[Objective] To compare the effect and safety between Tripterygium Wilfordii Film (TNF) and Compound Tripterygium Wilfordii Film (CTWF) for osteoarthritis of knees. The latter was mainly composed of Radix Folium seu Flos Tripterygii Wilfordii, Rhizoma Chuanxiong, Olibanum, Myrrha, etc. [Methods] Sixty cases of osteoarthritis of knees were randomized to two groups: group A (30 cases) treated with CTWF and group B (30 cases) with TWF. Both of the two groups were given oral use of herbal medicine on the basis of syndrome differentiation. Pain and stiffness of the knees and knee function were observed before and after treatment and their side reactions were also observed. [Results] Pain and stiffness of the knees and the impaired function were relieved in both groups ( P

Objective To evaluate the quality of observational studies on pelvic organ prolapse in China.Methods The checklist of strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology (STROBE) statement was applied to evaluate the observational studies.The articles were searched in the SinoMed database using the terms:prolapse,uterine prolapse,cystocele,rectal prolapse and pelvic floor;limited to Chinese core journals in obstetrics and gynecology from January 1996 to December 2015.With two 10-year groups (1996-2005 and 2006-2015),the x2 test was used to evaluate inter-group differences.Results (1) A total of 386 observational studies were selected,including 15.5％(60/386) of case-control studies,80.6％(311/386) of cohort studies and 3.9％ (15/386) of cross-sectional studies.(2) There were totally 22 items including 34 sub-items in the checklist.There were 17 sub-items (50.0％,17/34) had a reporting ratio less than 50％ in all of aticles,including:1a (study's design) 3.9％ (15/386),6a (participants) 24.6％(95/386),6b (matched studies) 0 (0/386),9 (bias) 8.3％ (32/386),10 (study size) 3.9％,11 (quantitative variables) 41.2％ (159/386),12b-12e (statistical methods in detail) 0-2.6％ (10/386),13a (numbers of individuals at each stage of study) 18.9％ (73/386),13b (reasons for non-participation at each stage) 18.9％,13c (flow diagram) 0,16b and 16c (results of category boundaries and relative risk) 9.6％ (37/386) and 0,19 (limitations) 31.6％ (122/386),22 (funding) 20.5％ (79/386).(3) The quality of articles published in the two decades (1996-2005 and 2006-2015) were compared,and 38.2％ (13/34) of sub-items had been significantly improved in the second 10-year (all P＜0.05).The improved items were as follows:1b (integrity of abstract),2 (background/rationale),6a (participants),7 (variables),8 (data sources/measurement),9 (bias),11 (quantitative variables),12a (statistical methods),17 (other analyses),18 (key results),19 (limitations),21 (generalisability),22 (funding).Conclusions The quality of observational studies on POP in China is suboptimal in half of evaluation items.However,the quality of articles published in the second 10-year have significantly improved.

