Objective: By observing the differences in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) and visual analog scale (VAS) scores in moxibustion treatment for moderate-to-severe primary knee osteoarthritis (KOA) with moxa of different storage years (3-year moxa and 1-year moxa from Qichun, Huanggang City, Hubei Province, China) through a randomized clinical trial, to objectively evaluate the differences in therapeutic efficacy of moxibustion with moxa of different storage years. Methods: A total of 63 patients with moderate-to-severe KOA who met the inclusion criteria were randomized into moxibustion group 1 and moxibustion group 2 by central randomization method, with 32 cases in moxibustion group 1 and 31 cases in moxibustion group 2. Moxibustion group 1 was treated with moxa stored for 3 years, and moxibustion group 2 was treated with moxa stored for 1 year. Dubi (ST 35), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4) and Heding (EX-LE 2) were selected in both groups, and the treatment lasted 20 min per time, 3 times a week. The immediate efficacy was compared after 6 times of treatment, and long-term efficacy was compared at follow-up 4 weeks after the end of treatment. Results: During the treatment, there were 2 dropouts in moxibustion group 1, and 1 dropout in moxibustion group 2. The total effective rate in the two groups was 83.3％ and 60.0％, respectively. Followed up at 4 weeks after the end of treatment, the total effective rate in the two groups was 80.0％ and 66.7％, respectively. There were no statistical differences between the two groups (both P>0.05). After treatment and 4 weeks after the end of treatment, the WOMAC and VAS scores in both groups decreased significantly compared with those before treatment (all P<0.01); the scores of stiffness item of WOMAC in moxibustion group 1 were lower than those in moxibustion group 2 (both P<0.05); there were no statistical differences in the scores of pain item and dysfunction item of WOMAC, and VAS scores between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion: Moxibustion with moxa of different storage years (stored for 3 years and 1 year) both can improve the pain, stiffness and motor function in patients with moderate-to-severe KOA. While moxa stored for 3 years has a better therapeutic efficacy in improving stiffness of the knee joint than that stored for 1 year.

Objective To explore the guidance significance of the functional MRI and DTI (fMRI ,DTI) ,intraoperative ultra-sound(IOUS) ,neuronavigation ,electrocorticography(EcoG) monitoring used in surgical treatment of low-grade gliomas with epi-lepsy as main symptom located near the eloquent brain regions .Methods 23 neurosurgical patients in the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University during 2009-2010 were performed the retrospective analysis .The preoperative fMRI ,DTI deter-mined the positional relation between the lesions with the conduction bundle and the eloquent brain regions ,the electrophysiological and imageological examinations positioned the epileptogenic focus and lesions ,the MRI-mediated neuronavigation system was adopt-ed to formulate the surgical plan and choose the best surgical approach ,IOUS was used to perform the realtime monitoring for pre-cisely positioning the lesion range and determining the extent of resection ,and the intraoperative EcoG was adopted to determine the epileptogenic focus localization ,the lesions and the epileptogenic focus was dealed by the operating microscope for avoiding the func-tional region ,and the patient′s prognosis was evaluated and recored in detail after operation .Results By the precisely positioning the lesions and epileptogenic focus by fMRI ,DTI ,neuronavigation and ultrasound ,the lesion resection degrees by the operative mi-croscope and intraopertaive pathological guidance were 17 cases of Ⅰ-Ⅱ grade ,4 cases of Ⅲ grade and 2 case of Ⅳ-Ⅴ grade .1 case of motor aphasia ,4 cases of hemiplegia and monoplegia and 1 case of disturbance of consciousness after operation were improved by the treatment of neurotrophy ,dehydration and hyperbaric oxygen and discharged from hospital with rehabilitation .No death case occurred .The evaluation of the life quality :20 cases ofⅠ-Ⅱ grade ,3 cases of Ⅲ grade and no vegetable survival case of Ⅳ grade . The evaluation of resection clinical effect :20 cases of cure ,3 cases of improvement ,no case of as before and exacerbation .After fol-lowed up for 6-24 months ,according to Engel classification of seizure efficacy assessment :Ⅰ-Ⅱ grade in 21 cases ,Ⅲ grade in 2 case ,no case of Ⅳgrade .Conclusion fMRI ,DTI ,neuronavigation ,IOUS and EcoG for guiding the operation of low grade gliomas located near the eloquent brain regions can resect the lesion to the largest extent and simultaneously deal with epileptogenic focus , effectively protect the neurological function of the functional region ,greatly reduce the side-injury of the normal brain tissues in the functional region ,at the same time increase the curative effect of symptomatic epilepsy .

Objective To analyze the correlation between miR-31 and ESCC in expression of miR-31 in the plasma of ESCC in Xinjiang Kazak and Han nationality patients. Methods The plasma samples were collected respectively from patients with ESCC in 20 cases and healthy subjects in 20 cases. The relatively expression of miR-31 was detected by real-time Q-PCR. Results The expression of miR-31 with ESCC were higher than those of the normal control group, which related to the degree of tumor differentiation in Kazak ESCC patients (P < 0.01); the levels of miR-31 relative expression in Kazak were higher than that of Han (P = 0.008, P = 0.027). Conclusion miR-31 may be involved in the occurrence of ESCC in Han and Kazak nationality. miR-31 might be another risk factor in high incidence of ESCC in Kazak than Han nationality.

