Objective To investigate the relationship between brucellosis arthritis of the hip and femoral head necrosis.Methods In August 2007 to August 2013,16 diagnosed and hospitalized patients with brucellosis complicated with femoral head necrosis in Heilongjiang Land Reclamation Bureau General Hospital were chosen as the objects of observation,and the patients' hospitalization information was analyzed retrospectively.Patients' medical records were investigated and analyzed.Observations included general condition of the patient,clinical symptoms and signs,imaging,pathology,treatment and curative effect.Results All the 16 patients had definite clinical manifestations of hip arthritis and femoral head necrosis including hip pain,limited mobility,positive 4 test,limp or bedridden,and sick limb muscle atrophy.Imaging examination:X-ray computer tomography (CT) showed cystic change and deformation collapse of femoral head.Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) showed low signal on weighted T1 images,high signal on weighted T2 and soft tissue granulation hyperplasia could be seen in the hip joint.Pathological examination:most femoral bone tissue necrosis,dissolved,bone cells disappeared,a few bone cells present,and some fibrous tissue hyperplasia.Patients were treated with antibiotics according to the treatment principles of brucellosis,and the effect was obvious.Conclusions There is a causal relationship between brucellosis arthritis of the hip and femoral head necrosis.Therefore,positive and effective treatment of brucellosis arthritis of the hip in the early stages is crucial to prevent the occurrence of femoral head necrosis.

Objective To analyze the effect of long-term anti-viral treatment in children with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and investigate the factors affecting the treatment efficacy and growth and development of the children, so as to provide reference for improving the efficacy of antiviral drugs.Methods Children with AIDS receiving anti-retroviral treatment during 2004 to 2016 were retrospectively enrolled.The height, weight and CD4+ T cell counts were recorded every half year and the measurement of HIV RNA load was recorded on an annual basis.The CD4+ T cell counts and viral inhibition rates for the children who were under the treatment in the first year, 1~<5 years, 5~<10 years, and ≥10 years were compared.And their growth and development were also assessed.Treatment efficacy and growth and development of the children were compared between those who raised by social organization and by family.Children who raised by family were further divided into two groups: high-income and low-income groups.All categorical data were analyzed using chi-square test and those non-normal distribution were compared by rank-sumtest.Results After comparison between the children who have received anti-virus treatment for 1 to 5 years (including 5 year) and those for 5 to 10 year (including 10 years), the baseline CD4+ T cell counts were 436.5(265, 728)cells/μL and 334 (102, 535)cells/μL, respectively with the statistically significant difference (Z=-2.619, P<0.01).The last measured CD4+ T cell counts were 779 (622, 1 024)cells/μL and 720 (640, 977)cells/μL, respectively with no statistical significance (Z=-0.708, P>0.05);and viral inhibition rates were 92.9% and 97.6%, respectively with no statistical significance (χ2=1.071, P>0.05).The viral inhibition rate for the children receiving the treatment for 1 year was 85.7%, while that for whose treatment lasted for more than 10 years was 100.0%.A total of 5 cases developed drug-resistance (2 cases treated for 1 to 5 years and 3 cases for 5 to 10 years), and the virus replication was completely inhibited after switching to Lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r).The drug compliance was more than 95.0%.64.8% of children met the standard height, while 68.5% met the standard body mass.The baseline and last measured CD4+ T cell counts showed no significant differences between family-raised and social organization-raised children (Z=-1.159 and -0.523, respectively, both P>0.05).The children from high-income families had no significant differences compared with those from low-income ones in terms of the baseline and last measured CD4+ T cell counts (Z=-0.019 and -0.776, respectively, both P>0.05).Conclusions The long-term anti-retroviral treatment can effectively elevate the CD4+ T cell counts, inhibit viral replication and ensure drug compliance, which may promote the growth and development of children.However, approximately 30% children are still lower than the normal standards in terms of height and body mass.The drug-taking observer plays a central role on treatment effect.Most of the children′s family suffer from poor economic conditions.

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of a raltegravir (RAL)-containing regimen among patients on methadone maintenance therapy.Methods From January 2010 to November 2010, 30 virus (HIV) treatment naive patients who were on methadone maintenance therapy were enrolled from a HIV clinic in Kunming, Yunnan Province and a HIV clinic in Hengyang, Hunan Province.All patients were given RAL, tenofovir (TDF) and lamivudine (3TC) as highly active antiretroviral therapy (HARRT).Patients were followed up for 48 weeks to evaluate the adjustment of methadone dose, opiate withdrawal reaction, antiretroviral efficacy and safety.Results From January 2010 to November 2010, 30 HIV patients were enrolled from the two appointed HIV clinics.The mean age was 39±6 years, with 73.3% male patients and 97% Han population.Before the treatment, their mean CD4+T lymphocyte counts was 210 /μL.Ninety percent of patients were co-infected with hepatitis C.Twenty-nine patients who completed study follow-up were included in final analysis.Five (17.8%) patients reported opiate withdrawal symptoms and increased methadone dose 4 weeks after HARRT.At 24 weeks and 48 weeks of HARRT, the average increase of CD4+T lymphocyte counts were (136±71) /μL and (185±88)/μL, respectively.Among patients who provided valid HIV-1 RNA testing results, 82.6% (19/23) and 95.8% (23/24) of patients had undetectable viral load at week 24 and week 48.Six grade 1-2 adverse events were reported in 4 patients.Conclusions In this pilot study, the new regimen containing RAL, TDF and 3TC appears to be an ideal option for patients on methadone maintenance therapy, because of its limited impact on methadone dose and good efficacy and safety profile.

Objective:To explore the correlations of α-melanocyte stimulating hormone ( α-MSH) levels in serum and synovial fluid with progression of primary knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted of the 96 patients who had been diagnosed as primary KOA at Department of Orthopedics, The First Hospital of Huizhou from October 2018 to October 2019. Radiographic severity of KOA was determined by Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grades; α-MSH levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 β (IL-1 β) and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) were also detected. Another 64 patients with patellar dislocation, matched in age and gender, were enrolled as controls. The Numeric Pain Scale (NPS) and revised Oxford Knee Score (OKS) were employed to evaluate their symptomatic severity. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was used to compare α-MSH, IL-1 β and MMP-3 with regard to their diagnostic values in the K-L grading. Results:There were no statistically significant difference in age, gender and body mass index between the 2 groups, showing they were comparable ( P> 0.05). The α-MSH levels in synovial fluid were significantly lower in the KOA patients than in the controls [(16.9±3.8) pg/mL versus (18.8±2.7) pg/mL] ( P<0.001); there were no significant differences between the KOA patients and the controls in the serum α-MSH levels [(24.9±1.8) pg/mL versus (24.8±1.7) pg/mL] ( P>0.05). The α-MSH levels in synovial fluid were negatively correlated with K-L grades ( r=-0.382, P<0.001) and negatively correlated with NPS ( r=-0.382, P<0.001) but positively correlated with OKS ( r=0.339, P<0.001). Moreover, the α-MSH levels in synovial fluid were negatively correlated with the IL-1 β levels in synovial fluid ( r=-0.483, P<0.001) and with the MMP-3 levels in synovial fluid ( r=-0.336, P< 0.001). Conclusions:The level of serum α-MSH may not be correlated with the progression of KOA but the synovial fluid α-MSH is negatively correlated with the progression of KOA. Therefore, the expression level of α-MSH in joint synovial fluid can be used as a potential biomarker for assessment of severity of knee osteoarthritis.

COVID-19 is caused by a novel coronavirus-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which has being spreading around the world, posing a serious threat to human health and lives. Neutralizing antibodies and small molecule inhibitors for virus replication cycle are the main antiviral treatment for novel coronavirus recommended in China. To further promote the rational use of antiviral therapy in clinical practice, the National Center for Infectious Diseases (Beijing Ditan Hospital Capital Medical University and the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine) invited experts in fields of infectious diseases, respiratory and intensive care to develop an Expert Consensus on Antiviral Therapy of COVID-19 based on the Diagnosis and Treatment Guideline for COVID-19 ( trial version 10) and experiences in the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 in China. The consensus is concise, practical and highly operable, hopefully it would improve the understanding of antiviral therapy for clinicians and provide suggestions for standardized medication in treatment of COVID-19.