Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of arthroscopic debridement combined with oral use of Chinese medicine Guanjietong Tablets ( GT) for knee osteoarthritis in the early and middle stage. Methods Ninety knee osteoarthritis patients in the early and middle stage were evenly randomized into three groups, namely GT group, glucosamine sulfate group and blank control group. All of the three groups received arthroscopic debridement, and additionally, GT group and glucosamine sulfate group were given the corresponding medicine orally. We observed Lysholm knee scores of the three groups before operation, and 2 weeks, 3 months and one year after operation, and compared the knee joint space before operation and one year after operation showed by digital X-ray photograpy. Results ( 1) Lysholm knee scores in the three groups were increased 2 weeks, 3 months and one year after operation when compared with those before operation, the difference being significant (P<0.05) . Three months and one year after operation, the scores of GT group and glucosamine sulfate group differed from those of the blank control group (P<0.01). One year after operation, the scores of GT group differed from those of glucosamine sulfate group ( P<0.05). ( 2) The results of knee joint space showed by digital X-ray photography at knee position of weight loading indicated that the difference was insignificant between GT group and glucosamine sulfate group one year after operation ( P> 0.05) , but the difference between the two groups and the blank control group was significant (P<0.05). The difference of knee joint space was insignificant before operation and one year after operation in GT group and glucosamine sulfate group ( P>0.05) , while was significant in the blank control group ( P<0.05). Conclusion Arthroscopic debridement alone has certain short-term curative effect in treating knee osteoarthritis in the early and middle stage, but the effect will decline with the extension of time. Arthroscopic debridement combined with Guanjietong Tablets could delay the narrowing of joint space and maintain the clinical curative effect, which will delay the time for artificial joint replacement.

AIM: To explore the influence of processing with fresh-scorpion on element contents in crude scorpion in order to elucidate the processing method. METHODS: Macro-elements Ca,Mg and trace-elements Fe,Cu,Zn and Pb in crude scorpion were determined with emission spectrometric method. RESULTS: Contents of Ca,Mg in live-scorpion group were obviously lower than that in commercial-scorpion(P0.05). CONCLUSION: Processing with live-scorpion has obviously advantage over one with commercial scorpion on element contents.

Objective To evaluate the differences among five representative and useful Doppler parameters in the diagnosis of the three common types of renal artery stenosis (RAS). Methods Five Doppler parameters including renal peak systolic velocity (RPSV), renal-aortic ratio (RAR), renal-interlobar ratio (RIR),acceleration time (AT),and resistant index (RI) were measured in 221 patients before renal arteriography. Differences between the groups of patients with various clinical causes of RAS were analyzed by Chi-Squared test. One-way ANOVA or t test were used to compare the means between different groups.The optimal cutoff value was determined with the maximum sum of sensitivity and specificity. Results Of the 442 renal arteries (main and accessory renal arteries) demonstrated at arteriography,214 were normal or stenosed less than 50 %, 204 stenoses 50% - 99 %, and 24 occlusions. RIR, RAR and RI were significantly different between the atherosclerotic and non-atherosclerotic RAS groups (P ＜0.05), while RPSV and AT were not. The optimal cutoff values of RAR,RIR and RI for detecting RAS between the atherosclerotic and non-atherosclerotic groups were much different (2.5 versus 1.9, 5. 1 versus 6.5, 0.57 versus 0.50,respectively) ,but those of RPSV and AT were similar or the same (170 cm/s versus 200 cm/s,51 ms versus 51 ms,respectively). Conclusions In the case of RAS (diameter reduction≥50%),it is advised to establish separate cutoff values of RAR, RIR and RI according to atherosclerotic and non-atherosclerotic RAS, but the same cutoff value of RPSV and AT can be applied. RIR is a good Doppler parameter in the diagnosis of RAS,especially atherosclerotic and fibromuscular dysplasia RAS.

Purpose: Patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC) have a poor survival. We aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine and cisplatin regimen in Chinese advanced BTC patients. Materials and Methods: Eligible patients with locally advanced or metastatic BTC administrated intravenous 100 mg/m2 nab-paclitaxel, 800 mg/m2 gemcitabine, and 25 mg/m2 cisplatin every 3 weeks. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). The secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS) and adverse events, while exploratory endpoint was the association of biomarkers with efficacy. Results: After the median follow-up of 25.0 months, the median PFS and OS of 34 enrolled patients were 7.1 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.4 to 13.7) and 16.4 months (95% CI, 10.9 to 23.6), respectively. The most common treatment-related adverse events at ≥ 3 grade were neutropenia (26.5%) and leukopenia (26.5%). Survival analyses demonstrated that carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels could monitor patients’ survival outcomes. A significant increase in the number of infiltrating CD4+ cells (p=0.008) and a decrease in programmed death-1–positive (PD-1+) cells (p=0.032) were observed in the response patients. Conclusion In advanced BTC patients, nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine and cisplatin regimen showed therapeutic potential. Potential prognostic factors of CEA levels, number of CD4+ cells and PD-1+ cells may help us maximize the efficacy benefit.

Objective: To detect the expression of serum exosomal miR⁃30d⁃5p in occupational dermatitis medicamentosa⁃like of trichloroethylene(OMDT) patients and its correlation with liver function , then perform bioinformatics analysis and verify the target gene. Methods : Serum exosomes were extracted from 6 OMDT patients and 6 healthy controls , and miRNA was extracted from exosomes which were identified by transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis and western blotting. The expression of serum exosomal miR⁃30d⁃5p was detected by real⁃time fluorescence quantitative PCR , then the correlation with liver function was analyzed. The target genes of miR⁃30d⁃5p were predicted by the miRWalk and miRBD databases. Gene ontology analysis and KEGG pathways analysis were performed. Finally , RHOB was verified by Dual⁃luciferase reporter assay. Results: The expression of serum exosomal miR⁃30d⁃5p significantly decreased in 6 OMDT patients at the peak of the disease(P < 0. 05) , and it was negatively correlated with the level of AST , ALT and GGT (correlation coefficient : rs = - 0. 943 ,P = 0. 005 ;rs = - 0. 886 , P = 0. 019 ; rs = - 0. 886 , P = 0. 019 ) . Bioinformatics analysis and dual⁃luciferase reporter assay showed that RHOB was the target gene of miR⁃30d⁃5p. Conclusion The expression of serum exosomal miR⁃30d-5p decreases in OMDT patients , which is negatively correlated with the level of liver function , and the target gene RHOB may be involved in the process of liver injury induced by trichloroethylene.

Although widely applied in treating hematopoietic malignancies, transplantation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) is impeded by HSPC shortage. Whether circulating HSPCs (cHSPCs) in steady-state blood could be used as an alternative source remains largely elusive. Here we develop a three-dimensional culture system (3DCS) including arginine, glycine, aspartate, and a series of factors. Fourteen-day culture of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) in 3DCS led to 125- and 70-fold increase of the frequency and number of CD34⁺ cells. Further, 3DCS-expanded cHSPCs exhibited the similar reconstitution rate compared to CD34⁺ HSPCs in bone marrow. Mechanistically, 3DCS fabricated an immunomodulatory niche, secreting cytokines as TNF to support cHSPC survival and proliferation. Finally, 3DCS could also promote the expansion of cHSPCs in patients who failed in HSPC mobilization. Our 3DCS successfully expands rare cHSPCs, providing an alternative source for the HSPC therapy, particularly for the patients/donors who have failed in HSPC mobilization.
Antigens, CD34/metabolism* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/metabolism* ; Peptides/metabolism*