Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of filiform-heated needle combined with Qingbu Huacuo Decoction in the treatment of acne of damp-heat due to spleen deficiency syndrome.Methods Seventy patients with acne of damp-heat due to spleen deficiency syndrome admitted to the seventh clinical Medical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine from May 2023 to March 2024 were randomly divided into the observation group and the control group according to random number table method,with 35 patients in each group.Health education was given to the patients in both groups.The control group was given oral administration of Doxycycline Hyclate Tablets combined with filiform-heated needle for treatment,and the observation group was treated with filiform-heated needle combined with Qingbu Huacuo Decoction orally,the course of treatment for the two groups covered six weeks.After six weeks of treatment,the clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated,and the changes in Global Acne Grading System(GAGS)score and Quality of Life-Acne(Qol-Acne)score,as well as the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome scores before and after treatment were observed.The changes of skin barrier function indicators such as trans epidermal water loss(TEWL)content,skin moisture content,and sebum content before and after treatment were compared between the two groups of patients.Moreover,the safety of the two groups and the occurrence of adverse reactions were evaluated.Results(1)After treatment,the GAGS scores of patients in the two groups were improved significantly(P<0.05),and the improvement in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group,with a statistically significant difference(P<0.05).(2)After treatment,the Qol-Acne scores of the patients in the two groups were significantly improved(P<0.05),and the observation group was significantly superior to the control group in improving the three aspects of self-perception,emotional functioning,and self-assessment,with a statistically significant difference(P<0.05),and the observation group was slightly superior to the control group in improving social functioning,but the difference being not statistically significant(P>0.05).(3)After treatment,the content of TEWL,skin moisture,and sebum of patients in the two groups were significantly improved(P<0.05),and the improvement in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group,the difference being statistically significant(P<0.05).(4)After treatment,the TCM syndrome scores of the two groups of patients were improved significantly(P<0.05),and the improvement in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group,with a statistically significant difference(P<0.05).(5)The total effective rate was 94.29%(33/35)in the observation group and 74.29%(26/35)in the control group.The clinical efficacy of the observation group was superior to that of the control group,the difference being statistically significant(P<0.05).(6)Comparison of the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups,the difference being not statistically significant(P>0.05).Conclusion Filiform-heated needle combined with Qingbu Huacuo Decoction in the treatment of acne of damp-heat due to spleen deficiency syndrome can significantly improve the clinical symptoms of patients,thus improving their quality of life,with good safety.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of modified Danggui Yinzi combined with thumb-tack needling for subcutaneous embedding in the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria(CSU)of wind dryness due to blood deficiency type.Methods A total of 68 cases of patients admitted to the dermatology wards and outpatient clinics of The Seventh Clinical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine with a definitive diagnosis of CSU of wind dryness due to blood deficiency type were selected as the study subjects from July 2023 to February 2024.The patients were randomly divided into the observation group and the control group according to the random number table method,with 34 cases in each group.The control group was treated with Cetirizine Dihydrochloride Tablets,and the observation group was treated with modified Danggui Yinzi combined with thumb-tack needling for subcutaneous embedding based on the treatment of the control group,the course of treatment covered four weeks.After one month of treatment,the clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated,and the changes in Urticaria Activity Score(UAS)and Dermatology Life Quality Index(DLQI)scores and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome scores before and after treatment were observed in the two groups.The changes of serum total immunoglobulin E(total IgE)levels before and after treatment in the two groups were compared.The safety and recurrence cases of the two groups were evaluated.Results(1)The total effective rate was 91.18％(31/34)in the observation group and 70.59％(24/34)in the control group.The efficacy of the observation group was superior to that of the control group,the difference being statistically significant(P＜0.05).(2)After two,three,and four weeks of treatment,the UAS scores of the patients in the two groups were improved significantly(P＜0.05),and the improvement in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group,the difference being statistically significant(P＜0.01).(3)After treatment,the DLQI scores and TCM syndrome scores of the patients in the two groups were improved significantly(P＜0.05),and the improvement in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group,the difference being statistically significant(P＜0.01).(4)After treatment,the total IgE levels of patients in the two groups were improved significantly(P＜0.05),and the improvement in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group,the difference being statistically significant(P＜0.01).(5)The comparison of the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups showed that the difference being not statistically significant(P＞0.05).(6)In the follow-up after the completion of treatment,the recurrence rate was 5.88％(2/34)in the observation group and 23.53％(8/34)in the control group,and the recurrence rate of the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group,the difference being statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion Modified Danggui Yinzi combined with thumb-tack needling for subcutaneous embedding in the treatment of CSU of wind dryness due to blood deficiency type can significantly alleviate the clinical symptoms of the patients,improve their quality of life,and reduce the recurrence rate.

Objective A finite element analysis was conducted on the biomechanics of the locking plate and intramedullary nail fixation for the treatment of distal tibial fractures,and the resuhs were verified combined with clinical cases,so as to provide references for clinical treatment.Methods (1) Finite element analysis:the three-dimensional CT data of the lower limbs of a healthy male volunteer were used to establish a finite element model.The internal stress distribution of the tibial plateau was set to 60％ of the total load by intramedullary nail and locking plate respectively,and the tibia end was fixed effectively.400 N axial pressure load which equaled to that of adult knee joint during single axis standing was simulated.The equivalent stress and displacement of the model by different fixations were compared.(2) Clinical verification:a retrospective case control study was performed on the clinical data of 37 cases of distal tibia1 fractures treated with internal fixation from June 2015 to December 2016,including 17 cases in intramedullary nail group and 20 in locking plate group.The operation time,intraoperative blood loss,postoperative fracture healing time,and postoperative Johner-Wruhs score of patients were recorded for comprehensive assessment of recovery.Results (1) The finite element analysis results:the maximum stress value was 5.907 MPa for intramedullary nail and 5.821 MPa for locking plate model (P ＞0.05),respectively.The maximum displacement of intramedullary nail model was 2.313 mm,lower than that of locking plate fixation system (3.854 rmm) (P ＜ 0.05).(2) Clinical verification:the operation time and intraoperative blood loss of intramedullary nail were both lower than those of locking plate [(114.1 ±21.6)minutes):(129.8±21.4)minutes and (152.9 ±64.88)ml:(212.5 ±98.5)ml](P ＜0.05).The average fracture healing time was (17.7 ± 2.8)weeks for intramedullary nail and (20.6 ± 4.1) weeks for locking plate (P ＜ 0.05),respectively.In the intramedullary nail group,the Johner Wruhs score was excellent in 13 cases and good in four cases,with excellent and good rate of 100％,while in the locking plate group,nine cases were excellent,eight were good,and three were fair,with excellent and good rate of 85％ (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions In terms of biomechanics and clinical effect,intramedullary nail fixation is superior than the medial locking plate fixation for the treatment of the distal tibial fractures.Intramedullary nail fixation can reduce surgical trauma and bone displacement after fixation and promote fracture healing.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical features and mutation of TGFBI gene in a Chinese pedigree affected with lattice corneal dystrophy (LCD).

METHODSGenomic DNA was extracted from 35 members including 11 patients from the pedigree. The 17 exons and splicing region of introns of the TGFBI gene were amplified by PCR. The products were directly sequenced and compared with GenBank database to identify potential mutation. Bioinformatic analysis was carried out to predict the effect of mutation on proteins.

RESULTSA heterozygous mutation (p.R124C) was found in exon 4 of the TGFBI gene in all patients from the pedigree but not among unaffected members. The mode of inheritance of corneal dystrophy in this pedigree was identified as autosomal dominant. Bioinformatics analysis predicted that the p.R124C mutation may be functionally deleterious. The phenotype of corneal dystrophy in the pedigree was determined to be LCD I type.

CONCLUSIONThe p.R124C mutation of the TGFBI gene probably underlies the pathogenesis of LCD in this Chinese pedigree. Genetic testing can facilitate proper diagnosis of this type of corneal dystrophy.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical features and TGFBI gene mutation in a Chinese family affected with Reis-Bucklers corneal dystrophy.

METHODSGenomic DNA was extracted from 53 members including 9 patients from the family. The 17 exons and splice region of introns of the TGFBI gene were amplified by PCR and directly sequenced. All family members were subjected to ophthalmologic examination.

RESULTSA heterozygous mutation (R124L) was found in exon 4 of the TGFBI gene among all patients from the family. The same mutation was not found among unaffected family members. The inheritance pattern of the family was identified as autosomal dominant, and the Reis-Bucklers corneal dystrophy in the family was diagnosed as the geographic type.

CONCLUSIONThe R124L mutation of the TGFBI gene probably underlies the pathogenesis of Reis-Bucklers corneal dystrophy in this Chinese family. Molecular genetic approach is useful for the proper diagnosis of this type of corneal dystrophy.

Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary ; etiology ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics

BACKGROUND: Three-dimensional (3D) printing technique has showed unparalleled advantages in the field of tissue engineering scaffold preparation because of its outstanding merits of convenience, efficiency, controllability and ability to construct complex shapes.OBJECTIVE: To fabricate Fe-containing mesoporous calcium-silicate (MCS) /poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx) composite scaffolds using the 3D printing technique and to test the characterization and cellular biocompatibility of the composite scaffolds.METHODS: Four groups of Fe-containing MCS/PHBHHx composite scaffolds were fabricated using 3D printing technique. The molar percentage of Fe in these four groups was 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, respectively and they were marked as 0Fe-MCS/PHBHHx, 5Fe-MCS/PHBHHx, 10Fe-MCS/PHBHHx and 15Fe-MCS/PHBHHx. The scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the microstructure of the scaffolds after being soaked in the simulated body fluid.Osteoblast cell lines MC3T3-E1 were seeded on these four groups of scaffolds as well. Cell counting kit-8 method was adopted to test the cell proliferation at 1, 3, 7 days of culture. Intracellular alkaline phosphatase activity was tested at 7 and 14 days of culture.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Compared with the scaffolds with no soaking process, spherical particles were formed on the scaffolds because of mineralization after soaking 3 days in the simulated body fluid. (2) At 1 day of culture,there was no difference in cell proliferation among the four groups. At 3 days of culture, the proliferation rate of the 15Fe-MCS/PHBHHx scaffold was remarkably higher than that of the rest three groups (P < 0.05). At 7 days of culture,the proliferation rate was significantly higher in the 10Fe-MCS/PHBHH and 15Fe-MCS/PHBHHx scaffolds than the 0Fe-MCS/PHBHH scaffold (P < 0.05), as well as significantly higher in the 15Fe-MCS/PHBHHx scaffold than the 10Fe-MCS/PHBHH scaffold (P < 0.05). (3) At 7 days of culture, no difference in alkaline phosphatase activity could be found among these four groups of scaffolds; however, at 14 days, the 5Fe-MCS/PHBHHx, 10Fe-MCS/PHBHHx and 15Fe-MCS/PHBHHx scaffolds exhibited an enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity compared with the 0Fe-MCS/PHBHHx scaffold. Meanwhile, the 15Fe-MCS/PHBHHx showed the highest alkaline phosphatase activity.These findings indicate that the MCS/PHBHH scaffolds containing Fe could promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of the MC3T3-E1 cells.

BACKGROUND:Macropore morphology of a composite scaffold prepared by the three-dimensional printing technique is of great importance in determining the physicochemical and biological properties of tissue engineering scaffolds.OBJECTIVE:To fabricate strontium-containing mesoporous (Sr-MBG) bioactive glass (PCL) scaffolds by the three-dimensional printing technique, and to explore the effect of these scaffolds on MC3T3-E1 proliferation and osteogenic differentiation, thereby to find out the optimal macropore morphology.METHODS: Sr-MBG/PCL composite scaffolds were fabricated by the three-dimensional printing technique. The angles between fibrous latitudes and longitudes were set to 45°, 60° and 90°. Then the proliferation and alkaline phosphatase activity of MC3T3-E1 cells on the scaffolds were tested.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Cell counting kit-8 results showed that MC3T3-E1 cells could proliferate on all the three kinds of scaffolds. The proliferation rate of MC3T3-E1 cells on the 45° Sr-MBG/PCL scaffolds was just slightly higher than that on the 60° and 90° Sr-MBG/PCL scaffolds at days 1 and 4 (P > 0.05), but there was a significant increase at day 7 (P < 0.05). The 45° Sr-MBG/PCL scaffolds exhibited a significant increase in alkaline phosphatase activity of MC3T3-E1 cells compared to the 60° and 90° Sr-MBG/PCL scaffolds at day 14 (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference among three groups at day 21 (P > 0.05). These results indicate that the 45° Sr-MBG/PCL scaffold is more suitable to promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of the MC3T3 cells than the 60° and 90° Sr-MBG/PCL scaffolds.