Objective To study the correlation between traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)constitution and pathogenic factors in patients with ankylosing spondylitis(AS).Methods One hundred patients of AS and their family members who had medical consultation in the Fifth Hospital of Xi'an(i.e.,Shaanxi Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine)in August 2019 and September 2020 were selected as the study subjects.The guidelines of Classification and Determination of Traditional Chinese Medicine Constitution issued by the China Association of Chinese Medicine were adopted to determine the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)constitution types of the study subjects.The sociodemographic information,living habits,clinical symptoms,and TCM constitution types of the AS patients and their family members were collected by means of questionnaires and clinical investigations,and then the pathogenic factors of the patients with AS were investigated.The binomial Logistic regression model was used to analyze the correlation between TCM constitution types and pathogenic factors in patients with AS.Results(1)Among the 100 AS patients,the majority of them had the biased constitutions,and the biased constitutions with the occurrence frequency in descending order were yang deficiency constitution,qi deficiency constitution,and damp-heat constitution,which accounted for 33.00%,14.00%,and 18.00%,respectively.(2)The prevalence rates of AS in the first-,second-,and third-degree relatives of AS patients were 56.25%,40.00%and 25.00%,respectively.For the positive rates of human leukocyte antigen B27(HLA-B27)in AS patients and their family members,HLA-B27 in AS patients was all positive,while the positive rates of HLA-B27 in the first-,second-,and third-degree relatives of AS patients were 44.31%,30.67%and 15.63%,respectively.(3)The results of regression analysis showed that the disease duration of AS patients was significantly correlated with qi deficiency constitution,the grading of sacroiliac arthritis was correlated with qi stagnation constitution,and age was correlated with blood stasis constitution(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).The results indicated that disease duration and age were the important factors affecting the constitution types of AS patients,and disease duration was closely related to qi deficiency while age was closely related to blood stasis.Conclusion AS is a highly hereditary autoimmune disease,and its onset is associated with HLA-B27.Yang deficiency is the basic constitution type of AS,and damp-heat constitution is the main constitution type in the progression of AS(especially in the active stage of the disease).The prolongation of the disease will exacerbate the illness condition of AS and then the manifestations of qi deficiency will be more obvious.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of concomitant BRAFV600E mutation with central lymph node metastases in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

METHODSThe clinicopathological data of 126 PTC patients who underwent surgical treatment within a period of 2 years were retrospectively analyzed. The BRAF V600E gene mutation was detected by quantitative fluorescence PCR.

RESULTSThe BRAF mutation rate was 69.0% (87/126). The univariate analysis showed that BRAF mutation status was significantly associated with central lymph node metastasis (P<0.05), while the gender, multiple lesions, tumor size, extra-thyroidal invasion, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and tumor stage were not significantly associated with the BRAF mutation (P>0.05 for all). The multivariate analysis showed that only central lymph node metastasis was significantly correlated with BRAF mutation (P<0.05). When the diameter of tumor was ≤10 mm, BRAF mutation was statistically not significantly correlated to central lymph node metastasis (P>0.05). When the diameter of tumor was >10 mm, the central lymph node metastasis rate was significantly higher in patients with positive BRAF mutation than that in patients with a negative BRAF mutation (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe presence of BRAF mutation is an independent predictive factor for central lymph node metastasis. When PTC is with preoperative positive BRAF mutation, the cervical dissection should be routinely performed. The larger the tumor diameter is, the more important is the central lymph node dissection. There should be re-evaluated the necessity of preventative central lymph node dissection when the tumor diameter was ≤5 mm in patients with negative BRAF mutation.

Carcinoma ; epidemiology ; genetics ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Hashimoto Disease ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf ; genetics ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical value of multiplex nested reverse transcription PCR (RT-nPCR) in screening acute myeloid leukemia(AML)fusion genes.

METHODSA novel multiplex RT-nPCR assay was developed to detect 16 AML-related fusion genes (AML1-EVI1, AML1-ETO, AML1-MDS1, AML1-MTG16, MLL-AF9, MLL-AF6, MLL-AF10, MLL-ENL, MLL-MLL, PML-RARα, PLZFRARα, NPM1-RARα, CBFB-MYH11, DEK-CAN, SET-CAN and TLS-ERG) according to 2008 WHO classification of AML. The chromosome reciprocal translocations of 356 AML cases were detected by multiplex RT-nPCR and karyotyping. The positive samples were further confirmed by split- out PCR and FISH.

