OBJECTIVETo explore the distribution features of Chinese medical syndromes of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by literature retrieval.

METHODSPertinent articles on treating RA by syndrome differentiation were retrieved from China National Knowledge Infrastructure Databases (CNKI), VIP Chinese Biomedical Journal Database, Guizhou Digital Library, and Duxiu Chinese Academic Periodicals full papers database from January 2000 to December 2011.

RESULTSA total of 33 documents were recruited covering 4 233 cases. Damp-heat blocking collaterals syndrome occupied the top in the occurrence frequency (20 times, 60.61%), followed by deficiency of Gan and Shen syndrome (18 times, 54.55%), intermingled phlegm and blood-stasis syndrome (17 times, 51.52%), wind-cold-damp impediment syndrome (15 times, 45.45%), cold-damp blocking collaterals syndrome (14 times, 42.42%), wind-damp-heat impediment and deficiency of qi and blood syndrome (10 times, 30.30%), and intermingled cold and heat syndrome (9 times, 27.27%). According to the case number of patients, it was sequenced as damp-heat blocking collaterals syndrome syndrome (768 cases, 18.14%), wind-damp-heat impediment syndrome(666 cases, 15.73%), wind-cold-damp impediment syndrome(584 cases, 13.80%), cold-damp blocking collaterals syndrome syndrome (517 cases, 12.21%), intermingled cold and heat syndrome (415 cases, 9.80%), intermingled phlegm and blood-stasis syndrome (364 cases, 8.60%), deficiency of Gan and Shen syndrome (235 cases, 5.55%),asthenia of healthy energy due to lingering arthralgia syndrome (223 cases, 5.27%). The case numbers of remaining syndromes did not exceed 5%.

CONCLUSIONDamp-heat blocking collaterals syndrome was the main syndrome in RA patients, followed by wind-cold-damp impediment syndrome,wind-damp-heat impediment syndrome,cold-damp blocking collaterals syndrome,intermingled phlegm and blood-stasis syndrome, and deficiency of Gan and Shen syndrome.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; classification ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Yang Deficiency ; classification ; diagnosis ; Yin Deficiency ; classification ; diagnosis

This study explored the role of apoptosis of alveolar wall cells of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with pulmonary emphysema in the pathogenesis of emphysema. The subjects were divided into three groups: COPD patients with pulmonary emphysema (COPD group), asymptomatic smokers and non-smokers. Lung tissues were harvested and histologically assessed. TUNEL assay was employed to determine the apoptotic cells. The expression of PCNA, Bax and SP-C in the lung alveolar wall cells were immunohistochemically determined. SP-C immunofluorescence staining was used to identify type II alveolar cells in the TUNEL-positive cells. The mean linear interval (MLI), mean alveoli number (MAN) and mean alveoli area (MAA) in COPD group were significantly different as compared with those in asymptomatic smokers and non-smokers, respectively (P<0.01). The proliferation index (PI), apoptosis index (AI) and the percentage of Bax-positive cells in COPD group were significantly greater than those of asymptomatic smokers and non-smokers (P<0.01). However, the percentage of SP-C-positive cells was significantly lower in COPD group than in asymptomatic smokers and non-smokers (P<0.01). Most of the TUNEL-positive cells expressed SP-C. In COPD group, the apoptosis of alveolar wall cells, especially apoptosis of type-II cells, may take part in the pathogenesis of emphysema. Up-regulation of Bax expression may be responsible for the apoptosis of alveolar wall cells in the COPD patients with pulmonary emphysema.

Objective To investigate the chnical effect of modified transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) on the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease. Methods Sixty-two patients with lumbar degenerative disease were treated by the modified TLIF from June 2007 to May 2009. The preoperative diagnosis was lumbar intervertebral disc herniation with spinal instability (28 cases), lumbar intervertebral disc herniation with lumbar stenosis (27 cases ), degenerative spondylohsthesis (7 cases ). Forty-eight cases were single-level and 14 cases were two-level. The patients were evaluated by observing the fusion rate and comparing the visual analog score( VAS ) and Japanese orthopaedics association (JOA) score of preoperation with those of postoperation. Results All the patients were followed up from 15 to 30 (22.77 ± 3.82)months,no nerve injury,leakage of cerebralspinal,infection,the broken of pedical screws and other complications. The fusion rate of segment was 96.8% at the follow-up after 1 year postoperatively. Judgement by JOA score,the rate of improvement was 93.5%(58/62),excellent in 34 cases,good in 24 cases,fair in 4 cases. The postoperative value of V AS and JOA score were higher than those of preoperation (P ＜ 0.05 ), the values when follow-up of 3 months was performed had no statistic al difference with those of final follow-up (P＞0.05). Conclusion The modified TLIF with fully decompression while reducing the accessing spinal canal complications have good clinical efficacy in treating lumbar degenerative disease.

