To evaluate the efficacy and safety of compound Decumbent Corydalis Rhizome (DCR) in treating patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Totally 79 patients with knee osteoarthritis were selected from out-patient and inpatient departments of West China Hospital and randomly divided into the test group and the control group. The test group (n = 41) was given Compound DCR with the dosage of 1.8 g · d(-1), while the control group (n = 38) was administered with diclofenac sodium with the dosage of 75 mg · d(-1). After 12 weeks of treatment, the total efficacy rates based on patients/physicians evaluation for experimental and control groups were 68.29%, 63.41% and 71.05%, 63.16%, respectively, without significant difference between the two groups. Both of the two groups showed significant improvements in the main efficacy indexes (pain on walking 20 m) and minor indexes (tenderness on palpation, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities OA index (WOMAC) and Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36 ), but without significant difference in efficacy between them. The incidence of related adverse events was 24.39% in the test group and 47.37% in the control group, respectively, with significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.05). In the controlled study, compound DCR is as efficient as diclofenac sodium but more tolerable, with a good clinical application prospect.
Adult ; Aged ; Corydalis ; chemistry ; Diclofenac ; administration & dosage ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; drug therapy ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Treatment Outcome

A simple and sensitive assay for rapid detection of human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63) was developed by colorimetic reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP). The method employed six specially designed primers that recognized eight distinct regions of the HCoV-NL63 nucleocapsid protein gene for amplification of target sequences under isothermal conditions at 63 degrees C for 1 h Amplification of RT-LAMP was monitored by addition of calcein before amplification. A positive reaction was confirmed by change from light-brown to yellow-green under visual detection. Specificity of the RT-LAMP assay was validated by cross-reaction with different human coronaviruses, norovirus, influenza A virus, and influenza B virus. Sensitivity was evaluated by serial dilution of HCoV-NL63 RNA from 1.6 x 10(9) to 1.6 x 10(1) per reaction. The RT-LAMP assay could achieve 1,600 RNA copies per reaction with high specificity. Hence, our colorimetric RT-LAMP assay could be used for rapid detection of human coronavirus NL63.
Colorimetry ; methods ; Coronavirus Infections ; diagnosis ; virology ; Coronavirus NL63, Human ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; Humans ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; methods ; Reverse Transcription ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective To discuss the application value of modified Hodge test(MHT) for screening carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae.Methods The 24 Enterobacteriaceae reduced susceptibility to carbapenems were detected by MHT.At the same time,polymerase chain reaction(PCR) was used to detect carbapenemase genes of KPC,NDM,IMP,SIM and VIM.PCR products were sequenced and the results were compared with the sequences of Gen Bank database.Comprehensive analysis the application value of MHT and PCR to detect carbapenemase.Results Among these 24 strains,13 stains appeared to produce carbapenemase by MHT,5 positive strains were found to carry carbapenemase genes by PCR.By comparing with the sequences of Gen Bank database 1 strain were confirmed to KPC-2 and 4 strains were confirmed to IMP-4.We found that 4 strains of Enterobacteriaceae,detected carbapenemase by MHT and PCR at the same time.9 strains of MHT were positive,but we couldn′t detect the carbapenemase genes.1 strain of MHT was negative,but carbapenemase gene was found in the strain.Conclusion The value of MHT to screen carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae is necessary to further study.

Objective To measure the concentration of intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in neuron-like cells resulted from rat bone mesenchymal stem cell (BMSCs) differentiation induced by salvia miltiorrhiza injection and provide some theoretical basis for the BMSCs transplantation. Methods The rat BMSCs were separated from rat bone marrow and cultured in vitro. After induced by basic fibroblast growth factor and 10mL/L salvia miltiorrhiza injection, the cells were identified with immunofluorescence staining against NeuN. The same procedure was performed on primarily cultured hippocampal neurons. Then, the [Ca2+]i of the differentiated neuron-like cells was determined and compared with primarily cultured hippocampal neurons. Results The BMSCs after induced by basic fibroblast growth factor and salvia miltiorrhiza injection expressed neuronal phenotypes similar to the cell appearance of neurons with NeuN. The average fluorescence intensity of the neuron-like cells derived from BMSCs was 984.75±79.51, while the average fluorescence intensity of the primarily cultured hippocampal neurons was 769.42±60.93. No significant difference was found between them (P>0.05). Conclusion The neuron-like cells from rat BMSCs differentiation induced by salvia miltiorrhiza injection possess certain neuronal properties.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the presence of abnormal metabolism in the thalamus and hypothalamus in patients with first-episode depression.

