In recent years a number of qualitative research methods have gained popularity within the health care arena. Despite this popularity, different qualitative analysis methods pose many challenges to most researchers. The present paper responds to the needs expressed by recent Chinese medicine researches. The present paper is mainly focused on the concepts, nature, application of framework analysis, especially on how to use it, in such a way to assist the newcomer of Chinese medicine researchers to engage with the methodology.
Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Qualitative Research ; Research ; Research Design

Objective: To evaluate the effect of high-intensity interval somatosensory training combined with neuromuscular acupoint electrical stimulation on blood glucose and motor function among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), so as to provide insights into prevention of daily life disability among T2DM patients. Methods: T2DM patients treated in Zhejiang Hospital during the period from January 2019 to October 2021 were enrolled and randomly assigned into four groups. Patients in the K group received Kinect somatosensory interaction technology-assisted high-intensity interval training, patients in the N group received neuromuscular acupoint electrical stimulation, and patients in the KN group received high-intensity interval somatosensory training combined with neuromuscular acupoint electrical stimulation, while patients in the C group were given no interventions. The 2 h postprandial plasma glucose and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were measured prior to interventions and 4 and 12 weeks post-interventions, and seven physical fitness tests were performed. The blood glucose levels and motor activity were compared among four groups using generalized estimating equations to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions. Results: Totally 199 T2DM patients were enrolled, including 51 patients in the KN group, 49 patients in the K group, 52 patients in the N group and 47 patients in the C group. There were no significant differences in gender, age, course of disease, duration of daily exercises, waist-to-hip ratio, vital capacity or maximal oxygen uptake among the four groups prior to interventions (all P>0.05). There were time-group interaction effects in blood glucose and exercise parameters among the four groups post-interventions (all P>0.05), with the largest changes seen in the KN group. The HbA1c, 2 h postprandial plasma glucose, 2.4 m standing and detour test and back scratch test results reduced by 17.06%, 27.01%, 36.52% and 20.94% 12 weeks post-interventions as compared to those prior to interventions, while 2 min stepping test, 30 s sit-ups, 30 s loading and elbow flexion test, 6 min walking test and sit and reach test results increased by 18.85%, 34.69%, 15.41%, 7.22% and 112.37%, respectively. Conclusion High-intensity interval somatosensory training combined with neuromuscular acupoint electrical stimulation may improve the blood glucose and motor activity among patients with T2DM.

This study evaluated the cytotoxicity of a new type silicone rubber for maxillofacial prosthesis, which was developed by the present authors. According to the GB/T16886. 5- 2003, the samples were prepared and tested with cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, the relative growth rate (RGR) was calculated, and morphology of L929 cells were observed by scanning electron microscope and phase contrast microscope. The results showed that RGR of L929 cells were 91.65% (24 h), 87.03% (48 h), 87.30% (72 h), respectively, and the level of cytotoxicity was grade 1. The L929 cells showed typical fusiform shape and their morphology did not changed significantly after 24 h, 48 h and 72 h. These data indicated that the newly-developed silicone rubber material, as a maxillofacial prosthesis material, should be a safe biomaterial.
Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; Cell Line ; Humans ; Maxillofacial Prosthesis ; Mice ; Silicone Elastomers ; toxicity

This study aims to assess if adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to parenterally administered salvianolate are allergic in origin. Hospital information system (HIS) data from 20 hospitals in China were used to carry out a retrospective nested case control design study. Included were patients who received dexamethasone for suspected allergic reactions after receiving parenterally administered salvianolate. These were compared with non-allergic reaction people. Single factor logistic regression and multiple factor logistic regression were used to analyze data. Condition on admission, allergic history, dosage, disease status and drug combinations were taken into account in cases of suspected allergic reactions. After analysis in two subgroups we found that the condition on admission had a significant effect, P values was < 0.000 1 on suspected cases of allergic reactions in the first subgroup analysis. For the second subgroup analysis, we found condition on solvents had a significant effects, P values was 0.005 1 on suspected cases of allergic reactions. We also found that using other four injections at the same time as parenterally administered salvianolate could be risky factors in suspected cases of allergic reactions. For the second subgroup analysis combining using three injections could increase risks. However, further research for verification is required. This study can provide guidance for safe clinical practice in using parenterally administered salvianolate.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; diagnosis ; Female ; Hospital Information Systems ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plant Extracts ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVEThe biological safety of a new developed silicone rubber for inflatable silastic prosthesis (SRISP) was evaluated.

