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.

ObjectiveTo investigate the platelet inhibition ratio by thromboelastography (TEG) and its clinical impact in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods118 PCI patients were divided into ischemic events group (22 cases) and nonischemic events group (96 cases) according to their clinical follow-up of 6 months. Platelet inhibition ratio was measured by TEG. ResultsADP-induced platelet inhibition ratio of ischemic events group decreased significantly compared with nonischemic events group (P<0.01). And there were no significant differences in AA-induced platelet inhibition ratio between two groups (P＞0.05). ConclusionThere may be some relationship between the ischemic events of PCI patients and their drug resistance to clopidogrel.

A new benzene derivative microintegerrin C (1) and a new norsesquiterpenoid microintegerrin D (2), along with six known compounds (3-8), were isolated and identified from stems and leaves of Micromelum integerrimum by various chromatographies such as silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, RP-18 column chromatography and HPLC. Their structures were mainly identified based on the spectral data analysis such as 1D-, 2D-NMR and HR-EI-MS. All known compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Rutaceae ; chemistry ; Sesquiterpenes ; isolation & purification

Objective To analyze plague epidemic tendency in the Three-River Region of Qinghai.Methods Using retrospective study,the Three-River Region during 1954-2006 year pestis epidemic focus were investigated and analyzed.Result Pestis prevailed mainly in Yushu,Chindu,Qumalai,Nangqian,Zhiduo and the Geermu.Tanghla Township.It was first found that the nature plague focus of miefitus existed in Chengduo County.There are 1 5 kinds of 12 branches in 8 trees infected plague animals were founded,336 Yersinia pestis were separated from the driven objects.Among them there were 291 Himalayas marmot body,account for 86.60%of the total,13 of Tibet sheep,accounts for 3.87%.10 of Qinghai field-mouse,accounts for 2.98%,Also there were 114 Yersinia pestis which were separated from each kind of vector insect in vivo.And,46 pestis strains came from the axe shape of flea in vivo account for 40.35%(46/114),38 pestis strains separated from Xie mountain flea,account for 33.33% (38/114).During 1960-2006 years there were 85 human plague cases were founded,238 occurred,134 died,the case fatality rate wero 56.30%(134/238),the popular seasons were started from May to November,the peak season happened in Aug and Sep.After Oct mainly due to Tibet sheep pestis which will cause as the origin of infection.The majority of sickness was pulmonary plague,account for 49.58%(117/238),whereas the first round case caused by the gland bubonic plague,account for 77.12%(91/118).Conclusions There are two pestis strains natural epidemic focus places in Three-River Source Region of Qinghai including the Himalayas marmot pestis strain and the Qinghai field-mouse pestis strain.The case of human pestis strain causes by the marmot strain,the fiehl-mouse mold mushroom spawn causes human pestis strain has not yet discovered,Three-River Source Region of Qinghai is a pestis strain key popular area in Qinghai Province.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of CXCL1 gene expression on biological function of ovarian cancer cells and its mechanism of action.

METHODSRT-PCR was used to amplify the full-length sequence of CXCL1, which was used to construct the recombinant lentiviral plasmids, and then the plasmids were packaged with human renal epithelial cell line 293T cells, and the ovarian cancer 2780 cells were transfected with CXCL1 gene by virus supernatant particles. The expression of CXCL1 mRNA and protein in 2780 cells with lentivirus-mediated CXCL1expression were determined by RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. The growth curve, cell cycle and colony formation in vitro were measured by MTT assay, flow cytometry and colony formation counting, respectively. The cell invasion and migration in vitro was detected by Transwell chambers and migration attack methods, respectively.

RESULTSThe sequencing results showed that the recombinant lentiviral plasmid of CXCL1-pWPI had 100% homology with the CXCL1 gene, identified by BLAST analysis. RT-PCR and ELISA results showed positive expression of CXCL1 mRNA and protein in the CXCL1-PWPI group. The doubling time of the CXCL1-PWPI group was significantly shorter than that in the A2780 and PWPI groups (P < 0.05). The rate of colony-formation in the CXCL1-PWPI group was also significantly higher than that of the A2780 and PWPI groups (P < 0.05). The proportion of cells in G1 phase (44.0%) in the CXCL1-PWPI group was also significantly lower compared with that in the PWPI and A2780 groups (61.4% and 62.7%), with a significant difference (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the cell migration capacity (P > 0.05) of the CXCL1-PWPI, PWPI and A2780 groups, but the invasion capacity of the CXCL1-PWPI group was significantly higher than that of the PWPI and A2780 groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe over-expression of CXCL1 gene may promote the proliferation and invasion ability of A2780 cells in vitro.

Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Chemokine CXCL1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Plasmids ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection

Variant pulmonary vein anatomy (PVA) has been reported to influence the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after radiofrequency ablation.However,the effects of PVA on AF in patients undergoing cryoballoon ablation (CBA) remain unknown.The present study aimed to examine the impact of PVA on the long-term outcome of CBA for AF.A total of 78 patients (mean age 60.7±10.9 years,64.1％ males) with symptomatic and drug-refractory paroxysmal AF were enrolled in the study.Left atrium (LA) and PVA acquired at computed tomography angiography (CTA) were reconstructed with CARTO(R) 3 SYSTEM.Patients were routinely evaluated by 24-hour Holter monitoring following CBA.Cox regression was used to detect the predictors of AF recurrence after CBA.The results showed abnormal PVA in 30 patients (38.5％) and 18 patients (23.1％) had left common PV (LCPV).Electrical pulmonary vein isolation was achieved in all patients.After a mean follow-up of 689.5±103.8 days,it was found that patients with abnormal PVA had similar AF recurrence rate to those with normal PVA (26.7％ vs.25.0％,P=0.54),and there was no significant difference in AF recurrence rate between LCPV patients and non-LCPV patients (33.7％ vs.23.3％,P=0.29).Cox regression analysis showed that AF duration (72.9±9.0 vs.42.3±43.2 months,HR 1.001;95％CI 1.003-1.014;P＜0.001) and cryo-applications of right-side PVs (3.0±1.6 vs.4.7±1.7,HR 0.661;95％ CI 0.473-0.925;P=0.016) were independent predictors of freedom from AF,but PVA was not identified as a predictor of long-term success.In conclusion,the variant PVA cannot significantly influence the long-term outcome of AF patients undergoing CBA;longer AF duration and less cryo-applications of right-side PVs are associated with higher AF recurrent rate.

OBJECTIVETo establish a rat model of anti-sperm antibody (AsAb)-mediated immune infertility, and investigate the effects of serum AsAb positive on the Fas/Fas-L apoptosis pathway in testis tissue and testicular germ cells of pubertal male rats.

METHODSThirty 5-week-old Wistar male rats were included in this study, 10 killed for preparation of sperm suspension, 10 as normal controls, and the other 10 made models of AsAb-positive immune infertility (experimental group). Four weeks after modeling, the testes of the rats were harvested for observation of the changes in the testis tissue under the light microscope and detection of the expressions of Fas, Fas-L and Caspase-3 proteins by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the experimental group showed obvious apoptotic changes in the testis tissue and remarkably increased expressions (OD value) of Fas (161.87 +/- 5.37 vs 176.97 +/- 4.58), Fas-L (150.27 +/- 8.65 vs 187.52 +/- 7.76) and Caspase-3 (120.37 +/- 6.76 vs 157.65 +/- 7.38) (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSerum AsAb affected the infertility of pubertal male rats, and its mechanisms might be associated with up-regulated expression of Fas, Fas-L and Caspase-3 proteins in the Fas/Fas-L apoptotic pathway.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Autoantibodies ; immunology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Fas Ligand Protein ; metabolism ; Germ Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Signal Transduction ; Testis ; cytology ; metabolism ; fas Receptor ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDAspirin and clopidogrel resistance plays a significant role in the development of cardiovascular ischemic events for ninety patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Recent studies have indicated that increasing the dose of antiplatelet drugs maybe a potent method to improve the inhibition of platelet aggregation.

METHODSThrombelastograph (TEG) determinations were used to evaluate the effect of antiplatelet therapy. According to the results, 90 patients were divided into three groups and given different doses of aspirin and clopidogrel. Thirty patients with both an inhibition rate of aspirin > 50% and an inhibition rate of clopidogrel > 50% were defined as the control group. Sixty patients with an inhibition rate for aspirin < 50% and an inhibition rate for clopidogrel < 50% were defined as the resistance group. Patients in resistance group were randomly assigned to be given a routine dose (100 mg aspirin plus 75 mg clopidogrel per day, which we called a resistance plus routine dose group, R + R) and a loading dose (200 mg aspirin and 150 mg clopidogrel per day, which we called resistance plus loading dose group, R + L) of antiplatelet therapy. A 12-month follow-up was observed to examine the change of inhibition rate of antiplatelet therapy and to estimate the relationship between inhibition rate and the occurrence of cardiovascular ischemic events.

