Our study aimed to investigate the effects of acupuncture on diabetic peripheral neuropathy. We compared 42 cases treated with acupuncture with 21 cases exposed to sham acupuncture and observed the effects on nerve conduction velocity and a variety of subjective symptoms associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Three of the six measures of motor nerves, and two measures of sensory function, demonstrated significant improvement (p < 0.05) over the 15-day treatment period in the acupuncture group, while no motor or sensory function significantly improved in the sham acupuncture group. There were also significant differences in vibration perception threshold between the groups (p < 0.05) and when compared to the baseline levels (p < 0.01) in the acupuncture group. Acupuncture was significantly more effective than sham for treatment of numbness of the lower extremities, spontaneous pain in the lower extremities, rigidity in the upper extremities and alterations in temperature perception in the lower extremities after therapy. Our pilot study has, therefore, provided evidence that acupuncture may be clinically useful for the radical treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Objective: We attempt to identify heart rate variability (HRV) components and decide whether or not such components are more sensitive to the hemodialysis (HD) process by excluding the presence of comorbid conditions known to affect HRV. Methods: It was a prospective cohort study of factors associated with HRV. Thirty-five HD patients were admitted to the study. The research was divided into three phases. During the first phase, baseline Holter and blood pressure recordings were carried out. Then in the second phase, the patients were admitted for HD with continuous Holter and blood pressure recording. The third phase was after HD with continuous Holter and blood pressure recording. The frequency and time domain analyses of HRV were carried out by an independent, blinded investigator. Plasma Na⁺, K⁺, ionized Ca, hemoglobin, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were checked 1 h before and 2 h after HD. Results: After HD, the serum creatinine and BUN were obviously reduced (p < 0.01), which was also expressed by fractional urea clearance (K_t/V; 1.55 ± 0.25), which means efficient HD. Standard deviation of all RR intervals and low-frequency/high-frequency (LF/HF) ratio were reduced significantly (p < 0.05) at the ‘HD for 3 h’ time point while the blood pressure levels were relatively stable during the HD process. The ultrafiltration rate and K_t/V appeared to be the main determinants of the LF/HF ratio in HD. In our cases, the LF/HF ratio positively correlated with K_t/V and negatively correlated with ultrafiltration volume. Conclusion: Our study suggested a shift in sympathovagal balance toward sympathetic activation during the HD process. Sympathetic overactivity is positively correlated with the ultrafiltration rate, and negatively correlated with the K_t/V which means that the HD process itself affects HRV parameters indeed.

Our pilot study has provided evidence that acupuncture may be clinically useful for the radical treatment of DBD.

Objective: We attempted to observe the alterations in QTd and QTcd in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients before and after hemodialysis (HD) to determine the relevant determinants of QTc duration in HD. Methods: The HD was carried out 2 or 3 times/week in a standard setting for 4–4.5 h. No drug therapy was applied during HD, except for isotonic NaCl infusions and sodium heparin. Maintenance drug therapy, including digitalis, antihypertensive, anti-anginal, and β-blocking agents, was not changed. In the study, we investigated the alterations in QTd and QTcd in 68 CRF patients before and after HD with 12-lead ECG. Plasma Na⁺, K⁺, ionized Ca, creatinine, urea nitrogen, and hemoglobin were also controlled before and after HD. Results: In our study QTd and QTcd significantly increased at the end of HD (p < 0.01). Plasma Na⁺ and K⁺ decreased, and ionized Ca increased after HD (p < 0.05, 0.01). Plasma Na⁺, K⁺, ionized Ca levels, ultrafiltration volume and myocardial ischemia appear to be the main determinants of QTc duration in HD, not hypertension, gender, patient age, or duration of chronic HD. Conclusion: Changes in plasma Na⁺, K⁺ and ionized Ca, the ultrafiltration volume and presence of ischemic heart disease in HD have significant effects on QTcd. ECG data demonstrate that the risk of arrhythmia could be higher with decreased plasma Na⁺ and K⁺, increased ionized Ca, the presence of ischemic heart disease and an increased ultrafiltration rate during HD. These results might provide some valuable references for proper HD programs.

A 56-year-old Asian woman was admitted to hospital for the consideration of hemodialysis (HD). A right femoral dialysis catheter was inserted for HD. Three months after removal of catheter, she was admitted because of right inguinal swelling. A thrill and bruit were felt and heard at the inguinal area. Color Doppler detected a fistula between right superficial femoral artery and right common femoral vein and subsequently confirmed by contrast enhanced computed tomography scan and 3-dimensional reconstruction with computed tomography. At surgery, a 4-mm-diameter fistula was found between the right superficial femoral artery and right common femoral vein. A primary closure of both defects in the artery and vein was then carried out. A follow-up digital vascular study 3 months after surgical repair was normal. In conclusion, nephrologist should have a heightened awareness to the potential of this complication and should at least document a normal exam following the removal of femoral catheters.

The aim of this study is to evaluate Chinese herbs' efficacy on adhesive properties of Escherichia coli (E. coli).The effects of Chinese herbal solution on the hemagglutination and adhesion by E. coli strain were studied. E. coli C16 was isolated from a patient with urinary tract infection. The MIC value of herbal solution for the E. coli C16 was 0.1g/ml. The MBC value was 0.2g/ml. The effects of herbal solution on the hemagglutination abilities of E. coli C16 were dependent on the herbal solution used. The strain C16 lost half of its hemagglutination abilities when the herbal solution concentration was at MIC (0.05g/ml). Herbal solution decreased the adherence of strain C16 in a dose-dependent way. The numbers of adherent bacteria were reduced to 45% of the control values after growth with herbal solution at MIC. The results show that anti-adhesion is one mode of action for Chinese herbs used against pathogens..

The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of Chinese herbs (Angelica sinensis, Ligusticum wallichii, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Rhizoma dioscoreae, Rhodiola crenilata, Astragalus membranaceus and Angelica sinensis) on adenine-induced chronic renal failure in rats. 30 age-matched male Wistar rats were divided into three groups. Rats in group A (n=10), B (n=10) and C (n=10) were fed a standard laboratory chow and allowed tap water ad libitum. In group B and C, renal failure was induced by the administration of a diet containing 0.75% adenine for 28 days which began at day 0. Rats in group C were given Chinese herbs (40ml/kg with drug concentration 1.75g/ml) beginning at day 0. Urine albumin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine were determined at days 0, 14 and 28. At day 28, the animals were killed and their kidneys removed for light microscope evaluation. Body weight in Group B decreased more significantly than that in Group C (p=0.032) at day 28. The rats in group B demonstrated more severe proteinuria and higher Serum creatinine and BUN levels than group C at day 14 and day 28 (P<0.05, 0.01). All rats given adenine developed marked structural renal damage involving the tubule and interstitium. The values were much less severe in group C than those in group B. In adenine-induced chronic renal failure rats, the protective effects of these Chinese herbs were of a significant nature. Our results do support the notion that these Chinese herbs are useful in deferring the advance of chronic renal failure. We recommend Chinese herbs as a beneficial treatment for pre-end stage chronic renal failure.

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