135 ms in selecting patients for cardiac resynchronization therapy(CRT).Methods Forty-five patients with SHF were randomly divided into two groups according to QRS width: Group 1(QRS width 135 ms could finely predict the presence of interventricular dyssynchrony,with a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 87.5%;while the same cutoff value to predict intraventricular dyssynchrony only yielded a sensitivity of 44.1% and specificity of 73.6%.Conclusion Intraventricular dyssynchrony and(or) interventricular dyssynchrony has a high prevalence in patients with SHF.A QRS duration cutoff value higher 135 ms can well evaluate the cardiac mechanical dyssynchrony in clinical practice,which may be of value for optimizing selection of CRT candidates and reducing the nonresponders.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Dazhui" (GV 14) on Wnt-β-catenin signal pathway in annulus fibrosus cells in intervertebral disc in rats with cervical spondylosis.

METHODSForty SD rats were randomized into a control group, a model group, an EA group and a medication group, 10 rats in each one. Rats in the control group were treated with sham operation, only incision on local skin; rats in the remaining groups were made into cervical spondylosis models. After model establishment, rats in the control group and model group received fixed treatment under identical condition; rats in the EA group were treated with EA at "Dazhui" (GV 14), 30 min per treatment; rats in the medication group were treated with intragastric administration of meloxicam tablets. Treatments were both given once a day, and 14 days were taken as one session; there was an interval of 2 days between two sessions, and totally two sessions were given. After the treatments, immunohistochemistry was applied to measure the expression of Wnt, glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and Axin in annulus fibrosus cells; western blot was used to test the expression of P-β-catenin.

RESULTSIn the control group, there were more positive cells of Wnt, GSK-3β and Axin, which were intensively distributed, deeply colored, and strongly positive; In the model group, there were less positive cells of Wnt, GSK-3β and Axin, which were sparsely distributed and weakly positive. The expression of Wnt, GSK-3β, Axin and P-β-catenin in the model group was less than that in the control group (all P < 0.05); expression of Wnt, GSK-3β, Axin and P-β-catenin in the EA group and medication group was higher than that in the model group (all P < 0.05); expression of Wnt, GSK-3β, Axin and P-β-catenin was not significantly different between EA group and medication group (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEA could delay the degeneration of intervertebral disc, which may be related to EA inhibiting signal pathway of Wnt-β-catenin.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Spondylosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; beta Catenin ; genetics ; metabolism

Good clinical practice should be based on evidence. Evidence quality should be based on critical appraisal in evidence based medicine (EBM). Evaluation of evidence quality plays an important role in evidence level clarifying, which is the core of EBM. Different recommendations for clinical practice often derive from evidence levels. Thus evidence quality evaluation is the first and most important step in EBM. There are lots of standards to evaluate evidence quality in the world. However there are two aspects of the evaluation, one is methodological evaluation and the other is reporting evaluation. This article collected a series of standards for clinical trials quality evaluation according to different research designs. It is hoped that the resource and introduction about the quality evaluation of clinical trials be helpful for medical researchers in China. Only being familiar with all kinds of standards of methodology and reporting, researchers could publish high quality scientific papers.
Biomedical Research ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Guidelines as Topic ; Humans ; Meta-Analysis as Topic ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

OBJECTIVE:To establish a method to determine and compare the contents of sodium benzoate in medicinal(phar-maceutical excipients and active pharmaceutical ingredients) and non-medicinal (chemical reagents and food additives) grade. METHODS:HPLC was conducted for content determination,SPSS 18.0 software was adopted to compare the results. The column was Purospher STAR LP RP-18 endcapped with mobile phase of acetotrile-0.02% formic acid(adjusted pH to 4.0 with aqua ammo-nia)(30∶70,V/V)at a flow rate was 1.0 ml/min,the detection wavelength was 230 nm,column temperature was 35 ℃,and vol-ume injection was 20 μl. RESULTS:The linear range of sodium benzoate was 10.5-525.3 μg/ml(r=0.999 9);RSDs of precision, stability,reproducibility and durability tests were lower than 0.5%;recovery was 99.38%-101.26%(RSD=0.56%,n=9). The av-erage contents of sodium benzoate in medicinal and non-medicinal grade were between 99.400%-99.875%,but the average content of non-medicinal grade is lower than the medical grade. CONCLUSIONS:The method is accurate and simple with high specificity and good reproducibility,and can be used to determine and compare the content of sodium benzoate in medicinal and non-medici-nal grade.

Objective To evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of human papillomaviruses (HPV)infection among human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)-positive women.Methods Totally 178HIV-positive and 122 HIV-negative women were enrolled.Structured interviews,peripheral CD4 + T cells counts and cervical specimens were obtained.Polymerase chain reaction(PCR)assay was used to identify HPV types. SPSS 16.0 was used for statistical analysis,and logistic regression was used to identify independent prognostic factors for high-risk HPV infection. Results HPV positive rate,high-risk and multiple HPV infection rates were 38.2% vs.12.3% ,35.4% vs.8.2% ,and 13.5% vs.3.3% in HIVpositive women and HIV-negative women,respectively,and the differences were of statistical significance (x2 =24.77,29.08 and 8.91,P ＜0.05).The common types of high-risk HPV were similar between HIV-positive and HIV-negative women(HPV16,52,58 and 18).CD4 + T count ＜ 350/pL,HIV-positive in husband,and HIV infection through sexual contact were risk factors for high-risk HPV infection in HIV-positive women.Conclusion sThe prevalence of HPV infection in HIV-infected women is high,especially for high-risk HPV infection and multiple infection.High-risk HPV infection usually occurs in HIV-positive women with low immune status,HIV infection through sexual contact and HIV-positive husband.

OBJECTIVETo select a safe, quick and effective method for terminating ectopic pregnancy (EP) with few adverse effects.

METHODSPatients were divided into 2 groups. The observed group was treated with methotrexate (MTX, 50 mg/m2 for single dose intramuscular injection) plus RU 486 (600 mg taken orally in the morning with empty stomach, followed with fasting for 2 hrs) and Waiyun Zhuyu decoction (WZD, one dose a day for 7-10 days). The control group was only treated with MTX, with the same regimen as used in the observed group.

RESULTSThe curative rate, time for blood beta-HCG recovering, lump absorption time, and tube recanalization rate in the observed group were better than those in the control group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION; The key links for successfully treating EP with conservative drug therpy are to diagnose the disease early and clearly, and to select indicative subject strictly. The scheme of single dose administration of MTX plus RU486 combined with WZD, with its high efficacy and few adverse reaction, may be used as the first choice for referential clinical drugs administration.

Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal ; administration & dosage ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Methotrexate ; administration & dosage ; Mifepristone ; administration & dosage ; Phytotherapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; drug therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of intermittent liver-nourishing and mind-regulating acupuncture in preventive treatment of migraine. Method One hundred and twenty migraine patients were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 60 cases each. The treatment group received intermittent liver-nourishing and mind-regulating acupuncture and the control group took flunarizine hydrochloride capsules orally. The migraine score, the visual analogue scale (VAS) score and the headache severity rating score were recorded in the subjects before treatment and at the end of treatment and the 4-week, 8-week, 12-week, 16-week and 20-week follow-ups. The Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) score and the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were recorded before and after treatment.Result After one course of treatment, the total efficacy rate was 98.3% in the treatment group and 89.5% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the migraine score between before treatment and at the end of treatment in the two groups (P<0.05) and between the two groups at the same follow-ups (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the VAS score between before treatment and at the end of treatment in the two groups (P<0.05) and between the two groups at the same follow-ups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the SAS and SDS scores between before treatment and at the end of treatment in the two groups (P<0.05) and between the two groups after treatment (P<0.05).Conclusion Intermittent liver-nourishing and mind-regulating acupuncture has marked efficacy in preventive treatment of migraine. It can increase the total efficacy rate and reduce the number of relapses.

Objective To develop a five fluorescence-labeled multiplex amplification system for 15 loci and study genetic polymorphism in Xinjiang Uygur population. Methods The STR loci were screened. The alleles were named according to the number of repeats by sequencing. The sensitivity, species specificity, identity and stability of the five fluorescence-labeled multiplex amplification system for the 15 loci were all tested. Then, the genetic polymorphism was analyzed in Xinjiang Uygur population and compared with other ethnic groups including Xizang Tibetan, Xiuyan Manchu, and Guangzhou Han pop-ulation. Results The 15 loci multiplex amplification system was established. The sensitivity was 0.3 ng with good species specificity, identity and stability. The distributions of genotype for 13 STR loci in Uygur population were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium with no genetic linkage between these loci. Most loci showed statistically significant among different populations. Conclusion The estab-lished system has application value in forensic evidence. The 13 STR loci in Uygur population have high polymorphisms to be the supplements to the existing loci.

Objective To compare the advantages of two gross motor measure scales, Peabody Developmental Measure Scale Gross Motor (PDMS-GM) and Gross Motor Function Measure Scale (GMFM), in the evaluation of children with cerebral palsy (CP).Methods The gross motor functions of 29 CP children, 0-3 years old, were evaluated three times using PDMS-GM and GMFM respectively. The improvement percentile each month of PDMS-GM and GMFM were compared by t test.Results There was significant difference between the improvement percentile each month of PDMS-GM and GMFM. Conclusion The GMFM was more sensitive than PDMS-GM in the evaluation of CP children especially in the evaluation of treatment effect.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a five fluorescence-labeled multiplex amplification system for 15 loci and study genetic polymorphism in Xinjiang Uygur population. METHODS: The STR loci were screened. The alleles were named according to the number of repeats by sequencing. The sensitivity, species specificity, identity and stability of the five fluorescence-labeled multiplex amplification system for the 15 loci were all tested. Then, the genetic polymorphism was analyzed in Xinjiang Uygur population and compared with other ethnic groups including Xizang Tibetan, Xiuyan Manchu, and Guangzhou Han population. RESULTS: The 15 loci multiplex amplification system was established. The sensitivity was 0.3 ng with good species specificity, identity and stability. The distributions of genotype for 13 STR loci in Uygur population were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium with no genetic linkage between these loci. Most loci showed statistically significant among different populations. CONCLUSION The established system has application value in forensic evidence. The 13 STR loci in Uygur population have
Alleles ; Ethnicity/genetics* ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Linkage ; Genotype ; Humans ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods* ; Polymorphism, Genetic