Needle sticking method, which can be combined with multiple needling techniques, has been attached with great importance in recent years by doctors in clinic. Combining with the clinical experiences, the authors expounded the needle sticking method through its unified concept, differences between needle sticking method, which was an acupuncture technique, and stuck needle which was an accident during acupuncture, selection of needles, manipulations, mechanism of treatment, range of application, attentions and advantages of popularization. It is held that the technique can be widely applied for treatment of acute and chronic diseases of various departments with filiform needles. Easy to be manipulated, understood and mastered, the technique is without side effect and valuable to be popularized.
Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Objective To understand epidemiological characteristics of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)in people aged over 40 years in a rural area of Tianjin.Methods Using cluster sampling,1 508 subjects over 40 years old at five villages in Xinkaikou Township,Baodi District,Tianjin were investigated with respiratory questionnaire,lung function test and physical examination.Confirmed patients with COPD were examined by chest roentgenography and electrocardiography.Results One hundred and forty-two subjects in that area suffered from COPD,with prevalence of 9.4%,24 of them (16.9%)were diagnosed as cor pulmonale.Prevalence of COPD increased with age,higher in men (13.5%)than that in women(6.2%),higher in smokers(12.2%)than that in non-smokers(7.2%), higher in those with family history(21.4%)than that in those without it(8.45%),and higher in those with coughing history during their childhood(75.0%)than that in those without it(9.2%),all with a P-value of less than 0.01.Univariate analysis showed that out-door air pollution,cooking,time length of burning firewood during cooking,smoking,coughing history during childhood,gender,age,family history all were predisposing factors for COPD.Multivariate analysis with logistic regression model showed that gender,age, family history were independently predisposing factors for COPD.Quality of life was better in non-COPD subjects than in those with COPD,with statistically significant difference.Conclusions Prevalence of COPD was relatively higher in people of rural Tianjin,with gender,age,family history and outdoor air pollution as main risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Patients with osteoporosis are prone to develop fractures, and moreover some patients are first diagnosed with osteoporosis because of a fragility fracture. Therefore, it is critical to understand the correlation between osteoporotic medications and fracture healing. OBJECTIVE: To summarize the effect of anti-osteoporosis medications on osteoporotic fracture healing in order to promote its clinical application. METHODS: A computer-based online search of PubMed, CNKI, VIP and WanFang databases between January 2012 and July 2016 was performed to retrieve the related articles with the keywords of "osteoporotic fracture, healing, bone nutrition supplements, anti-resorptive agents, anabolic agents, dual effect agents, new targeted agents" in English and Chinese, respectively. Literature concerning the effect of anti-osteoporosis medications on fracture healing was selected, and the articles published lately in authoritative journals were preferred. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Most of anti-osteoporotic medications have no harmful influence on fracture healing, including bone nutrition supplements (calcium and vitamin D), anti-resorptive agents (bisphosphonate, denosumab, estrogen and selective estrogen receptor modulators, statins and calcitonin), anabolic agents (parathyroid hormone), and dual effect agents (strontium ranelate). Calcium and vitamin D are the basic drugs; anti-resorptive agents exert overt anti-osteoporotic effect; and the new targeted agents like cathepsin K inhibitor and sclerostin monoclonal antibody provide more choices for the therapy of osteoporotic fracture. Partial anti-osteoporotic agents inhibit the viability of osteoclasts, so their early application may be against fracture healing. The optimal time of anti-osteoporotic medications and the effect on acute and non-acute osteoporotic fractures need to be further explored.

BACKGROUNDIntra-articular fractures of the fingers are common problems to emergency physicians and hand surgeons. Inappropriate management of these injuries may result in chronic pain, stiffness, deformity, or post traumatic arthritis. Ideal treatment necessitates the restoration of a stable and congruent joint that will allow early mobilization. The purpose of this study was to investigate the results of intra-articular fracture of the fingers by mini external fixator combined with limited internal fixation.

METHODSFrom May 2005 to May 2007, a total of 26 patients with intra-articular fracture of the fingers were treated by mini external fixator combined with limited internal fixation. Of the 26 cases, 11 involved in metacarpophalangeal joint, and 15 interphalangeal joint in proximal interphalangeal. Kirschner wire, mini wire and absorbable suture were used for limited internal fixation. All patients were followed up and patients were accomplished with total active motion (TAM) of fingers.

RESULTSAll patients were reviewed by an independent observer. The mean follow up was 13 months (range 9 to 24 months). Subjective, objective and radiographic results were evaluated. X-ray films revealed fracture union and the average radiographic union time was 7 weeks with a range of 5 - 12 weeks and the phalange shortening or rotation in 2 cases, joint incongruity (less than 1 mm) and joint space narrowing in 3 cases respectively. Phalangeal shortening or rotation was observed in 2 cases and joint incongruity or joint space narrowing was observed in 3 cases. An artificial implant was performed on one case for traumatic arthritis 1.5 years after surgery. Based on TAM the overall good-excellent rate of joint motion function was 80.8%.

CONCLUSIONMini external fixator combined with limited internal fixation is a reliable and effective method for treatment of intra-articular fracture of the fingers.

Adolescent ; Adult ; External Fixators ; Female ; Finger Joint ; surgery ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Intra-Articular Fractures ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the application of transrectal high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

METHODSFrom Dec. 2002 to Dec. 2006, 262 BPH patients underwent transrectal HIFU ablative therapy. After the treatment, IPSS, QOL score, peak uroflow rate and prostatic volume measured by TRUS were used for evaluation.

RESULTSAfter 1 to 3 years' follow-up, IPSS, QOL score, and prostatic volume all decreased, while the peak uroflow rate increased obviously (P<0.01). Mild hematuria was noted in all the cases after the treatment, and epididymitis was found in 7 cases (2.7%), short-term hematospermia in 66 cases (25.2%), retrograde ejaculation in 35 cases (13.4%), and urethro-rectal fistula in 1 case (0.3%). No urinary incontinence was found in these cases. TURP was performed in 18 cases (6.8%) in 3 years after the treatment due to an excessively large volume of the prostates or bladder neck contracture.

CONCLUSIONHIFU is effective and safe in the treatment of BPH which causes minimal invasion, absence of intraoperative bleeding, good tolerance and few complications, and is especially suitable in elderly patients.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo assess the utility of serum steroids measurement in monitoring the treatment of children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD).

METHODNineteen Patients with CAH 21OHD aged (3.67±1.54) years treated with hydrocortisone and fluorocortisone replacement were followed up at an intervals of 0.33 - 1.0 years over a period of (1.47±0.7) years. At each visit, roentgenograms of the hands and wrists were taken, fasting peripheral blood were collected to test serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), androstenedione (Δ4-A), testosterone, free testosterone, estrone, and estradiol concentrations at 8 AM in the morning before the first dose of glucocorticoid. Then the patients were classified as being in "Good Control" or in "Poor Control" based on clinical criteria including signs of androgen excess, growth velocity and bone age increment at each interval. Comparisons were carried out between the serum steroid concentrations of the two groups. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the cut-off values for diagnosing "Poor Control".

RESULTBoth of serum Δ4-A and 17-OHP concentrations were higher in "Poor Control" group than those in "Good Control" group [5.95 (2.23-11.2) nmol/L versus 1.05 (1.05-9.89) nmol/L, t=2.19; 13.85 (6.06-20) µg/L versus 3.67 (0.42-21.1) µg/L, t=2.17; P<0.05, respectively]. The ROC curves for serum Δ4-A concentrations, serum 17-OHP concentrations, serum Δ4-A in combination with 17-OHP concentrations were constructed with areas under the ROC curves (95%CI) of 0.76 (0.62, 0.90), 0.75 (0.62, 0.88), 0.69 (0.54, 0.84), P<0.05, respectively. Serum Δ4-A of 3.9 nmol/L had 0.78 of sensitivity and 0.75 of specificity in diagnosing "Poor Control". Serum 17-OHP of 7.1 µg/L has 0.67 of sensitivity and 0.71 of specificity in diagnosing "Poor Control".

CONCLUSIONEach of serum 17-OHP or/and Δ4-A concentration was of significance in diagnosing "Poor Control" during the glucocorticoid replacement treatment of CAH 21OHD, with the diagnostic efficacy being serum Δ4-A concentration, serum 17-OHP concentration and serum Δ4-A in combination with 17-OHP concentration in descending order. Serum Δ4-A and 17-OHP concentrations may be used as the biochemical indicators to monitor the therapy of CAH 21OHD.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone ; blood ; Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital ; blood ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Androstenedione ; blood ; Child, Preschool ; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; blood ; Male ; Progesterone ; blood ; Steroid 21-Hydroxylase ; blood ; Testosterone ; blood