BACKGROUND: Most of the patients suffered from degenerative lumbar instability are treated by exposure both sides and bilateral pedicle screw fixation,which bring highly operative risk,large blood loss and great medical expenditure to patients.OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical efficacy of single cage plus unilateral pedicle screw placement for treating lumbar degenerative instability.METHODS: Totally 51 cases with lumbar degenerative instability underwent single cage plus unilateral pedicle screw placement were selected,including 32 males and 19 females,aged ranging from 41 to 72 years.47 cases had single segment involved and 4cases had two segments involved.All cases experienced unilateral laminectomy and transforamenal lumbar interbody fusion.The therapeutic effect was assessed by Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA)score system.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The blood loss was 90-430 mL.The surgical time was 100 minutes(85-120 minutes)for single segment and 150 minutes(120-170 minutes)for double segments.The patients were allowed to early ambulation at 2-3 days after operation.Two cases did not get improvement on back-leg pain,but there was no abnormality from CT and MRI recheck,one case felt pain relieved after anti-symptom treatment for 3 months while the other did not relieve.The average JOA scores at pre-operation and 1 year follow-up was 11(7-13 scores)and 25(18-27 scores),respectively.The total improvement rate of JOA was larger than 50%.44 cases were evaluated as fusion and 7 cases as possible fusion.The average fusion time was 5.4 months(4.3-7.1 months).Postoperative X-ray showed no evidence of pedicle screw loosening,broken,or cage displacement.Single cage plus unilateral pedicle screw placement is characterized by simple operation,small blood loss,short operation and few interference to spine,which is a better method for treating lumbar degenerative instability.

ObjectiveTo explore the clinical outcomes of posterior lumbar interbody fusion using BTwin expandable spinal spacer with microendoscopic discectomy (MED) for lumbar disc herniation accompanying degenerative instability.MethodsFrom March 2006 to May 2010,87 patients with lumbar disc heniation (only one level) accompanying degenerative instability were managed with posterior lumbar interbody fusion using B-Twin with MED,includeing 49 males and 38 females with an average of 47.6 years(range,37-65).Objective level located in L3,4 in 2 cases,L4,5 in 43,and L5S1 in 41.The patients were treated with single BTwin(Single group,n=51) and double B-Twin(Double group,n=36).Clinical outcomes were evaluated with surgical time,blood loss,visual analogue scale (VAS) scores,Oswestry disability questionnaire (ODI),and the pre- and post-operative disk space heights.ResultsThe patients were followed up for an average of 35.8months (range,12-46).All the patients felt the low back pain and radiation pain disappeared or relieved apparently.The mean preoperative ODI and VAS scores decreased from 78％±3％ to 18％±3％,and (8.70±11.3)to (0.65±10.48) at the final follow-up respectively.Disc space increased from a pre-operative height of (8.76±1.3) mm to a post-operative of (11.8±0.6) mm.ODI,VAS and the disk space heights in all patient showed statistical significance,which revealed no statistical significance between the two groups.However,the operation time,blood loss were statistical difference between the two groups.All the patients achieved solid union or probable union at a mean time of 5.6 months (range,3.9-8.6).ConclusionPosterior lumbar interbody fusion using B-Twin with MED can obtain satisfactory outcomes in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation accompanying degenerative instability.Single B-Twin can get similar clinical outcomes,but shorter surgical time,less blood loss,and less medical costs.

Objective To investigate whether there are changes in the ability of intertemporal choices in migraine sufferers. Method Thirty migraine sufferers and thirty healthy controls were investigated by Delay?discount Test. Results (1)The ratio of later?large (LL) choice in migraine suffers((18.15± 17.53)%) was significantly lower than that in the healthy controls((35.37±20.70)%),and the difference was statistically significant(t=3.31, P<0.05).Under the immediate option for now selection conditions and no immediate option for not?now selection conditions,the ratio of later?large (LL) choice in migraine suffers ((18.33±21.00)% ,(17.96±18.09)%) was also significantly lower than that in the healthy controls ((35.56±21.52)%,(35.19±22.05)%),and the difference was statistically significant(t=3.31, P<0.05;t=3.14, P<0.05).(2) Pearson correlation analysis showed that the Stroop Test of migraineurs was positively correlated with LL selection ratio under now conditions (r=0.49, P=0.006) and total LL selection (r=0.42, P=0.021) . Conclusion The ability of intertemporal choices in migraine sufferers has been impaired,which is correlated with executive function.

Objective To detect expression of TEL-AML1 fusion genes in pediatric cases with acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL) and discuss the role of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH) in detection of t(12 ;21) and the clinical significance. Methods TEL-AML1 fusion gene was identified in bone marrow munonuclear cells from 31 newly diagnosed childhood ALL patients by NRT-PCR, FISH and conventional cytogenetic analysis (CCA). Results TEL-AML1 fusion gene was found in 7 out of 31 cases, accounting for 22.6 % in pediatric ALL, and 7 out of 31 cases accounting for 25.9 % in B-ALL Seven cases were found with t (12;21) by FISH and NRT-PCR. The incidence of the t(12;21) was 22.6 % in newly diagnosed pediatric ALLs. Conclusion It is concluded that TEL-AML1 rearrangement is a frequent molecular abnormality in childhood ALL. t(12;21) is the most common cytogenetic translocations in Chinese pediatric ALLs, but it is always difficult to identify by routine CCA.Other molecular methods, e.g. NRT-PCR and FISH are powerful in detecting such a critical genetic translocation.

Objective To determine the association of-429T/C and G1704T polymorphisms in the receptor for advanced glycation end products gene with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).Methods Case-control study.From the Beijing Desheng Diabetic Eye Study cohort of 1467 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM),a total of 97 patients with PDR and 105 diabetic patients without retinopathy (DWR,duration of diabetes 15 years) were included for this study.Questionnaires were collected and general ophthalmologic examinations were performed.Biochemical analysis was conducted.DNA was extracted from peripheral venous blood.The-429T/C and G1704T single nucleotide polymorphisms were detected by the means of PCR-restrication fragment length polymorphisms.Results The frequency distribution of-429T/C in DWR group was 81.0％ in TT,16.1％ in TC,2.9％ in CC.The frequency distribution of-429T/C in PDR group was 77.3％ in TT,20.6％ in TC,2.1％ in CC.There was no significant statistical difference between the two groups (x2 =0.40,P＞0.05).Frequency of the-429T/C minor allele C in the DWR and PDR group were 11.0％ and 12.4％,respectively,with no significant statistical difference between the two groups (x2 =0.20,P＞0.05).The frequency distribution of G1704T in DWR group was 66.7％ in GG,29.5％ in GT,3.8％ in TT.The frequency distribution of G1704T in PDR group was 78.4％ in GG,21.6％ in GT.There was no significant statistical difference between the two groups (x2 =3.44,P＞0.05).Frequency of the G1704T minor allele T in the DWR and PDR group were 18.6 ％ and 10.8 ％,respectively,in which significant difference was found within the two groups (x2 =4.79,OR=1.88,95％CI:1.06-3.33,P＜0.05).Conclusions G1704T polymorphism is associated with PDR presence and 1704G allele may increase the risk of PDR.

BACKGROUND:Endothelial progenitor cells from the peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood are an essential source to repair vascular endothelial cells damaged by various diseases.
OBJECTIVE:To compare the biological characteristics of endothelial progenitor cells from peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood in vitro.
METHODS:Mononuclear cells were isolated from the umbilical cord blood and peripheral blood with density gradient centrifugation method and 6%hydroxyethyl starch precipitation combined with density gradient centrifugation method, respectively. Mononuclear cells were counted. Then the cells were implanted on the culture plate pre-paved with rat tail col agen at the concentration of 1×106/cm2, and cultured in an endothelial cellculture medium for 7 days.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Isolated and cultured endothelial progenitor cells from the peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood had similar morphological characteristics in vitro. Under the optical microscope, with the increase of culturing days, most adherent cells were changed from round to spindle-shaped. Peripheral blood endothelial progenitor cells had cellcolony formation, and spindle cells from the umbilical cord blood arranged typical y in a line structure. After trypan blue staining and drawing of cellgrowth curves, the number of mononuclear cells and endothelial progenitor cells, survival rate and proliferative ability of endothelial progenitor cells from the peripheral blood were al lower than those from the umbilical cord blood (P<0.05). At day 3 after incubation, the proliferation of endothelial progenitor cells from the peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood reached the peak, and then showed a decreased tendency. Flow cytometry and Immunofluorescence staining showed that endothelial progenitor cells from the peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood could express CD34, CD133, and vascular endothelial cellfactor receptor 2. The endothelial progenitor cells from the peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood could swal ow acetylated low density lipoprotein and be combined with ulex europaeus agglutinin Ⅰ. The results confirmed that the endothelial progenitor cells from the peripheral blood and cord blood have similar biologicla characteristics, but the proliferation ability of endothelial progenitor cells from the cord blood is higher.