RESULTSAfter 6 months of antiplatelet therapy, the inhibition rate of aspirin in the R + L group increased from (31.4 ± 3.7)% to (68.6 ± 7.1)%, which was significantly higher than that in R + R group, (51.9 ± 8.2)% (P < 0.01). The inhibition rate of clopidogrel in the R + L group increased from (22.1 ± 3.8)% to (60.2 ± 7.4)%, which was significantly higher than in the R + R group, (45.9 ± 4.3)% (P < 0.01). The occurrence rates of cardiovascular ischemic events, stent thrombosis, recurrent unstable angina and myocardial infarction in the R + R group were 20%, 36% and 17%, respectively. Occurrence was significantly increased compared with that in the control group, 3%, 10% and 1%, respectively (P < 0.01). In contrast, the occurrence rates in the R + L group (10%, 23% and 6%, respectively) were attenuated compared with those in the R + R group (P < 0.01), although still higher than in the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSAlmost all of the cardiovascular ischemic events occurred in the first six months after percutaneous coronary intervention. According to the result of TEG determinations, earlier application of a loading dose of aspirin and clopidogrel can decrease the rate of recurrent cardiovascular ischemic events.

Adult ; Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; adverse effects ; Aspirin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Ischemia ; prevention & control ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Thrombelastography ; Thrombosis ; prevention & control ; Ticlopidine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impact of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) on the protection of thymic function after allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).

METHODSMurine model of MHC mismatched allogeneic HSCT (C57BL/6-->BALB/c) was established. The severity of acute graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) was assessed according to a clinical scoring system. The intra-cellular levels of IFN gamma, TNFalpha and IL-1 beta in thymocyte were analyzed by protein array and thymic function by quantification of signal-joint TCR rearrangement excision circles (sjTRECs).

RESULTSAll recipients in group A (allogeneic mice), B (allogeneic LHRH castrated-mice) and C (syngenic mice) achieved hematopoietic reconstitution. White blood cell (WBC) over 1.0 x 10(9)/L in groups A, B and C were on day (11.2 +/- 1.4), day (9.8 +/- 0.6) and day (9.7 +/- 0.7), respectively (P = 0.003, 0.002). The onset of acute GVHD in group B was (14.1 +/- 0.7) d and in group A was (11.4 +/- 1.2) d (P = 0.000). All mice in groups A and B developed acute GVHD. No mice occurred aGVHD in group C. The average scores of acute GVHD in groups A and B were (9.1 +/- 0.7) and (5.1 +/- 1.0), respectively (P = 0.000). The levels of IFN gamma, TNFalpha and IL-1 beta in control group were (2.3 +/- 2.5) ng/ml, (1.7 +/- 1.1) pg/ml and (1.8 +/- 1.2) pg/ml, respectively. The IFN gamma levels in groups A, B and C were (10.5 +/- 2.1) ng/ml, (6.7 +/- 2.1) ng/ml and (5.2 +/- 3.3) ng/ml, TNFalpha levels were (7.0 +/- 2.6) pg/ml, (4.3 +/- 0.8) pg/ml and (3.0 +/- 1.8) pg/ml, and IL-1 beta levels were (24.9 +/- 9.0) pg/ml, (17.4 +/- 3.9) pg/ml and (10.8 +/- 3.1) pg/ml, respectively. There were significant differences in the levels of cytokines between group A and the control group (P = 0.000, 0.000, 0.000). The levels of cytokines in group B were significantly higher than those in control group (P = 0.000, 0.003, 0.000). The levels of IFN gamma and IL-beta in group C were significantly higher than those of in control group (P = 0.015, 0.013), and so did in group A than in group B (P = 0.002, 0.002, 0.004), and in group A than in group C (P = 0.000, 0.000, 0.000). The analysis of linear regression showed that the average levels of IFN gamma and TNFalpha paralleled with aGVHD scores (r(2) = 0.359, P = 0.045; r(2) = 0.228, P = 0.019). The average sjTRECs copies/1000 PBMNCs were (39.4 +/- 44.7) in the control group and (12.3 +/- 13.0), (58.0 +/- 71.8) and (19.6 +/- 14.6) in groups A, B and C, respectively. There was no significant difference in the multiple comparisons of peripheral blood levels of sjTRECs among these four groups (P = 0.468).

CONCLUSIONIFN gamma, TNFalpha and IL-1 beta might be involved in the damage to the thymus by acute GVHD. Sex steroid inhibitor can not only reduce the severity of thymic damage after allo-HSCT, but also reduce the severity of aGVHD and the mechanism might be associated with the reduction of intra-cellular levels of IFN gamma in thymocyte.

Animals ; Castration ; methods ; Female ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; therapeutic use ; Graft vs Host Disease ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Thymus Gland ; immunology ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism