BACKGROUND: Numerous clinical data have shown that electro-acupuncture in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis has the advantages of fast onset, good therapeutic effect and less side effects, but there is a lack of multicenter large-sample clinical research regarding the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the effect of electro-acupuncture on pain relief and joint function in patients with knee osteoarthritis by meta-analysis. METHODS: The literatures related to clinical randomized controlled trials of electro-acupuncture treatment of knee osteoarthritis were retrieved in CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, PubMed, Embase and Cochrance Library database from the inception to June 2019. After literature screening, a meta-analysis of included studies was carried out using Review Manager 5.3. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Finally, 11 articles were included in the study, with 721 cases of knee osteoarthritis. There were 366 cases in the electro-acupuncture group and 361 in the control group with routine acupuncture or drug treatment. Compared with the control group, the total effective rate, cure rate, visual analogue scale score, WOMAC score and ISOA score in the electro-acupuncture group were significantly higher than those in the control group [odds ratio (OR)=3.22, 95% confidence interval (CI)(2.13, 4.87), Z=5.53, P < 0.000 01; OR=2.73, 95%CI(1.80, 4.15), Z=4.72, P < 0.000 01; mean difference (MD)=-1.00, 95%CI(-1.71, -0.30), Z=2.80, P=0.005; MD=-7.69, 95%CI(-10.31, -5.07), Z=5.75, P < 0.000 01; MD=-2.22, 95%CI(-3.74, -0.70), Z=2.86, P=0.004]. Based on the evidence of meta-analysis, the short-term effect of electro-acupuncture on knee osteoarthritis is definite, and electro-acupuncture can play a positive effect on pain symptoms and joint function of knee osteoarthritis patients with few adverse reactions. Considering small sample size, low-quality literatures and possible presence of bias factors, further investigations on more high-quality randomized controlled trials are warranted.

Literatures on pain intervention with transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) were collected by searching the databases both in Chinese and English, and summarized to understand the research progress of TEAS effects on pain mediators in recent years. This will provide a more objective and scientific theoretical basis for clinical practice of TEAS to treat pain syndrome, thus promoting the clinical application of TEAS. Our literature analysis indicated that TEAS effectively regulated the release levels of various pain factors such as prostaglandin, 5-hydroxytryptamine, interleukins, substance P and tumor necrosis factor-α to achieve the analgesic effects by affecting the conduction pathways. TEAS is a safe, non-invasive and effective treatment for pain syndrome. However, further research is necessary due to the lack of rigor of the current clinical trial design.

Objective The relationship between circular RNAs (circRNA) and lung adenocarcinoma (LAC) remains to be further explored. This study aimed to investigate the expression of Hsa_circ_0002360 in LAC and its value in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of the malignancy. Methods This study included 50 cases of LAC treated in our hospital from May 2018 to June 2019 and another 50 healthy subjects as normal controls. We determined the expression of Hsa_circ_0002360 in the LAC cells by qRT⁃PCR. We cultured human LAC cell lines A549, H1299 and H1975 and human bronchial mucosal epithelial cell line BEAS-2B, inoculated the A549 and H1975 LAC cells in the 6-well plate, with 3 wells for si-circRNAs and the other 3 for negative controls (si-NC), followed by cell transfection experiment. Using the CCK8, colony formation and wound healing assays, we detected the effects of Hsa_circ_0002360 on the activity, proliferation, invasiveness and metastasis of the A549 and H1975 cells. Results The expression of Hsa_circ_0002360 was significantly higher in the LAC tissue than in the adjacent tissue (2.84 ± 0.12 vs 1.46 ± 0.08, P < 0.01), and so was it in the serum of the LAC patients than in the normal controls (2.59 ± 0.17 vs 1.21 ± 0.11, P < 0.01), but remarkably lower in the serum of the patients after than before surgery (1.58 ± 0.09 vs 2.65 ± 0.13, P < 0.01). Besides, its expression was significantly increased in the LAC A549, H1299 and H1975 cell lines compared with that in the BEAS-2B cells (P < 0.05). In comparison with the si-NC group, the si-circRNA group showed significant decreases in the rates of colony formation ([65.66± 4.93]% vs [38.33 ± 1.69]%, P < 0.01) and migration of the cells ([54.66±4.10]% vs [13.50 ± 3.34]%, P < 0.01) and in the count of H1975 cells as well (P < 0.01). Conclusion Hsa_circ_0002360 can be used as a biomarker for the early diagnosis and treatment of lung adenocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy on primary dysmenorrhea treated with isolated herbal moxibustion on Shenque (CV 8).

