Objective To investigate the effects of warming-needle acupuncture on the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the articular cartilage in knee osteoarthritis induced by immobilization in rabbits.MethodsA total of 30 adult male Japanese white rabbits were randomly assigned into three groups by random number table method: a normal group, a model group and a treatment group, with 10 rabbits in each group. Knee osteoarthritis was induced by 6 weeks of immobilization. The rabbits in the treatment group received warming-needle acupuncture after modeling at points of “Neixiyan” (EX-LE4), “Dubi” (ST35), “Zusanli” (ST36) and “Yanglingquan” (GB34) for 4 weeks. The level of MMP-1 and IL-1β in the articular cartilage of the knee were determined with radioimmunological assay.ResultsThere were significant difference in the levels of MMP-1(0.16 ± 0.02 ng/mg, 0.37 ± 0.02 ng/mg, and 0.28 ± 0.03 ng/mg;F=258.251) and IL-1β (0.21 ± 0.01 pg/mg, 0.34 ± 0.02pg/mg, and 0.31 ± 0.04 pg/mg;F=127.112) among the normal group, model group and treatment group. The levels of MMP-1 and IL-1β both in the model group and treatment group were significant higher than those in the normal group (allP<0.01), while the levels of MMP-1 and IL-1β in the treatment group were significant lower than those in the model group (allP<0.01).ConclusionWarming-needle acupuncture can effectively reduced the levels of MMP-1 and IL-1β in the articular cartilage in knee osteoarthritis induced by immobilization in rabbits.

In the present study, an ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOFMS) based on chemical profiling approach to evaluate chemical constitution between mixed decoction and co-decoction of monkshood-pinellia combination of the eighteen incompatible medications (Shi Ba Fan) was proposed. Two different kinds of decoctions, namely monkshood-pinellia co-decoction: water extract of the two herbs together, and monkshood-pinellia mixed decoction: water extract of each individual herbs mixed together, were prepared. Batches of these two kinds of decoction samples were subjected to UPLC/Q-TOFMS analysis, the datasets were processed with MassLynx 4.1 to holistically compare the difference between these two kinds of decoction samples. The most changed components during decocting were analyzed. Using the proposed approach, global chemical difference was found between co-decoction and mixed decoction, mesaconitine, aconitine and hypaconitine were identified as the most changed components (changed most significantly) during decocting. Result shows significant difference between two kinds of decoction samples, and the significant differences are probably related to the incompatibility of monkshood and pinellia.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of vacuum disk(VD) for non-invasive treatment of recurrent and acquired pectus excavatum(PE).Methods:From June 2017 to June 2019, 29 patients recruited from our outpatient clinic were included in this retrospective study and followed-up every 3 month according to the schedule. The patients were distributed into three groups(group 1 treated ≤6 months; group 2 treated from 6 months to 12 months; group 3 treated >12 months). The device should be applied regularly for more than 2 hours daily. The deformity chest wall was scanned by three-dimensional(3D)scanner at clinic, and the 3D-depth(3D-DE) and 3D-Haller index(3D-HI) of PE were calculated through Geomagic software.Results:In this cohort, 29 patients were eligible, 18 symmetrical PE and 11 asymmetric PE. The application time ranged from 3 months to 15 months(average 7.6 months). 4 paitents was lifted to a normal level, 23 patients were differently improved. However, 2 paitents had no improvement. The average of the depth and 3D-HI of all patients were improved from 17.7 mm to 11.6 mm and 1.739 to 1.598, respectively. It’s no statistically significant difference for the elevation of 3D-DE and 3D-HI between symmetrical and asymmetric PE( t=-2.821, P=0.558; t=0.074, P=0.068). When comparing the improvement of 3D-DE or 3D-HI of PE to the patient's treatment time, a statistically significant difference was proved between the group 2 and group 1( t=-2.261, P=0.014; t=-0.436, P=0.043), but not between the group 3 and group 2( t=-1.240, P=0.139; t=0.622, P=0.568). The main side effects include moderate subcutaneous hematoma(84%), petechial bleeding(27%), thoracalgia(32%) and chest tightness(17%), no other side effect appear till now. Conclusion:VD for treatment of recurrent and acquired PE is convenient, safe and noninvasive, which can be an alternative treatment for recurrent and acquired PE, However, long term of efficacy evaluation is still needed.

Manifold methods for bone mineral density analyses are introduced in this paper, and the characteristics of precision, accuracy, position, convenience, sensitivity and the radiation hazards of these methods are also discussed here.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; methods ; Bone Density ; Humans ; Osteoporosis ; diagnosis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; instrumentation

Objective To study the incidence and distribution features of spontaneous decrease of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA level and its correlative factors in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.Methods The incidence,demographic features and distribution of different clinical types of spontaneous decrease of HBV DNA were investigated with clinical epidemiological study in 315 CHB or live cirrhosis (LC) patients.The correlative factors of spontaneous decrease of HBV DNA were analyzed by Logistic regression methods.Results Among the 315 patients,171 patients (54.3%) underwent spontaneous decrease of HBV DNA within 12 weeks,of which 61 patients (19.4%) had undeteetable HBV DNA (＜3 lg copy/mL).The stratified study showed that the incidence of spontaneous decrease of HBV DNA in young patients was 58.6% (116/198 cases),which was higher than that (25.0%,2/8 cases) in juvenile patients (X2 = 2.956,P=0.048).The incidence of decrease in relatively more severe patients was higher than that in relatively less severe patients (all X2 in significant groups＞3.84,all P＜0.05),and the highest incidence was 78.7% (48/61 cases) in patients with chronic severe hepatitis B.The incidence of spontaneous decrease of HBV DNA in hepatitis E virus (HEV)/HBV coinfected patients was 75.0% (21/28 cases),which was higher than that (51.8%,146/282 cases) in single HBV-infected patients (X2 =5.530,P=0.019).The incidence of spontaneous decrease of HBV DNA in patients with alanire aminotransferase (ALT)＞400 U/L was 61.8%(102/165 cases),which was higher than that (46.0%,69/150 cases) in patients with ALT≤400 U/L (X2 =7.922,P=0.005).The incidence of spontaneous decrease of HBV DNA in patients with TBil＞200 μmol/L was 68.7% (79/115 cases),which was higher than that (46.0%,92/200 cases) in patients with TBil≤200 μmol/L (X2 = 15.155,P=0.000).The multivariate Logistic analysis demonstrated that chronic severe hepatitis B,ALT＞ 400 U/L and TBil＞ 200 μmol/L were the correlative factors with spontaneous decrease of HBV DNA in CHB or LC patients (all OR＞1,all P＜0.05).Conclusions The spontaneous decrease of HBV DNA level is a common phenomenon during the natural course (immune clearance phase) of CHB or LC patients.Patients with sever conditions,elevated levels of ALT and total bilirubin (TBil) tend to develop spontaneous decrease of HBV DNA.

In the present study, an ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-fight mass spectrometry (UPLC-TOF/MS) based chemical profiling approach was used to evaluate chemical constitution between co-decoction and mixed decoction of ginseng and Radix Aconiti Praeparata. Two different kinds of decoctions, namely co-decoction of ginseng and Radix Aconiti Praeparata: water extract of mixed two herbs, and mixed decoction of ginseng and Radix Aconiti Praeparata: mixed water extract of each individual herbs, were prepared. Batches of these two kinds of decoction samples were subjected to UPLC-TOF/MS analysis. The datasets of t(R) m/z pairs, ion intensities and sample codes were processed with supervised partial least squared discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) to holistically compare the difference between these two decoction samples. Significant difference between the two decoction samples was showed in the results of positive ion mode. The contents of hypaconitine and deoxyaconitine decreased, while that of benzoylmesaconine, benzoylhypaconine and dehydrated benzoylmesaconine increased in the samples of co-decoction of ginseng and Radix Aconiti Praeparata. The content of diester-diterpenoid alkaloids decreased, while that of monoester-diterpenoid alkaloids increased, which is probably the basis of toxicity-attenuated action when combined ginseng with Radix Aconiti Praeparata.

Objective To assess follow-up work status for the patients with breast cancer and analyze the impact factor of the follow-up rate.Methods 331 female patients with complete clinical data in diagnosis and treatment with breast cancer from December 2006 to November 2008 in Shanxi Cancer Hospital were follow-up investigated by telephone.With Logistic regression method,the analysis was preformed on the impact related factors of follow-up effect.Results Telephone follow-up rate was 82.8 ％ (274/331).There was significant difference on the long-term residence between follow-up group and missing group (Fisher exact probability method,P =0.045),the results of regression analysis showed that follow-up results were influenced by the patient's occupation (β=-0.279,s-x =0.116,Wald =5.806,P =0.016,OR =0.757,95 ％ CI 0.603-0.949).Conclusion The telephone investigation for breast cancer patients is an important way for postoperative follow-up.The occupation of patient might influence the investigate results.

OBJECTIVE To examine the prevalence and trends of drug resistance of nontuberculous mycobacteria(NTM)in Shanghai.METHODS All NTM strains isolated between 1998 and 2004 in Shanghai were identified with conventional biochemical tests.Antimicrobial susceptibility test for all NTM was performed by standard absolute concentration method.RESULTS The prevalence rate was determined as 1.49%,1.17%,1.98%,2.46%,2.66%,2.72% and 3.0% among mycobacteria culture positive patients per year in 1998,1999,2000,2001,2002,2003,and in 2004,respectively.These data indicated the prevalence rate has continuously increased.Distribution of NTM isolates was Group Ⅰ18.7%,Group Ⅱ 5.1%,Group Ⅲ 25.1%,and Group Ⅳ 51.1% accordingly.Group Ⅳ rapidly growing NTM accounted for majority of them.Most of NTM showed high drug resistance to general antituberculotic drug.In particular Group Ⅳ Mycobacterium chelonae and M.fortuitum appeared multi-drug resistance.CONCLUSIONS The prevalence rate of NTM in Shanghai shows increased tendency.Most of NTM isolates are Group Ⅳ rapidly growing NTM.NTM shows high drug resistance to first line antituberculotic substance.

To evaluate whether Shenfu injection (SFI) protects against cardiac myocyte injury induced by Fupian injection (FPI) in vitro.

OBJECTIVE Tostudythehepatotoxicityofveratrinehydrochloride(VH)anditsmecha-nismoninductionofapoptosisinvitro.METHODS HepG2cellswereexposedtoVH0.1-0.6g·L-1 for 24 h,cell viability was examined by CCK-8 assay,and the morphologic changes in HepG2 cells were quantified.After the treatment with VH 0.1 -0.5 g·L-1 for 24 h,cell membrane injury was examined by detecting the release rate of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH).The effect on reactive oxygen species (ROS),mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry.The mRNA expression of p53,Bax,cytochrome c,caspase 9,caspase 3 was evaluated by real-time PCR. RESULTS HepG2cellviabilitywassignificantlyreducedfollowingexposuretoVH0.1-0.5g·L-1. The IC50 value was 0.4 g·L-1 .The 95%confidence limit was 0.2558-0.6965 g·L-1 .The LDH release rate,ROS and apoptosis rate of HepG2 cells were significantly increased after exposure to VH 0.1 -0.5 g·L-1 for 24 h (P<0.05,P<0.01 ),and the mitochondrial membrane potential markedly declined (P<0.05,P<0.01 ).The expression of p53,Bax,cytochrome c,caspase 9 and caspase 3 was increased(P<0.05,P<0.01).CONCLUSION VHhascytotoxicpotential.Damagetocell me mbrane and mitochondria and initiation of apoptosis-related genes of caspase 9 and caspase 3 mRNA expression may be the mechanis m of apoptosis.