Pleiotropic effects of a drug are actions other than that for which the agents were developed.These effects may be desired or undesired,and may be unrelated to their primary mechanism.Statins were designed as a drug for reducing cholesterol,but now pleiotropic effect are found including improvement of endothelial dysfunction,inhancement of eNOS bioavailability antioxide effect,antiinflammatory properties and reduction of hypertension.Understanding those effects is important for treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Two-factor factorial design refers to the research involving two experimental factors and the number of the experimental groups equals to the product of the levels of the two experimental factors. In other words, it is the complete combination of the levels of the two experimental factors. The research subjects are randomly divided into the experimental groups. The two experimental factors are performed on the subjects at the same time, meaning that there is no order. The two experimental factors are equal during statistical analysis, that is to say, there is no primary or secondary distinction, nor nested relation. This article introduces estimation of sample size and testing power of quantitative data with two-factor factorial design.

Aged ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Coal Mining ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; complications ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy difference of analgesia and detumescence on ankle sprain among acupuncture at Xiaojie point combined with tendon regulation manipulation, acupuncture at Xiaojie point and tendon regulation manipulation.

METHODSSixty cases of ankle sprain were randomized into a combined therapy group, a Xiaojie point group and a tendon-regulation manipulation group, 20 cases in each one. The combined therapy of acupuncture at Xiaojie point and tendon regulation manipulation, the acupuncture at Xiaojie point and the simple application of tendon-regulation manipulation were applied respectively in the three groups, once a day, 3 treatments were required. The symptom score such as pain, ecchymosis, swelling and motor dysfunction and the total score were observed before and after treatment in the three groups. The different values of pain and swelling scores were compared before and after treatment in the three groups. The efficacy was compared among the groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 100.0% (20/20) in each group. But the curative rate was 85.0% (17/20) in the combined group, 65.0% (13/20) in the Xiaojie point tion manipulation group. After treatment, the symptom scores of pain, ecchymosis, swelling and motor dysfunction and the total score were all improved as compared with those before treatment in the three groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The pain score in either the combined therapy group or Xiaojie point group was lower than that in the tendon-regulation manipulation group after treatment (0.20 -/+ 0.41, 0.15 +/- 0.37 vs 0.60 +/- 0.50, both P < 0.05). Swelling score in the Xiaojie point group was different significantly from that in the tendon-regulation manipulation 0.49 vs 06.4 vs. 20+0.41, P < 0.05). The different value of pain score in either the combined therapy group or Xiaojie point group was higher than that in the tendon-regulation manipulation group before group after treatment (0.65 bined therapy group or Xiaojie point group was higher than that in the tendon-regulation manipulation group before and after treatment (2.35 +/- 0.59, 2.45 +/- 0.51 vs 2.00 +/- 0.46, both P < 0.05). The different value of swelling score in the tendon-regulation manipulation group was higher than that in the Xiaojie point group before and after treatment (2.30 +/- 0.57 vs 1.60 +/- 0.60, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at Xiaojie point combined with tendon-regulation manipulation achieve an apparent effect of analgesia and detumescence on ankle sprain.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Ankle Injuries ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Tendons ; physiopathology ; Therapy, Soft Tissue ; Young Adult

Objective To analyze the clinical features,and prognosis of the interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients with dermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (PM) by chest X-ray,chest high-resolution CT scan (HRCT) and pulmonary lung function.Methods Thirty-three patients hospitalized with DM/PM associated ILD were retrospectively analyzed.Results Thirty-three patients with ILD were confirmed by HRCT.Abnormal pulmonary function tests were available in 82% of patients.Clinical-imaging analysis revealed that the pathological features of ILD were non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP,57%) and unusual interstitial pneumonia (UIP,25%).UIP types showed a poor prognosis and high mortality (70%).Conclusion This study shows that HRCT is more sensitive for the diagnosis of ILD than lung function tests and chest X-ray.Combined HRCT and chest X-ray with lung function tests and blood gas analysis have shown that the major pathological types of ILD are NSIP and UIP,in which UIP are associated with high mortality and poor prognosis.

Research factors are a very important element in any research design. Research factors include experimental and non-experimental factors. The former is the general term used to describe the similar experimental conditions that researchers are interested in, while the latter are other factors that researchers have little interest in but may influence the result. This article mainly focuses on the following issues: the definition of research factors, the selection and arrangement of experimental factors and non-experimental factors, the interaction between research factors, the standardization of research factors and the common mistakes frequently made by researchers.

Observed index is a very important element in a research design, because it is a specific reflection of the effects of research factors on the research subjects and is indispensable in any research. Generally, there are two types of observed indexes: the indexes that reflect natural attributes, habits or states of the research subjects and the indexes that reflect the effects of different drugs or treatments on research subjects. This article mainly introduces the definition, characteristics, selection and observation of research indexes and the major and minor indexes.

Objective To investigate the expression of type Ⅲ collagen in abdominal aortic aneurysm tissues and normal aortic tissues. Methods RT PCR and immunohistochemistry were applied to detect the expression of type Ⅲ collagen in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) tissues( n =5) and normal aortic (NA) tissues( n =3) . Results Expression of type Ⅲ collagen was increased in AAA group compared with normal group with AAA/NA= 7 251( P