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.

ObjectiveA comparison between intragate and ECG-respiration triggered techniques was performed to determine their differences in measuring the structure and function of the heart at 7.0 T.MethodsTen normal ICR mice aged five to six weeks were examined on a 7.0 T MR scanner.A central slice with papillary muscle included at the short-axis view was scanned with a FLASH-cine bright blood sequence,FLASH-cine black blood sequence,IG-FLASH-sat-cine black blood sequence,and IG-FLASH-cine bright blood sequence.The area of the left ventricle of the end systole and end diastole ( including and excluding the myocardium) was measured with manually outlined ROIs.The increased area of the left ventricle and the myocardium from the end systolic to end diastolic phases was calculated.The signal intensity was measured from 8 ROIs which were evenly located at the myocardium of the end systole,and the mean and standard deviation were then determined.The coefficient of variation ( CV ) was derived by dividing the mean into the standard deviation.ResultsThere was no significant difference ( the increased area of the myocardium t =0,P =1,the increased area of the left ventricle t =2.12,P =0.06) in the function index between the ECG-triggered black blood sequences [the increased area of the myocardium (0.100 ±0.018) cm2,the increased area of the left ventricle (0.060 ± 0.024) cm2] and intragate black blood sequences[the increased area of the myocardium (0.090 ± 0.014) cm2,the increased area of the left ventricle (0.060 ±0.012) cm2].No significant difference(the increased area of the myocardium t =1.56,P =0.15,the increased area of the left ventricle t =2.08,P =0.07 ) in the function index was observed between the ECG-triggered bright blood sequences [the increased area of the myocardium ( 0.100 ±0.018) cm2,the increased area of the left ventricle(0.060 ±0.014) cm2]and intragate bright blood sequences [the increased area of the myocardium (0.090 ±0.019) cm2,the increased area of the left ventricle (0.050 ±0.015) cm2].Furthermore,there was no significant difference(t =1,P =0.34) in the CV of the myocardium signal intensity of bright blood sequences between the ECG-triggering ( 0.050 ± 0.013 ) and intragate (0.040 ± 0.015 ),but significant difference ( t =4.51,P =0.001 ) in the CV of the myocardium signal intensity of black blood sequences between the ECG-triggering ( 0.070 ± 0.033 ) and intragate ( 0.160 ± 0.046 ) was obtained.ConclusionsThe intragate sequences could take the place of the ECG gate sequences in functional analysis of the heart( including bright blood and black blood sequences).The bright blood intragate sequences also could replace the bright blood ECG-triggered sequences in analyzing the signal of the myocardium.

A questionnaire survey was conducted among undergraduate international students to investigate the effects of stomatology teaching.The effects of stomatology teaching had been proved to be fair, while some shortcomings had also emerged. In further teaching adjustments have to be made to teaching plans and teachers' Enghsh abilities are expected to be improved.

The Tongmai Yangxin pill (TMYX) has potential clinical effects on no-reflow (NR); however, the effective substances and mechanisms by which this occurs remain unclear. This study evaluates the cardioprotective effects and molecular mechanisms of TMYX against NR. We used a myocardial NR rat model (2 h after myocardial ischemia and 2 h after reperfusion) to confirm the effect and mechanism of action of TMYX in alleviating NR. In vitro studies in isolated coronary microvasculature of NR rats and in silico network pharmacology analyses were performed to reveal the underlying mechanisms of TMYX and determine the main components, targets, and pathways of TMYX, respectively. The experiment was approved by the Ethics Committee of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine (LLBH-202212160001). TMYX showed therapeutic effects on NR by improving cardiac structure and function, reducing NR, ischemic areas, and cardiomyocyte injury, and decreasing the content of cardiac troponin I (cTnI). Moreover, the mechanism of TMYX predicted by network pharmacology is related to the hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathways. TMYX increased the expression of G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK), and HIF-1α. In vitro, TMYX enhanced the diastolic function of coronary microvascular cells; however, this effect was inhibited by GPER inhibitor (G-15), eNOS inhibitor (L-NAME), and sGC inhibitor (ODQ). This study integrates pharmacology and experimental evaluation to reveal that TMYX activates HIF-1α/eNOS signaling pathway by upregulating GPER to relax coronary microvessels, thereby significantly alleviating NR.

