Air Pollution, Indoor ; statistics & numerical data ; Hong Kong ; Noise, Occupational ; statistics & numerical data ; Restaurants ; statistics & numerical data ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo explore the pattern of abnormal skeletal development in girls with idiopathic precocious puberty (IPP) and the therapeutic effect of Chinese herbs for nourishing yin and purging fire (CH).

METHODSMeasurement of bone age, bone mineral content (BMC) and bone density (BD) were performed and levels of serum gla-protein (BGP), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) were determined in girls with IPP at various stages of pubertal development. Data were compared with those collected from matched girls, and the correlativity between various parameters and the extent of the disease were analyzed to explore the pattern. Thirty-eight girls out of them were treated with CH and the therapeutic effect was observed.

RESULTSThe bone age of the IPP girls was ahead of time obviously (P < 0.05), levels of BMC, BD and serum BGP, IGF-1 were significantly higher than the levels in the healthy girls of matched age (P < 0.05). And the degree of these changes were markedly positive correlated with the severity of disease (P < 0.05). After being remitted with CH treatment, the advanced bone age was apparently alleviated, and above-mentioned abnormal criteria were lowered significantly (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe skeletal development of the girls with IPP was accelerated and the skeletal maturity were ahead of time, the more serious the condition of disease, the more obvious the acceleration and the advanced bone age. CH could decelerate skeletal development and delay the skeletal maturity of IPP patients.

Age Determination by Skeleton ; Bone Development ; Child ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Osteocalcin ; blood ; Phytotherapy ; Puberty, Precocious ; blood ; drug therapy

Objective To study the intervention effect of the fluorosis with the high aluminum plus soybean, selenium powder, spiral algae. Methods Two week-long SD rats were randomly allocated into 5 groups bases on body weight with 8 in each group, respectively being control, the high fluoride aluminum,the high fluoride aluminum plus soybean, the high fluoride aluminum plus selenium and the high fluoride aluminum plus spiral algae group. The control group was fed with corn produced in non-endemic area containing 5.20 mg/L of fluoride and 6.80 mg/L of aluminum and tap water of fluoride 0.70 mg/L and aluminum 0.20 mg/L. Other groups were fed primarily with corn produced in the endemic area with the content of fluoride of 110.00 mg/L and aluminum of 19.70 mg/L and tap water with high aluminum also with fluoride of 0.70 mg/L and aluminum of 90.00 mg/L. The high fluoride aluminum plus soybean group was added soybean in the beginning of the experiment, approximately 30% of the total amount. Selenium (3.00 mg/kg) was given to the high fluoride aluminum plus selenium groups and spiral algae (1000.00 mg/kg) to the high fluoride aluminum plus spiral algae groups after dental fluorosis was formed. The experiment lasted for 22 weeks. In the end of the experiment 24-hour urine and bones of the limbs were collected to test the content of fluorine and aluminum. The ultrastructure of femur spongiosa was observed under electron microscope. Results ① Bone fluoride in high fluoride aluminum group [(204.07 ± 63.78)mg/kg] was higher than that in the control group, high fluoride aluminum plus soybean group, high fluoride aluminum plus selenium group and high fluoride aluminum plus spiral algae group[(30.06 ± 6.11), (54.12 ± 14.56), (30.44 ± 5.02), (105.08 ± 21.07)mg/kg, t = 0.62,0.53,0.62,0.35, all P < 0.01], indicating that it was lower in high fluoride aluminum plus selenium group than high fluoride aluminum plus spiral algae group(t = 0.27, P < 0.01). ② The urinary fluoride levels in high fluoride aluminum group [(4.52 ± 3.09)mg/L] was higher than that in the control group [(0.89± 0.37)mg/L, t = 0.23, P < 0.01] and lower than that in the fluoride aluminum plus selenium group[(10.38 ± 1.58) mg/L, t = 0.34, P < 0.01], it was higher in high fluoride sluminum with selenium group than that in the high fluoride aluminum plus soybean group and high fluoride aluminum plus spiral algae group[(5.56 ± 1.69), (4.38 ± 3.36)mg/L, t = 0.28,0.35, all P < 0.05]. ③ The bone aluminum level in the control group[(3.32 ± 3.02)mg/kg] was lower than that in the high fluoride aluminum group, high fluoride aluminum plus soybean group, high fluoride aluminum plus selenium group and high fluoride aluminum plus spiral algae group [(374.21 ± 56.11), (118.20 ± 23.59), (114.01 ± 22.84), (67.11 ± 11.53)mg/kg, t = 1.42,0.44,0.42,0.24, all P < 0.05], it was higher in the high fluoride aluminum group than high fluoride aluminum plus the soybean and selenium and spiral algae groups (t = 0.56,0.57,0.68, all P < 0.01)lower in high fluoride aluminum plus spiral algae group than the soybean plus selenium group(t = 0.11,0.10, all P < 0.05). ④The urine aluminum level in high fluoride aluminum group [(1.14 ± 0.32)mg/L] was higher than that in the control group and the high fluoride aluminum plus the soybean group [(0.66 ± 0.10) mg/L, t = 1.92,2.24, all P< 0.05] and that in high fluoride aluminum plus the soybean group was lower than aluminum plus the selenium[(1.03 ± 0.22)mg/L] and aluminum plus spiral algae group[(1.10 ± 0.28) mg/L, t = 1.73,2.06, all P < 0.05]. ⑤ Under electron microscope, the collagenous fiber was arranged in disorder in high aluminum fluorine group, the trabeculum of bone merged into patches or mostly vanished, This phenomenon was alleviated in the intervened group compared to the high aluminum fluorine group, in an attenuating order of the selenium group, the spiral algae and the soybean group. Conclusion In this experiment the intervention measure alleviates fluorosis, the selenium is the best, spiral algae the second and soybean the last.

High altitude polycythemia (HAPC) had become one of the main common chronic diseases, which had seriously threatened the health of Plateau people. In the Tibetan medicine classic bookSi-Bu Yi-Dian, there were recordings on HAPC treatment methods and medications, which had the unique advantages of identified therapeutic effect with little side effect. This article analyzed Tibetan medicine in the prevention and treatment of HAPC from aspects such as etiology and pathogenesis, clinical treatment advantages and modern innovation study. Questions were also raised on lacking of standardization on HAPC clinical effectiveness, as well as Tibetan medicine compound material basis and action mechanisms were unclear. It was proposed that based on the inheritance of Tibetan medicine theoretical basis and clinical therapeutic effect, the Tibetan medicine original thinking should be combined with modern science and technology, in order to strengthen the analysis of ancient literature collection in HAPC treatment and data mining in medication experiences. The clinical treatment standards and medication plan should be standardized. Methods of systems biology, such as metabolomics, can be used in the further study of the scientific connotation of HAPC treatment by Tibetan medicine.

To investigate the application of a recently developed metallic oxide semiconductor field effect transistor(MOSFET)detector for use in vivo desimetry.Methods The MOSFET detector was calibrated for X-ray beams of 8 MV and 15 MV,as well as electron beams with energy of 6,8,12 and 18 MeV.The dose linearity of the MOSFET detector was investigated for the doses ranging from 0 up to 50 Gy using 8 MV X-ray beams.Angular effect was evaluated as well in a cylindrical PMMA phantom by changing the beam entrance angle every 15?clockwise.The MOSFET detector was then used for a breast cancer patient in vivo dose measurement, after the treatment plan was verified in a water phantom using a NE-2571 ion chamber,in vivo measurements were performed in the first and last treatment,and once per week during the whole treatment.The measured doses were then compared with planning dose to evaluate the accuracy of each treatment.Results The MOSFET detector represented a good energy response for X-ray beams of 8 MV and 15 MV,and for electron beams with energy of 6 MeV up to 18 MeV.With the 6 V bias,Dose linearity error of the MOSFET detector was within 3.0% up to approximately 50 Gy,which can be significantly reduced to 1% when the detector was calibrated before and after each measdurement.The MOSFET response varied within 1.5% for angles firm 270?to 90?.However,maximum error of 10.0% was recorded comparing MOSFET response between forward and backward direction.In vivo mea surement for a breast cancer patient using 3DCRT showed that,the average dose.deviation between measurement and calculation was 2.8%,and the maximum error was less then 5.0%.Conclusions The new MOSFET detector,with its advantages of being in size,easy use,good energy response and dose linearity,can be used for in vivo dose measurement.

20% improvement in 4/7 primary indices.Sharp declines in several parameters were noticed during 3 to 6 months.Pain in 9 patients disappeared.There was also a statistically significant decrease in TNF ? transcripts in the PBMC.Conclusion Thalidomide is a reasonably promising drug for treating resistant ankylosing spondylitis and its biological mechanism is related to the gene expression suppression of proinflammatory cytokine TNF ?.

Objective To study the macrophage colony-stimulating factor(M-CSF)expression levels of serum and synovial fluids from patients with spondyloarthropathy(SPA)and its contribution to the pathogen- esis of SpA.Methods Eleven SpA synovial tissue samples were compared to those from peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC)of 10 normal subjects using a 1176 gene array.M-CSF was detected in both serum samples and synovial fluids by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Two groups of AS subjects were tested.The first group consisted of 41 ankylosing spondylitis(AS)patients who had not been treated with bio- logics.The second group consisted of 13 subjects whose serum samples were collected before and 14 weeks af- ter initiation of infliximab.These were compared to serum samples from 28 normal subjects,and synovial fluid samples from 15 SpA patients.Results Expression of M-CSF could be detected in both serum samples and synovial fluids.The concentration of M-CSF in the group of 41 AS patients not treated with biologics correlated with the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index(BASDAI)values(r=0.41,P=0.004).Treatment of infliximab in AS patients led to a significant decrease in the values of BASDAI(P=0.000 07),but no signif- icant change in the serum M-CSF values.Conclusion M-CSF is a promising candidate for research on the mechanisms of SpA and its signaling on pathway in SpA is different from tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-?,and it may provide new basis for developing new anti-biologics for SpA.

Objective To discuss the midterm results of modular femoral prosthesis in total hip revision surgery for bone defects.Methods From December 2001 to June 2006,by using Link-MP modular femoral prosthesis for muhiple reasons(48 with asepsis loosening,seven with infections using two-stage revision procedure,one with fracture of proximal femur and one with periprosthetie fracture), total hip revision surgery was carried out in 56 eases including 24 males and 32 females with age range of 38-77 years(mean age 58.8years).Causes for revision included sterile prothesis loosening in 48 cases, infection of hip prosthesis in seven and peripheral fracture of femoral stem fracture prosthesis in one.Re- vision for infected femur was all at stageⅡ.Of 56 cases with femoral stem prosthesis loosening,30 had loosening of primary cemented prosthesis and 26 of uncemented prosthesis.According to the Mallory bone defect classification,five eases were with typeⅡbone defect,21 with typeⅢA,28 with typeⅢB and two with typeⅢC.Bone grafting was performed in 12 cases and wire or cable cerelage in 28.Fracture of great trochanter was found in two cases,fracture of femoral stem in three and perforation of femoral stem in one.Results A total of 52 eases half year after operation were followed up for mean 31.78 months (8-56 months).No migration of distal femoral stem was found in all eases except for one ease had 1.5 cm subsidence of proximal femoral stem.The Harris hip score was preoperative 46 scores(21-52)and post- operative 89(79-94).There found no significant limb discrepancy,thigh pain or dislocation.Conclu- sions Total hip revision surgery for femoral bone defect using modular femoral prosthesis has optimal midterm result especially in its advantages of regulating limb length,offset,anteversion,which can help us match the proximal femur with distal femur and achieve initial and long-term stability.

Objective To systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy of relieving fever with sweet and warm drugs (Ganwen Chure Therapy) for noninfectious fever caused by vital-energy deficiency based on Meta-analysis. Methods Literature about RCTs of Ganwen Chure Therapy for noninfectious fever caused by vital-energy deficiency in CNKI, Wanfang Database, CBM, VIP, Pub Med, Cochrane Library, and Embase was retrieved by computers from establishment of database to April 2017. After two researchers independently conducted literature screening, cross-checking, data extraction, and literature quality evaluation, cumulative Meta-analysis was performed on the outcome indicators in order of publication time and sample size, and the trend of the results was tested. Then the quality of the literature based on GRADE was under an overall evaluation. Results Totally 27 articles were included in this study, involving 2599 patients. The results of cumulative Meta-analysis showed that the total effective rates of using Ganwen Chure Therapy only [OR=3.875, 95％CI (2.87, 5.24), Z=8.82, P=0.000 1]and Ganwen Chure Therapy combined with routine therapy [OR=5.791, 95％CI (3.55, 9.45), Z=7.03, P=0.000 1]were better than the routine therapy, with statistical significance. Trend test showed that there was variability in the timing of drug combination study, showing that the cumulative Meta-analysis results were not stable. Conclusion Ganwen Chure Therapy has certain efficacy for noninfectious fever caused by vital-energy deficiency. However, the overall quality of the included studies was low, with relatively high homogeneity. There are biases in publication, yet more high-quality clinical research is needed for further verification.

Objective To explore the effects of radiofrequency catheter ablation(RFCA)on the blood coaguable states and the clinical value of perioperative plasma D-dimer.Methods The plasma level of D-dimer was assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)in blood samples of 30 children who were undertaken RFCA.Blood samples were consecutively obtained before cannulating,after electrophysiologic(EP)study,immediately after RFCA,the second day and the seventh day after RFCA.The centrifuged spead was 3 000 r/min,keep it for 10 minutes to obtain the upper plasma,and the crvopreserve.Results The plasma levels of D-dimer was highest at the time point when RFCA was successfully accomplished and restored to preoperative level in the seventh day after RFCA.There were statistically significant difference in the paried values at different time points(Pa