Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis and to provide evidence for its use in clinical practice. Methods: Eight databases were extensively searched up to March 2018. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy of acupuncture with sham acupuncture or no acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis were included. Study selection, data extraction and quality assessment were independently conducted by two reviewers. The Cochrane Collaboration's tool was used for assessing the risk of bias. Results: A total of 18 RCTs were included, involving a total of 3522 participants. The results showed that acupuncture was superior to sham acupuncture in relieving pain (SMD=-0.34, 95％CI:-0.57 to -0.11, I2=85％, P=0.003) and improving physical function (SMD=-0.34, 95％CI: -0.57 to -0.11, I2=85％, P=0.003). In comparison to the no-acupuncture group, the acupuncture group also showed significant advantages in relieving pain (SMD=-0.79, 95％CI: -1.15 to -0.43, I2=87％, P<0.0001) and improving physical function (SMD=-0.75, 95％CI:-1.19 to -0.31, I2=91％, P=0.0008). Sensitivity analyses suggested that the results were robust, and Egger's test found no potential publication bias. Conclusion: In the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, the acupuncture group had significant advantages over sham acupuncture or no-acupuncture groups in relieving pain and improving physical function.

Peripheral nerve injuries, the worldwide difficult and complicated diseases, cause serious dysfunction but without ideal strategies to assist the successful treatment and recovery. The primary strategy to repair the peripheral nerve injuries is to bridge the lesions by promoting axon regeneration. The importance of mechanical factors in the nervous system has been appreciated only recently. It has been demonstrated that the application of external mechanical force is able to direct axonal outgrowth and to stimulate axonal elongation. For this purpose, to direct axonal growth cones in vivo with accurate force appears to be a challenge that must be resolved. Bionanotechnology is promising a new tool that offers the possibility to influence the process of axonal regeneration. The magnetic force generated by the interaction between Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and magnetic fields provides remote, non-invasive, accurate, and controllable lead and control of neuronal axon regeneration.

Objective To investigate the effects on catgut embedding therapy combined with traditional Chinese medicine on the patients with insomnia and TCM pattern of no connection of heart and kidney.Methods One hundred and ten patients with insomnia and TCM pattern of no connection of heart and kidney were were divided into the catgut embedding therapy group and traditional Chinese medicine group (n=55, repectively). Traditional Chinese medicine group was treated by theLiuwei-Dihuang pills andJiaotaipills, while the catgut embedding therapy group was treated with catgut embedding therapy based on the treatement of TCM groups. Pittsburgh Sleep Index (PSQI) was the outcome for analysis.Results The total effect rate (89.09%vs. 67.27%,χ2=7.674,P<0.01) in catgut embedding therapy group was significantly higher than that in traditional Chinese medicine group. The catgut embedding therapy group were significantly better than the traditional Chinese medicine group in the total score of PSQI (6.71 ± 3.55vs.8.32 ± 2.48,t=2.757,P<0.05), sleep time (0.86 ± 1.11vs. 1.29 ± 0.88,t=2.251,P<0.05), sleep efficiency (0.13 ± 0.7vs. 0.43 ± 0.55,t=2.477,P<0.05), hypnotic drugs (0.93 ± 0.77vs. 1.41 ± 0.81,t=3.185,P<0.05) and daytime dysfunction(1.14 ± 0.61vs. 1.59 ± 0.60,t=3.900,P<0.05). Conclusion Catgut embedding combining traditional Chinese medicine showed better effect than the TCM alone on the patients with insomnia and TCM pattern of no connection of heart and kidney.

Objective To provide evidence for diagnosis and treatment by investigating the pathogens and drug resistance of immunocompromised host (ICH)pneumonias.Methods Statistical method was used to analyze retrospectively the data of pathogens and drug resistance of ICH pneumonia treated in our hospital in 2014. Results We confirmed 187 cases of ICH pneumonia by pathogen study of 324 patients.Gram-negative bacillus (68.42%)was the main pathogen of ICH pneumonia.Acinetobacter baumanii (AB)accounted for the first place. Staphylococcus aureus infection was still the first of Gram-positive coccus.Conclusion Gram-negative bacillus was the main pathogen of ICH pneumonia in our hospital and the isolated bacteria show strong antibiotic resistance. Therefore,it is necessary to strengthen dynamic monitoring of pathogens in the secretions from ICH pneumonia patients’ lower respiratory tract and drug resistance.It is suggested that clinicians make anti-infection treatment cover drug-resistant bacteria.

