The National Natural Science Foundation-supported papers in the field of epidemiological methods and health statistics since 1987 were analyzed by trend analysis in order to have a better understanding of the development,current situation and history in the field of epidemiological methods and health statistics,and provide reference for the selection of topics,approval of projects and optimization of supporting structure in the field of epidemiological methods and health statistics.

0.05).CART vaccine at 10?g significantly depressed the analgesic effect of morphine analgesia (P

OBJECTIVETo study the long-term effects of acupuncture on quality of life in patients with early stage of stroke.

METHODSEighty patients were randomly assigned to the acupuncture group and the control group, 40 in each. All received conventional Western medical treatment, but for patients in the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied additionally immediately from 48 h after patients' life signs were stabilized. Curative effects were evaluated with scores of SF-36, function independent measure (FIM) and NIHSS.

RESULTSEffect evaluated immediately after acupuncture operation showed that all the scores in the acupuncture group, except score of recognition function in FIM, and scores of body pain and physical function in SF-36, were improved more significantly than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The effectiveness improved continuously in the 6-month period after stroke in both groups, but more superiority was shown in the acupuncture group in aspects of emotional function, social function and mental health by SF-36 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEarly applying acupuncture could raise the physical, social, and psychological functions of stroke patients. Although the effects might decrease to some extent later, acupuncture still showed markedly effect on patients' psychological and social functions as well as on their life satisfaction.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Female ; Hemiplegia ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Stroke ; therapy ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To detect the levels of five trace elements in whole blood of patients with Keshan disease(KSD) and dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM) and explore their role in the pathogenesis of KSD.Methods One hundred and four patients with chronic KSD were selected from Keshan diseased areas in Shandong,Sichuan and Inner Mongolia.Thirty patients with DCM were selected from Qilu Hospital of Shandong University,Jinan Central Hospital,The First People's Hospital.Ninety-one healthy people from KSD endemic areas and 39 healthy people from Jinan were selected as endemic healthy controls and non-endemic healthy controls,respectively.Blood samples were collected to determinate the level of selenium (Se),copper (Cu),zinc (Zn),chromium (Cr) and manganese (Mn) with fluorescence method and atomic absorption spectrometry,according to the principle of informed consent.Results The level of Se,Zn and Cr of KSD group[(36.0 + 4.9)μg/L,(22.73 + 4.62)mg/L,(0.56 + 0.17)mg/L] was significantly lower than that of non-endemic healthy controls [(56.4 ± 6.8)lμg/L,(25.35 ± 4.44)mg/L,(0.71 ± 0.17)mg/L,all P ＜ 0.05],but the level of Cu of KSD group[(0.95 ± 0.24)mg/L] was significantly higher than that of non-endemic healthy controls[(0.73 ± 0.13) mg/L,all P ＜ 0.05].The level of Se and Cr of KSD was significantly lower than that of endemic healthy controls[(54.5 ± 5.4)μg/L,(0.87 ± 0.02)mg/L,P ＜ 0.05],and Cu was significantly higher than that of endemic healthy controls[(0.66 ± 0.02)mg/L,P ＜ 0.05].The level of Cu and Zn of KSD was significantly lower than that of DCM [(1.21 ± 0.23)mg/L,(27.09 ± 7.10)mg/L,all P ＜ 0.01].The level of Se and Cr of DCM group[(39.6 ± 3.5)μg/L,(0.58 ± 0.14)mg/L] was significantly lower than that of non-endemic healthy controls(all P ＜ 0.01),but Cu[(1.21 + 0.23)mg/L] was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.01).Compared with non-endemic healthy controls,the level of Se of endemic healthy control group was significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.01),while Cu was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.01).Se,Zn and Cr level of KSD decreased gradually following elevated heart function level,but the level of Cu gradually increased.Conclusions The metabolism of Se,Cr,Cu and Zn is unbalanced in KSD patients,whose Se level is still lower than that of people in non-endemic areas.The change of Se,Cr,Cu and Mn level between KSD and DCM is consistent.

The active ingredient of traditional Chinese medicine, silybin (SBN), can inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells and enhance the anticancer effect of doxorubicin (DOX). However, due to non-targeting and short half-life of SBN and DOX, as well as different administration routes and pharmacokinetic processes, this combination drug cannot act on the tumor in the set order, seriously eliminating the synergistic effect between them and limiting the effect in vivo. Therefore, we intended to construct a nano-delivery system based on molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂), modified by polyethylene glycol (PEG) and sialic acid (SA), and co-loaded with SBN and DOX. The system induced the release of combined drugs under the dual-stimulation of pH and near infra-red (NIR), increased the free concentration of intracellular drugs, so as to achieve the synergistic effect between them. The animal welfare and experimental procedures were in accordance with the regulations of the Animal Ethics Committee of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. MoS₂-PEG-SA-SBN/DOX circulated in vivo, and effectively accumulated at tumor sites through enhanced permeability and retention effect (EPR) and SA-mediated active targeting. Under near infrared light irradiation, MoS₂-PEG-SA-SBN/DOX realized the combination of synergistic chemotherapy and photothermal therapy for tumor, thus achieving excellent anti-tumor effect in vivo. This study can provide a new idea and strategy for the clinical treatment of lung cancer. Taken together, MoS₂-PEG-SA-SBN/DOX can offer a new idea and strategy for the clinical treatment of lung cancer.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Scalp acupuncture on serum neuron specific enolase (NSE) and S-100β concentrations, and incidence rates of postoperative delirium (POD) and postoperative cognitive function (POCD) of elderly patients undergoing hip replacement.

METHODSEighty-four patients undergoing scheduled hip replacement under combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSEA) were assigned to the control group (group C) and the scalp acupuncture group (group S) according to random digit table, 42 cases in each group. In group S, scalp acupuncture was additionally performed according to International Standardized Scheme for Scalp Acupuncture. Scalp acupuncture was performed during the operation from the MS1 middle line of forehead [1 cun before Shenting (GV24), including Shenting (GV24)] and MS5 middle line of vertex [from Baihui (DU20) to Qianding (DU21), including Baihui (DU20) and Qianding (DU21)]. The operation time and post-operative length of stay were observed. The midazolam dosage, hemorrhage amount, fluid transfusion amount, urine amount, use rates of ephedrine and atropine during the operation were also observed and compared between the two groups. The occurrence rate of POD and POCD at post-operative day 3 (T₁), week 1 (T₂), month 3 (T₃), and month 6 (T₄) were measured. Eighteen patients were randomly selected to collect blood from internal jugular vein before anesthesia t₀), immediately after ending the surgery (t₁), 6 h after operation (t₂), 24 h after operation (t₃), and 48 h after operation (t₄), respectively. Serum levels of NSE and S-100β were correspondingly measured.

RESULTSThere was no statistical difference in the operation time, midazolam dosage used during the operation, hemorrhage amount, fluid transfusion amount, urine amount, use rates of ephedrine and atropine (P > 0.05). Compared with group C, the post-operative length of stay was shortened in group S (P < 0.05). The incidence rate of POD and that of POCD at each time point were lower in group S (P < 0.05). The expression level of NSE decreased at t₂, t3, and t₄, and the expression level of S100β also decreased at t₁, t₂, t₃, and t₄(P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in expression levels of NSE or S100β between the two groups at other time points (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONScalp acupuncture could attenuate central nervous system lesion and improve POCD of elderly patients undergoing hip replacement.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Cognition ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; blood ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period ; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit ; blood ; Scalp

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of integrative medicine (IM) rehabilitation protocolon motor function, activity of daily living, and quality of life (QOL) in hemiplegia patients after stroke.

METHODSTotally 120 patients with post-stroke hemiplegia were allocated to four groups using sealed envalope drawing, i.e., the rehabilitation group, the Chinese medical treatment group, the acupuncture group, and the comprehensive rehabilitation group, 30 cases in each group. Based on routine rehabilitative training, patients in the Chinese medical treatment group, the acupuncture group, and the compre-hensive rehabilitation group received standardized treatment based on syndrome typing, Shi's Consciousness-Restoring Resuscitation acupuncture, Chinese herbs + acupuncture comprehensive rehabilitatino protocol, respectively. The treatmet cycle consisted of 4 weeks with 24-week follow-ups. Fugl-Meyer motor assessment (FMA), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale(SS-QQL), and safety assessment were taken as main effect indices before treatment, at week 4 of treatment, at week 12 and 24 of follow-ups, respectively.

RESULTSThere was no statistical difference in FMA score, MBI score, SS-QOL score among the four groups before treatment (P > 0.05). These scores were significantly improved in the four groups at week 4 of treatment, week 12 and 24 of follow-ups, respectively (P < 0.05). Besides, FMA score and SS-QOL score were significantly improved in the comprehensive rehabilitation group at each corresponding time point, as compared with other treatment groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe comprehensive protocol could significantly improve motor function, activity of daily living in hemiplegia patients after stroke, and further improve their QOL. Its effect was better than other single treatment.

Activities of Daily Living ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Hemiplegia ; rehabilitation ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; methods ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Motor Skills ; Quality of Life ; Stroke Rehabilitation ; Treatment Outcome

