【Objective】To observe the influence of hot-needle therapy and herbal medicine fuming-washing combined with western medicine for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis(RA).【Methods】One hundred and twenty-eight RA patients were equally randomized into two groups: group A received hot-needle therapy and herbal medicine fuming-washing combined with western medicine of meloxicam,salazosulfamide,and methotrexate,and group B was treated with western medicine only.The treatment lasted one month.Symptoms and signs of early morning stiffness time,grip strength,joints with tenderness count,tenderness index,auricular rest pain,swollen joints count,swelling index as well as the evaluation by the patients themselves and the doctors were observed before and after treatment.Meanwhile,the changes of rheumatoid factor(RF),C-reactive protein(CRP),erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),the white blood cell(WBC) count and platelet(PLT) count were evaluated before and after treatment.【Results】The total effective rate in group A was 78.1%,which was superior to 53.1% in group B(P

Objective To investigate the clinical effectiveness and safety of acupuncture at Zusanli (ST36),Taichong(LR3) and Hegu(LI4) points combined with three-step analgesic ladder for the treatment of gastric cancer pain.Methods Sixty patients with moderate and severe pain induced by gastric cancer were randomly divided into study group and control group,30 cases in each group.The study group was treated with acupuncture at Zusanli,Taichong and Hegu points combined with three-step analgesic ladder for gastric cancer pain management,and the control group was treated with three-step analgesic ladder only.After treatment for 7 days,the clinical effectiveness was evaluated with the average pain scores of Numerical Rating Scale(NRS),Quality of Life Scale(QOL-BREF by WHO),Self-rating Depression Scale(SDS).And the incidence of adverse reaction was also observed.Results (1) After treatment,the markedly-effective analgesic rate of the study group was higher than that of the control group (P ＜ 0.05).(2) After treatment,QOL scores of both groups were much improved as compared with those before treatment(P ＜ 0.05),and the improvement of the study group was superior to that of the control group(P ＜0.05).(3) The depression scores of both groups were much improved after treatment (P ＜ 0.05 compared with those before treatment),but the difference between the two groups was insignificant(P ＞ 0.05).(4) The incidence of adverse reaction of the study group was lower than that of the control group(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The effect of acupuncture at Zusanli,Taichong and Hegu points combined with three-step analgesic ladder is better than three step analgesic ladder alone for the treatment of gastric cancer pain.

OBJECTIVE:To observe the therapeutic efficacy and safety of modified Liujunzi decoction in adjuvant chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).METHODS:A total of 118 patients with advanced NSCLC were randomly divided into observation group and control group,with 59 cases in each group.Both groups were given Dexamethasone acetate tablets 15 mg orally 12,6 h before chemotherapy,Diphenhydramine hydrochloride injection 20 mg intramuscularly 30 min before chemotherapy,and also given routine treatment as acid suppression,liver protection,antiemetic,hydration and dieresis.Control group was additionally given Paclitaxel injection 175 mg/m2 intravenously within 3 h,d1,and 30 min later given Cisplatin for injection 25 mg/m2 intreavenously for 2 h,d1-3.Observation group was additionally given modified Liujunzi decoction,decocted to 200 mL,one dose a day,morning and night,on the basis of control group.A treatment course of 2 groups lasted for 21 d,and both received 4 courses.The short-term efficacies of 2 groups were observed.The levels of T lymphocyte subset and tumor marker (CEA,SCC-Ag,CYFRS21-1),the occurrence of toxic reaction were observed before and after chemotherapy.RESULTS:Total response rate of observation group (49.15％) was significantly higher than that of control group(32.20％);the incidence of thrombocytopenia,leucopenia,abnormal liver function,digestive tract reaction and peripheral nerve injury was significantly lower than control group,with statistical significance (P＜ 0.05).After treatment,CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ of observation group were significantly higher than before chemotherapy,while CD8+ was significantly lower than before chemotherapy;CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ of control group were significantly lower than before chemotherapy,while CD8+ was significantly higher than before chemotherapy;CD4+ and CD4+/ CD8 + of observation group were significantly higher than those control group,while CD8 + was significantly lower than control group;The levels of tumor markers in 2 groups were significantly lower than before chemotherapy,and the observation group was significantly lower than the control group,with statistical significance (P＜0.05).CONCLUSIONS:Based on routine treatment,modified Liujunzi decoction shows significant therapeutic efficacy for NSCLC,improves immune function and relieve toxic reaction.