Objective To study the relationship between activity of thorax and each spinal intervertebral angle in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Methods Each spinal intervertebral angle of 41 patients with ankylosing spondylitis were measured by Spinalmouse in different postures. And the activity of thorax was measured. Correlation between activity of thorax and shape of spinal were analyzed. Results The activity of thorax positively correlated with the entire lumbar spinal column in flexion (P<0.01), as well as the intervertebral angle of L1/2, L2/3 and L4/5 in flexion (P<0.05), but negatively correlated with the intervertebral angle of L1/2 and L2/3, curvature of the entire lumbar spinal column in upright and the intervertebral angle of L1/2, L3/4, curvature of the entire lumbar spinal column in extension. Conclusion There was a significant relation between activity of thorax and lumbar vertebra motor ability.

Background:Studies showed that neuropeptide S receptor 1(NPSR1)gene polymorphisms were associated with the susceptibility of inflammatory bowel disease( IBD)in Europe’s populations,however,there is no study on the relevance in Chinese population. Aims:To investigate the association of NPSR1 gene polymorphisms with IBD in Chinese Han population. Methods:A total of 457 IBD patients[355 cases of ulcerative colitis(UC)and 102 cases of Crohn’s disease ( CD)]from Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University and 500 healthy controls were recruited. Genotyping of 2 single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)of NPSR1,rs323922(C→G mutation)and rs740347(G→C mutation)was performed by using PCR and sequencing techniques. Results:Differences of the frequencies of genotypes and alleles for rs323922 and rs740347 between UC,CD patients and controls didn’t reach statistical significance(P >0. 05). Genotype-phenotype analysis showed that there were some impact of genotypes for rs323922 and rs740347 on clinical phenotypes of IBD:( i) For rs323922,mutant CG genotype was correlated with male CD patients(OR:0. 441,95% CI:0. 230-0. 844)and CD involving the colon(OR:0. 425,95% CI:0. 199-0. 911),and might be a protective factor.(ii)For rs740347,mutant CC genotype was correlated with early onset CD patients( <16 years old)(OR:15. 019,95% CI:2. 634-86. 470)and mutant C allele was correlated with CD involving the colon(OR:2. 142,95% CI:1. 709-4. 294),both were risk factors. Conclusions:Polymorphisms of NPSR1 rs323922 and rs740347 are not contributors of IBD susceptibility in Chinese Han population,but might be correlated with some clinical phenotypes of IBD.

Five compounds (tenuifoliside C, tenuifoliside D, telephiose A, telephiose C and polygalaxanthone III) from polygala tenuifolia wild were incubated together with CYP probe substrate in human liver microsomes to investigate the inhibitory effect towards CYP450 enzyme. Phenacetin (CYP1A2), coumarin (CYP2A6), paclitaxel (CYP2C8), diclofenac (CYP2C9), S-mepheriytoin (CYP2C19), dextromethorphan (CYP2D6), chlorzoxazone (CYP2E1), midazolam (CYP3A) were selected as the isoforfn specific substrate. And the formation of paracetamol, 7-hydroxycoumarin, 6alpha-hydroxy paclitaxel, 4'-hydroxydiclofenac, dextrorphan, 6-hydroxychlorzoxazone, 1'-hydroxymidazolam, 4'-hydroxymephenytoin were detected respectively to measure the effect towards CYP450 by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The result shows that five compounds from polygala tenuifolia willd significantly inhibit chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylation catalyzed by CYP2E1, while showed no effect towards CYP1A2, CYP2A6, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP3A. And IC50 value was 38.73, 54.14, 61.77, 62.22, 50.56 micromol x L(-1), respectively.
Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; metabolism ; Esters ; pharmacology ; Glycosides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Microsomes, Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Oligosaccharides ; pharmacology ; Polygala ; chemistry ; Xanthones ; pharmacology

A sensitive and selective liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of betamethasone in human plasma. The analyte was isocratically eluted on a Venusil XBP C8 column (200 mm x 3.9 mm ID, 5 microm) with methanol-water mol x L(-1) ammonium formate) (80:20) at a flow rate of 0.4 mL x min(-1), and detected (containing 5 mmol x L(-1) ammonium formate) (80:20) at a flow rate of 0.4 mL x min(-1), and detected with a triple quad LC-MS/MS using ESI with positive ionization. Ions monitored in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode were m/z 393.3-->355.2 for betamethasone and m/z 361.3-->343.2 for prednisolone (IS). Betamethasone was extracted from 0.5 mL human plasma with ethyl acetate. The average recovery is 88.24% and the low limit of quantitation (LLOQ) was 0.5 ng x mL(-1). The 3-day validation study demonstrated excellent precision and accuracy across the calibration range of 0.5-80.0 ng x mL(-1). The method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of compound betamethason injection in healthy Chinese volunteers.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Area Under Curve ; Betamethasone ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Chromatography, Liquid ; methods ; Humans ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Male ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; methods ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Young Adult

Objective Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is easily misdiagnosed for lack of specificity in its pathogenesis and clinical symptoms and characteristics.This study was to investigate the association of the clinical features of CVST with the time of diagnosis and the impact of diagnostic delay on the prognosis of the disease.Methods We retrospectively studied the clinical data about 94 cases of CVST treated in our hospital from March 2004 to August 2016.According to the interquartile-range time of diagnosis, we divided the patients into four groups, <5 d, 5-9 d, 10-16 d, and >16 d, and analyzed the correlation between the time of diagnostic delay with the clinical characteristics of the patients.The primary and secondary endpoints were the modified Rankin Scale score (mRS) ≤1 and ≤2 respectively at 3 months after discharge.Results Papilledema, isolated intracranial hypertension syndrome, and Glasgow Coma Score of 14-15 were associated with a longer diagnostic delay than seizure and hemorrhagic or infarction lesions (P<0.05).A significantly higher rate of earlier diagnosis was found in patients with lower levels of albumin and total protein, longer thrombin time, and a higher level of C-reaction protein (P<0.05).However, no significant correlation was observed between the time of diagnostic delay and the prognosis CVST.Conclusion The symptoms and laboratory indexes of the CVST patients at admission can be used as markers for the diagnosis of CVST, which may provide some new idea for its early diagnosis.

Objective To systematically evaluate the comprehensive effect of subglottic secretion drainage (SSD) on patients with mechanical ventilation (MV) in intensive care unit (ICU). Methods The randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) comparing SSD (intervention group) versus non-SSD (control group) in adult patients with MV in ICU was collected through the databases such as the PubMed database of the National Library of Medicine, CNKI, Wanfang database and the Chinese journal of science and technology database (VIP). The subjects were ICU patients with MV, and the retrieval time ranged from January 2006 to December 2016. Two reviewers independently screened the studies according to the inclusive and exclusive criteria, extracted the data, and assessed the quality. Then RevMan 5.3 software was used for Meta-analysis. Sensitivity analysis was performed using Stata 11.0 software. Funnel plot was used to analyze publication bias. Results In the 1004 documents obtained from preliminary screening, a total of 13 studies involving 2052 patients were enrolled after excluding duplicated documents and literature did not meet the inclusion criteria, with 1021 patients in intervention group, and 1031 in control group. Meta-analysis showed that compared with control group, the application of SSD in patients with MV could contribute to the reduction of the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia [VAP; risk ratio (RR) = 0.54, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.46-0.64, P < 0.00001], the duration of MV [mean difference (MD) = -3.29, 95%CI = -4.53 to -2.05, P < 0.00001] and length of hospital stay (MD = -4.27, 95% CI = -7.36 to -1.18, P = 0.007) were shortened, while there was no significant difference in ICU or hospital mortality rate between the intervention group and control group (RR = 0.89, 95%CI = 0.73-1.09, P = 0.25). The sensitivity analysis for studies enrolled in Meta-analysis of MV duration showed that individual research results were stable through step remove of the included literatures and combined calculation of the remaining literature value, suggesting that individual research results were stable, and would not have a significant impact on the overall results. The results of the funnel analysis showed that there was a symmetry in the inclusion studies, and no significant publication bias was found. Conclusions SSD did have effect in reducing the incidence of VAP, shortening the duration of MV and length of hospital stay, while there was no significant effect on reducing mortality rate. Effective use of SSD is an important measure to prevent VAP. It is necessary to objectively evaluate the clinical effect of SSD.