METHODSThirty drug-naive patients with first-episode depression and 30 age-matched controls were scanned with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) for Naa, Cho, Cr and mI.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the patients showed significantly reduced mI and mI/Cr of the hypothalamus, reduced mI/Cr of the left thalamus, and lowered Cho, ml, and ml/Cr of the right thalamus (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONPatients with first-episode depression may have myo-inositol and phosphoric acid metabolism disorder in the thalamus and hypothalamus with malfunction of cellular osmotic pressure adjustment mechanism. Abnormal mI/Cr in the thalamus and hypothalamus may represent an important biochemical change in advanced patients with depression.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Choline ; metabolism ; Creatine ; metabolism ; Depression ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Inositol ; metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Protons ; Thalamus ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship of hair content of rare earth elements (REEs) in the young children aged 0 - 3 years to that in their mothers living in a rare earth mining area of Jiangxi Province.

METHODSContent of five kinds of REEs, i.e., lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd) and samarium (Sm) were determined for the hair-root samples collected from 71 young children and 62 of their mothers by inductively coupled plasma source mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

RESULTSThe mean hair content of REEs (e.g., La) was the highest (2,202.90 ng/g) in the young children living in the place nearest to the REE mining area, next (471.72 ng/g) was in those nearer to the REE mining area, and the lowest (97.37 ng/g) was in those in the control area. And, the hair content of REEs in the mothers was the same as that in their children, i.e, the mean content of La was the highest (1,510.21 ng/g) in high-exposure area, next (241.63 ng/g) was that in the low-exposure area, and the lowest (59.15 ng/g) was that in the control area, with P < 0.001. Pair-comparison analysis for the means showed that the average hair level of five kinds of REEs in the young children was two times high as their mothers' (P < 0.001). For example, the hair level of La was 533.83 ng/g in the young children and 279.78 ng/g in their mothers, respectively. Simple linear regression analysis showed that there was a significant correlation between the hair levels of each kind of REEs in the young children and those in their mothers, with a correlation coefficient of more than 0.75, e.g., that of La was 0.878 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe hair level of REEs can be used as a bio-marker to reflect body's level of exposure to REEs. The hair level of REEs in young children and their mothers decreased with the increase of the distance from their home to rare earth mining area. Young children living in the area with REEs mining may be the high-exposure population, and their hair level of REEs was significantly higher than that in their mothers and more attention should be paid to them.

Child, Preschool ; Environmental Exposure ; Hair ; chemistry ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Metals, Rare Earth ; analysis ; Mining ; Mothers

OBJECTIVETo investigate the importance of TLICS classification to surgical options of thoracolumbar fractures by analyzing the cause of intravertebral vacuum sign, vertebral collapse and vertebral pseudarthrosis.

METHODSFrom January 2006 to December 2010, the clinical data about 15 patients with postoperative complications by thoracolumbar fracture after posterior internal fixation were retrospectively analyzed. There were 9 males and 6 females, ranging in age from 18 to 75 years, with an average of 54.6 years. Of them, fracture site in T12 was 7 cases, L1 was 5 cases, L2 was 3 cases; compression fractures was in 12 cases and burst fracture was in 3 cases; according to classification of TLICS, 12 cases were of type I ,3 cases of type III. And the causes of complications after posterior fixation were analyzed according clinical manifestation and imaging finding combined with review literatures.

RESULTSAfter 10 to 20 months following-up (with average of 15 months), loss of vertebral height found in 9 cases (4 cases existed vertebral collapse, as well as 3 cases occurred screw loosening) and Intravertebral Vacuum Sign appeared in 6 cases.

CONCLUSIONIn order to avoid the vertebral vacuum and fixation failure, the clinical data of patients should be roundly and carefully evaluated, surgical indications should be strictly controlled and the surgical approach should be selected according to correct classification. Particularly, the reconstruction of the stability of former spinal column shoud be paid more attention.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Thoracic Injuries ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study source apportionment of atmospheric PM10 (particle matter ≤ 10 µm in aerodynamic diameter) and PM2.5 (particle matter ≤ 2.5 µm in aerodynamic diameter) in Beijing,Urumqi and Qingdao, China.

METHODSThe atmospheric particle samples of PM10 and PM2.5 collected from Beijing between May 17th and June 18th, 2005, from Urumqi between April 20th and June 1st, 2006 and from Qingdao between April 4th and May 15th, 2005, were detected to trace the source apportionment by factor analysis and enrichment factor methods.

RESULTSIn Beijing, the source apportionment results derived from factor analysis model for PM10 were construction dust and soil sand dust (contributing rate of variance at 45.35%), industry dust, coal-combusted smoke and vehicle emissions (contributing rate at 31.83%), and biomass burning dust (13.57%). The main pollution element was Pb, while the content (median (minimum value-maximum value)was 0.216 (0.040-0.795) µg/m(3)) . As for PM2.5, the sources were construction dust and soil sand dust (38.86%), industry dust, coal-combusted smoke and vehicle emissions (25.73%), biomass burning dust (13.10%) and burning oil dust (11.92%). The main pollution element was Zn (0.365(0.126-0.808) µg/m(3)).In Urumqi, source apportionment results for PM10 were soil sand dust and coal-combusted dust(49.75%), industry dust, vehicle emissions and secondary particles dust (30.65%). The main characteristic pollution element was Cd (0.463(0.033-1.351) ng/m(3)). As for PM2.5, the sources were soil sand dust and coal-combusted dust (43.26%), secondary particles dust (22.29%), industry dust and vehicle emissions (20.50%). The main characteristic pollution element was As (14.599 (1.696-36.741) µg/m(3)).In Qingdao, source apportionment results for PM10 were construction dust (30.91%), vehicle emissions and industry dust (29.65%) and secondary particles dust (28.99%). The main characteristic pollution element was Pb (64.071 (5.846-346.831) µg/m(3)). As for PM2.5, the sources were secondary particles dust, industry dust and vehicle emissions (49.82%) and construction dust (33.71%). The main characteristic pollution element was Pb(57.340 (5.004-241.559) µg/m(3)).Enrichment factors of Zn, Pb, As and Cd in PM2.5 were higher than those in PM10 both in Beijing and Urumqi.

CONCLUSIONThe major sources of the atmospheric particles PM10 and PM2.5 in Beijing were cement dust from construction sites and sand dust from soil; while the major sources of those in Urumqi were pollution by smoke and sand dust from burning coal. The major sources of the atmospheric particles PM10 in Qingdao were cement dust from construction sites; however, the major sources of PM2.5 there were secondary particles dust, industry dust and vehicle emissions. According to our study, the heavy metal elements were likely to gather in PM2.5.

Air Pollutants ; analysis ; China ; Cities ; Dust ; analysis ; Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; Particle Size ; Seasons ; Vehicle Emissions ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo explore clinical effects of manipulative reduction with minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis in treating distal tibiofibular fractures.

METHODSFrom 2009 to 2011, 60 patients with distal tibiofibular fractures were treated by manipulative reduction with minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis. Among them, there were 32 males and 28 females aged from 14 to 70 years old with an average of 41.22 +/- 2.06. According to AO classification of fractures,5 cases were type A1, 22 cases were type A2,21 cases were type A3 and 12 cases were type C1. Operation time, blood loss,time of callus and fracture healing were observed, Mazur scoring of ankle joint were used to evaluate therapeutic.

RESULTSFifty-eight incisions were healed at stage I ,and 2 cases were infected at distal tibial. Operation time was with an average of (62.34 +/- 5.66) min ranged 45 to 90 min;blood loss was 30 to 150 ml with an average of (80.57 +/- 5.59) ml;formation of callus appeared from 4 to 12 weeks,with an average of (8.24 +/- 2.06) weeks, and fracture healing time was from 3 to 6 months, with an average of (4.50 +/- 1.13) months. According to Mazur scoring of ankle joint 40 cases got excellent results, 18 good, and 2 fair.

CONCLUSIONManipulative reduction with minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis can obtain reliable fixation. It is a good choice of treating distal tibiofibular fractures by protecting blood supply of fractures.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Plates ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Tibial Fractures ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the variations of the concentrations of air pollutants and explore the correlation between the heart rate variability (HRV) of the aged people and the air quality during Beijing Olympic Games 2008.

METHODSA panel study design was adopted. A total of twenty-six over 55-year-old patients with coronary heart disease or angina pectoris or a symptom of myocardial ischemia at least for one year were enrolled as a panel and followed up five times by measuring HRV index and other related indexes from June to September in 2008. The correlations between the HRV of the aged people and the air quality was analyzed with the linear mixed-effect models according to the data of air pollutants and meteorological conditions collected simultaneously from Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau and Beijing Meteorological Bureau.

RESULTSIn single-pollutant mixed-effect models, the significant correlation was observed in the reduction of ambient PM(10), SO(2) and NO(2) with the improvement of the total power and high-frequency power (HF) of HRV in the panel subjects, and a 10 microg/m(3) decrease in PM(10), SO(2) and NO(2) level was correlated with 2.51% (95%CI: -3.80% - -1.22%, t = -1.99, P = 0.0497), 31.39% (95%CI: -52.24% - -10.53%, t = -1.99, P = 0.0497) and 42.72% (95%CI: -75.06% - -10.38%, t = -1.99, P = 0.0497) rises in total power of HRV respectively. A 10 microg/m(3) decrease in PM(10), SO(2) and NO(2) level was correlated with 3.46% (95%CI: -5.14% - -1.77%, t = -2.11, P = 0.0378), 40.63% (95%CI: -68.70% - -12.56%, t = -2.11, P = 0.0378) and 53.76% (95%CI: -97.97% - -9.56%, t = -2.11, P = 0.0378) rises in high-frequency power (HF) of HRV respectively.

CONCLUSIONIt suggests that the air pollution reduction could improve the cardiovascular functions of the susceptible population.

Aged ; Air Pollutants ; analysis ; China ; Disease Susceptibility ; Environmental Exposure ; Environmental Monitoring ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Particulate Matter ; analysis ; Sports