Objective:To investigate the efficiency and pharmacoeconomics of pegylated recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (PEG-rhG-CSF) for mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCM) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM).Methods:The data of 91 patients with newly treated MM who were hospitalized in the First Hospital of Jilin University and Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College from January 2015 to October 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the patient's wishes, a high-dose chemotherapy combined with subcutaneous injection of PEG-rhG-CSF or recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) was used for stem cell mobilization in 42 and 49 patients, respectively. The number of mononuclear cells (MNC) and CD34 + cells collected after mobilization, the maximum absolute neutrophil count (mANC), the cost of mobilization, and the engraftment time of white blood cells and platelets after transplantation were compared between the two groups. Results:The median number of MNC collected after mobilization in the PEG-rhG-CSF group and rhG-CSF group were 5.86×10 8/kg [(1.08-24.54)×10 8/kg] and 6.61×10 8/kg [(0.83-33.80)×10 8/kg], and the difference was not statistically significant ( U = 883.00, P = 0.245); while the median number of CD34 + cells collected after mobilization in the PEG-rhG-CSF group was higher than that in the rhG-CSF group [5.56×10 6/kg (0.94-19.90)×10 6/kg and 4.82×10 6/kg (1.12-14.61)×10 6/kg], and the difference was statistically significant ( U = 732.00, P = 0.038). The median number of mANC during mobilization in the PEG-rhG-CSF group was lower than that in the rhG-CSF group [20.50×10 9/L (7.26-61.30)×10 9/L and 32.08×10 9/L (6.92-69.99)×10 9/L], and the difference was statistically significant ( U = 490.00, P = 0.001). After autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), the time-to-recovery of white blood cell count (WBC) to 1.0×10 9/L in the PEG-rhG-CSF group was shorter than that in the rhG-CSF group [(11.59±1.98) d vs. (12.93±2.83) d], and the difference was statistically significant ( t = -2.395, P = 0.019), and the time-to-recovery of platelet count (Plt) to 20.0×10 9/L in the PEG-rhG-CSF group was also shorter than that in the rhG-CSF group [(12.86±2.62) d vs. (14.80±5.47) d], but the difference was not statistically significant ( t = -1.749, P = 0.085). The total mobilization cost of the PEG-rhG-CSF group was not statistically different from that of the rhG-CSF group [(21 405.47±7 365.98) yuan vs. (22 976.83±10 264.34) yuan, t = -0.721, P = 0.474]. Conclusions:PEG-rhG-CSF combined with high-dose chemotherapy is an effective option for PBSCM in MM patients, and its mobilization cost is equivalent to rhG-CSF. Therefore, PEG-rhG-CSF may be a better choice for PBSCM in MM patients.

Appropriate positive end-expiratory pressure(PEEP)level is an important component of protective lung ventilation strategy.PEEP can maintain the openness of alveoli and reduce lung collapse in-jury.Although individualized PEEP application has been increasingly recognized by clinical physicians,the optimal PEEP titration method is still controversial.Electrical impedance tomography(EIT)is a non-inva-sive and radiation-free imaging technique that can be used to dynamically assess lung function at the bedside.EIT presents changes in impedance during ventilation as dynamic images,which can reflect altera-tions in ventilation and gas distribution before and after PEEP adjustments.Therefore,EIT can be utilized to tailor individualized PEEP.This article provides a brief overview of the basic principles and monitoring pa-rameters of EIT.It elucidates the PEEP titration method under the guidance of EIT in clinical applications(PEEPEIT),aiming at enhancing the understanding of the advantages and limitations of EIT and providing reference for the setting of individualized PEEP.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the reliability of Foot Posture Index (FPI-6) for Chinese adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients. MethodsFrom July, 2021 to April, 2022, 35 AIS patients were recruited from Guangdong Second Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and non-specially. They were evaluated with FPI-6 by two raters on the same days, and by one of the raters a week later. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) of inter-rater and test-retest was calculated and Bland-Altman diagram was drawn; the correlation among the items score and total score was analyzed with Spearman correlation coefficient. ResultsThe ICCs were above 0.75 except talar head palpation, and eversion and inversion of the calcaneus. There was no significant difference in foot posture classification among the three evaluation results (χ² = 4.000, P > 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between each item score and total score (r > 0.3, P < 0.01). ConclusionFPI-6 is reliable for people with mild AIS.