Objective To investigate the correlation between dose volume histogram(DVH)of tumor targets and organs at risk(OAR)at CT-image based 192Ir brachytherapy and effects and complications for patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. Methods Ten patients with FIGO stage ⅢB cervical cancer received CT image-based 192Ir intracavitary brachytherapy after 54 Gy of three-dimentional four-field pelvic external beam radiotherapy and concurrent weekly cisplatin chemotherapy. Before each brachytherapy,CT images were acquired with applicators in place. Gross tumor volume(GTV), clinical target volume (CTV)and OAR were contoured and inverse treatment planning was designed and optimized by using PLATO treatment planning system. Conventional two-dimensional plans were also designed for comparison.The total intracavitary brachytherapy dose was 30 -42 Gy in 5 -7 fractions. The patients were followed, and the local control and complications were analyzed. The biologically equivalent dose(BED)and biologically equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions(BED2)for GTV, CTV and OAR were calculated. The minimum dose in the most irradiated tissue volume 2 cm3(D2 cm3)adjacent to the applicator of the sigmoid colon, rectum,bladder and small bowel was determined from the DVH. Results The 1-year local pelvic control rate was 90% and grade 1-2 late complication of sigmoid colon and rectum was 50%. No grade 3 or more complications developed. On CT-image based planning, the BED and BED2 to 90% of the CTV(D90)were 95.50 Gy ± 7. 81 Gy and 79. 73 Gy ± 6. 57 Gy. The BED and BED2 to 90% of the GTV(D90)were 101.86 Gy ± 7.27 Gy and 84. 95 Gy ± 6. 1 Gy. The volume enclosed by 90% of prescribed dose(V90)for GTV and CTV were 92% ±4% and 87% ±7% respectively. The D2cm3 for rectum and sigmoid colon were 74. 97 Gy ±1.64 Gy and 67. 93 Gy ± 4. 30 Gy(EQD2, α/β = 3). Comparing with 2D brachytherapy plans , CT - image based planning has improved D90 and V90 for GTV and CTV with similar dose at point A and rectum reference point. Conclusions Computer tomography-image based 192Ir brachytherapy has resulted in the better dose distribution to the tumor targets with excellent tumor control and acceptable toxicity.

Objective To develop and validate a simple and reliable HPLC method for the analysis of L-carnitine in human seminal plasma and to investigate its clinical significance as a potentially useful index of infertile.Methods After proteins in seminal plasma are precipitated with acetonitrile,L-carnitine in seminal plasma was derivatized to form its ester.HPLC separation of the sample solution was performed on a Lichrospher SiO_2 column and detected by ultraviolet absorbance at 260 nm.A mobile phase composed of acetonitrile-citrie acid buffer(containing 12 mmol/L triethanolamine,pH 5.0)was found to be the most suitable for this separation at a flow rate of 1.2 ml/min and enabled the baseline separation of the L-carnitine from interferences with isocratic elution.The L-carnitine levels in seminal plasma were studied in both 87 patients with infertility and 30 control subjects.Results Under the chromatographic conditions described, the L-carnitine derivative had a retention time of approximately 13 min.Good separation and detectability of L-carnitine in human seminal plasma sample were obtained.The method proved to be linear in the range of L-carnitine from 0 ?mol/L to 1000 ?mol/L.The relative standard deviations of within-and between-assay for L-carnitine analysis were 1.23% and 1.36%,respectively.The recoveries were 91.6% -96.5% for the human seminal plasma samples.L-carnitine concentrations in the populations were(392.7?107.2)?mol/L in the fertile group(n=30),(270.0?83.9)?mol/L in asthenozoospermia group(n=29),(187.9? 43.9)?mol/L in oligozoospermia group(n=19)and(175.7?67.1)?mol/L in oligoasthenozoospermia group(n=39).The large difference(P0.05).Conclusion The determination of L-carnitine level in seminal plasma may prove useful as a potentially biochemical marker of fertility and this is a useful guidance for the clinic therapy and the mechanismic study on the male reproduction.

Objective To investigate CT appearances of abdominal primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma(MFH).Methods The CT characteristics,clinical features and pathological data of 1 7 patients with MFH proved pathologically were analyzed retrospectively. Results The lesions located in retroperitoneum were 6,in liver were 5,in kidney were 2,in superior mesentery was 1,in greater omentum was 1,in stomach was 1,in ileum was 1.The lesions are oval shape,lobulated,nodule shape,and the size of these lesions were large. 2 cases of MFH located in gastrointestinal tract were slightly low density,and the remaining were uneven high density due to necro-sis.In CT contrast enhanced scan,the solid portion and internal divisions showed progressive or continuous enhancement,and the nec-rosis were not enhanced in MFH located in the retroperitoneum,the greater omentum,the superior mesentery and the liver.MFH in kidney was poorly circumscribed and showed mild progressive enhancement lower than normal renal parenchyma.The stomach and ileum lesions showed uniform and continuous enhancement with normal gastrointestinal mucosa in corresponding parts.Conclusion Imaging features of retroperitoneal MFH were the same as those of interstitial tumors,and most tumors showed features of progres-sive and persistent enhancement,but have different imaging appearances with the malignant lesions in corresponding parts.

Background Interleukin-17 (IL-17)is a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine and plays a pathogenic role in autoimmune disease.It was confirmed that IL-17 is implicated in allograft rejection of many transplanted organs.Recent studies have foensed on the effect of IL-17 antagonists on allograft rejection.Objective This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of anti-mouse IL-17 monoclonal antibody (mAb) on corneal allograft rejection.Methods Twenty-five 8 to 10-week-old C57BL/6 mice and 50 BALB/c mice were collected.Donor cornea grafts with 2 mm diameter from 25 C57BL/6 mice was transplanted to 50 eye of BALB/c mice to establish a model of corneal transplantation.The recipients were randomized into 2 groups,and neutralizing mouse IL-17antibody or isotype control antibody was intraperitoneally injected immediately after transplantation for experimental treatment,respectively.Allografts were scored clinically at appropriate time points after treatment based on Plskova criteria,and ≥5 was confirmed as rejection.Infiltrating cells in corneal graft were detected qualitatively and quantitatively by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-PCR separately.The cytokine levels of T helper type 1 (Th1),Th2,and Th17 in recipients' spleen wer(c) analyzcd by ELISA.The use of the animals followed the Statement of ARVO.Results Compared with the isotype control antibody group,the survival of grafts was improved in the IL-17mAb group(P＜0.05).The levels of neutrophile granulocyte mRNA,CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphotes mRNA were 2.22±0.10,1.64±0.04 and 1.32±0.10 in the IL-17 mAb group,showing a significant decline in comparison with those of the isotype control antibody group(3.61 ±0.08,2.69±0.06 and 2.17±0.04) (P=0.000,0.000,0.000).Interferon-γ(IFN-γ),IL-12 p40 and IL-17 concentrations in recipients ' splenocytes were (529.80 ± 13.83) ng/L,(539.58 ±10.74) ng/L and(173.70±8.11)ng/L in the IL-17 mAb group,and thosc in the isotype control antibody group were (741.48± 10.51) ng/L,(1156.90 ± 69.93) ng/L and (366.13± 7.93) ng/L,with significant differences between them (P=0.000,0.001,0.000).Conclusions Neutralization IL-17 bioactivity inhibits mouse corneal allograft rejection to a certain extent.

The optometry in physical examinations is conducted manually at present and this method is neither precise nor efficient. After studying the standard logarithmic visual acuity charts which is popular in our country, we have designed an optometry system based on Client/Server Computing Mode. The system's architecture and its working principle are also presented in the article.
Algorithms ; Artificial Intelligence ; Computer Simulation ; Equipment Design ; Humans ; Information Storage and Retrieval ; methods ; Microcomputers ; Optometry ; instrumentation ; methods ; Physical Examination ; instrumentation ; methods ; Software Design

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of testosterone undecanoate (TU) in the treatment of late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) by meta-analysis.

METHODSWe searched Pubmed (until April 1, 2014), Embase (until March 28, 2014), Cochrane Library (until April 17, 2014), CBM (from January 1, 2001 to February 2, 2014), CNKI (from January 1, 2001 to February 2, 2014), Wanfang Database (from January 1, 2000 to February 2, 2014), and VIP Database (from January 1, 2000 to Febru ary 2, 2014) for randomized controlled trials of TU for the treatment of LOH. We evaluated the quality of the identified literature and performed meta-analysis on the included studies using the Rveman5. 2 software.

RESULTSTotally, 14 studies were included after screening, which involved 1 686 cases. Compared with the placebo and blank control groups, TU treatment significantly increased the levels of serum total testosterone (SMD = 6.22, 95% CI 3.99 to 8.45, P < 0.05) and serum free testosterone (SMD = 4.35, 95% CI 1.86 to 6. 85, P < 0.05) but decreased the contents of luteinizing hormone (WMD = -2.23, 95% CI -4.03 to -0.42, P < 0.05), sex hormone binding globulin (WMD = 2.00, 95% CI 1.38 to 2.63, P < 0.05). TU also remarkably reduced the scores of Partial Androgen Deficiency of the Aging Males (WMD = -9.49, 95% CI -12.96 to -6.03, P < 0.05) and Aging Males Symptoms rating scale (WMD = -2.76, 95% CI -4.85 to -0.66, P <0.05) but increased the hemoglobin level (SMD = 2.35, 95% CI 0.29 to 4.41, P < 0.05) and packed-cell volume (SMD = 4.35, 95% CI 1.36 to 7.33, P < 0.05). However, no significant changes were shown in aspertate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, prostate-specific antigen, or prostate volume after TU treatment (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTU could significantly increase the serum testosterone level and improve the clinical symptoms of LOH patients without inducing serious adverse reactions. However, due to the limited number and relatively low quality of the included studies, the above conclusion could be cautiously applied to clinical practice.

Androgens ; therapeutic use ; Hemoglobin A ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; blood ; drug therapy ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; pharmacology