Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) plus long-snake moxibustion for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) due to kidney deficiency and cold coagulation. Methods: A total of 60 patients in active stage of RA were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, with 30 cases in each group. Patients in the control group took methotrexate tablets and nimesulide dispersible tablets orally for treatment, while those in the observation group received additional treatment of EA plus long-snake moxibustion. Both groups were treated for 12 weeks. The post-treatment changes in symptomatic grading and quantifying score, disease activity score with 28 joint counts (DAS28), and inflammatory indicators erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were observed, and the efficacy was evaluated. Results: The total effective rate in the observation group was 89.9％, versus 76.6％ in the control group, and there was a significant difference in the total effective rate between the two groups (P<0.05). After treatment, the symptomatic grading and quantifying score and DAS28 in both groups were significantly improved (all P<0.05), and the improvements in the observation group were more significant than those in the control group (both P<0.05). Besides, there were 11 cases with low disease activity index (DAI) and in remission in the observation group versus 5 cases in the control group, showing a statistically significant between-group difference (P<0.05). The ESR and CRP scores in both groups were significantly reduced after treatment (all P<0.05), also showing statistically significant between-group differences (both P<0.05). Conclusion: The efficacy of additional EA plus long-snake moxibustion based on oral medications for RA due to kidney deficiency and cold coagulation is better than that of the oral medications alone.

Cerebral Palsy ; metabolism ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Metabolism, Inborn Errors ; diagnosis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of two different acupuncture treatment on cerebral blood flow velocity and early rehabilitation of hemiparalysis caused by cerebral infarction.

METHODSEighty patients were randomly divided into an alternate acupuncture group (n = 40) and a routine acupuncture group (n = 40). Both of the groups were treated with routine neurology medicine and application of good limb position combined with acupuncture. The patients in the alternate acupuncture group were treated by opposing needling and non-opposing needling, i. e. acupuncture at acupoints on both the healthy and affected sides alternately, twice each day, respectively. The routine acupuncture group was treated by acupuncture at the affected side, once daily. Scores of Scandinavian Stroke Scale (SSS) were evaluated before and after treatment in the two groups, and the mean blood flow velocity of middle cerebral artery (MCA) on the affected side was monitored during two different acupuncture treatment by using Transcranial Doppler (TCD).

RESULTSThe cured and markedly effective rate was 65.0% in the alternate acupuncture group and 37.5% in the routine acupuncture group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). After treatment, the SSS score in the alternate acupuncture group was significantly lower than that in the routine acupuncture group (P < 0.01). The mean blood flow velocity of MCA during two different acupuncture treatment was both decreased significantly (both P < 0.05) and the mean blood flow velocity of MCA before the last treatment was decreased significantly in the alternate acupuncture group than those in the routine acupuncture group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of the alternate acupuncture program for hemiparalysis caused by cerebral infarction is superior to that of the routine acupuncture program. It is suggested that the mechanism of acupuncture in treating hemiparalysis caused by cerebral infarction is to dilate cerebral blood vessels and improve cerebral perfusion.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Cerebral Arteries ; physiopathology ; Cerebral Infarction ; complications ; Hemiplegia ; physiopathology ; rehabilitation ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; radiotherapy ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; pathology ; Portal Vein ; pathology ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; methods

BACKGROUNDInvolvement of peripheral nerves in dermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (PM) is less well known. In the present study we retrospectively analyzed the clinical and electrophysiological records of hospital inpatients with a diagnosis of DM or PM to investigate the association of DM/PM and peripheral neuropathy.

METHODSThe data of inpatients diagnosed with DM or PM were collected in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, and 186 patients (118 patients with DM and 68 with PM) were retrospectively analyzed. Nerve conduction studies (NCSs) of the median nerve, ulnar nerve, posterior tibial nerve, and common peroneal nerve were examined simultaneously.

RESULTSThere were 71 (38.2%) patients with abnormal NCS findings, 37 (19.9%) with pure motor involvement (decreased compound muscle action potential, CMAP), and 34 (18.3%) with peripheral neuropathy. Of the 34 peripheral neuropathy patients, 14 (7.5%) had polyneuropathy, 1 (0.5%) had multiple mononeuropathy, 16 (8.6%) had carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), 1 (0.5%) had trigeminal sensory neuropathy, 1 (0.5%) had ulnar sensory neuropathy, and 1 (0.5%) had brachial plexus involvement. The prevalence of malignant disease (3/34, 8.8%), other connective tissue diseases (CTDs) (7/34, 20.6%) and diabetes (6/34, 17.6%) was significantly greater in DM/PM patients with peripheral neuropathy (chi(2) = 15.855, P = 0.000) compared with DM/PM patients without involvement of peripheral nerves (5/115, 4.3% and 7/115, 6.1%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSPeripheral neuropathy in DM/PM often suggests a complication with cancer, other CTDs, diabetes or CTS. From a practical point of view, NCS for DM/PM may help find the underlying disorders.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Connective Tissue Diseases ; complications ; Dermatomyositis ; complications ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neural Conduction ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; etiology ; Polymyositis ; complications ; physiopathology ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To evaluate the epidemiological effects of vaccine immunization program related to A(H1N1)influenza in the middle school students.Methods Non-randomized clinical trial was designed to assess the A(H1N1)influenza vaccine on its efficacy.14883 students from 8 middle schools in Zhejiang province were recruited and classified into vaccinated or control groups,based on the status of immunization with A(H1N1)influenza vaccine.All subjects were followed up through one epidemic period(6 months)and the incidence rates of influenza-like illnesses,A(H1N1)influenza,and seasonal influenza in these two groups were compared to evaluate the efficacy of the vaccine.Results There were 6334 subjects in the vaccinated group and 8549 in the control group.7441.75 person-years were followed from these two groups.The incidence rate of A (H1N1)influenza in vaccinated group was 1.64‰ per person-year,lower than that of the control group.The rate difference(RD)was-1.64‰ per person-year(95% confidence interval value from-3.04‰ to-0.23‰ per person-year),and the difference was significant(P=0.010).The incidence rate of influenza-like illnesses in vaccinated group was 21.47‰ per person-year,lower than that of the control group(22.69‰ per person-year)and the diffefence was not significant(P>0.05).The incidence rate of B influenza in vaccinated group was 6.63‰ per person-year,higher than that of control group(7.02‰ per person-year)but the difference was not significant(P>0.05).Conclusion This vaccine demonstrated a good epidemiological effect against the A(H1N1)influenza virus infection,observed through a student-immunization program.The cross-protection effect against the influenza-like illnesses and other seasonal influenzas was not noticed in this study.

AIM:To study the effect of Aurora protein kinase inhibitor VX-680 on homogeneous adhesion and migration ability in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG 2.METHODS:The HepG2 cell were divided into ex-perimental group and control group, respectively.VX-680 was used in experimental groups at 3 concentrations(3.125 μmol/L group,6.25 μmol/L group and 12.5 μmol/L group).DMSO was used in the control group.The effects of VX-680 at different concentrations on the adhesion ability of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG 2 cells were observed by cell slow aggregation test and separation experiment.The effects of VX-680 at different concentrations on the migration ability of HepG2 cells was detected by wound healing assay.The expression of E-cadherin in HepG2 cells was detected by Western blot.RESULTS:The results of the slow aggregation test showed that compared with the control group,the number of cell clumps formed in experimental groups was significantly decreased(P<0.01).The results of separation experiment showed that the ratio of NTC/NTEgradually decreased with the increased concentration of VX-680.The results of wound healing as-say showed that as the concentration of VX-680 increased, the cell scratch healing ability gradually weakened compared with control group.The results of Western blot showed that the protein expression of E-cadherin in the HepG2 cells in-creased with the increased concentration of VX-680(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:VX-680 increases the homogeneous ad-hesion and inhibits the migration of HepG 2 cells.

BACKGROUND: Reviving patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness (DOCs) has always been focused and challenging in medical research. Owing to the limited effectiveness of available medicine, recent research has increasingly turned towards neuromodulatory therapies, involving the stimulation of neural circuits. We summarised the progression of research regarding neuromodulatory therapies in the field of DOCs, compared the differences among different studies, in an attempt to explore optimal stimulation patterns and parameters, and analyzed the major limitations of the relevant studies to facilitate future research. METHODS: We performed a search in the PubMed database, using the concepts of DOCs and neuromodulation. Inclusion criteria were: articles in English, published after 2002, and reporting clinical trials of neuromodulatory therapies in human patients with DOCs. RESULTS: Overall, 187 published articles met the search criteria, and 60 articles met the inclusion criteria. There are differences among these studies regarding the clinical efficacies of neurostimulation techniques for patients with DOCs, and large-sample studies are still lacking. CONCLUSIONS Neuromodulatory techniques were used as trial therapies for DOCs wherein their curative effects were controversial. The difficulties in detecting residual consciousness, the confounding effect between the natural course of the disease and therapeutic effect, and the heterogeneity across patients are the major limitations. Large-sample, well-designed studies, and innovations for both treatment and assessment are anticipated in future research.
Clinical Trials as Topic ; Consciousness ; Consciousness Disorders/therapy* ; Humans ; Treatment Outcome

Ellagitannins is a kind of phenolic compounds with many biological activities. Recent studies have found that the effective ingredients of these compounds have close relationship with their colon-derived bacteria metabolites, that is urolithins. The objective of this study was to review the structure characteristics, types and distribution of urolithins, improvement in diseases related to prostate, breast and colon, as well as anti-cancer, anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation and other biological activities. The present review will lay the foundation for development and utilization of urolithins.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical treatment outcomes and the changes of the outcomes over time in extremely preterm twins in Guangdong Province, China. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for 269 pairs of extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks who were admitted to the department of neonatology in 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province from January 2008 to December 2017. According to the admission time, they were divided into two groups: 2008-2012 and 2013-2017. Besides, each pair of twins was divided into the heavier infant and the lighter infant subgroups according to birth weight. The perinatal data of mothers and hospitalization data of neonates were collected. The survival rate of twins and the incidence rate of complications were compared between the 2008-2012 and 2013-2017 groups. RESULTS: Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of severe asphyxia and smaller head circumference at birth (P<0.05). The mortality rates of both of the twins, the heavier infant of the twins, and the lighter infant of the twins were lower in the 2013-2017 group compared with the 2008-2012 group (P<0.05). Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of pulmonary hemorrhage, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (P-IVH), and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) and a higher incidence rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS There is a significant increase in the survival rate over time in extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks in the 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province. The incidences of severe asphyxia, pulmonary hemorrhage, PDA, P-IVH, and NRDS decrease in both the heavier and lighter infants of the twins, but the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia increases. With the improvement of diagnosis and treatment, the multidisciplinary collaboration between different fields of fetal medicine including prenatal diagnosis, obstetrics, and neonatology is needed in the future to jointly develop management strategies for twin pregnancy.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/epidemiology* ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome