients presenting with cases of limited external rectal prolapse.

Methods: A prospective cohort of patients with mild rectal prolapse undergoing rectal resection with the Tissue-Selecting Technique Stapled TransAnal Rectal Resection Plus (TSTStarr Plus) stapler between February 2014 and September 2016 was reviewed retrospectively.

Results: Twenty-five eligible patients underwent rectal resection with the TSTStarr Plus stapler.

Risk Factors and Outcomes of Acute Kidney Injury in Patients With Hepatitis B Virus-Related Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF); however, few studies concerning the risk factors and recovery patterns of renal function have been published.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis of 150 patients with HBV-ACLF was performed. The occurrence, risk factors and functional recovery of AKI among patients with HBV-ACLF were investigated.

FSim: a novel functional similarity search algorithm and tool for discovering functionally related gene products.

Background: During the analysis of genomics data, it is often required to quantify the functional similarity of genes and their products based on the annotation information from gene ontology (GO) with hierarchical structure. A flexible and user-friendly way to estimate the functional similarity of genes utilizing GO annotation is therefore highly desired.

Results: We proposed a novel algorithm using a level coefficient-weighted model to measure the functional similarity of gene products based on multiple ontologies of hierarchical GO annotations.

Evaluation of clustering algorithms for gene expression data using gene ontology annotations.

Background: Clustering is a useful exploratory technique for interpreting gene expression data to reveal groups of genes sharing common functional attributes. Biologists frequently face the problem of choosing an appropriate algorithm. We aimed to provide a standalone, easily accessible and biologically oriented criterion for expression data clustering evaluation.

[Prediction of ventilatory function in children and adolescents using backpropagation neural networks].

The aim of this study is to develop backpropagation neural networks (BPNN) for better prediction of ventilatory function in children and adolescents. Nine hundred and ninety-nine healthy children and adolescents (500 males and 499 females) aged 10-18 years, all of the Han Nationality, were selected from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and their heights, weights, and ventilatory functions were measured respectively by means of physical examination and spirometric test. Using the approaches of BPNN and stepwise multiple regression, the prediction models and equations for forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory flow at 25% of forced vital capacity (FEF25%), forced expiratory flow at 50% of forced vital capacity (FEF50%), maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF) and forced expiratory flow at 75% of forced vital capacity (FEF75%) were established.

Expression of human glucocorticoid receptor in T lymphocytes in acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure.

Background: Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) participates in the pathogenesis of liver inflammation. However, the potential role of GR in acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure (ACHBLF) is still obscure.

Aim: This present study was aimed to determine peripheral GR expression in ACHBLF patients.

[Decreased expression of serum cortisol in patients with severe hepatitis].

Objective: To investigate the profile of serum cortisol levels in patients with severe hepatitis.

Methods: Fifty patients with viral hepatitis (including 30 severe hepatitis patients and 20 chronic hepatitis B patients) were enrolled in this present study. Serum cortisol concentration was tested using radioimmunoassay.

[Standardized diagnosis and treatment of azoospermia: a report of 1027 cases].

Objective: To constitute an appropriate procedure for clinical diagnosis and treatment for men with azoospermia in China.

Methods: Following a procedure which combined the recommendations from WHO, European Association of Urology (EAU), American Urological Association (AUA), American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) with our own experiences, 1 027 patients with azoospermia were divided into different subtypes according to patients' case histories and outcomes of various routine and specialized examinations. Then appropriate treatments were chosen according to the diagnostic subtypes.

Stereological measurement of rat's seminiferous tubule.

Background: The morphological measurements of seminiferous tubules are important in the studies of testis tissues. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using a stereological method to measure the geometric parameters of seminiferous tubule and to optimize the method.

Methods: A stereological image processing program was developed with Delphi for the stereological measurement.

[Short time ECG signal analysis based on the reconstruction of phase space].

Based on the reconstruction of two-dimension phase space of time series of short ECG signals, the variation of the strange attractor geometry is described and two indices, VMI and VAI, are derived in this paper. The two indices can distinguish clearly the ECG signals of sinus rhythm, tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. Stable results of VMI and VAI can be obtained by analyzing ECG signals of several seconds.

[Establishment of the database of the 3D facial models for the plastic surgery based on network].

Objective: To collect the three-dimensional (3D) facial data of 30 facial deformity patients by the 3D scanner and establish a professional database based on Internet. It can be helpful for the clinical intervention.

Methods: The primitive point data of face topography were collected by the 3D scanner.

[Development of an ECG signals analysis service system based on B/S].

An online ECG signals analysis service system based on the network has been established and is introduced in this paper which integrates the advantages of the network, database and ECG analysis tools, providing on-line ECG signal analysis service. Users with the knowledge of general operation of a browser, can process the ECG data and get a real-time display of analysis results.

Role of parasympathetic overactivity in water immersion stress-induced gastric mucosal lesion in rat.

Stress ulcer is clinically prevalent, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the role of sympathovagal imbalance in the development of water immersion restraint stress (WRS)-induced gastric mucosal lesion. Wistar rats were subjected to either restraint stress (RS) (n = 7) or WRS (n = 7) for 5 h.

Structure analysis of the protein transduction domain of human Period1 and its mutant analogs.

Human Period1 (hPer1) has been proved to be able to translocate into cells in a protein transduction manner. The segment of amino acids 830-845 of hPer1 is its protein transduction domain (PTD). In order to explore the membrane penetrating mechanism of hPer1-PTD and the physico-chemical properties necessary in the process, Ala scanning mutation method was used to investigate the variation in the peptide internalization.

Protein transduction domain of membrane penetrating peptide can efficiently deliver DNA and protein into mouse liver for gene therapy.

Background: The development of a harmless and efficient nonviral gene delivery system that can facilitate the penetration of nucleic acids through the plasma membrane is a key to successful gene therapy. The aim of this study was to test a nonviral gene transferring vector's function of delivering DNA into liver cells to provide an important clue for gene transfer in liver gene therapy.

Methods: The complex of DNA and DNA delivering protein was injected into mice through their tail veins.