Objective: To observe the effect of Yaotongning Capsules combined with Imrecoxib Tablets in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis with cold-dampness and blood-stasis syndrome. Methods: A total of 120 cases with ankylosing spondylitis were randomly divided into two groups: treatment group and control group, with 60 patients in each group. The control group was given Imrecoxib Tablets, and the treatment group was given Imrecoxib Tablets and Yaotongning Capsules. The levels of ESR, CRP, and the scores of BASDAI, BASFI, TCM syndrome were compared before and after treatment, the treatment effect of two groups were evaluated. Results: There was no significant difference in the levels of ESR, CRP and the scores of BASDAI, BASFI, TCM syndrome between two groups before treatment. After treatment, the levels of ESR, CRP and the scores of BASDAI, BASFI, TCM syndrome of the two groups were decreased (P < 0.05), and all the indexes in treatment group were lower than those in control group (P < 0.05), the total effective rate in treatment group (86.67%) was better than that in control group (65.00%) (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Yaotongning Capsules can effectively improve TCM syndrome and functional activity indexes, reduce inflammatory indexes and disease activity, has definite clinical effect on ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the application of shear wave elastography (SWE) combined with transition zone biopsy in the detection of prostate cancer (PCa).

METHODSA total of 489 patients with suspected PCa underwent transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) and SWE-guided prostatic biopsy. We evaluated the role of SWE combined with transition zone biopsy in promoting the detection rate in comparison with the results of biopsy pathology.

RESULTSThe pathological results confirmed 221 malignant and 268 benign cases. Based on systematic biopsy, SWE combined with transition zone biopsy achieved a detection rate of 45. 19% , significantly higher than that of systematic biopsy alone (33.13%) (P < 0.05). The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of SWE were significantly better than those of TRUS (P < 0.05). The mean elasticity (Emean) of SWE was remarkably higher for malignant than for benign lesions ([40.1 ± 9.5] vs [21.6 ± 8.3] kPa, P < 0.05). With 28.5 kPa as the threshold of the Emean value, the area under the ROC curve was 0. 899, and the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 88.71% and 86.23%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSWE combined with transition zone biopsy could significantly improve the detection rate of prostate cancer.

Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; methods ; Humans ; Image-Guided Biopsy ; methods ; Male ; Prostate ; pathology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective: By observing the differences in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) and visual analog scale (VAS) scores in moxibustion treatment for moderate-to-severe primary knee osteoarthritis (KOA) with moxa of different storage years (3-year moxa and 1-year moxa from Qichun, Huanggang City, Hubei Province, China) through a randomized clinical trial, to objectively evaluate the differences in therapeutic efficacy of moxibustion with moxa of different storage years. Methods: A total of 63 patients with moderate-to-severe KOA who met the inclusion criteria were randomized into moxibustion group 1 and moxibustion group 2 by central randomization method, with 32 cases in moxibustion group 1 and 31 cases in moxibustion group 2. Moxibustion group 1 was treated with moxa stored for 3 years, and moxibustion group 2 was treated with moxa stored for 1 year. Dubi (ST 35), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4) and Heding (EX-LE 2) were selected in both groups, and the treatment lasted 20 min per time, 3 times a week. The immediate efficacy was compared after 6 times of treatment, and long-term efficacy was compared at follow-up 4 weeks after the end of treatment. Results: During the treatment, there were 2 dropouts in moxibustion group 1, and 1 dropout in moxibustion group 2. The total effective rate in the two groups was 83.3％ and 60.0％, respectively. Followed up at 4 weeks after the end of treatment, the total effective rate in the two groups was 80.0％ and 66.7％, respectively. There were no statistical differences between the two groups (both P>0.05). After treatment and 4 weeks after the end of treatment, the WOMAC and VAS scores in both groups decreased significantly compared with those before treatment (all P<0.01); the scores of stiffness item of WOMAC in moxibustion group 1 were lower than those in moxibustion group 2 (both P<0.05); there were no statistical differences in the scores of pain item and dysfunction item of WOMAC, and VAS scores between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion: Moxibustion with moxa of different storage years (stored for 3 years and 1 year) both can improve the pain, stiffness and motor function in patients with moderate-to-severe KOA. While moxa stored for 3 years has a better therapeutic efficacy in improving stiffness of the knee joint than that stored for 1 year.