Objective To evaluate the effect of different tube voltages on the radiation dose and image quality of a full field digital mammography system.Methods Both experiments were performed under manual exposure mode.In one experiment,the tube voltages were kept constant at 25,28 and 31 kVp,and the CIRS 015 phantom was exposed at three target/filter combinations molybdenum/molybdenum (Mo/Mo),molybdenum/rhodium (Mo/Rh),and rhodium/rhodium (Rh/Rh) and at tube current-exposure time products of 32-140mAs.The entrance skin exposure (ESE) and average glandular dose (AGD) were recorded,the signal-to-noise ratio(SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and figure of merit (FOM) were measured to evaluate the influences of different tube voltages on dose and image quality at same target/filter combination.The univariate of randomized completed block-design was used for statistics.In second experiment,the phantom were exposed using Mo/Rh combination when the tube current-exposure time product was kept constant at 56 mAs,and the tube voltage varied between 23 and 33 kVp in 1-kVp increments.The ESE and AGD were recorded,the SNR,CNR and FOM were measured for plotting the curves against tube voltages.Results At Mo/Mo combination,the AGD,ESE,SNR,CNR and FOM of 25,28 and31 kVp were(1.25 ±0.56) mGy,(6.46±2.86) mGy,71.52±8.37,1.91 ±0.26,3.21 ± 0.68; (1.94 ±0.85) mGy,(9.18±4.07) mGy,144.46 ± 11.31,2.41 ±0.28,3.37 ±0.96 and (3.01 ±1.38) mGy,(12.60±5.59) mGy,128.89 ±15.29,2.47 ±0.31,2.31 ±0.76 respectively; at Mo/Rh combination were (1.23 ±0.55) mGy,(5.26 ±2.33) mGy,67.31 ±4.11,1.82 ±0.19,3.01 ± 0.82; (1.86 ±0.84) mGy,(7.57 ±3.34) mGy,139.54 ± 12.16,2.30 ±0.25,3.23 ±0.92 and (2.81 ±1.24) mGy,(10.48 ±4.62) mGy,127.77 ±15.14,2.59 ±0.31,2.67 ±0.68; and at Rh/Rh were(1.09 ±0.48) mGy,(4.89 ±2.16) mGy,67.46 ±2.23,1.48 ±0.72,3.08 ± 1.69; (1.75 ± 0.78) mGy,(6.88 ±3.03) mGy,137.74 ± 14.65,2.37 ±0.26,3.62 ± 1.07 and (2.59 ± 1.13) mGy,(9.32 ± 4.12) mGy,117.91 ± 19.05,2.51 ± 0.31,2.74 ± 0.84.Both experiments indicated that,for a given target/filter combination,the AGD,ESE and CNR increased,but the ESE/AGD decreased with the tube voltage increasing; The first experiment indicated both SNR and FOM of 28 kVp were higher than that of 25 kVp and 31 kVp; the second experiment showed both SNR and FOM decreased with tube voltages increasing.The differences of AGD、ESE、ESE/AGD、SNR、CNR and FOM among the three tube voltages were significant (F =4.391-528.848,P ＜ 0.05) ; but the difference of CNR between 28 and 31 kVp at Mo/Mo and Rh/Rh had no statistical significance (P ＞ 0.05) ; and the differences of FOM between 25 and 28 kVp at the three target/filter combinations were not statistically significant (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion For a breast with 4.2 cm thickness and 50％ adipose 50％ glandular composition,different tube voltages have significant effects on the radiation dose and image quality.