Objective:The main objective of this study is to analyze the development trend of China's private healthcare providers since the issue of Document No. 58 by the General Office of the State Council in the year 2010. It intends to evaluate the effectiveness of the policy on encouragement and guidance to private healthcare. Methods:(1) Using the statistical data collected from national and provincial healthcare yearbook, we made a comparative a-nalysis on seven indicators regarding the development of private healthcare providers, including the number of health-care providers, the number of beds, the number of healthcare professionals, annual outpatient diagnose-and-treat per-son-times, annual inpatient hospitalization person-times, bed utilization rate and average length of stay for two periods of time (i. e. 2006—2010 and 2011—2015). (2) A field study was conducted to six selected provinces. In these provinces, essential information of the related policy was collected, held stakeholder interviews and focus group dis-cussions among hospital management team and medical workers and visits to several typical private providers were made to understand the policy effectiveness and existing problems. The study also tried to find the key factors for a successful private healthcare provider in China. Results:(1) The results show that since the issue of Document No. 58 in the year 2010 , the number of China's private healthcare providers has greatly increased while the scale and service capabilities of private providers still need to be improved. (2) As per the results again, a great difference ex-ists between provinces in terms of private healthcare provider development during 2010 to 2015 . Conclusion:A posi-tive impact of government regulation on the development of private healthcare providers was noticed. However, China's private healthcare providers are still facing many invisible obstacles and challenges. The government needs to put more focus on building a cross-department coordination and supporting regulation system to advance the sustain-able development of private healthcare providers. Moreover, the government needs to cautiously promote the Public-Private-Partnership ( PPP) to improve the effective allocation of resources in the healthcare market and provide essen-tial support to private healthcare providers in solving the problems they meet during their development process.

Objective To establish a fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for rapid, sensitive and specific determination of -88/-123 polymorphisms in Myxovirus resistance protein A (MxA) gene promoter so as to provide molecular biology tool for optimized interferon-a treatment in chronic hepatitis B patients. Methods Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotyping,serum HBV DNA level,and- 88/- 123 polymorphisms in MxA gene promoter of patients who had been treated with interferon-α were detected. The statistical analysis was done by using SPSS software to understand the relationship between MxA gene polymorphisms and interferon-α treatment. Afterwards, an optimal fluorescent PCR system was established to determine -88/-123 polymorphisms in MxA gene promoter. The sensitivity and the specificity of this system were confirmed by DNA sequencing. P-value of chi square test, odds ratios of regression analysis and 95% confidence intervals were employed. Results Patients with- 88 G/T and - 123 C/A in the interferon-stimulated response element in MxA gene promoter were interferon-α sensitive, while patients with - 88 GIG and - 123 C/C were not interferon-α sensitive. The coincidence rate of this system was 99.65% in comparison with DNA sequencing.Conclusion MxA gene polymorphisms could be rapidly and sensitively determined by this fluorescent PCR system.

Objective To investigate the expression level and clinical significance of cyclic citrullinated peptide antigen-specific T cells(CCP/AST)in synovial fluid and synovial tissue of rheumatoid arthritis(RA)patients.Methods A total of 128 RA patients in Shijiazhuang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January to December 2021 were selected as the RA group,and 50 patients who needed arthroscopy for joint pain in the hospital during the same period were selected as the control group.Among the RA group,there were 46 cases in the mild group,52 cases in the moderate group,and 30 cases in the severe group.The protein expression levels of rheumatoid factors(RF)and anticitrullinated protein antibodies(ACPA)in synovial tissues of the subjects in each group were analyzed by Western blot.The frequency of CCP/AST in the synovial fluid of the subjects was analyzed by flow cytometry.The intensity of the staining of CCP/AST in synovial tissues was observed by double immunofluorescence staining/laser confocal scanning.Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the correlation between the CCP/AST expression of synovial fluid and synovial tissue and RF and ACPA.Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors for the development of rheumatoid arthritis.Results In the order of control,mild,moderate and severe groups,RF(1.01±0.01,1.53±0.03,2.01±0.08,2.66±0.12 kDa)and ACPA proteins(1.03±0.01,1.61±0.03,2.04±0.10,2.59±0.13 kDa)in synovial tissues of patients were sequentially elevated,and the differences were all statistically significant(F=14.207,12.446,all P＜0.05).The expression of CCP/AST in synovial fluid of patients in the control,mild,moderate and severe groups was increased sequentially(8.26%±1.68%,22.46%±3.28%,33.58%±4.37%,46.15%±5.44%),and the difference was statistically significant(F=25.306,P＜0.05).Meanwhile,the intensity of CCP/AST staining in synovial tissues of patients in the control,mild,moderate and severe groups was also increased sequentially(1.05±0.26,1.35±0.89,2.04±0.56,2.78±0.15 score),and the difference was statistically significant(F=70.67,P＜0.05).The expression of CCP/AST in the synovial fluid and synovial tissues of patients with RA was positively correlated with RF(r=0.861,0.934,all P＜0.05)and ACPA in synovial fluid and synovial tissue(r=0.854,0.913,all P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that hypertension(OR=3.241,95%CI:1.491～6.752),diabetes mellitus(OR=2.565,95%CI:1.126～5.813),synovial fluid(OR=4.450,95%CI:1.652～11.622),and CCP/AST expression in synovial tissues(OR=5.629,95%CI:2.474～12.390)were independent risk factors for the development of RA(P＜0.05).Conclusion CCP/AST showed high expression in synovial fluid and synovial tissue of RA patients and related to disease activity and joint destruction,which can be used to assess the clinical joint mobility and bone destruction degree in such patients.

Objective To evaluate the short-term therapeutic effects of DNA immunoadsorbent (IA) combined with glucocorticoid and immune depressant on patients with severe systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE). Methods 32 patients with severe SLE were selected to undergo DNA IA treatment combined with glucocorticoid plus cyclophosphamide therapy, and each patient received IA therapy 3 times, once 2.5 hours, with an interval of 24-48 hours to take another two times of IA. The changes in SLE disease activity index(SLEDAI)score, health status evaluation indexes〔 physiologic functional( PF) and emotional health( MH) scores〕,renal function indexes〔 blood urea nitrogen(BUN)and serum creatinine(SCr)〕 were observed; and anti-double stranded DNA antibody( ds-DNA), immunoglobulin (IgA, IgG, IgM), complements(C3 and C4)and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were examined before and after IA treatment for 2 weeks. Results Two weeks after the combination therapy, the SLEDAI score, BUN, SCr, dsDNA, IgA, IgG, IgM, hs-CRP were significantly lower than those before treatment 〔SLEDAI score : 14.38±3.85 vs. 15.69±1.40, BUN (mmol/L): 11.22±4.78 vs. 16.31±7.90, SCr (μmol/L): 127.02±38.17 vs. 167.25±45.63, dsDNA( U/L): 1.36±0.12 vs. 1.43±0.18, IgA( g/L): 2.41±0.73 vs. 2.59±0.86, IgG( g/L): 16.82±4.83 vs. 21.01±4.84, IgM( g/L): 1.64±0.45 vs. 1.75±0.58, hs-CRP( mg/L): 14.41±2.20 vs. 14.94±2.60, P<0.05 or P<0.01〕; PF score, MH score, complement C3 were increased〔 PF score : 71.19±17.53 vs. 56.66±22.41, MH score : 74.01±15.72 vs. 61.50±17.98, C3( g/L): 0.56±0.09 vs. 0.52±0.10, all P<0.05〕; clinical symptoms were improved significantly, and no significant adverse reactions were found. Conclusion IA combined with medical treatment has shown that it has significant therapeutic effect for treatment of patients with severe SLE, and it may decrease the levels of dsDNA, IgA, IgG, IgM,hs-CRP, and increase the level of complement C3.

