Objective: To observe the effect of acupuncture plus thunder-fire moxibustion on the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in cartilage of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) rats, and to explore the mechanism of acupuncture plus thunder-fire moxibustion in the treatment of KOA. Methods:Thirty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a blank control group, a model group and an acupuncture-moxibustion group by random digits table, 10 rats in each group. Rats in the model group and the acupuncture-moxibustion group were injected with papain in the right posterior knee joint to prepare the models. The levels of MMP-3 and TIMP-1 in rat synovium of each group were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) after 2 weeks of treatment. The level of TGF-β1 was determined by Motic B5 Micro-camera system. Results:The levels of MMP-3 and TIMP-1 in the cartilage of the model group were significantly higher than those in the blank control group (allP<0.01); the levels of MMP-3 and TIMP-1 in the acupuncture-moxibustion group were lower than those in the model group, and the between-group differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The levels of MMP-3 and TIMP-1 in the acupuncture-moxibustion group were higher than those in the blank control group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The level of TGF-β1 in cartilage tissues of the model group was significantly lower than that in the blank control group (P<0.01); the level of TGF-β1 in the acupuncture-moxibustion group was higher than that in the model group (P<0.05), but it was lower than that in the blank control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture plus thunder-fire moxibustion can effectively recover the abnormal expressions of MMP-3 and TIMP-1 in KOA model rats and somewhat up-regulate TGF-β1, which may be one of its mechanisms of acupuncture plus thunder-fire for KOA.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of rituximab in treating patients with refractory and/or relapsing thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).

METHODSTotally three patients received rituximab as salvage therapy in our hospital. Rituximab was administered at a weekly dose of 375 mg/m(2) for 2 or 4 consecutive weeks. After clinical remission, patients were followed up every 3 months.

RESULTSAll three patients achieved complete remission. The median time to platelet count recovery was 7 days (4-12 days) after the first rituximab infusion. During the follow-up (median: 12 months; range: 9-18 months), no patients experienced relapse. No side effect was noted during treatment and follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONTherapy with rituximab is effective and well tolerated for patients with refractory or relapsing TTP.

Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic ; drug therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Rituximab ; Salvage Therapy ; Treatment Outcome

ABSTRACT:Objective To evaluate the curative effect of tension-free vaginal tape-obturator (TVT-O)and modified TVT-O in treating female stress urinary incontinence (SUI).Methods We selected 1 1 3 female patients diagnosed with SUI from January to December 2013 in our department and divided them into standard TVT-O group (group A,5 6 cases)and modified TVT-O group (group B,5 7 cases).We evaluated prospectively the safety,short-term efficacy and complications of operation in the two groups.Results The length from bilateral obturator membrane to the puncture point in the skin was greater in group A than in group B.The average intraoperative blood loss was more in group A than in group B.The median NRS score of postoperatie thigh pain in group A was higher than in group B (P<0 .0 5 ).The two groups did not differ significantly in operation duration,postoperative catheterization,mean hospital stay duration,the length and position from bilateral obturator membrane to the puncture point,or surgical efficacy (P>0.05).Conclusion Both TVT-O and modified TVT-O techniques are effective in treating female SUI.Modified TVT-O has a short path to get through the adductor muscles and less intraoperative blood loss;therefore,it can significantly reduce the complications such as postoperative pain to enhance the quality of life after operation. 

Tussilago farfara contained the chemical constitutents including terpenes, flavonoids, and alkanoids. It has been used for the relief of coughs and as an expectorant, blood pressure raiser, platelet activating factor inhibitor and anti-inflammatory agents. This paper reviewed the phytochemical and pharmacological research progress in T. farfara, including the chemical ingredients, the pharmaceutical activities and the security evaluation aiming at its toxicity. The problems at present and the reseach direction for the future on T. farfara have been put forward.
Alkaloids ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Animals ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; methods ; trends ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Terpenes ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Tussilago ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the safety and efficiency of the disposable circumcision suture device (DCSD) in the surgical treatment of phimosis and redundant prepuce.

METHODSWe randomly assigned 249 outpatients with phimosis or redundant prepuce to be treated with DCSD (n = 129) and by conventional circumcision (CC, n = 120), respectively. Then we compared the safety and efficiency of the two strategies.

RESULTSComparisons between DCSD and CC showed that the operation time was (4.02 +/- 0.69) vs (30.8 +/- 4.05) min, blood loss was (1.07 +/- 1.29) vs (8.72 +/- 2.15) ml, intraoperative pain score was 0.81 +/- 0.81 vs 2.42 +/- 1.15, 24-hour postoperative pain score was 1.84 +/- 1.02 vs 4.99 +/- 1.36, postoperative complication rate was 13. 95% (18/129) vs 9.17% (11/120), wound healing time was (13.99 +/- 9.06) vs (17.48 +/- 3.49) d, satisfaction with the penile appearance was 98.4% (127/129) vs 95% (109/120), and treatment cost was (2215.62 +/- 17.67) vs (576.47 + 15.58) Y RMB. DCSD exhibited obvious superiority over CC for shorter operation time, less blood loss, milder intraoperative pain, sooner wound healing, and better penile appearance, but it also had a higher rate of postoperative complications (P > 0.05) and involved more treatment cost than the latter (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe disposable circumcision suture device affords ideal clinical effects and therefore deserves clinical popularization.