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate associations of overall obesity (OO) and abdominal obesity (AO) with brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) among type 2 diabetes(T2DM) patients. Methods A community-based study for T2DM patients was conducted in rural communities in Beijing．Every patient completed a questionnaire to collect demography, lifestyle and diseases history, and underwent physical examinations, baPWV assessments and blood biochemical tests. Multivariate linear regression was used to assess the relationship between obesity index and baPWV. Abnormal baPWV was defined as patients with baPWV≥1,700 cm/s. Logistic regression model was performed to explore the risk of abnormal baPWV after adjusting for poetential confounders step by step. Results A total of 2 048 T2DM patients were recruited. The average age was (59.2±8.3) years and total prevalence of abnormal baPWV was 49.7%. After multivariable adjustment, linear regression showed that there was a negative correlation between body mass index(BMI) and baPWV and a positive correlation between waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and baPWV. Compared to normal weight group, those with BMI≥28 kg/m2 had lower risk of abnormal baPWV (OR=0.59, 95% CI: 0.44-0.78，P<0.001), but there was an increased risk of 46% among patients with obesity in WHR (OR=1.46, 95% CI:1.07-2.00，P=0.018). Compared to those without OO and AO, patients without OO but with AO had a 1.67-fold increasesd risk of abnormal baPWV (OR=1.67, 95% CI: 1.19-2.35，P=0.003). Conclusions Abdominal obesity is related with arterial stiffnening among T2DM patients, and it is critical to evaluate arterial stiffness of T2DM patients with abdmonal obesity and normal BMI in order to reduce future risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Objective: To establish the grade evaluation standard for Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex processed with ginger juice by combining traditional morphology evaluation with modern intrinsic quality evaluation. Method: The morphological parameters and contents of intrinsic pharmacodynamic index components of 28 batches of Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex processed with ginger juice were determined, and the relative quality constants were calculated. Assuming that the average relative quality constant was 100%, more than 120%of the samples were classified as the first grade, 60%to 120%as the second grade, the remaining as the third grade. Result: The relative quality constant of Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex processed with ginger juice ranged from 0.09 to 1.78. The relative quality constant of the first grade was ≥ 0.64, the second grade was 0.32-0.64, while the third grade was ≤ 0.32. Conclusion: Relative quality constant combines external indexes of traditional morphology and internal indexes of pharmacodynamic components, which can objectively, reasonably and scientifically classify the grade of Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex processed with ginger juice, and provide reference for establishing and improving the grade evaluation standard of this decoction pieces.

This study aims to establish a combinative method based on fingerprint,assay of multi-component and chemometrics for quality evaluation of Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex. Twenty batches of samples were determined by UPLC and a common mode of fingerprint was established. The similarities between fingerprints of 20 batches of samples were over 0. 90 and the common mode were evaluated. Eight components were identified as syringing, magnocurarine, magnoflorine, magnoloside B, magnoloside A, honokiol,magnolol,and piperitylmagnolol by comparison with reference substances and their content in samples were simultaneously determined.Based on the results,the fingerprint had good consistency between the same origin and minor diversity between the different sources.Piperitylmagnolol and peak 13 could be used as a distinction with the different sources. According to content of 8 components,Fisher discriminant analysis model was established and different source sample was classified pursuant to the discriminant fraction. It is indicated that simultaneous quantification of multi components coupled with chemometrics analysis could be a well-acceptable strategy to identify and evaluate the quality of Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Discriminant Analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; standards ; Magnolia ; chemistry ; Phytochemicals ; analysis ; standards ; Quality Control

Ten fractions(A-J) were prepared by separation of Longxue Tongluo Capsules(LTC) by using silica gel column chromatography and orthogonal experimental design,showing similar chemical profiles with different abundances of peaks.These ten samples were assessed with UHPLC-QE OrbitrapHRMS for 97 common peaks.For the pharmacological activity experiment,three kinds of in vitro cell models including lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced BV-2 microglial cells NO release model,oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation(OGD/R)-treated HUVEC vascular endothelial cells injury model,and OGD/R-treated PC-12 nerve cells injury model were employed to evaluated the bioactivity of each fraction.Based on the contribution of each identified component,grey relation analysis and partial least squares(PLS) analysis were performed to establish component-activity relationship of LTC,identify the potential active components.After that,validation of the potential active components in LTC was carried out by using the same models.The results indicated that 4 phenolic compounds including 7,4'-dihydroxyhomoisoflavanone,loureirin C,4,4'-dihydroxy-2,6-dimethoxydihydrochalcone,and homoisosocotrin-4'-ol,might be the active components for anti-neuroinflammation effect;five phenolic compounds such as 3,5,7,4'-tetrahydroxyhomoisoflavanone,loureirin D,7,4'-dihydroxyhomoisoflavane,and 5,7-dihydroxy-4'-methoxy-8-methyflavane,might have positive effects on the vascular endothelial injury;three phenolic compounds including 5,7,4'-trihydroxyflavanone,7,4'-dihydroxy-5-methoxyhomoisoflavane,and loureirin D,might be the active components in LTC against neuronal injury.
Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; Capsules ; Cell Line ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Glucose ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; Microglia ; drug effects ; Oxygen