Antiviral Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; complications ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Mental Disorders ; complications ; Middle Aged

Objective To investigate the incidence of Keshan disease(KSD) in Shandong province and to supply evidence for scientific control of the disease.Methods According to the scheme of KSD monitoring in Shandong province,the KSD cases were searched in 7 counties,and representative 3 counties and 6 villages were selected as key monitoring sites.In each site,about 420 residents were checked by asking detailed disease history,physical examination,and electrocardiography (ECG) tracings.Suspected cardiac abnormalities were taken chest posteroanterior X-ray film.At the same time,residents hair and food samples were collected to detect selenium levels in internal and external environments,and residents' income and per capita share of grain and other basic information were collected.Results ①Two hundred and fifty-nine medical units were searched,1132 cases of myocardial disease were found out and 638 suspected cases were identified and 142 chronic KSD cases were diagnosed.②In the 6 monitoring sites,2538 residents were surveyed and 91 cases of KSD were detected(of which 77 cases of potential,14 cases of chronic),the detection rate was 3.58％.A total of 2127 residents were traced ECG and the incidence of abnormal ECG was 24.5％ (521/2127),of which ST-T changes,T-wave changes,sinus bradycardia,sinus arrhymia,sinus tachycardia,and atrial premature beats et al were more common.Of the 75 X-ray films,39 cases had enlarged heart(in which 21 of mild,13 of moderate,5 of severe).③A total of 406 hair and grain samples were collected,respectively,and the selenium content of hair was approaching the level of appropriate,and the selenium content of food was still low.The annual per capita incomes of each site were between 3000 - 5900 Yuan,and residents main staple food was flour.Conclusions KSD in Shandong province is in a relatively stable situation.But latent and chronic KSD cases can still be detected.The internal environment selenium levels are elevated since the local living standards and dietary nutrition are improved.

Objective To observe the electrocardiogram changes of threatened crowds in Keshan disease (KSD) endemic area in Shandong province. Methods In 2008,inhabitants from 21 villages of Zoucheng,Sishui,Tengzhou, Yishui, Pingyi, Wulian, Juxian and Qingzhou regions were selected as subjects undergoing electrocardiogram. No less than 100 people were chosen from each village and the examination rate was not lower than 85%. Results Among the 3378 inhabitants investigated,460 cases showed abnormal electrocardiogram and the total incidence of abnormal electrocardiogram was 13.62% (460/3378). The relatively high incidence was T-wave changes,QRS low voltage and ST-T changes,the detection rate being respectively 2.69% (91/3378), 1.92% (65/3378) and 1.72% (41/3378). The highest incidence of abnormal electrocardiogram (26.76%,55/213),the intermediate(21.50%,43/200) and the lowest(5.50%,12/218) was respectively found in Pingyi,Qingzhou and Sishui. Conclusions The threatened crowds in KSD endemic area in Shandong province are still in a state of high abnormal electrocardiogram detection,and electrocardiogram is of great value in the evaluation of KSD patients.

OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of Chinese medicine constitution type on the susceptibility of hypertensive patients to intracerebral haemorrhage.

METHODSPrimary hypertensive patients were studied and divided into the hypertension and the hypertensive intracerebral haemorrhage groups, depending on whether or not the patients had intracerebral haemorrhage. The demographic characteristics, physiological characteristics, living habits, biochemical tests, other chronic diseases, Chinese medicine constitution type, etc. were collected and compared between the two groups. The neurological deficit in the hypertensive intracerebral haemorrhage group was also compared among the different constitution types.

RESULTSA total of 304 patients participated in this investigation, including 213 cases in the hypertension group and 91 cases in the hypertensive intracerebral haemorrhage group. The percentages of dampness-heat and qi-depression types in the intracerebral haemorrhage group were greater than those with the same types in the hypertension group (20.9% vs 6.1%, 22.0% vs 8.0%; P<0.05). The percentages of each constitution type were different between genders in both groups. In addition, there were more male cases (14/20) with qi-depression type and more female cases (7/8) with phlegm-dampness type in the hypertensive intracerebral haemorrhage group than those with the same types (3/17 and 9/34, respectively) in the hypertension group (P<0.05). The cases with phlegm-dampness and qi-depression types had greater levels of blood lipids in the intracerebral haemorrhage group than those with the same types in the hypertension group (P<0.05). Furthermore, the cases with the qi-deficiency type presented with a more severe neurological deficit than those with the other types (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSChinese medicine constitution type might have an impact on the susceptibility of hypertensive patients to have an intracerebral haemorrhage. The heat-dampness and qi-depression types might lead to greater susceptibility than the other types. In addition, the patient's gender and blood lipids might also influence the susceptibility along with the constitution type.

Aged ; Body Constitution ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; etiology ; Disease Susceptibility ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Nervous System ; pathology

BACKGROUNDDetermination of the proper orientation of the knee articular surface is required both for correction of knee malalignment by osteotomy and for correct component alignment in knee arthroplasty. We sought to determine whether the patients' sex and lower extremity alignment (hip-knee-ankle angle) affects proper knee realignment in osteotomy or component alignment in total knee arthroplasty.

METHODSWe examined 199 healthy adult knees with malalignment of < 5° to determine the mechanical medial distal femoral angle, mechanical medial proximal tibial angle, surgical transepicondylar axis angle, and discrepancies between bone-cut orientations of osteotomy or total knee arthroplasty and the joint line of the distal femoral condyles, posterior femoral condyles and proximal tibial plateaus, using a three-dimensional computed tomography model.

RESULTSThe mean mechanical medial distal femoral angle and mean mechanical medial proximal tibial angle were (94.4 ± 1.9)° and (87.6 ± 1.8)° respectively for women and (93.8 ± 2.0)° and (87.1 ± 1.4)° respectively for men. The surgical transepicondylar axis angle was (2.9 ± 1.6)° for women and (3.2 ± 1.7)° for men. Independent of sex, the hip-knee-ankle angle was closely related to the mechanical medial distal femoral angle and mechanical medial proximal tibial angle, but not to the surgical transepicondylar axis angle. A slightly more valgus alignment of the knee and a more valgus angulation of the distal femoral joint line were found in women, whereas a more varus angulation of the proximal tibial joint line was found in men. Sex had the greatest effect on knee joint line orientation when the lower extremity was valgus in alignment.

CONCLUSIONSA more valgus femoral joint line can be expected in women and in persons with valgus lower extremity alignment; a more varus tibial joint line can be found in men and in persons with varus lower extremity alignment.

Adult ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Bone Malalignment ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; pathology ; surgery ; Lower Extremity ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sex Factors

To decrease the hemolysis side effect of puerarin, the basic formula and preparation of puerarin submicron emulsion were optimized and the physicochemical properties were evaluated. Puerarin submicron emulsions were prepared by phase inversion-ultrasound combining with phospholipids complexes technology. The effects of preparative parameters, such as emulsification time, stirring velocity and ultrasound time, on mean diameter, span of dispersity, entrapment efficiency and overall desirability were investigated. The three dimensional response surface graphs were produced by second-order polynomial and liner equation, which predict the optimal experiment conditions. All response variables were found to be greatly dependent on three independent variables. Second-order polynomial equations were fitter than liner equations for this study. The optimal emulsification time, stirring velocity and ultrasound time was 15 min, 2 000 r x min(-1), 30 min, respectively. The mean diameter, span of dispersity, entrapment efficiency, drug content and zeta potential of emulsions prepared by the method were 228.23 nm, 0.628 4, 84. 32%, 9.98 mg x mL(-1), - 29.03 mV, respectively. Puerarin submicron emulsion was prepared by the optimized preparation method. The narrow particle diameter distribution, high envelopment efficacy and good stability were obtained. The physicochemical properties were suitable for the requirement of the intravenous emulsion.
Emulsions ; Isoflavones ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Particle Size

BACKGROUNDAssessing the radiographic features of knee osteoarthritis (OA), especially joint space narrowing, is important for evaluating disease progression. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively analyze joint space narrowing by measuring 2 new variables: the average joint space width (aJSW) and the articulate angle (AA) on X-ray films, and to evaluate the relationship between the 2 variables, knee function and OA symptoms.

METHODSUsing the web-based radiology viewer (Cedara I-Reach™ 4.1.1), we measured the 2 variables in 50 knees of 41 patients with knee OA participating in the Shanghai OA Study. We also evaluated the Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grade, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities OA Index (WOMAC), and additional questionnaire in OA knees. The study was approved by the ethics committee of Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital (No. 2009 - 28).

RESULTSThe aJSW correlated with the K-L grade (r = -0.57, P < 0.001), kneeling (r = -0.29, P = 0.04), sitting cross-legged on the floor (r = -0.31, P = 0.03), WOMAC pain (r = -0.31, P = 0.03), WOMAC disability (r = -0.35, P = 0.01), pain while squatting (r = -0.37, P = 0.01), and defecating in a squatting position (r = -0.39, P = 0.01). The AA correlated with defecating in a squatting position (r = 0.29, P = 0.05), WOMAC disability (r = 0.30, P = 0.04) and K-L grade (r = 0.44, P = 0.003). The K-L grade also correlated with pain while squatting (r = -0.40, P = 0.005) and defecating in a squatting position (r = -0.34, P = 0.02), WOMAC pain (r = 0.30, P = 0.04), and WOMAC disability (r = 0.30, P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONSThe aJSW closely correlated with knee OA symptoms and function scores, and was more sensitive to knee OA related disabilities than K-L grade and the AA. The aJSW could be used as a new variable for knee OA evaluation.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Pain Measurement ; Radiography

Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Sleep Apnea, Central ; diagnosis ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effects of vitamine B(6) (Vit B(6)) and Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (XFZY, for activating blood circulation to remove stasis) in patients with localized scleroderma(LSD).

METHODSThirty-three patients were treated with XFZY and Vit B(6), with 15 cases taking orally prednisone acetate and 20 healthy volunteers as the control. Their level of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in the patients with LSD before and after treatment were observed.

RESULTSThe level of sIL-2R and TNF-alpha in the serum from the patients with LSD were higher than those of healthy volunteers (P < 0.01). After treatment with Vit B(6) and XFZY, the level of sIL-2R and TNF-alpha from the patients with LSD decreased significantly (P < 0.01), but there were no difference between the group taking Vit B(6) plus XFZY and the group given prednisone.

CONCLUSIONThe activating blood circulation to remove stasis approach in treating LSD with integrative Chinese and Western drugs got better results, and metabolic disorder of tryptophan might be correlated with the etiology of LSD.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glucocorticoids ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Receptors, Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Scleroderma, Localized ; blood ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; Vitamin B 6 ; therapeutic use