Circumcision, Male ; instrumentation ; Disposable Equipment ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Phimosis ; surgery ; Surgical Staplers ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To study the changes of permeability of blood brain barrier (BBB) in rats after acute traumatic brain injury and explore its mechanism. Methods Ninety-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group (S group) and traumatic brain injury group (TBI group).Each group was divided into 6 subgroups (3,6,12,24,48 and 72 h after trauma).Brain injury animal models were established according to Feeney' s method.Measurement of Evans Blue (EB) was performed at different time points after injury to measure the changes of BBB permeability.Brain water content was tested by wet-dry weighting method. Expression of tight junction protein Claudin-5 was detected by Western blotting. Results As compared with that in rats of the S group,the brain water content and content of EB in rats of the TBI group were significantly increased at each time point (P＜0.05); and in TBI subgroups,the brain water content and content of EB were begun to increase 3 h after TBI,reaching its peak level 24 h after TBI.As compared with that in rats of the S group,the expression of Claudin-5 in rats of the TBI group was significantly decreased at 12,24,48 and 72 h after TBI (P＜0.05); and in TBI subgroups,the expression of Claudin-5 was begun to decrease 6 h after TBI,reaching its lowest level 24 h after TBI. Negative correlations were noted between protein expression level of Claudin-5 and both the brain water content and content of EB (r=-0.994,P=0.000; r=-0.846,P=0.036); positive correlation was observed between the brain water content and content of EB (r=0.863,P=0.027). Conclusion The degree of brain injury and changes of permeability of BBB may be time dependent in rats after acute brain traumatic injury; and Claudin-5 may be correlated with the changes of BBB.

Objective: To improve the understanding of the rare clinical presentation and management of purpura fulminans (PF) in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH). Methods: A case of PF occurring in PNH is reported, while the related literature review is conducted. Results: A 49-year-old male patient suffered from one-week history of fever, greenish-brown colour urine, multiple well demarcated and painful purpura of the head and neck. He had been reported to have two thromboembolic events during the 22-year course of PNH. Skin biopsy displayed classic PF features. Laboratory testing showed a high PNH clone, intravascular hemolysis and coagulation system changes. After sufficient anticoagulation and short course of glucocorticoid therapy, the clinical conditions were improved correspondingly. During a follow-up period of 6 month, there was no recurrence of thrombosis. Conclusion: PF should be considered in PNH patients with unexplained, quickly developed painful purpura. Extensive work-up should be performed to find out other potential thrombophilic risk factors after diagnosis of PF. Early diagnosis, adequate anticoagulation therapy and control hemolysis were essential to PF treatment occurring in PNH. The survival of patients and the qualities of life can be improved. The PNH clone detection is needed to evaluate the status of procoagulation and predict the risk of recurrent thrombosis.
Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Purpura Fulminans ; Thrombophilia ; Thrombosis

An efficient modified route based on the targeting mechanism of antibacterial fluoroquinolones for the shift from the antibacterial activity to the antitumor one was further developed. Using a fused heterocyclic ring, s-triazolothiadiazine as a carboxyl bioisostere of ciprofloxacin, the title compounds, 1-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-7-piperazin-1-yl-3-(6-substituted-phenyl-7H-[1, 2, 4]triazolo[3, 4-b][1, 3, 4]thiadiazin-3-yl)-quinolin-4(1H)-ones (5a-5e) and their corresponding N-acetyl products (6a-6e), were designed and synthesized, separately. Meaningfully, a ring-contraction of fused six-membered thiadiazine occurred by a sulfur extrusion reaction gave new tri-acetylated fused heterocycles related to pyrazolo[5, 1-c][1, 2, 4] triazoles (7a-7e). The in vitro antitumor activity against L1210, CHO and HL60 cell lines was also evaluated for the synthesized fifteen heterocycles compared to parent ciprofloxacin by methylthiazole trazolium (MTT) assay. Interestingly, the results displayed that fifteen fused heterocyclic compounds showed more significant growth inhibitory activity (IC50 < 25.0 micromo x L(-1)) than that of parent ciprofloxacin (IC50 > 150.0 micromol x L(-1)), and the active order decreased from 7a-7e to 5a-5e to 6a-6e, respective.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; CHO Cells ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Ciprofloxacin ; pharmacology ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Fluoroquinolones ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Leukemia L1210 ; pathology ; Mice ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Thiadiazines ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Triazoles ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology

The paper introduces the general thinking,methods and basic principles for study on the operating procedure of informatization work in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) hospitals,and sets up the content frame including hardware system,software system,information security,relevant operation sheets,etc.,so as to supplement the.standards for informatization work in TCM hospitals at the operating level and provide support for secure,reliable and sustainable operation of information systems in TCM hospitals.