Purpose: To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of cold moxibustion on rheumatoid interphalangeal arthritis. Methods: 576 cases were randomly divided into 290 cases in the cold moxibustion group and 286 cases in the control group and were treated for two months. Results:There was no significant difference in the total effective rate between the two groups. But, at the end of the second course of the treatment, the complete remission rate reached 77.2% in the former group and only 23.4% in the latter group, with a significant difference between the two groups (P＜0.005).Conclusion: Cold moxibustion is better in the therapeutic effect for rheumatoid interphalangeal arthritis than anti-inflammatory agents of western medicine.

Objective To study the expression of KISS-1 in normal endometrium and in ectopic endometri-um patients with endometriosis. Methods The expression of KISS-1 in 55 cases of normal endometrium as well in 46 cases of ectopie endometriurn with endometriosis were detected by immunohistochemicai EliVision plus method. Results The positive expression rates of KISS-1 in ectopic endometriotic tissues and in normal endometri-urn were 30.43 % and 63.64 % respectively ,and the positive expression rates in ectopic endometriotic tissues signifi-cantly lower than those in the normal endometrium( P< 0.01, P < 0.05). Conclusion The decreased expression of KISS-1 may be related to the mechanism of endometriosis.

This study was to explore the value of maternal serum screen in identification of fetal abnormal chromosome and neural tube defect(NTD). By using time-distinguished fluorescence immunoassay, serum levels of free-β-HCG and alpha fetal protein(AFP)were obtained in 7698 pregnant women at 15～20 +6weeks. and 483 were found at a higher risk of fetal abnormal chromosome. Based on amniotic fluid examination or cord blood testing on 344 high. Risk participants. Fetal abnormal chromosome was found in 18 women with a positive rate of 5. 2%. Twenty-five pregnant women were NTD high-risk, and their positive rate was 0. 3%. B-mode ultrasound identified 6 fetal malformations and 2 fetal deaths ( positive rate of 32. 0%). In high-risk or low-risk group, there were 25. 6%and 7. 7%subjects developed adverse outcome, respectively(P＜0. 05). Our findings suggested that maternal serum screen is an effective prediction factor for fetal abnormal chromosome and NTD.

Benign biliary stricture is a challenging problem in hepatobiliary surgery. Benign biliary stricture is associated with major portal vein variation, which is not be found in literatures. A male patient with benign biliary stricture was admitted to the Chinese PLA General Hospital in March, 2010.The stricture was located in the hilar confluence with intrahepatic biliary dilation and hepatolithiasis. The result of computed tomography showed that the hilar biliary confluence was compressed by the left portal vein and right anterior portal vein. The patient was cured after receiving gallbladder interposition, choledocholithotomy and T tube drainage. We suggested that the benign hilar biliary stricture due to portal vein variation may be named as biliary nut-craker syndrome.

Objective To examine the impact of case management on hospitalizations of the chronically and severely mentally ill patients in Zhongshan. Methods Patients with severe and chronic mental illness,aged ≥ 15 years and living in pilot area were divided into two groups naturally since the program of case management launched, 65 cases in the group of case management and 112 patients in the group of standard management. Hospitalizations of the two groups before and after case management were compared. Results Data were analysised with MIXED procedure. Length of stay in days per admission (LOS) of both groups decreased with time in years (F=11.02, P=0.001), and the decline in LOS of case management group was greater than that of standard management group (F=9.02, P=0.003). The average admissions of case management group was more than that of standard management group (F=4.98,P=0.03). There was no significant differences in average hospitalization incidents before and after case management in both groups(case management group 5.13%vs. 5.38%, standard management group 7.14%vs. 8.92%, P>0.05). Conclusions Case management was effective in reducing hospitalizations for a group of Chinese with chronic and severe mental illness, and may contribute to the balance on mental health resources between community and hospital.

A total of 166 women with intrahepatic cholestasis in pregnancy (ICP) participated in the study. Serum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine 4 (FT4) and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) were quantified for all of them with electrochemiluminescence (ECL) technique, and compared with those in normal pregnant women. Results showed that serum TSH and TPOAb [22. 9%(38/166)] increased significantly, but no significant change in serum level of FT4 was observed in women with ICP, as compared to those in normal pregnant women. Overall prevalence of thyroid diseases in ICP women was 35.5% (59/166), significantly higher than that in normal population screened for thyroid disease (17. 1%, 143/837) at the same time period. It suggests that thyroid dysfunction may be involved in pathogenesis of ICP.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of preventing islet β-cell apoptosis in NOD mice with pioglitazone.Methods Female NOD mice at 4 weeks of age were divided into pioglitazone group ( n =21,0.02％pioglitazone was added into the feed ) and control group ( n =21,fed with regular diet).The accumulative incidence of diabetes was followed-up to 52 weeks of age in each group of NOD mice.Pancreas was removed from NOD mice at 12 weeks of age in each group ( n =15 ) to score severity of insulitis by routine H-E staining.The apoptotic β-cells in islets were observed with double-labeling technique of TUNEL in situ combined with standard sensitive avidin-biotin complex (sABC) immunohistochemical method.The spleens were taken for cell culture; IL-4 and IFN-γ levels in sera and supernatants of cultured splenocyte,the activity of PPARγ and NF-κB nuclear proteins in cultured splenocyte were measured by ELISA.Results (1)At 30 and 52 weeks of age,the respective incidences of diabetes were 57.1％ and 76.2％ in pioglitazone group,and 76.2％ and 90.5％ in control group ( all P＞0.05 ).At 15 weeks of age,the incidence became 4.8％ in pioglitazone group,and 33.3 ％ in control group ( P =0.045 ).( 2 ) At 12 weeks of age,the percentages of non infiltrated islet and peri-insulitis islet in pioglitazone group were higher than those in control group ( 14.73％ vs 5.69％,P＜0.01 ; and 26.02％ vs 15.72％,P＜0.01 ),and that of intraislet insulitis was lower than that in control group ( 59.25％ vs 78.59％,P＜0.01 ).The percentage of apoptotic β-cell in pioglitazone group was lower than that in control group( 6.17％ ±3.62％ vs 10.62％ ±4.43％,P=0.008 ).(3) In sera,IFN-γ level in pioglitazone group was lower than that in control group [( 561.05±78.61 ) vs ( 666.43 ± 28.42 ) pg/ml,P =0.045].In cultured splenocyte supernatant,the level of IFN-γ in pioglitazone group was lower than that in control group[(605.84+65.60) vs (692.20+44.98) pg/ml,P=0.041].(4) In cultured splenocyte,PPARγ nuclear protein activity in pioglitazone group was higher than that in control group ( 0.06 ± 0.01 vs 0.03 ± 0.01,P =0.013 ),and NF-κB nuclear protein activity was lower than that in control group ( 0.03 ± 0.01 vs 0.08± 0.01,P =0.001 ).Conclusions Pioglitazone activates PPARγ nuclear protein,inhibits activity of NF-κB nuclear protein,downregulates IFN-γ,diminishes differeutiation of Th cells to Th1,and subsequently prevents insulitis and β-cell apoptosis in NOD mice.

To explore the relationship between maternal insulin levels and fetal insulin resistance.Maternal blood and venous cord blood samples were collected in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) mothers and control subjects.The glucose and insulin levels were measured and insulin resistance levels estimated.Maternal levels of insulin and homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistance index (HOMAIR) were significantly higher in the GDM group than those in the control group (P ＜ 0.05) ; fetal levels of insulin and HOMA-IR were significantly higher in the GDM group than in the control group (P ＜ 0.05).Maternal insulin level positively correlated with fetal insulin (r =0.326,P ＜ 0.05) and HOMA-IR levels (r =0.378,P ＜0.05).In this study,a higher level of fetal insulin resistance was reported in the GDM group.And maternal hyperinsulinemia might affect fetal insulin resistance in pregnant women with GDM.

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between ceruloplasmin expression and Down syndrome (DS). MethodsDifferential protein expression in serum of six mothers with DS fetuses and six mothers with healthy fetuses was detected by two-dimensional electrophoresis and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrum,the results were confirmed by Western blot.The levels of serum ceruloplasmin in 11 mothers with DS fetuses,10 mothers with healthy fetuses,11 DS newborns and 10 healthy babies were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The difference between the two groups was compared by two-independent samples t test. ResultsTwenty-nine differential proteins were found in the serum of the mothers with DS fetuses; among which ceruloplasmin increased significantly compared with that in mothers with healthy fetuese with density ratio of 5.43 (t=2.7102,P＜0.05).Western blot results showed that the expression of ceruloplasmin in maternal serum with DS fetuses (0.95 ± 0.24) was higher than that of normal mothers (0.37±0.14) (t=2.9521,P＜0.05) ; while the expression of ceruloplasmin in DS babies' serum (0.74±0.03) was lower than that of normal newborns (0.89±0.06)(t=-2.9515,P＜0.05).The expression of ceruloplasmin in serum of mothers with DS fetuses [(346.5± 111.8) ng/ml] was higher than that of normal mothers [(248.6478.3) ng/ml] (t=2.301,P＜0.05) ; while the expression of ceruloplasmin in DS babies' serum [(166.1 ±55.0) ng/ml] was lower than that of normal newborns [(244.0±36.0) ng/ml] (t=-3.873,P＜0.01). ConclusionsAbnormal maternal and neonatal serum ceruloplasmin level might relate to DS.

Objective To assess lipid status of pregnant women with GDM based on the lipid reference intervals for pregnant women .Methods Maternal blood and venous cord blood samples were collected in 81 well-controlled GDM mothers and 86 control subjects .The total cholesterol (CHOL) ,trigalloyl glycerol (TRIG) ,high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) ,low-density lipo-protein cholesterol (LDL) ,apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA) ,apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and lipoprotein (a) levels were measured by auto-matic biochemical analyzer .We used a normal pregnancy specific lipid reference interval (PSR) and normal non-pregnant reference intervals (NPR) respectively to assess the lipid status of pregnant women with GDM .Results Compared with normal control group ,the Apo A ,HDL and LDL levels in GDM group were significantly lower (P<0 .05) .The HDL ,LDL and Lp(a) levels of GDM cord blood were significantly lower (P<0 .05) .The weight of offspring birth of GDM pregnant women with low level HDL was significantly higher (P<0 .05) ,and that of GDM pregnant women with high level LDL offspring birth weight was significantly lower (P<0 .05) .Maternal HDL was not correlated with birth weight (r= -0 .190 ,P=0 .103) .Parent LDH and birth weight was negatively correlated (r= -0 .252 ,P=0 .029) .Conclusion The reference range of normal pregnancy-specific lipid we had estab-lished is more scientific for assessment of blood lipids .