Brain Ischemia ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Pedigree ; Stroke ; epidemiology ; genetics

In this paper, three kinds of chemotactic parameters (concentration, temperature and pH) were determined by plate assay and spore germination method to research the chemotactic response of Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria panax, and their spores on total ginsenosides. The results showed that Botrytis cinerea had strong chemotactic response at the mid-concentration of total ginsenosides (cultivation temperature was 20 degrees C and pH value was 6), and the data of chemotactic migration index (CMI) was 1.293 0, chemotactic growth rate (CGR) was 0.476 0, spore germination rate (SGR) was 53%, and dry weight of mycelial (DWM) was 0.452 6 g x L(-1); however, Alternaria panax had strong chemotactic response at the low-concentration of total ginsenosides (cultivation temperature was 25 degrees C and pH value was 6), and the data of chemotactic migration index (CMI) was 1.235 4, chemotactic growth rate (CGR) was 0.537 0, spore germination rate (SGR) was 67%, and dry weight of mycelial (DWM) was 0.494 8 g x L(-1). The results indicated that the low and middle concentration (2, 20 mg x L(-1)) of total ginsenosides had significant promoting effect on chemotactic response of these two pathogens, and the spore germination, mycelial growth rate, dry weight of mycelial of them were also significantly improved by this chemotactic response, whereas it decreased as the increase of total ginsenosides concentration.
Alternaria ; drug effects ; growth & development ; physiology ; Botrytis ; drug effects ; growth & development ; physiology ; Chemotaxis ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Ginsenosides ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Panax ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Plant Diseases ; microbiology ; Spores, Fungal ; drug effects ; growth & development ; physiology

Objective: To investigate the location, size, ultrasonic characteristics and clinical significances of normal parathyroid glands. Methods: A total of 350 healthy subjects with no relevant diseases in Shanxi Provincial Cancer Hospital from January 2017 to December 2017 were selected. The age ranged from 9 to 83 years old. They were divided into seven groups according to age, with 50 in each group. The position, size, shape, echo, boundary, and blood flow signal characteristics of the normal parathyroid glands in these healthy subjects examined by ultrasound were retrospectively analyzed, and the differences among the different groups were compared. Results: The detection rate of normal parathyroid glands in 350 subjects was 95.4% (1 335/1 400). The normal parathyroid glands were oval, fusiform or irregular shape hyperechoic or isoechoic nodules, with homogeneous echoes and clear borders. There was no obvious blood flow signal in most glands. The proportion of fusiform shape in upper parathyroid glands (24.4%, 161/659) was higher than that in lower parathyroid glands (18.4%, 125/676), the difference was statistically significant (χ ² = 6.99, P < 0.05). The superior parathyroid gland was mainly located in the superior thyroid region, while the inferior parathyroid gland was mainly located in the inferior thyroid region, especially within the range of 2 cm from the inferior thyroid pole. In the age ≤ 20 years old group, the proportion of patients with upper parathyroid gland in the upper thyroid region (80.4%, 74/92) was higher than that in the other age groups, and the proportion of patients with lower parathyroid gland in the subthyroid region (30.6%, 30/98) was higher than that in the other age groups, the difference was statistically significant (χ ² = 3.35, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the size of parathyroid gland among different age groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions The detection rate of normal parathyroid glands is high, and they mainly located in the upper and lower thyroid regions within 2 cm from the lower margin of the thyroid. Ultrasound images are mainly characterized by the clear elliptical shape and the uniform high echo. The ultrasonic characteristics of normal parathyroid glands are conducive to preoperative localization of parathyroid glands and provides a reliable basis for finding and retaining parathyroid glands in thyroid surgery.

To study the effect of Tibetan medicine Zuotai on the activity, protein and mRNA expression of CYP1A2 and NAT2, three different doses (1.2, 3.8 and 12 mg x kg(-1)) of Zuotai were administrated orally to rats once a day or once daily for twelve days, separately. Rats were administrated orally caffeine (CF) on the second day after Zuotai administration, and the urine concentration of CF metabolite 5-acetylamino-6-formylamino-3-methyl-uracil (AFMU), 1-methyluric acid (1U), 1-methylxanthine (1X), 1, 7-dimethylxanthine (17U) at 5 h after study drug administration was determined by RP-HPLC. The activity of CYP1A2 and NAT2 was evaluated by the ratio of metabolites (AFMU+1X+1U)/17U and the ratio of AFMU/(AFMU+1X+1U), respectively. The protein and mRNA expression of CYP1A2 and NAT2 were determined by ELISA and RT-PCR method, respectively. After single administration of Zuotai 3.8 mg x kg(-1) and repeated administration of Zuotai 3.8 and 12 mg x kg(-1), the activity of CYP1A2 and NAT2 decreased significantly compared with control group and there was no significant difference between other dose group and control group. The protein expression of CYP1A2 was significant lower than that in control group after repeated administration of Zuotai 12 mg x kg(-1), and the mRNA expression of CYP1A2 decreased significantly compared with that of control group after single administration of Zuotai 3.8 mg x kg(-1) and repeated admistration of Zuotai 12 mg x kg(-1), separately. The protein expression of NAT2 decreased significantly compared with that of control group after single and repeated administration of Zuotai 3.8 mg x kg(-1), respectively, and the mRNA expression of CYP1A2 decreased significantly compared with control group after single administration of Zuotai 3.8 mg x kg(-1). This study found that Tibetan medicine Zuotai had significant effect on the activity, protein and mRNA expression of CYP1A2 and NAT2.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Caffeine ; metabolism ; urine ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Female ; Male ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Theophylline ; urine ; Uracil ; analogs & derivatives ; urine ; Uric Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; urine ; Xanthines ; urine

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of immunoglobulin on the neuronal expression of IL-1beta and IL-1ra and the neuronal death at hippocampus in rats with convulsion induced by pentylenetetrazol.

METHODSThe epilepsy model was established by injecting intraperitoneally pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) into Wistar rats. Forty-five rats were randomly divided into three groups, normal control group, PTZ plus intravenous immunoglobulin (PTZ-IVIG); PTZ plus normal saline (PTZ-NS). Neuronal death was assessed by light microscopy with the hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and with in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL). IL-1beta and IL-1ra expressions were examined by histochemistry.

RESULTSThe ratio of IL-1beta/IL-1ra at hippocampal CA(1) region in PTZ-IVIG group (0.5 +/- 0.1) was significantly lower than that in PTZ-NS group (1.9 +/- 0.5, t = 12.9, P < 0.05). Apoptotic cell numbers at the hippocampal CA(1) region were significantly decreased in the PTZ-IVIG group, compared to PTZ-NS group (t = 27.1, P < 0.05). The numbers of positive cells were 16.4 +/- 3.3/1000 microm(2) in the former and 41.7 +/- 3.5/1000 microm(2) in the latter. Necrotic cell numbers at the hippocampal CA(1) region were significantly decreased in the PTZ-IVIG group (19.0 +/- 2.6/1000 microm(2)), compared to PTZ-NS group (42.3 +/- 4.9/1000 microm(2), t = 20.9, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONImmunoglobulin could inhibit neuronal death induced by convulsion and its possible mechanism might be the regulation of IL-1 system in neurons.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; immunology ; metabolism ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; pharmacology ; Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Neurons ; drug effects ; Pentylenetetrazole ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Seizures ; chemically induced ; immunology ; metabolism

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Child ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Septum ; surgery ; Humans ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo analyze the extent of myocardium and coronary artery lesion post atrioventricular ring radiofrequency catheter ablation with different tip catheters.

METHODSTwenty-one healthy dogs were randomly divided into 64 degrees C/50 W/100 s, 64 degrees C/100 W/100 s, 45 degrees C/45 W/100 s groups and ablated by 4 mm tip catheter, 8 mm tip catheter and irrigated tip catheter respectively. Left atrioventricular ring and right atrioventricular ring ablation were performed in all dogs. After ablation, myocardium lesion volume was calculated as 1/6pi x length x width x depth. Histological examinations were performed at the myocardium tissue at ablation sites.

RESULTSThe lesion depths post 8 mm tip catheter ablation (7.18 +/- 1.72) mm and irrigated tip catheter ablation (7.99 +/- 1.77) mm were similar and significantly deeper than that post 4 mm tip catheter ablation (4.54 +/- 1.38) mm, P < 0.01. Similar results were found in terms of lesion volume [(356.76 +/- 94.44) mm(3) post 8 mm tip catheter ablation, (391.69 +/- 109.54) mm(3) post irrigated tip catheter ablation and (191.34 +/- 74.52) mm(3) post 4 mm tip catheter ablation]. Five (5/42, 11.9%) transmural myocardium necrosis and 8 (8/42, 19%) coronary artery lesions were observed post ablations.

CONCLUSIONThe extents of post ablation myocardium and coronary artery lesion were significantly higher induced by 8 mm tip catheter and irrigate tip catheter compared those by 4 mm tip catheter.

Animals ; Cardiac Catheterization ; adverse effects ; Catheter Ablation ; adverse effects ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Dogs ; Myocardium ; pathology