Objective:Understanding arthritis condition of rural residents of five countries in Liaoning province,analyzing their epidemiological factors,to further improve the prevention and treatment of arthritis and provide the basis for the promotion of Chinese medicine appropriate technologies.Methods:The cluster sampling method was used,at each of five counties in Liaoning we had surveyed 40 villages,and each village,we had spot-checked 50 families,the total amount was 2000.Each family member was a survey subject.Results:Among the five counties of Liaoning province,the incidence of arthritis in rural population was that women was higher than men,and 50-59 year-old age group had a higher proportion in arthritis,followed by 40-49 age group. Conclusion:Age and sex were also important factors for arthritic incidence of the five counties in Liaoning province.

Background and purpose:Radioactive iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RAIR-DTC) is a big challenge in the management of thyroid cancer. Sorafenib and lenvatinib are the 2 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) recently approved by FDA, which could not be affordable for most of the Chinese patients. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the short term effcacy and safety of apatinib, a Chinese domestic TKI targeted vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), in advanced RAIR-DTC.Methods:Ten patients who were identiifed as progressive RAIR-DTC were enrolled in this study. Patients received oral apatinib 750 mg once daily. Both thyroglobulin (Tg) and/or Tg antibody (TgAb) levels were monitored every 2 weeks after the treatment. Computed tomography (CT) was per-formed every 4 weeks after apatinib treatment to evaluate the response according to response evaluation criteria in solid tumor version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1). Within 8 weeks after apatinib treatment, therapeutic response was evaluated in terms of Tg, a sensitive biochemical tumor marker for DTC, and RECIST 1.1 assessment. Meanwhile, the adverse events (AE) were monitored during the therapy.Results:The Tg levels declined after the ifrst 2 weeks of apatinib treatment, and a mean decline rate of 68% could be observed in 8 patients with Tg available for evaluation after 8 weeks, which repre-sented a biochemical partial response. Eighteen target lesions (TL) of 10 patients were evaluated and followed up. The diameter of TL began to decrease after 4 weeks, and a mean decline of 40% could be observed after 8 weeks’ apatinib treatment. A total of 9 patients (9/10) achieved partial response according to RECIST 1.1 criteria and 1 patient with stable disease, with 90% objective response rate and 100% disease control rate. The most common AE beyond grade 3 included hand-foot-skin reactions, hypertension and hypocalcemia, which accounted for 50%, 30% and 20% of the cases, respectively. No severe AE related to apatinib was observed during the treatment.Conclusion:A safe and rapid response and high partial response rate in terms of biochemistry, RECIST 1.1 could be observed in RAIR-DTC patients within 8 weeks of apatinib treatment.

Objective To explore clinical characteristics of H-type hypertension in health check-up populations so as to provide evidence for stroke prevention.Methods A total of 42 251 health check-up individuals (male 27 746,female 14 505,average age (46 ± 9) years) who visited our center during May,2009 and February,2012 were enrolled and responded to the investigation.In face to face interview,their age,gender,cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption were recorded.Height,body weight and blood pressures were measured.Serum lipid profiles,blood glucose,uric acid (UA),creatinine (Cr),homocysteine and urine albumin creatinine ratio (ACR) were tested.The subjects were then assigned to the H-type hypertension group,common hypertension group,high homocysteine group and control group.Analysis of Variance was used for data analysis.Results Of 42 251 participants,7748 were found to have H-type hypertension (18.34％ in whole subjects and 63.95％ in hypertensive subjects).Serum level of homocysteine and prevalence of common hypertension and H-type hypertension were significantly higher in males (P ＜ 0.05).Age and body mass index of the H-type hypertension group were significantly increased (P ＜ 0.05).The highest incidence of cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking was found in the homocysteine group (P ＜ 0.05),while the highest serum levels of Hb,UA,high sensitivity-C reactive protein (hs-CRP),and Cr occurred in the H-type hypertension group.Moreover,total cholesterol,triglycide,low-density lipoprotein cholesterol,and microalbumin/creatinine were not significantly different between the common hypertension group and the H-type hypertension group (P ＞ 0.05),although were significantly different between the controls and the H-type hypertensive patients (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The prevalence of Htype hypertension may be increased with the increasing serum levels of biological markers for nutritional metabolism.Higher level of homocysteine dose not seem to aggregate lipid disorders and early renal damage.

Objective To explore if there is a difference in blood pressure in left and right extremities.Methods A total of 20164 adults who took part in health check-up at Health Examination Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital between December 2009 and August 2011were enrolled in this study.Age,height and body weight were recorded,and blood pressure in extremities was measured in synchronous way by using an arteriosclerosis detector.Results (1) Blood pressure in upper left extremity was slightly higher than that in upper and lower right extremity ( all P =0.0001).( 2 ) Difference in diastolic blood pressure in upper left and right limbs in females (2.1±6.7) mm Hg(1mm Hg =0.133 kPa) was more significant than that in males (1.4 +6.5 ) mm Hg ( P =0.0000).In males,difference in systolic blood pressure between two lower extremities ( 2.3 ± 9.6 )mm Hg was more significant than that in females (1.9 ±13.4) mm Hg ( P =0.0225 ).( 3 ) The above mentioned differences were found in low or normal weight and over-weight/obesity populations,which was not correlated with body mess index.(4) The difference of diastolic blood pressure in left and right limbs of relatively taller adults ( ＞170 cm) was more significant than that in shorter populations ( ＜170 cm ) (P =0.001).Conclusion The differences in blood pressure in left and right extremities do exist.

Objective To explore the difference of autobiographical memory (AM) between depressive patients with and without alexithymia,and correlation between AM and alexithymia in depressive patients with alexithymia.Methods 29 depressive patients with alexithymia,34 depressive patients without alexithymia were enrolled.All patients were measured by autobiographical memory test (AMT),Toronto alexithymia scale-20 (TAS20),Hamilton depression scale-24 (HAMD-24).Results ①The negative overgeneral AM score was higher in depressive patients with alexithymia than those without alexithymia ((3.34± 1.80),(2.51 ± 1.12),respectively t=2.19,P＜0.05).②The total overgeneral AM score was higher in depressive patients with alexithymia than those without alexithymia ((6.14±2.44),(4.86±2.06),respectively t=2.21,P＜0.05).③)The correlation coefficient (r value) between the total score of overgeneral AM and total score of TAS,TAS-Ⅲ scores of TAS in depressive patients with alexithymia were significantly positively correlated (r=0.240～0.611,P＜0.05).However,the correlation coefficient between the total score of specific AM and total score of TAS,TAS-Ⅲ scores of TAS in depressive patients with alexithymia were significantly negatively correlated(r=-0.502～-0.205,P＜0.05).Conclusion Compared with depressive patients without alexithymia,the overgeneral AM in depressive patients with alexithymia is more severe,and the alexithymia can increase the severity of overgeneral AM.

Objective To explore the relationship between the proliferation of neural stem cells (NSCs)and the expression of β-catenin protein in neonate rats with hypoxic ischemic brain damage (HIBD) after hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy. Methods One hundred and eighty Sprague-Dawley rats aged 7 days were randomly divided into a normal control group (CON) , a HIBD model group and a HBO treatment group. The HIBD model was induced using Rice's method. Beginning 3h after the HIBD, HBO was administered to the HBO treatment group at 2 atmospheres for 60 min, once daily for 7 days. The HIBD model group was not given any treatment. The expression of nestin/β-catenin protein in the subventricular zone of the ischemic brain was double-stained for immunofluorescence and analyzed by confocal scanning microscopy dynamically at 3 hours, 21 hours, and then on the 3rd, 5th, 7th and 14th day of HBO therapy. The expression of whole cell β-catenin and nuclear β-catenin protein in the left brain were also examined by Western blotting at these 6 time points. Linear correlation was used to analyze the correlation between β-catenin and nestin protein. Results The expression of β-catenin protein in NSCs increased initially at the 21st hour after HBO therapy in the model group and the HBO group as compared with the normal control group.β-catenin protein in the model group reached a higher level, though there was no significant difference between model group and the HBO group. At the 5th day of HBO therapy β-catenin protein in the HBO group had reached a significantly higher level than in the model group. At the 14th day the average expression of β-catenin in the HBO group began to decrease. The expression of nestin protein began to increase 21 hours after HBO therapy began, and it peaked at the 7th day of HBO therapy and then decreased. In the HBO group the increase in nestin protein was linearly correlated with that of β-catenin protein. The whole cell β-catenin protein and β-catenin nucleic protein readings increased initially by the 21st hour of HBO therapy and by the 5th day were significantly higher than the levels in the model group. Conclusion HBO treatment is capable of stimulating the proliferation of NSCs in HIBD neonate rats.The proliferation of NSCs is correlated with the activation of β-catenin protein.

Objective To study the morphological appearance and pathological basis of the fine pulmonary reticulation at HRCT.Methods One hundred and seven patients were analyzed about the morphology findings and dynamic changes on pulmonary HRCT.Twenty-four coal worker's pneumoconiosis(CWP)specimens were examined to make comparison between CT and pathology.The data was analyzed by using the Chi-square test.Results The reticular gap was less than 3 mm in diameter.The morphology of reticulation was round or irregular.Pulmonary parenchyma was seen between the gaps.The reticular wall was smooth or coarse.The thickness was less than 1 mm.One hundred and seven patients had accompanying signs including ground-glass opacity(68.2%,73 patients),crazy paving(23.4%,25 patients),interlobular septal thickening(84.1%,90 patients),emphysema(32.7%,35 patients),interface sign(58.9%,63 patients),traction bronchiolectasis(41.1%,44 patients)and honeycombing(26.2%,28 patients).The differences of the honeycomb,traction bronchiolectosis,interbobular septal thickening,interface sign and paving were statistically significant between the fibrotic group and pneunonia(P＜0.01).Pneumonia showed extensive area of ground-glass opacity(GGO)with fine reticulation.Fine reticulation with both interlobular septal thickening and small nodules were observed more frequently in lmphangitic carcinomatosis.Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF)showed fine reticulation among the honeycombing.Connective tissue disease (CTD)showed fine reticulation with rarely honeycombing and it could be partly absorbed.Fine reticulation with emphysema was seen in chronic bronchitis.In the 58 follow-up patients,the fine reticulation increased in 26 patients,decreased or disappeared in 22 patients and showed no change in 10 patients.The major pathological basis of the fine reticulation was intralobular interstitial thickening,including fibrosis hyperplasia,inflammatory cells and tumor cells infiltration,effusion filling,smut deposition and so on.Conclusions The fine reticulation was caused by intralobular interstitial thickening including inflammation,interstitial hyperplasia,pulmonary fibrosis and tumor.The fine reticulation is helpful to prompt the diagnosis of these diseases,but the diagnosis need its combination with the other CT findings and dynamic changes.

Objective:To evaluate the biochemical and structural changes of apatinib in patients with progressive radioactive iodine-re-fractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RAIR-DTC). Methods:The participants (n=10) were followed up since March 2016. Treatment ef-fect was evaluated in using both biochemical [thyroglobulin (Tg) and thyroglobulin antibody (Tg-Ab)] and structural responses (target lesions, TL). Adverse events were also recorded over time. Results:The median follow-up was 7.9 months. The Tg level declined rapid-ly within 6 weeks after apatinib treatment, and the average decline ranged from 60%to 90%, indicating the immediate biochemical re-sponse of apatinib in progressive RAIR-DTC. The Tg level tended to stabilize thereafter. However, the Tg level rebounded by 4%–135%when withdrawal was performed for 3–14 days. The number of TLs decreased rapidly within 8 weeks, and the average decreased ranged from 40%to 60%, indicating the presence of rapid structural responses. Thereafter, the number of TLs continued to stabilize. TLs, in contrast to Tg, were not significantly affected by drug withdrawal. The rate of change in Tg (Tgvn) was positively correlated with the rate of change in TL (TLvn) [TLvn=0.17×Tgvn+0.50 (r=0.56, P<0.05)]. The apatinib dose was adjusted due to adverse events, which could be relieved after 3 to 14 days of withdrawal. Apatinib can effectively control the disease even at a reduced dose of 250 mg/d. Conclusion:Apatinib treatment showed a fast and sustainable biochemical and structural responses. Tg could be regarded as an objec-tive indicator. Tgvn is positively correlated with TLvn, and the response of Tg is more sensitive than that of TLs.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the initial change of Tg and clinical outcome in DTC patients with pulmonary metastases after 131I treatment.Methods A total of 47 DTC patients (13 males,34 females;average age (41.6±16.3) years) with pulmonary metastases from January 2008 to June 2014 were retrospectively analyzed.Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the variation of Tg: G1 with a declined (more than 50％) Tg;G2 with a declined (less than 50％) Tg or an increased (less than 10％) Tg;G3 with an increased (more than 10％) Tg.The median follow-up time was 1 501 d.Clinical outcomes were divided into remission,stable disease and progressive disease according to the serum test and imaging results.Data analysis was performed by χ2 test and Fisher exact test.Results The percentage of G1,G2,G3 patients was 44.7％(21/47),40.4％(19/47),and 14.9％(7/47) respectively.Results of follow-up showed 19.0％(4/21) patients achieved remission and 81.0％(17/21) with stable disease in G1.There were 2/19 with remission,12/19 with stable disease and 5/19 with progression disease in G2.All patients (7/7) had progressive disease in G3.The clinical outcome was related to the variation of Tg after 131I treatment (Fisher exact test,P<0.01).Conclusions Initial Tg after 131I treatment could be a predictor to the outcome of patients.The increased Tg level indicates a high possibility of 131I refractory disease.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of surgery treatment for syringomyelia associated with spinal cord type cervical spondylopathy.MethodsExpansive open-door laminectomy and spinal cavity-subarachnoid drainage were performed in 11 cases.ResultsThe extremity function of 11 cases were all recoverd to varied extent in the following 1-5 years(average follow-up:30 months).ConclusionsExpansive open-door laminectomy and spinal cavity-subarachnoid drainage is an effective method for syringomyelia associated with spinal cord type cervical spondylopathy.