Objective: To observe the safety of the Song-Relaxing and Zhen-Vibrating abdomen manipulation in treating patients with prediabetes and its effects on blood glucose and lipid metabolism.Methods: One hundred and two patients with prediabetes were divided into a manipulation group and a control group according to the random number table method, with 51 cases in each group. All patients received the general behavioral intervention for prediabetes, with additional Song-Relaxing and Zhen-Vibrating abdomen manipulation in the manipulation group and oral metformin hydrochloride tablets in the control group. Both groups received the intervention for six months. Results: Fourteen patients dropped out during the treatment, and a total of 88 patients completed the trial, including 45 cases in the manipulation group and 43 cases in the control group. After the treatment, the prediabetes control rate was 93.3％ in the manipulation group and 74.4％ in the control group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05); no patient in the manipulation group progressed to diabetes, while the rate of conversion to diabetes in the control group was 6.9％, with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). After the treatment, the body mass index (BMI), glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-hour postload plasma glucose (2hPG) level during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), fasting insulin (FINS), homeostasis model assessment-2 of insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG) decreased in both groups versus baseline, with significant differences within the groups; the levels of all indicators were lower in the manipulation group than in the control group (P<0.05), and the differences between the two groups were more prominent at the sixth month (P<0.01). At the sixth month, the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in the manipulation group was increased, while there was no significant change in the control group. In the control group, three patients reported mild gastrointestinal reactions at the initial dosing, which improved after medication adjustment. No other adverse events were observed in either group. Conclusion: Both metformin hydrochloride tablets and the Song-Relaxing and Zhen-Vibrating abdomen manipulation can improve blood glucose and lipid metabolism and reduce insulin resistance and clinical discomfort in patients with prediabetes, but the Song-Relaxing and Zhen-Vibrating abdomen manipulation has higher efficacy and safety.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in serum levels of sex hormones in male workers occupationally exposed to cadmium (Cd).

METHODSEighty-five Cd-exposed workers in a cadmium refinery in the south China and 76 local healthy subjects as control were selected in the study. Air samples in the workplaces were collected and detected for Cd concentration. Urinary Cd (UCd) level of the workers was measured by graphite atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and adjusted by urine level of creatinine (Cr), as an indicator of Cd-burden in the body of all subjects. Also, their serum levels of testosterone (T), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were determined with radioimmunoassay and enzyme immunoassay, respectively, and dose-effect relationship was evaluated.

RESULTSThe serum testosterone levels in Cd-exposure group with 10.9-21.9 and > 21.9 micro mol/mol Cr were 13.00 and 11.37 nmol/L, significantly higher than that (9.31 nmol/L) in those with 0.0-2.2 micro mol/mol Cr. Significantly more increased level of LH (4.11 and 4.32 U/L) was detected in heavy exposure group in the workshop for electrolysis than in control group (2.52 U/L) and in the group with 0.0-2.2 micro mol/mol Cr of UCd (2.64 U/L). No changes in serum level of FSH were found related to Cd exposure.

CONCLUSIONOccupational Cd exposure could independently contribute to the changes of serum levels of sex hormone in male workers.

Cadmium ; adverse effects ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Testosterone ; blood

Objective To explore the curative effect of pedicled retrograde posterior leg myocutaneous flap in patients with ankle soft tissue defect,and analyze its related factors on patients'sensory function.Methods The data of 120 patients with ankle soft tissue defect who were treated in our hospital from January 2015 to January 2022 and followed up for one year after operation were selected.Among them,60 cases were repaired with pedicled posterior leg myocutaneous flap(group A),40 were repaired with medial foot flap(group B)and 40 were repaired with ankle epithelial flap(group C).The healing(flap survival,infection,appearance,texture),sensory function,appearance satisfaction,Baird-Jackson score and complications of patients with ankle soft tissue defect in each group were compared.Results There was no difference in baseline data among the groups(P>0.05).Patients with ankle soft tissue defect in each group were observed for one year after flap repair.The survival rate of flap in group A was higher than that in group B and C,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in infection,appearance,texture and walking function among the groups(P>0.05).After flap repair,the sensory function score of group A was better than that of group B and C,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The appearance satisfaction of group A was higher than that of group B and C,showing statistical significance(P<0.05).There was no difference in complications after flap repair in each group(P>0.05).Conclusion Skin flap should be chosen according to the area,shape and characteristics of the skin flap for patients with ankle soft tissue defect,and pedicled retrograde posterior leg myocutaneous flap has better curative effect,higher survival rate and higher excellent and good rate of ankle function.It is more helpful for limb function recovery of patients with ankle soft tissue defect.

Objective To explore the effectiveness of building block assembly games in the upper limb functional exercise of school-aged children with peripherally inserted central catheter catheterization.Methods Using convenience sampling,90 catheterized children who met the inclusion criteria in the pediatric ward of a tertiary hospital in Henan Province from November 2022 to April 2023 were selected as research subjects.They were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group,with 45 cases in each group.The experimental group participated in building block assembly games in addition to conventional ball-gripping exercises,while the control group engaged solely in conventional ball-gripping exercises.The compliance rates of upper limb exercises,time average peak flow rate of axillary vein of the catheterization side,and the incidence of catheter-related complications were compared between the 2 groups.Results During the study,2 cases in the experimental group and 3 in the control group dropped out,resulting in 43 cases in the experimental group and 42 in the control group.The compliance rate of upper limb exercises in the experimental group during hospitalization was 93.03％,significantly higher than 64.29％in the control group(P＜0.001).On the third day after catheterization,the time average peak flow rate of axillary vein of the catheterization side was(5.58±1.24)cm/s and(5.37±1.24)cm/s on the seventh day in the experimental group,compared to(3.87±1.06)cm/s and(3.56±0.81)cm/s,respectively,in the control group.These differences were statistically significant(P＜0.001).The incidence of catheter-related thrombosis in the experimental group was 4.65％,significantly lower than 21.43％in the control group(P=0.021).The rates of bleeding at the puncture site and catheter displacement in the experimental group were both 4.65％,compared to 7.14％and 4.76％,respectively,in the control group.These differences were not statistically significant(both P＞0.05).Conclusion Incorporating building block assembly games into routine ball-gripping exercises can improve the compliance of upper limb exercises in children with PICC placement,improve the blood flow velocity in the axillary vein of the catheterization upper limb,and reduce the incidence of catheter-related thrombosis,without increasing the risk of bleeding at the puncture site or catheter displacement.