Objective To compare the short-term clinical effect of the foam sclerotherapy combined with Melilotus Extract Tablets vs foam sclerotherapy alone in treating varicose veins of the lower extremities.Methods A retrospective cohort study was carried out in 120 cases receiving foam sclerotherapy in the Invasive Technology Department of Panyu District Central Hospital.Seventy-two patients in trial group wore graduated compression stockings and received oral use of Melilotus Extract Tablets after the operation,while 48 cases in the control group only wore graduated compression stockings after the operation.The follow-up for the two groups lasted for 3 months.We recorded the relief of symptoms (pain,soreness and distention) and physical signs (edema,hyperpigmentation,ulcer) after the operation.The grading levels of clinical-etiology-anatomic-pathophysiologic classification system (CEAP) for lower limb venous disease,venous clinical severity scores (VCSS) and disease quality-of-life questionnaire CIVIQ scores were observed before and after the operation.Results (1) Three months after the operation,the illness state of the two groups was improved to certain degree,and the differences of CEAP grading levels were insignificant(P ＞ 0.05).(2) VCSS and CIVIQ scores of the two groups were improved after the operation (P ＜ 0.01 compared with those before the operation),and the trial group had better effect on improving CIVIQ scores than the control group (P ＜ 0.01).(3) The successful rate of the trial group was 88.89％,and that of the control group was 81.25％,the difference being insignificant (P ＞ 0.05).(4) Time for obvious relief of lower limb symptom in the trial group was shorter than that in the control group (P ＜ 0.05),but the time for hyperpigmentation and ulcer disappearing as well as the medical expenses in the trial group did not differ from those in the control group (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Foam sclerotherapy combined with Melilotus Extract Tablets is effective,safe and economical for the treatment of varicose veins of the lower extremities,and its efficacy is superior to foam sclerotherapy alone.

Objective · To survey the willingness to enroll in nursing homes among the elders in Shanghai and explore its predictors. Methods · A field survey was performed to collect data from 641 elders aged 60 years old and above in six community health centers in Shanghai. Sociodemographic variables, willingness to use nursing home, perceived barriers and perceived benefits were measured. Results · The questionnaire is with good structural validity and good intrinsic reliability. KMO index, P value of Bartlett's test of sphericity, and the range of Cronbach's α coefficients were 0.862, 0.000,and 0.739-0.824, respectively. Among the respondents, 46% were willing to enroll in a nursing home in this survey. Age had significant influence on their willingness (P=0.045). After adjusting for age, the multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that shame (OR=0.76, 95% CI=0.62-0.94), adaptability (OR=0.61, 95% CI=0.50-0.74) and perceived benefits (OR=1.63, 95% CI=1.32-2.03) were related to willingness (P<0.05).Conclusion · Elders in Shanghai have a relatively high level of willingness to enroll in nursing homes, especially the elders aged from 60 to 69. Shame and adaptability of elders, and the services provided by nursing homes were the predictors of the elders' willingness.

Objective To investigate the clinical effectiveness of foam sclerotherapy for lower extremity varicose vein with deep venous valve incompetence.Methods A retrospective study was carried out in 124 patients (185 limbs) receiving foam sclerotherapy in our department.Sixty-one limbs diagnosed as deep venous valve incompetence were categorized as the observation group,while 124 limbs without that were the control group.The main outcome were success rate,remission rate of various symptoms and signs,the scores of CEAP and CIVIQ.Results The follow up rate was 69.3％,and the follow-up period ranged from one to nine months.There was no statistical difference in the success rate between the observation group (93.4％) and control group (94.4％)(P＞0.05).However,the symptom of heaviness and oedema and the CIVIQ scores in observation group be inferior to the control group,and the difference of them were statistically significant (P＜0.05).Conclusion Deep venous valve incompetence could not decrease the success rate of foam sclerotherapy,but may influence the remission of some symptoms.It should be supplemented with medical elastic stockings or ringing of femoral veins.