RESULTSThe fusion genes were detected in 172 patients with the positive detection rate of 48.31%(172/356), which was higher than that of karyotyping (31.46%) (χ²=70.314, P<0.01). Multiplex RT-nPCR is superior to karyotyping and FISH in identifying the rare, cryptic chromosome translocation (χ²=96.074, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe multiplex RT-nPCR used in this study can quickly, effectively and accurately screen the fusion genes in AML patients, which can provide important evidence for assessing diagnosis and treatment, and also provide necessary information for minimal residual disease (MRD) and prognosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Karyotyping ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of lever positioning manipulation for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation and its effect on Cobb angle. METHODS: From December 2017 to November 2018, 67 patients with lumbar disc herniation were included in the study. The patients were randomly divided into treatment group and control group by digital table method. There were 34 cases in the treatment group, including 20 males and 14 females, with an average age of (36.09±8.26) years old and a course of (13.79±15.50) months. Treatment group was treated with lever positioning manipulation. There were 33 cases in the control group, including 18 males and 15 females, with an average age of(36.48±7.81) years old and a course of (12.82±15.68) months. Control group was treated with lumbar slanting manipulation. Two groups were treated 3 times a week, once every other day, 6 times for a course of treatment, after 2 courses of treatment, the changes of Cobb angle before and after treatment were compared between two groups by imaging. The symptoms and signs were scored with reference to clinical evaluation standard;overall efficacy was evaluated with reference to "Diagnostic Efficacy Criteria of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome" issued by the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine for lumbar disc herniation. RESULTS: One patient in each group dropped out. The symptom and sign scores of treatment group and control group before treatment were 18.56± 4.81, 18.61±3.72, while after treatment were 9.41±5.19, 13.55±3.68;treatment group was significantly lower than control group after treatment ( CONCLUSION Both the lever positioning manipulation and the lumbar slanting manipulation methods are effective for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation, but clinical effect of lever positioning method on lumbar disc herniation is more significant, and the effect on Cobb angle is more obvious. It is worthy of promotion.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/therapy* ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Male ; Manipulation, Spinal ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To observe the analgesic effect of lever positioning manipulation combined with pulsed electric field on patients with lumbar disc herniation and the influence on serum IL-1β and TNF-α. METHODS: From January 2018 to March 2019, 58 patients with lumbar disc herniation were included in the study, which were randomly divided into observation group and control group by digital table method. Observation group of 29 cases, including 16 males and 13 females, aged (38.03±11.29) years old, were treated with lever positioning manipulation combined with pulsed electric field. The 29 cases in control group, including 17 males and 12 females, aged (38.21±9.16) years old, were treated with pulsed electric field. Both groups of patients were treated 3 times a week, once every other day, 3 times as a course of treatment. After 2 courses of treatment, the two groups of patients were scored before and after treatment by the numeric rating scales (NRS);at the same time, the serum levels of IL-1β and TNF-α were measured before and after treatment. RESULTS: The NRS scores of observation group and control group were 4.21±1.76, 4.66±1.61 before treatment, and 1.28±0.84, 2.10±1.35 after treatment, respectively. The NRS scores of the observation group after treatment was significantly lower than that of the control group ( CONCLUSION The lever positioning manipulation combined with pulsed electric field has a good analgesic effect on patients with lumbar disc herniation, and it has a significant impact on the patient's serum IL-1β and TNF-α concentration, which can be used as a clinical guide. However, the synergistic effect of lever positioning technique combined with pulsed electric field and guidelines for clinical treatment need further research.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/therapy* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Critical ultrasonography(CUS) is different from the traditional diagnostic ultrasound,the examiner and interpreter of the image are critical care medicine physicians.The core content of CUS is to evaluate the pathophysiological changes of organs and systems and etiology changes.With the idea of critical care medicine as the soul,it can integrate the above information and clinical information,bedside real-time diagnosis and titration treatment,and evaluate the therapeutic effect so as to improve the outcome.CUS is a traditional technique which is applied as a new application method.The consensus of experts on critical ultrasonography in China released in 2016 put forward consensus suggestions on the concept,implementation and application of CUS.It should be further emphasized that the accurate and objective assessment and implementation of CUS requires the standardization of ultrasound image acquisition and the need to establish a CUS procedure.At the same time,the standardized training for CUS accepted by critical care medicine physicians requires the application of technical specifications,and the establishment of technical specifications is the basis for the quality control and continuous improvement of CUS.Chinese Critical Ultrasound Study Group and Critical Hemodynamic Therapy Collabration Group,based on the rich experience of clinical practice in critical care and research,combined with the essence of CUS,to learn the traditional ultrasonic essence,established the clinical application technical specifications of CUS,including in five parts:basic view and relevant indicators to obtain in CUS;basic norms for viscera organ assessment and special assessment;standardized processes and systematic inspection programs;examples of CUS applications;CUS training and the application of qualification certification.The establishment of applied technology standard is helpful for standardized training and clinical correct implementation.It is helpful for clinical evaluation and correct guidance treatment,and is also helpful for quality control and continuous improvement of CUS application.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the leading causes of death in the world. With the improvement of clinical therapy, the mortality of acute MI has been significantly reduced. However, as for the long-term impact of MI on cardiac remodeling and cardiac function, there is no effective prevention and treatment measures. Erythropoietin (EPO), a glycoprotein cytokine essential to hematopoiesis, has anti-apoptotic and pro-angiogenetic effects. Studies have shown that EPO plays a protective role in cardiomyocytes in cardiovascular diseases, such as cardiac ischemia injury and heart failure. EPO has been demonstrated to protect ischemic myocardium and improve MI repair by promoting the activation of cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs). This study aimed to investigate whether EPO can promote MI repair by enhancing the activity of stem cell antigen 1 positive stem cells (Sca-1⁺ SCs). Darbepoetin alpha (a long-acting EPO analog, EPO_anlg) was injected into the border zone of MI in adult mice. Infarct size, cardiac remodeling and performance, cardiomyocyte apoptosis and microvessel density were measured. Lin^- Sca-1⁺ SCs were isolated from neonatal and adult mouse hearts by magnetic sorting technology, and were used to identify the colony forming ability and the effect of EPO, respectively. The results showed that, compared to MI alone, EPO_anlg reduced the infarct percentage, cardiomyocyte apoptosis ratio and left ventricular (LV) chamber dilatation, improved cardiac performance, and increased the numbers of coronary microvessels in vivo. In vitro, EPO increased the proliferation, migration and clone formation of Lin^- Sca-1⁺ SCs likely via the EPO receptor and downstream STAT-5/p38 MAPK signaling pathways. These results suggest that EPO participates in the repair process of MI by activating Sca-1⁺ SCs.
Animals ; Mice ; Ventricular Remodeling ; Erythropoietin ; Myocardial Infarction ; Heart ; Stem Cells

OBJECTIVETo investigate the epidemiological characteristics of human infections with avian influenza A (H7N9) in China and to provide scientific evidence for the adjustment of preventive strategy and control measures.

METHODSDemographic and epidemiologic information on human cases were collected from both reported data of field epidemiological investigation and the reporting system for infectious diseases.

RESULTSA total of 433 cases including 163 deaths were reported in mainland China before June 4, 2014. Two obvious epidemic peaks were noticed, in March to April, 2013 and January to February, 2014. Confirmed cases emerged in 14 areas of China. Five provinces, including Zhejiang, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Hunan, reported about 85% of the total cases. Median age of the confirmed cases was 58 years (range, 1-91), with 70% as males. Of the 418 cases with available data, 87% had ever exposed to live poultry or contaminated environments. 14 clusters were identified but human to human transmission could not be ruled out in 9 clusters.

CONCLUSIONHuman infections with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus showed the characteristics of obvious seasonal distribution, with certain regional clusters. The majority of confirmed cases were among the elderly, with more males seen than the females. Data showed that main source of infection was live poultry and the live poultry market had played a significant role in the transmission of the virus.

Adaptation, Psychological ; Aged ; Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Demography ; Environmental Pollution ; Female ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; transmission ; Male ; Meat ; Poultry ; Research Design