Objective To enhance the understanding of the clinical features,diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD).Method Three patients with RSD in PLA General Hospital were analyzed.Results In the three patients the symptoms appeared following an injury,they had severe pain,swelling,limited range of motion,vasomotor instability,skin changes,patchy bone demineralization,and increased scintigraphic uptake in the peripheral joints of involved extremities.Two of them had shouder hand syndrome and one had obvious skin thickening.The patients showed better responses after the treatrment of physiotherapy,nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs,corticosteroids and tricyclic antidepressants.Conclusion Early diagnosis is very important and appropriate treatment must be initiated as early as possible for RSD patients.

Objective To investigate the value of imaging in the diagnosis of reflex sympathetic dystrophy(RSD).Methods The clinical manifestations and imaging findings of RSD in five patients were analyzed.Results The onset of clinical symptoms of patients was followed by an injury in all cases.Severe pain,swelling,limited range of motion and vasomotor instability were main complaints.Patchy bone demineralization could be found both on plain radiographs and CT.CT scan was superior to plain radiographs in detecting bone demineralization.Increased scintigraphic uptake in the involved extremities were demonstrated in all four patients who examined by bone scintigraphy.Bony erosions which were not easily visible on plain radiographs could be clearly seen on MRI in one patient at early stage.Conclusion Patchy bone demineralization on plain radiographs and CT is the most outstanding imaging finding in RSD.Bone scintigraphy and MRI can help early in diagnosis of the disease.

To investigate the mechanism of electroacupuncturein treating chronic fatigue syndrome(CFS) in term of the neuro-endocrine system by observing the regulative effect of EA on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal index (HPA index) and corticotropin releasing hormone mRNA (CRH mRNA) in CFS model rats. Methods: The rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, and electroacupuncture group. Model and electroacupuncture groups were forced to swim in cold water to make CFS model, while rats in electroacupuncture group were treated with electroacupuncture treatment at the same time. Electroacupuncture group was given at Baihui(GV 20) and Zusanli(ST 36). Evaluation of the model was processed according to the behavior changes of the rats. Hypothalamic, pituitary, and adrenal were weighted to calculate HPA index. CRH mRNA in hypothalamic was measured by fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (FQPCR). Results: The model rats had behavior changes,and both physical and mental fatigue was observed. HPA index raised and expression of CRH mRNA in hypothalamus increased in CFS rats. After electroacupuncture treatment, the physical and mental fatigue was improved, and the hypothalamic index and CRH mRNA decreased significantly, while the pituitary and adrenal index only had little decrease. Conclusion: Cold water swim press could mimic the pathogenesis and make similar manifestations in rats with the common clinical symptoms. CFS has close relationship with increase of HPA index and CRH mRNA expression. Electroacupuncture can regulate the function of HPA axis to deal with CFS.

ObjectiveTo explore the diagnostic and differential diagnostic points in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) complicated with fever and pulmonary diseases. MethodsFull clinical analysis was performed for a 55-year old patient with arthritis, fever, and wheeze. ResultsThe clinical pictures of the patient were consistent with those of RA. Computed tomography(CT) revealed interstitial lung diseases and intrapulmonary cavities. Antifungal agents were given experimentally, and the intrapulmonary cavities disappeared finally, thus the patient was diagnosed as RA, concurrently complicated with interstitial lung disease and pulmonary fungal infection. ConclusionThe possibility of pulmonary fungal infection should be considered in RA patients who presented with fever and intrapulmonary cavities.

Objective To investigate the effects of Xuanfeitongfufang Decoction on expressions of MD-2, NF-κB protein and its mRNA in lung of the rats with acute lung injury caused by LPS. Methods Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, dexamethasone group and Xuanfeitongfufang Decoction large-, medium-, small-dose group, each group had eight rats. The ALI rat model was established by LPS tail-intravenous injection (6 mg/kg). The rats in Xuanfeitongfufang Decoction groups were pretreated by Xuanfeitongfufang Decoction (15.12, 7.56, 3.78 g/kg) for 3 days before LPS induced ALI. The rats in dexamethasone group were pretreated by dexamethasone (5 mg/kg). MD-2, NF-κB protein and its mRNA were measured by immunohistochemistry and PCR. The histopathology of the lung injury was observed by light microscope. Results Compared with normal group, the expression of MD-2, NF-κB protein and its mRNA were obviously increased in model group (P<0.01). Compared with model group, the expression of MD-2, NF-κB protein and its mRNA were obviously decreased in Xuanfeitongfufang Decoction groups and dexamethasone group (P<0.01), and there was no obvious difference between Xuanfeitongfufang Decoction groups and dexamethasone group. Light microscope observation indicates that there were large areas of pulmonary hemorrhage and necrosis in model group. While in Xuanfeitongfufang Decoction group and dexamethasone group, the pathological manifestations were much more ameliorated than those of the model group. The lung bronchiale inflammation appeared occasionally, and the edema was lightly. Conclusion Xuanfeitongfufang Decoction can lessen the injury of lung tissue and has protective effects on rats with ALI, the mechanism is possibly related to the inhibition of the expressions of MD-2 and NF-κB protein and its mRNA in injured lung tissues.

