Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of white mustard seed moxibustion on four flower points [bilateral points Geshu(BL 17) and Danshu(BL 19)] in treating night sweat.Method One hundred and twenty patients with night sweat were randomly allocated to groups A, B and C, 40 cases each. Group A received white mustard seed moxibustion on four flower points; group B, oral administration of zuogui pills; group C, application of millet paste to four flower points. After 22 days of treatment, pre-treatment and post-treatment TCM symptoms and signs of hyperhidrosis scores were compared in the three groups and the clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the three groups.ResultThere was a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference in the TCM symptoms and signs of hyperhidrosis score in the three groups (P<0.05). The cure rate and the total efficacy rate were 50.0% and 92.5%, respectively, in group A; 27.5% and 75.0%, respectively, in group B; 12.5% and 50.0%, respectively, in group C. There were statistically significant differences in the cure rate and the total efficacy rate, and the TCM symptoms and signs of hyperhidrosis score between group A and group B or C (P<0.05) and between groups B and C (P<0.05).Conclusion White mustard seed moxibustion on four flower points is an effective way to treat night sweat and can markedly improve its symptoms in the patients.

Objective To analyze the 5-year survival rate,causes of death and prognostic indicators of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 243 newly diagnosed SLE patients who Were admitted into our hospital from 1998 to 2005.The clinical features and serologic data were studied.Survival rate of SLE patients over time was studied by the Kaplan-Meier method,and prognostic indicators of mortality were studied by Cox proportional hazards models.Results The 1-,3- and 5-yr survival rate was 96%,94% and 91%,respectively.Renal failure and infection were the main causes of death,followed by lupus encephalotmthy and pulmonary hypertension.Cox regression analysis revealed that lupus nephritis and lupus encephalopathy at the diagnosis were independent risk determinants for mortality.However,age,sex,low C3 level,positive anti-dsDNA antibody,hematological abnormalities,lupus lung involvement and heart damages at diagnosis and immunosuppressant treatment had no strong association with survival.Conclusion Early diagnosis,control of SLE organ damage and infection prevention are critical to improve survival of SLE patients.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody-negative rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.Methods:To retrospectively analyze the medical records of RA patients hospitalized in the department of rheumatology and immunity of Peking University Third Hospital from January 2013 to December 2018, we collected the baseline characteristics, joint manifestations, extra-articular manifestations, and laboratory parameters of RA patients, and compared the differences between anti-CCP antibody-negative patients and anti-CCP antibody-positive patients by U test and chi-square test. Results:A total of 486 RA patients were included in this study, including 153 anti-CCP antibody-negative patients (31.5%) and 333 anti-CCP antibody-positive patients (68.5%). Compared with anti-CCP antibody-positive group, anti-CCP antibody-negative group had shorter disease course ( U=-4.750, P<0.01) and the pro-portion of morning stiffness, shoulder or elbow joint involvement, and hand arthritis ( P<0.05) was lower, while the incidence of phlebothrombosis of leg ( χ2=4.100, P=0.043) was higher, as well as thrombocytosis ( U=-2.179, P=0.029) and elevation of CRP ( U=-2.154, P=0.03). Subgroup analysis based on RF showed that CCP RF + group had higher percentage of women ( P=0.042) and higher incidence of interstitial lung disease ( χ2=5.652, P=0.017) and secondary Sj?gren's syndrome ( χ2=11.211, P=0.001), compared with CCP RF - group. Conclusion:anti-CCP antibody-negative-patients have similar clinical char-acteristics with anti-CCP antibody-positive group, but the involvement of shoulder or elbow joint and hand arthritis are less common in anti-CCP antibody-negative group. Meanwhile the incidence of phlebothrombosis of leg is higher, and the level of platelet(PLT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) is higher, suggesting that anti-CCP antibody-negative RA may have more vident inflammatory response.

BACKGROUND:Tougu Xiaotong capsule is the clinical prescription for the treatment of osteoarthritis, however, its mechanism has not been fuly elucidated. Urokinase type plasminogen activator system which participated in the degradation of the extracelular matrix of articular cartilage and hyperplasia of joint synovium plays an important role in the pathological process of osteoarthritis. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect ofTougu Xiaotong capsule on urokinase-type plasminogen activator system in knee cartilage tissues of knee osteoarthritis rats. METHODS: Of 144 Sprague-Dawley rats, 120 rats were randomly made into models of knee osteoarthritisvia intra-articular injection of papain, and randomly assigned to model group,Zhuanggu Guanjie Wan group [1.2 g/(kg?d)], low-doseTougu Xiaotong capsule group [0.092 g/(kg?d)], moderate-doseTougu Xiaotong capsule group [0.184 g/(kg?d)] and high-doseTougu Xiaotong capsule group [0.368 g/(kg?d)]. Each group contained 24 rats. Every 2 weeks was considered as a course, with a 2-day interval, totaly 4 courses. The remaining 24 normal rats were included in the blank group. After every two courses, a batch of experimental animals was sacrificed. The pathological changes were observed folowing staining with hematoxylin and eosin. The positive cels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator, urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor and plasminogen activator inhibitor were measured by immunohistochemistry. The protein levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator, urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor and plasminogen activator inhibitor were measured by western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Mankin’s score was significantly lower in theTougu Xiaotong capsule group and Zhuanggu Guanjie Wan group compared with the model group (P < 0.01), in a time-dependent manner. Immunohistochemical staining indicated that the positive cels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator and urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor were significantly decreased, but plasminogen activator inhibitor was significantly increased in theTougu Xiaotong capsule group andZhuanggu Guanjie Wangroup in a time-dependent manner. Western blot assay results had an identical trend to immunohistochemistry. These indicated thatTougu Xiaotong capsule showed preventive and therapeutic effects on osteoarthritis by regulating urokinase-type plasminogen activator system.

BACKGROUND:Tougu Xiaotong Capsule has pretty good clinical therapeutic effect on osteoarthritis of early and middle periods. However, the mechanism of Tougu Xiaotong Capsule is not ful y clarified. The RhoA GTPases can regulate chondrocyte apoptosis and hypertrophy.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the Tougu Xiaotong Capsule on the expression of Rac1and Cdc42 in tumor necrosis factor-α-induced in vitro cultured rat articular chondrocytes, and to explore its mechanism of action for combating osteoarthritis.
METHODS:Knee cartilage of the 4-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats was used to stably establish in vitro culture system of chondrocytes. Passage 3 chondrocytes were identified by toluidine blue staining. Chondrocyte apoptosis was successful y induced by 20μg/L tumor necrosis factor-αand then Tougu Xiaotong Capsule at different dosage (500, 100, 20 mg/L) was given after 24-hour incubation. MTT assay was used to detect cellsurvival, flow cytrometry to measure mitochondrial membrane potential, and western blot assay to determine the protein expression of Rac1, Cdc42, Bax and Bcl-2.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Tougu Xiaotong Capsule could reduce tumor necrosis factor-α-induced apoptosis of chondrocytes to improve the survival rate of the cells, and at the same time, could down-regulate the protein expression of Rac1, Cdc42 and Bax and increase the protein expression of Bcl-2 significantly (P<0.05). Tougu Xiaotong Capsule possibly plays a therapeutic efficacy on osteoarthritis by reducing promote apoptosis Rac1, Cdc42 and Bax expression and increasing apoptosis inhibiting gene Bcl-2 expression, thereby to inhibit apoptosis of chondrocytes.

BACKGROUND:Tougu Xiaotong Capsule (TGXTC) is a clinical prescription for the treatment of osteoarthritis;however, its mechanism has not been ful y elucidated. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) system participating in the degradation of the extracel ular matrix of articular cartilage and hyperplasia of joint synovium plays an important role in the pathological process of osteoarthritis. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of TGXTC medicated serum on the expression of uPA, uPA receptor (uPAR), plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAIs), matrix metal oproteinase-3 (MMP-3), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in osteoarthritis synovial cel s of rats and to discuss the mechanism by TGXTC medicated serum prevents and cures osteoarthritis. METHODS:Rat models with knee osteoarthritis were established by injecting 4%papain into the knee joint cavity. Primary synoviocytes and osteoarthritis synoviocytes were cultured with col agenase digestion method. The cultured synoviocytes were divided into normal group, model group and TGXTC group. The western blot method was adopted to detect uPA, uPAR, PAI, MMP-3, IL-1βand TNF-αprotein expression of synoviocytes after acting by TGXTC medicated serum for 72 hours. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The expression of uPA, uPAR, MMP-3, IL-1βand TNF-αwere decreased, while PAI was increased in the TGXTC group, and there were significant differences when compared with model group. In a word, TGXTC can significantly inhibit the expression of uPA, uPAR, MMP-3, IL-1β, TNF-α, and improve PAI expression in synoviocytes, which may partly explain the mechanism of the treatment of Tougu Xiaotong Capsule on osteoarthritis.

Objective To explore the feasibility and superiority of the simplified partial pressurized tourniquet used in bleeding or injured limbs in battlefield.Methods The tourniquet was composed of the disposable infusion bag,bulb for blood pressure apparatus,pressure gauge and heparin cap.The disposable infusion bag wrapped around the bottom of the cravat took the places of the balloon and the harness.The pressure on the upper and lower limbs were 180mmHg and 200mmHg respectively.Results The low-cost tourniquet,with easily adjustable pressure,was easy to operate and carry.It was efficient in hemostasis and had a low rate for complications.Conclusion The tourniquet can be applied to self and buddy aid,and thus the incidence of shock can be decreased.

Objective To explore the feasibility and superiority of the simple controllable aerocyst pressurization wrapped-up bondage for battlefield first aid in the future high tech local war. Methods The disposable infusion bag is wrapped up in the bottom of the sling in stead of partial surgical dressing. Sphygmomanometer, pressure gauge and heparin hat are connected. Inflate and pressurize the sphygmomanometer and keep the pressure between 3kPa and 5kPa. Results The structure of this bandage is simple and can be operated easily. The pressure is controlled nimblely and conveniently. Except for the accurate effect, it is versatile and inexpensive. In addition, it can be employed in the bone fracture.

OBJECTIVETo develop a HPLC method for determining the content of protopine in Corydalis racemose.

METHODAnalysis was performed on a Gemini C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) eluted with acetonitrile-water containing 0.8% triethylamine and 3% acetic acid acetum (20:80) as the mobile phase. The flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1). The detection wavelength was 289 nm.

RESULTThe average content of protopine in Herb of Racemose Corydalis was 0.905%. The calibration curve of protopine was linear between 0.124-1.36 microg (r = 0.9999). The average recovery was 98.49% with RSD 1.9%.

CONCLUSIONThis method is simple, reproducible and can be used to determine the content of protopine in C. racemose.

Benzophenanthridines ; analysis ; Berberine Alkaloids ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Corydalis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis

Objective To establish new classification criteria for early rheumatoid arthritis (E-RA) based on large samples of early inflammatory arthritis patients and to evaluate the value of this criteria in China.Methods Patients who had arthritic complaints with disease duration less than one year were enrolled.They were divided into RA group and non-RA group according to the clinical diagnosis by experienced rheumatologists.The clinical and laboratory parameters were analyzed and those with high sensitivity or specificity were selected as the new classification criteria.Statistical analysis was carried out by using t test,x2 test and Logistic regression.Results ① A total of 803 patients with early inflammatory arthritis were included in this study.Five hundreds and fourteen patients were diagnosed as early RA and 251 were diagnosed as other rheumatic diseases,and the diagnosis of 38 patients remained unestablished by the end of follow-up.② New E-RA classification criteria were established based on the parameters with high sensitivity and/or specificity.The sensitivity of the new E-RA criteria was 84.4％,which was higher than 1987 ACR criteria (58.0％),while the corresponding specificities were similar,which were 87.4％ and 93.6％ respectively.③ Compared with the complex scoring system of 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria,the E-RA criteria was more simple and practical.The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of E-RA criteria were higher than those of 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria reported in the literatures.④ New classification criteria based on scoring system using Logistic regression analysis was established.The sensitivity of this criteria was 86.4％,which was higher than 1987 ACR criteria (58.0％).Conclusion The diagnostic value of the E-RA criteria developed in this study for early RA is better than 1987 ACR criteria,and is more simple than 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria.It may be used as a new classification criteria for early RA diagnosis.