Objective:To investigate the clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of the central nervous system (CNS) toxicity caused by bortezomib.Methods:This study reports five new cases of CNS toxicity caused by bortezomib to elucidate its characteristics along with a review of the literature.Results:CNS toxicity caused by bortezomib presents in three clinical forms: syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis (SIAD) , posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) , and central fever, which is the most common clinical manifestation. Four of our five patients developed central fever after the administration of bortezomib, manifested as persistent high fever, anhidrosis, and absence of infective foci; the symptom could be improved by discontinuance of bortezomib. Of these patients, three concurrently presented with refractory hyponatremia and one was clearly diagnosed with SIAD. The bortezomib could have caused damages to the hypothalamus and induced both central fever and SIAD. In addition, one patient was diagnosed with PRES due to disturbance of consciousness and epilepsy after taking bortezomib. After discontinuation of bortezomib, the symptoms disappeared and did not recur. We also found that thrombocytopenia may be related to the severity of the CNS toxicity of bortezomib.Conclusion:Cases of CNS toxicity of bortezomib are extremely rare and present as SIAD, PRES and central fever. Early detection and treatment of bortezomib are very important to prevent irreversible neurological complications.

Chronic low-back pain (CLBP) is one of the most common pain conditions. Current clinical guidelines for low-back pain recommend acupuncture for CLBP. However, there are very few high-quality acupuncture studies on CLBP in older adults. Clinical acupuncture experts in the American Traditional Chinese Medicine Association (ATCMA) were interested in the recent grant on CLBP research announced by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. The ATCMA experts held an online discussion on the subject of real-world acupuncture treatments for CLBP in older adults. Seven participants, each with more than 20 years of acupuncture practice, discussed their own unique clinical experience while another participant talked about the potential mechanism of acupuncture in pain management. As a result of the discussion, a picture of a similar treatment strategy emerged across the participants for CLBP in older adults. This discussion shows that acupuncture may have complicated mechanisms in pain management, yet it is effective for the treatment of chronic pain involving maladaptive neuroplasticity; therefore, it should be effective for CLBP in older adults.

Few studies have focused on the cost of acupuncture treatments although acupuncture has become popular in the United States (U.S.). The purpose of the current study was to examine the out-of-pocket costs incurred from acupuncture services based on an online website, OkCopay.com. We examined descriptive statistics (range, median and 20% intervals) for the cost of acupuncture "first-time visits" and "follow-up visits" in 41 metropolitan regions in the U.S. The acupuncture prices of 723 clinics throughout 39 metropolitan regions were included, except for Birmingham, Alabama and Detroit, Michigan as there was no online data available at the time of the study for these two regions. The cost range for a first-time acupuncture visit was $15-400; the highest median was $150 in Charleston, South Carolina, while the lowest was $45 in St. Louis, Missouri. The top 10 cities for the highest median were: Baltimore, Washington, D.C., New York, San Francisco, San Jose, Boston, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland and Indianapolis, with the median $120, while the median for all 723 clinics was $112. For the follow-up visits, the cost range was $15-300; the highest median was $108 in Charleston, South Carolina, and the lowest $40 in Miami, Florida. The 10 cities with highest median follow-up acupuncture visit costs were: New York, Baltimore, New Orleans, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Boston and Atlanta, with the median $85, while for all 723 clinics the median price was $80. The estimation of the average gross annual income of each acupuncturist from the regions studied was $95,760, while the total annual cost of patients seeking acupuncture services in the U.S. was about $3.5 billion in 2018.

Humans ; Prognosis ; Multiple Myeloma/diagnosis* ; Neoplasm Staging ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Patients ; Retrospective Studies