OBJECTIVE: To explore influence of external factors of wind, cold and dampness on clinical symptoms in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients with different constitutions of traditional Chinese medicine. METHODS: A cross-sectional stratified study was performed to select 108 patients with GradeⅡKOA in Kellgren & Lawrence (K-L) classification, including 22 males and 86 females, aged from 47 to 75 years old with an average of (60.7±6.0) years old;body mass index(BMI) ranged from 17.87 to 31.22 kg·m^-2 with an average of (23.80±2.86) kg·m^-2. According to Classification and Judgment of TCM Physique (ZYYXH/T157-2009), the types of TCM physique were determined and divided into 4 layers according to the deficiency and actual physique. Among them, there were 24 patients without biased physique, 12 males and 12 females, aged from 51 to 73 years old with an average of(62.8±6.0) years old, BMI ranged from 17.87 to 31.14 kg·m^-2 with an average of (24.32±3.25) kg·m-2;there were 46 patients with virtual bias constitution, including 7 males and 39 females, aged from 47 to 70 years old with an average of (60.0±5.8) years old, BMI ranged from 19.38 to 31.22 kg·m^-2 with an average of(23.42±2.97) kg·m^-2;There were 26 patients with solid bias constitution, including 2 males and 24 females, aged from 48 to 75 years old with an average of (60.4±5.8) years old, BMI ranged from 21.16 to 30.76 kg·m^-2 with an average of (24.15±2.33) kg·m^-2;there were 9 patients with special constitution, 1 male and 8 female, aged from 53 to 75 years old with an average of (59.8±7.5) years old, BMI ranged from 19.26 to 26.67 kg·m^-2 with an average of (23.79±2.49) kg·m^-2. Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) was used to evaluate severity of clinical symptoms. The wind-cold-dampness external factor score was calculated through the questionnaire of wind-cold-dampness syndrome scale to evaluate degree of influence of wind-cold-dampness external factor. Pearson correlation analysis and partial correlation analysis were used to calculate the correlation coefficient between severity of external factors affecting wind, cold and dampness and severity of clinical symptoms in patients with different TCM constitution stratification. RESULTS: There was no statistical significance between total score of wind-cold-dampness and WOMAC score in patients with no biased constitution and special condition. Total wind-cold-dampness score of patients with virtual biased constitution was positively correlated with WOMAC stiffness score (r=0.327, P=0.032), and total wind-cold-dampness score of patients with solid biased constitution was positively correlated with WOMAC pain score (r=0.561, P=0.005) and WOMAC overall score (r=0.446, P=0.033). After further adjusting for the interaction of external factors of wind-cold-dampness, there was no statistical significance between wind-cold-dampness scores and WOMAC scores in patients with solid biased constitution. The score of dampness and pathogenic factors was positively correlated with WOMAC stiffness score (r=0.414, P=0.007). CONCLUSION The external factors of wind-cold dampness have different effects on the clinical symptoms of KOA patients with different TCM constitutions. Compared with other constitutions, the rigid symptoms of patients with asthenic biased constitutions are more susceptible to dampness pathogenic factors.
Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; Syndrome ; Wind ; Cold Temperature

Aim To investigate the protective effect of bicyclol on tumor necrosis factor-α/D-galactosamine (TNF-α/D-GalN) induced liver injury and its possible mechanisms. Methods Male C57 mice were given 50, 100, and 200 mg · kg