METHODSFollowing the GB/T 16886.10-2005 standard, YY/T 0127.13-2009 standard, and GB/T 16886.11- 2011 standard, samples were prepared and tested by animal experiments, such as guinea pig maximization test, oral mucous membrane irritation test, and short-term systemic toxicity test (oral route).

RESULTSNo obvious erythema and edema in the guinea pig abdominal skin were observed after 24, 48, and 72 h of stimulating touch, thus indicating that SRISP does not cause potential skin sensitivity. No local response to SRISP was found, and the visual observation and pathological findings of oral mucosa were normal and similar to that of the control group. Therefore, SRISP had no irritation response to oral mucosa. No clinical signs of toxicity were observed in rats, and no significant differences in weight and weight relative growth rate between extract group and blank control group (P > 0.05) were found. Thus, SRISP had no short-term systemic toxicity.

CONCLUSIONThese results indicated that SRISP met the requirement of biomedical materials and had good bio- security.

Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; Cosmetics ; Dimethylpolysiloxanes ; Guinea Pigs ; Prostheses and Implants ; Rats ; Silicone Elastomers ; Toxicity Tests

Objective To assess the clinical application value of phleboplasties combined with microvascular anastomotic device in venous anastomosis with diameter discrepancy in head and neck defects reconstruction.Methods Sixty-six pairs of veins with significant diameter discrepancy were anastomosed in head and neck reconstructive surgeries with free flaps.Forty of them were anastomosed with microvascular anastomotic device (the coupler group) after phleboplasties including lateral incision, Y-T enlargement and wedge excision while the other 26 pairs of veins were conventionally sutured (the sutured group).Diameter of each vein, anastomosis time, post-operative vascular crisis, flap survival and complications related to the microvascular anastomotic device were recorded.Results The average anastomosis time of the coupler group was (4.78 ± 1.14) min for lateral incision, (5.16 ± 2.07) min for Y-T enlargement and (11.09 ± 3.21) min for wedge excision, and all of them were significantly shorter than that of the sutured group.In the sutured group, all flaps survived except for 2 veins with poor blood flow were cut and re-anastomosed during the operation;1 flap with venous crisis within 72 hours after the operations was explored and replaced with the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap.All veins in the coupler group were successfully anastomosed in a single coupling procedure without anastomotic impatency, blood leak, vessel tearing and ring shedding.No vascular crisis occurred postoperatively.One patient underwent cervical haematoma 5 hours after the operation, and the flap blood supply was unaffected after the haematoma was removed.All flaps in the coupler group survived completely.Patients in both two groups were followed up 6 to 18 months.All flaps healed perfectly and no obvious surgical complications or microvascular anastomotic device rejection happened.Conclusion When anastomoses are carried out using microvascular anastomotic device between veins of different size, phleboplasties including lateral incision., Y-T enlargement and wedge excision can not only reduce the size discrepancy and the anastomosis time, but also ease the difficulty level and guarantee the patency of the venous anastomoses.Wedge excision enjoys the advantage of haemodynamics, and obstruction of venous reflux hardly occurred for size reduction.It should be considered preferentially when external jugular veins are used as the anastomotic vein of the recipient sites in head and neck reconstruction.