METHODSOne hundred and two cases were randomized into isolated herbal moxibustion group and western medication group, 51 cases in each one. In isolated herbal moxibustion group, the cases were treated with isolated herbal moxibustion on Shenque (CV 8), and in western medication group, analgesic was administered.

RESULTSIn isolated herbal moxibustion group, 17 cases were cured, 21 cases effective markedly, 9 cases effective and 4 cases failed. The total effective rate was 92.2%. In western medication group, 7 cases were cured, 11 cases effective markedly, 21 cases effective and 12 cases failed. The total effective rate was 76.5%. The comparison of the total effective rates between two groups indicated significant difference in statistics (P < 0.01), in which, the result in isolated herbal moxibustion group was superior to that in western medication group. In comparison of dysmenorrhea score before and after treatment and side effects of two groups, the significant differences presented in statistics, in which, the results in isolated herbal moxibustion group were superior to those in western medication group (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe isolated herbal moxibustion on Shenque (CV 8) is superior to oral medication of analgesic for primary dysmenorrhea and it deserves to be promoted due to its advantages on safety, less side effect and good compliance of patients.

Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Dysmenorrhea ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Young Adult

To study the effect of interleukin-15 (IL-15) on the proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of MDS CD34(+) cells, CD34(+) cells of high enrichment were separated by MACS system, and cultured in liquid media with different concentration of IL-15 in treated group and without IL-15 in the control group. Apoptosis of hematopoietic precursors was assayed by propidium iodine staining and cell by FCM, and the other MDS CD34(+) cells were stained by cytochemical staining after culture. The results showed that after culture with IL-15 the proliferation and differentiation of MDS CD34(+) cells were obviously promoted. It was found the every lineage of mature cells developed, the expressions of cell surface antigens CD71, CD33 and CD19 all increased in the MDS CD34(+) cell treated with IL-15. It is suggested that IL-15 stimulates the proliferation and differentiation of MDS CD34(+) cells, and partly shows anti-apoptosis effects which may be applicable to the therapy MDS.
Antigens, CD ; immunology ; Antigens, CD19 ; immunology ; Antigens, CD34 ; immunology ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; immunology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Bone Marrow Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Interleukin-15 ; pharmacology ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; blood ; immunology ; pathology ; Receptors, Transferrin ; immunology ; Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 3

Apoptosis ; B7-H1 Antigen/genetics* ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/genetics* ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Humans ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors ; Immunotherapy ; Ligands ; Lung Neoplasms/genetics*

Immunotherapy has opened a new era in cancer treatment. Drugs represented by immune checkpoint inhibitors have led to important breakthroughs in the treatment of various solid tumors, greatly improving the survival rate of cancer patients. Many types of immunotherapeutic drugs have become widely available; however, their efficacy is variable, and relatively few patients with advanced cancer experience life-altering durable survival, reflecting the complex and highly regulated nature of the immune system. The research field of cancer immunotherapy (CIT) still faces many challenges in pursuing the broader social goal of "curing cancer." Increasing attention has been paid to strengthening the understanding of the molecular or cellular drivers of resistance to immunotherapy, actively exploring more effective therapeutic targets, and developing combination therapy strategies. Here, we review the key challenges that have emerged in the era of CIT and the possible solutions or development directions to overcome these difficulties, providing relevant references for basic research and the development of modified clinical treatment regimens.
Combined Modality Therapy ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors ; Immunotherapy ; Neoplasms/therapy*

OBJECTIVETo explore efficacy of imatinib for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia(CML) and its resistance-related factors during the treatment.

METHODSThe clinical data of 214 CML patients received imatinib were analyzed respectively in our hospital from April 2005 to December 2010. The therapy history and efficacy of regular follow-up and factors influencing drug resistance were analyzed. COX regression analysis was used to perform the univariate and multivariate analysis.

RESULTSUntil the end of follow up, thirty-one patients (14.5%) occurred drug resistance. One of them was in accelerated phase(AP), and two in blast phase(BP); 69.2% of patients achieved a complete cytogenetic response(CCyR), and 31.3% of patients achieved a major molecular response(MMR). COX analysis was performed in 207 chronic phase(CP) patients. Univariate analysis showed that the course of disease before treatment, the hemoglobin count, the white blood cell count, whether achieved CCyR or not and whether achieved MMR or not were the influencing factors for imatinib resistance. Multivariate analysis showed that whether achieved CCyR or not was the independent factor for drug resistance.

CONCLUSIONWhether achieved CCyR or not is an independent factor and also a protective factor for imatinib resistance in patients with CML.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Benzamides ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Chronic-Phase ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Pyrimidines ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the related factors of central lymph node (CLN) metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC),the indications and the extent of central neck dissection (CND).

METHODSA total of 153 cases treated between Jan. 2009 and Dec. 2010 was analysed retrospectively. Of the cases 28 males and 125 cases females, with a mean age of (44 ± 14) years. T1, T2, and T3 diseases accounted for 51, 10 and 81 cases, respectively; I, II, III and IV diseases for 88, 3, 26 and 36 cases, respectively. Multifocal tumors were found in 63 cases. The related clinicopathologic factors were analyzed, including sex, age, tumor size, extrathyroidal extension, and multifocal tumor.

RESULTSAll the cases had total/near total thyroidectomy and CND, of them 64 cases had unilateral neck dissection and 18 cases had bilateral neck dissection. CLN metastases existed in 68.6% (105/153) cases, 37.2% (57/153) for unilateral and 31.4% (48/153) for bilateral respectively. The rates of CLN metastasis were 86.6% (71/82) in cN1 cases and 47.9% (34/71) cN0 cases, respectively,and the rates of bilateral CLN metastases were 45.1% (37/82) in cN1 cases and 15.5% (11/71) in cN0 cases. Multivariate analysis showed that extrathyroidal extension (P = 0.002, OR = 3.502) was an independent risk factor for CLN metastasis and that lateral neck lymph node metastasis (P = 0.028, OR = 3.080), surrounding tissue invasion (P = 0.014, OR = 3.113), and maximum tumor diameter greater than 1 cm (P = 0.012, OR = 3.732) were independent risk factors for bilateral CLN metastases.

CONCLUSIONSIt is indicated that ipsilateral CND should be obligatory for PTC. Intraoperative frozen section examination should be routine. Bilateral CND should be conducted when ipsilateral CLN metastases accompanied by one of following issues such as more invasive tumor (surrounding tissue invasion, T3 or T4 disease), maximum tumor diameter greater than 1 cm, and lateral neck lymph node metastasis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck Dissection ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; pathology ; Young Adult

Objective:The aim of this study was to research the relationship between HPLC fingerprint and anti-inflammatory effect of Zhideke granules， and the substance basis of its anti-inflammatory effect was preliminary explored. Method:The fingerprint of 10 batches of Zhideke granules were determined by HPLC， the mobile phase was consisted of methanol-0.2% phosphoric acid solution for gradient elution with a detection wavelength of 254 nm. Similarity analysis， hierarchical cluster analysis （HCA）， principal component analysis （PCA） and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis （OPLS-DA） were used to evaluate the quality difference between batches of Zhideke granules. The correlation analysis between the common peaks and the inhibition rates of Zhideke granules on ear swelling and cotton ball granuloma in mice was carried out by partial least squares （PLS）， and the peaks greatly contributing to the anti-inflammatory effect were screened out. Result:There were 31 common peaks in the HPLC fingerprint of Zhideke granules. The similarities of 10 batches samples were ≥0.992. The HCA and PCA analysis results were consistent， and the samples were divided into 3 categories. Combined with the OPLS-DA results， 15 components were the main markers affecting the differences of different batches of samples. Different batches of Zhideke granules differed in anti-inflammatory effect. The chromatographic peaks being positively correlated with the anti-inflammatory effect were mainly from Belamcandae Rhizoma and Scutellariae Radix， Chromatographic peaks 3， 6， 19， 27-30 had significant contribution to anti-inflammatory effect， of which peaks 28 and 30 were irisflorentin and wogonin. Conclusion:HPLC fingerprint combined with chemical pattern recognition method can provide a reference for systematic evaluation of the overall quality of Zhideke granules. Zhideke granules has a certain inhibitory effect on acute and chronic inflammation in mice， and the anti-inflammatory effect is the result of the combined action of various ingredients， while Belamcandae Rhizoma and Scutellariae Radix have significant significance for the anti-inflammatory effect.