Objective:Effect of gut microbiota on human health has become a hotspot in recent years with the emergence of new microbial technology.B.bifidum is a traditional probiotics and has been widely used in food and medicine.But the metabolism and function of B.bifidum ATCC 29521 has not been well documented.To investigate colonization and growth of B.bifidum ATCC 29521 in mice intestine,fecal B.bifidum concentrations were analyzed by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR.Methods:Female C57BL/6 mice were orally gavaged with eigher a single dose of 1 × 109 CFU B.bifidum ATCC 29521 or continuous doses of 1 × 109/day for 3 weeks.Feces were collected at 0,2,4,6,8,10,12,16,20,24 h and at 10,7,14,21,24,28 d,respectively.Total DNA was isolated from the feces using the Qiagen DNA stool extraction kit according to the manufacturer's instructions.The linear standard curve was established by each dilution degrees of B.bifidum ATCC 29521 and their corresponding CT values.The curve equation was y =0.1835x + 9.0628 and R2 was 0.9994.The concentration of B.bifidum ATCC 29521 in mice feces were calculated by substituted CT values obtained by RT-PCR into the curve equation.Results:The curves of B.bifidum ATCC 29521 concentration rose at first and then reduced gradually.In single dose group,the concentration of B.bifidum ATCC 29521 began to increase at 4h after oral gavage,reaching its peak 6.0 × 107 CFU/g at 10h and then decreased gradually.The biggest drop occurred at the period between 12 h and 16 h after B.bifidum treatment.In successive administration group,the concentration rose at the highest rate in the first week when it achieved 2.0 × 107CFU/g and kept on inceasing to 1.0 × 108CFU/g in the next week.However,the concentration did not rose up significantly in the third week.It means that the concentration of B.bifidum ATCC 29521 in mice intestine reached platform in the second week after oral gavage.The concentration of B.bifidum ATCC 29521 significantly decreased at 24h and one week after B.bifidum treatment course in two group repectively and was still higher than baseline before oral gavage.Conclusion:Once the B.bifidum ATCC 29521 supplement was discontinued,the concentration fell down in short time.B.bifidum ATCC 29521 could not sustain colonization and growth in mice intestine without external supplement.It is necessary to provide daily supplemention for at least two weeks and to keep on in order to maintain sufficient concentration.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of KIT D816 mutation on the salvage therapy in relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with t(8;21) translocation. Method: The characteristics of the first relapsed AML with t(8;21) translocation from 10 hospitals were retrospectively collected, complete remission (CR(2)) rate after one course salvage chemotherapy and the relationship between KIT mutation and CR(2) rate was analyzed. Results: 68 cases were enrolled in this study, and 30 cases (44.1%) achieved CR(2). All patients received KIT mutation detection, and KIT D816 mutation was identified in 26 cases. The KIT D816 positive group had significantly lower CR(2) compared with non-KIT D816 group (23.1% vs 57.1%, χ(2)=7.559, P=0.006), and patients with longer CR(1) duration achieved significantly higher CR(2) than those with CR(1) duration less than 12 months (74.1% vs 31.9%, χ(2)=9.192, P=0.002). KIT D816 mutation was tightly related to shorter CR(1) duration. No significant difference of 2 years post relapse survival was observed between KIT D816 mutation and non-KIT D816 mutation group. Conclusion: KIT D816 mutation at diagnosis was an adverse factor on the salvage therapy in relapsed AML with t(8;21) translocation, significantly related to shorter CR1 duration, and can be used for prediction of salvage therapy response. KIT D816 mutation could guide the decision-making of salvage therapy in relapsed AML with t(8;21) translocation.
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Cytarabine ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/therapy* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Salvage Therapy

OBJECTIVETo explore the level of serum uric acid (UA) in children with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

METHODBetween Sep. 2008 and Mar. 2010, 138 children with OSAHS were enrolled in study group. Sixty-five children with accessory auricle or ptosis of upper lid were enrolled into the control group. Furthermore, according to apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) or obstructive apnea index (OAI) the study group was further divided into three subgroups (mild, moderate and severe group). At last, the study group and control group were divided into two groups according to the body mass index (BMI), separately. The fasting serum UA level was compared among the different groups. Then the correlation between the serum UA level and AHI, BMI, oxygen desaturation index, least arterial oxygen saturation (LSaO(2)) and the percentage of total sleep time with arterial oxygen saturation < 0.92 was also analyzed in OSAHS children with or without overweight and obesity respectively.