Objective:To observe the influence of radiofrequency catheter ablation of the fat pad at the right pulmonary vein- atria junction(RPV fat pad)on Bezold-Jarisch reflex(BJR)induced by veratridine in canine.Methods:Ten mongrel dogs were anesthetized and their chest were opened through a right thoracotomy to expose the RPV fat pad.Veratridine was injected into the left ventricle at bolus doses of 10?g/kg through a catheter to induce BJR.The sinus cycle length(SCL),systolic arterial pressure(SAP),diastolic arterial pressure(DAP),mean arterial pressure(MAP),left ventricle systolic pressure(LVSP), left ventricle diastolic pressure(LVDP)and mean left ventricle pressure(MLVP)were measured under the baseline and after ablation of the RPV fat pad;the changes of the above parameters(?SCL,?SAP,?DAP,?MAP,?LVSP,?LVDP,and?MLVP)were calculated.Then the same dose of veratridine was injected under the pad after ablation and the changes of the a- bove parameters were observed.Results:BJR was successfully induced in the 8 animals;the animals has prolonged sinus cycle length(SCL)and decreased MAP and MLVP.After ablation,the prolongation of SCL after injection of veratridine was markedly reduced([229.2?92.3]ms vs[39.3?14.1]ms,P

Twelve cases of Bartter's syndrome were reported and reviewed retrospectively.Usually vomiting was the first sympton in children,while fatigue was common in adults.Bartter's syndrome was characteristic of hypokalemia,metabolic alkalosis,elevations of plasma renin activity,serum angiotersinⅡand aldosterone and juxtaglomerular apperatus hyperplasia.Supplementation of potassium choloride was the main manner of therapy.

BACKGROUND: Early reperfusion can effectively treat acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and reduce the mortality significantly. This study aimed to compare the role of plasma microRNA-1 (miR-1) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) in early diagnosis of AMI patients. METHODS: From May 2011 to May 2012, plasma samples were collected from 56 AMI patients and 28 non-AMI controls. The expression of plasma miR-1 was measured by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and the level of plasma cTnT was measured using electrochemiluminescence-based methods on an Elecsys 2010 Immunoassay Analyzer. SPSS 16.0 was used for the statistical analysis of the results. Data were expressed as mean±standard deviation unless otherwise described. The differences about clinical characteristics between the AMI patients and controls were tested using Student'st test or Fisher's exact test. The Mann-WhitneyU test was conducted to compare the expression of microRNAs between the AMI patients and controls. MicroRNAs expression between different intervals of the AMI patients was compared using Wilcoxon's signed-rank test. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was established to discriminate the AMI patients from the controls. RESULTS: In the present study, the expression of plasma miR-1 was significantly increased in the AMI patients compared with the healthy controls (P<0.01). The plasma miR-1 in the AMI patients decreased to the normal level at 14 days (P>0.05). The expression of plasma miR-1 was not related to the clinical characteristics of the study population (P>0.05). ROC curve analyses demonstrated that miR-1 was specific and sensitive for the early diagnosis of AMI, but not superior to cTnT. CONCLUSION: Plasma miR-1 could be used in the early diagnosis of AMI, but it is similar to cTnT.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose-position-emission tomography-computer tomography imaging ((18)F-FDG-PET-CT) on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCCA) and lymph node metastasis.

METHODS(18)F-FDG-PET-CT imaging of 20 patients with HNSCCA was evaluated retrospectively.

RESULTSAll the primary tumors were correctly diagnosed by (18)F-PET-CT imaging and SUV(avg) of the primary tumors was (6.22 +/- 2.20). All the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and the negative predictive value were 100%. In detecting lymph node metastasis, the sensitivity was 51%, specificity 97.7%, false positive rate 2.3%, false negative rate 49%, positive predictive value 82%, and negative predictive value 91.2%.

CONCLUSIONS(18)F-FDG-PET-CT imaging was valuable in detecting HNSCCA and lymph node metastasis. SUV was helpful for differential diagnosis between benign or malignant tumors but it needs further study to determine the cutoff SUV for differentiating lymph node metastasis.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed