OBJECTIVETo research the effects of Alligator Zhikegao on relieving cough, dispelling phlegm and anti-inflammation.

METHODThe coughing tests in mice, the phenol red secreting tests in mice, ear edema tests in mice,and paw edema tests and subcutaneous cotton ball granuloma in rats were adopted for observing the related pharmacological effects of Alligator Zhikegao.

RESULTAlligator Zhikegao could obviously prolong the latent period and decrease the times of mouse coughing, and remarkably inhibit the mouse ear edema (P < 0.001), the rat paw edema and the hyperplasia of subcutaneous cotton ball granuloma in rats. Alligator Zhikegao 11.70 g x kg(-1) could significant improve the carbonic clearances of macrophages (P <0.05) and the hemolysin level in serum (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONAlligator Zhikegao has significant effects on relieving cough, dispelling phlegm, anti-inflammation and immunological regulation.

Alligators and Crocodiles ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Antitussive Agents ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Cough ; drug therapy ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Ear Diseases ; drug therapy ; Edema ; drug therapy ; Expectorants ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Glycosaminoglycans ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Granuloma ; drug therapy ; Male ; Materia Medica ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of Ilizarov technique with compression and distraction osteogenesis in treatment of traumatic femoral shaft defects.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 52 patients with traumatic femoral shaft defects admitted to West China Hospital of Sichuan University from September 2015 to September 2019，including 32 males and 20 females at age of 19-60 years［（40.3 ± 12.1）years］. There were 15 patients with fractures at the proximal 1/3，20 at middle 1/3 and 17 at distal 1/3 part of femoral shaft. Types of bone defects were bone defect after open fracture in 2 patients，infectious nonunion in 29 and atrophic nonunion in 21. Length of bone defects after debridement and osteotomy was 3.0-5.8 cm［（4.2 ± 0.8）cm］. A total of 24 patients underwent primary direct shortening and compression as well as re-lengthening of the broken ends；28 patients were operated by osteotomy and compression，and then by re-lengthening of the broken ends at Ⅱ stage with the average interval of 2.8 months. Postoperative wound healing，bone healing time，external fixation index（EFI）and complications were observed. Preoperative and postoperative levels of white blood cell count（WBC），C-reactive protein（CRP）and erythrocyte sedimentation rate（ESR）were measured. Association for the study and application of the method of Ilizarov（ASAMI）score was used to evaluate bone healing and functional recovery at the latest follow-up.Results:All patients were followed up for 20-60 months［（36.5 ± 10.3）months］. All wounds were healed at Ⅰ stage，with no infection or sinus tract recurrence. Bone healing time was 9-20 months［（14.5 ± 3.8）months］，and EFI was 1.2-1.9 months/cm［（1.5 ± 0.2）months/cm］. Nail tract infection was found in 14 patients，with the infection rate of 27%. Poor healing of broken ends fracture occurred in 4 patients，out of which 3 with infectious nonunion and 1 with atrophic nonunion. Axial deviation was observed in 2 patients and poor mineralization was observed in 1 patient. In 2 patients，the affected side was shortened by 1.8 cm and 2.0 cm when compared to the healthy side. At the latest follow-up，levels of WBC［（6.0 ± 1.4）× 10 9/L］，CRP［（6.8 ±1.7）mg/L］and ESR［（10.5 ± 6.1）mm/h］were lower than those before surgery［（9.2 ± 2.2）× 10 9/L，（31.7 ± 22.1）mg/L，（45.8 ± 31.3）mm/h］（ P < 0.01）. At the latest follow-up，bone healing rated on ASAMI score was excellent in 31 patients，good in 13 and fair in 8，with the excellent and good rate of 85%；limb function rated on ASAMI score was excellent in 28 patients，good in 14，fair in and good in 3，with the excellent and good rate of 81%. Conclusions:For traumatic femoral shaft defects，Ilizarov technique with compression and distraction osteogenesis can fully remove infection or ischemic bone lesions. Distraction osteogenesis technology can complete continuous compression of broken ends to further promote healing of broken ends and limb lengthening and attain limb reconstruction and bone healing and functional recovery.

Objective:To explore the perioperative management strategy for the elderly with hip fractures during the epidemic of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and evaluate its clinical effect.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted on 33 elderly patients with hip fractures admitted to Chongqing General Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, from January 20 to February 29, 2020, including 14 males and 19 females, aged 65-92 years [(76.5±6.3)years]. There were 20 patients with intertrochanteric fractures and 14 with femoral neck fractures. In total, 15 patients were combined with hypertension and 9 with diabetes. A total of 19 patients were treated with open reduction and internal fixation and 14 with total hip/semi-hip replacement. The time from injury to admission was 2-14 hours. The temperature measurement, routine blood test and chest CT examination were performed to exclude COVID-19 in all patients, which showed 12 patients with pulmonary infection. The medical staff received different levels of protection: first level protection for those in the special ward, secondary level protection for the emergency isolation ward and tertiary level protection for those collecting the throat swab samples. The time from admission to operation, intensive care unit (ICU) stay time, hospitalization time, visual analogue score (VAS), perioperative complications as well as infection of patients and medical staff were observed and recorded.Results:The time from admission to operation was (3.18±0.19)days for all patients, with (2.24±0.28)days for 21 patients with no obvious pulmonary abnormality and (4.83±0.39)days for 12 with pulmonary infection. The hospitalization time was (10.97±0.31)days in all patients, with (9.71±0.27)days for 21 patients with no obvious pulmonary abnormality and (12.51±0.78)days for 12 with pulmonary infection. After operation, 12 patients were treated in ICU for 1-3 days, and the rest 21 patients were treated in general wards. The pain of all patients was effectively controlled. The time for exercise was (4.0±1.4)days after operation in all patients, among which 19 treated with fracture reduction and internal fixation started at (4.3±1.3)days after operation and 14 treated with total hip/semi-hip replacement started at (3.6±1.3)days after operation. VAS was (4.55±0.29)points at 12 hours before operation, (5.62±1.12)points at 6 hours, (3.54±0.39)points at 24 hours, and (2.42±0.11)points at 72 hours after operation ( P<0.05). Chest CT showed that the pulmonary inflammation was significantly improved one day before discharge. There was no indication of nucleic acid detection, with no urinary tract infection, pressure sore, deep vein thrombosis or other complications were found. No infection of patients or medical staff occurred. Conclusion:During pandemic of COVID-19, early surgical treatment for the elderly with hip fractures can be done in the general wards, based on strictly following the principle of infection prevention and control and carefully evaluating the perioperative risks, which can avoid the probability of infection of patients and medical staff without prolonging the hospitalization time or increasing the incidence of complications.

In 2016, a national one million general population cohort project was set up in China for the first time in "Precision Medicine Research" Key Project, National Key Research and Development Program of China, which consists of general population cohorts in seven areas in China. As one of the seven major areas in China, northeastern China has unique climate and specific dietary patterns, and population aging is serious in this area. And the burden of chronic and non-communicable diseases ranks tops in China. Therefore, it is of great significance to establish a large general population cohort in northeastern China to explore the area specific exposure factors related to pathogenesis and prognosis of chronic and non-communicable diseases, develop new prevention strategies to reduce the burden of the diseases and improve the population health in northeastern China. In July 2018, the general population cohort study in northeastern China was launched, the study includes questionnaire survey, health examination and blood, urine and stool sample collection and detection in recruited participants. By now, the cohort has covered all age groups, and the baseline data of 115 414 persons have been collected. This paper summarizes the design and practice of the general population cohort study in northeastern China to provide reference for related research in China.

Objective    To investigate the value of chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) score in evaluating the severity of hip fracture-induced early acute lung injury (ALI) in the elderly patients. Methods    The clinical data of 289 elderly hip fracture patients in Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from July 2014 to April 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were divided into two groups, including an ALI group (n=114, 36 males and 78 females at age of 82.94±6.85 years) and a non-ALI group (n=175, 51 males and 124 females at age of 84.42±6.31 years). General information, chest HRCT scores and PaO2/FiO2 were compared between the two groups. Correlation analysis was used to compare the relationship between chest HRCT scores and PaO2/FiO2. Multiple linear stepwise regression analysis was applied to evaluate the effective extent of the diffuse ground glass opacity (DGGO), intense parenchymal opacification (IPO), and reticulation HRCT scores to the overall HRCT scores. Results    The DGGO scores, IPO scores, reticulation scores, overall HRCT scores and PaO2/FiO2 were higher in the ALI group than those in the non-ALI group (P<0.001). In the ALI group, correlation analysis showed that DGGO, overall HRCT scores were in significantly negative correlation with PaO2/FiO2 (P<0.001). In addition, the correlation among PaO2/FiO2 and overall HRCT scores was more significant than that of DGGO scores. Multiple stepwise regression analysis indicated that DGGO, IPO, and reticulation scores were independent influencing factors for overall HRCT scores. Among the influencing factors, DGGO scores had the greatest impact, then IPO scores and reticulation scores. The HRCT signs of DGGO, IPO, and reticulation appeared simultaneously had the greatest effects on the overall HRCT scores. Conclusion    The chest HRCT score, which is associated with PaO2/FiO2, also can be used in the severity assessment of elderly patients with early ALI caused by hip fracture.