This study was purposed to explore the expression of p57kip2 in the bone marrow of patients with de novo myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and its role in MDS pathogenesis, as well as the relationship between the expression of p57kip2 and SDF-1/CXCR4 signal. The expression of p57kip2 and CXCR4 in 67 de novo MDS patients was measured by real-time quantitative PCR. The percentage of CD34(+) cells in the bone marrow from MDS patients was measured by flow cytometry. 18 healthy volunteers were recruited for control. The effect of SDF-1 on p57kip2 expression in bone marrow mononuclear cell (BMMNC) from MDS or normal controls was investigated in vitro, and difference between them was compared. The results showed that low-risk MDS and high-risk MDS displayed a significant reduction of p57kip2 mRNA expression in BMMNC compared with that in control group (P < 0.001) and there was a negative correlation between p57kip2 expression and percentage of CD34(+) (r = -0.458, P < 0.001); the patients with abnormal karyotype showed lower expression of p57kip2 gene, compared to patients with normal karyotype (P = 0.045). Although the expression of CXCR4 had no difference between MDS patients and normal controls, a positive correlation between p57kip2 and CXCR4 in MDS patients was still found (r = 0.609, P < 0.001). Moreover, SDF-1 increased p57kip2 expression in normal BMMNC in dose-dependent manner, but BMMNC from MDS patients showed no response to SDF-1. SDF-1-induced p57 expression was blocked by AMD3100. It is concluded that the low expression of p57 gene in MDS may play a role in the pathogenesis of MDS. Furthermore, SDF-1-induced p57kip2 expression in BMMNC, and the decreasing response of BMMNC to SDF-1 may contribute to the low expression of p57kip2 in MDS patients.
Case-Control Studies ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p57 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Shenluotong Decoction (SD) on serum levels of aldosterone, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), α-smooth muscle protein (α-SMA), and nuclear factor-KB (NF-κB) in obstructive nephropathy rats, and to explore the initial mechanism of SD for inhibiting renal interstitial fibrosis.

METHODSTotally 48 healthy Wistar rats were randomly divided into the sham-operation group (n =12) and the model group (n =36). Renal interstitial fibrosis rat model was established by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). After successful modeling, 36 rats were randomly divided into the model group, the Chinese medicine group, and the Western medicine group, 12 in each group. Eplerenone was added in the forage at the daily dose of 100 mg/kg for rats in the Western medicine group. Chinese medicine was added in the forage at the daily dose of 26 g/kg for rats in the Chinese medicine group. Equal volume of normal saline was administered to rats in the sham-operation group and the model group. All medication was performed once daily. The obstructive kidneys were extracted ten days after medication. The pathomorphological changes were observed. The contents of serum aldosterone and MCP-1, and the protein or mRNA expression of MCP-1, α-SMA, and NF-KB were detected.

RESULTSCompared with the sham-operation group, infiltration of a large amount of inflammatory cells and collagen deposition significantly increased, serum contents of aldosterone and MCP-1 obviously increased (P < 0.01), the expression of MCP-1 mRNA and protein were significantly up-regulated (P <0.01), the protein expression of α-SMA and NF-KB were significantly enhanced in the model group (P <0.01). Com- pared with the model group, infiltration of inflammatory cells and renal collagen deposition were attenua- ted in the Chinese medicine group and the Western medicine group, the serum MCP-1 level were reduced, and the mRNA and protein expression of MCP-1 were significantly down-regulated (P <0.01), the protein expression of α-SMA and NF-KB were obviously inhibited (P <0. 01). At the same time, serum aldosterone level was reduced in the Chinese medicine group (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONSinflammatory lesions of the renal tissue could promote the progress of interstitial fibrosis in rats with obstructive nephropathy. SD could attenuate interstitial fibrosis through reducing serum contents of aldosterone and MCP-1, down-regulating MCP-1/ NF-KB, and inhibiting the expression of α-SMA.

Animals ; Chemokine CCL2 ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fibrosis ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Kidney Diseases ; drug therapy ; genetics ; NF-kappa B ; drug effects ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ureteral Obstruction ; drug therapy ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the objective index of the diagnosis of varicocele (VC) in infertile males by ultrasonography and the testis volume changes resulting from varicocele.

METHODSForty-six healthy male volunteers and 178 infertile men with left varicocele were detected by high frequency ultrasound. According to the clinical data and ultrasonographic results, the 178 VC patients were divided into 4 groups, SVC group (45 cases), VC I group (44 cases), VC II group (48 cases), and VC III group (41 cases).

RESULTS(1) The differences in DR, DV, Vmax, TR and testis volume between the right and the left sides were not statistically significant in the control group (P > 0.05). (2) The differences in DR, DV, Vmax and TR between the experimental and control groups as well as among the VC groups were statistically significant (P < 0.001). (3) The left testis volume was smaller than the right among the VC groups (P < 0.01). The right testis volume of the VC II and VC III groups was significantly smaller than that of the control group ( P < 0.05), and the left testis volume in the VC III group was significantly smaller than that of the SVC group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION(1) High frequency ultrasound can detect the accurate diameter of the internal spermatic vein, hemodynamic index and testis volume of infertile men with VC, and hence help to screen the causes of male infertility. (2) Unilateral varicocele can cause a volume decrease in both testes, especially in the left. Both unilateral SVC and VC can cause testicular atrophy, and the more serious VC, the higher testicular atrophy.

Adult ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Testis ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; Varicocele ; diagnostic imaging