Objective To investigate the predictive factors affecting the efficacy of cyclophosphamide (CTX) combined with glucocorticoids in the treatment of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN),and to evaluate the efficacy of calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) adjustment due to poor treatment.Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted.Two hundreds and twenty-eight patients with IMN diagnosed by renal biopsy in the People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from January 1,2007 to December 1,2016 were enrolled.All subjects were treated with CTX in combination with glucocorticoids.The patients were divided into two groups:remission group and no remission group.Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine the baseline clinical-pathological influencing factors for the remission of IMN in the enrolled patients.Results The number of total remission (including complete and partial remission) of the first CTX combined with glucocorticoid treatment in 228 patients with IMN was 188(82.5％).Among them,141 patients (61.8％) had complete remission (CR),the median time for CR was 8(6,12) months,and the median time for partial remission (PR) was 3(1,4) months.The median follow-up time for this study was 25(13,43) months.Compared with the remission group,the serum albumin level was lower in the non-remission group,the 24-hour urine protein content,the blood complement C3 and C4 levels were higher,and the pathological stage was milder (all P ＜ 0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that the levels of baseline serum albumin,complement C4,and pathological stage were independent predictors of clinical remission in IMN patients.Twenty-four non-remission patients were treated with CNI.The overall response rate was 66.7％(16/24) at 6 months and 77.3％(17/22) at 12 months.Conclusions The levels of baseline albumin,blood complement C4,and pathological stage were independent predictors of clinical remission in IMN patients treated with CTX plus glucocorticoids.The non-remission patients with CTX combined with glucocorticoid therapy can still achieve a higher response rate after adjusting for CNI.

BACKGROUNDTo investigate whether high-dose toremifene can enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy in non small cell lung cancer.

METHODSUntreated stage IIIB/IV non-small cell lung cancer patients were randomly devided into group A (high-dose toremifene combined with the platinum-based chemotherapy) or group B (the same platinum-based chemotherapy alone).

RESULTSA total of 30 eligible patients had been recruited. Hemotologic and nonhemotologic toxicities were similar with no statistic difference. The median survival for group A was 8 months, 95% CI (6.63-9.37) versus 7.5 months, 95% CI (4.75-10.25) for group B ( P =0.9). One year-survival rate was 31% for group A versus 28% for group B ( P =0.87). The response rate was 25% for group A versus 21% for group B ( P =0.99).

CONCLUSIONSThe results suggest that high-dose toremifene does not enhance the efficacy of platinum-based chemotherapy for IIIB/IV non-small cell lung cancer but toxicities are well tolerated.

OBJECTIVETo achieve early diagnosis for inheritable hearing loss and determine carrier rate of deafness causing gene mutations in order to provide information for premarital, prenatal and postnatal genetic counseling.

METHODSA total of 17 000 dried heel blood spots of normal newborns in Chengdu were collected with informed consent obtained from their parents. Genomic DNA was extracted from dried blood spots using Qiagen DNA extraction kits. Microarrays with 9 common mutation loci of 4 deafness-associated genes in Chinese population were used. Nine hot mutations including GJB2 (35delG, 176del16, 235delC and 299delAT), GJB3 (538C> T), SLC26A4 (IVS 7-2A> G, 2168A> G), and mitochondrial DNA 12S rRNA (1555A> G, 1494C> T) were detected by PCR amplification and microarray hybridization. Mutations detected by microarray were verified by Sanger DNA sequencing.

RESULTSOf the 17 000 new-borns, 542 neonates had mutations of the 4 genes. Heterozygous mutations of GJB2, at 235delC, 299delAT, and 176del16 were identified in 254, 55, and 15 newborns, respectively. Two newborns had homozygous mutation of GJB2, 235delC. Heterozygous mutations at 538C> T of GJB3, 2168A> G and IVS 7-2A> G of SLC26A4 were found in 23, 17 and 128 newborns, respectively. For mutation analysis of mitochondrial DNA 12S rRNA, 1494C> T and 1555A> G were homogeneous mutations in 4 and 42 neonates, respectively. In addition, 6 complexity mutations were detected, which demonstrated that one newborn had heterozygous mutations at GJB2 235delC and SLC26A4, IVS7-2A> G, one had heterozygous mutation GJB2 235delC and 12S rRNA homogeneous mutation, 1555 A> G, one heterozygous mutations at GJB2, 299delAT, and GJB3, 538C> T, one at GJB2, 299delAT and 12S rRNA, 1555 A> G, two at GJB2, 299delAT, and SLC26A4, IVS7-2A> G. All mutations as above were confirmed by DNA sequencing.

CONCLUSIONThe total mutation carrier rate of the 4 deafness genes is 3.19% in healthy newborns at Chengdu. Mutations of GJB2 and SLAC26A4 are major ones (86.5% of total). The mutation rate of mitochondrial DNA 12S rRNA is 2.71‰, which may have deafness induced by aminoglycoside antibiotics. Newborn screening for mutation of genes related to hereditary deafness plays an important role in the early detection and proper management for neonatal deafness as well as genetic counseling for premarital, prenatal and postnatal diagnosis.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; China ; Connexin 26 ; Connexins ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; chemistry ; genetics ; Deafness ; diagnosis ; ethnology ; genetics ; Dried Blood Spot Testing ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; ethnology ; genetics ; Genetic Testing ; methods ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Microarray Analysis ; methods ; Mutation ; Neonatal Screening ; methods ; RNA, Ribosomal ; genetics

Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of peginterferon ( PegIFN) α-2b in treatment of HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B ( CHB).Methods Thirty two patients with HBeAg-positive CHB admitted in Peking University Shenzhen Hospital during November 2013 and January 2014 were recruited in the study.Patients were center randomly assigned into two groups : 22 patients in test group were treated with 180 μg PegIFN α-2b, 1 /w for 48 wk; 10 patients in control group were treated with 180 μg PegIFN α-2a (Pegasys), 1 /w for 48wk.All patients were followed up for 24wk after treatment.Virology markers, HBV DNA levels and liver functions were monitored regularly , and adverse events were observed . Fisher’s exact test was used to compare the efficacy and safety between two groups .Results There were no statistically significant differences between the control group and test group in ALT normalization rates , HBV DNA negative rates and HBeAg serological conversion rates both at the end of treatment and at the end of 24-wk follow-up (all P >0.05).Both groups had similar adverse effect incidence rates (P >0.05), but retina disease occurred in 7 cases of test group, which was not observed in control group .Conclusion Compared with PegIFN α-2a, PegIFN α-2b has similar efficacy and safety for patients with HBeAg -positive CHB.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in diagnosing thyroid carcinoma.METHODS The clinical data of 129 patients with thyroid nodules,who were examined by CEUS and were operated in Xinhua Hospital between Jan 2014 and Aug 2015,were analyzed in order to compare the diagnostic results of CEUS to the postoperative pathologic findings,and to summarize its imaging features.RESULTS A total of 132 thyroid nodules in 129 patients were examined by CEUS.Among them,103 nodules were diagnosed as thyroid carcinoma,24 nodules were benign thyroid tumor and 5 nodules were thyroiditis.Compared with pathology results,the diagnostic accuracy,sensitivity and specificity of contrast-enhanced ultrasound is 88.6％,92.2％ and of 75.9％ respectively.The diagnosis of the CEUS in 31 cases was not consistent with the pathological results,in which 8 cases of thyroid carcinoma were misdiagnosed as benign tumor,3 cases of thyroiditis were misdiagnosed as thyroid carcinoma,and 20 cases of benign tumors were misdiagnosed as thyroid carcinoma.The malignant thyroid nodules mainly were papillary carcinoma,which was characterized by'low enhanced'and'slow in fast out'performance in the contrast-enhanced ultrasound examination.CONCLUSION The contrast-enhanced ultrasound examination in diagnosing thyroid carcinoma has much more specificity and sensitivity,the'low-enhanced'and'slow in fast out'signs of the CEUS were the important features of malignant thyroid nodules.

Objective:To propose the application of recognizing bone species by touching blindly (ARBTB) and verify its application effect in human anatomy experimental courses.Methods:The study included experiment 1 and experiment 2, and the research objects were 60 students majoring in clinical medicine in Batch 2019 and 60 students majoring in preventive medicine in Batch 2018, respectively. The research objects in each experiment were randomized into mainstream teaching method group and ARBTB group, with 30 students in each group. In experiment 1, after students studying for the same hours, both of two groups carried out the same test, and then the average scores of the two groups were compared. In experiment 2, the average time spent by the two groups of students in osteology learning was compared.Results:In experiment 1, ARBTB group's average score of the test was significantly higher than that of the mainstream teaching group ( P<0.001). In experiment 2, the ARBTB group took much less time in osteology learning than the mainstream teaching group ( P<0.001). Conclusion:Compared with the mainstream teaching method, ARBTB is more effective in osteology learning, which is worth popularizing.