Objective To observe the morphology changes in articular cartilage of knee osteoarthritis ( KOA) model rats after intervention with Shudi Jisheng Zhuanggu Decoction (SJZD). Methods SD rats were randomized into 7 groups, namely blank control group, model group, Paracetamol group ( 0.270 g/kg) , Zhuangu Guanjie Pills group ( 1.08 g/kg) , and high-, middle- and low-dosage SJZD groups ( 27.450, 13.725, 6.863 g/kg, respectively). Rats were injected with papain solution into the right knee joint to build models of KOA before administration of drugs. Thickness of right knee joint was measured to evaluate the effect of SJZD on the swelling degree of knee joint. Histological changes of knee cartilage were evaluated by Mankin scoring method after the cartilage sections being stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE). Results Swelling degree of knee joint and Mankin scores were significantly increased in the model group compared to the blank control group ( P<0.01). In comparison with the model group, the swelling degree of knee joint and Mankin scores of SJZD groups were significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the pathological changes were relieved. Conclusion SJZD can ameliorate the pathological changes of knee articular cartilage in rats with KOA, so as to delay cartilage degeneration and protect the cartilage.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlations between symptom-based principal factors of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the effect of traditional Chinese medicine or Western medicine on RA after factor analysis of RA symptoms. METHODS: Four hundred and thirteen RA patients from 9 clinical centers were included in the clinical trial. They were randomly divided into Western medicine (WM) treated group with 204 cases and traditional Chinese medicine (CM) treated group with 209 cases. A complete physical examination and 18 common clinical manifestations were recorded before the randomization and after the treatment. The WM therapy included voltaren extended action tablet, methotrexate and sulfasalazine. The CM therapy included glucosidorum Tripterygll totorum tablet and Yishen Juanbi Tablet. The American College of Rheumatology 20 (ACR20) was used for efficacy evaluation. All data were analyzed on SAS 8.2 statistical package. Eighteen symptoms in the RA patients were analyzed by factor analysis and the relationships between the factors and effects were analyzed with Chi-Square test. RESULTS: Four principal factors were obtained from the analysis results of the 18 symptoms. The factors could represent the symptoms related to joints, cold-syndrome, deficiency syndrome and heat-syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), respectively. The effect of WM therapy was better than CM therapy. After 12 weeks of treatment, the effect of CM on patients without deficiency-syndrome was better than the patients with deficiency-syndrome. After 24 weeks of treatment, WM therapy showed better effect on patients with cold syndrome than patients without cold syndrome. CONCLUSION: The results based on the factor analysis of RA symptoms are similar to the results of syndrome differentiation of TCM, and the factor-related different categories of symptoms are associated with the curative effect, thus further research on the symptoms is necessary.

Objective: Throughing the investigation and analysis of seven cases of acute lung injury caused by a welding operation, the hazards and production pathways of harmful gases such as phosgene and nitrogen oxides are understood, which will serve as a reference for preventing similar events in the future. Methods: Throughing the accident scene environment investigation and clinical case analysis, combined with the laboratory test results, carried on the comprehensive analysis. Results: The accident caused a total of 7 people to suffer from acute lung injury to varying degrees. Three of them were sent to the ICU ward for treatment due to acute respiratory failure. After active treatment, 7 people were discharged from the hospital with obvious relief. Conclusion Welding is also a kind of profession that causes the high incidence of acute lung injury accidents. It is necessary to strengthen the knowledge training and protection awareness education of welding workers to avoid the occurrence of acute harmful gas poisoning accidents.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the indications of the therapies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with neural network model analysis. METHODS: Three hundred and ninety-seven patients were included in the clinical trial from 9 clinical centers. They were randomly divided into Western medicine (WM) treated group, 194 cases; and traditional Chinese herbal medicine (CM) treated group, 203 cases. A complete physical examination and 18 common clinical manifestations were prepared before the randomization and after the treatment. The WM therapy included voltaren extended action tablet, methotrexate and sulfasalazine. The CM therapy included Glucosidorum Tripterygii Totorum Tablet and syndrome differentiation treatment. The American College of Rheumatology 20 (ACR20) was taken as efficacy evaluation. All data were analyzed on SAS 8.2 statistical package. The relationships between each variable and efficacy were analyzed, and the variables with P<0.2 were included for the data mining analysis with neural network model. All data were classified into training set (75%) and verification set (25%) for further verification on the data-mining model. RESULTS: Eighteen variables in CM and 24 variables in WM were included in the data-mining model. In CM, morning stiffness, swollen joint number, peripheral immunoglobulin M (IgM) level, tenderness joint number, tenderness, rheumatoid factor (RF), C-reactive protein (CRP) and joint pain were positively related to the efficacy, and disease duration and more urination at night negatively related to the efficacy. In WM, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), weak waist, white fur in tongue, joint pain, joint stiffness and swollen joint were positively related to the efficacy, and yellow fur in tongue, red tongue, white blood negatively related to the efficacy. In the analysis with the neural network model in the patients of verification set, the predictive response rates of 20% patients would be 100% and 90% in the treatment with CM and WM, respectively. CONCLUSION: Neural network model analysis, based on the full clinical trial data with collection of both traditional Chinese medicine and modern medicine diagnostic information, shows a good predictive role for the information in the efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlations between clinical symptoms and treatment efficacy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Four hundred and thirteen patients were included in the clinical trial from 9 clinical centers. They were randomly divided into Western medicine-treated group with 204 cases and Chinese herbal drug-treated group with 209 cases. Eighteen clinical symptoms were evaluated before and after treatment. The Western medicine therapy included voltaren extended release tablets, methotrexate and sulfasalazine. The Chinese herbal drug therapy included glucosidorum Tripterygii totorum tablets and Yishen Juanbi Tablets combined with treatment based on syndrome differentiation. The American College of Rheumatology 20 (ACR20) was used as efficacy evaluation criteria. RESULTS: In the Chinese herbal drug-treated group, clinical symptoms such as arthralgia and tenderness of joints were positively correlated with the efficacy after 12-week treatment, while frequent urination at night was negatively correlated. In the same group, tenderness of joints and fever were positively correlated with the efficacy after 24-week treatment, while deep-colored and turbid urine was negatively correlated. In the Western medicine-treated group, tenderness of joints and thirst were positively correlated with the efficacy after 12-week treatment, while vertigo was negatively correlated. And in the same group, tenderness of joints was positively correlated with the efficacy after 24-week treatment, while heaviness of limbs was negatively correlated to the efficacy. The statistical results showed that the treatment efficacy was improved when the correlated symptoms were included in the indications. CONCLUSION: The treatment efficacy of RA is correlated with some symptoms, so further studies should proceed on these correlations in order to achieve better treatment outcome.

Objective: To study risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and vascular erectile dysfunction (ED) in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS). Methods: A total of 18 096 subjects were selected from people undergoing physical examination from 2008 to 2009 in northern cities of China by random cluster sampling method, and analyzed the risk factors for NAFLD and ED. Results: The 18 096 cases with age 18~76 (46.8±10.1) years old，containing 10 096 (55.79%) males and 8 000 (44.21%) females. Awareness rate of MS was 8.33% and prevalence rate of MS in healthy adults was 21.18%. Most common components of MS were hyperuricemia (27%, 4838/18096), obesity and overweight (21%), hypertension (20%,) and dyslipidemia (17%) in turn. Body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) and waist/hip ratio (WHR) of all MS subgroups from high to low were ED group [(28.9±1.1), (1.26±0.03)], overweight or obesity group [(27.5±2.3), (1.31±0.03)], prediabetes group [(26.8±2.6), (1.03±0.03)] and hypertension group [(26.1±1.3), (0.90±0.04)] in turn. A total of 3 721 MS patients （20.56%）complicated with NAFLD; By means of NAFLD complicated by MS as dependent variable, Logistic regression analysis indicated that increased ALT, waist circumference（WC）, age, DM family history, LDL-C and BMI (β=1.004~0.479, P=0.000~0.016 in turn) were risk factors for NAFLD, and physical exercise and occupational physical work were protective factors for NAFLD. There were 106 ED males and its prevalence rate was 1.04%; Logistic regression analysis indicated that age, WC, LDL-C, DM family history and BMI (β=0.681~0.238, P=0.000~0.018 in turn) were risk factors for ED, and educational degree, physical exercise and occupational physical work were protective factors for ED. Conclusion: Risk factors for NAFLD and ED in MS were closely correlated with MS. It’s a new path to prevent and treat NAFLD and ED through correcting risk factors of MS.