Objective To investigate the relationship between abnormal metabolism of aggrecan and joint destruction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods 140 RA patients with duration less than 24 months were enrolled into this study.The study also included 100 normal controls and 95 patients with other rheumatic diseases.Three monoclonal antibodies (5D4,7D4 and BC-3) of aggrecan were used to detected aggrecan catabolic fragments in serum of RA patients and the other two groups of controls by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA),and the correlation of aggrecan catabolic fragments with joint damage were analyzed.Sharp evaluation of hand joints in RA patients were performed at baseline and after one year follow-up.Calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of aggrecan catabolic fragments detected in serum of RA patients.Results Both levels of 5D4 fragment and BC-3 fragment of RA group were higher than those of normal control [5D4 of RA:(5.8±2.1) ng/μl,normal control:(2.2±1.3) ng/μl;BC-3 of RA:(11.1±3.4) ng/μl,normal control:(5.0±2.1) ng/μl,F=38.65,24.07,P＜0.001).There was no difference in 7D4 fragment among three groups (F=0.589,P=0.478).Both two fragment levels of RA patients with anti-CCP positive were greater than those patients with anti-CCP negative [5D4:(5.6±1.3) ng/μl vs (4.4±1.1) ng/μl,F=21.23,P＜0.01;BC-3:(12.2±3.9) ng/μl vs (9.3±2.8) ng/μ1,F=27.14,P＜0.01].Linear Regression showed that serum fragments detected by 5D4 and BC-3,and anti-CCP positive were risk factors for Sharp deterioration after one year follow-up.The sensitivity and specificity of combined detection of two aggrecan fragments in serum of RA patients for the prediction of joint Sharp were 56.5％ and 84.2％ respectively.Positive predictive value and negative predictive value are 74.3％ and 70.6％.respectively.Application of areas of ROC to identify the best evaluation of Sharp was 0.798.Conclusion There is positive correlation between aggrecan catabolic fragments in serum and joint Sharp evaluation of RA patients.Detection of aggrecan catabolic fragments in RA patients may predict early joint destruction.

Objective To delineate and measure the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) on CT angiography (CTA) and evaluate the dose delivered to LAD by different radiotherapy techniques for left-sided breast cancer.Methods Twenty-nine left-side breast cancer women with mean age of 54.71 years (range:30-80 years) were included.CTA was performed, and LAD was contoured and the distances were measured between LAD and chest wall (posteroanterior diameter,PD), between LAD and internal mammary artery (horizontal diameter,HD), between LAD and interventricular groove (oblique diameter,OD) at the level of T7-T8,T8-T9,T9-T10 and at level of nipple and lower boundary of the breast.The dose delivered to LAD was calculated on three-dimensional plans for two patients with mastectomy whose chest wall and internal mammary chain (IMC) were irradiated and one patient with breast-conserving surgery who received whole breast irradiation.Results The LAD arose at the level of the third rib in 40% of patients and at the fourth rib in 60% of patients.The mean length of LAD was 7.49±0.58 cm.At the level of T7-T8,T8-T9,T9-T10,the mean PD were 2.99±1.11 cm, 1.26±0.65 cm,0.68±0.39 cm, the mean HD were 2.27±0.84 cm, 2.81±0.65 cm, 3.37±1.21 cm, and the mean OD were 0.47±0.25 cm,0.38±0.21 cm,0.42±0.19 cm respectively.At the level of the breast nipple and the lower boundary of the breast, the mean PD were 2.94±1.06 cm, 0.79±0.46 cm, the mean HD were 2.45±0.89 cm, 3.31±1.22 cm,and the mean OD were 0.56±0.30 cm,0.57±0.24 cm respectively.The mean dose to the LAD was 5 Gy and 14 Gy for patients with mastectomy whose IMC was irradiated with 9 MeV electron and whose IMC was irradiated with 6 MV photon tangential beams.The mean dose to the LAD was 26 Gy for patients with breast conserving surgery.Conclusions To contour the LAD, the interventricular groove could be the reference point.Tangential technique can be giving a higher dose of LAD when compared with other radiation techniques