Objective To investigate the incidence and risk factors of adverse drug reactions in hematological system induced by linezolid.Methods In this retrospective study, 124 inpatients treated with linezolid (n=62) or vancomycin (n=62) for anti-infective therapy between January 2012 and December 2015 in clinical departments of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University were included.The incidence hematological adverse drug reactions were observed, and the single factor and the multiple factor Logistic regression methods were used to analyze the risk factors of developing thrombocytopenia and decline of hemoglobin.Results Among the 62 inpatients treated with linezolid, thrombocytopenia occurred in 21 patients(33.87%), and decline of hemoglobin occurred in 17 patients (27.42%).No patient discontinued the use of linezolid for the reason of thrombocytopenia or decline of hemoglobin.In multiple stepwise regression analysis, linezolid use[OR=7.699,95%CI (1.408,42.090),P=0.019], treatment duration>14 d[OR=7.639,95%CI(1.162,50.226),P=0.034], baseline eGFR<80 mL·min-1[OR=6.150,95%CI(1.604,23.577),P=0.008], baseline ALB<25 g·L-1[OR=4.078,95%CI(1.017,16.351),P=0.047] and baseline platelet count<200×109·L-1[OR=6.148,95%CI(1.705,22.172),P=0.006] were independent risk factors for thrombocytopenia;linezolid use [OR=4.335,95%CI(1.308,14.365),P=0.016] and baseline ALB<25 g·L-1[OR=5.424,95%CI(1.824,16.129),P=0.002] were independent risk factors for the decline of hemoglobin.Conclusion The incidences of thrombocytopenia and anemia induced by linezolid are not rare, and most of them can be returned to normal.The risk factors of thrombocytopenia and anemia should be concerned and the routine blood test should be monitored during use.

Objective To evaluate the effects of probucol combined with atorvastatin medication on blood levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), and the correlation of their changes in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous poronary intervention (PCI). Methods A total of 97 patients with ACS and undergoing PCI were randomly divided into two groups according to the date of admission:single medication group (n=42),the patients were taken atorvastatin 20 mg/d; and combined medication group (n=55),the patients were taken atorvastatin 20 mg/d with probucol 500 mg/d. The plasma levels of ox-LDL and Lp-PLA2 were measured in both groups before and 6-8 weeks after the medication. Then the results were compared and analyzed between two groups. Results (1) Before treatment there were no significant differences in levels of ox-LDL and Lp-PLA2 between two groups (P>0.05). After the treatment, the ox-LDL level was significantly decreased in combined medication group (P<0.01). After the treatment, the levels of Lp-PLA2 were significantly decreased than those before treatment in both groups (P<0.01). Compared with single medication group, levels of ox-LDL and Lp-PLA2 were significantly lower in combined medication group (P < 0.01). (2) After treatment, the absolute value of Lp-PLA2 decline (ΔLp-PLA2) was positively correlated with the absolute value of ox-LDL decline (Δox-LDL) in combined medication group (r=0.314, P=0.020). Conclusion Probucol combined with statin therapy can reduce ox-LDL and Lp-PLA2 levels, and with a positive correlation between them. Probucol can further decrease the level of Lp-PLA2 by inhibiting ox-LDL production, which may be one of the mechanisms of its anti-atherosclerosis.

The isolate XGH2321,which isolated from the rhizospheric soil of Rhizophora stylosa Griff in Dongzhaigang Mangrove Nature Reserve in China,was identified as a fungus in the genera of Penicillium based on its morphological characteristics and internal transcribed spacer(ITS) sequence analysis.After in-oculated in the modified CzapeK-DoX medium(consisted of 4% corn steep,0.3% NaNO3,0.05% KCl,0.1% K2HPO4,0.05% MgSO4,pH 7.4,9% salinity),and cultured under the condition of 28?C in a rotary shaker at 160 r/min for 7 days,the extracts of ethyl acetate and water-soluble from the fermentation broth showed the apparent antibacterial activities against the growth of Staphylococcus aureus,Sarcina lutea,and Bacillus subtilis with the minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) of 800 ?g/mL and 400 ?g/mL,respectively.While at the same time,these two extracts could also suppress the growth of the plant pathogen,Rhizoctonia solani with MIC of 400 ?g/mL and 200 ?g/mL,respectively.

Aim To investigate the protective effect and the underline mechanisms of total flavonoids from Sorbus Tianschanica L leaf (TFST) against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.Methods The I/R injury model of rat isolated heart was prepared by improved Langendorff retrograde perfusion method.Following the treatment,the coronary blood flow levels (CF),left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and maximal rise/fall rate of left ventricular pressure (±dp/dt_(max)) were monitored as the myocardial function.The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in myocardial tissue were measured by the commercial kits. The in vitro anti-oxidative capacity of TFST was detected by the DPPH and lipid peroxidation reaction system.Results Compared with I/R injury group, pre-incubation with TFST (6.0 mg·L~(-1)) significantly improved the LVDP,±dp/dt_(max) and CF during reperfusion. TFST (6.0 mg·L~(-1)) treatment significantly increased the SOD activities and reduced the MDA levels in myocardium tissue.Moreover,TFST (from 6.25 to 100.0 mg·L~(-1)) scavenged the DPPH, hydroxyl radical and superoxide anion free radicals, and inhibited the lipid peroxidation reaction in a concentration-dependent way.Conclusions All the results demonstrate that TFST possesses the cardioprotective effect on ischemia/reperfusion injury.This efficacy may be due to its antioxidative activity.

AIM: To prepare flexible nanoliposomes made from active ingredients,phillyrin and volatile oil,from forsythia suspense and study their transdermal delivery system.METHODS: Flexible nanolipsomes of phill-yrin(WN group) and phillyrin in combination with forsythia volatile oil(OWN group) were prepared by the meth-od of membrane-dispersion.Its appearance and particle sizes were measured.Transdermal experiments were carried out on the modified Franz diffusion pool through in vitro mouse skin.HPLC was applied to determining the phillyrin content to compare transdermal rate and cumulative permeation amount of various flexible nanoliposomes.RESULTS: The particle size of the WN group was(180.7 ? 13.69)nm,the Zata potential was-48.8 mV,the average encapsulation percentage was(82.53 ? 2.68)%;the particle size of the OWN group was(212.3 ? 15.31)nm,Zata potential was-51.2 mV,the average encapsulation percentage was(70.49 ? 1.06)%.The accu-mulated permeation amount of the OWN group in 8 hours was(291.92 ? 23.22) ?g/cm2,its transdermal permea-bility in 8 hours was 36.49 ?g/(cm2.h),which was 6.10 folds that of the WS group and 1.92 folds that of the WN group.This difference had statistical significance(P

Objective Using the effect of microneedle array to investigate the feature and rule of transdermal drug delivery of sinomenine hydrogel patch.Methods The microneedles with different length and sinomenine hydrogel patch were prepared;The isolated rat skin was pretreated by different needle-shapes of microneedle array and different timepoints with the same needle-shape,and then sticked the sinomenine patch.The permeation rates of sinomenine were studied using a Franz diffusion cell and compared with passive diffusion of the rat skin untreated.Sinomenine content was measured by HPLC.Results The permeation rates of sinomenine via the skin pretreated with 100 and 200 ?m microneedles were 40.7 and 52.4 times to those of the untreated.The permeation rates of sinomenine via the skin pretreated 7 min with 200 ?m microneedles is 142.0 times to those of the untreated.When skins were pretreated using 200 ?m microneedles with different force, the drug permeation rates were increased with the force increasing.When the force exceeded 5 N,the drug permeation rates were equilibrium.Conclusion When transdermal drug delivery by using microneedle array-hydrogel patch,the permeation rates increase significantly.The needle-shape,skin pretreating time,and force of the microneedles play the important roles in the transdermal drug delivery.