RESULTThe difference of serum UA level between the study group and control group (z = -0.443), and the difference among the three groups (χ(2) = 1.241) was not significant(P > 0.05). The serum UA level in overweight and obese children [study group, 273.0 (238.3 - 357.3); control group, 298.0 (253.0 - 336.0)] was significantly higher than that in children with normal BMI [study group, 246.5(215.8 - 300.0); control group, 266.0 (224.0 - 303.3)] (z = -2.084, -2.214, P < 0.05). That serum UA level did not correlate with the above index of OSAHS was observed in children with or without overweight and obesity in study group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONFindings of higher serum UA level were not observed in children with OSAHS. There was no correlation between serum UA level and the above indices of OSAHS. The serum UA level in overweight and obese children was significantly higher than that in children with normal BMI.

Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; blood ; Uric Acid ; blood

Objective To explore the reasons of multiple operations in children with airway foreign body through analyzing the clinical data of children who received two or more operations. Methods From 2003 to 2009, all children with airway foreign body who received two or more operations in hospital were enrolled. The clinical manifestations, image before and after operation and intraoperative conditions were retrospectively analyzed, in order to find the reasons of multiple operations. Results All children fully recovered, no serious complications or death. The reasons of two or more operations were multiple: 21 cases (42.8%) were related to the factor of apparatus, 20(40.8%) cases were related to the quality,surrounding conditions and location of the foreign body and experience and surgical skills of operator,4(8. 2% ) cases were due to incarceration of foreign body , another 4(8. 2% ) cases were due to unstable intraoperative oxygen saturation. Conclusions Both subjective and objective factors ( quality, surrounding conditions or location of foreign body, et al) were related to multiple operations. To reduce the chance of multiple operations, careful preoperative assessment and preparation are necessary.

Objective To explore the correlation between periodic limb movement index (PLMI) and the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), apnea index (AI), hypopnea index (HI) and lowest oxygen saturation (LSaO_2) in sixty-four children with sleep-disordered breathing(SDB).Methods Between March 2008 and May 2009, sixty-four children suspected of OSAHS underwent overnight polysomnogram monitoring in our medicine sleep center.OSAHS was diagnosed according to the general criterion.Sixty-four children were divided into two groups.Thirty children were diagnosed as OSAHS and 34 children were diagnosed as primary snoring (PS, 32 children) or upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS, 2 children).The difference of PLMI and periodic limb movement index during sleep associated with arousals (PLMl-arousal) were compared between the two groups.Besides this, the correlation between PLMI, periodic limb movement index during sleep associated with arousals and AHI, AI, HI and LSaO_2 were also analyzed in all SDB children.Furthermore, all SDB children were divided into two groups according to PLMI (< 5 events/h vs ≥5 events/h).AHI, AI, HI, LSaO_2 and sleep structure were compared between the two groups.Results ①The difference of PLMI and PLMI-arousal between the children with OSAHS and children with other SDB types(PS and UARS) were not significant (z value, - 1.279, - 1.490; P value, 0.201,0.136, respectively).② The increased sleep stage I was significant as being compared between the two groups (<5 events/h vs ≥5 events/h, t = -2.16, P <0.05).However, other sleep stages and sleep efficiency were not significantly different (P value, all > 0.05).③ The difference of HI, AI, AHI, arousals index (ArI) and LSaO_2 were not significant between the two groups(<5 events/h vs ≥5 events/h, P value, all > 0.05).④ PLMI and PLMI-arousal were not correlated with AHI, HI, AI, AHI and LSaO_2 (Spearman rank correlation analysis).Conclusions PLMS may be independent of SDB and PLMS had a little influce on sleep structure.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of pulse transit time(PTT) in children with sleep disordered breathing(SDB).Methods Forty eight randomly selected snorers(2-13 years)with SDB were examined by PSG and PTT in the same time. Data obtained were analyzed by different technicians respectively. Statistics and analysis of the data were performed. Results Apnea hypopnea index (AHI),obstructive apnea index(OAI), the lowest oxygen and micro-arousal index were obtained by PSG and PTT.The results was described as M [25 percentile; 75 percentile]:4.9[1.3; 10.1], 4.6 [1.5; 11.8]; 1.2[0.7;4.9], 1.3[0.6;5.0]; 0.93[0.85;0.95], 0.93[0.84;0.95]; 14.5[12.6;16.4], 26.0[17.4;30.6]. The difference of AHI, OAI, and the lowest oxygen were not significant (P＞0.05), while the PTT arousal index detection rate was higher than PSG(Z=-5.19, P＜0.01). There was no significant difference in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and determination of degree of patient's condition (P＞0.05). PTT could identify upper airway resistance syndrome in children without OASHS. Conclusions Both methods can be used to diagnose SDB. However, PTT is easy to useand suitable for the diagnosis of SDB in children, especially for UARS.

Objective To analyze the similarities and differences of the clinical manifestations between the children with upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) and obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), and to explore the clinical features and characteristics of sleep respiratory parameters. Methods Using the double-blind method, all children were diagnosed as UARS or OSAHS through the polysomnography test and the results of all children were analyzed by a sleep technician and an otolaryngologist. Another ENT doctor recorded their clinical and physical examination in detail. Results Polysomnography showed that the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and the lowest oxygen in 253 children with OSAHS were 3.60 [ 2. 00 ;7. 55 ] times/h and 0. 90 [ 0. 85 ;0. 91 ], and were 0. 90 [ 0. 50; 1.10 ] times/h and 0. 95 [ 0. 92 ;0. 96 ] in 102 children with UARS, the difference of the two groups by rank test was statistically significant. The proportion of UARS and OSAHS was more common during preschool period than during school-age period. The chief complaint in two groups was sleep snoring, and the main symptoms were sleep restless, attention deficit/hyperactivity and breath with mouth open. The incidence rate of above symptoms were as follows, 94. 1% ,72. 5% ,62. 7% and 37. 3% in children with UARS, 92. 9% ,78. 7% ,57. 7% and 45. 5% in children with OSAHS. The difference was not significant by chi-square test (P >0. 05). Tonsil and adenoid hypertrophy were also observed in the two groups, the difference was not significant ( x2 = 0. 27, P =0. 87). However, the children with OSAHS were more apt to have the sleep apnea than with UARS, the difference was statistically significant (x2 =34.07,P<0.001). Conclusions The clinical manifestations of two groups are similar, the difference between UARS and OSAHS can not be determined by the patient's clinical performance. Sleep apnea can be more easily observed in children with OSAHS than that in UARS, the final diagnosis is based on polysomnography.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of palmitic acid (PA) on the proliferation of peripheral blood-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in vitro.

METHODSThe mononuclear cells (MNCs) were isolated from the peripheral blood by Ficoll density-gradient centrifugation. The isolated EPCs were characterized by Di-LDI uptake and FITC-lectin binding assay using laser confocal microscope, and further identified by detection of CD34, CD133 and VEGFR2 expression using flow cytometry. The cultured EPCs were incubated in the presence of PA at the concentrations of 0, 50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 micromol/L for different durations (0, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 h). The cell morphology was observed and cell proliferation determined with CCK-8 assay.

RESULTSIncubation with 400 and 800 micromol/L of PA significantly inhibited the proliferative ability of EPCs as compared with the control group (P < 0.05). PA at 400 micromol/L had the strongest effect on the cell proliferation, and this effect was intensified with the passage of time, reaching the peak at 48 h with the growth inhibition rate of 58.59% (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHigh-concentration PA can significantly inhibit the proliferation of EPCs in vitro.

Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; cytology ; Palmitic Acid ; pharmacology ; Stem Cells ; cytology