Objective To investigate the effect of sodium houttuyfonate on the expression of PI3K and AKT1 and mTOR mRNA in the lung of rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD),and reveal the possible mechanism of the COPD treated with sodium houttuyfonate. Methods Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group,model control group,dexamethasone group and sodium houttuyfonate group(n=6 for each). The rat models of COPD were established by intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide and smudging. The expressions of PI3K and AKT1 and mTOR mRNA were determined by real-time PCR. The morphological changes of the lung tissue was examined by histopathology. Results Compared with the normal control group,the expressions of PI3K and AKT1 were significantly in-creased and mTOR mRNA was significantly decreased in the model group(P<0.01,P<0.05). Compared with the mod-el group,the expressions of PI3K and AKT1 were significantly decreased and mTOR mRNA was significantly increased in the sodium houttuyfonate group and dexamethasone group(P<0.01,P<0.05). Compared with the dexamethasone group, the expression of mTOR mRNA was significantly increased in the sodium houttuyfonate group(P<0.05). The pathological observation indicated that there were local pulmonary consolidation and a extensive neutrophil infiltration in the alveolar cav-ity. Prominent pulmonary interstitial fibrous hyperplasia was observed in the model group. The pathological manifestations were much ameliorated than those of the model group,and only mild interstitial pneumonia and a slight fibrous hyperplasia were seen in the sodium houttuyfonate and the dexamethasone groups. Conclusions Sodium houttuyfonate reduces the in-jury of lung tissue and has protective effect on COPD rats. The mechanism is probably related to the down-regulatation of expression of PI3K and AKT1 mRNA and up-regulatation of expression of mTOR mRNA in COPD rats.

Purpose: To identify the predictors of infectious disease-specific health literacy (IDSHL), and establish an easy-to-apply nomogram to predict the IDSHL of older adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 380 older adults who completed the IDSHL, self-rated health, socio-demographic and other questionnaires. Logistic regression was used to identify the IDSHL predictors. Nomogram was used to construct a predictive model. Results: Up to 70.1% of older adults had limited IDSHL. Age, education, place of residence, self-rated health, and Internet access were the important influencing factors of IDSHL. The established nomogram model showed high accuracy (receiver operating characteristic curve: 0.848). Conclusions The IDSHL of Chinese older adults was significantly deficient. The constructed nomogram is an intuitive tool for IDSHL prediction that can not only contribute toward rapid screening of high-risk older adults with limited IDSHL but also provide guidance for healthcare providers to develop prevention strategies for infectious diseases.

AIM:To explore the impact of sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 5(S1PR5)on lipopolysaccha-ride(LPS)-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive-behavioral impairments in mice,alongside the anti-inflammatory im-pacts on BV2 cells and associated mechanisms.METHODS:(1)C57BL/6 wild-type(WT)mice and homozygous S1PR5 knockout(KO)mice were utilized and categorized into WT control,WT-LPS,S1PR5 KO control,and S1PR5 KO-LPS groups using the random number method.Neuroinflammatory models in mice were induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of 5 mg/kg LPS in the WT-LPS and S1PR5 KO-LPS groups,while an equivalent volume of saline was injected in-to the WT control and S1PR5 KO control groups.Following 7 days of modeling,the Morris water maze test was conducted,followed by the collection of brain tissues from each group of mice.Hippocampal tissue sections were stained with Nissl.The mRNA expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and IL-6 in hippocampal tis-sues were determined using RT-qPCR.Western blot and tissue immunofluorescence techniques were employed to assess the expression of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)in hippocampal tissues.(2)The BV2 cells underwent LPS stimulation to induce an inflammatory response and were treated with either the S1PR5 ago-nist A971432 or lentiviral overexpression of S1PR5.The effects of S1PR5 agonism or overexpression on S1PR5,IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α,and CD206 were assessed using RT-qPCR.Additionally,CD206 expression was examined via cellular im-munofluorescence.Western blot was employed to analyze the protein levels of microglia polarization markers CD206,in-ducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS),cyclooxygenase 2(COX2),and NLRP3,as well as p-NF-κB,cleaved caspase-1,and IκBα.RESULTS:(1)Findings from in vivo experiments indicated that S1PR5 KO notably exacerbated LPS-induced memory impairments in mice,alongside increased mRNA levels of IL-1β and IL-6,and increased protein levels of NLRP3 in the hippocampus.(2)The presence of S1PR5 in BV2 cells remained unaffected by variations in A971432 concentration and exposure duration.(3)Activation of S1PR5 or its overexpression significantly mitigated LPS-induced expression of IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α,while concurrently enhancing CD206 expression in BV2 cells at the mRNA level.At the protein level,it led to a noteworthy increase in CD206 expression,indicative of M2-type macrophages,and a reduction in the ex-pression of iNOS and COX2,markers of M1-type macrophages.Furthermore,it downregulated NLRP3,p-NF-κB,and cleaved caspase-1 expression,while upregulating IκBα expression.CONCLUSION:S1PR5 deficiency exacerbates cog-nitive deficits in mice by promoting neuroinflammatory responses induced by LPS.