BACKGROUND:It has been found that vascular endothelial growth factor 165 and bone morphogenetic proteins interact with each other during hypoxia-reoxygenation and are involved in the repair process of osteoblast injury by regulating the activation of intracellular signaling pathways. OBJECTIVE:To further investigate the relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor 165/bone morphogenetic protein and hypoxic-reoxygenated osteoblast injury. METHODS:Osteoblasts were selected and the hypoxic-reoxygenated injury model was established.Vascular endothelial growth factor 165 and bone morphogenetic protein expressions at mRNA and protein levels were detected by real-time PCR and western blot before and after modeling.After modeling,osteoblasts were given different concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor 165 and bone morphogenetic protein 2(10,20,40 ng/mL).Cell proliferation was detected by cell counting kit-8 method and apoptosis was detected by DAPI at 12,24,36,48,and 72 hours after treatment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with before modeling,the mRNA and protein expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor 165 and bone morphogenetic protein 2 in osteoblasts after modeling were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).The proliferation rate of osteoblasts was significantly increased with the increase of vascular endothelial growth factor 165 concentration(P＜0.05),while the apoptosis rate of osteoblasts decreased significantly with the increase of vascular endothelial growth factor 165 concentration(P＜0.05).The proliferation rate of osteoblast was significantly increased with the increase of bone morphogenetic protein 2 concentration(P＜0.05),while the apoptosis rate of osteoblast decreased significantly with the increase of bone morphogenetic protein 2 concentration(P＜0.05).To conclude,vascular endothelial growth factor 165 and bone morphogenetic protein are lowly expressed in hypoxic-reoxygenated osteoblast injury,and treatment with vascular endothelial growth factor 165 and bone morphogenetic protein can reduce the injury of hypoxic-reoxygenated osteoblast in a concentration-dependent manner,suggesting that vascular endothelial growth factor 165 and bone morphogenetic protein have a significant protective effect against the injury of hypoxic-reoxygenated osteoblasts.

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between carbon dioxide combining power(CO₂-CP) and contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction and undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 174 patients admitted to our hospital from March 2012 to August 2013 with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction and underwent emergency percutaneous coronary intervention. Patients were divided into three tertiles according to pre-operative CO₂-CP: T1 (CO₂-CP < 22.62 mmol/L), T2(CO₂-CP 22.62-24.30 mmol/L), T3(CO₂-CP > 24.30 mmol/L). Baseline clinical data, CI-AKI incidence, in-hospital mortality and dialysis rate were compared among groups. An increase in serum creatinine of >26.4 µmol/L and/or >50% from baseline within 48 hours after contrast exposure was defined as CI-AKI. Univariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors of CI-AKI. The relationship between CO₂-CP and CI-AKI was assessed by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to identify the optimal cutoff of the CO₂-CP for predicting CI-AKI.

RESULTSCI-AKI occurred in 25 (14.4%) patients, and lower CO₂-CP was related to higher incidence of CI-AKI (27.6% (16/58) in group T1, 5.3% (3/57) in group T2, 1.7 % (1/59) in group T3, P = 0.002) and higher in-hospital mortality (10.3% (6/58) vs. 0 and 1.7% (1/59), P = 0.010). Dialysis rate was similar among 3 groups (5.2% (3/58) vs. 0 and 1.7% (1/59), P = 0.168). The incidence of CI-AKI was significantly associated with CO₂-CP < 22.00 mmol/L in univariate analyses (OR = 6.767, 95% CI 2.731-16.768, P < 0.001). After adjusting for potential confounding risk factors, CO₂-CP < 22.00 mmol/L remained significantly associated with the incidence of CI-AKI (OR = 5.835, 95%CI 1.800-18.914, P = 0.003) in multivariate logistic regression. ROC analysis revealed that the optimal cutoff of CO₂-CP to predict CI-AKI was 22.00 mmol/L (sensitivity 64.0%, specificity 79.1%, AUC = 0.714).

CONCLUSIONSPre-percutaneous coronary intervention CO₂-CP in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention is related to CI-AKI. CO₂-CP < 22.00 mmol/L predicts higher risk of CI-AKI in this patient cohort.

Acute Kidney Injury ; etiology ; Carbon Dioxide ; analysis ; Contrast Media ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kidney ; Logistic Models ; Myocardial Infarction ; complications ; physiopathology ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; ROC Curve ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors