Objective: To observe the effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) plus Luohua Anshen oral liquid for patients with perimenopausal insomnia. Methods: A total of 66 participants who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the randomized controlled trial and allocated to a treatment group and a control group at a ratio of 1:1, with 33 cases in each group. Both groups were given Luohua Anshen oral liquid as a basic treatment. The treatment group was additionally given EA every other day, three times a week. Both groups were treated for four weeks and a four-week follow-up was conducted. The scores of Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), Kupperman index (KI) and traditional Chinese medicine sleep syndrome scale (TCMSSS) were recorded at pre- and post-treatment, and at the follow-up. Meanwhile, adverse effects were monitored and recorded. Results: After four-week treatment, the global scores of PSQI, KI and TCMSSS in both groups declined significantly (all P<0.05), and the decreases in the treatment group were more significant than those in the control group (allP<0.05). The global scores of PSQI, KI and TCMSSS in both groups at the follow-up visit were significantly different from the corresponding baseline (allP<0.05), while insignificantly different from those assessed at post-treatment (allP>0.05). The total effective rate was 93.9％ in the treatment group, significantly higher than 72.2％ in the control group (P<0.05). No significant adverse event was reported in this trial excepted one patient experienced slight dizziness in the first acupuncture treatment. Conclusion: EA plus Luohua Anshen oral liquid is safe for perimenopausal insomnia with satisfactory short- and long-term effectiveness, and it shows certain advantage compared with using Luohua Anshen oral liquid alone.

Objective:To observe the efficacy and safety of dexzopiclone plus auricular acupressure in intervening primary insomnia.Methods:A total of 72 participants who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial,with 36 cases allocated to a treatment group and 36 cases allocated to a control group.Both groups were given dexzopiclone as the routine treatment.Patients in the treatment group were given auricular acupressure with Wang Bu Liu Xing (Semen Vaccariae) seeds at the auricular acupoints related to sleep and emotion based on meridian theory,whereas for patients in the control group,the medical plasters with Wang Bu Liu Xing (Semen Vaccariae) seeds were only gently stuck to acupoints unrelated to sleep without stimulation.Patients in both groups were required to visit the hospital once a week for replacing the seeds and plasters.The course of intervention lasted for 8 weeks and the patients were followed up for another 4 weeks.Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and Karolinska sleep diary (KSD) were used to evaluate the outcomes.Meanwhile,adverse effects were monitored and recorded.Results:In the enrolled 72 cases,4 patients (one in the treatment group and three in the control group) reported thirst and a bitter taste,and one case in the control group reported nausea and vomiting.At last,3 cases in the control group dropped out for adverse reactions,and 69 cases completed the clinical trial.After 8 weeks of treatment,the global scores of PSQI in both treatment and control groups decreased significantly compared with the baseline (both P＜0.001).Furthermore,the global score of PSQI in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group (P＜0.01).The global scores of PSQI in both groups at the follow-up were significantly different from the baseline (both P＜0.001),but insignificantly different compared with the post-treatment results (both P＞0.05).According to KSD,both treatment protocols could prolong the total sleep time,shorten sleep-onset latency,improve sleep efficacy and sleep quality significantly,and the changes in the treatment group were more significant.The total effective rate was 88.9％ in the treatment group,higher than 81.8％ in the control group,though the difference was statistically insignificant (P＞0.05).Conclusion:Dexzopiclone plus auricular acupressure is effective and safe for patients with primary insomnia both in short and long terms,and it is more effective than monotherapy of dexzopiclone.

[Objective]To analyze the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)treatment of autism spectrum disorder(ASD)based on the theoretical perspective of"spirit originating from the heart and connecting with the kidneys".[Methods]By studying the chapters"Shen Jing"and"Jing Yi"in HUANG Yuanyu's Sisheng Xinyuan and combining these with the clinical symptoms of childhood autism,this paper analyzes the key pathogenesis of autism from the physiological and pathological perspectives of the heart and kidneys,and the related theories of heart-kidney interactions.Corresponding treatment methods and medications are proposed,accompanied by clinical cases for discussion.[Results]The syndrome analysis of childhood autism indicates that the disease primarily affects the heart and kidneys.The key pathogenesis involves insufficient development of the Shen(spirit)and deficiency of kidney essence.Based on HUANG Yuanyu's theory that"Shen originates from the heart and communicates with the kidneys...essence is stored in the kidneys and communicates with the heart,"the functionality of the Shen and essence depends not only on the normal functioning of the heart and kidneys but also on the proper relationship between them.Specifically,this is reflected in the mutual use of spirit and essence,the generation of essence and blood,the stability of the monarch(heart)and minister(kidneys),and the harmony of water and fire.Therefore,TCM treatment should focus on benefiting kidney essence and controlling heart fire to achieve mutual use of spirit and essence,and harmony of water and fire;strengthening kidney willpower and calming the spirit to stabilize the monarch and minister;regulating the middle earth to ascend and descend,and soothing liver and gallbladder Qi to ensure the proper movement of Qi and heart-kidney harmony.The case study presented involved a diagnosis of insufficient kidney essence and virtual fire disturbing the heart.The treatment focused on nourishing the kidneys,replenishing essence,clearing the heart and calming the spirit,with adjustments to strengthen the spleen,boost Qi,and clear liver fire,achieving satisfactory clinical efficacy.[Conclusion]TCM treatment of childhood autism from the perspective of regulating the heart-kidney relationship shows that proper heart-kidney coordination leads to sufficient essence and vigorous spirit,improving social,language and behavioral abnormalities in children.This provides broader ideas and methods for the clinical treatment of childhood autism in the future.

With improved overall survival of cervical cancer patients, the importance of the quality of life (QOL) is increasingly recognized. This study was conducted to compare the QOL of women with different stage cervical cancer before and after treatment to facilitate improved cervical cancer prevention and treatment. We used the generic Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (MOS SF-36) to collect QOL information. Based on SF-36, we interviewed cervical cancer patients at West China Second Affiliated Hospital and Sichuan Cancer Hospital between May 2010 and January 2011. A total of 92 patients with precancerous lesions, 93 with early cancer, and 35 with advanced cancer responded to our survey. Average physical component summary (PCS) scores were significantly different between the three groups at every time point (P < 0.05). Average mental component summary (MCS) scores were significantly different between the three groups after treatment (P < 0.05). Average PCS and MCS scores increased gradually from the pretreatment to posttreatment period for patients with precancerous lesions. However, they reached the lowest at 1 month after treatment for patients with early and advanced cancers and rebounded between 1 and 6 months after treatment. Our results indicate that patients with precancerous lesions and early cervical cancer show better overall QOL than do those with advanced cervical cancer. Additionally, patients with early cancer recover more quickly than do those with advanced cancer in terms of both physical and mental functions. Thus, early detection and treatment initiatives may improve the QOL for patients with precancerous lesions and cervical cancer.
Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma in Situ ; pathology ; therapy ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; pathology ; therapy ; Chemoradiotherapy ; China ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; methods ; Lymph Node Excision ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Precancerous Conditions ; pathology ; therapy ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Young Adult

Objective: To explore whether acupuncture can improve sleep disturbance, cognitive impairment and emotional disorders caused by sleep deprivation, and its association with the attenuation of oxidative stress injury in prefrontal cortex. Methods: Fifty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group (n=10), a model group (n=14), a manual acupuncture (MA) group (n=14), and a sham-MA group (n=14). All the groups were established as sleep deprivation models via the modified multiple platform method, except for the control group. Rats in both the MA group and the sham-MA group received corresponding intervention, respectively. After modeling and intervention, the four groups received three behavioral tests, namely sleep monitoring, by comprehensive lab animal monitoring system (CLAMS), Morris water maze (MWM) test and open-field test (OFT), followed by oxygen free radical level test and Western blot (WB) detection for the expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2. Results: The MA group derived more sleep time within 24 h than either the model group or the sham-MA group (both P<0.05). On MWM orientation navigation test day 1, there were no significant differences in escape latency among the control, MA and sham-MA groups (P>0.05), and the escape latency was significantly shorter in these three groups than that in the model group (all P<0.05). On test day 4, the escape latency was markedly shorter in the MA group than that in either the model group or the sham-MA group (both P<0.05); meanwhile, the MA group showed significantly better performance compared with these two groups in space probe test (both P<0.05). In OFT, compared with the control group, there was a significant decline in the horizontal movement score in the other three groups (all P<0.05), and the decrease was more significant in the model group and the sham-MA group than that in the MA group (both P<0.05). The superoxide dismutase (SOD) content was markedly higher and the malondialdehyde (MDA) content was markedly lower in the MA group than those in the model group and the sham-MA group (all P<0.05). Compared with the model group and the sham-MA group, the expression of Bax was significantly lower and the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly higher in the MA group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: MA therapy can lengthen the sleep time in sleep-deprived rats and improve learning and memory impairments induced by sleep deprivation, and the underlying mechanism may be associated with the enhancement of antioxidant capacity in the prefrontal cortex and the inhibition of hippocampal neuronal apoptosis.

Objective To explore the therapeutic effects of endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) combined with percutaneous continuous circumsuture (PCCS) and EVLA in treating severe great saphena varicose. Methods A total of 60 patients with unilateral great saphenous varicose level C5-C6 were randomly divided into control group and experimental group according to the CEAP system. Control group was given EVLA surgery while experimental group was given EVLA+PCCS surgery. Data of operation time, hospital stay, intraoperative blood loss, the rate of ulcer healing, variceal recurrence rate and postoperative complication rate within 6 months after operation were compared between two groups. Results The mean operative time and intraoperative blood loss were lower in the experimental group than those in the control group ( P<0.05). There were no significant differences in hospital stay, ulcer healing rate and recurrence rate between two groups ( P>0.05). No deep venous thrombosis was found after treatment in two groups. The occurrence rates of skin burns and subcutaneous ecchymosis were significantly lower in the experimental group than those in the control group ( P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the incidence rates of other complications between two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion EVLA combined with PCCS in the treatment of severe saphenous varicose veins can significantly shorten the operation time, reduce the amount of bleeding, reduce the incidence rates of skin burns and subcutaneous ecchymosis on the premise of promising cure rate and recurrence rate. Overall, the combination therapy is superior than monotherapy.

Objective:To understand the social support, social network, and sexual behavior characteristics of foreigners living in Guangzhou, analyze factors relating to aspects of online social interactions and sexual behaviors of foreigners in Guangzhou, and provide references for targeted HIV intervention services for foreigners.Methods:A cross-sectional survey (both online and offline), among those who met the inclusion criteria was conducted between November 2019 and January 2020. Data were collected on demographics, social support, online social interactions, sexual behaviors, and so on. Statistics were compiled to analyze the factors that may influence casual sexual behaviors.Results:A total of 434 participants were included in the study (241 offline and 193 online). The majority of the participants were male 68.4% (297/434), age (31.0±8.8) years old, African 79.0% (343/434), business people 46.5% (202/434), students 48.2% (209/434), who have business partners and family members in China were 59.4% (258/434) and 28.1% (122/434) separately. They also had the following features: less than 10 close friends 57.1% (248/434); spend 1-3 hours on social applications per day 43.3% (188/434), had casual sexual behaviors in the last 3 months 15.2% (55/363). Multiple logistic regression model analysis showed that compared with those who used social applications for less than 1 hour per day, participants who used social applications for more than 6 hours per day were more likely to have casual sexual behaviors in the last 3 months ( OR=3.63, 95% CI: 1.31-10.08). Conclusions:Participants who used social applications for a longer period every day were more likely to have casual sexual behaviors among foreigners in Guangzhou. Good use of social applications for health promotion and education of HIV can increase the health awareness of foreigners in China.

OBJECTIVETo treat dorsally displaced intra-articular fractures of the distal radius, and to assess the integrity of radiocarpal joint and the reliability of stable fixation fracture.

METHODSSixty-three cases (65 sides) patients with dorsally displaced intra-articular fractures of the distal radius were performed operatively with the open reduction and internal fixation via palmar approach between August 2003 and May 2008. The series included 20 males (21 sides) and 43 females (44 sides). The mean age of patients was 52.4 years ranging from 18 to 82 years. According to the Frykman classification, 6 sides were of type III, 8 of type IV, 5 of type V, 4 of type VI, 13 of type VII and 29 of type VIII. With the exception of the radiocarpal arthrography and the standard antero-posterior and lateral views of the wrist joint, two new tangential antero-posterior and lateral views of the wrist joint were intraoperatively described so as to observe the relation of the distal screws with the articular surface.

RESULTSThe 53 cases (54 sides) of the 63 cases (65 sides) were followed up, and the follow-up time was averagely 16.4 months ranging from 4 to 47 months. According to Gartland and Werley criteria, 32 sides were rated as excellent (59.3%), 14 sides as good (25.9%), 7 fair (13.0%) and 1 poor (1.8%), and the excellent-good rate was 85.2%. Observing the new tangential antero-posterior and lateral views of the wrist joint, it showed that screws appeared penetrating into the radiocarpal joint in 26 of the 42 sides by standard antero-posterior view and in 31 of the 42 sides by standard lateral view.

CONCLUSIONThis palmar approach represents a simple and valuable treatment methodology for the most frequent types of unstable fractures of the distal radius in young and elderly patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Intra-Articular Fractures ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radius Fractures ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

In order to construct a pichia pastoris expression vector containing the extracellular domain of human Jagged1 and the Fc fragment of human IgG1 fusion gene, or containing only the Fc fragment of human IgG1 and to express them in pichia pastoris. The extracellular domain of human Jagged1 gene was cloned from normal human bone marrow cells. After DNA sequencing, the extracellular domain of Jagged1 gene was inserted into pIC-Fc vector constructed previously, which is Pichia pastoris expression vector containing only the Fc fragment of human IgG1. The constructed plasmid was transformed into yeast GS115 by means of electroporation. The recombinant transformants with a high copy number of the plasmid were selected on MD plate with G418. The expression of protein was induced by addition of methanol. Then, protein expression was analyzed by SDS-PAGE. The results indicated that the extracellular domain of human Jagged1 gene was effectively amplified. The DNA sequencing result showed that the constructed plasmid containing hJagged1(ext)-Fc fusion gene was the same as designed. The fusion protein was successfully expressed in Pichia pastoris. It is concluded that the hJagged1(ext) gene has been successfully cloned and expressed, which provides a new fusion protein for further experiments, the hJagged1(ext)-Fc fusion protein can be used as a new stimulator for proliferation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells in vitro.
Calcium-Binding Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Immunoglobulin G ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Jagged-1 Protein ; Membrane Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Pichia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Serrate-Jagged Proteins ; Transfection

The overall survival of patients with cervical cancer has improved due to detection at an early stage and availability of comprehensive treatments in China. As patients' lives prolonged, it is important to understand their health-related quality of life (QoL) during and after treatment. We used the EQ-5D questionnaire to assess QoL of 194 patients with cervical lesions at Sichuan University West China Second Hospital between May 2010 and January 2011. Patients were surveyed before primary treatment and at 1, 3, and 6 months after primary treatment. Results showed a consistent decline in EQ-5D scores in the spectrum of cervical lesions at each time point after treatment (all P < 0.05). For patients with precursor lesions, there was an increasing trend along the timeline of treatment (P < 0.01). For patients with early-stage cervical cancer, EQ-5D scores declined in the first month (P = 0.01) and gradually increased to higher levels at 6 months post-treatment than those before treatment (P < 0.01). EQ-5D scores followed a similar trend in patients with advanced cervical cancer (P = 0.04), though they did not statistically rebound after 6 months (0.84 ± 0.19 vs. 0.86 ± 0.11, P = 0.62). Regarding advanced cervical cancer, EQ-5D scores for women above 40 years of age appeared to recover more rapidly and reached higher levels than those for women below 40 years (P = 0.03). Caution and extra care are recommended in the early period of cervical cancer treatment given the slight deterioration in the QoL, and in particular, for younger cervical cancer patients. Our study implies that health care providers may need to improve the health-related QoL of cervical cancer patients.
Age Factors ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Uterine Cervical Dysplasia ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms